From the publisher:
You’ve Got Mail meets Abbott Elementary in this sweet, sexy romantic comedy for fans of Lynn Painter and Lyssa Kay Adams.
School counselor Lucy Galindo has a secret.
To her coworkers, friends, and even family, she’s shy, sweet, and constantly struggling to hold off disaster (read: manage her anxiety and depression). But online? She’s bold, confident, and always knows what to say—it’s how she’s become the wildly popular @TheMissGuidedCounselor. It’s also why she keeps her identity anonymous. Her followers would never trust the real Lucy with their problems.
History teacher Aldrich Fletcher thought a new job would give him some relief from his drama-filled family. Instead, he’s dodging his ex-girlfriend and pining over his new co-worker—who only ever seems to see him at his worst. Thankfully, he can count on his online confidant for advice . . . until he discovers @TheMissGuidedCounselor is Lucy.
Now Fletcher has a secret too. And while Lucy can’t deny there’s something between them, she’s not sure she can trust him. Can they both find the courage to share the truth and step out from behind their screens?
“This sparkling debut marks Lepe as a writer to watch when it comes to modern rom-coms.”―Kirkus, Starred Review
https://amzn.to/3xaiCXh
“The romance plays out as a fresh, diverse twist on You’ve Got Mail . . . Fans of Abbott Elementary will be especially charmed.”―Publishers Weekly
“Unputdownable; will leave readers clamoring for more.”―Library Journal
I love reading debut novels, but I’ve been burned before by publicists creating “debuts” under a new name for a previously published author, so I’m just going to ignore that. This is a good read, and that’s the most important thing to know.
“You’ve Got Mail” is one of my favorite movies, and I enjoy “Abbott Elementary,” so this mashup of the two sounded promising; I’m happy to say it lived up to the hype. Lucy is a guidance counselor who truly loves her job, but with her depression and anxiety disorders, she feels like a fraud most of the time, except when she is posting on her anonymous Instagram account. Hiding behind a pseudonym, gives Lucy the courage of her convictions, and she offers great advice to her followers. One follower is also hiding behind a pseudonym, but he and Lucy become great internet penpals. Neither knows the others true identity, or where they live, or where they work. But they know other more intimate details of their lives.
Aldrich Fletcher is a new history teacher at the public high school where Lucy is a guidance counselor. He is also her secret penpal, and neither knows who the other is. He and Lucy have a hot meet-cute when she trips and spills tea down the front of his pants. On his first day at the new school. She compounds the problem when she tries wiping down the front of his pants, never a good idea to do to a stranger. Nevertheless, Fletcher finds her extremely attractive and the feelings are returned, except Lucy is pretty sure that he couldn’t possibly be interested in someone who is such a hot mess.
As Lucy and Fletcher get to know one another, they start sharing some of the past with one another. A new Instagram post from Lucy triggers Fletcher to realize who she is, but he’s afraid to let he know. Their relationship is tenuous at best, as both have a lot of baggage to work through.
This book delivered on the hype and was a thoroughly enjoyable, one-night read for me. I am looking forward to whatever Lepe puts out next.
4/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
FLIRTY LITTLE SECRET by Jessica Lepe. Forever (March 19, 2024). ISBN: 978-1538739341. 384p.
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