From the author of the chart-topping The Other Brother comes an irresistible, seductive, fast-paced forbidden-lovers story that will have you wanting more . . . and more . . . and more! Gemma's got it all figured amazing best friends April and Anna, a high-flying job, and a dating life that's strictly no-strings-attached. Men fall at her feet - and she walks away from them without a backwards glance.
Max is a jet-setter with zero interest in settling down. Between London and New York City, he's in a position of power working at a luxury hotelier. But when he meets Gemma in a high-stakes hotel pitch, their chemistry is instant, electric . . . and completely off limits.
Why? Because Max is her best friend Anna's brother.
Anna has just one don't even think about her brother. But the danger zone is Gemma's favourite place to be.
Can she resist the one man she can't have? And can he resist her?
I want to start by saying that I was very lucky to have received an early copy of The Suite Secret—thank you Hachette. However, I still want to give a completely honest review. Entirely spoiler free.
The main issue with this book was the writing. In the most brutal description, it wasn’t good. Not only was there a lack of show don’t tell, but when things were shown, they were also over explained. You need to trust that your readers will pick up on things, and it was such an eye roll moment every time it happened. Another example of the poor writing was pretty much any time Anna mentioned Max. If you’re talking to your best friend about your brother, why would you constantly refer to him as “my brother.” HE HAS A NAME! And yeah, sometimes you do refer to your siblings like that, but not every time! I’m not entirely sure Anna even knew his name.
The characters weren’t amazing either; they were all pretty two dimensional. But Gemma really pissed me off. She spent over 80 pages talking about how amazing she was at sex and would bring this up in the weirdest places. She made it a point really early on that even though she was amazing at sex, she was also amazing at her job and wouldn’t let the two interact… anyway, she lied. Even before she started hooking up with a coworker, she mentioned sex at work pretty much every time she was there.
Lastly, you would assume that because this was a best friend’s brother romance that there would be a major plot point of said best friend finding out about said romance. While this did happen, it happened way too late. And I would’ve forgiven it if it was resolved in a way that resembled how best friends would resolve conflict, but it wasn’t. The book spent too much time focusing on side stories that really didn’t lead anywhere, and not enough time refining the points that progressed the main story.
There were some things I liked; Henry and Gemma’s friendship was really sweet, and Max had his moments. But it wasn’t enough for me to say I liked the book.
my first book by this author and i wasn’t disappointed! this book reminded me of some of olivia hayle’s books.
gemma and max meet and make bad first impressions before they realize that gemma is best friends with max’s sister, anna. they start working together and can’t fight their attraction to each other.
max seems like he would be the more emotionally unavailable of the two but i loved getting his inner thoughts about gemma. you can tell he thinks highly of her almost immediately.
gemma is the messier of the two but you’re endeared to her because she cares so deeply for her friends. her friendship and banter with henry had me cracking up.
the narrators for this audiobook did fantastic, will m. watt is the perfect british male voice!
wtf has she put in this book ?! i’ve truly been blessed by the arc gods and am yet to get one i didn’t enjoy. This was no different, I liked the Other Brother, but THIS ONE omfg Tierney really upped the ante here, our FMC Gemma is so cool, she works hard, is sexy and damn does she know it, she’s unapologetic in what she wants and how she lives, and is convinced she will never be in a serious relationship again ….. Enter Max, her best friends brother….. and the man she is now working alongside on a highly anticipated hotel opening. The tension between these two is electric, the mOUTH on Max 😮💨 It’s so good. This is emotional, the lil found family is hilarious and real, the character development is natural and it’s so easy to read. It’s a lil kinky, a whole lotta fun and I just wanna be Gemma’s friend ?
thankyou Little Brown Book group and netgalley for the arc <3
The Suite Secret by Tierney Paige London Hearts series #2. Contemporary romance. Forbidden romance with erotica elements. Can be read as a stand-alone. Gemma loves her job. It’s fast paced and demanding but also leaves her time for her friends and night life. She doesn’t want any commitments there and makes sure her night fun is always a one and done. When she pitches a hotel space against Max, her best friend’s brother, she’s determined to win but instead they must work together to succeed. Spending that much time with Max is intense and Gemma is open and ready for an escape into an erotic pleasure zone. As long as they can keep it from his sister. One night isn’t enough for Max. He’s feeling possessive and wants more. Can she handle it?
