Midnight Wishes: A best friend's brother romance

by Kelly L. Clarke

Sarah Owens’ life is a series of almosts. She almost has her dream job (painting pet portraits might not set her soul on fire, but at least she can call herself a full-time artist). She’s almost over the pain of her breakup (she doesn’t miss her scumbag ex, but she does miss the confidence she had before he cheated on her). And she's almost forgotten the guy she hooked up with in a club bathroom (until she finds out her best friend is about to marry his brother).

Rich, cocky, and vain, Aleksander Larsson is everything Sarah hates in a man. But when wedding duties force them together, sparks fly. While she might not like Alex, Sarah can't deny their connection. A physical relationship, only until the wedding, will tame the tension between them, and no one ever has to know. No one can know—not when Alex's future sister-in-law has warned him to stay away from her friends.

But the more time they spend in—and out of—bed, the more Sarah realises Alex is more than expensive clothes and a deadly smirk. As they bond over art and late night confessions, he starts to show a side of himself she’s sure few other people get to see.

But with their lives so closely entangled, is it worth falling for the one man she can’t risk things not working out with?

Midnight Wishes is book 2 in the Love in London series, following Sarah and Alex from Sunshine Kisses.

Genres: Romance

350 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2025

Reviews

[Katie Naymon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy and emotional! This was a delightful follow-up to Kelly's debut Sunshine Kisses, and I loved cocky Alex and prickly Sarah so much. It begins with a literal bang, and then simmers into this delicious taunting back-and-forth between the two of them, with a slow, aching emotional burn (with plenty of spice on the way there). Kelly excels at writing spice because every scene is so character driven -- you can't (and won't want to) skip the sex scenes because they're absolutely pivotal to the character arcs, and so much work is being done in each scene to show how the push-and-pull of Alex and Sarah's relationship evolves as they gradually open up to each other (also - they're extremely hot, and sex- and body-positive, making them so affirming and wonderful.) Come for the one-night-stand and best friend's brother tropes, stay for the exploration of art, delicious steam, tender prose and banter!

Thank you so much to Kelly for the ARC!

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh myyyy *fans self* this was STEAMY! It was also incredibly heartfelt. I was rooting for Sarah and Alex the whole time and witnessing their relationship grow into something meaningful, sweet but vulnerable conversations, all the banter felt like watching two close friends fall in love. I really appreciated the small bit of focus on navigating neurodivergence as an adult and all the feelings about growing up with it undiagnosed because you "seemed normal." This was MAGICAL tbh. I will be reading it again. So grateful I was gifted an ARC and got to experience this romance.

[Andrea Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

stop everything and read this

I think my favorite part about this book was Erik and Alex having their moment.

The book was too good to put down and as I suspected it ripped me from the trenches of a reading slump.

As a curvy girl I was so excited to read this and I could relate so much more to the MFC and the insecurities she faced. We all deserve an Alex!!

[Nicola Marx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star from me in this second instalment of the Love in London series.
This was such a different love story than what I expected and it was absolute perfection - addressing body issues and positivity as well as ADHD, I found myself relating so much to the MMC and FMC in this story. Oh and the tattoo details were stunning!
Kelly has the perfect balance between understanding the emotions of both characters and it was also lovely to get more of Abby and Erik. Would definitely recommend picking up this series.

[tanith_justanotherchapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You surprised me. I thought your mouth was only good for talking."

One of my favourite romances of 2025 HANDS DOWN. 🥹🫶

If you know me by now, you know I recommend Elsie Silver almost daily. I'm always up in someone's comments like I'm the ringleader of a cult recruiting new members. 😂 I love how Elsie can use tropes which I would normally dislike and have me completely begging for more. Now, you may ask yourself why I'm bringing this up.. Well... 👀

May I present to you Kelly L Clarke, who I have claimed as my South African Elsie Silver because she makes me feel the exact same way. 🫶

Her books have been living in my head rent free for months.

Aleksander "Ruin it" Larsson has forever changed me.🫠

🌼 If Kelly writes it, I will read it. End of. No discussion needed.
💜 Immediate add to cart; autobuy author.
🌼 Description? Don't need one. I'd follow her blindly.
💜 Blonde MMC's? I love them now. Give me 10.
🌼 Friends to lovers? Yes, shower me with daisies.
💜 Tropes? I no longer have a preference.
🌼 She writes and I read. That's it.

And yes, you know I've been in your comments for months recommending her because everyone needs to experience the chokehold her books have on me. 🥹 I won't be stopping any time soon and I won't be apologising either. Just go and read them and you can thank me later. I beg.. 😭

[Raeesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally just finished this so sorry if this is an incoherent review but I just need to get my thoughts out there!

