We all know the feeling: Butterflies in your stomach when you make eye contact with that special someone. You smile at them. They break their stare to gaze at your lips. Your pulse quickens as they lean in. Your mouth meets theirs, and it’s…awkward. Moist. Horrible, really. Alas, most kisses aren’t as good as the movies.
But there are a handful of kisses in everyone’s life that are truly exceptional. A connection, a release, fireworks, the whole nine yards. It’s those kisses we remember, the ones we tuck away into our mental scrapbooks, saved for a rainy day in our twilight years. The kisses that remind us that we loved and were loved, even for just a moment.
We at Bookstr wanted to gather our favorite bookish couples and nominate them for the Best Kiss Award. So, grab your favorite chapstick, eat a breath mint, and pucker up with our picks for Best Kiss.
Aaron Warner and Juliette Ferrars, Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
I’d choose Aaron Warner and Juliette Ferrars for Best Kiss. The real first time is in the second book of the Shatter Me series (Unravel Me), a while after Juliette shoots Warner in the arm for kissing her (the first time). After Warner admits his feelings for her in the book, he says, “Please don’t shoot me for this,” and I just think it’s the cutest thing ever, as well as hilarious, considering she did actually shoot him for kissing her the first time. #Warnette
Alex Mellott, Editorial
Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen, Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
When I was at the height of my Hunger Games obsession, I reread Peeta and Katniss’ kissing scenes more than a few times — specifically the beach scene in Catching Fire. The movie definitely does it service, but something about the book…Katniss does not want it to end because she feels that fire — or in other terms, a different type of hunger she can’t place. It’s something they left out in the movies, which makes me mad because that’s what made me ship them in the first place! She gets that feeling of wanting more. It’s something Katniss is unfamiliar with because she can never get enough. All her life, she’s been hungry, but not like this.
Sierra Jackson, Editorial
Jace Herondale and Clary Fray, The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
Clary and Jace in the greenhouse from City of Bones, The Mortal Instruments Book One by Cassandra Clare. It’s Clary’s birthday, and everything in her life has been changing so rapidly that she wasn’t expecting any of her new friends to do anything for her birthday. The honest conversation that she and Jace have flowed so naturally between them. That level of comfort leads to their first kiss. He called her beautiful. Nobody had ever called her that before except her mother, which didn’t count. Mothers were required to think you were beautiful.
Another kiss, also Clary and Jace, by the crystalline lake in the cave from the 6th book. Their comfort level has grown so immensely that they’re not afraid to be vulnerable around each other with anything, their deepest thoughts, desires, and insecurities, etc. If their first kiss in the water had been a sort of explosion, this was like the sun going supernova…Clary abandoned herself to the kisses; the language of them, the wordless speech that passed between the two of them.
Christina Hardesty, Graphics
Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert, The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
My all-time favorite adaptation live-action kissing scene is Damon and Elena from The Vampire Diaries. It’s from Season 3, Episode 19: “Heart of Darkness.” When I tell you my eyes were glued to the TV screen, IT WAS. I am a hardcore Delena shipper, still am, and always will be. Season 3 was such an important part of the series as this was the first time Elena had to choose between Stefan and Damon, which meant she had to be honest with herself and admit she has feelings for Damon. She’s a wuss in the end because her constant favorite phrase is: “I-I- I don’t know what I feel.” Girl, yes, you do. You would not be kissing that man if ya didn’t. The spiciest kissing scene award goes to THEM.
Sierra Jackson, Editorial
Stiles Stilinski and Lydia Martin, Teen Wolf (2011-2017)
The first set of characters that came to mind was Stiles and Lydia (Stydia is their ship name) from Teen Wolf. Their first kiss together was in Season 3 Episode 11: “Alpha Pact,” when Stiles had a panic attack about all the parents being taken for a sacrifice; his dad was one, and Lydia kissed him to calm him down. She said, “I, uh, read somewhere that holding your breath could stop a panic attack, so when I kissed you, you held your breath.”
Another kiss that occurred between both characters was in Season 6 Episode 10: “Riders on the Storm.” During the first half of this season, Stiles was taken by the Ghost Riders and was wiped from everyone’s memory. Lydia was the one to bring him back; her memories of him opened a rift to help him get through. Lydia and Stiles’ kiss happened after he returns. When he was first taken, Stiles told Lydia he loved her, and when he returns, she says, “I didn’t say it back,” and he tells her, “You don’t have to,” and that’s when they kissed.