🎧 I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Will M Watt and Evelyn Rose. Both delivered a wonderful performance that helped bring the story to life. Especially Watt. I love listening to his voice. Banter and emotions came through clearly as did all the steamy scenes. Whew. Hot!
Scorching hot romance. 3.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.
A forced proximity, workplace romance, BEST FRIENDS BROTHER? I was seated IMMEDIATELY.
The Suite Secret somehow manages to be soft and spicy, funny and aching, and deeply romantic all at once. Tierney truly has a talent for taking two people who are a little bit broken and making you believe that they’re exactly what the other needs.
Max? Down bad. Capital D. The way that Tierney writes his desire is a way that feels intimate rather than performative, and I ate up every second of it.
Our girl Gemma!!!! She is strong, guarded, and so painfully relatable. Watching her slowly let her walls down, piece by piece, felt incredibly real. Her vulnerability isn’t rushed, and it makes every emotional beat land that much harder.
And together? Their chemistry is UNREAL. The kind that simmers, burns, and then absolutely explodes. I was giggling, kicking my feet, and occasionally staring at the wall to process my feelings.
Big thanks to Netgalley, Hachette Audio, and Tierney Page for the gifted advanced listener copy of this audio book! Genre: Contemporary Romance ⭐️ 3.5/5 🌶 3/5 🎧 4/5 🧠 2/10 Noteworthy: Audio book publication date is 1/13/2026. Narrated by Will Watt and Evelyn Rose. This book was recorded in duet narration.
This the 2nd book in the London Hearts series of interconnected standalones. The duet narration is really well done. Will Watt does an incredible job of bringing Max to life. His confidence bordering on arrogance comes across as almost endearing. He does a perfect job with multiple accents for several male characters. Will has always been one of my favorite male narrators and he shines with this story. Evelyn is so good as Gemma. She conveys every emotion the character goes through bringing us along through her slow journey of finding trust and love again. You will feel her love and heartbreak all the way to your toes. It's a spectacular audio book.
The story is a tale of two people who are in what they feel like are perfect places in their lives and careers. Funny how life chooses the perfect moments to blindside you. Watching these characters navigate this fast burn but slow paced love affair is a bit like watching a slow motion car crash. You can see the future coming but all you can do is watch. The pacing is well done if you love a brick by brick romance plot. Nothing feels rushed which is crazy for a insta-lust story.
If you love a heavy romance focused contemporary with heart, a confident MMC with a mouth made for sin, an FMC who knows what she wants when she wants it, and a story filled with true friendship and a best friends brother trope, give this a try.
The Suite Secret by Tierney Page: One word? BANGER.
The story follows Max & Gemma, who have to work together on a huge project for a swanky hotel. There’s an immediate spark but also a problem - he’s Gemma’s best friend’s brother. The DRAMA of it all had me flipping through the pages! This is the fastest I’ve finished a book in ages.
I’m officially back in my workplace romance era. I forgot how much I love this trope! The constant tension, the sneaking around, the forbidden nature of it all is just chef’s kiss 🤌🏻 Have some milk handy for this one, cos this bitch is SPICYYYY 🥵
Tierney has really hit her stride with her second book, her writing is stronger than ever. Her humour shines throughout, and I only made it to page 9 before I had to reach for a highlighter.
Romance aside, one of my fav parts of the story was the FMC Gemma’s friendship group. Tierney writes female friendships so well and I want to hang out with all of them immediately. This book was also so emotional in a way I wasn’t expecting. I really related to Gemma and her struggle with letting people in. The emotional scene in the rain? The airport scene? HELLOOOO? 911?????
Equal parts heat and heart, The Suite Secret was the perfect spicy romance to kick-start my reading year. Keep an eye out for it when it hits shelves January 13! 🤍
The audiobook was a great experience, Will Watt for the win with the British accent. Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars, the humor was great. I really enjoyed Gemma and how she owned her sexuality. The chemistry between Gemma and Max was immediate, but I liked how they had to wait before acting on it.
