There are a million types of kisses: butterfly kisses, Eskimo kisses, cheek kisses, and even (gasp!) French kisses. But of all the kinds of kisses, first kisses are some of the most famous. So what better time to revisit some of our favorite kisses in fantasy and contemporary romance than National Kissing Day?
From The Little Mermaid to Sleeping Beauty, literature and folklore are chock-full of the ways that first kisses can reveal true feelings, break curses, and even slow down time. They’re powerful storytelling devices, but also the first time two people really think of each other romantically. They can be surprising, silly, and very sweet. And for the couples in these stories, that first kiss can be a long time coming, but when it does, it’s absolutely worth the wait.
Read on to discover seven of the most heart-pounding, chemistry-filled, and occasionally awkward slow-burn first kisses.
The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton
Emily Hamilton’s queer space adventure takes the reader through an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, not to mention into literal outer space. When Cleo and her friends semi-accidentally hijack an old spaceship and end up en route to Proxima Centauri, they have to figure out how to get back home without going stir-crazy. And to make matters worse, the ship’s snarky, holographic captain is more than a match for Cleo.
This book is filled to the brim with quirky, cute characters, but the shining star of the plot is the slowly developing relationship between the main characters, rife with angst, banter, and ultimately tenderness. And the first kiss? Literally cosmic.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
This Pretty Woman-inspired romance follows Stella, an autistic woman who decides to take matters into her own hands by hiring a male escort to teach her how to date. This is a slow burn with some spice along the way, as Michael and Stella try (and fail) to keep their feelings in check while navigating a fake-dating relationship.
Helen Hoang’s writing is lush and intimate, making each of Michael and Stella’s interactions feel unbearably real and overwhelmingly endearing. From the moment they meet, it’s a race to see who develops feelings faster, making their first kiss utterly swoon-worthy.
Gwen and Art are Not In Love by Lex Croucher
What if King Arthur and Guinevere’s story was different, and, more importantly, what if both of them were queer? That’s the question this book answers, with style and flair. Arthur and Gwendoline are betrothed, but, as it turns out, Gwen’s heart belongs to a lady knight, and Arthur might fall for Gwen’s brother.
This book is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, shed a few tears, and fall in love. And the best part is, you get two first kisses for the price of one, involving swords, crows, and plenty of banter.
Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar
This adorable romantic comedy follows Meghna, who agrees to a fake engagement with stuffy engineer Karthik in order to please her family and survive the engagement of her longtime best friend. But of course, like all fake engagement plots, it starts to feel a little more real than it should.
From falling in love to the sounds of My Fair Lady to a first kiss that goes from awkward to heart-pounding, Naina Kumar constructs a vibrant, page-turning romance from just a few key ingredients. As Karthink and Meghna fall for each other, it’s easy to fall for them.
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
This rom-com is like if When Harry Met Sally was for young millennials with attachment issues. The two main characters are frustrating enough to have you tearing your hair out, as their stubbornness keeps them from getting together, or seeing each other as anything more than friends with no benefits.
But when erstwhile comedian Ari and star chef Josh do meet in the middle, sparks fly. And of course, their first kiss is on New Year’s. It’s absolutely unmissable.
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
A delightful romp through the fantasy world of your dreams, In Other Lands has it all: elves, mermaids, and slow-burning enemies to lovers that move at an utterly excruciating pace.
Luckily, the plot is good enough to make up for the wait. Come for the enemies-to-reluctant-allies-to-friends-to-lovers, and stay for the found family and lovable cast of side characters. And the first kiss? Chaotic, surprising, and sexy.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Rainbow Rowell’s nerdy classic follows Cath, a freshman in college, as she navigates the perils of creative writing class, the dining hall, and keeping her alter ego as the author of famous fanfiction under wraps. And somehow in the middle of it all, she stumbles into a friendship with Levi, the farm boy who keeps hanging around her roommate.
Levi and Cath’s first kiss is an absolute classic. Where else, except this book, would you get a first kiss in a dorm bed that also involves reading aloud classic literature?
Slow-burn romances can be some of the most frustrating plots of all time. With every almost-touch, and every brush of hands, the tension ratchets up that much higher. Which means that a first kiss feels a lot like flying, or soaring into outer space. And for some characters in these books, that’s literally what happens.
So if you’re in the mood for a witty fantasy or a medieval escapade, but you’re also yearning for some romantic moments and drawn-out glances, these books bring all that and more. The romances might be slow, but the kisses are certainly well worth the wait.
Want to explore more slow-burn romance novels? Click here.
Find more books like these on our Contemporary Romance bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
