Kiss the Sky by Krista Ritchie Summary

Kiss the Sky by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie follows Rose Calloway and Connor Cobalt as they navigate a reality TV show alongside four friends for six months. Set after a public scandal, Rose agrees to film the show to save her fashion business, Calloway Couture. The novel explores their complex relationship, featuring intellectual power dynamics, BDSM elements, and Connor's journey from emotional detachment to profound love, all while dealing with addiction, media scrutiny, and family challenges.

Krista and Becca Ritchie are identical twin sisters and New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. They began their collaborative writing career with Addicted to You in June 2013. One twin is a science nerd while the other is a comic book geek, and they've built a massive following for their interconnected romance series. Their books are known for emotionally intense storytelling, complex character dynamics, and tackling difficult themes like addiction and recovery with nuance and authenticity.

Kiss the Sky is ideal for readers who enjoy new adult romance with sharp intellectual banter, complex anti-heroes, and emotionally intense relationships. Fans of character-driven stories exploring BDSM dynamics, addiction recovery, and reality TV culture will appreciate this book. Those who prefer traditional alpha male heroes or sweet romances may find the power dynamics and explicit content challenging. Readers should be comfortable with mature themes including sex addiction, alcoholism, public shaming, and unconventional relationship structures in privileged settings.

Kiss the Sky is worth reading for fans seeking emotionally complex romance with subversive gender dynamics and witty dialogue. The novel delivers a refreshing take where the heroine dominates professionally while exploring submission sexually, and the controlled hero learns vulnerability. Readers praise the dual POV narrative, sharp banter between Rose and Connor, and the authors' ability to evoke powerful emotions throughout. However, the explicit content, controversial BDSM elements, and reliance on prior series knowledge may not appeal to all readers.

The central relationship in Kiss the Sky features Rose Calloway, a fiercely independent fashion mogul, and Connor Cobalt, a brilliant and emotionally detached rival-turned-partner. Their dynamic is built on intellectual competition, strategic power plays, and razor-sharp banter that serves as both foreplay and communication. Rose struggles with intimacy and vulnerability while Connor battles his inability to express love, creating tension that resolves when Connor finally breaks through his emotional barriers. Their relationship subverts traditional romance tropes by featuring a dominant heroine who finds empowerment in sexual submission.

"People hope to touch the sky. I dream of kissing it" captures Connor Cobalt's relentless ambition and pursuit of unattainable achievement.

Rose's vulnerable admission, "I don't mind that you don't love me the way I do you. Thank you for at least trying," reveals her capacity for unconditional love despite fear of rejection.

The climactic confession, "I am so deeply in love with you, Rose," marks Connor's ultimate surrender to emotion after breaking through lifelong barriers.

These quotes emphasize the novel's exploration of ambition, vulnerability, and transformative love.

Kiss the Sky centers on six friends—Rose, Connor, Lily, Lo, Daisy, and Ryke—agreeing to be filmed for a reality show for six months. Rose initiates this arrangement to rehabilitate her family's public image after a scandal threatened Calloway Couture. Three cameramen follow them constantly, documenting intimate moments, conflicts, and personal struggles including addiction recovery. The setup creates intense drama as private lives become public spectacle, forcing characters to navigate authenticity versus performance while dealing with media exploitation and societal judgment under relentless scrutiny.

Kiss the Sky depicts BDSM elements through Connor's dominance and Rose's enjoyment of being controlled sexually, including bondage scenarios. The novel presents this dynamic as consensual and empowering for Rose, who maintains professional dominance while finding liberation in bedroom submission. However, this portrayal remains controversial—some readers question whether the power imbalance truly empowers Rose or reinforces problematic dynamics. Krista and Becca Ritchie use explicit scenes and internal monologue to explore how these characters negotiate consent, boundaries, and emotional vulnerability within their unconventional arrangement.

Critics debate whether Kiss the Sky's BDSM portrayal genuinely empowers Rose or perpetuates unhealthy power imbalances in relationships. The decision to profit from a leaked sex tape by launching Cobalt Diamonds raises ethical concerns about normalizing non-consensual exposure and exploitation. Some readers find the portrayal of Lily's sex addiction problematic, questioning whether committed relationships should be framed as the primary "cure" for addiction. Additionally, the explicit content, privileged character backgrounds, and reliance on prior series knowledge can alienate readers seeking lighter romance or standalone stories.

Kiss the Sky concludes with Connor's emotional breakthrough triggered by his mother's terminal illness, leading to his profound confession: "I am so deeply in love with you, Rose". Connor orchestrates a surprise château wedding originally planned for Lily and Loren, symbolizing their partnership and chosen family bonds. The epilogue shows Connor strategically leveraging scandal notoriety to launch business ventures, demonstrating that success means embracing vulnerability and building authentic connections despite public judgment. The ending redefines achievement as emotional courage rather than external validation, with Connor finally "kissing the sky" through love.

Krista and Becca Ritchie employ dual first-person POV from Rose and Connor, providing deep internal monologues that reveal contrasting thought processes and hidden vulnerabilities. Their signature sharp, witty dialogue features rapid-fire intellectual exchanges filled with literary allusions and philosophical debates. The authors use extensive symbolism—the diamond collar representing ownership, the communal bathroom symbolizing invasion, and "winning/losing" metaphors exploring competition. Metaphorical language like Connor's "fortress" and Rose's "hurricane" enriches character development while creating layered narrative meaning throughout the novel.

Kiss the Sky is the fourth book in the Addicted series and first in the Calloway Sisters spin-off series. Previous books—Addicted to You, Ricochet, and Addicted for Now—establish Lily and Lo's relationship foundation. While Kiss the Sky shifts focus to Rose and Connor, all six main characters remain interconnected throughout. Reading prior books enhances understanding of ongoing addiction recovery arcs, family dynamics, and the scandal context. The series continues with Hothouse Flower, Fuel the Fire, Long Way Down, and Some Kind of Perfect, expanding the interconnected world.