*Best friend's brother/Sister's best friend *Forced proximity *Sneaking around *Dual POV
Format: audiobook
Thank you to NetGalley, Tierney Page, and Hachette Audio for the ALC!
PS. I cannot wait for Anna's story. I can't wait for the Irish accent on the audiobook :)
Gemma is literally the rich aunt; she has a high-flying career, impeccable independence, and the kind of close-knit friend group every girl dreams of. She is so relatable, keeping her walls up and high, but they slowly crumble down when Max comes into her... life. Both trying (and spectacularly failing) to keep their hands off each other, which becomes even more complicated when Gemma realises that Max is her best friend Anna’s brother. The tension, the restraint, the inevitable cracks; it all makes for a deliciously emotional and addictive read.
Thank you NetGalley, publishers, and author for allowing me this arc in return for an honest review :)
I didn’t expect this to make me smile as much as it did. See, I didn’t go in with super high expectations because the first book was good not great but I actually really enjoyed this book. The banter was there, the spice was there I feel like everything was there. This was definitely a step-up from the last book and the last book wasn’t even bad.
——-> Max & Gemma Okok can we start of with the fact that Max is 42?? That shocked the ever loving out of me, because tell me he acts like -not a child- but a young early thirties man but he’s 42??? Like woah. But anyways, him and Gemma…They’re so cute. Their banter makes me smile and everytime a chapter with them in the office would end I couldn’t wait until the next because it was soooo funny and entertaining to read.
My only problem with them -and this book really- is how much sex they had. Yes this is a book we’re they’re “hooking up” and stuff but that doesn’t mean over half the book should be them getting freaky. There comes a certain point where it’s unnecessary and I’d rather cute possible moments than heated ones. Besides that though this was a good book and it really made my day. It made me smile, laugh out loud, and was overall just a great experience.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
What happens when temptation doesn’t check out? Gemma’s got it all figured out: amazing best friends April and Anna, a high-flying job, and a dating life that’s strictly no-strings-attached. Men fall at her feet – and she walks away from them without a backwards glance. Max is a jet-setter with zero interest in settling down. Between London and New York City, he’s in a position of power working at a luxury hotelier. But when he meets Gemma in a high-stakes hotel pitch, their chemistry is instant, electric…and completely off limits. Why? Because Max is her best-friend Anna’s brother. And Anna has just one rule: don’t even think about her brother. But the danger zone is Gemma’s favorite place to be. And some temptations are worth checking in for…
Gemma has worked incredibly hard to get to where she is now. She’s also incredibly proud of that fact which I really liked. Too often, FMCs second guess themselves but Gemma doesn’t, even going as far to be proud about her sexual conquests without fear. That kind of woman knows what she wants and will not stand for something she doesn’t. Which is why I was confused about her trying to set boundaries and allowing them to be moved. She wouldn’t allow it in any other circumstance. I could understand it if those boundaries crumbled down the road through determination and change, but it felt like they were never in place - something that doesn’t fit with her character at all in my mind. Max did frustrate me a fair amount of the book. I’m all for a cocky man who pushes the boat out a bit, but it needs to be done right. He still needs to be likeable, and I struggled a lot with that. I really tried but just couldn’t find this connection to him as the leading man. He has so much potential to do so much good, and yet he is constantly hiding behind this cocky “I’m god’s gift” bravado that’s so offputting.
Despite not having read the first book, I was looking forward to jumping into this story. I do enjoy a good workplace romance, even better if enemies to lovers is involved as well! But this story just fell so flat for me. I felt like I was slogging through reading it to the point I contemplated DNFing the story multiple times. But, I was determined to finish the book. And upon finishing thought that perhaps a DNF would have been better. Genuinely, the only interesting parts of the story for me was the smut and the FMC leaning towards the more kinky side of things. I didn’t feel a connection with this story and the writing at all which is such an incredible shame.
Overall, The Suite Secret is a romance I had high hopes for but those sadly weren’t met.
⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Little, Brown Book Group for an advanced copy of this book.
