A Thousand Boy Kisses By Tillie Cole Summary and Review
I'll be honest-- I scrolled past this book so many times. Between the title and the book cover, I just felt it was all a little cliche-- and I am absolutely one to judge a book by its cover.
But time and time again, I found the book on some of the "favorite" lists of fellow readers who have similar reading preferences. I read dozens of comments about having a "good cry" (or even some claiming a full on ugly cry), and I rarely have ever cried over a book. But what officially got me to add the book to my TBR list was an announcement that it is going to become a Netflix movie. And I always read the book first.
So I found it was a Kindle Unlimited Read and downloaded it a bit apprehensively. This post will share a summary of the story, plus my honest review- and whether I think it is worth adding to your list (or catching on screen)!
The details:
USA today best selling author
tropes: first love, friends to lovers, second chance, sunny vs grumpy
book to movie
Amazon Rating:
Good Reads Rating:
A spoiler-free book review:
"A Thousand Boy Kisses" by Tillie Cole is a poignant young adult romance that delves into themes of real love, loss, and the enduring power of memories. The story centers around the two main characters and childhood best friends, Rune Kristiansen and Poppy Litchfield, whose bond is deepened by their shared experiences and a jar filled with a thousand paper hearts.
Poppy, a free-spirited and adventurous girl, receives a jar from her grandmother with a note to collect a thousand boy kisses that make her heart almost burst. Rune, her loyal and brooding Norwegian neighbor, promises to help her fill it after they share a first kiss. However, their lives take a dramatic turn when Rune's family moves back to Norway for his father's job, separating the two. Despite their distance, they vow to stay connected. But when seventeen-year-old Rune Kristiansen returns two years later, he finds that Poppy has changed in ways he could never have anticipated.
The novel explores the beauty and tragedy of young love, with Poppy and Rune's story being both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The narrative touches on the preciousness of life, the inevitability of loss, and the importance of treasuring every moment with the ones we love. Tillie Cole masterfully balances sweetness with sorrow, creating a tear-jerking romance that resonates with readers who enjoy emotional stories of love and resilience
If you are looking for a more in depth summary (including spoilers), keep reading!
"A Thousand Boy Kisses" by Tillie Cole is an emotional young adult romance that follows the story of Poppy Litchfield and Rune Kristiansen, two childhood friends who fall deeply in love despite the challenges they face. The novel is told in alternating perspectives, giving readers insight into both Rune and Poppy's thoughts and emotions as they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship.
The story begins when Poppy's mamaw gifts her a jar and a note encouraging her to collect a thousand boy kisses that will make her heart burst with happiness. Eight-year-old Poppy decides that Rune, her best friend and neighbor, will be the one to help her fill the jar. Rune, a boy from native Norway who recently moved to Georgia with his family, quickly becomes attached to Poppy, and their friendship blossoms into a sweet, innocent love. They share first love and first-time kisses surrounded by cherry blossoms and the naivete of being young.
As they grow older, Rune and Poppy become inseparable, spending all their time together and sharing their lives. However, their lives take a drastic turn when Rune's father is transferred back to Norway, forcing Rune and his family to leave. The separation is heartbreaking for both of them, but they vow to stay in touch through letters and calls.
Unfortunately, after a few months, Poppy suddenly stops responding to Rune's messages without any explanation. Rune is devastated, feeling abandoned and confused. When he returns to Georgia two years later, he is no longer the sweet boy Poppy once knew. He has become angry and rebellious, his heart hardened by the pain of losing her.
When Rune and Poppy finally reunite, Rune discovers the greatest heartache and the reason for her silence—Poppy has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She had pushed him away to spare him the pain of watching her deteriorate, but Rune refuses to let her go through it alone. Determined to make the most of the time they have left, Rune vows to help Poppy complete her grandmother’s challenge by filling her jar with a thousand kisses.
As they spend Poppy’s remaining days together, the couple creates beautiful memories. They embark on small adventures, relive cherished moments, and experience the depths of their love. Poppy’s optimistic outlook and bravery in the face of death help Rune heal from his anger, and together, they cherish each kiss, knowing that their time is limited.
The book's climax is an emotional whirlwind as Poppy's condition worsens. She and Rune share their final kisses, and Rune must come to terms with losing her. Despite the heartache, the love they shared leaves an indelible mark on Rune, teaching him the importance of living with an open heart and treasuring the moments that matter most.
In the end, after Poppy passes away, Rune is left with the memory of their love, the thousand kisses they shared, and the strength to move forward with his life. Though tragic, the story is ultimately a celebration of love, life, and the way cherished memories can help us carry on after loss.
Tillie Cole's "A Thousand Boy Kisses" is a deeply moving tale that touches on themes of love, grief, and resilience. It reminds readers of the importance of holding onto love, even in the face of heartbreak, and of the lasting impact that true love can have on our lives.
My Review
I honestly went into this with high expectations due to all the hype and 5 star reviews-- but had no idea the level of emotion that would follow (or mascara tear streaks). When books are said to be stand-alone young adult tearjerker romance.. I usually doubt it. Especially when I get cliche trope vibes, and their in high school (just generally lacking in emotional depth and maturity).. but this book needs to come with a box of tissues.
While some lines (okay, a lot) were very cliche- And some even a bit cringey- the author managed to bring a lot of depth to the characters within a single book. With every next chapter, you got a deeper look into both of their emotional journeys from childhood into the teenage years. By the end of the book, I did shed quite a few tears. But for me, the most telling part of a book is whether I am thinking about the characters days and weeks later. And here I am, weeks later thinking about what defines a soul mate, young love and the impact we have even after life ending. Ya, I wasn't expecting a book about mason jar paper hearts to get that deep.
This was the first of Tillie Cole's books that I had ever read and I am looking into which one I should try next. I enjoyed her writing style and how she wove deep emotions through a young adult book. Let me know if you have a favorite Tillie Cole book and what you thought of this epic love story soon coming to the screen
xo
Kae
