You've For Mail meets Abbot Elementary school in this rom com about two teachers who are unknowingly best friends online who begin falling for each other in real life. Lucy Galindo is a school counselor with a secret, she's also the person behind the wildly popular blog @TheMissGuidedCounselor. Lucy may be shy and constantly trying to manage her anxiety and depression, however online, she is bold and confident. Aldrich Fletcher is the new history teacher that just transferred from a rich private school to get away from his drama filled family life only to find himself trying to dodge his ex-girlfriend who had cheated on him with his brother and is now currently working at a teacher at his new school and wants a second chance... and the fact that he's crushing on his new co-worker, a very cute guidance counselor... who just happens to be his online best friend @TheMissGuidedCounselor. Lucy and Fletcher constantly seem to run into each other at the worst possible time when they are seeing each other in real life but they are also constantly turning to each other online to ask for advice and talk to one another. Can these two take their online friendship and turn it into a real romance or are some things better left online. This was an okay rom com, both Fletcher and Lucy were dealing with a lot on their plates and the romance definitely took a back seat to their own problems. I guess for me, this book just didn't catch me as much as I had wish it did. Initially the premise sounded really cute but the overall story was just lacking the romance and the charm. It's not bad it's just not as memorable as I expected. I didn't really feel the romance between the two and their relationship just didn't exactly click for me. Overall if you like a rom com give it a go, maybe you'll have a better time with it then I did.

*Thanks Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

3.75 STARS

The comps for this book are You've Got Mail x Abbot Elementary, and while I don't disagree per se, for me I felt like I was reading Another Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff and Chad Micheal Murray but with adults! This is a very cute romance with a small dash of spice (read: really like one scene); the character development shines through in this book! Dealing with depression is hard for anyone, but I especially liked seeing a character who is expected to be a good example for others (a guidance counselor at a high school) struggle with it. It's the visibility we need in the mental health community.

Lucy is struggling with depression and keeping it all together as the guidance counselor for a public high school. She starts an anonymous motivational account on Instagram and ends up having a close friendship with another anonymous account. They get each other so well, it's perfect and she could never ruin it by revealing her identity. So what happens when she starts asking her online friend for advice with an IRL coworker she's a bit flirty with.. and what happens when the two of them seem to have very similar backstories.....

This book will also join my list of books that utilize the internet/social media in a cool way.

Congrats to this author on her debut romance :)

This was an okay read. I was expecting something a little bit more fun and exciting but this didn't deliver in that aspect. I did liked the premise of the book but I feel like it dragged out a little bit at times and that made it hard for me to enjoy this one.

A beautifully messy and OH SO RELATABLE dual POV, friends to lovers, workplace romance debut featuring a half Mexican, half Moroccan Jewish high school guidance counsellor with ADHD, anxiety and depression who constantly suffers with feeling inadequate and not enough.

This was such a heartfelt story with an UTTERLY real FMC, Lucy who has an alter ego identity online where she shares advice and is able to be the 'put-together' woman she aspires to be. Enter new history teacher, Fletcher, the man she's unknowingly been messaging online for months and become close friends with.

The two have an instant connection and slowly take a chance on their growing feelings. I loved how supportive Fletcher was, even as he was dealing with his own family drama, he always went out of his way to show Lucy she was enough just as she was - flaws and all.

Full of heart and a great cast of secondary characters, this was a laugh-out-loud funny romance that tackles important mental health issues and I absolutely cannot wait to see what Jessica Lepe writes next. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and physical ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: a couple of open door scenes

This one sounded so cute, the premise was super interesting, but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations, I did not truly enjoy this one and was thinking about DNF a few times. Their relationship just wasn't realistic to me and it just felt off to me.

A fun, debut that delves into serious topics. I’ve never read a book where the FMC feels like she came directly from my brain. Lucy’s struggles with anxiety and depression, feeling unloveable, and feeling like a burden were spot on. This is a romance where the FMC also needs to learn to love herself as well as the MMC. Lucy’s big, boisterous family were a great addition to the book, as well as the Jewish rep. Fletcher’s family is great, except for his dad. He’s trying, but man, he’s terrible.
Lucy and Fletcher’s relationship mostly developed online, which was fun to see, but if Lucy had really stopped and paid attention she would’ve figured out the conflict way before she did. I could tell what the third act breakup was going to be before it came, but it was necessary for Lucy’s journey. I love how patient and caring Fletcher is toward Lucy’s needs, and she’s the same for him when he needs it.
The Konfident Kids Klub is hysterical.
All in all, I really enjoyed this debut and laughed out loud a lot, Lucy is hysterical. Looking forward to seeing what’s next for this author!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Flirty Little Secret” by Jessica Lepe

I also was gifted this as an ARC from NetGalley and Forever Pub in exchange for my honest review.

