Karmen Lee’s The Secret Crush Book Club is a charming read that largely delivers on its promise of fun and romance. If you're looking for something lighthearted, a few laughs sprinkled in, and low angst, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Despite a somewhat unconvincing 3rd act reversal, the authentic and enjoyable relationship between the leads remains.

The reason I rate this at 3.5, not 4, is that the prose could be better: it’s basic and colloquial with some less than stellar grammar and expression. Given this is a publisher of some renown, I would have hoped a copy editor’s eye would have improved it.

The flip side of my criticism is that, despite this quibble, I still enjoyed the story. So while the prose could be better, this author’s strengths are very much in the characters and their arcs individually and together. Ultimately, The Secret Crush Book Club is a delightful story that exudes warmth and offers a delightful escape. It's clear that Ms. Lee knows how to craft an engaging, character-driven romance that leaves you smiling. If you're looking for a book to brighten your day that doesn’t demand too much from you, this one could be worth adding to your reading list.

'Zoey replied as she made her way out of the store before her wallet accidentally fell open and money spilled out in exchange for books she didn't need'

what a mood

i have loved every Peach Blossom book so far but this one is definitely my favourite. as a book-loving late-bloomer lesbian and aspiring author, being able to see a story like this just warmed my soul to no end. sometimes i feel the way late-blooming is handled in books is so unrealistic and strange but this was absolutely perfect.

it is also so nice to be able to read a romance where the conflict is so minor and the characters resolve it quickly with mature communication. i know many love the miscommunication trope for the drama and i do too most of the time but what a breath of fresh air it is to see adults behaving like adults sometimes.

Karmen Lee's ability to write a cosy sapphic small town romance for a third time while keeping them all so unique is unmatched, and i can only hope that she keeps writing more books for me to fall in love with

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

this one is the third in a series but it can be read as a stand alone

dani single mom to jordan has tried dating but she hasnt really felt any of them were right.... she feels as though she is in some mid life crisis so whilst she is at the library waiting to pick jordan her son up she ask the new librarian zoey to recommend some self help books....

unbeknown to dani, zoey has a secret crush on her.... and hopes one day that dani will notice her.....

zoey also invites dani to her new book club and at a loose end dani agrees to go...

have to say thoroughly enjoyed this storyline, the one liners were pretty funny and the complex world of a single parent trying to bring a child up is covered really well plus the joys of trying to find new friends and maybe even a life...

looking forward to more from this author

I enjoyed reading this book; it was short and sweet! I read it in one sitting!

I really like the unrequited love trope, it's one of my favourites! I thought the book was written well, the story was interesting and more emotional than I was expecting. The characters each had their own baggage to deal with, which made it even better when they got together in the end. I liked how there was communication throughout the book!

The novel was sweet, it had great lgbt characters, and it was about overcoming previous relationships to find the one you love.

The Secret Crush Book Club is a warm, sweet and utterly charming small-town romance that celebrates family, friendship and the joy of unexpected love. Dani, a devoted single mother, pours her heart into caring for her son and supporting her family, but when her sister moves out, she realises that something is missing. Zoey, the new town librarian, arrives in Peach Blossom looking for a fresh start and inspiration for her writing, only to find both in Dani.

What follows is a tender and heart-fluttering romance built on mutual respect, vulnerability and the simple yet powerful magic of connection. Their chemistry is delightful, from shy smiles at book club to passionate moments that show how much they truly belong together. The relationship feels authentic, balancing the responsibilities of real life with the excitement of new love.

Karmen Lee’s writing is heartwarming and engaging, with witty dialogue, vivid small-town charm and characters who feel like friends. The book delivers on all fronts: romance, community and a message about embracing change and daring to pursue happiness.

This is a beautiful, uplifting book that leaves you with butterflies and a smile. Perfect for readers who enjoy heartfelt LGBTQ+ romances with a mix of sweetness, heat and hope.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This story is nice enough and it is interesting to see one of the leads come to terms with past hurt and come to terms with her sexuality. The other lead is a lovely character, a shy, gentle librarian but with some depth and steel within her. The story though is quite gentle with little conflict and it would have been interesting to see more of a gritty edge to the story. However, it still made for a pleasant read

This book was like a cup of warm coffee on a rainy day. It was comforting and tender while having depth and so much emotion weaved into it.

I absolutely loved having a sapphic book with older MC's. Seeing Dani come to terms with her sexuality later in life was refreshing. So many added elements due to this were so touching. Namely the self doubt of "who am i?" after believing youre one thing for the entirety of your life only to discover a new and exciting, yet scary, part of yourself. The fact she had a child too while going through this self discovery and change was lovely to see. The consideration and navigation around that is something I dont see often and im glad to see it reflected here.

