A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole is an intensely emotional, young
adult romance that follows the enduring love story of Rune and Poppy.
Childhood best friends who become soulmates only to be separated by tragic
circumstances and fate. The novel explores powerful themes of first love,
loss, and the preciousness of life. It’s often described as a tearjerker
comparable to The Fault in our Stars and A Walk to Remember. While many
readers find its raw emotion and tragic plot deeply moving, some critique the
book for being overly sentimental or using cliché tropes.

The story begins with Rune and Poppy meeting as children and
developing an unbreakable bond. Their love story is intense and feels
destined from the start. A devastating event forces Rune back to his
hometown in Norway, separating the young lovers. Poppy later stops
communicating, leaving Rune heartbroken and bitter at her sudden lack of
attention. Upon their reunion two-years later, Rune has changed, becoming
cold and distant and doing things Poppy never thought her Rune would have
done. The narrative reveals the truth behind Poppy’s silence. The book tells
the tragic love story of Poppy and Rune who try to fill a jar with memories of
their best heart warming and heart bursting kisses.

A Thousand Boy Kisses is for readers who enjoy sentimental stories.
Particularly those that explore themes of true love and over coming tragedy,
this book offers a powerful and cathartic experience. I would recommend this
book to my classmates to those who love more of the sadder side of
literature.