First off I want to admire the author. Until I reached the ending I had no idea she was a debut author and this her debut novel. This novel captivated me. I could NOT put it down. Besides Abby Jimenez in “Yours Truly” no other author has made me feel seen. Jessica made me feel even more seen with this novel than I ever have before.

Now onto the book! 🙃

In social media we all show a fragment of ourselves that we want the world to see. For Lucy, @TheMissGuidedCounselor is who she wishes she could be. Her brain is broken. The simplest tasks are overwhelming sometimes and she just wants to duck into a closet and ugly cry. Sometimes cry for no reason. Sometimes have intrusive thoughts that she thinks everyone has to which said to the wrong person may raise some eyebrows and send her on a vacation with grippy socks. Hell should she even be trusted to guide these high schoolers?

For BravesGuy93 sometimes all you need is a friend. I mean names aren’t really that important right? Fletcher finds himself at a new job with a hell of a first day on more than one account. He quickly finds a real life friend in Lucy, and maybe more.

Will Lucy find her confidence? Will Fletcher reveal a secret he’s discovered?

I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something that touches your soul. Where you learn that you aren’t alone. If you want to laugh your ass off at a family lined up on a boulevard with lawn chairs, waiting. If you want to read about a different styled background heritage, cultural, ethnicity, in a novel that’s written so exquisitely.

In ONE month, support this DEBUT author and novel on her pub day 3/19/24! Trust me, you won’t regret it!

#BookDragon #Books #BookNerd #BookReviewer #BookNerd #ARC #FlirtyLittleSecret #NetGalley #ForeverPub #RomCom #Romance #MentalHealth

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

I love the set up for this book. Lucy is a high school guidance counselor who also writes IG posts as TheMissGuidedCounselor. She presents herself as the perfect advice giver in that space and keeps it quite intentionally separate from her IRL identity. And she does so even with her closest online friend, BravesGuy93. But little does she know, her two worlds collide when Fletcher, BravesGuy93, starts as a new teacher at her high school.

I really enjoyed the online messages and seeing them in the two different spaces. And I felt such tension waiting for the two of them to realize they knew each other.

I also really appreciated the great representation in this book. Lucy is Moroccan, Mexican, and Jewish, and she struggles with how people try to fit her into just one singular identity box. This is only further enhanced by her great family and the amazing food descriptions from her family's restaurant. I also found the own voices neurodivergent representation similarly well done.

This book started really strong for me, but I found myself growing more annoyed with Fletcher as the book continued. I wanted to see him learn from his mistakes more quickly and avoid some of the miscommunication trope. I thought this was a good debut romance.

I’ll admit I definitely judge books by their covers - and this one definitely drew me in! The texting vibe seemed cute, and I really enjoyed the added layer of anonymity between Lucy & Fletcher. Lucy’s mental health struggles felt really real & well represented, which added a layer of depth to the story in a lot of places. More than anything, I really loved Lucy’s family & her Mexican-Moroccan culture. Her sisters were amazing, and I’m so looking forward to the rest of the series for them to all find their love stories! Definitely add this to your TBR for its release in a month on 3/19!

I’m a big fan of You’ve Got Mail/epistolary romances, so I jumped at the chance to read Flirty Little Secret. This was a cute read, but sadly it was like and not love for me.

Things started with an epic meet disaster, but the story didn’t really draw me in at first and I contemplated DNF’ing several times. I’m glad I stuck with it though since I really appreciated the Jewish and mental health representation. The discussions about anxiety, panic attacks, depression, ADHD, etc were done especially with care and attention. The secondary characters were also a ton of fun and I loved Lucy’s hilarious coworker and family and their lack of personal boundaries. LOL

Unfortunately, it was the romance that didn’t quite work for me. Things didn’t seem to flow naturally between Fletcher and Lucy. I didn’t feel any strong connection between them to merit their level of feelings/confessions of love. I’m also not a fan of the lying by omission/miscommunication trope and I became frustrated as things dragged on. The ending was sweet, but the book ended up being just OK.