I read this back in December thanks to @hachettenz and somehow I’ve already re-read it twice, so when BookHero delivered my copy today I definitely squealed a little 🥹📦
This one is full of globe-trotting glamour, sharp banter, and a forbidden romance that absolutely hits. Gemma is confident, independent, and strictly no-strings, while Max is a jet-setting hotel exec who is very much off-limits, because he’s her best friend’s brother 😬🔥
The chemistry between these two is instant and feral; every interaction crackles, the tension is stretched so tight it hurts, and the payoff is so worth it. I loved how the spice felt earned, the banter stayed playful and sexy, and the emotional moments snuck up on me when I wasn’t expecting them. It’s fast-paced, addictive, and one of those books where you’re kicking your feet and whisper-screaming while reading. 💕✨
Flirty, swoony, and just the right amount of messy, this is absolutely a reread-worthy romance. If you love Ana Huang or Lauren Asher, you’re going to devour this one 🤍✨
The Suite Secret by Tierney Page, book 2 in the London Hearts series.
I honestly didn’t expect it to top the first book, but wow… it totally did! 😍
The story follows Gemma and Max, two people definitely not looking for love (especially since Max’s sister is Gemma’s best friend and told her to stay the f*ck away from her brother). But of course… fate had other plans.
This book had everything: funny banter 😂, sizzling tension 🔥, and just the right amount of spice 🌶️. I was hooked from start to finish!
And that ending? 🥺 Emotional, heartfelt, and such a beautiful reminder that sometimes it’s better to take a risk than to regret playing it safe.
The Suite Secret is the second book in the London Hearts series and is just as good as the first! We follow Gemma, best friend of book one's FMC April as she discovers that locking her heart away after a disappointment of a relationship may not withstand the demolition crew that is Max Browne, millionaire and her possible new colleague. Max also happens to be off the table as the brother of her other bestie, Anna. Resistance is futile as a secret arrangement goes off the rails and jeopardises everything.
I love an Aussie author and I've had the pleasure of meeting Tierney twice now. I'm a fantasy girlie at heart but I was not able to put this one down. I loved seeing the fantastic characters from The Other Brother again and treasure the girls' friendship. I laughed and cried and everything in between. And I haven't even mentioned the SPICE yet 🥵
All my spicy romance girlies need to get amongst this one, it's a five star for me.
"You're not just good for me. You're the reason my heart remembers how to beat properly."
How is this Tierney’s second book?? Everything was perfect. I couldn’t get enough of Max & Gemma, never related more to an FMC… someone WILL choose you. When they do, let them. I sobbed with the last few pages i love them sm. and the spice?? INCREDIBLE!!!!
Thank you, @readforever and @hachetteaudio for the gifted print and audio copies! When I got the book and realized it was the second in a London-based series, I went back and got The Other Brother so I could start from the beginning - and I’m glad I did.
April, Gemma, and Anna are best friends. Each totally unique - April is a freshly engaged, Gemma has no interest in settling down, and Anna is married. They’ve seen each other through the good and the bad.
In The Other Brother, we meet April and her fiancé Lucas. When April discovers a secret Lucas is hiding, she has no choice but to break things off. Heartbroken, she begins to piece her life back together and finds unexpected comfort with Lucas’s brother James, an up and coming musician. The Suite Secret finds Gemma, landing the marketing contract for a new high-end hotel. One of the hotel managers in Max, Anna’s brother. Max is in from NYC for a few months to get the hotel up and running. Anna’s one rule for Gemma - stay away from Max. But when Max and Gemma realize that their commonalities extend beyond an electric attraction and toward a no-strings-attached lifestyle. But what starts as a fling becomes a deep connection, shocking them both. But with Max leaving London soon and having to keep their relationship a secret from Anna, do they have any chance of a happily ever after?
