That Secret Something

by Emily Wright

Rebecca Lawson is off-limits.

Jess knows this, but Rebecca has captured her heart for as long as she can remember. She’s sporty, tall and confident—all the things Jess is not—but most of all…she’s her best friend Lily’s sister. Nothing can ever happen between them.

Especially after that slip-up at prom night.

But when Lily announces her engagement, and Jess and Rebecca are forced to spend time together as the maids of honour, the forbidden feelings intensify and sparks begin to fly.

Amidst the chaos of raging bridezillas and other wedding disasters, can Jess resist temptation for the sake of her friendship?

Or will pursuing Rebecca Lawson finally send her life up in smoke?

That Secret Something is a steamy, best friend’s sister romance filled with secrets, lust, and a love that can’t be denied. Available in paperback, eBook, and on Kindle Unlimited.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Adult, Lesbian Fiction

409 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 6, 2024

About the author

Emily Wright is a dog-loving, book-sniffing, ukulele-playing author who lives in Barnsley in the UK. When she isn’t attached to her computer writing, she loves the outdoors, especially the crash of the ocean, the smell of pine, and starry night skies that make her feel absolutely obsolete. When not drinking tea and eating an unthinkable amount of Bourbons, she spends the rest of her time chasing her two naughty Cocker Spaniels around the house to stop them from eating anything and everything.

Reviews

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

This book had me giggling and kicking my feet in the air.

[khi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plot and definitely chemistry, the writing felt a little empty tho

[Emily Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sapphic ‘falling for your best friend’s sister’ romance that had me smiling SO much.

This was so freaking funny. And spicy. Like… a lot of spice. ✨🫡

It’s not shy of drama either with the perfect amount of twists. This was a pretty low angst read that’s perfect to curl up with when you need to relax.

I haven’t laughed this much at a romance in so long, and I have already grabbed another book by Emily. Her writing style is so distinctive and witty and this was a joy to read.

Rep// bi woman MC with anxiety (22), lesbian woman MC (20s). Relationship featured is WLW/ sapphic.

Set in// UK (Manchester)

TW’s listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.





Tw// sex, alcohol, anxiety, panic attack (on page), lesbo slur, vomiting scene.

[Nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything starts off a bit sad, but actually it's really funny and sweet.
A funny rom-com story with the two MC's, Rebecca and Jess.
There are longing looks, a youthful crush that seems unattainable and one-sided in Jess's eyes.
Rebecca is everything Jess is not.
Sexy, confident, popular and beautiful.
Jess doesn't want to be like Rebecca, she would just like to be her girl! But that's wishful thinking...right?
Then there is a jump of a few years and the wedding of Rebecca's sister, who is also Jess's best friend and therefore makes Rebecca an absolute no-go, needs to be planned.
You think it will continue as sweet and innocent as it was at the beginning.
Suddenly, bam! Everything is so extremely hot!
Hot, secret kisses and extremely sensual, intimate scenes! And wow, are they well written!
I had to stop reading them on my lunch break...Phew!
There is explosive chemistry between Jess and Rebecca.
I wasn't expecting this, but if there's ever an audiobook, I'll listen to it. Best at home 😏
I‘ve never read a book by Emily Wright before, but that's about to change from now on!
She has a beautiful, fluid writing style and writes extremely likeable characters. (Rebecca is my absolute favorite;)
She created a great feel-good romance!
It was definitely a fun read and anyone who likes it hot will love it!

Thanks to the Author Emily Wright for the ARC!

[Lez_be_readin_ya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you, Emily, for this #ARC and the amazing opportunity to review incredible your book. 

This book is great. There are aspects that made me laugh out loud, including some facepalm moments. And other moments that are super HOT, you'll need a cold shower after reading it. The chemistry between Jess and Rebecca is palpable and unreal. They are absolutely adorable together. The storyline is so easy to follow and is a #onemorechapter kind of book!