OW/OM notes: there is some OW drama (an ex kisses MMC, but it’s not reciprocated)

CW (from the author): “…this book does contain a main character who is both neurodivergent and depressed and lives with an anxiety disorder. This character also experiences an on-page panic attack and passive suicide ideation (no attempt). Ableist language is sometimes used regarding mental illness, and there is one scene with antisemitic and racial microaggressions. Reference is also made to the grooming and attempted sexual assault of a minor, but the incident itself occurs off-page. Cheating (past/off-page) is also referenced.”

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Fletcher is having the worst start to a first day teaching at his new school - bit hilarious though, because it’s not me - when he’s doused with a lap full of hot tea and quickly receives some ineffective, and inappropriate feeling, clean up help.

For Lucy, spiller of the tea, this is just the latest in a long line of things stressing her out. While her Instagram persona as an advice giving guidance counselor seems confident, she doesn’t feel it in her real life. Growing up split between cultures (Mexican and Moroccan, Jewish) and living with ADHD, depression and an anxiety/panic disorder, adding what would frankly be a stressful job for anyone - some days she’s barely holding on.

Fletcher and Lucy make it over initial awkwardness with refreshing humor, and advice they don’t realize they’re giving to each other as they share an anonymous online friendship through DMs to her insta. The friendship and support moves to romance, and all seems well until secrets are revealed.

There are some great laughs in this book, also a lot of heart. Very frank and honest conversations about living with mental health struggles, and loving someone through them.
Their first date, with all its practical side quests, warmed the coldest corners of my heart.

The messages between them while they’re still anonymous are nice epistolary touch. Almost like a third point of view in a way, because neither is working with full knowledge.

There were only a few things keeping it from five stars for me -
I get the curriculum update needed more push for budget bs, but letting an after school counseling club use a name that is more than unfortunate (to the extent of ‘who allowed that in the first place??’) for so long was too much. Also, some pop culture references weren’t the best.
And, I acknowledge is probably more of a me thing, but the secret identity situation with both sides oblivious is fun. If it’s a quick reveal, like a few days, fine. But when it gets to the point where one person finds out and *keeps* hiding it, I get So Anxious about it.
The grand gesture was lovely though, and overall this was a great read!

This book was funnier than any book with so many heavy things had any business being, and I loved it for that. The perfect balance!
I look forward to seeing what the author writes in the future
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC

This book is two-fold as we’re following Lucy who is a guidance counselor who is great at her job yet she’s dealing with some mental health issues and she ends up embarrassing herself in front of a new teacher, Aldrich by throwing coffee in his crotch. Despite that, it’s clear Aldrich is charmed by her, and the two end up finding ways to talk to each other.

Then we’re also following Lucy’s online alter-ego “TheMissGuidedCounselor” who is everything Lucy believes she isn’t. Very quickly into the book, we find out that her alter-ego has an online best friend and crush. I’m sure you can figure out how those dots are connected but I won’t give it away.

Either way, this book ended up being so much more than I thought because we’re truly watching Aldrich and Lucy grow as people. In addition, these two feel like they challenge the status quo of what romance is especially when it comes to dating. I feel like we rarely see a couple go on a first date to the hardware store and get groceries, but that feels so relatable. Maybe it’s just me, but this book got me on an entirely different level.

In addition, Lucy is dealing with her anxiety, depression, and ADHD which overwhelms her at times but she does her best. Meanwhile, Aldrich is taking care of his mother who is reeling from her recent divorce, and avoiding his father who cheated and got his mistress pregnant. If that sounds messy, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Regardless, Flirty Little Secret truly captured my heart and I couldn’t help but fall for these two as a couple and individuals. They felt real and were flawed, making for a more compelling romance. If you don’t have this one on your radar for the spring, then you need to make sure you add Flirty Little Secret to your next TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of Flirty Little Secret by Jessical Lepe – this book was such a great read and a fun debut! It was the perfect balance of entertainment and thoughtfulness. I loved Lepe’s authentic take on mental health and the impacts depression and anxiety can have on your life (big and small). And the romance, oh the romance – I loved Lucy and Fletcher; they were both such real and sweet characters. Pick this one up if you’re looking for a dual POV, found family, workplace romance. It’s a fantastic debut and one to add to your TBR! It publishes on March 19, don’t miss it!