These books fall directly into the “cute cover…omg what is happening?!?!” level of spice. Like A LOT. There’s definitely more spice than emotional development between the couples, although I enjoyed both couples a lot. That being said, the core of these books is the friendship between April, Gemma, and Anna. They are the friends everyone strives to have - ride or die, brutally honest, and always ready with wine.The next book in the series is out on May 26th and I’ll 100% be excited to read Anna’s story and have another opportunity to check in with all of these characters.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Both audios are very fun duet narration by Evelyn Rose and Will H. Watt - The Other Brother (10h 16m), The Suite Secret (12h 17m)
The Other Brother: 🌟🌟🌟💫 The Suite Secret: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🎧 Audio performances: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hot, steamy, kinky, best friends brother = perfection. Pretty predictable and I ate it up but why it lost half a star. I do really enjoy Tierney’s writing and humour, so many times I was giggling and laughing out loud. She knows how to write a sex scene too 🥵
The Suite Secret is another BANGER from Tierney! This was a workplace romance done RIGHT!!!! I don’t know what Tierney puts in her books but it’s something that makes you read it all in a sitting or a day, unputdownable.
This is the second book in the London Hearts series and follows Gemma and Max, both who keep finding themselves in some strange and funny situations until they work on the same project and it takes off from there. I loved the combination of tropes in this one and I think they were done well and it made for a really good romance. The banter between Gemma and Max was chefs kiss which is not surprising as Tierney is a crack up.
We all need a Gemma in our life, she was real, sassy, hilarious and authentic. I loved that Tierney’s FMCs are mature and that she touches on real problems/challenges women face!! The honesty was refreshing. I could feel Gemma and Max’s chemistry from the pages, the age gap and best friends brother made it that little bit forbidden which I LOVED, Max was a top tier guy! Tierney brought it with the spice and overall it was just so funny 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I am loving this series and definitely recommend if you’re looking for romance that you can’t put down.
Tierney Page has officially done it again because somehow The Suite Secret managed to be even better than book one for me — and I honestly didn’t think that was possible. Forced proximity, workplace romance, best friend’s brother?? I was seated IMMEDIATELY.
We follow Gemma and Max, two people who absolutely should not be catching feelings — especially when Max is her best friend’s brother and very much off-limits. But of course… fate (and chemistry) had other plans. What starts as a “this is a bad idea” situation quickly turns into something that’s soft, spicy, funny, emotional, and deeply romantic all at once.
Gemma is such a standout FMC for me. She’s guarded, strong, and painfully relatable. Watching her slowly let her walls down felt incredibly real, and I loved that her vulnerability wasn’t rushed. Every emotional beat landed harder because of it. She’s trying to protect her heart while still wanting more for herself, and that internal struggle was written so beautifully.
And Max??? Down bad. Capital D. The way Tierney writes his desire and devotion feels intimate rather than performative, and I ate up every second of it. He’s protective, emotionally invested, and absolutely gone for Gemma in the best way. The tension between them simmers before it explodes, and their chemistry is UNREAL. I was giggling, kicking my feet, and staring at the wall to process my feelings.
One of my favourite parts of this book was the emotional depth layered in with the spice. Yes, it’s hot — but it’s also heartfelt. The story isn’t just about attraction; it’s about taking risks, healing from past disappointments, and choosing to go after what you really want instead of playing it safe.
Bonus points for all the cameos and friendships — seeing the girls’ bond again made my heart so happy. Tierney writes found family and female friendships in such a genuine, comforting way, and it’s one of my absolute favourite parts of this series.
Soft and spicy. Funny and aching. Romantic and emotionally grounded. The Suite Secret had me hooked from start to finish and fully cemented this series as a must-read for me.
If you love workplace romance, forced proximity, best friend’s brother, and characters who feel broken but perfectly right for each other — this one is for you. 💜
I enjoyed The Suite Secret a lot more than I thought I would. It was charming, funny and packed a few emotional punches. It's got some of my favourite tropes; best friend's brother, a slight age gap, forced proximity and of course, a very sexy workplace romance. I loved the London setting, and while I would have loved to see more of the city, I do quite like how the story was centred around a few locations. I think that made a lot of sense for the plot.
Gemma's sense of humour had me cracking up at so many points while I was reading. She was so funny, and her POV was my favourite out of the two. At the same time, she felt like a multifaceted character. She hides behind her humour, protecting her emotions after a disappointing relationship in her past. She doesn't want to get together with anyone else, always looks for a no-strings-attached fling, but Max is here to break down her walls.
