A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole Book Summary
Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole. First, let's talk about the story, and then we’ll discuss the book overall
The story begins when an eight-year-old boy named Rune moves from Norway to Georgia with his parents, as his father is transferred. Rune hates speaking English and only communicates in Norwegian, not caring who understands him. One day, he notices a girl in the house opposite his own—her name is Poppy. She is beautiful, lively, and full of life.
Eventually, Poppy approaches Rune, introduces herself, and asks where he’s from. Rune tells her everything, and Poppy, fascinated by Vikings, asks if he is a real-life Viking. Rune excitedly says yes, and that marks the beginning of their special friendship. Poppy declares him her best friend, and they promise to go on adventures together. From that moment, they become inseparable—walking to school together, sitting next to each other in class, and sharing everything.
One day, Poppy is picked up early from school because her grandmother is on her deathbed and wants to see her one last time. Her grandmother, one of Poppy’s two best friends along with Rune, gives her a glass jar labeled A Thousand Boy Kisses. Inside are blank, heart-shaped pink slips of paper. Her grandmother explains that Poppy must collect 1,000 heart-bursting kisses from her soulmate and write about each one on a slip to preserve the memory.
Though heartbroken, Poppy is excited by the idea. She shares this with Rune at their favorite place, Blossom Grove. Rune is upset at the thought of her kissing other boys, so he promises to give her all 1,000 kisses—no, even 2,000 or 3,000 if she wants. He kisses her right then, and she writes her first heart-bursting kiss on a slip.
As the years pass, their bond grows. At 15, Poppy becomes a beautiful girl with a passion for music, especially playing the cello. Her dream is to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York. Rune becomes a talented photographer, also planning to study in New York. The two plan to move there together after school.
However, Rune's father gets transferred back to Norway due to company issues, and Rune is devastated. Though he protests, he has to leave. He becomes angry, starts resenting his parents, and changes drastically. Despite the distance, Rune and Poppy continue video calling each other daily—until one day, Poppy suddenly stops answering his calls. Rune becomes worried and tries to contact her and her family, but no one responds, and eventually, he is blocked.
After two years, Rune returns to Georgia, but he is no longer the sweet boy everyone knew. He has changed—he smokes, drinks, disrespects his parents, and pushes everyone away. When Poppy sees him, she barely recognizes him, and she avoids him, assuming he no longer loves her.
At a party, Poppy sees Rune about to kiss another girl and runs away in tears. Rune follows her to Blossom Grove, where he demands answers. At first, she refuses, but eventually she confesses—she has terminal cancer and only a few months left to live. Poppy had pushed him away to protect him from the pain. Rune, devastated, breaks down but decides to make every moment with her count.
From that moment on, Rune dedicates his time to fulfilling Poppy’s last wishes: playing cello at Carnegie Hall, watching sunsets, going on beach picnics, seeing cherry blossoms, attending prom, and more. He helps her do it all. Eventually, on her deathbed, they share one last kiss—a final, heart-bursting kiss—and then Poppy passes away. Rune writes about that kiss on the last blank heart in the jar.
After her funeral, Rune’s father gives him a box left by Poppy. It contains letters, memories, and a new jar labeled A Thousand Girl Kisses, filled with blue heart-shaped slips. Although Rune initially brushes it aside, it becomes a symbol of her eternal love.
Rune changes. He attends college in New York, quits all his bad habits, and starts living kindly and meaningfully. However, he never falls in love again. No one can replace Poppy. The void she left remains forever. Ten years later, Rune dies and is reunited with his beloved Poppy in heaven.
This story is incredibly emotional. If you don’t want to cry, don’t read it—but if you do, then this book is a must. The writing is poetic, heartfelt, and absolutely beautiful. The way Poppy and Rune define, describe, and love each other is unlike anything else. Their love is pure, deep, and lifelong. Starting in childhood and lasting beyond death, their story is heart-wrenching and unforgettable.
Overall, A Thousand Boy Kisses is a beautiful, poignant book—highly recommended, especially if you enjoy emotional, character-driven stories. If you liked You've Reached Sam, you’ll probably love this one too. It doesn’t rely on unnecessary drama—its strength lies in its heartfelt storytelling.
Also read: Powerless by Lauren Roberts Summary
Also read: The Emperor by Runyx Summary
Also read: The Striker by Ana Huang Book Summary
Also read: Once upon a broken heart by Stephanie Garber Book Summary
Comments
Post a Comment