This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn brings more humor and heart with the third novel of her Getting Lucky series: a story about breaking curses and laying your heart on the line.
What happens when your secret crush isn’t so secret anymore?
I’ve had feelings for Eve Roberts for as long as I can remember, but because she also happens to be the twin sister of my best friend, Eric, I’ve never acted on my feelings and long ago resigned myself to keeping my crush under wraps.
But after a terrible falling-out with Eric involving a failed restaurant venture and plenty of blame on both sides, I’m back in Port Snow without my best friend and without any direction. But can you guess who’s here? Eve. And my attraction to her is as strong as ever.
As old feelings rush back, Eve and I find ourselves pulled together, whether we like it or not. Lines are crossed, secrets are kept, and we soon discover that the difference between love and friendship may not be so black and white, after all.
Everyone wants that secret crush to love them back…but will I be ready when she does?
My Review
First Impressions
That Secret Crush is the third book in the Getting Lucky series and this is Reids book and I was so curious to see what we would get with Reid’s book. He is the jokester of the family so I just knew that I would be in for an entertaining time and I was definitely correct on that score. I also knew that this was an unrequited love mixed with a hint of forbidden and a best friend sibling trope so it basically has all my favorite tropes all in one book and plus I love this coastal small town and the great humor that only Meghan Quinn can write, I was super stoked about this book. And yeah I absolutely adored this book here, it was everything I could have wanted and more, and even though there were some slight issues I had with the second half of the story, this book was a pure delight, had sweet deep layers, and a delectable facet of charm and wit guaranteed to lighten the load of any reader
Big dick and likes to cuddle. Wow, Knightly, you should have been advertising that a long time ago.
Summary
Reid and Eve have been friends for years, and both have them have been attracted to each other but have never acted on those feelings, much of it has to do with the fact that Reid and Eric )Eve’s twin brother) were inseparable and best of friends for years until their endeavor to start their own business crashed on them and both of them are stuck in a rut that they can’t seem to get out of. Then through a course of events, the attraction that Reid and Eve feel for each other is finally acted on and they realize what they feel for each other and before they know it they are in a relationship and finding something beautiful that they didn’t expect. We see a whole different side to Reid that you don’t expect, a sweet tender side that is something different with Eve. There is plenty of humor and playfulness in their relationship, but it’s packed with facets. But when Eric returns home to build a restaurant with Reid, he will force Reid to make a painful decision and Will Reid lose Eve through a course of mistakes of not being willing to fight for her as she deserves?
Last night meant more to me than just fucking my friend—it meant connecting with someone in a way I never have before. You made me feel shit, Eve, and I don’t let myself have feelings. But it felt good. Fuck, it felt so damn good. It’s why I want to sink myself inside of you all over again, because I want that feeling of euphoria to take over me, that feeling of comfort, of belonging. This isn’t just about fucking, at least not for me. This is about starting something new.
What I Loved
There was so much about this book that I absolutely loved. From the first chapter, I was entertained and I couldn’t put this one down. There is something so charming about Meghan Quinn’s writing and I absolutely adored the chemistry that is between Reid and Eve. They have a foundation of friendship between them, but when circumstances change between them, there is this sweet depth to their connection that they build on, and it’s absolutely adorable. I was all in with their relationship and the first half of the book especially was delightful. I was really interested to see what would happen in the third act though, as I was charmed by their relationship and loved to see where they were going with it. The sense of family connection was utterly delightful and I these “Text” conversations that the siblings have with each other was so fun to read and had me laughing all over the place. I am really curious about Brig and want to read his book so badly and see how the romantic will fall.
Maybe it’s time to grow up and accept what this love really is: a combination of ugly and beautiful moments mixing together to create an everlasting bond.
What I Struggled With
I wanted to give this book a five star, but what happens in the third act really rubbed me the wrong way. I really didn’t care for how Reid just caved to Eric’s demand to break up with his sister, and that he wasn’t honest about that with Eve but my biggest issue is how long this got dragged out. If it had been a shorter period of time, then it probably would have worked better for me, but I struggled with seeing this angst between Reid and Eve that was extended for so long. And while eventually Reid does get there and does what he needs to do, it did ruin my enjoyment of the story overall and thus effects my rating here.
Overall View
I found That Secret Crush to be a delectable read that is guaranteed to charm off your socks! It’s a witty, endearing, and charmingly intimate romance that will have you in your laughs and will bring you in tears in moments you least expect…..a fabulous coastal gem!!!
Love is never easy. Love is a foundation of challenges that stem from two souls colliding as one. There will be miscommunications and moments where we hurt each other, because we are human after all, but what truly matters is the realization that the person standing in front of you is the one person who makes you the best version of yourself.
Title: That Secret Crush
Author: Meghan Quinn
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Length: 349 Pages
Book Links
Amazon| Barnes and Noble| Goodreads| LibraryThing| StoryGraph| Literal Club
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 4.5
Story Itself: 4.25
Character Development: 5
Writing Style: 4.5
World Building 4
Feels + The Romantic Heart 4.5
Pacing 4
Plot 3.5
Cover Art 5
Ending 5
Book Ratings
Overall Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warm- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Series Order
Getting Lucky
That Second Chance-Pub 2019 #1 in the Series
That Forever Girl-Pub 2019 #2 in the Series
That Secret Crush-Pub 2020 #3 in the Series
That Swoony Feeling-Pub 2020 #4 in the Series
About The Author
When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn’t take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. It wasn’t until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven’t turned back since.
You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.
I currently reside in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.
“Big dick and likes to cuddle. Wow, Knightly, you should have been advertising that a long time ago.” – I love it already <3
Sounds delightful. I hope to read this author someday,
So this is the final book in the series I need to read (I started with the last book). I always struggle with those third acts, but I think I will love the rest of the book so much based on everything you mentioned that I won’t care about that bit.
As much as I loved the overall series, this one was my least favorite of the four. The way Reid ran hot and cold with Eve drove me crazy and really impacted how I viewed him. And Eve’s brother’s demands were so out of line. I wanted to give him a swift kick. LOL It was Eve who really made the story for me. Her positivity and the way she knew her own worth was awesome.