Book Review: Kiss Now, Lie Later by C.W. Farnsworth

Kiss Now, Lie Later is a YA romance with an amusing but also slightly serious tone.

Maeve Stevens is a smart, dedicated soccer player. Her dad is Glenmont’s head football coach and her twin brother is the quarterback. Across the rivalry? Weston Cole—deviously handsome, arrogant, and the star quarterback of Allegheny. When their paths cross again senior year (and a few secret late-night kisses happen), hating each other suddenly feels impossible… especially when they have to keep it hidden.

When I say I loved this book, I mean it. I adored how the chapters switch POVs between Maeve and Weston. It makes the story super engaging because you get both sides of the rivalry, the gossip, and the banter. The small-town setting is written so well it feels real, and honestly, it’s like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet—but with football, soccer, and way less tragedy.

✨ There isn’t a single thing I’d change. I just wish it hadn’t ended! Even though there’s an epilogue, I desperately wanted more of Maeve and Weston’s story. Luckily, there is a sequel in the Rival Love Series called Not Now, Not Forever, which I can’t wait to read.

🔞 Recommended for ages 14+ because of swearing, kissing/intimate scenes, and underage drinking.

⭐ Rating: 5/5 stars (but honestly, it felt like a 6/5 because I loved it THAT much). This was one of my favorite reads of 2025—I finished it in just three days because it was so perfect.

📚 If you like: Dual POV romances, small town feuds and rivalries, and strong independent female leads Similar authors: Lynn Painter (Better Than the Movies), Carley Fortune (Every Summer After), Sarah Adams (The Rule Book), and Chloe Walsh (Binding 13)

Also by C.W. Farnsworth:

Book 2 of the Rival Love Series