Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan | Rating: ★★★★☆

"…but this is where I wanted to end my night. This is what I wanted to come back to. This is as much a part of my story as anything else. Friendship is as much as any romance. And like any love, it’s difficult and treacherous and confusing. But in the moment when your knees touch, there’s nothing else you could ever want."

Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List is the second book that this talented duo have worked on together (the first being Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) and proves just the same that sometimes two heads are better than one. And how perfect is this bright cover? It certainly caught my attention!

After the success of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, it was obvious that these two work incredible together. Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List may fall flat at some points, but for a young adult book? It’s fabulous.

Told in a split narrative between main characters and best friends Naomi and Ely, we follow the two friends as they try to keep their love lives from tangling with their friendship. After all, how many friendships end because one kisses the others crush or ex? This plan has worked to keep their friendship strong for the most part — until Ely kisses Naomi’s boyfriend and things become a bit complicated the more Naomi tries to understand her feelings towards Ely.

It just goes to show you, sometimes things happen and the outcome isn’t always good. But everything happens for a reason. It’s how we handle it that’s the tricky part.


Both characters are likeable and fun to read, but sometimes it feels like there is something missing from one or the other. It’s a common flaw in young adult literature, but it can be overlooked in this sly piece of heavenly teen drama as readers take a look in the minds and connection of two friends. You may just see yourself in one of these characters.

For years, high school girls and their best male friends have flocked to this novel and see elements of their friendship portrayed. I can’t see that changing — only growing once the adaption is released (we’ve been waiting for years!) and look forward to hearing new fans as they discover the humour in Cohn and Levithan’s writing.

Though it has its flaws, the book itself is charming and easy to follow, so I would totally recommend it to readers. Personally, I love that it portrays the ups and downs of friendships and various degrees of love. There’s nothing more that you could want, really.