This book just kept me on my toes throughout, and I could not put it down. I loved the friendship between Jess and Lily. They are super cute even if Lily gets a little bridezilla at times. This book is brilliant. It's hilarious, spicy, and sweet in all the best ways, and I highly recommend it.

This title will be released on March 6th. So put it in your diaries or pre-order today, you will not regret it!

Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story but it was sort of 2 dimensional: a little unfair but there was no outside story so very intimate and almost claustrophobic. Fine and quick read.

[Guadalupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it, this was really funny and sexy!

[Lady Olenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

It’s a good light read. Lots of spice. Funny quips. Entertaining. Personally, I think the story is missing more depth.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I loved this book! No surprise as I’ve enjoyed every book of Emily’s I’ve read. This book has a fantastic plot and awesome loveable characters. Don’t be fooled by the cute cover either, this book is spicy!
This is written in first person with a single POV. Secret crush, Best friend sister, anxiety rep, opposites attract. 6 spicy scenes!

[Liv Cornelius · Rating 2 out of 5]

Re-read: no. Actual rating: 1.5.

Disappointed by this tbh.

There was no character depth in any of the characters in this book. The chemistry felt like it came out of nowhere and the plot was both obvious and ridiculous at times.

It’s obvious where it’s going from the very beginning and I felt like most of the things that happened/were said were just so unrealistic.

The constant beef between Lily and Rebecca felt so forced and immature. It felt like it should have been a YA but it definitely wasn’t.

No one in this book had any personality, the only thing we even really know about Rebecca is that she has green eyes. And yet after nothing much happening, all the problems somehow get resolved and wrapped up in a neat little bow?

You could argue this book uses the miscommunication trope -which I hate- but honestly it could all be resolved in one conversation and if it takes one conversation to resolve the whole plot of your book, it’s not a good book.

Overall not great plot or characterisation of anyone but I still read it to the end so that’s something I guess.

[TJ Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty decent rom com that managed to be both 🥵 and funny in equal measure. My biggest grief against this was Lily, best friend of Jess and sister of Rebecca (the two mains). Jess talked up how good of a friend she was but none those qualities were shown on page and she was just awful thru most of the story. I had to push to complete because her scenes were all awful and selfish. If you can ignore her, it’s a sweet story of overcoming anxiety and listening to your own heart.

[Clara Addicted to sapphic books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the start of this book so much. The prom scenes in the beginning of the book reminded me of one of my favorite episodes from Friends where Ross is ready to take Rachel to the ball, except this one was sapphic and far less heartbreaking. It gave the book a "second chance" vibe that, if you know me, I absolutely adore. The chemistry between Jess and Rebecca is there from page one, and I was surprised by how quickly the two seal the deal. I won't complain; the sex scenes were really good and hot. Besides the chemistry, these two complement each other very well. Rebecca has this tenderness and protectiveness toward Jess that is absolutely heart-melting; in fact, Rebecca herself is heart-melting.I usually like books where the characters are older because I myself am a fossil, but Wright made me forget they were young with their maturity. I really liked how Jess's anxiety is portrayed and how she navigates daily life with it. The book is written only from Jess's point of view, so it's more immersive, but we couldn't delve deeply into Rebecca's feelings except for what she tells Jess, and I wanted so much to know what was going on in her head. As a consequence, I wished there were more intimate scenes where Jess and Rebecca shared deep conversations that truly showed what made them connect, especially in tthe casual phase ofbtheir relation.
With endearing characters and chemistry, Wright delivers a delightful romance that is so easy to read.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story! I had trouble putting it down when life butted in lol. I loved how it started, showing the past and Rebecca stepping up to bring Jess to her prom when her date canceled last minute. Jess is best friends with Rebecca’s sister. Their chemistry is sizzling. Their sexy times jump off the page and are hot hot hot. Regular scenes are intense, fun, exciting, heartwarming (mostly ;)). There’s lots of mental health rep. Rebecca is swoon worthy and Jess is so relatable. I am so thankful to get to read this. Highly recommend!!!