I loved this book it was pretty funny from the start and you can really dive right in and read it quickly I am happy I got to read this one

I think this is a pretty solid debut from an author I’d like to read more from. While I appreciated the mental health rep in this book and could identify with the FMC as I myself have been diagnosed with MDD and GAD (and likely undiagnosed ADHD) while I work in the mental health field as a counselor.
My struggle was with the lack of maturity from both MCs. They are supposed to be 28 and 30 year old adults, but they behaved like teenagers most of the time. Not just with each other, but also in their individual interactions with some of the secondary characters. More than once, I found myself thinking “There is no way this interaction would happen between two grown adults in real life”.
I almost DNFd this book at one point, but am glad I stuck with it. I felt like the second half of the book was better than the first. I also appreciated the authors note that followed the story and do wish the author success with future books. I would certainly read more from her as she hones her writing craft.

Shy and anxious school counselor Lucy Galindo has a secret: she has a bold and confident online account called @TheMissGuidedCounselor that’s become wildly popular. History teacher Aldrich Fletcher has just started a new job and is immediately taken with Lucy, if into his ex would stop interfering, but when he finds out Lucy is the same person as his online best friend, @TheMissGuidedCounselor, he doesn’t know what to do but their attraction is too strong to resist in Flirty Little Secrets. Flirty Little Secret is an easy and sweet read. I thought the mental health conversations were really well handled. As someone who has anxiety, I related a lot to Lucy at times. I do think she felt immature at times though too, but I love her family and the closeness they all had. I will say though the conflict with the ex girlfriend drove me nuts and the issues with Fletcher’s family felt kind of unresolved to me. Fletcher though was so sweet and kind and I just appreciated how much he stepped in to just help Lucy navigate her panic attacks and they just had great balance. There was a kind of Abbott Elementary feel to this story, and I liked the school setting. There’s a lot of heart in this and it’s still a sweet read, it’s a great debut from the author.

Flirty Little Secret (FLS), penned by the talented Jessica Lepe, emerges as a captivating love story that adroitly interweaves the complexities of mental health with the intricacies of human relationships. The novel's refreshing perspective on the mental health struggles faced by its protagonist, Lucy, sets it apart as a poignant and relatable tale. Lepe's portrayal of Lucy as a guidance counselor grappling with depression, ADHD, anxiety disorder, and low self-esteem is both authentic and unvarnished. Her alter ego, @TheMissGuidedCounselor, serves as a stark contrast to her shy and self-conscious demeanor, providing a platform for her to offer sage advice and exude confidence she lacks in her personal interactions. This duality allows the reader to witness firsthand the transformative power of embracing one's true self, even amidst the challenges that may arise. Moreover, FLS presents a unique glimpse into the often-overlooked perspective of educators. By showcasing Lucy's experiences as a guidance counselor, Lepe sheds light on the demanding nature of the profession and the complex emotional landscape within the school system. This angle provides a refreshing departure from the typical student-centered narratives, offering a nuanced examination of the roles and responsibilities of those who guide young minds. The arrival of Fletcher, the charming and enigmatic history teacher, introduces a captivating romantic subplot to the story. His admiration for Lucy, despite her initial awkwardness, serves as a testament to the irresistible power of authenticity and self-acceptance. As Lucy gradually comes to terms with her own struggles and embraces her true identity, a transformative love story unfolds, highlighting the importance of embracing one's vulnerabilities and finding love and acceptance in the most unexpected of places. Jessica Lepe has crafted a compelling and thought-provoking novel that explores the intersection of mental health, self-discovery, and the enduring power of human connection. Flirty Little Secret is a timely and necessary read, offering hope, encouragement, and a fresh perspective on some of the most pressing issues facing our society today. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a captivating love story that delves into the depths of human emotion and the resilience of the human spirit.

Cute premise, but the execution was a little off. I had a hard time connecting with these characters and I really wanted to. The romance and environment was fun but the characters needed more fleshing out.

This was such a cute book! I tend to enjoy romances between teachers/set in schools, and even if some of the plot points felt a bit improbable, I was also happy to suspend my belief a bit. (I also think, having worked in a school, some of it wasn't as improbable as other reviewers might believe.) I wish I got to know the characters a little bit better, but I loved that, as the book went on, I got to learn more about Lucy's Jewish identity. (Her family's restaurant being named after a Ladino phrase was such a fun detail!) More romances with Sephardi/Mizrahi Jewish characters, please! A very sweet, fun read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this book hit close to home for me since it had a main character with anxiety and depression, and I honestly enjoyed it even though the topics leaned toward the more heavy side! one of my all time favorite micro-tropes is pen pals, and Fletcher/Lucy are long time instagram friends who have been dming without a clue of their identities. it was just such a charming premise and I liked it!

💬workplace romance
💬anxiety/depression/adhd rep
💬anonymous pen pals