Kissing Henry: 90s Girl! by E. Hughes captures the essence of teenage life, friendship, and the complexities of young love in diary format. Set against the backdrop of high school, the novel follows Penny, a lively and popular girl, as she navigates the ups and downs of her relationships with her friends and her crush, Henry, who suddenly gave her the cold shoulder with no explanation. The story starts with Penny feeling excited about the new school year, her determination to reconnect with Henry, and her promise to make him her boyfriend. But as the story progresses, Penny becomes caught up in a web of misunderstandings, jealousy, and self-discovery. Hughes explores themes of personal growth and self-awareness as Penny learns valuable lessons in communication, empathy, and understanding others.

The diary format creates a conversational tone rich with humor, drama, and sincerity, while the bright, colorful illustrations give it a graphic novel feel. E. Hughes’s writing is flawless and engaging, and Penny is a protagonist that readers can relate to and care about. Each character is well-developed, bringing their own unique personality to the story. Penny's journey of self-discovery is inspiring as she learns to confront her flaws and make amends for her mistakes. Kissing Henry is a sweet and heartfelt novel that beautifully captures the struggles and victories of teenage life. Hughes has created an entertaining and thought-provoking story that teens and young adults will appreciate because it’s not predictable or sugarcoated. Readers of romance novels and stories about teens will find much to admire here.

Kissing Henry: 90s Girl! by E Hughes is a cute YA romance. Penny and Henry have known each other for years; they live next door to one another and are best friends, which is why Penny was so hurt when Henry suddenly turned his back on her. What’s worse is that she has a huge crush on him, so she makes a decision – not only will she get Henry back as a friend, but she’ll also kiss him. But there’s a problem in the new girl, Ivy. Henry seems to be enamored of her, and Penny is left out of things again. What can she do? Things get even more confusing when she’s asked to the school dance by Ryan, especially when he tells her something that could change things forever. Can Penny stop Ivy and Henry from getting together? How far will she go?

Kissing Henry by E Hughes is a reminder that perhaps the teen years aren’t quite as simple as some people think. You can feel the angst coming off the pages, the trials and pitfalls of teenage crushes usurping everything else in life. This is a wonderfully written story, with colorful illustrations that pop off the page and help tell the story. The characters are so typically teen, and many younger readers will definitely be able to relate to them in so many ways. The plot will resonate with adults, too, and the ending? Well, that’s also so typically teen. Stories like this are important for teens because they help validate their feelings, make them see that they are not alone, and can help them work through things. Enjoyable story with plenty of humor, and lots of real-life drama – highly recommended reading for teens everywhere.