This one felt all over the place to be honest, both with plot and character development. The pacing was just off, and the progression of the story felt stilted at moments and too fast at others. My favorite character was the MCs 11 year old son.

It's a very sweet romance that isn't heart pounding or intense. Kind of slow at points but the dual POV is enjoyable. Well written too.

The Secret Crush Book Club was the third in Karmen Lee’s series of sapphic romances set in small town Peach Blossom, GA. Dani and Zoey’s connection makes so much sense to me. As does their hesitancy. Perhaps the most relatable being that Dani has a time line for introducing a new partner into her life, and no one has made it far enough for her to even have to think about introducing them to her family. But, with Zoey, she wants only to forget all of that, but also refuses to, because her son comes first. True to life, for me at least, is the way in which despite how full and busy both their lives already are, when the person is someone you connect with; when they’re the right person, you naturally start to fit them into your life wherever you can. Their story is propelled by their internal second guessing, their interactions with their families, and each other.
As the third book in the series, readers have already had a chance to get to know most of the peripheral characters. I love the auntie-nephew bonding, the sisters leaning on each other, and a multigenerational home. But, I wanted more of Jordan and his dad. I want more insight into Jordan’s perspective of his parents. If I could change one thing about Dani and Zoey’s story: I would request a clearer timeline. It seems as though it takes place over only a few weeks. Specific dates are never given, instead time passing is referred to by days or weeks often without numbers, but only vague words, such as a few days ago. While this works out if there is another frame of reference, such as a month or an upcoming event, when the points of reference are other time approximations, it can be confusing.

Tropes
Slow burn
Single mom
Librarian who is also a secret author
Queer-awakening at 30
It's not about the label

Content Warning
Divorce (prior to the beginning of the story)
Death of parents (prior to the beginning of the story)
Gaslighting ex-husband

I. Love. This. Book.

This is my first Karmen Lee, and it most certainly won't be my last. When I saw this ARC on NetGalley, I knew I had to have it. Not only had KL been on my TBR for a while, but black sapphic romance with books involved sounded PERFECT.

And that's pretty much what this story is for me. Since I didn't read the other two, I worried I might be behind on some details, but KL does a good job at making this a standalone. The only question I did have (about the son's age), gets answered during the story, so I was good.

Dani and Zoey are two imperfect characters battling their own struggles to find happiness in the town of Peach Blossom.

Dani is a single mom with an ex who needs an attitude adjustment. She's also surrounded by family and friends who support her in realistic ways. This wasn't a story of struggling to provide of making her look bad. These are HEALTHY relationships - which I loved.

Zoey is a librarian and author who recently moved to town. She is somewhat shy at the beginning of the book, but it becomes clear her crush on Dani is the reason why. Her journey to opening up more and trusting their relationship is heartwarming. She also has a brother in the military and he was hilarious when he came on the scene.

While there is a third act breakup in this one, it is short lived and realistic IMHO. I related to this story far more than I thought I would. I also FLEW through it. I'm talking gobbling up pages into the night because I had to know what these two were doing. When I woke up at 2 am and grabbed my Kindle, I knew this story was magic. Because WTF ... I'm supposed to be sleep and I'm itching to know how the book goes.

Overall, this is a 5/5 for me. It makes me want to read books 1 and 2, which I'm sure I'll do once I finish up the few ARCs I need to get through.

HUGE THANKS to Harlequin Romance, Karmen Lee, and NetGalley for the eARC of this one. It publishes Aug 26, 2025 for anyone interested. Definitely get your copy!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an advanced copy of this book!

This was such a great read! I was not familiar with the author but found myself wanting to read more of her work. This is the third book in the series, but you do not have to read them in any order. I did end up reading the other books just because I enjoyed this one so much.

There were so many things I liked about this book. The pacing was well done and the characters were all likeable.

Zoey was such a refreshing character. She was so sweet and patient with Dani. Her dynamic with her coworker was so funny to me and I felt that despite how short the story was, she was an extremely developed character. I was initially worried that we were going to get the opposite with Dani. She started off constantly mentioning how unhappy she was with her life and I assumed that would be her entire characteristic. However, I do love her growth and how the author navigated her relationship with Zoey.

Would definitely continue to read more from this author.

This is a good contemporary sapphic romance. Hot librarian? Secret identity? Hot nurse? Single mom? Small town? It’s got a little bit of everything. Oh and don’t forget the bi-awakening! I love the friendships, family, and relationships in this book. I can’t believe I haven’t read anything else by Karmen, but I certainly will. They’re all on my wish list now!

The Secret Crush Book Club is a charming, feel-good romance with a bookish twist. Zoey and Dani are both easy to root for, and watching their connection grow—from sweet flirting to something deeper—was really heartwarming. I loved how their relationship unfolded in a setting full of literary love: libraries, book clubs, and thoughtful recs.

