Just a Little Crush

by Holly June Smith

Bec Charlton knows three things for sure.

1. You can’t beat a good aged gouda.
2. Her Grandpa’s old Ford Cortina is her pride and joy.
3. The women of Thatch Cross are obsessed with Alistair Rendall (who is always just ‘Rennie’ to her).

Bec can't blame them. When he isn't fighting fires, Rennie runs Rhyme Time at the local library, teaches self-defence classes, and drives his elderly neighbours to their doctor’s appointments. The man is a saint in a body made for sin.

They’ve known each other since they were kids, so the last thing Bec needs is to have him pull her from a car wreck while her latest audiobook blasts out the spiciest sex scenes…

Bec is lucky to escape with minor injuries - and major embarrassment - but the narrow stairs to her flat are impossible on crutches. When Rennie insists she recuperates at his house, she doesn’t exactly have a choice.

All she needs to do is stay put, let him look after her, and keep her outrageous fantasies in check.

After all, it’s just a little crush… isn’t it?


Just a Little Crush is a standalone childhood friends-to-lovers romance novella packed with heart, humour, and heat.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity, Contemporary, Firefighters

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2022

About the author

Holly June Smith is a writer and romance addict who is constantly falling in love with fictional heroes and dreaming up new ones.

Originally from the North East of Scotland, she now lives in Hertfordshire, England.

You can also find her on Insta and TikTok @hollyjunesmith

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars, maybe (I feel kind of mean about this rating because I can see some maybe potential in the writing, but I can't think of anything actually positive to say about this book, so?)

This was just...not good. I wanted it to be? It sounded so cute? But alas, it was not. There was a lot of potential, it just simply wasn't executed well. Like why are they so horny? Why do they both think they're so dark and depraved when they have pretty vanilla fantasies/sex lives? Like the man literally refers to himself as a monster, thinks 'the things I crave are not the acts of a man in love', and then proceeds to ... some light spanking. Sir, please.

Fleshed out characters? Won't happen here. Character development? Never heard of it. Plot? No siree.

Also, as someone who has had many a sprained ankle, that is simply not how they work.

And most importantly - don't constantly talk about how you fantasize about being chased through the woods and railed against a tree and then have it happen OFF PAGE?! I have been bamboozled.

[Millie Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book dedication: For filthbags everywhere.

Me: Yup, sounds right up my street.

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute friends to lovers romance where Bec and Rennie both have been. In love with one another just didnt wanna risk the friendship until Bec ends up in a car crash with her audio book still playing as Rennie saved her being embarrassed by that. Its a "joke" between them but ill be honest his joke was so old and annoying. I got tired of him calling himself not vanilla and a monster for his urges which weren't really bad. And Bec having sexual kinks it was eh that's why he tried to push away.
But at the end they both got what they wanted.


No ow/om drama, no cheating, tiny drama, sexy times, no manwhore

Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶

Slowburnish
Push away from both
Praise kink
Safe sex
Light spanking
Hea
Epilogue

[Grackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl after my own heart. Nuff said.

[Do · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an easy read.Its such a fun ,short, funny story. Love that the fmc is a bookwurm.

[Esthi Labuschagne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, fun, short and spicy read.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think about this particular incident often when I’m playing certain audiobooks in the car 😅 Loved this novella, the spice was delicious!!

[Sass · Rating 3 out of 5]

A smutty, novella featuring friends to lovers and a cheese shop.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a little feel good smutty romance without angst, this one fits the bill. A (very) slightly different take on small town friends to lovers.

Alastair (Rennie) and Rebecca (Bec) have know each other since grade school and have secretly lustfully pined for the other. Lol. They are each convinced they either aren’t good enough or that their sexual preferences are too depraved (spoiler: they’re not).

The story takes off when a tree lands on Bec’s car when she’s driving home in a storm. Rennie comes to the rescue and then she stays with him while she recuperates. All kinds of fairly ridiculous conversations and shenanigans ensue.

