Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

His Ever After #1

His Coffee Shop Crush

Rate this book
an alternate cover edition can be found here

Sometimes your coffee shop crush makes a great cup of joe, and sometimes he turns out to be the love of your life.

Jack reluctantly leaves Manhattan for small-town Connecticut to focus on finishing the overdue fourth book in his bestselling middle grade series. The local coffee shop is the perfect place to buckle down and meet his deadline, except for the distracting presence of barista Pete, who's even hotter than the coffee.

When Jack and Pete’s budding friendship quickly turns to flirting, Jack finds himself inspired to finish his book and get to know his sexy coffee shop crush more intimately. But Pete isn’t only a barista, and when they discover that their lives are already intertwined in an unexpected way, can their new relationship survive revelations from Pete’s past?

His Coffee Shop Crush is a steamy, small-town romance with a guaranteed happy ending.

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 6, 2023

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Elle Waters

13 books25 followers
Fueled by chocolate and canned wine, Elle Waters writes smutty small town romance with guaranteed happy endings. She lives with her family in Connecticut. Sign up for her newsletter to hear about her next release!

Elle loves to hear from readers at elle@ellewatersauthor.com.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
253 (33%)
4 stars
279 (36%)
3 stars
185 (24%)
2 stars
37 (4%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].
3,185 reviews25.4k followers
June 24, 2025
His Coffee Shop Crush is book one in the His Ever After series by Elle Waters. This is my fist book by this author and I am in love. This was a sweet, sexy, feel good, small town romance that is sure to make you want to curl up on the sofa with your favorite tea.

Jack is thirty two years old. He’s the author of a well known, middle grade adventure series. Jack is on book four in the series and has already asked for one extension. He’s stuck. The words just aren’t coming. So his agent offers up his cottage in the little town of Rosedale, Connecticut, for a change of scenery and hopefully some new inspiration. The very first day, Jack packs up his laptop and heads to the town’s cute coffee shop. And that’s where he saw him, the cute barista.

Pete is twenty eight years old. He’s been in Rosedale for six months now. When Pete’s life fell apart in New York in a major way, he escaped to Rosedale and fell in love with the beautiful town. He loves his job at Hot Brew, the town’s coffee shop. The last thing Pete is looking for is getting involved with anyone but as soon as the new guy walked in, he was smitten.

One of my favorite things to happen between the two main characters is a hidden connection. I loved this one. Both of these two were so instantly smitten with the other. Both tried to hold back but you know how that goes. But, at the same time, Jack absolutely needs to make his deadline this time and Pete is still dealing with his past.

This was just a feel good, warm and fuzzy romance that made me feel all the swoons. I love this sort of story and can’t wait to continue with the series. Actually, I’m told that if I get the box set, there is another quick little extra included on this couple so I’m in. I also have another unrelated book on my to read list by her called His Christmas Love Song that I’m excited to read. This was a wonderful book and now I can’t wait for more from this author!

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

Profile Image for Drusilla.
1,186 reviews509 followers
July 30, 2025
That was super cute. Small town, insta-ish, hurt-comfort, and short.
A mixture of lust and love at first sight is always a bit tricky, especially when it's a short book. But it's told so beautifully here. I love how the two main characters dance around each other and try to play the friendship game … because.
I really like how they tried not to end up in bed right away, even after they decided they wanted more. The chemistry is shown really beautifully.

“I wanted to kiss you the first time I laid eyes on you.”
Wow. Jack swallowed, suddenly nervous. Pete wasn’t fucking around. This was real. He was acutely aware this might be the last first kiss he’d ever have.
🥰🫠🥰

And a nice side effect is that now I really want to read the books Jack writes—I mean, they sound sooooo good.
A series I will definitely continue reading, because the supporting characters are also interesting and I like the author's writing style.
Profile Image for Drache.... (Angelika) .
1,624 reviews248 followers
Read
August 16, 2025
Dnf 59% just before the first sex scene.
No rating, I got this for free on Smashwords.

Overall sweet mm romance, a bit bland, a bit insta.

Again, me nitpicking (not the reason for my dnf, though) ... I'm not a fan of people driving after they shared a bottle of wine on their date. Isn't it the rule, if you drive you don't drink.. or when going out to eat many allow themselves one beer or one glas of wine, but half a bottle of wine seems dangerous to me. Nothing romantic about that in my opinion.

