This is my first read by Karmen Lee and certainly not my last!
Very queer and Black.
Very very spicy.
Small town trope.
This is a.p book that I would buy, recommend and reference when I do book recommendations.

This is perfect for you if you are looking for a read that is fun, spicy and fast paced.
I was engaged from beginning to end.
The FMCs are lovable and relatable.
I loved the storyline too.

I just wanted it to be longer!
Well done.

This was the small town sapphic romance I've been looking for.

Small town romances are some of my favourites, Dani and Zoey were no exception.

I loved watching these two on their journey of self discovery, especially since they were both at a later point in their lives.

WOC absolutely need this wonderful representation in the literary space that is Romance books.

3.75 stars

This series gets *just* a little better with each book. I think Dani and Zoey are my favorite couple so far. We get a lot of relationship and character development between them. Most of this book is them getting to know each other and navigating their lives within that. I love that this is a single mom and librarian. There is something cozy about it, and I don't usually gravitate towards single parent dynamics in romance, so this worked. The pacing was a bit slow going for a while, so it did take some time for me to really get into it. The story is a little cozy, pretty low angst, and easy to read. Overall, not to bad.

The Secret Crush Book Club by @authorkarmenlee
Genre: Sapphic Romance told in dual povs
Pages: 288
Release date: 8/26/2025

Synopis: When single mom and nurse Dani develop a surprising new crush on the town's new librarian, Zoey, a new relationship begins. The third book in the Peach Blossom Series, that follows the Williams sisters.

Thoughts:
*This was so sweet and cozy. I loved Dani and Zoey together; the progression of their relationship flowed really well.
*Loved how understanding Zoey was, especially in regards to Dani being a single mom.
*As for the side characters,Jordan and Tiffany were my favorite. But Dani's ex Jacob was so irritating, especially only being around for a few pages.
*The ending was delightfully satisfying.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for giving me the opportunity to read this sweet book.

#secretcrushbookclub, #sapphicromance, #biawakening, #smalltownromance, #peachblossomseries, #lgbtqromance

A lonely, single mom joins a book club led by a gorgeous librarian with a secret.

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 7 hours 11 minutes
🎤: Angel Pean
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Format: Dual POV
I have already found my love for this audiobook narrator in books like The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton. I really love her tempo and the sound of her voice as she reads. She gives agency and a voice to each character with only minute changes to her narration style. I never have to adjust my speed and she's very accurate and concise in her dictation. I will continue to seek out this audiobook narrator as a favorite.

Themes:
📖: Loneliness
📖: Love of family and friends
📖: Embracing the next chapter
📖: Coming out later in life

Representation:
📚: Sapphic relationship
📚: Single mom
📚: Black cast

Tropes:
💗: Friends to Lovers
💗: Book club
💗: Small Town

🥵: Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Potential Triggers: domestic violence **check authors page/socials for full list.

Short Synopsis:
Dani is a lonely single mom looking for a connection. Zoey is a librarian with a secret and a crush. Will book club start to sizzle?

General Thoughts:
The romance between Dani and Zoey is so sweet and romantic. But it's not without some conflict and tension which only adds to the sweet contrast between our FMC's.

I really enjoyed the single parent aspects involving our character Dani. The added tension involving her parenting with her ex-husband really set a tone for her storyline. Felt very relatable to what a lot of parents go through coparenting. I do feel like this particular aspect of the book remained unsolved for the most part though. There was no resolution for neither Danny Jordan or the father. And that was a little disappointing because it felt like a plot hole.

Zoey was a really fun character that I felt really paired nicely to Dani. I really liked Zoe's temperament and the overall way she carried herself. She was a fun character and easy to root for. However, I was a little underwhelmed with the huge secret that she was keeping from Dani and the town. I still don't really understand why it needed to be a secret. And I felt like the general reason given was very shallow and underwhelming as well.

I did really enjoy the general storyline, as well as the sexual tension that built up throughout the story. I felt like the sex scenes were well written and embodied the overall sweetness of the story. I felt the book moved at a very good pace and was just the right length to keep you entertained and ended at a good point before it became too long.

Overall, I've already purchased the authors backlog, and I will definitely continue to read her previous two books. I liked the story well enough to continue in this series of interconnected standalone's. I also would like to learn more about the characters I learned about in this novel.

Disclaimer: I read this audiobook via free ALC through NetGalley and Harlequin Audio. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The last book in the Peach Blossom Series 4⭐️

Dani is a divorced single mom. Zoey is the new librarian in town.

I absolutely loved this book. Though it was still a light and fluffy romance, it tackled topics like being a single parent, grief, and something of a sexual awakening.

I loved the parents of the Williams' girls. The father is seen as a pillar throughout the series. He seems like such a kind man. We find out in book one, that their mother pasted away. I really enjoyed that in each book, she wasn't forgotten and that each girl's version of grief was a main topic.