- no third act breakup
- communication - sort of; its a bit all over the place. Sometimes they’re very open and then… not.
- no character growth or crazy plot; just two people finally realizing they’re perfect for each other
- spice - starts about 1/2 way. Open door. They each have high sex drives and realize how compatible they are
- forced proximity - she’s staying with him
- No OM/OW. Neither really dates, but each have had a serious partner in the past.
- She’s a cheese monger, all around good person who works hard; he is a fireman, helps little ladies kind of guy.
- some flashback moments to when they were kids/teens but nothing prolonged or too distracting.
- Dual POV; HEA. 8 month and then 8 yr later epilogue w two kids.

Overall, a very cute spicy story.

[Sara Madderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book was utter PERFECTION from start to finish! Holly really did have me at hello. The banter, the tension, and Bec's utterly filthy inner musings (especially when the delicious Rennie was in close proximity) had me howling and squealing out loud with laughter - no mean feat.

I can't believe this is a debut novel. It's smart and witty and accomplished and pitch-perfect. The spice and dirty talk are smoking hot and utterly excellent - you will not be disappointed!

I'm going through a major thing currently for MMCs who are stoic and competent and put everyone else first, and then, when they are unleashed, they are UTTER FILTH. Rennie delivered a hundred times over on hitting that sweet spot for me! If you loved Noah in In a Jam or Brick in Forever Never you'll adore him.

The crash and rescue scene is such a perfect, hilarious little gem that I want to wrap it up in a soft blanket and keep it for ever more and pet it creepily.

Thank you Holly for the most delicious read! Now I'm off to buy some aged gouda...

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved IT. Haven’t read anything like this before and it’s safe to say it got me a little hot under the collar.

[Destiny Norwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Kelsey Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuinely humorous, cozy, STEAMY, delightful quick read that I inhaled in one sitting. All the feels for Bec & Rennie!!

[Daffy Kraizel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Cute, spicy and fun

[TaylorReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was mortified at the lack of shame and propriety at the beginning. Thank goodness I made it through because I loved this. Rennie is my blueprint of a perfect man, now I just need to find one. Imma try Amazon first and get back to yall

[Kelly Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 is my real rating but I just love Holly so I’ll always round up 💖

[Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute short book to read for a book slump. Good filler book the fmc and mmc are cute together and a hea which is nice

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, short and hilarious rom-com that will give anyone who reads romance audio books a new nightmare. This author was new to me and discovered by accident. I adored this book, it was a perfect friend's to lovers story with mutual pining and great banter and romance.

[Kara Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy read. Cute story. Lots of fantasies turned realities that lead to HEA. Everything I could ask for.

[Frankie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best spicy spice book ever! Bec and Rennie are the most believable characters and I totally feel in love with them. I can’t wait for more by Holly June Smith. She is a smutty genius!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another A++++++++ book boyfriend.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

just two cheeky buggars gnawing at the bars of their enclosures

[Annie Tasaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ Perfect wholesome to raunchiness ratio. Just a couple of horny best friends who’ve been pining for each other too long. 🥰

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

so far i’ve liked all of holly june smith’s books, so i was shocked that i hated this one so much. i don’t understand anything about these characters. are they both ex catholics??? what is with this weird guilt complex where they’re both like “i’m a bad person and will never find a partner to love me because of my depraved desires” and the depraved desires are two spanks and a vibrator?????????

in the beginning of the book, bec spends like two whole pages of internal monologue describing about how ren is a firefighter and saves people and took over story hour at the library and reads to children and is friendly but professional to all the moms who hit on him, and then a paragraph later is like “i don’t want a good guy. i want a bad boy. i want ren.” like…girl i don’t know that you can get further away from “bad boy” than “volunteers to read to tiny children.”

and far be it to complain that there’s smut in my smutty novella but like…both of these people are thinking about sex 100% of the time in ways that are straight up bizarre??? i swear there’s a part where bec is laying down like “wow my body sure hurts from the horrible car accident i was in…wish i were getting fucked right now.” it’s just???? extremely off putting and not sexy????

this was just a very strange read and i’m surprised because the rest of her books have been a little unrealistic, but at least they’ve been a blast to read. this one was less than 175 pages and it still felt like a slog to get through and took me like two days.

