Cover Image: Secretly Yours

Secretly Yours

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I wasn't a huge fan of this book. Something about the story just didn't connect for me. However, I love the second book in this series and highly recommend reading it.

Was this review helpful?

I love any and everything Tessa Bailey writes and this book was no exception. I really liked the grumpy/sunshine trope. The character were approachable and hilarious, and then with the added spice. I loved it, and definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

My least favorite Tessa Bailey book by far and I am bummed as heck about it. While this did have plenty of her characteristic steam, it was missing all of the charm that I can usually expect alongside it. From the romance to the plot itself, Secretly Yours felt undercooked in just about every way. I will certainly still be reading more from Tessa in the future because I usually adore her books, but methinks I will be taking a bit of a break until she puts something out with a synopsis that really grabs my attention. Hopefully I will enjoy the next thing I pick up from her more!

Was this review helpful?

Loved this grumpy sunshine pairing! They were somehow perfect for each other and I just wanted to see them get their HEA

Was this review helpful?

I really liked the grumpy/sunshine trope in this book. I also really enjoyed the alternating POV between characters - it felt very natural and instinctive (not choppy at all). The characters were all very endearing and you want to root for them all throughout the book. The relationship between Hallie & Julian was great - really enjoyed that they learned to grow together instead of trying to change for each other. This was a great rom-com with a very satisfying happily-ever-after.

Was this review helpful?

A sweet chance at romance. Love that they’re in completely different fields of work to be able to cross paths. Very cute.

Was this review helpful?

I unfortunately got approved for the arc right around the same time it was released and forgot I even requested! Im thankful for the chance to read but I ended up deciding to wait to read it, Tessa bailey is a really good writer & her books are so good, Im glad I got the opportunity to even have the arc I just wish I would’ve got around to reading it!

Was this review helpful?

I love Tessa Bailey’s writing style, she just has a way of making me want to finish all of her books in one sitting. This book was no different. I love a good romance.i saw some mixed reviews but honestly this book was an easy read and I was satisfied with the ending. I really enjoyed it!

Was this review helpful?

I've come to count on Tessa for two things: Heat and Humor. This one was no different. Just a fun read with her signature sizzling, knock-the-door-wide open spice and expert, laugh-out-loud banter!

Was this review helpful?

A sort of grumpy meets with sunshine romance, and it was absolutely delightful. A perfect Tessa Bailey romance that has everything we expect from her: great chemistry between our MCs, a romance that just leaves you smiling by the end, and great development from our MCs as well as a humanity that just leaks from the pages and you cannot help but empathize with them. Our two main characters, Hallie and Julian, met when they were younger and had an almost kiss moment that was absolutely world changing for Hallie. Since then, she has carried a torch for Julian Vos, and when their path’s meet again fifteen years later, she feels this could be the chance to finally kiss the person she has fantasized about for years. She decides to offer her gardening services to Julian’s mother at their vineyard, and she starts spending her days outside Julian’s rooms. Their personalities crash: she has no structure and no rules, while he always lives a life of structure, maintaining a strict timetable and a plan for his sabbatical year from his teaching position. However, after a drunken night with her best friend, she remembers the next day that she left an admirer letter in his morning running path to find. And she starts developing a sort of friendship with him, while still sending one or two more letters as the admirer, all the while keeping him in the dark that it’s her. I really enjoyed getting to know them, and the world that they live in. The fact that they knew each other from the past but now life has thrown them again together is also perfect, since it also adds tension to their dynamic. As always, Tessa Bailey’s romance is incredible, and it was GREAT smut. I was so ready to see them together and the heat between them almost jumped out of the pages. Another part that I loved was the character development.

It’s a romantic comedy with perfect moments, but there is also something so human about each of them and how the relationship develops. It just feels relatable, and I happily read the pages of their story. Of course, the tension at the end was expected, but it still left me smiling and wanting to clutch the book to my chest. And as a nice addition to the story, we get to meet and know a little bit about Natalie Vos’s story, the sister of Julian and the protagonist of the next story in this world, and I cannot wait to read this one too. Like always, Tessa Bailey’s stories are a fun time and you can always expect great romance, smut, and characters.

Was this review helpful?

I thought this was a really fun book! Tessa Bailey always has great relationships & steam in her books, so that’s always a delight.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn’t overly impressed but it was a solid and good book. Expected for the author and nice to spend time reading

Was this review helpful?

This isn't my first Tessa Bailey book and honestly, didn't live up to what I expected from her. I enjoyed her Bellinger sisters series immensely but Hallie and Julian left me wanting more. It was perfectly fine but I think I went in with high expectations. It was perfectly enjoyable but not on my re-read list. n

Was this review helpful?

I love Tessa Bailey books. They always put a smile on my face. This book was a fun, easy read. It lagged a little but not enough for to put it down.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC. Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey features a clash of personalities. Both characters are so completely different but complement each other. I did find this title to be less exciting than her previous Bellinger Sisters series. It felt that while I found it "ok," I could have put it down and not finished it and lived happily ever after. I would rate this title 2.5 stars- while not bad, it just wasn't something I would recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Look. You know what you're going to get with a Tessa Bailey novel - pretty instant chemistry, lots of steam, some cringey dirty talk and pet names, but overall a fun time, and "Secretly Yours" was just that. Overall, it was a fun time, but this one in particular had some extra uncomfortable moments, namely, Hallie pretty much stalking Julian. The best way I can sum up my experience reading Bailey's books is that I enjoy it a lot in the moment and then it dims significantly over time post-reading, but I'll still almost always pick up her next book because you know it's going to be a quick fun (ridiculous) book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Some people weren’t a fan of this book but I think they’re crazy. It was adorable and I loved that it was set in a vineyard, and I related so much to the main character so it was such a fun read for me

Was this review helpful?

Tessa Bailey can do no wrong! I love everything she writes and so does my book club. She puts just the right amount of spice and fun in her books. The chemistry between Julian and Hallie had intimacy and connection. I loved the game of the notes left by the tree trunk each day. Julian has come home to write a novel and Hallie just happens to be his sexy gardener doing work right outside his window. I loved his vulnerability with his panic attacks which I think people can relate to. Such a great book and love that it is #1 in a new series.

Was this review helpful?

I’m a massive Tessa Bailey fan, so getting this arc was really exciting, and it did not disappoint! She really is the queen of dirty talk, I found the characters so easy to love and relatable. Honestly, I was surprised by how much I loved this book bc the premise is not something I’d normally be into.. I went in worrying it would be a long term exchange of letters, which I feel often borders on emotional manipulation, but I didn’t get that here. I appreciated the anxiety rep and showing the depths it can reach - the dark hole Julian goes into is something I think a lot of people can relate to and I loved seeing it in a romance hero. These two were so cute and it was such a fun read!! Definitely recommend, but check TW’s

Was this review helpful?

This book was hilarious. I do think the secret admirer letters subplot wasn't necessarily needed, but it was fun to read. Grumpy + Sunshine is such a fun plot and as always, I'm here for small town romances. Looking forward to reading Natalie's story in Unfortunately Yours.

Was this review helpful?