Dnf because I feel if I don't care anymore when they are about to have sex for the first time, then it's better to jump ship.
Profile Image for Gaby.
1,577 reviews186 followers
April 23, 2025
This was a super sweet short story about two guys who are really into each other and genuinely put in the effort to make their relationship work ❤️
Profile Image for Ed Davis.
2,994 reviews108 followers
June 23, 2023
It took me four days to read this short book. It’s not a bad book it just didn’t grab my attention and keep it. I’m really busy right now so it could be me and not the book. Instant love doesn’t usually bother me, but I just wasn’t feeling the connection from interest to in love.
Profile Image for DJ DIXXXON.
47 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2026
Elle Waters’ *His Coffee Shop Crush* is an absolute masterpiece of high-heat contemporary romance, perfectly blending a cozy cafe setting with a fierce, possessive passion. The tension between the leads builds from a delicious, slow simmer over the counter into an absolute boil, delivering a workplace, strangers-to-lovers story that is equal parts comforting and unapologetically *scorching*. When they finally cross the line, the chemistry is downright explosive—boasting beautifully intense, deeply emotional love scenes that will leave you completely breathless and rushing to add this to your TBR immediately.
Profile Image for Virginia Cúneo.
230 reviews3 followers
October 18, 2025
The plot started off OK, but then the MCs went from flirting in a fun way to being in love in the space of two days (literally). Not only was the romance unbelievable, but the MCs were also completely flat.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews146 followers
Want to Read
January 1, 2026
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/17/2023)! 🎁
Profile Image for Jonny_Jinx.
179 reviews2 followers
June 14, 2025
A sweet refreshment

This is my first sampling of Elle Water's books, and I found it cute and sweet.
The trope was of the "I've been badly burned by love / I like you as you are now" type. A meet-cute trope was thrown in for good measure, along with a touch of angst added by the nasty, earlier lover.
All in all, it is a fast-paced read with a sure touch of heat and with an HEA, of course.
I have endured all sorts of errors, awful grammar, and a good deal of mistakes like typos in the past dozen books that I have read, so I was relieved to find only two mild typos here.
Highly recommended as an entertaining novel, albeit one that won't tax the reader.
Profile Image for Paige.
1,330 reviews113 followers
Did Not Finish
December 3, 2023
DNF at 67%

Just not holding my attention. Been sitting untouched for nearly two weeks

12.2.23
Profile Image for Robert Fontenot.
2,260 reviews32 followers
July 11, 2025
This book is very, very bland and based on a coincidence so stupid that I absolutely cannot put up with it. As readers, I believe we deserve better.
196 reviews19 followers
September 1, 2025
Ale áno, bolo to milé, malé mesto, milá romanca, len trochu príliš presladené na mňa 🙂
Profile Image for Monika .
2,367 reviews40 followers
April 7, 2024

**2.5 Stars**

This wasn't a bad story but everything was so rushed it made my head spin. It's unfortunate because the potential was there to be better than it was. I accidentally read His Birthday Wish first but it didn't matter these are definitively stand-alones.

● Contemporary
● Small town
● Insta-lust almost love
● It all felt way too rushed
● Had some trouble getting a grasp of it all
● Some angst
● Some drama
● Likeable MCs... Pete & Jack
● Satisfying enough ending
● Sadly, I think this will be the end of this series for me
Profile Image for Unusable Booklore.
464 reviews3 followers
February 17, 2023
When I chose to read this, I did so relatively blind to meet a requirement for a reading prompt.

Because of this I hadn't really read the synopsis and had no idea what I had picked up. I got to follow along with the story trying to guess what was happening along with the characters.

Not a tough read, not terribly deep, I appreciated that it strayed from conventional norms.

Over all cute, sweet, and something that I enjoyed, even if it didn't actually meet the requirements of my prompt.
Profile Image for Glenn.
500 reviews
October 28, 2024
I read this book after reading the two that follow it. As this was a pre-story to the two books, I read with great interest the character development for the series.

It is a love story, and it's charming, low angst and might be best read after one of the two books (his ever after series) that at the time of this writing are published. In this prequel, the two main characters do not realize that there is a hidden connection between them that involves their professional lives. It's that connection that when reveals, allows a more durable and faster developing relationship because of the bonding they had previously not known they shared.

Some other reviewers posted that the book was too fast in the development of the love between the two men, but I believe knowing the contents of the two sequels, puts this story in a special space with some of the latter books providing that contextual knowledge. In this book, Jack, the author, is not revealed as a trust-fund beneficiary, and PJ is not revealed for his significant backstory.