What made this story even more special was the strong support system around both characters. Dani’s close-knit family and her friend Natasha, along with Zoey’s bond with her brother and coworker Tiffany, added warmth and emotional depth to the story. It’s a cozy, uplifting read for anyone who loves romance and a good dose of bookish charm.

This was just what I needed. I was having a book hangover and didn’t know where to go. This had just what I wanted: small-town vibes, book clubs, and love.

I’ve read some sapphic romances in the past that just left me scarred, so I was a little nervous coming into this. But this was just too freaking adorable. While this is book 3 in this series, it can be read as a standalone. I didn’t realize it was a part of a series; however, not having read the first two didn’t change the reading experience. It does make me want to read the first two, though. (I will always take the time to celebrate Black love.)

Dani and Zoey were great characters, and I genuinely liked all of the characters… well, not all. There was one that I did not care for. (Jordan’s dad made me wanna cuss him out, but I had to remember he was a fictional character.) I enjoyed this small, cozy town where everyone knows everyone. I also appreciated that the author showed another aspect of what the library provides. As the new librarian, Zoey set up a small computer lab for the youth and created a club for esports. I absolutely loved that. But Zoey isn’t just your ordinary librarian… she’s also a best-selling author. Dani works as a nurse and has a son. These two complement each other very well. There is a bit of “will they/won’t they,” and I absolutely loved Mason.

While I enjoyed this, there did feel like some things were left unresolved, especially with Jacob, Jordan’s father. Maybe an epilogue would have helped with that. I loved one scene, in particular, with Dani and her father. It’s okay not to have everything in your life figured out by a certain age. Life just doesn’t work like that… because “sometimes, chapter one happens after the book has already begun.”

While this series is available on Kindle Unlimited, please support your local library or local indie bookshop.

i’m in my romance era, this book was perfect!!! i haven’t read the first two books in the series and didnt feel like i was missing anything (which i love for interconnected series). i will definitely be going back to read the first two. i just loved how the queer awakening was done in this book, perfect, fantastic, all the adjectives

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF at 38%. Unfortunately, I found the writing very difficult to read - there were continuous issues with word proximity or awkwardly written/overly long sentences, and minimal descriptions of settings and characters left the story feeling very ungrounded and nebulous. I also found it hard to get into plot-wise. Most of it consisted of characters talking or thinking, with very little actually happening. The titular book club only showed up once in the first scene, and it was a short scene that didn't particularly focus on books.

I really wanted to like this one, but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

Very cute love story. I really enjoyed how the setting revolved around a book club, and a library. This book made for a very quick beach read!

Thank you so much Harlequin for this eARC!!!
I loved this during Pride Month!! It was the perfect sapphic read :)

I am new to the Peach Blossom world - But I would say this book really roped me in.

Dani is a single mom trying to navigate her life while also juggling raising her teenage son. Shes cirious about love, but has no time to focus on this with her busy life. When picking up her son from the library, she runs into Zoey.
Zoey is the typical whimsical charming librarian, who has had a longstanding huge crush on Dani. Zoey makes her move by inviting Dani to join her book club - which brings us to the name - The Secret Crush Book Club!

But it works!! Dani feels the connection blossoming with Zoey through their increasing interactions.
They attempt to work on their relationship while the world continues to move around them. Dani is attempting to work through her new ideas of sexuality, with the help of both her gay sisters. Dani is also trying to navigate introducing a new relationship into her sons life, who is already struggling with family change. Zoey is trying to support Dani throughout these hard times, while also hoping to continue their budding relationship.

I thought this was such a cute quick read!
As a member of the LGBTQ community myself, who took a while to find myself in this community, I loved reading through Dani's journey to discovering herself. I love how she communicated with her sisters while trying to navigate her feelings

I thought they were so cute and I was rooting for them and thier newfound family so hard.

My only feedback was that the book was so short! Short and sweet
I also didnt read the previous books (absolutely my bad) - But I feel that I wouldve enjoyed it more had I known all the characters
Learn from my mistakes!!

This book was adorable!! It was my first sapphic romance! All of the characters were so cute except Dani's baby father,Jacob. I liked how the characters worked on their insecurities and pushed to make everything work. It almost fell a part but Jordan saved the day. I also liked how the small town knew what was going on and didnt criticize them on their choices. This was a first time read by the author and I want to read more of her works. I am thankful I get to diversify my reading choices!!

✨ Review for The Secret Crush Book Club by Karmen Lee ✨

Dani is a newly divorced single mom trying to rebuild her life, while Zoey, a librarian and writer, is looking for inspiration. When the two reconnect through a local book club, sparks fly—and what starts as friendly banter turns into something deeper, sweeter, and surprisingly steamy.