Though the sisterhood was still a mainstay in book 3, I feel like this book in particular focused on more who Dani was. In the previous 2 books, the sisters were practically main characters. I enjoyed the sisters taking a back seat in this final book.

Thank you Karmen Lee & NetGalley for this arc!

3.75/5
Admittedly this is my first Karmen Lee romance, and it would be the third in a series - love that it can be read as a standalone and that I did not feel lost at any point in this story.

This was definitely a very cute and a bit more on the lighter side of reading for me, which is not a bad thing at all. Felt like a refreshing change of pace. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for the same, check it out on August 26, 2025.

As a wlw who is also a single mother, I think it is amazing anytime I can sink my teeth into a story with one. Dani was definitely easily relatable for me in this way. I enjoyed following along with her insecurities with dating and her anxiety around what we should do and what we want to do. This felt well written to me as someone who has had the same inner conversations and concerns.

Throw into the mix an incredibly patient, understanding and sexy VELMA-esque librarian? Maaaaaan. This sexy librarian also runs a book club, and is also your favorite author?? Zoey was so incredibly adorable and I was very excited that she was able to find something healthy after being taken advantage of. I think we can all relate to this.

This was a slow burn that felt way more focused on the self-acceptance IMO. I love this. We deserve to be happy, we deserve to be praised and complimented. We deserve to bask in our accomplishments. We deserve easy love.

This was such a cute read!

It was well written. I normally find third person a little difficult to follow, but the author did a fantastic job at making this an easy read.

I enjoyed how accepting everyone was when Dani was starting to discover her sexuality and attraction towards Zoey. Being a divorced, single mom with an ex-husband who’s getting married and navigating her son’s emotions, while navigating her own emotions and changes - Dani is incredible. It also goes to show how you treat your child has an impact on how they respond to your life changes, super evident with Dani’s son and how he handles everything!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Overall, I thought this was cute and sweet! The writing felt a bit...stilted? And the story seemed to move quickly and slowly at the same time. Even with it falling a little flat overall, this was still a good read! I love the librarian representation and the questioning-orientation rep too!

Dani is a nurse and a single-mom just trying to keep her son happy and be there for her family. Eventually, the cute new librarian catches her eye and she starts questioning the feelings emerging within her.

Zoey is contracted to work one year at a library in a small town, which is perfect research for her next book. The mom of one of her favorite patrons is really cute and has her second-guessing if she really wants to leave Peach Blossom so soon

This is the second book by Karmen Lee that I have read. I really enjoy her style of writing and character development. Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The ending felt like it drug a bit, like there was uncertainty in how to end the story.

It also didn't feel like the characters were any particular race. The cover indicates a relationship between two African-American women. While reading the book, I didn't get the impression that they were of that race. I don't know if that was intentional or not, just an observation that I made.

I loved this!! I loved Dani, who has giving so much of herself to her family and then to her son, but now she's at loose ends. Watching her search for something more, search for herself and her chance for love....it was beautiful!! And Zoey? So wonderful! So sweet!! She made my librarian heart happy!! This book was an absolute joy!!

I had originally dnfed this book about 20% in, feeling unattached to the characters, but I’m glad I gave myself time to return to it, as when I did it felt like a really unique read, the story is shorter than most romances but follows a significantly more mature couple, who both have amazing communication skills and you’re feeling like you’re reading about a couple which will last the test of time.

This had some personal mild triggers for me. Like her ex Jacob! That man was on page for 2 pages and I was ready to “whoop dat sas” (in my Jill Scott voice). Then one of the conversations between Dani and her sisters sounded a little to me like lesbians trying to protect Zoey from the baby gay. That sort of rubbed me the wrong way. <spoiler></spoiler>Because would Dani have been wrong if she was looking for a romantic connection but not a physical one? (As long as she was honest about that.) And she was asking for advice on the matter so why question her intentions??<spoiler></spoiler> With that being said I found the connection and chemistry between Dani and Zoey absolutely electric. Like I felt like a voyeur reading this book and it was hot! Another aspect that hit home was Dani navigating her dating life as a single mom. Lee touched on the very heart of my fears and concerns so I felt seen and connected to this book and Dani’s character. I will definitely be going back to read Ava and Vani’s stories because all the characters in this book felt worth getting to know deeper. While I enjoyed the book a lot, the pace felt a little top heavy on the build up, with not enough time spent with the characters really basking in the HEA. And I would have liked an ending that didn’t feel like a hard stop, but I’m always thrown off when I don’t get an epilogue. (yes I’m greedy I’m aware) Overall I truly enjoyed this read and can’t wait to add it to my shelf because it’s my favorite cover in this series for sure!

Honestly very insta-love for my taste. Lots could have worked for me but overall it felt kind of bland.

