Only a Crush

by Delancey Stewart

[The Romantic Comedy Book Club]

I became a fan of Delancey Stewart when I read Only a Fling. Having a soft spot for small town romances, I was entranced by what I thought was the first book in the series (FYI – you will want to read Only a Summer first). Add to that how Stewart writes her female characters and you will quickly understand how reading her books in less than day is far too easy.

Back to Only a Fling (I know this a review for Only a Crush so bear with me), to my surprise and delight, Delancey added a bonus epilogue, allowing the reader to dive further into the lives and relationships of the Kasper Ridge Resort crew. We find ourselves witnessing the interaction between Mateo and Annalee, setting the scene for this book and what may potentially build between these two characters.

I am happy to report, she did NOT disappoint!

What I liked about the book: The same wit, charm, sarcasm (my goodness the sarcasm!), and overall laugh out loud moments were front and center in Only a Crush. There were moments I laughed so hard that I had to take a second before continuing (hard to see a screen with tears in your eyes).

The way Stewart wrote Annalee was phenomenal. I swear I wanted to sing “Anything You Can Do”. She was the epitome of that song. She was gorgeous but not a delicate flower. She was smart, quick, talented in anything and everything she tried (pilot, chef, event planning, film critic), and she didn’t take mess from anyone. 

I will also admit, Stewart knows how to write a steamy scene. I mean WOW! Like fog the glass because I was breathing too hard WOW!

The last thing I will say about this series is you want to know these characters – inside and out. You learn each time that who they appear to be is nowhere near who they really are and the real life experiences they have had make them so relatable. By having an alternative POV, the unsaid moments are so strong, so informative that you fall more and more involved with every single member of this growing family.