[bookster · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

This was a great read, very funny and sweet. Emily Wright has become one of my go-to author and I look forward to whatever she writes next.

[mili · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/10

Its an okay story but the thing is there was really too many sex scenes while i didnt notice any chemistry between the mcs

[luci. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ate this up in a few hours just a really easy short sapphic book to read that I needed. The relationship built up nicely and the chemistry was amazing
also the drama wasn’t too over the top and it has adults that ACTUALLY know how to communicate it felt quite seamless

[Kathryn Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small spoiler at the end

Jess is a horny baby with so much anxiety. Her anxiety played a prominent role in the book. I found her lovable and relatable due to her anxiety. Especially her love for her pup.

Rebecca being able to read Jess and her anxiety and saying the right things was my favorite part of their relationship. It added such a positive aspect that she was able to fight off Jess’s anxiety with the perfect things to say.

I really liked Rebecca. She is funny, sweet and a softie. I so desperately wish we could get her POV because she was my favorite character. She is kind of the black sheep of her family.

I think at the end it kind of dragged out a bit. I just started skimming it. I think the other plots that were introduced weren’t played out as much until the very end.

I will say… I don’t like Lily. In my mind she was not a good friend from the beginning. She was very self centered and got worse as the book went on, especially as we learned more about Rebeccas family.

SLIGHT SPOILER BELOW ⚠️

I dislimed Lily very much. She was very selfish and I think she had no say in their relationship. Especially when she threw Rebecca under the bus because even though Jess had anxiety i never believed for a second Rebecca would so anything to hurt her or her sister. It was just a mess. Not to say i didnt like the writing or the conflict just… didnt like lily.

[Pip Landers-Letts · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this book were piri-piri chicken, it would rate off the spice chart! A cute love-story about an off-limits / second-chance romance. Jess and Rebecca are fully realised characters, whose vulnerabilities are as charming as their strengths. Their romance is compelling and sweet, and the steamy scenes were nice and spicy… perhaps, a few too many sex scenes to my taste (how were these girl’s still able to walk?). The best friend’s/ sister’s wedding was believable but I must admit the wedding stuff felt a little tedious in places, however I’m more of a Rebecca than a Lily so that probably explains it. All in all, a good light-hearted read which I thoroughly enjoyed. Bravo, Emily 👏

I was part of the ARC team and received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[The Wild Weary Cow Reads Sapphic · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun 😂😂🔥🔥

[alice ☕️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 61%… the plot was not plotting

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel. It was, simply put, incredibly well done. I love the choices that the author made in writing this novel, and how the plot goes down. There were so many times where I worryingly predicted that something was going to go in a “typical annoying romance novel direction”, and then to my pleasant surprise it didn’t! The chapters flow very well, and it was a fast and easy read.

My Rating: “A-“
Converted Rating: 5-Stars

The chemistry between the protagonists was palpable, and you could feel it. The spice was spicy and they didn’t make you wait too long for it either. The miscommunications, conflicts, and silly choices were minor and the author thankfully never made the reader sit with it for too long.

Problems were solved with…….communication?!? Love to see it.

One of the characters had anxiety, and it was depicted very well. I found it to be very relatable, and it was used well in the storyline (as opposed to being tacked on for representation points). Both of the characters were well developed and felt like real people with all of their strengths and problems.

Oh, and if you want to witness wedding planning make someone go crazy, this novel has that for you as well.

