April is almost over, but before we move into May, let’s talk about something that happens on April 30 and matters far more than most people realize: National Honesty Day. And yes, there’s a whole day dedicated to this. (Presumably so we can all feel guilty about the little lies we tell ourselves.)

Here’s the thing about honesty, especially in romance: it’s terrifying. It’s the moment a character stops hiding. It’s the instant they admit the thing they’ve been denying for pages, chapters, sometimes entire books. “I’ve been lying to myself about my feelings for you.”  Words that crack open everything.

We love this moment so much. The confession. The vulnerability. The raw admission that somehow changes everything because it’s finally true, finally said out loud. There’s no more hiding behind fake dating scenarios or witty deflection or “I’m not interested” when clearly someone is very much interested.

That’s the real power of honesty in romance. It’s not about coming clean. It’s about the relief of it. The exhale after holding your breath for too long. The moment when the walls fall away, and two people finally see each other clearly.

I’ve always believed that romance readers understand this instinctively. We’re not in it for the pretty words on the page (okay, we are a little). We’re in it for the moment when someone is brave enough to admit the truth. When vulnerability becomes strength. When saying “I love you” costs everything and is worth everything.

Have you noticed how the best romance scenes aren’t the grand gestures? They’re the quiet ones. The honest ones. The moment someone stops running from what they feel and says it.

If you love that exact moment, when all the walls come down, and honesty finally breaks through, you might find yourself in the small town of Aspen Cove. The residents there know a thing or two about keeping secrets and finding the courage to let them go. One Hundred Secrets is about exactly this: the moment someone stops hiding and the other person hears the truth they’ve been hoping for. Find it here.

Happy (almost) May.