I want to thank Kelly for:
a. Sending me a copy of this book
b. Writing this book!

I really enjoyed Sunshine Kisses, but I LOVED Midnight Wishes. Amidst a sea of worryingly average books (which have had me going "Is it me? Am I the problem?") this book was an absolute delight, and a reminder of why I love reading.

It didn't feel like I was staring at words on a page - it felt like I was living in the story, feeling everything the characters felt and then some.

The writing? Impeccable. The chemistry between Alex and Sarah? So good I could read about them watching paint dry and I'd eat it up and lick out the bowl.

This is the perfect steamy read to heat up your winter. You'll be fanning yourself even in the middle of a cold front. And then a few pages later you'll be crying. And then laughing. It's a book that makes you FEEL THINGS, OKAY???

Filled with beloved tropes (best friend's brother, anyone?) and a cast of characters that will crawl into your heart quicker than Sarah and Alex crawled into the bathroom in the prologue (iykyk), this is a romance that will have you giggling, kicking your feet, and swooning from the first page!

[Trianna/Treereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend um NOT reading this book next to a family member while on a plane. Not that something similar to that happened to me. Just a random recommendation.

ANYWAYS. I really enjoyed this one! Kelly has grown as a write and so many moments in this book had me !!!! I loved Alex and Sarah and seeing them fall in love (despite neither of them wanting to).

I always love books set around a wedding (especially if the couple is in a prior book) and the dynamics that the wedding lent to this book were great! I loved seeing Abby and Sarah's friendship evolve and Alex and Erik deal with some family feels together.

I did want a bit more conflict in the book because lowkey these two could've worked it out earlier bc it wasn't that hard for them. I also always prefer the guy to grovel in an m/f book, but overall I had a fun time with this one!

As a disclaimer Kelly & I are pals on IG

*thanks to the author for the eARC; all thoughts are my own*

[Gissane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm, luscious, and beautifully intimate. This was such a gorgeous, thoughtfully written story, with characters who felt so real that my heart ached and healed with them. The mirror scene?! God-tier PERFECT. It’ll live rent-free in my mind forever.

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for giving me the opportunity to beta read this one! Can't wait to buy a final copy!

[Danielle Haupt · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Another amazing book by Kelly
A deliciously spicy romance
Like a South African Hannah Grace

[Lopke · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just know a romance is going to be at its peak when it literally starts off with a 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗚!💥😏

"𝑰𝒇 𝒘𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔."

Sarah and Alex are the type of characters that you'll immediately fall in love with because they have this "push and pull" type of chemistry that'll leave you feeling all mushy and giddy. They also have a sweet playful banter going on that already proves the comfortableness between them😍 but overall there's just something about an agreement with an expiration date that hightens all emotions and creates this "beautiful tension?."🤭

The romance was steamy but all with acceptable reasoning because the way these two obsessed over each other's bodies was true poetry. The craving for one another was so evident, but the moments where they were being open about their insecurities and showing their vulnerable sides to each other was another level of attractiveness😭

I also loved getting to see more of Erik and Abby, who are ever still so sickingly in love with each other. They are the OGs of yearning, and I adored how their relationship played a vital role in showing Sarah and Alex what they 𝙉𝙀𝙀𝘿 in their lives🥹😭

The sheer detail and care the author has so clearly put into not only the characters but the way of storytelling is so incredibly exquisite that it's still hard for me to explain but so easy to 𝙁𝙀𝙀𝙇 🥰  Everything about it just consumes me and I'm starting to fear for my heart and sanity🥲

Unfortunately, I'll never be able to do this book justice through my review, but thank you @kellycwrites for reminding me why it is that I love romance stories so much in the first place💗

[aqeelah ❀༉˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this if you want:
- wedding prep shenanigans
- maid of honour x best man
- best friend's brother-in-law
- it's "just casual", until it's not...
- neurodivergent MMC (late-diagnosed ADHD)
- plus-sized, bisexual and (mostly) confident FMC
- all the yearning and pining before these stubborn fools realize that they're hopelessly in love with each other <33333

I am writing this review just after completing this book and my heart feels so warm and soft. I could melt into a puddle of love right now. Oh Kelly, you did it again.

After reading Sunshine Kisses, I knew I wanted Alex's story. The witty, flirtatious, and always so carefully put-together eldest brother had a hidden depth I was dying to see. This standalone sequel gave me all the Alex content I desired - and more! Alex's charming facade disguises the real lover boy he truly is, and Sarah is a firecracker of a female lead with hidden insecurities that made my heart ache.