The geography and people of Rosedale are as much a part of the story as the main characters.

This is a fun, fast read that just feels good when you finish.
Profile Image for Michael Adam Reale.
Author 9 books3 followers
December 20, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review of My Coffee Shop Crush by Elle Waters

My Coffee Shop Crush is one of those deceptively light romances that sneaks up on you with its emotional intelligence. Elle Waters takes a familiar setup — the cozy café, the slow‑burn glances, the caffeine‑fueled flirtation — and infuses it with a sincerity that makes the story feel lived‑in rather than formulaic.

What stands out most is the chemistry. Waters writes attraction with a gentle, observational touch: the micro‑hesitations, the awkward sweetness, the way two people orbit each other before they dare to collide. It’s not melodramatic; it’s human. The banter is playful without being forced, and the quieter moments carry a surprising amount of weight.

The coffee shop itself becomes a character — warm, aromatic, and grounding — a space where vulnerability feels possible. Waters uses it as a stage for emotional risk‑taking, and the result is a romance that feels both comforting and genuinely earned.

If you enjoy:

• soft, character‑driven romance
• cozy settings with sensory detail
• protagonists who grow through connection rather than conflict
• stories that leave a warm afterglow


…then this is a delightful, low‑pressure read with real heart.
Profile Image for Alice.
701 reviews20 followers
November 1, 2024
Forse il problema sono io che mi ostino a leggere novelle credendo - e sperando - di concluderle in poco tempo visto che il tempo è qualcosa che ultimamente proprio non ho e poi resto insoddisfatta perché ovviamente una novella non ha tutto lo spazio di manovra e di espansione che ha un romanzo vero e proprio.

Questa novella in particolare racconta di Jack, scrittore in pieno blocco creativo residente a New York che, su suggerimento del proprio agente, cambia aria e finisce a Rosedale in Connecticut per ritrovare l'ispirazione e finire finalmente il suo romanzo. L'ispirazione alla fine la trova quando entra all'Hot Brew Cafè e dietro il bancone trova Pete, un artista scappato da New York in seguito ad una brutta delusione sentimentale.

Sicuramente delle due novelle lette nel mese di ottobre questa è stata la migliore, ma c'è stato quell'elemento di instalove che mi ha un po' disturbata e in generale i due protagonisti proprio non sono riusciti a prendermi e a farmi sentire coinvolta nello sviluppo della loro storia.
Profile Image for Damien Kade &#x1f4da;&#x1f940;&#x1f409;.
44 reviews2 followers
September 25, 2025
📚His Coffee Shop Crush - Elle Waters
5/⭐️

So, here’s the thing. I did not expect to pick this book up. It was free on Amazon and I snagged it before the title was cute! And then I saw that it was an M/M romance. Couldn’t pass it up. Then I started reading it.

This has got to be the cutest and sweetest book I have read all year. I mean I fucking loved it. I loved Jack and Pete together. Even separate they were just so wonderful to read about. The intense feelings they have for each other was just icing on the cake.

Honestly, I think I may actually love this pov writing style as well. I haven’t read many books from this perspective and usually I’d turn it down, but, this was beautifully written. I will definitely be getting more books from this author.

I do recommend others read this book, simply because it was a very soft and sweet romance. Something about having a crush on a cute barista man is just delightful.

GO READ IT! You will love it!
Profile Image for Dalegendaryreader.
859 reviews22 followers
May 20, 2026
"This was real. He was acutely aware this might be the last first kiss he’d ever have."

Jack's experiencing writer's block so he went to a small town to spark his creativity and met barista, Pete. As Jack's camping in coffee shop, his friendship with Pete slowly developed into more. However, they found out that Pete is actually the illustrator of Jack's book and lines are blurring between friendship and professionalism.

Very short and fun novella that's a great palate cleanser. You know what's gonna happen when you read this book and I needed this one in the moment.

Love the characters, they were easy to like and root for and I love how they both came together. They started out having crush, then became friends and when they found out the truth, they worked on that hurdle together.

This book was very endearing.

