A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole is a standalone young adult contemporary romance known primarily for being a profound "tearjerker" that explores the intense heights of first love and the depths of terminal illness.

: Almost every review warns readers to have tissues ready, describing the book as "heart-shattering" and a "rollercoaster of emotions".

: Tillie Cole’s prose is described as "exquisite" and "poetic," particularly her use of symbols like cherry blossoms to represent the fleeting nature of life.

: Their romance is interrupted when Rune’s family moves back to Norway. After two years of silence from Poppy, Rune returns at seventeen, hardened and angry, only to discover the devastating reason behind her distance.

: Poppy is often highlighted for her incredible strength, while Rune is seen as a fiercely loyal "changed bad boy," though some readers find his reactions a bit overdramatic or "cringy" at times.

: The book heavily leans on popular tropes like childhood friends to lovers and the terminal illness "sick-lit" style. Book Review: A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole