Review: The Kiss Bet - Volume #2 - Ingrid Ochoa

Review: The Kiss Bet - #Volume #2 - Ingrid Ochoa - August 2025

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about curling up with The Kiss Bet – Volume #2. As I read through this WEBTOON collection, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d stepped straight back into the cosy comfort of those classic late 90s and early 2000s chick flicks I used to adore. You know the ones – She’s All That, Not Another Teen Movie, and all those high school rom-coms that mixed awkward crushes, friendship drama, and that fluttery feeling of first love. This volume gave me that exact same vibe, and honestly, it felt like revisiting an old favourite.

Sara Lin is now eighteen and in her final year of high school. She’s got a good group of friends, a dad who thinks he’s still the coolest guy around, and a whole future ahead of her. The only thing she hasn’t experienced yet? Her first kiss. And thanks to her friend Patrick and his relentless betting challenges, that suddenly becomes the one thing everyone seems to be focused on.

In this second volume, the stakes are higher than ever. Sara is determined to finally make something happen with her long-time crush Joe at the upcoming school festival. But life  as we all know has a funny way of complicating things. Before she can even think about romance, Sara has to survive a maths exam, which means spending time with her tutor Oliver… who just so happens to recognise her from their awkward almost-kiss encounter on the subway. Talk about cringe-worthy timing!

Meanwhile Patrick, who never seems to miss a chance to stir things up, throws down his biggest bet yet: Sara has to have her first kiss by the end of the festival or she’ll be forced to quit the newspaper club. Suddenly what started as a playful challenge turns into something a lot more stressful.

What I loved most about this volume is how relatable Sara’s journey feels. The story captures that messy, confusing, sometimes embarrassing side of teenage romance so well. It’s not all fairy-tale moments and perfect kisses. Instead, it’s awkward, complicated, and occasionally downright chaotic but that’s exactly what makes it feel real. And honestly, watching Sara navigate her feelings between Joe, Oliver, and the ever-present Patrick is half the fun.

The artwork is bright, expressive, and perfectly suited to the light-hearted tone of the story. Each panel feels energetic and full of personality, making it incredibly easy to binge through episodes 19–36 in one sitting.

For me, reading The Kiss Bet Volume #2 felt like wrapping up in a cosy blanket on a rainy Tauranga afternoon with a cup of tea and indulging in a sweet, feel-good romantic comedy. If you’re a fan of high school romance stories, WEBTOON adaptations, or those nostalgic chick flick vibes, this series is definitely one to add to your reading list.

Cute, charming, and delightfully dramatic  The Kiss Bet continues to prove that first love might be messy, but it sure makes for a fun story. 💋📚


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