Profile Image for Kate Maistrenko.
66 reviews
June 30, 2025
This was incredibly sweet, passionate, romantic, and just right ✨
Love at first sight told over about 170 pages — exactly what you need for a light and satisfying summer read~ All the events unfold during this very season.
The book is a standalone, but there is a continuation of the story of the main characters and the people around them :)

I enjoyed reading how two adults go through that fresh stage of falling in love — with ✨their✨ person. How they face life’s challenges or misunderstandings together.
The story is told from the perspective of one man, then the other — it’s lovely to see both sides, which makes it all the more heartwarming~
1,292 reviews31 followers
August 21, 2025
DNF @ 31%

A bit too fluffy for my tastes. I did enjoy the connections between Jack and Pete, both not knowing that they'd already been professionally working with each other for a bit now, but I wish there was more conflict here keeping them apart. The insta-ish affection they had for each other was fine, but needed to be balanced by an equally strong reason for separation. Sure "keeping things professional" was a perfectly valid reason to not get together, but it was also very boring (hence why I'm DNF-ing).
2.5 stars rounded up mainly because there wasn't anything particularly wrong with the story and I suspect that plenty of people would find this fluffy romance enjoyable.
922 reviews8 followers
May 11, 2025
Icelandic yogurt, paisley tie, succulent, local sausage, wubbie, Hawaiian shirt, Cristal, a gallon of coffee, 1.8 million

This is referred to as a novella, but it reads like a full-blown story. And like the rest of the books in the series, this is great! While we know there's more to their relationship than this book, Jack's and Pete's beginnings are well-told here. We also see Kingston and Sergio before their own dating phase. Other Springdale denizens we meet are Meadow, Melissa, Che, and Trish.

I enjoyed this very much and highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Genevieve.
1,416 reviews15 followers
July 8, 2025
This was a great story line. Jack is a writer of a popular middle school series but he has a writer's block and the deadline for his new book has been and gone and his editor sends him out of Manhatten to his country home in Connecticut. Coffee is a must and when Jack goes to a coffee shop the barista is a handsome, sexy guy Pete.
I loved the story line and the two main characters and their friendhip that turns into a love story. I love the twists and turns and the small town setting and it was just such a well written story.
74 reviews
November 21, 2023
More emotion, more human and realistic than I expected from the title. This was my first book by Elle Waters and I was immediately taken by both Jack and Pete, and loved the twists that had brought both of them to this place and time in a small town where they could find the HEA that neither was actually looking for. Just the right amount of angst and sex, nothing gratuitous, just a heartfelt LOVE story.
Profile Image for Lewis Hughes.
7 reviews
April 28, 2025
This was a short and sweet book with just the right flow to be able to read in a consecutive block. Elle Waters writes some amazing small town romances with guaranteed happy endings. I loved this book as it is a sweet and simple book with one of my favourite tropes that I preach needs more representation, coffee shop. If I chance come across another book by Elle Waters I’ll be sure to pick it up for a read!
1,549 reviews
June 23, 2025
Jack and Pete

This was a great story about two people falling in love. Pete has escaped an awful relationship but is gun shy about anyone new. Jack meets him in the coffee shop while trying to write and make a deadline, and pretty much falls in love at first sight. Fortunately, Jack is smart and willing to go at Pete’s pace. There are side issues and characters, but this is a sweet, romantic story with a great HEA.
Profile Image for PJ.
271 reviews
February 19, 2026
Loving the Rosedale Seasons series and this was the first book in the series.

Loved the MC's (Jack and Pete) and the initial twist re: their relationship and identities was believable.

Since all these books happen in a season, the story does tend to be told quickly....I thought it worked within the story but your mileage may vary (and the structure for other books in the series is not dissimilar).
Profile Image for Andi.
96 reviews
March 20, 2026
This was a short and cute self published story I found during a Stuff Your Kindle event. I enjoyed reading about Jack and Pete and falling in love after an unexpected connection. The pet names were a bit much, along with the fact that Jack and Pete sounded so similar it was difficult for me to differentiate which POV it was. Overall, a nice slice of life with satisfying resolutions to their conflicts. 4 ⭐️
Profile Image for Ann.
102 reviews1 follower
June 26, 2026
This is actually one of the first MM romance books that I read. I love the small town setting. I love the accepting LGBTQ community. I really enjoy this funny story about 2 people that work together (through email only) but don't really know each other and then meet in person and are attracted to each other. I love that Jack helps Pete, who has been burned in love and life. I love how their relationship grows to a HEA.
Story 4, Spice 4
300 reviews
June 26, 2026
I loved this low angst story of two strangers meeting but who turn out not be strangers at all. It was sweet, it was filled with passion and was just what I needed at this time. Jack and Pete were so good together and we are introduced to some side characters that will hopefully be giving us their stories in future books. I particularly liked the small town setting which makes everything feel just that little bit cosy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews