What do you think?
Rate this book
Stuck with my Secret Crush: A Brother's Best Friend Sweet Romance
What’s harder than surviving a mandatory corporate tournament? Being partnered with my brother’s gorgeous best friend—aka my decade-long secret crush.
Jonah is 6’2” with hazel eyes, intensely protective, and impossible to ignore. When my brother pulls out of the tournament, he sends Jonah to replace him.
Now we’re stuck practicing side by side on the court. But Jonah doesn’t let whatever “this” is end on the court. He makes the hardest parts of my day melt away.
After long days, his thumbs press the knots from my neck.
When I’m too drained to think, he feeds me.
When I’m leaving late, the ride home is handled.
And when he teaches me to blow glass, his arms lock around me to keep me safe.
He isn’t just a crush. I’ve fallen for him.
Then a rent spike threatens his business, and I find a relocation lease. Three hours away. Signed.
If Jonah leaves without asking me to be part of what comes next, I’ll know this was never really my second chance...
Just my second heartbreak.
This is a sweet, kisses-only workplace romance featuring competent characters, laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. Get the book and listen to their song "Too Close." This book is part of the standalone Coffee, Chemistry & Connections Series. One Coffee Shop. Four Women. Guaranteed HAEs.
Jonah is 6’2” with hazel eyes, intensely protective, and impossible to ignore. When my brother pulls out of the tournament, he sends Jonah to replace him.
Now we’re stuck practicing side by side on the court. But Jonah doesn’t let whatever “this” is end on the court. He makes the hardest parts of my day melt away.
After long days, his thumbs press the knots from my neck.
When I’m too drained to think, he feeds me.
When I’m leaving late, the ride home is handled.
And when he teaches me to blow glass, his arms lock around me to keep me safe.
He isn’t just a crush. I’ve fallen for him.
Then a rent spike threatens his business, and I find a relocation lease. Three hours away. Signed.
If Jonah leaves without asking me to be part of what comes next, I’ll know this was never really my second chance...
Just my second heartbreak.
This is a sweet, kisses-only workplace romance featuring competent characters, laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. Get the book and listen to their song "Too Close." This book is part of the standalone Coffee, Chemistry & Connections Series. One Coffee Shop. Four Women. Guaranteed HAEs.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2026
About the author
Sophie Shelton
10 books4 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 29, 2026
✅My thoughts:
Stuck with my Secret Crush was a fun engaging read.
I loved the banter between the two main characters, Nadia and Jonah.
The pickle ball aspect was hilarious!
Then, there is the chemistry between them which I have to say was so sweet.
Are you in the mood for a swoony, feel-good read? This book should be on your tbr list.
Perfect summer, beach reading.
Stuck with my Secret Crush was a fun engaging read.
I loved the banter between the two main characters, Nadia and Jonah.
The pickle ball aspect was hilarious!
Then, there is the chemistry between them which I have to say was so sweet.
Are you in the mood for a swoony, feel-good read? This book should be on your tbr list.
Perfect summer, beach reading.
April 29, 2026
Being partnered with my brother’s gorgeous best friend—aka my decade-long secret crush.
Good book I loved the storyline!!
This is a sweet, kisses-only workplace romance featuring competent characters, laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. It's part of the standalone Coffee, Chemistry & Connections Series. One Coffee Shop. Four Women. Guaranteed HAEs.
Good book I loved the storyline!!
This is a sweet, kisses-only workplace romance featuring competent characters, laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. It's part of the standalone Coffee, Chemistry & Connections Series. One Coffee Shop. Four Women. Guaranteed HAEs.
July 6, 2026
Chapter Four repeats itself! I double-checked and the KU version repeats. Yep: "I heard a pop," Owen mutters." That entire conversation and section gets repeated up to his text to Nadia saying "Owen says I'm subbing in."
The writing style doesn't work for it. It could have been a good story but it's weighed down with ponderous, descriptive writing. The main conflict centers on using a pickleball tournament to prove her value to her toxic corporate employer. I just laughed at the sentence comparing her boss's top of the line paddles (a few hundred dollars at the most) being more expensive than Jonah's kiln for his glass (a few thousand at least). Utterly ridiculous.
I've read this trope too many other times, and I know exactly how it will play out, which makes it boring. Years ago, Nadia had a crush on Jonah, her brother's BF. She overheard him tell her brother he wasn't into her. He knew he was wrong when he said it. That crushed her; she never let it go.
Here he is back in her life again. We learn he has massively huge shoulders; maybe they block the sun. I mean, really? Does he have to turn sideways to get through a doorway? "I cannot control the sheer, suffocating size of Jonah's shoulders." He's "the heavy, immovable boulder" in the corporate flow of executives.
Nadia's spirit is exhausted by her corporate life. Even though she's a computer wizard, she has to deal with sexist men who call her sweetheart and demean her work. "I that's a little aggressive for the client, sweetheart." She needs somebody (him, of course) to show her another way to live.
Anyway, whole chapters about playing pickleball are filler. Seduction on a pickleball court. "She gasps, a quick intake of air as my scent—woodsmoke, sweat, and sulfur—collides with the sterile air of the court."
