Writing the First Kiss: Making It Unforgettable

A first kiss in romance is everything. It’s the moment where all the tension, longing, and buildup finally snap—and if it’s done right, it leaves both the characters and the readers breathless.

So how do you write a first kiss that lingers, burns, and makes your readers feel it down to their toes? Let’s break it down.

1. The Build-Up: Make It Matter

A first kiss isn’t just about the act itself—it’s about everything leading up to it. The best first kisses feel earned, like the only possible outcome after pages of glances held too long, tension-filled arguments, and accidental touches.

Ask yourself:

✔ What’s stopping them from kissing sooner? Is it bad timing? Emotional walls?

✔ What changes in this moment? Why can’t they hold back anymore?

✔ How do they feel right before it happens? Are they nervous? Desperate? Shocked?

Example:

He’s spent weeks pretending he doesn’t want her. But tonight, she’s standing too close, looking at him like she knows—and suddenly, pretending isn’t an option anymore.

2. Where It Happens Changes Everything

The setting of the first kiss sets the tone for everything that follows. Is it soft and slow, or fiery and impulsive?

• The Rain-Soaked Kiss – A classic, because rain strips everything down to pure feeling.

• The Argument-Turned-Kiss – All that tension finally snapping into something else.

• The Forbidden Kiss – They shouldn’t. But they do. And it changes everything.

• The Surprise Kiss – One of them moves without thinking. And neither of them regret it.

Example:

They’re alone in a car, the storm outside making the world feel small. She shivers, and he reaches out—intending only to warm her hands—but then she looks up, and he realizes he’s in trouble.

3. Sensory Details: Make It Feel Real

The best first kisses aren’t just described—they’re felt. Readers should be able to experience it through the five senses.

• Touch: The heat of his palm on her jaw, the shiver running through her spine.

• Sight: The way he looks at her—like she’s the only thing that matters.

• Sound: A shaky breath. A soft moan. The rush of blood pounding in her ears.

• Taste: The lingering taste of mint, coffee, or something undeniably him.

• Smell: His cologne, the rain, the soft scent of vanilla from her skin.

Example:

His lips brush hers, just barely—a whisper of a kiss that steals her breath. His hand is warm against her cheek, his thumb tracing slow, lazy circles that make her stomach flip. The kiss deepens, and she forgets how to breathe.

4. The Moment After: What Changes?

A first kiss isn’t just about the kiss itself—it’s about the fallout. What happens immediately after is just as important.

✔ Do they pull away too quickly, stunned by what they’ve done?

✔ Does one of them lean in again because once wasn’t enough?

✔ Is there regret? Relief? Undeniable need?

Example:

She blinks, lips parted, breath stolen. His forehead rests against hers, his fingers still tangled in her hair, like he can’t bring himself to let go.

“What was that?” she whispers.

He exhales, his lips curving into a wicked smirk. “Trouble.”

5. Examples of Unforgettable First Kisses in Romance

• The Hating Game (Sally Thorne) – A heated, unexpected kiss after pages of electric tension.

• People We Meet on Vacation (Emily Henry) – A best friends-to-lovers kiss, full of pent-up longing.

• Twisted Games (Ana Huang) – A forbidden royal guard kiss that feels impossible and inevitable.

A First Kiss Should Leave Readers Wanting More

Whether it’s soft and slow or wild and desperate, a first kiss should leave both the characters and the reader reeling. If you can make it unforgettable, you’ll have your readers hooked—and dying for more.

🔥 What’s your favorite first kiss in a book? Let’s talk in the comments!