Molly Ayling, Graphics and Social
Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase, The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
My nomination for best kiss is Percy and Annabeth during the Mount St. Helen’s scene of The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan. I’m almost positive this was their first kiss, and it was the cutest moment middle-school me had ever read. Having to hide from the group of Telekhines and escape the volcano, the two were hiding, and Percy was focused on getting Annabeth to safety.
The quote that made me squeal was, “She glared at me like she was about to punch me. Then she did something that surprised me more. She kissed me.” It was quick and sweet and served as a highlighting Percabeth moment while we waited for what seemed like forever to have them truly be together. It’s just innocent and adorable and everything you could want from a friends-to-lovers first love situation.
Lauren Tabella, Editorial
Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I would nominate the kiss between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in the very last scene of Pride and Prejudice (2005). It’s the only kiss in the whole film, and it’s such a picturesque culmination of an absolutely perfect book-to-screen adaptation (in my opinion). If it doesn’t leave you feeling “completely and perfectly and incandescently happy,” I don’t know what to tell you! I’m not a big romance girly, but I’m always a sucker for a period piece. Though it could potentially come across as cliché to end a movie with a kiss scene, I always thought this came across as a very believable “happily ever after” kiss for one of the most famous literary couples of all time.
Erin Shea, Editorial
Jack Smith and Elsie Hannaway, Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
I would nominate Elsie and Jack from Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood. In order to pay her bills, Elsie must pick up multiple jobs along with her teaching job. She has graduated from grad school and is looking for better and more sustainable work, but physics is a hard field to find work in. When she runs into a familiar face when interviewing for her dream job, she knows she has been caught lying — and that is not the only reason Jack has to dislike her. As an experimental physicist, Jack thinks that Elsie’s field of theoretical physics is pointless; Elsie hates Jack for his criticism of her field.
However, when they are forced to interact because of a job prospect, Jack and Elsie find themselves falling for each other. Their first kiss is adorable, but what is truly romantic about this book is their deep understanding of one another once they overcome their contention. During one of their first romantic interactions, Elsie says Jack “sees everything. Every molecule I am built of…” They are just perfect for one another, and I would definitely suggest reading this book.
Anne McCormack, Editorial
Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
I would nominate Noah and Allie in the 2004 film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ book The Notebook. A passionate kiss in the pouring rain. I mean c’mon.
It’s such an intense scene. The built-up tension between the two after a seven-year separation. The way they look at each other, the memories hanging between them, and then it all comes to a head with their confrontation at the boat dock. We see seven years of a quite wild summer romance explode onto the screen in a heat of passion. And again, the rain makes it all the more romantic!
Olivia Mason, Editorial
Westley and Buttercup, The Princess Bride by William Goldman
The 1987 film adaptation of William Goldman’s masterpiece is one of the few movies that is better than the book. The onscreen chemistry of Cary Elwes and Robin Wright is unmatched, and that film remains one of the funniest fantasy adventures in film history.
My favorite scene is when the Dread Pirate Roberts reveals himself as Westley to his former lover Buttercup while being pushed headlong down a hill. As Westley’s “As you wish” rings through the air, Buttercup realizes her love is alive and joins him at the bottom of the hill. As they embrace, Buttercup exclaims, “I thought you were dead!” Westley replies with the iconic line, “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.” As they seal their reunion with a kiss, the audience swoons, and even small children can’t help but love this “kissing book.”
Cara Hadden, Editorial
And Once More Because It’s So Good: Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The kiss between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth at the end of Pride and Prejudice (2005) has remained the dreamiest kiss I’ve ever seen. My favorite part about this kiss is the build-up. We get their roundabout conversations, Mr. Darcy’s apparent awkwardness, and their slight touches, all to build to this moment of true love and acceptance. I also love how they just happen to cross paths all the time; it’s so serendipitous. I get so giddy when Elizabeth realizes she has been in love with him all along. I am a sucker for the classic novel by Jane Austen, but the film does something for me. I am watching it right now! The love in Darcy’s eyes from his first glance at Elizabeth, the hand flex…please. This is a romantic’s fantasy!
Olivia Salamone, Editorial
Whether it’s steamy or stuffy, the first kiss or the millionth, every kiss deserves a bit of space in our collective mental scrapbooks. They remind us that we were here, we connected with someone, and we shared an experience that will belong to only us throughout all time.
Do you agree with our picks? Who do you think deserves the title of Best Kiss? Let us know!
For more reads with bookish kisses, click here!