I really really enjoyed this book, i think I just wish that maybe we saw a bit more of Dani and Zoey having more connection building moments as at times it did feel like things were moving quickly and we didn't get to see the relationship develop as much.

I adored this book!! I had so much fun reading it. I would definitely recommend it.

I loved all the characters - I thought Zoey and Dani were perfect together, they had so much chemistry and I couldn't stop myself from smiling so much.

It was very cosy and light-hearted, a perfect sapphic romance.

I loved watching Dani slowly learn more about herself and her sexuality. Zoey was so patient with Dani and never judged her for being inexperienced with women.

As for the side characters I loved them all; Jordan was very sweet. I loved the small moment between Zoey's brother and Jordan.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book, definitely a favourite of mine.

Thank you to Afterglow books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was an incredibly sweet, small-town romance with a strong set of characters. I really appreciated Dani's arc of self-discovery and Zoey's epic level pining.

There is nothing mind-shattering about the writing or boundary-pushing about the plot, and while that may sound boring, it actually lends itself to being a really quick and easy comfort read. Finished this the day I started--it's like having a great chat with a good friend. Warm, welcoming, comforting. I will definitely read the other Williams' sister's books!

I want to start by saying.. Tiffany is absolutely hilarious! I want her as my best friend. I think the author has done such a fabulous job with all of the side characters, they really added to the content of the book. I also loved that the book had such a strong book theme (library/book club) as it made it super relatable for all of us who love to read and collect books. The story was so easy to binge read, it’s a super fast paced book with tropes of friends to lovers, found family, LGBTQ+ rep and so much more!

I will say Dani’s communication style annoyed me at times, I just wanted her to be open and honest but she would just shut down! This did get better towards the end of the book though. There was nothing crazy special about the writing of the book but the vibes were great and if you are looking for a palette cleanser, something to get you out of a slump or just a nice quick and easy read, give this one a go!

Overall did really enjoy my reading experience with this book and so it’s a 4 star read for me!

This was such a cute read. I couldn't put it down and I kept reading until the end. I loved Dani and Zoe's slow burn chemistry and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I felt myself smiling all the way through. The story was easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💜 Release date -26th August
💝 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and After Glow books/ Mills and Boon for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pleasant, easy to read book. Apart from the choice of a few words which I found completely unnecessary.
Zoey works at the library and is a newcomer to the small southern town of Peach Blossom. Dani is a single mum, divorced, and now raising her 11 year old son at the family home with her father and two sisters. Her son is a great fan of computer games and Zoey has formed a club at the library, for the youngsters to play together

A gentle love story, I enjoyed the friendly, small town atmosphere and I liked the characters.

This was such a sweet and addicting romance that I almost read in one sitting but it was still under 24 hours! Dani and Zoey were an absolute dream! I loved everything about them - their chemistry was enthralling and the relationships within everyone were endearing. The ending felt a little abrupt but I'll put that down to being quite a short and fast read, you're so invested in everything, the ending just came around far too fast!

I enjoyed this. I had no idea that it was part of a series and I understood it all perfectly well, so it can be read as a standalone too.
This book is the story of Dani, a single mother, and Zoey a librarian and author. Plenty of book talk in there then. They are brought into contact when Dani's son joins a club held at the library.
It's more of a novella than a full size book but it seems to be just the right length for the story that was told.
There's a lot about family, acceptance, loss, found family, small town living, everyone knowing your business and finding yourself.
I liked it.

This is my first book of this standalone series, heck it was my first book by Karmen Lee but you bet its not going to be my last I already purchased Book 1 and 2 of the awesome Peach Blossom series.

I instantly fell in love with the characters. They were likable and relatable, and the two main protagonists were just super cute, and honestly, they were just made for each other.

The story itself is really well written, flowed nicely, and just generally made me feel good, I mean, like being enveloped in a giant cuddle kinda good. I really didn't want it to end.

Something I highly appreciated was just how real some of the themes within the story were. For example, the whole single mum trying to date but beating herself up about it kinda thing, and the kid having strong mixed emotions over his dsd getting married, etc. Like this shiz happens for real everyday, so it's great reading about it in stories and seeing how the characters overcome these real-life issues.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy.

A nice story about two women Dani and Zoey who meet at a library when Dani is picking her son up. Zoey invites Dani to the bookclub she runs and the pair hit it off. A nice uplifting story.
Thank you for the advanced copy.

This book was really cute! I liked it a lot, it just felt very short and simple which made it an easy read but I wanted more! Very enjoyable

The Secret Crush Book Club is a cozy, gently funny, warmhearted novel about finding love. Zoey works in a library, and when she meets Dani one day she feels an instant attraction, but the path to true love is never straight and easy! What follows is a page turning, very readable story about how Zoey and Dani finally manage to connect. I enjoyed dipping into their world, and found the novel to be escapist and uplifting.