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A review by happyeverabigail
Flirty Little Secret by Jessica Lepe
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
Amazing debut!! This is just a wonderful romance, I pretty much only have positive things to say about it. I got the 5 star tingles when I first started this and that never waned.
I am SEEN. Lucy has ADHD, depression, and anxiety. She is a whole ass human in this and experiences the whole spectrum of emotions and as a reader I was just right there along with her. The depression rep hit so hard to me in particular when she would describe her difficulties with executive dysfunction. The shame and guilt that follows after doing something so simple you put off for so long. When it feels like just simply going through the motions of the day is so hard. Even when you have an incredible support system and meds. As important as stories are where characters discover and begin treatment for their mental illnesses I love that in this one the main character is simply in the middle of it. This is the everyday of being an easy crier, of battling overwhelming emotions. Lucy is truly an icon and I love her. I honestly wish I had her confidence to wear your heart on your sleeve as much as she did.
But don’t worry, this book isn’t just about mental illness or depression, etc. There is a ton of humor in this as well. All the side characters and internal monologue of Lucy is freaking hilarious. All credit to this author in how she can describe something as simple as a boring conversation in a teachers lounge but with so much side commentary I am smiling from how fun this all is to read.
There are some really interesting side plots in this. The MMC is going through a lot with his family and I liked that he wasn’t perfect either. I always appreciate when a MC isn’t made to apologize or be the lesser partner because of their mental illness and Fletcher does an amazing job at accepting Lucy for who she is. And yet he still has his own issues, particularly with being direct with people, something he has to painfully learn by the end.
I will warn that there can tend to be moments of info dumping especially about either of their backgrounds but I thought it all served a purpose and it was never their relationship dynamic that was dumped. They had so many meet cute-y moments I was swooning.
Thank you to Forever for the eARC!
I am SEEN. Lucy has ADHD, depression, and anxiety. She is a whole ass human in this and experiences the whole spectrum of emotions and as a reader I was just right there along with her. The depression rep hit so hard to me in particular when she would describe her difficulties with executive dysfunction. The shame and guilt that follows after doing something so simple you put off for so long. When it feels like just simply going through the motions of the day is so hard. Even when you have an incredible support system and meds. As important as stories are where characters discover and begin treatment for their mental illnesses I love that in this one the main character is simply in the middle of it. This is the everyday of being an easy crier, of battling overwhelming emotions. Lucy is truly an icon and I love her. I honestly wish I had her confidence to wear your heart on your sleeve as much as she did.
But don’t worry, this book isn’t just about mental illness or depression, etc. There is a ton of humor in this as well. All the side characters and internal monologue of Lucy is freaking hilarious. All credit to this author in how she can describe something as simple as a boring conversation in a teachers lounge but with so much side commentary I am smiling from how fun this all is to read.
There are some really interesting side plots in this. The MMC is going through a lot with his family and I liked that he wasn’t perfect either. I always appreciate when a MC isn’t made to apologize or be the lesser partner because of their mental illness and Fletcher does an amazing job at accepting Lucy for who she is. And yet he still has his own issues, particularly with being direct with people, something he has to painfully learn by the end.
I will warn that there can tend to be moments of info dumping especially about either of their backgrounds but I thought it all served a purpose and it was never their relationship dynamic that was dumped. They had so many meet cute-y moments I was swooning.
Thank you to Forever for the eARC!