In true Kelly Clarke fashion, this book is more than just playful romance and steamy spice (oh but the spice really is STEAMY 🥵). It is a story of personal healing, rebuilding fractured self-confidence, and learning to accept the very deepest, darkest and truest parts of yourself - and then letting the world accept it too.

As with the previous book, I found myself relating deeply. Sarah's desire to make a living doing what she loves and the way even her strongest shield cannot save her from the traps of comparison are things I understand so well. Alex's struggles with feeling unworthy and trying to figure out a brain that's not quite the same as others are painfully relatable. To feel seen and understood, even if it is by fiction, is something so powerful and healing.

Defs going to recommend both this book and Sunshine Kisses for a long time* to come! I'm so looking forward to what comes next.

*and by a long time, I mean forever and ever and ever :)

[brianna ! · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

|ARC|

⋆ curvy FMC
⋆ nicknames
⋆ light b0ndage
⋆ secret glasses
⋆ artist x art lover
⋆ spicy meet cute
⋆ ‘we’re not friends’ with benefits
⋆ tattooed MMC (he gets a tattoo for her)
______________

oh my! I don’t even know where to start with this book! Such a steamy romance read filled with such depth and reflection! I’m actually so obsessed. Midnight wishes is a contemporary romance where we follow our FMC Sarah as she struggles to find herself again after a rough breakup while also trying to navigate growing tension with her best friends soon to be brother-in-law and our MMC Alex as he struggles to keep his mask up while also trying to reel in his ever growing desire for his soon to be sister-in-laws best friend. We follow them as a night in a club turns into a tensions filled arrangement with a slowly approaching deadline.

EEK! Okay I’m obsessed with these two! the absolute yearning and tension my god!!! Sarah and Alex are such strong characters that go through incredible journeys both together and individually. I absolutely loved Sarah’s growth and watching her find herself was absolutely inspiring. The fact Alex also helped her ugh! Positive reinforcement is one of my favorite micro tropes so I was eating it up! Alex’s journey was filled with so much healing and so much love. I felt so connected to his character and it was absolutely inspiring! I loved both of these two together! Their banter and attraction towards each other was absolutely addictive.

and the writing my god. Kelly does it again honestly! I was a bit nervous because I tend to struggle with 3rd person POV but this book and sunshine’s kisses… mwah so so good! it was so easy to get immersed into the story and fall in love with the characters! Also slow clap for the spice because oh how I love a man who begs my god so so so good!! ALSO I loved how Sarah and Alex had so many little things that showed their love toward each other! And the found family between all of them so so so good! Drunk confession: I’m absolutely obsessed with Kelly and her writing!

Overall, this was such a fun read! I would like to thank Kelly L. Clarke for the ARC! And I absolutely can’t wait to read more!! 🎨❤️‍🩹💐

[Tara Macpherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight Wishes by Kelly Clarke is for those who have to be strong all the time. For those who've had to tough it out. This is a romcom where you are allowed to land softly.
What a treat.

Sarah and Alex both felt very relatable to me in different ways. Sarah, for being a creative and feeling like she always needs to be in charge of her feelings. Alex, for his need to show up and present as having it put together.
It makes alot of sense why these two are so beautiful together. And hot. Super hot.
I've read and reread this beautiful book and am slightly struggling to articulate how much I loved it... But I think, in short, it's a book that makes your heart pulse and ache and one you want to return to. And what could be better than that?

If you're looking for a best friend brother, friends with benefits, neurotypical rep and plus size rep, AND catholic guilt rep - this is a book for you! This is book 2 in a series but can be read as a standalone.... Although then you wouldn't have read Erik and Abby.... Why would you not want to read their story????

I really love Clarke's writing and also had the privilege of being a beta reader for this book. She keeps on growing as a writer and I am so excited for Zoe's story next. (may or may not have contributed to bullying Kelly into following that up!)

Have you read Midnight Wishes yet? Are you also an Alex lover and have been since Sunshine Kisses?
Would love to hear your thoughts!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooooh my gods

This book had me in an absolute chokehold from the minute I started it. I was wary for a minute of the 3rd person writing but that was quickly forgotten. I had an absolute blast escaping into this world every time I picked it up.

A friend sent me some promo for this book and I knew I had to read it, I'm so happy it works as a standalone (although Sunshine Kisses is now downloaded and ready to go) I can't wait to read more in this little world.

Feeling worthy on a partner is something I think most people struggle with at some point in their lives and this book perfectly captures two different versions of that, from both Sarah and Alex. The longing and the painful moments were worth every second to get to where this tale finished. I'm so invested in these characters I could have read another 10 chapters just of their life after.

