Why Does Kiss Number 8 Have Mixed Reviews?

2026-03-17 20:21:48
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4 Answers

Isabel
Isabel
Book Scout Consultant
Graphic novels live or die by their emotional punch, and 'Kiss Number 8' delivers—but not cleanly. Critics who wanted tighter storytelling might’ve bounced off its meandering moments. Amanda’s rage at her dad’s secrets is visceral, though, and the way she tiptoes around her feelings for Cat feels painfully true. The mixed reviews probably stem from mismatched expectations: it’s less about romance, more about the bombshells life drops on you at 17. That church confession scene alone wrecked me.
2026-03-18 19:32:56
11
Owen
Owen
Favorite read: A Kissing Spell
Library Roamer Assistant
I lent my copy to three friends, and their reactions were all over the place. One called it 'a masterpiece of queer angst,' another said it 'tried too hard to be deep,' and the third just shrugged and said, 'The dad’s a jerk.' That’s 'Kiss Number 8' for you—it’s a lightning rod. The book’s strength is its emotional honesty; Amanda’s voice cracks with vulnerability when she realizes her first kiss was a lie. But some plot threads (looking at you, subplot about the grandfather) distract more than enrich. The muted color palette mirrors Amanda’s foggy perspective, though I wish the side characters popped more. It’s messy, but so is adolescence. Maybe that’s the point.
2026-03-19 21:32:36
17
Finn
Finn
Favorite read: The Devil I Kissed
Library Roamer Cashier
Kiss Number 8' is one of those graphic novels that hits differently depending on who you are. Some readers adore its raw, messy portrayal of teenage self-discovery—Amanda's journey feels painfully real, from questioning her sexuality to navigating family secrets. The art style, with its expressive lines and muted colors, amplifies the emotional weight. But I think the mixed reviews come from how it balances humor and heaviness. The darker themes (like parental betrayal) clash tonally with the quippy dialogue, leaving some feeling whiplash. Others criticize the side characters as underdeveloped, especially Amanda's love interest, whose arc feels rushed. Personally, I cried at the kitchen-table confrontation scene—it's flawed, but that vulnerability stuck with me.

Then there’s the pacing. The book crams a lot into limited pages: religious guilt, small-town claustrophobia, first love. If you crave tight plotting, it might frustrate you. But if you’ve ever felt trapped in your own confusion, Amanda’s chaotic inner monologue resonates. The divisiveness makes sense—it’s not a clean ‘coming out’ story; it’s prickly and uneven, just like growing up.
2026-03-20 07:13:40
22
Book Guide Mechanic
Mixed reviews? Oh, totally. 'Kiss Number 8' is polarizing because it doesn’t fit neatly into boxes. Some folks wanted a fluffy queer romance, but it’s really about Amanda unraveling her dad’s lies while figuring out she likes girls. The religious backdrop adds layers—her Catholic guilt isn’t just set dressing; it shapes her panic. But hey, the humor’s gold! Like when she compares her crush’s smile to 'a failed science experiment.' The art’s scribbly and intimate, which works for awkward teen moments but might feel unpolished to manga fans. And yeah, the ending’s abrupt—no bows tied here. Still, it’s got heart. Feels like borrowing someone’s diary.
2026-03-23 10:01:15
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4 Answers2026-03-17 21:49:24
Kiss Number 8' caught me off guard in the best way possible. I picked it up expecting a lighthearted rom-com, but what I got was a deeply personal coming-of-age story that tackles identity, family, and self-acceptance with surprising nuance. The protagonist's journey felt so raw and real—her confusion about her sexuality, the strained relationship with her dad, and the messy friendships all hit close to home. The art style complements the story perfectly, switching between playful and poignant when needed. What really stayed with me was how it balanced heavy themes with genuine humor. There's this one scene where the main character tries to interpret her feelings through terrible teen magazines that had me laughing out loud. It's rare to find a graphic novel that makes you both cringe with secondhand embarrassment and tear up within a few pages. If you enjoy stories like 'Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me' or 'On a Sunbeam', this deserves a spot on your shelf.

Who is the main character in Kiss Number 8?

4 Answers2026-03-17 08:59:14
Kiss Number 8' is this coming-of-age graphic novel that totally hooked me with its raw, messy exploration of identity. The protagonist is Amanda, a high schooler who's just trying to navigate friendship, family secrets, and her own confusing feelings. What I love about her is how relatable she feels—she's not some idealized heroine, but a girl who screws up, says the wrong thing, and slowly pieces together her queerness while dealing with her dad's shady past. The way Colleen AF Venable writes her makes every cringe-worthy moment and small triumph land so perfectly. Amanda's journey starts when she discovers her dad might be hiding something about their family, and it parallels her own realization that she might like girls. There's this beautiful tension between her crush on her best friend Cat and the toxic masculinity of the boys around her. The art by Ellen T. Crenshaw adds so much depth too—those panels where Amanda's expressions shift from confusion to quiet understanding? Chef's kiss. It's rare to find a YA story that handles self-discovery with this much honesty and zero sugarcoating.

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