Review: The Secret Crush Book Club by Karmen Lee

Release Date: August 26, 2025
Narrated by: Angel Pean

If you’re looking for a cozy, feel-good romance to ease into autumn, The Secret Crush Book Club is exactly that. This sweet, low-stakes sapphic rom-com blends family, friendship, and a slow-burn love story that left me smiling long after I finished.

Dani is a single mom juggling family responsibilities and her own quiet loneliness when she meets Zoey, the town’s new librarian. Zoey is patient, kind, and oh-so Velma-coded in her sexy, bookish way. She also happens to be Dani’s son’s favorite new person, which adds an adorable found-family layer to their growing connection. Dani has never been interested in women before, but her chemistry with Zoey is undeniable—and watching her navigate her queer awakening felt authentic, tender, and deeply relatable.

The romance itself sometimes took a back seat to Dani’s personal journey, making the book feel like it straddled the line between romance and women’s fiction. Personally, I didn’t mind—it made their eventual relationship feel earned and grounded in self-acceptance. Zoey, meanwhile, shines as a character who deserves love just as much as she gives it. I loved that she was able to find something healthy and hopeful after her past experiences.

As a wlw single mom myself, Dani’s inner struggles—balancing what we feel we should do versus what we actually want—hit close to home. Karmen Lee captured those quiet anxieties so well. And Zoey? Patient, understanding, and unexpectedly swoony—she’s the kind of heroine you root for from page one.

Angel Pean’s narration was fantastic, bringing warmth and personality to both Dani and Zoey, making the story feel even more intimate. Highly recommend the audiobook experience if you can grab it!

Overall, this book is light, sweet, and heartwarming—a refreshing change of pace that reminds us: we deserve love, joy, and the chance to write our own happy endings. If you enjoy small-town vibes, queer awakenings, and a good slow burn, definitely add The Secret Crush Book Club to your TBR.

Tropes you’ll find:
📚 Cozy small town romance
✨ Slow burn
👩‍👦 Single mother
🌈 Queer awakening
💞 Found family

Book 2 in the Series:
The Relationship Mechanic