Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson

Carl and Sylvie have been friends since they were babies, growing up as close as can be to the point that Sylvie is sure they'll get married one day. They even write or started to write a fantasy novel between them both. While Carl is passionate about glass collect I and has a huge varying range of items in it.

Sylvie gets asked by school popular girl Miranda to a party at hers so Miranda can meet Carl as Sylvie says he's her boyfriend. Only at the party after some drinking, they all play a form of spin the bottle making them all have to kiss one another, outside the room.

After that, Sylvie, Miranda, Carl and his friend Paul all get hanging out including for outings bowling, at each others houses, visiting Kew gardens and shopping. That is until Carl and Paul fall out and Carl Locke himself away.

But once he stops running, the girls are there for him against Paul, after he's the one with the issue...

Following friendship as the lines blur between romantic interest and friendship we see how homophobia can impact lives especially as verbal abuse could turn physical. The strengths of friendship are shown here as the girls are supportive and appreciate their friend is going through a very hard time. However I didn't like Sylvie assuming Carl would marry her eventually as he never hinted he would when she recalls memories growing up it seemed very unrealistic and a crush that would fizzle out eventually after so long unrequited I would've thought. Though over all for an early LGBTQIA+ book it was well written and awareness raising.