How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You (Tara Eglington, HarperCollins)

Despite claiming to be an expert on matters of the heart, Aurora has never actually been kissed. She is determined her first kiss won’t be with any old guy (or worse, with her sworn enemy during the school play!). She is waiting for a guy who is worthy of her. She is waiting for a prince. In a bit of a comedy of errors, she tries to help out her friends and her father with their own romantic problems—with mixed results. You can tell from the start that the animosity between Aurora and her neighbour Hayden is actually a deep affection. The book, of course, ends with Aurora receiving her first kiss from a guy who has proven himself to be worthy of her affections. This would be great for pre-teen to early teen girls who are after a romantic read—it is romantic but also completely innocent. The importance of having good friends is also emphasised. Aurora and her friends know that they need to remain fast friends no matter what happens with the various boys in their lives. This is a fun, engaging read.

Amelia Vahtrick is the children’s book buyer at Better Read Than Dead is Newtown

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews