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kcbatts's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
While this book is a little repetative, it was a cute premise with very enjoyable moments. I really like Fletcher and Lucy together and loved their friendship, just wish we saw more of it after the big reveal.
I hated the third act break up and had to suspend reality for their make-up.
I mostly enjoyed reading this, but doubt I'll revisit.
I hated the third act break up and had to suspend reality for their make-up.
I mostly enjoyed reading this, but doubt I'll revisit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Minor: Pregnancy
livaausma's review
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Good prompt, loveable caracters and good vibes.
But I feel as if it but could've been executed better.
Many conflicts were due to miscommunication which is undoubtedly the worst reason, and it felt like, the conflict wasn't even that big to begin with. Some characters were too stereotypical and there seemed to be too much introduction to characters that never really showed up again(the gym teacher) and some where I felt like I needed more from than a stereotypical cardboard cut-out (such as Fletcher's mom) . On the other hand, I loved the character development of some characters (Georgia, somewhat also Lucy, and Fletcher's dad).
The flow of the storyline and development was too fast at times - them beingin love after knowing one another for a week, then stopping to tlak because of Georgia, then being in love and then the 3rd stage breakup ; all of this felt too rushed. Similar with the student and the DJ. While these things do happen IRL, I feel like the student then joining the confidence group and making Lucy aware she should maybe forgive Fletcher seemed very OOC for me .
Lastly, I want to mention the mental health struggles. I liked that it was said and shown that it is okay to struggle and that everyone is worth being loved, cared for, and deserves happiness. With that being said, it felt a bit too much/fast/...? :Lucy's breakdown in the closet in school and her admitting to all of her struggles was somewhat OOC for me, as she seemed like someone not showing others her cards. Fletcher's subsequent love confessions is another problem: while it is great that he wants to support her, I feel like the conversation is only focused on whether he would be ok dating someone with mental health struggles and neurodivergance - not the other way around: does he know how to help her when she is feeling very depressed, would he know how to calm her down (because in this situation where she has a meltdown, he confesses his love to her... which is not helping her inner racing thoughts and anxiety.) is he ok putting her first in situations when she needs him? All of this is not talked about. It's like: oh, he really likes her, so he does't see her anxiety&depression&ADHD as a problem, YAY. while simultaneously ignoring the reality of the situation and putting her through even more hardships by lying and not being forthright with the whole IG DMs miscommunication.
And lastly, Lucy has terrible self-worth complexes and does not trust anyone to have her best interests at heart. This was really glossed over and also did not seem to get better throughout the novel. And while it was a happy ending, for anyone reading, I feel like it is really important to know how much you are worth and to love yourself and have respect for yourself before starting a relationship. Because if you don't, you could be taken advantage off (mentally, physically, financially and in any other way). While Lucy was had a HEA with someone kindhearted and giving, someone with a similar situation and low self-esteem would not be so lucky. With that being said, take care of you and know your worth <3
But I feel as if it but could've been executed better.
Many conflicts were due to miscommunication which is undoubtedly the worst reason, and it felt like, the conflict wasn't even that big to begin with. Some characters were too stereotypical and there seemed to be too much introduction to characters that never really showed up again
The flow of the storyline and development was too fast at times - them being
Lastly, I want to mention the mental health struggles. I liked that it was said and shown that it is okay to struggle and that everyone is worth being loved, cared for, and deserves happiness. With that being said, it felt a bit too much/fast/...? :
And lastly, Lucy has terrible self-worth complexes and does not trust anyone to have her best interests at heart. This was really glossed over and also did not seem to get better throughout the novel. And while it was a happy ending, for anyone reading, I feel like it is really important to know how much you are worth and to love yourself and have respect for yourself before starting a relationship. Because if you don't, you could be taken advantage off (mentally, physically, financially and in any other way). While Lucy was had a HEA with someone kindhearted and giving, someone with a similar situation and low self-esteem would not be so lucky. With that being said, take care of you and know your worth <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, and Infidelity
vickie0326's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infidelity
mamawantsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wonderful love child of Abbott Elementary and You’ve Got Mail. I love the representation with the FMC (Mexican! Moroccan! Jewish! Mental health issues!) and the MMC was just a bby cinnamon roll.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
newandhorrible's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
THIS WAS SO CUTE
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
lololovesthings's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 stars!
I so very much enjoyed "Flirty Little Secret" by Jessica Lepe, which is a fresh, modern take on a "You've Got Mail"-type of story. This one is SO funny! I feel like I laughed constantly throughout the entire book. I loved the connection between Lucy and Fletcher. I was instantly drawn to them and their love story. Their relationship starts out rocky, but the more they lean on each other, get to know one another, and open up to one another, a tender bond between them forms. The mental health representation is the star of the show here. This book has some of the best mental health discussions I have seen as of late. The conversations around mental illness felt totally realistic, wholly purposeful, and remarkably compassionate. It wasn't just thrown in without any rhyme or reason. Lepe really took her time crafting Lucy and Fletcher's mental health struggles and issues so that they felt lived-in and relatable. Lucy's struggles with imposter syndrome, depression, and anxiety felt extremely pertinent to me. There *is* a ton of miscommunication in this story, but it didn't seem to bother me as much as it has in the past in other novels. I think it's because Lucy and Fletcher are so dang likable and lifelike. Also, A+ representation as Lucy is Moroccan Jewish and Mexican. There are a half-dozen things I could pick apart about this book, but at the end of the day, it made me feel seen and made me feel really good about what I just read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Lepe, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I so very much enjoyed "Flirty Little Secret" by Jessica Lepe, which is a fresh, modern take on a "You've Got Mail"-type of story. This one is SO funny! I feel like I laughed constantly throughout the entire book. I loved the connection between Lucy and Fletcher. I was instantly drawn to them and their love story. Their relationship starts out rocky, but the more they lean on each other, get to know one another, and open up to one another, a tender bond between them forms. The mental health representation is the star of the show here. This book has some of the best mental health discussions I have seen as of late. The conversations around mental illness felt totally realistic, wholly purposeful, and remarkably compassionate. It wasn't just thrown in without any rhyme or reason. Lepe really took her time crafting Lucy and Fletcher's mental health struggles and issues so that they felt lived-in and relatable. Lucy's struggles with imposter syndrome, depression, and anxiety felt extremely pertinent to me. There *is* a ton of miscommunication in this story, but it didn't seem to bother me as much as it has in the past in other novels. I think it's because Lucy and Fletcher are so dang likable and lifelike. Also, A+ representation as Lucy is Moroccan Jewish and Mexican. There are a half-dozen things I could pick apart about this book, but at the end of the day, it made me feel seen and made me feel really good about what I just read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Lepe, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicidal thoughts
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I would like to thank NetGalley and Forever, Grand Central Publishing, for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
At work, Lucy Galindo is a guidance counselor trying her best to make an impact on her students while managing her anxiety and depression. Online, she’s @TheMissGuidedCounselor and always knows the right thing to say. Yet, when the new history teacher, Aldrich Fletcher, discovers that Lucy is behind the account he has been messaging for over a year, Lucy and Fletcher have to learn how to trust in order to let each other in.
Flirty Little Secret is such a delightful rom-com that also handles serious topics regarding mental health and emotional baggage with grace. While at one point you are hysterically laughing at the wit Lepe creates in these characters, the next you may find yourself emotional as you relate to Lucy’s and Fletcher’s struggles throughout the book.
At its heart, Flirty Little Secret is about two people opening themselves up again despite their past. With Lucy living in a world not designed for neurodivergent folk and Fletcher as he deals with his family falling apart, Lepe beautifully captures their story onto the page as they learn to trust each other as they begin to heal.
Now, I want to remind folks that Lepe’s Flirty Little Secret contains topics of a sensitive manner, so I would encourage you to review content warnings before deciding to read this book.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a workplace romance with positive neurodivergent rep and a dash of the pen pals trope, you come to the right place with Lepe’s Flirty Little Secret.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Ableism and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Suicidal thoughts, and Racial slurs
my_bookish_diary's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“Flirty Little Secret,” by Jessica Lepe was a book I went into really wanting to love and came away from only liking it overall – with a few exceptions. To start with, I did enjoy the characters. Lucy is a character that I strongly relate to regarding my own mental health battles, and I absolutely love seeing characters who can accurately illustrate what it’s like living day-to-day with mental health struggles and neurodivergent thinking patterns. I loved that her character wasn’t distilled down into her mental health struggles, and that we got to see her successfully navigate her career while dealing with her own personal issues, and how that affected her on an emotional level. I loved seeing her confidence grow over the course of the book, but I also liked that, by the end, she wasn’t a supremely confident character whose mental health struggles were somehow cured by being in a relationship. I liked that there was a more realistic approach – yes, she gains confidence, yes, she gets the guy, but she ALSO still has ADHD and battles depression. She can be all these things, and do all these things, and is still a valued member of her family, a beloved friend, a well-liked colleague, the object of another’s desire, a whole, real, beautifully honest person, and I appreciated that aspect of this book.