[Anne Hartley Pfohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful, spicy, hits all the feels sapphic romcom. Loved the two MCs they are beautifully matched. The drama made sense, nothing over the top. The twists and turns were all believable and made sense in the story. The ending went a little fast, and yet I was so invested and into them and their relationship I really didn't mind. Both of them were sweet and sexy and their chemistry was fabulous. Rooting for them all the way.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was für eine süße Geschichte, für mich viel zu kurz 🥹 Die Protagonisten waren top, das kleine Drama zwischendurch hab ich geliebt. Protas, die Hunde lieben sind einfach eine Green Flag 🤝 Sausage <3
Wegen dieses Buches war ich übrigens den ganzen Vormittag nichts draußen und habe nichts für die Uni gemacht lol

[Amanda Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

a published wattpad story with a main character who is a walking doormat, incessantly drools over the love interest to the point of overkill, and is surprised to learn that other people have insecurities… THAT BEING SAID, i may have giggled and kicked my feet once or twice 🫣

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

she was fun, she was cute, but she also was the cheaper version of Delilah Green Doesn't Care

estuvo entretenido, sí, pero también fue un libro que no profundizaba mucho en temas importantes, senti que todo pasaba muy rápido y no tenía ningún tipo de profundidad ni de esencia

muy equis la verdad, me entretuvo pero no mgtó lo suficiente

vivan las lesbianas tho

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Veda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a 3.5 star like this book was on the brink of doing it for me but idk how to describe it it was always on the edge but never really fully jumped not a bad story tho

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first part and read it with a smile on my face. There was also a smile on my face for most of the second. It did slip slightly at one plot development that surprised me and certainly increased the tension for the “all going to go horribly wrong” part of the plot arc.
Well, there is plenty of tension but not from the above plot point, which was really well done as an illumination of character. However there is plenty of tension from a previous mutual decision that although bound to blow up, it wasn't particularly obvious or over played. In trying to avoid spoilers for the book, I'm probably avoiding clarity here. Let me focus on the impact on me! Engrossed.
This novel was a 4 most of the way through as I really enjoyed both the romance and the humour as well as the consummations of attraction. The whole piece tho’ moves to a five. I felt all the feelings!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Secret Something is a spicy forbidden romance between Jess and her best friend’s sister. The book follows Jess’s POV and starts on prom night, which serves as a building introduction to the dynamic and Jess’s pining, but quickly skips forward. 4 years later Jess owns her own business and Lily, her best friend is getting married to her childhood sweetheart. The wedding delightfully injects Lily’s sister, Rebecca back into Jess’s life and you’ll have to read the book to find out more about the plot ;)

This book was 🥵 AF omg and I loved it! It was genuinely so good, so enjoyable and if you’re a Delilah Green Doesn’t Care fan, you’re gonna love this because it hits just as good. The way Emily skipped 4 years was done in a way that wasn’t at all jarring and actually worked really well for the story, especially because I LOVED the pace Emily had with the plot. It was cute, lighthearted, hopeful, yet also at times, emotional. Jess has really bad anxiety and I feel like Emily wrote about her anxiety in such an accurate, but respectful and sensitive way. As someone with anxiety, it was really relatable and made me love Jess even more because I really could feel how she felt. I loved the very opposite personalities of Jess and Rebecca and the positive effect they had on each other because of it. Their chemistry was oozing off the page and I never once felt like it was forced. Their chemistry was sizzling and I was dying for more. Which the author D E L I V E R E D! I loved Lily and Rebecca’s parents, but also the growth with Jess’s Mum and getting some backstory to their relationship. I also enjoyed getting to know more about Jess and Lily’s friendship and their growth both individually and as friends. I also loved how Jess ended up becoming friends with Jade and how she was impactful for Jess despite not being heavily in the plot. Last, but not least because I really could ramble on for hours about this book, Jess’s dog Sausage was the goodest of boys and I love him and so he automatically was the star of the show. So if you want a spicy, forbidden romance with a cute dog and loveable side characters, pick this book up.

I received a free copy of this book from Emily and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book. that coat scene made me gasp out loud. Delicious spice, the thirst between the characters is amazing, minimal angst. I could associate with the anxiety of the main character, love the banter and teasing of the characters.