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

Flirty Little Secret was such a fun, cute romcom read about a guidance counselor and a teacher hiding behind fake aliases in an online platform. Little do they know, their real identities are more closely intertwined, in the physical world, than either of them realize.

Watching (or should I say reading) this story as it unfolded was so fun and happy, even during the “wow did that really just happen” moments. It’s such a good, modern read if you like romance novels!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley!

This cute little romcom started out and ended so strongly for me, but kinda lost me in the middle. It just felt long at times. A lot of the internal dialogue of the 2 main characters was redundant and didn’t add a lot of new perspective for me. I also didn’t love the wait the mistress in the story was written about so positively. There were a few moments though that made me lol so give it a shot if ya love a sweet romcom!

4 Stars
This was a cute and extremely fluffy romance book. I really enjoyed the teacher setting, very Abbott Elementary vibe! My favourite thing about this book was definitely the side characters, they were so funny and quirky, they all had me laughing. While I did overall enjoy this book, I had some issues with how the main characters issues with mental health. As someone who studies clinical psychology some aspects were done quite well yet others I found to be unrealistic and not really true.

Flirty Little Secrets by Jessica Lepe
Romance
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to my girl @jac for the traveling arc! This was such a great read! It covered some deep topics regarding anxiety, depression and ADHD. She did an amazing job at portraying Lucy with these mental health issues. You were able to understand and learn how Lucy felt.

Lucy is a school guidance counselor who struggles daily with depression, anxiety and ADHD. She comes from an overbearing family who loves her unconditionally! Lucy also happens to be the popular @TheMissGuidedCounselor who is brave, bold and hands out the best advice. Lucy is able to not be herself behind the voice of her online personality.
Fletcher is a new teacher going through family issues, an ex gf who works at this new school and a new crush. He is lucky enough to be online best friends with @TheMissGuidedCounselor who helps with his daily struggles. His new crush seems so familiar though….

I really enjoyed this debut novel and I look forward to more from this author. I loved the concept of this book and truly loved the characters. I also love books that help shine a light on anxiety and depression.

I highly recommend you check this one out when it’s available!

Who’s your favorite Instagram page? Tag them and let me know why! Love to find some new friends and pages!!

I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately I did not finish it around 28 percent. I didn’t feel like fletcher’s character was believable in the sense that he couldn’t tell his ex girlfriend who cheated on him with his brother to kindly f*** off. The fact that he continued to talk to her and be nice is ridiculous, I could see where the story was going with her and I didn’t want to add stress to my life by finishing the book. Maybe I’ll try another book from this author but this one wasn’t for me.

Thank you to netgalley for the book and a chance to review.

I was really intrigued by the storyline when I first read the synopsis of this book. I think the first few chapters were cute and funny but then something was off and I lost interest. The book wasn;t terrible but it was hard for me to connect with the characters. They acted a bit too immature for me in certain situations. I did appreciate the menthol health rep in this book and thought that was portrayed really well.

Lucy is a high school guidance counselor who has a secret alter ego on Instagram, @TheMissGuidedCounselor. Her alter ego is confident and wise, the Lucy she wishes she could be all the time. In reality, she has depression, anxiety, and ADHD, all of which affect her daily life and the way she presents herself. She also has to work at her parents’ restaurant to make ends meet. While she has a loving family and a great best friend, her life is not easy.

Fletcher is a new teacher at Lucy’s school. What she doesn’t know is he’s a huge fan of @TheMissGuidedCounselor. They’ve been DMing for months, developing a close friendship. Meanwhile, in person, they’re developing an attraction to each other they can’t ignore.

FLIRTY LITTLE SECRET is more of a quiet story. Not too much happens, and sometimes that’s okay for a romance. It was cute, if a bit uneven. I enjoyed the writing, but the romance was underdeveloped. By 40%, the MCs had hardly interacted, and yet the MMC in particular was thinking about how much he cared about the FMC and how their conversations made him smile. What conversations?! Because we barely see any conversations on the page. (He has this thought prior to realizing he’s been talking to Lucy online as @TheMissGuidedCounselor, so he’s going off their in-person interactions, of which there are disappointingly few.)

I just wanted more from the romance aspect of the story. I did enjoy the mental health rep as well as the Jewish rep, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

This book was just not for me. The two main love interest where not likeable at all. As they were boring. I just did not find their love story to be believable and that made me uninterested the entire time.

This was a super fun, cute and fast read. The characters were likable, though some of the scenes seemed a little unlikely and/or inappropriate for a school setting. I loved the mental health representation.

2.5 stars - I don't think this book was meant for me. The love story between Lucy and Fletcher seemed unconvincing. Their relationship escalated abruptly without any prior build-up. The inclusion of the ex-girlfriend in the plot felt unnecessary and didn't add any value to it. The author's choice of naming the club Lucy manages as the "Konfident Kids Klub" made me uncomfortable as the initials are sometimes used as a job in the book. All in all, this book was a disappointment for me.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.