[Teresa Ruscito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes all you need is a little life threatening accident for the friends to realize they should be lovers… and honestly who could possibly complain about that? Also a fun side plot that they both happen to be freaks in the sheets and are looking for the perfect sexually deviant lock to fit their equally naughty hole. News flash you crazy kooks, the answer was right in front of you the whole time! This novella managed to be cute and hot, go figure! VERY spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ a good time had by all

[ns2016 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filthbag is my favourite new word ♥️

[Charly Murg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok read, I felt the main characters needed to be fleshed out a lot more and even though they are supposed to have been into each other forever it all felt like the only thing they had was sexual attraction. I’d like to have seen more of the supposed lovely stuff he did other than helping old ladies across the road and maybe some more of the being at the library with the local kids. It just didn’t feel very believable. Even though there was objectification of men and women, it still felt like it was much more male gaze (of course she just LOVES blow jobs and was fine with not getting anything back except for his eternal thanks 🙄)

I still want to know exactly why Rennie thought he was this horrible man who didn’t deserve her? I just don’t buy that it was just cos he liked it a bit rough. Also, and I know this is personal but NOTHING rubs me up the wrong way like a man calling a woman baby, it just sounds so condescending (and I’m not into women calling men baby either) but I know that’s a me problem. Towards the end of the book I just felt like I wanted to get it finished with.

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 8 of 2025

After going down a crazy road the last few days with my book choices, I wanted a fun, light novella to cleanse my palate. I am easily influenced by the authors I follow on social media, and @HollyJuneSmith is highlighting her backlist of books and since I did three of her books last month, I decided she was the exact right type of book I needed right now. This was small town friends-to-lovers, though they have been secretly pining over each other for years. I mean, who doesn't want the town cinnamon roll who is also a firefighter who takes care of you after your car accident? Enough said. Thanks for this fun little nugget @HollyJuneSmith, and know that I am going to keep reading pretty much everything you put out.

Rating -- three stars
Format -- kindle unlimited

[Autumn Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love love loveeeeeeee this book! I was giggling so much and I highlighted so much in this book. Everything was just so cute and loveable! I literally loved everything abt it and I don’t understand why I soft DNF’ed it some weeks ago. I ate this up. I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want to. I love Flynn. He is diffintely a new book boyfriend. He was the definition of obsessed! He was utterly and unabashedly obsessed with Olivia. He loved her perfections and her flaws. He loved her daughter!!! That was like the cherry on top! He loved Greer like his own from the very beginning. There was no doubt about it and I love how it was so easy! He didn’t have to work for it. No, he was like i love her, I understand her, and I want to give her the dad she (basically) never had. Ughhhhhh swooooooon! And he was persistent! We love a persistent book man! He wanted that date and not just to get in her pants but to know her. Know all of her. He did so much for her! We all know his love language is acts of service. And physical touch tehehe. But how could he get any better?! Olivia was such an amazing heroine. So hardworking and loving towards her daughter and family. She is everything a mom should be. I love the way she deals with Greer and Flynn’s relationship. In suchhhhh a good manner. Not where she’s not letting them meet for forever, not where she immediately lets them meet and brings him in, but in a way where she was confident it was okay to introduce them. And then she introduced him as Archer’s brother and not as a prospective dad figure. And she didn’t keep him from her. She let them get comfortable around each other and even though she was still protective, as she should be, she was still open to it all. Also the girl owned a bookstore!!! Cmon now!!!! Owned. A. Book. Store! She takes pride in it and wants it to be amazing and grow and be a safe place and in the end it, it was. That’s growth! She is soooooo supportive of Flynn. Went to as many games as she could, cheered on like no one else and was happy for him during a tough time and decision. She was gonna be there for him no matter what he decided even though it was breaking her and Greer’s heart. She also fit right in with his family. They immediately took her in and she immediately fit in with them and they’re teasing and their love for Flynn. I loved that. And also, back to Flynn, when he went to Greer’s class and proved that little girl wrong!!!! Ahhhhhh cutest thing ever! He was mad selfish but I loved it. And when he took Olivia to see the flower. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! I actually finally loved an epilogue. Even the bonus epilogue. It was so cute. I wasn’t even mad at the proposal and more babies. Now my side characters. Greer: adorable, funny, such a kid, and honestly like the perfect child. The brothers: love each and every one of them; loving, loyal, sweet, protective, super super supportive. Sabrina: love her!; dependable, honest, best bestie and auntie ever. Gigi and Grandpa: cutest ever, the notes were sooooo cute, reliable, loveable, willing to do anything, grandpa is a little stubborn but we still love him and Gigi is just the seeetest grandma. The boys dad: gosh I knew I wasn’t gonna like him but he was just heavily flawed; I’m glad he had a comeback in the end. I think I got everyone. And as you can tell i loveeeeeeed this book! This series probably eats so I might be reading some of the others. Also the amount of times I said “love” in this review is crazy, I need a count lol.

[Isaaz_06 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

- Bec (Rebecca): protagonista femenina
- Rennie (Allister): protagonista masculino
- Amigos de infancia, padres que son amigos, relación de mas de 30 años. Hubo crushes adolescentes de ambos, pero por cosas de la vida nunca surgió nada, fue pasando el tiempo, Bec nunca dejó de gustarle, no paraba de tener todo tipo de fantasías de él (to guarra la tía) y Rennie más que lo mismo, nunca salió con alguien por mucho tiempo porque le iba tomar el control en la cama, los roles y cosas más intensas y nunca encontró a alguien parecido (creía que Bec era la chica buena, inteligente y Dulce y Bec pensaba que Rennie era un santo que no diría ni una palabrota)
- Todo cambió cuando Bec tuvo un accidente de coche y se esguinzó el tobillo y la muñeca, teniendo que mudarse con Rennie temporalmente. No pasó ni dos días y ya se liaron y Ronnie le comió to el toto, pero siguieron sin comunicarse y aclarar todos los sentimientos que llevan acumulándose ahí por décadas, siguió la mierda, Rennie tenía el control de un adolescente hormonado, así que no paraban de follar sin aclarar nada, se fue repitiendo lo mismo, hasta que hubo una “charla” en la que se dijeron que se amaban y terminao

Críticas:

- Que tardasen tanto en aclarar las cosas cuando era tan simple fue frustrante, pero lo peor es, que eso es lo único que hace que el libro exista, porque es una chorrada, pero si no se hubiese alargado, no habría libro, es literal todo el plot, porque esta cosa no puede ser más sosa y simplona
- Tanto decían de que se amaban y mierdas, que supongo que se entiende por la amistad eterna que tienen, pero es que el libro no ha explotado para nada la relación romántica entre ellos, solo la física y que son unos calenturientos, literal follaban como conejos, el tío literal dijo “si ser amigos con beneficios es lo máximo que voy a conseguir, me tendré que conformar” y de repente amor eterno y cambio total, terminó esa escena y 6 meses pasaron (que enseñaron una fantasía que la protagonista tuvo desde el inicio, que la persiguieran en el bosque y que la follasen ahí, lo cual fue una mierda, porque fue tan esperado, para que luego ni diesen detalles, casi que dijeron “hay un bosque, ahora usa tu imaginación sobre lo que habrá pasado, porque no te lo voy a dar yo, adiós”) y de repente 8 añacos en el futuro, con dos hijos y tan felices de la vida
- Los padres pues estaban los cuatro juntos haciendo un tour por Europa o algo así, mejores amigos ahí, así que eran monos y pues estaban shippeandoles desde hace año esperando a que saliesen de una vez los protagonistas, así que por esa parte, pues buena familia
- Y ya, libro corto, muy meh y me ha hecho perder horas de sueño solo porque me quedaba poco y quería terminármelo y no llevármelo para el día siguiente

Conclusión: MUY MEH 😑