For just 176 pages, this story packed so much heart! The Secret Crush Book Club is a fast-paced sapphic romance that blends emotional healing, motherhood, and rediscovering desire. I loved how it centered on a woman making space for herself and her happiness while still showing up fully for her child.

Dani and Zoey’s chemistry felt real and unforced—their slow-burn dynamic kept me hooked, and when things finally got intimate… WHEW, it delivered. Plus, the dialogue had some laugh-out-loud moments—there’s a quote I need to go back and highlight because it had me cracking up.

A cozy book club as the backdrop for a second-chance love story? Yes please. Sweet, funny, and delightfully spicy, this was such a satisfying read. I’ll definitely be checking out more from Karmen Lee.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

The Secret Crush book club is a slow burn WLW romance. Dani is a single mom who is dedicated to her son. She works full time but feels as if she is having a quarter life crisis. When she expresses this fear to Zoey, the towns newest librarian, it changes her life in more ways than a self help book ever could have. What I loved about this book is their love and understanding for each other was so pure. They didn't bad mouth each other and Zoey didn't loose her mind when Dani had to choose her son over everything else. One thing to note, is this book is part of a series and while it can be read alone, there are people in this story who you would understand a lot more if you read the other books in the series. Overall, this book is a cozy read with a little bit of spice and a whole lot of love.

I loved the small town setting. It was cozy and wholesome with a dash of spice near the middle.

This book was really cute following the life of a single parent who is about to have a queer awakening and the other character who is willing to help. Zoey was such a fun character and I liked the chemistry she had with Dani.

This book ended way sooner than I was expecting. It felt like it was surface level development but if you’re in the mood for a wholesome quick romance read then I’d suggest it.

Plot: 6/10
Pace: 6/10
Ending: 5/10
Characters: 7/10
Enjoyability: 5/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character: Zoey

Favorite Quote: ❝ "Just contemplating homicide. Trying to decide if I should bury the body or take some time off to drive down and drop it in the Everglades." ❞

The writing just wasn't for me on this one. I love book clubs, I'm looking to explore more sapphic romances, and the page count on this was appealing to me as someone who is reading too many large fantasy books. Unfortunately, the writing felt so all over the place and character names were name dropped without ever being introduced, I was confused the whole time I tried to read this. I also didn't feel any chemistry between the two main characters- one who doesn't know how to socialize because they are a workaholic mom and the other who is a socially anxious mess with a huge crush. I DNFd at 20% in so I don't want to rate lower than 3-stars because there is still a chance that the story got better. If you like linear thinking and clear progression this one may not be for you; however, if you're here just for a quick sapphic read and don't mind a slightly messy story telling style than this may still appeal to you!

Thank you Harlequin, Karmen and Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It pains me to say that unfortunately book three in the Peach Blossom series didn’t hit the mark like the first two books did.

The pacing of this one was just too fast. And I felt like we were missing a lot of dialogue and plot. I loved Ava’s book so much. It was such a good book. Vini’s was pretty decent. I felt like there could have been a few extra moments or discussions had. But overall, a pretty good book. With Dani’s, I felt like it wasn’t really thought out. It was like, well Dani’s the last (well she’s the oldest) sister to get a book. Guess I just have to write it. It just felt rushed to me.

I was really looking forward to reading Dani’s story. Finding out more about her. She seemed very interesting in the first two books. And getting to see more of the family was fun. Even though, it was still rushed. Even Zoey’s side was just as rushed. And she didn’t feel like a fully fleshed out character. Just someone who was raised by her brother and was used by another woman. That’s it.

Even though this one didn’t work well for me, I’m still excited to see what Karmen comes out with in the future!

2.5/5 stars

I got an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the publisher to give an honest review. Gratitude to NetGalley, Karmen Lee, and Afterglow Books from Harlequin.

 

I love seeing Dani finally getting back into the dating game. She has a busy life. As a single mom and a full-time worker, she has a lot on her plate. It was great to see her finally take care of herself.  One way she does that is to go to a book club. There, she gets better acquainted with a new person. She finds someone whom she not only finds attractive but also loves their personality.


That person is Zoey. She is the new librarian in town. She enjoys being in Peach Blossom but is wondering if she will stay. Zoey loves her job, but she also loves being a writer. Right now, she is focusing on her day job and her writing. But Dani’s friendship makes her love Peach Blossom more. She wants more than friendship; she wants to date Dani. But she does not know if Zoey feels the same. Heartbreak from the past causes Zoey not to want to be direct about how she feels.

I am glad that Zoey and Dani finally connected once they got over their reservations. I love their first date. It was a cute moment, especially when they were picking out snacks. It takes a while to get to that scene in the book. The two had a slow-burning romance. Which means it takes a while to get to the spicy parts, but it is worth the wait.

I was chosen as an early reader for this book and I’m so excited I was. It’s such a cute romantic book. Really recommend reading. A story written and told well. Loved how the characters were developed and how everyone and everything turned out