Max feels pretty similar to Gemma in that regard. He's had a failed marriage and isn't looking for any commitment. And he's Gemma's best friend's brother, so nothing can happen. But nothing goes as it should. I loved seeing Gemma and Max break down each other's walls and slowly start to like each other. I really loved how we saw a slow build-up of the relationship between Gemma and Max. The chemistry was crazyyy, and the spice was pretty damn good.
I did think the last half of the book was a little slow for my tastes, and I thought the way that the third act conflict played out was just okay. But I did have a lot of fun reading these and I loved the ending that we got to see.)
The Suite Secret was a super fun read and I can't wait to check out all the books that are in the series (I have a feeling who the next book is going to be about hehe.
Thank you Sphere (Little, Brown Book Group UK) for sending me an e-ARC through NetGalley! And thank you The Bookish Type HAU (Hachette Australia) for the physical arc at RARE25 in Melbourne!
The Suite Secret Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice--🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (The spice was spicing but very sweet) Best friends brother Workplace romance Emotionally guarded MC's Banter but beautiful banter Age gap Forced proximity Thank you NetGalley and Hachetteaudio for sending this to me to Listen to. The narraters was great at bringing Gemma and Max to life. Max and Gemma makes this book come to life off the pages. This book will have you kicking your feet and giggling at times. I could not stop listing to this book. The banter is so great. Best friends brother romance in this book, the connection you can feel through out the book is everything you can hope for in a book. This story bring this heat as well. One hookup leads to so much more for Gemma and Max. This autiobook was amazing and You should add this to you TBR for when it is released. Release date is January 13th. This is the second book int he series. First book is The Other Brother.
The Suite Secret was such an easy, steamy read that had me laughing one minute and blushing the next!
When Gemma meets the irresistibly handsome Max during a business meeting, things get hot and heavy pretty quickly — and I was absolutely here for it.
As a fan of Tierney’s TikToks and her signature humor, I could really hear her voice shining through in this story, which made it even more enjoyable. She’s done a fantastic job bringing the spice and fun to the page.
That said, I did find myself wishing for a little more depth and emotional connection between the main characters. There were moments where I really felt for some of the side characters, and I would have loved that same pull with Gemma and Max.
Overall, this is a fun, flirty romance that’s perfect for when you just want to switch off, unwind, and get lost in a smutty, feel-good escape. If you love your books steamy and full of sass, this one’s for you!
I had the pleasure of listening to this as an audiobook via NetGalley. This is a duel narration by Will Watt and Evelyn Rose that was very well done. Gemma is our FMC who is independent, sexy, and knows what she wants. Max is the rich sexy arrogant MMC who also happens to be Gemma’s best friend’s brother. The tension between these two is electric from the very start!! Gemma and Max are forced to work together and that tension builds and neither can resist any longer. Tierney not only knows how to deliver a good overall story but the connection between these two along with the spice and very dirty mouth on Max… 🥵 🔥 🌶️
The story centers around Max and Gemma, who have to work on a project together at an upscale hotel. They had amazing chemistry right from the start! It features best friend’s brother, workplace romance, strong friendships and all the steam.
*many thanks to Forever, Hachette audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
This book is now published so go read, such a good read I enjoyed it. I was in a little slumpish when came to reading the last couple months
The Suite Secret is a compelling mix of mystery and romance that keeps you hooked. The pacing is tight, the writing is immersive, and the emotional tension builds beautifully throughout the story. If you enjoy secretive dynamics and stories that keep you guessing, this one is worth picking up.
A solid, smutty read about Gemma, creative director of a PR firm, falling for her client/best friend’s brother, Max. Neither believes in relationships, and both have a slew of notches on their bedposts. They finally find real love with each other, but the plot had an awful lot of push and pull. A bit heavy on the breakups for my liking. I have to admit that James (from book one, The Other Brother) is one of my favorite book boyfriends, and I was hoping for an MMC that was a bit more like that. HEA 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Can be read as a standalone