As for Fletcher – he seemed to be pretty much all green flags, which was nice in the context of this book. He starts off with some issues with confrontation, which he works on over the course of the book and, by the end, is finally able to stand up for himself a bit more. I appreciated that he never wavered in his attraction to Lucy or his desire to pursue a relationship with her, and that when she confided in him about her mental health struggles, he was so supportive and wanted to learn more about how he could help her instead of trying to change her or making her feel like she needed to be anything other than what she was. All in all, the actual romance portion of this book was cute and enjoyable, and I appreciated the neurodivergent representation.
Now, there were some things that I found off-putting about this book as well. Mainly, the inclusion in the story of a school group with triple K initials. The group itself is not a hate group and is actually supposed to be a group that encourages confidence in teens, but I thought the name of the group having triple K initials was unnecessary and, for me, detracted from the story every time it was mentioned – which was honestly way more than it needed to be. Thematically, it seems like the author intended for the name of this group to be a sore point, which it was, especially for Lucy, who has wanted to get it changed to something else for what seems like quite some time. The reason it hasn’t been changed is given as being due to there not being enough in the school budget for a new curriculum for the group, and the group is named after the curriculum. I’m not sure why the name of the club couldn’t have been changed, regardless of the name of the curriculum. Lucy does eventually gain the confidence to bring up the name to the school principal and get it changed, and this is a big moment for her character, as it illustrates some major growth on her part in her ability to confidently stand up for herself and others and feel competent in her job. However, I think it would have been entirely possible for the author to find a different way for Lucy to go through this same growth arc without the club having the same initials as a hate group, and it would have made those parts of the book more bearable to read. If the point was to make the reader as uncomfortable with the name as Lucy and her students must have felt, it worked.
Overall, this was a cute story, and I hope that Lucy’s sisters get their own books as well, because I felt like there was definitely potential for more out of these characters and this author. Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc. My review has been my honest and unbiased opinion.
As for Fletcher – he seemed to be pretty much all green flags, which was nice in the context of this book. He starts off with some issues with confrontation, which he works on over the course of the book and, by the end, is finally able to stand up for himself a bit more. I appreciated that he never wavered in his attraction to Lucy or his desire to pursue a relationship with her, and that when she confided in him about her mental health struggles, he was so supportive and wanted to learn more about how he could help her instead of trying to change her or making her feel like she needed to be anything other than what she was. All in all, the actual romance portion of this book was cute and enjoyable, and I appreciated the neurodivergent representation.
Now, there were some things that I found off-putting about this book as well. Mainly, the inclusion in the story of a school group with triple K initials. The group itself is not a hate group and is actually supposed to be a group that encourages confidence in teens, but I thought the name of the group having triple K initials was unnecessary and, for me, detracted from the story every time it was mentioned – which was honestly way more than it needed to be. Thematically, it seems like the author intended for the name of this group to be a sore point, which it was, especially for Lucy, who has wanted to get it changed to something else for what seems like quite some time. The reason it hasn’t been changed is given as being due to there not being enough in the school budget for a new curriculum for the group, and the group is named after the curriculum. I’m not sure why the name of the club couldn’t have been changed, regardless of the name of the curriculum. Lucy does eventually gain the confidence to bring up the name to the school principal and get it changed, and this is a big moment for her character, as it illustrates some major growth on her part in her ability to confidently stand up for herself and others and feel competent in her job. However, I think it would have been entirely possible for the author to find a different way for Lucy to go through this same growth arc without the club having the same initials as a hate group, and it would have made those parts of the book more bearable to read. If the point was to make the reader as uncomfortable with the name as Lucy and her students must have felt, it worked.
Overall, this was a cute story, and I hope that Lucy’s sisters get their own books as well, because I felt like there was definitely potential for more out of these characters and this author. Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc. My review has been my honest and unbiased opinion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, and Mental illness
chemistryreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I loved this book up until ~50% of the way through. I loved the mixed cultures of the FMC and how her family was a big part of this book from the mixed heritage to their Jewish beliefs. I loved the mental health representation- as someone who also has anxiety and depression, I thought the descriptions were really spot on. However, I feel like the plot started to unravel at 50% thought the book. The characters went from barely being friends to hot and heavy and then back to kinda friends and it just lacked flow. It started feeling repetitive and excuse driven in the second half and really put down the FMC for her weaknesses. I get that the FMC was putting herself down and there were other people to pick her up, but as someone who shares these plights, I felt offended and also put down. Then all of the suddenly, literally every plot line was 100% resolved and everyone was so happy. I got emotional and plot-driven whiplash. I feel like more editing and refinement would’ve made this a more enjoyable read. 3.25⭐️, 2🌶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
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