Definitely my favorite of the series, I am so happy Dani got her happy ending. Zoey is absolutely adorable in this, and she's so understanding of Dani needing to prioritize her son. This is a sweet, lighthearted read without too much angst and with very little conflict.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

*4.5

This was just a cute book. The two of them had big giant crushes on each other and I loved to see it. The scenes where she asked her sisters about how they knew they were gay and that she wanted to have sex with Zoey were so funny.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Peach Blossom really sounds like the best place

Cozy romances, low angst, low drama, hot lesbians in fun clubs! Now we get some hot librarians and lovely bookclub chats. This was darling.

Single mom not really trying to date but wouldn’t say no to a nice man when the sexy new librarian makes her question if man is really what she wants.

I think this might be my favorite in the series.

Super cute.

Thanks to netgalley and afterglow for an eARC.

Karmen Lee never fails to deliver a sweet slice of sapphic comfort. The town of Peach Blossom in my mind is the perfect comparison to Ashley Herring Blake's ‘Bright Falls’ series, and in this episode of love-moves-next-door we meet the new librarian Zoey, who is interested in Dani. Unlike her two other sisters, Dani has never been with a woman and is a single mom to her son Jordan.

The courtship provides insight into the questions surrounding realising sexuality later-in-life. Zoey has experience with other women who were merely experimenting and is patient while remaining open as Dani shows up authentically.

The plot is well paced, the yearning is palpable and its refreshing that Dani is supported by colleagues, friends, family and even her ex-husband who addresses the rumours with no malice towards dating women. Lee writes about a world where people understand sexuality is fluid and to learn about yourself requires safety and support - which she delivers in spades. It’s truly my lesbian disney and I wish I had grown up with this kind of representation.

I do feel like I missed a lot not reading the other books in this series - I'd hoped for something a little more standalone, but as Dani is the eldest sister and the last to get her sapphic happy ending, there's a feeling of expectation that you're already familiar with the small town and its denizens.

I was also hoping a little more for more of the book club and book club interactions - instead most of their meet cute moments are at the library, with the esports teams Dani's son is a member of and that Zoey sponsors or while Dani is out on dates with men. It's still very cute and sweet, but I had a shift expectations in a big way, especially since the secret crush isn't much of a secret for very long.

I did really like Dani and Zoey and how they're presented as very real characters with good networks of family and friends, juggling their lives in ways that resonated but still reflected the choices they'd have to consider to pursue a new romantic relationship. It all but flew by, and I feel like that's probably my biggest complaint here is that we don't get a lot of time with Dani and Zoey as a couple or their feelings for each other - the conflict here is how to fit each other into their lives and the internal conflict on those changes, rather than their feelings for each other.

ARC Review: Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide my honest thoughts on this book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶🌶

"The Secret Crush Book Club" by Karmen Lee is a wonderfully heartfelt and beautifully crafted queer romance that offers a refreshing take on finding love and self-discovery.

We meet Dani, a character who will resonate deeply with anyone juggling life's relentless demands. As a single mom and a dedicated nurse, her days are packed, leaving precious little time for herself, let alone romance. We see her navigating dates with men, often feeling a disconnect and wondering if it's her busy life, or simply a lack of chemistry. She's still figuring things out, navigating the complexities of adulthood which really resonate it with me.

Then there's Zoey, the new town librarian, who immediately charmed me. Zoey carries a secret... a quiet, undeniable crush on Dani. Unsure if Dani is even open to a relationship with a woman, Zoey ingeniously finds a way to bridge the gap: she invites Dani to her town's very real, very legitimate book club (😏). What starts as a shared love for literature (or perhaps just an excuse to be in the same room) slowly blossoms into something more. The subtle, nervous flirting that unfolds within the book club meetings is an absolute delight to read! It's tender, authentic, and builds a delicious tension.

A particularly enjoyable aspect was witnessing Dani's evolution. As she spends more time with Zoey, she begins to reflect on her past dating experiences and starts to realize that the deep, authentic connection she's been longing for is exactly what she's experiencing with Zoey. It's truly cool to see her open up to the possibility of her own interest in Zoey and explore what a relationship with her could look like. This journey of self-realization, embracing a late-in-life queer romance, is particularly well-done, offering a much-needed narrative that speaks to finding your true self and happiness at any stage.

However, where the book could have reached higher for me was in the depth and complexity of its characters. While I rooted for Dani and Zoey and their budding romance, I sometimes felt that their internal struggles and character arcs didn't delve as deeply as they could have. There wasn't a strong sense of significant obstacles for them to overcome beyond the initial premise, and I wished for their personalities and backstories to be more fully fleshed out. This doesn't detract from the overall sweetness and charm of the story, but it kept me from a higher rating.

If you're looking for a beautifully written, emotionally resonant queer romance that celebrates finding yourself, building trust, and the courage to let love in, "The Secret Crush Book Club" is definitely worth picking up. It's a testament to the idea that sometimes, the most profound connections begin in the most unexpected, and delightfully bookish, places.