A review by queerafictionado
That Secret Something by Emily Wright

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 I LOVE me a good forbidden romance story and Emily Wright did not disappoint with this one! This story had all the things I love about this trope - tension, pining, spice, and of course…drama! I knew I was going to love this story from the start and I’m so glad Emily started by giving us a glimpse into their teen years - the (at least as Jess thought at the time) unrequited crush, the prom night disaster and Rebecca showing up in her swoon worthy burgundy suit to save the day, and the almost moment that never came… It reminded me of the Ross/Rachel prom story from Friends - but sapphic and happy because they actually went and therefore even better! 

I adored Jess and love the way Emily presented her struggles with anxiety. And the way Rebecca responds when Jess is feeling anxious is incredibly endearing. Jess was a big sweetheart who worked hard and always showed up for the people that mattered to her - like when her bff Lily gets engaged and wants Jess to be her wedding planner and becomes a bridezilla. The downside to being a people pleaser though (and I should know) is that you far too often set aside your own needs and wants for the sake of other people - like denying your attraction to someone for years.

And well…let’s just say I can understand why Jess harbored a crush on her best friend’s sister all those years - Rebecca Lawson is extremely crush worthy! 😍 She has that confident swagger, is effortlessly cool, and nearly everything that comes out of her mouth is flirty or sassy or combination of the two. I mean…the woman turned counting sheep into a sexual innuendo! 🫠 I fucking LOVE her!! And while the story was only told from Jess’s POV I liked that we got to see behind that calm, cool exterior to the internal struggles Rebecca dealt with - especially in regard to not feeling good enough. She had layers that added complexity and depth to her character beyond her heartthrob exterior. 

So when Jess is forced to work with her forbidden HS crush in planning her best friend’s wedding - it gets hard to squelch the horny teenager inside that is still clearly head over heels for the last person she should be starting something with - Lily’s sister. After chaos erupts at a wedding venue visit leading to a very charged moment in a supply closet - the pull becomes impossible to ignore. And oh boy! Do these two have chemistry! 🥵The dressing room…the car….the str🍆p scene…SO FREAKING GOOD!

You can tell from the very beginning that these two have something special between them. It crackles in the air every time they are in the same vicinity. Their connection was so strong I could feel it leap off the page and into my own heart. They just simply belong together. Plus this story has an adorable little sausage dog that will steal your heart! I highly recommend it! 

I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Bi FMC with Anxiety, Lesbian LI, black queer SC

📝Tropes/Themes: Sapphic Romance, Forbidden Love, Best Friend’s Sister, Spice, Str@p Scene, Wedding Drama, Cute Sausage Dog
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