If I Told You, I'd Have to Kiss You - by Mae Marvel (Paperback)

About the Book

"Ms. and Ms. Smith meets The Pairing in this heart-racing romance of secrets, spies, and steam. A few rules for the international superspy: (1) Never blow your cover. (2) Never accept the first plan. (3) Never fall for anyone at the agency. Especially if she's your ex-girlfriend. Yardley Whitmer, code name "the Unicorn," can do no wrong. She's honed her spycraft and become an instant legend in the field. If only breaking up with her girlfriend were as easy as rappelling off the Eiffel Tower. Living a full-time cover story has slowly eroded her relationship until there's nothing left but lies. KC "Tabasco" Nolan, hacker extraordinaire, can crack any code-except the one that would tell her the right moment to confess her secret job to Yardley. Now it's too late, and she's in danger of losing the best chance at love she's ever had. When an undercover shakedown goes wrong, Yardley and KC discover the unbelievable truth-that they've both been working at the agency for years. To salvage the mission, they partner up and fly across oceans, race through winding European streets, and give in to inconvenient passion while hiding in an ambassador's linen closet. But can they throw away their rules and fight through their secrets to fall in love with each other's true selves?"--

Book Synopsis

One of NYPL's Best New Romances of the Year

Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Pairing in this heart-racing romance of secrets, spies, and steam.

A few rules for the international superspy:
(1) Never blow your cover.
(2) Never accept the first plan.
(3) Never fall for anyone at the agency. Especially if she's your ex-girlfriend.

Yardley Whitmer, code name "the Unicorn," can do no wrong. She's honed her spycraft and become an instant legend in the field. If only breaking up with her girlfriend were as easy as rappelling off the Eiffel Tower. Living a full-time cover story has slowly eroded her relationship until there's nothing left but lies.

KC "Tabasco" Nolan, hacker extraordinaire, can crack any code--except the one that would tell her the right moment to confess her secret job to Yardley. Now it's too late, and she's in danger of losing the best chance at love she's ever had.

When an undercover shakedown goes wrong, Yardley and KC discover the unbelievable truth--that they've both been working at the agency for years. To salvage the mission, they partner up and fly across oceans, race through winding European streets, and give in to inconvenient passion while hiding in an ambassador's linen closet. But can they throw away their rules and fight through their secrets to fall in love with each other's true selves?

Review Quotes

Most Anticipated by Goodreads and Autostraddle!

Praise for If I Told You, I'd Have to Kiss You:

"The international intrigue and well-plotted action sequences evoke James Bond, but the story keeps a sense of cozy sweetness at its core and wears its politics on its sleeve, extolling the virtues of diversity, public service, and queer love. It's a delightful diversion." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Fast-paced and fun." --Kirkus

"A sapphic, spy action, relationship-in-trouble masterpiece." --Book Riot

"Engrossing and highly unique... This slow-burn, fascinating novel reads like a spy thriller that is laced with angst and sexual tension... an exciting addition to the sapphic genre." --Booklist

"The action is fast, and their inconvenient make-out/make-up sessions are hot, while the covert operation is expertly woven through the romance. Marvel sends readers on a thrilling ride in this steamy spy romance." --Library Journal

"A whirlwind of spies and lies and sexy fun, Mae Marvel always understands the assignment to the highest possible degree. Absolutely loved." --Charlotte Stein, author of When Grumpy Met Sunshine

"Terrific... A really fun on-the-run." --Fated Mates Podcast

Praise for Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous:

"As I knew I would be from the first page, I was immersed in Mae Marvel's Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous. Katie and Wil's journey here--of longing, of self-discovery, of falling in love all over again--is somehow both classic and modern, both vulnerable and strong, both sweetly tender and arrestingly sexy. Gorgeously written, with sentences and phrases so lovingly constructed that they had my heart skipping a beat--Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is a romance to add to your keeper shelf." --Kate Clayborn, Author of Georgie, All Along

"Charming and smart, Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous is a delicious romance about second chances, taking risks, and the beauty that can come from chasing our dreams." --Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn't Care

"There is everything to love about this sexy, swoony, huge-hearted, beautiful book. Written with sparkles, sizzles, and the sweetness of apple crisp, Katie and Wil's achingly romantic story is about reaching for the stars and, at the same time, coming home. Mae Marvel delivers friends-to-lovers perfection." --Joanna Lowell, author of The Duke Undone and Artfully Yours

"Heartwarming." --Publishers Weekly

"Beautifully written, exploring Wil and Katie's evolution from friends to lovers as twin journeys of self-awareness." --Kirkus

"Compellingly written, with a light touch on serious subjects and strong chemistry between the main characters. Recommended for readers who enjoy sapphic friends-to-lovers and celebrity romances." --Library Journal

"This sexy and heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance is intricately written, and readers will soak up every word." --Booklist

"One of the most achy, angsty, 'just run away together to a desert island and do not invite your moms' novels you'll read all year." --Smart Bitches Trashy Books

"It's a really beautiful book." --Fated Mates podcast

"A lovely second chance romance for high school best friends who separated before they got to test what their feelings for each other really were." --All About Romance

"A perfect sapphic second-chance summer romance." --Autostraddle

"Affirming and charming and just the right level of spicy to make you want to keep turning those pages for more." --Libby Recommended Reads

"Marvel's great writing brings to life the irresistible chemistry between characters, making it a must-read rom-com for the season." --Los Angeles Daily News

About the Author

MAE MARVEL is the alias of cowriters Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare, bestselling authors of over a dozen acclaimed romance novels between them. Mae lives with two teenagers, two dogs, one cat, four hermit crabs, and a plethora of snails and fish in a witchy century house in Wisconsin whose extravagant perennial garden gives them something to look forward to in the depths of winter. In addition to romance, they also write mystery novels and cannot promise not to branch into new novelistic territories at a moment's notice.