This book also did one of my favourite things in romance, a PROPER look into the aftermath of the ending, not just They're together the end which infuriates me so much. When you've invested so much in the characters I think it is something that truly does them justice to show the happily ever after not just assume.

Excuse me while I reccomend this book to everyone I know.

[Tasneem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with sensual taunting and playful banter, Midnight Wishes delivers on its promise of a swoony friends(sort of)-with-benefits, best friend's (soon-to-be) brother (in-law) romance.

Forced to carry out wedding errands as the Maid of Honour and Best Man while battling an undeniable attraction and hiding a secret hook up of months before, Sarah and Alex are complete opposites. Rich, arrogant, and incredibly vain, Aleksander Larsson is everything Sarah hates in a man, and yet somehow, even knowing the risks, she still finds herself tumbling into bathrooms, beds and couches with him, unravelling a little bit more of the perfect man with the perfect hair and his collection of Norse tattoos each time, until she spies the lonely soul beneath.

Midnight Wishes introduces flawed, nuanced characters who own their mistakes, acknowledge their selfishness, and admit that they are only human. Book 2 in the Love in London series, Sarah's story is a delightful follow up to Sunshine Kisses, filled with just as much (if not more!) steamy vulnerability and emotional character development AND sneaky cameos from the By the Book series (Titan😩❤️).

[Bianca Swart · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

I absolutely loved this. I loved the first one but this? Alex? Perfection

I think 2025 is my year for loving blonde MMCs (I know, who would've thought), but if Kelly writes them, I love them.

Alex was so perfect. I absolutely loved him and the mental health rep with his ADHD. My husband has ADHD and it made it so much more relatable for me. Alex's whole persona was so relatable. I honestly loved that different side of Alex.

I read this in one sitting I couldn't put the book down. I loved this trope a lot more than the first one but I know Kelly can write a trope I hate and I'll love it. Fingers crossed for the pregnancy trope in the next one.

I also found it refreshing that she was the one that had messed up and had to prove to him she was in this. It's almost always the man trying to convince the woman. I liked that it wasn't the norm.

I'm both happy and sad that I have now binge read both her books. Guess I'll just have to patiently wait for her 3rd- No pressure Kelly.

"I think the messy parts of you are my favorite."

"I also didn't feel like I fit in anywhere. Least of all home. So I became someone who fit in everywhere. "

"I wish you'd let me look after you"

[Ellen - most.lyromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight Wishes features Sarah, artist and Alex, finance bro. Sarah and Alex hook up at a club and then three months later are introduced when her best friend gets engaged to his brother. Of course they remain all attracted to each other, so they decide to hook up until the wedding.

I loved this so much. I love a secret relationship with a deadline and these two were so into one another other, it was great. The spice was spicy and worked well with the wedding planning plot. I really loved watching these two fall in love, their journey felt like a journey and I loved seeing them catch feelings.

Sarah was a great character and I understood why she was so guarded, at the same time that I just wanted to shake her and then girl talk her into fixing everything. She was really perfect for Alex and I loved how great she was at listening. She tried to have that guard up, but he was just too endearing! Alex, for his part, was my fave kind of MMC, a devoted and probably too over the top head over heels in love with his partner. I love a simp and boy, did he fall hard. I highlighted a bunch of his quotes and was just beaming for half of his scenes.

Gah. So adorable.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Ms Kelly, you impressed me! I enjoyed this book thoroughly and liked that both the FMC and MMC both had their issues to work through. They were mature adults who experienced things in their pasts that influenced who they were but also their relationships. Sarah's body issues were relatable for me and Alex feeling lonely and unwelcome as a child and masking his own ADHD symptoms was sensitively handled by the author.

The chemistry between Alex and Sarah was on fire and their playful teasing and banter was top tier. I read this book without reading Sunshine Kisses first and it's definitely fine to read it as a standalone but I did find myself wanting to read it because I wanted to know Erik and Abby's love story. If friend's soon to be brother in law, artist and finance guy, friends with benefits and curvy FMC are tropes that appeal to you, then you'll definitely enjoy Midnight Wishes, I most certainly did!

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been waiting for Midnight Wishes since the moment I finished Sunshine Kisses MONTHS ago, and let me say upfront— Kelly L. Clarke did not disappoint! These was an absolute gem of a best friend’s brother, “just once (😉) to get it out of our systems,” romance that was equal parts beautiful writing, emotional development, and hot spice.

You’ll love this one if you enjoy:
-Dual POV, written in 3rd person
-Prickly FMC, pretty boy MMC
-Found (and biological!) family
-Open door scenes that are as tender as they are steamy
-A guaranteed happy ending that is so emotionally satisfying

While this can definitely be read as a standalone, I’d recommend reading Sunshine Kisses first—not only because it’ll give you more depth to the story but also because it’s equally impressive! Kelly L. Clarke is someone you’ll want to keep an eye on.

[Kayla Roodt · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGGGGG!!! YES, YES, YES — a thousand times YES! 💖
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Midnight Wishes and my ONLY regret is not reading it sooner. 😭 I was in a total reading slump, but the moment I picked this up, I couldn’t put it down — finished in ONE DAY!!

From page one I just knew this was going to be something special. My first 5⭐️ read of the year and it was absolute perfection!

Let’s talk about Sarah & Alex 🥵🔥 The chemistry?? Off. The. Charts. Best friend’s brother-in-law trope?? ICONIC. This story was steamy, heartfelt, and beautifully written. Kelly L. Clarke — girl, you can WRITE. I loved everything — the flow, the characters, the emotions. It was magic. ✨

I’m OBSESSED and already eyeing her debut, Sunshine Kisses ☀️💋
P.S. I need an Alex in my life like… yesterday. 🥹💘

If you’re in the mood for a swoony, spicy, can’t-put-it-down romance — THIS IS IT!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Kelly L. Clarke for the ARC!

This was my first read by this author and man did I love it. From that very first hookup in the bathroom with Sarah and Alex I was hooked I could not put this book down.

This is a fun steamy romance that is filled with so much substance, depth, and reflection. This book was also filled with sop many good tropes that were written so well which just added to my enjoyment of the book overall.

the banter, tension and wanting between these characters was written so well watching how they connect and finally give into the love they have for each other was just chefs kiss definitely a book you need to get your hands on when it comes out.

[Pà · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved this one. It’s sexy but also full of heart. Sarah and Alex had amazing chemistry from the start, the kind that makes you smile for no reason. Their banter felt so real and their connection just kept growing with every chapter. You feel them changing and healing, and I enjoyed seeing how they supported each other without losing their edge.
The writing flows so naturally, it’s easy to get lost in the story. And yes, the spice is fire. I also appreciated the little emotional details. Thank you so much to the author  for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

[Lizl Kuschke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Kelly L. Clarke, and I am happy to say that this is an author where you can just pick up her book and read.
I loved the flow of the story, the relationships between all the characters. Now, the chemistry between Sarah and Alex – that is next level hot. Knowing that their arrangement has an expire date, adds a little bit of anxiety to the reader, as you don’t want this secret arrangement to end.
The books is definitely a good read. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a ‘we are not friends’ with benefits!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aleks is a smoke show. The way he shows up for Sarah is just so romantic and considerate and that is what makes him hot.

Sarah is relatable as someone who wants more for herself but doesn't know exactly how to get there, and that scene where she lists all the stupid things he's wearing and doing made me laugh out loud.

The baggage the characters carry is not just here for trauma dumping, it show how the scars affect their willingness to give in to their feelings, to love each other.

All in all, an enjoyable easy read that left me loving love.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

AM I BIASED? Yes and no. Just because Kelly is a friend, doesn't mean she gets a 5 stars for that (although yeah, it helps). No. I actually really enjoyed this book??? I might have a bf already, but I want an Alex too 😂
But anyways. I really loved seeing Erik and Abby again from Sunshine Kisses again 🥹
(They're my favourite couple from these books so far tbh)
10/10 RECOMMEND (Kelly you're an AMAZING author)

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book from Kelly.

The banter, chemistry, and character development were exceptionally well written.

I loved how the FMC was not a small model body type, and that being curvy and soft can also be desired and hot.

I love how Alex and Sarah found a safe space with each other to be themselves and in doing that started to heal past heartbreaks.

This was honestly chefs kiss and it tugged on my heart strings.

And Lastly...I also loved how we got glimpses of Eric and Abby's happy ever after from Shunshine Kisses.

[Lezane Wilkens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, thank you Kelly. By far one of the best romance books I read this year.

I had SO much fun with this book. I loved both characters so much and I really enjoyed the banter and the romance.

The spice was on point and I couldn’t finish this book fast enough. This is my first book from this author and it won’t be my last.

[Tarien Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh

I keep saying this, I.dont.do.fluffy.romances. but then I read another of Kelly's books and I am blown away and very much impressed. This is literally the next Netflix series I need, after Bridgerton, and Not just this book but the first one.....SOMEONE PLEASE CALL NETFLIX!

[Giulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely incredible! I've been waiting for Midnight Wishes ever since the moment I finished Sunshine Kisses, and it absolutely blew my expectations out of the water.

I completely fell for Sarah and Alex to the point where I didn't know who I liked more🙈