The writing style doesn't work for it. It could have been a good story but it's weighed down with ponderous, descriptive writing. The main conflict centers on using a pickleball tournament to prove her value to her toxic corporate employer. I just laughed at the sentence comparing her boss's top of the line paddles (a few hundred dollars at the most) being more expensive than Jonah's kiln for his glass (a few thousand at least). Utterly ridiculous.
I've read this trope too many other times, and I know exactly how it will play out, which makes it boring. Years ago, Nadia had a crush on Jonah, her brother's BF. She overheard him tell her brother he wasn't into her. He knew he was wrong when he said it. That crushed her; she never let it go.
Here he is back in her life again. We learn he has massively huge shoulders; maybe they block the sun. I mean, really? Does he have to turn sideways to get through a doorway? "I cannot control the sheer, suffocating size of Jonah's shoulders." He's "the heavy, immovable boulder" in the corporate flow of executives.
Nadia's spirit is exhausted by her corporate life. Even though she's a computer wizard, she has to deal with sexist men who call her sweetheart and demean her work. "I that's a little aggressive for the client, sweetheart." She needs somebody (him, of course) to show her another way to live.
Anyway, whole chapters about playing pickleball are filler. Seduction on a pickleball court. "She gasps, a quick intake of air as my scent—woodsmoke, sweat, and sulfur—collides with the sterile air of the court."
April 26, 2026
What a fantastic story about Jonah and Nadia. The story actually starts ten years prior at her graduation from college but they have actually known each other longer than that. Jonah is best friends with Nadia’s brother Owen. Jonah and Nadia finally meet again after Owen talks Jonah into stepping up to be Nadia’s partner in a pickleball tournament. Nadia has three other women who she is actually close friends with and they meet to just talk every week. Jonah and Nadia actually live in two different types of worlds. Nadia finds out that Jonah is going to have to move his shop and goes into immediate problem solving mode which upsets Jonah. When Nadia see’s a lease for a shop three hours away just waiting for Jonah’s signature she absolutely loses it. Nadia with some help from her friends find an alternative location for his shop. This story is so well planned and written that it keeps your attention from beginning to end. I absolutely loved the happily ever after of the story.
April 24, 2026
It all starts with Pickle ball???
Well it really starts over 10 years ago when he realizes that he wants to be with her. Then his best friend steps in and convinces him that she needs to be cut loose to succeed in the corporate world she is entering.
Fast forward 10 years and a corporate pickle ball tournament. When his best friend is injured and talks him into taking his spot as her pickle ball tournament partner...
I honestly couldn't care about the tournament, but him? Jonah is an artisan glass blower who doesn't see his self worth as enough for this beautiful corporate dynamo. But...
Wonderful characters and great friends, friends that force Nadia to be honest with her feelings, and friends who have endless emotional support. I loved this story so much more than the first one in the series, and it was excellent! This one? Read it for yourself! A sweet love story and brave participants that learned from the decade of their mistakes.
Well it really starts over 10 years ago when he realizes that he wants to be with her. Then his best friend steps in and convinces him that she needs to be cut loose to succeed in the corporate world she is entering.
Fast forward 10 years and a corporate pickle ball tournament. When his best friend is injured and talks him into taking his spot as her pickle ball tournament partner...
I honestly couldn't care about the tournament, but him? Jonah is an artisan glass blower who doesn't see his self worth as enough for this beautiful corporate dynamo. But...
Wonderful characters and great friends, friends that force Nadia to be honest with her feelings, and friends who have endless emotional support. I loved this story so much more than the first one in the series, and it was excellent! This one? Read it for yourself! A sweet love story and brave participants that learned from the decade of their mistakes.
April 24, 2026
I enjoyed reading this sweet story. Jonah is a glass blower who has had a crush on his best friend’s sister, Nadia. When her brother can’t show up for her, he asks Jonah to step in. Here is where the fun begins, at the pickleball tournament against other upper-level executives, Nadia and Jonah were fantastic together, seamlessly reading each other and winning. I loved the banter between them, the way that they grew and supported each other through big decisions. This is such a fantastic sweet and swoony rom com, a great story to add to your TBR list!
June 22, 2026
Nadia and Jonah are the absolute perfect pair, when they communicate. These two bring such a balance of energy and are unstoppable together. I could feel Jonah’s insecurity and loved when Nadia reminded him who he truly was. This story brings all the sweet and swoony vibes that I have come to expect from Sophie Shelton’s work and left me with a smile and a full heart.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 25, 2026
“Stuck with My Secret Crush” by Sophie Shelton
-A sweet, second-chance rom-com with charming banter and a fun pickleball twist. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
Jonah and Nadia’s chemistry shines as they reconnect, heal old wounds, and support each other’s dreams. A swoony, feel-good story about timing, self-worth, and finally choosing love.
-A sweet, second-chance rom-com with charming banter and a fun pickleball twist. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
Jonah and Nadia’s chemistry shines as they reconnect, heal old wounds, and support each other’s dreams. A swoony, feel-good story about timing, self-worth, and finally choosing love.
July 8, 2026
The story is OK, but the Kindle edition had too many editing errors. There were whole sections repeated. Lots of grammatical issues. The poor editing job made it difficult to stay engaged.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Nice story. I like their chemistry. It's kinda like a reverse CEO meets small town woman but instead the women have high driven jobs (fighting to be treated equal) meeting men who are artistic and a slower paced life. Thank you for the HEA! I look forward to the rest of the books in the series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews