I've really struggled to get into Tessa Bailey recently, as I've found that her books are really not what I'm into with a lot of her storylines and plots having holes and being pieced together. I really enjoyed Julian as a character in this one and I adore any character that is a budding novelist (swoon!), but I can't say I connected well with this one - awkward sex scenes, lacked emotions and overall just okay.

"Secretly Yours" by Tessa Bailey presents a storyline that, unfortunately, falls into the realm of mediocrity. The character dialogues, for the most part, come off as cheesy, contributing to an overall lack of depth. The situations and dialogue within the narrative often lean towards the unrealistic, making it challenging for readers to fully immerse themselves in the story.

One notable aspect is Julian's peculiar obsession with Hallie's smile, a theme that persists throughout the book. What starts as an attempt to bring a romantic element becomes a bit awkward and repetitive as the story progresses. Julian's bossy demeanor, intended to add a certain charm, ends up feeling overbearing and not as endearing as intended.

Despite these drawbacks, the story maintains a fast-paced tempo, peppered with moments of unnecessary spice. However, it's not all gloom, as some parts manage to deliver a touch of humor, offering brief respites from the otherwise lackluster narrative. In summary, "Secretly Yours" is a mix of elements, with its fair share of shortcomings, yet still managing to inject moments of humor, earning it two stars.

This unfortunately was not for me and I sadly didn’t enjoy it. I couldn’t connect with the characters and had a hard time with the 3rd person. I am an avid lover of Tessa Bailey but think this just wasn’t for me personally. I adored that Tessa’s witty charm with her characters still showed through.

I had so much fun with this! It was a very fun read. My only issue was the miscommunication trope and the pacing. I'm not a fan of miscommunication. I'm sad to have seen it in this one!!

This is such a great book when you want something cozy on the beach or cuddled in a blanket on a winter day!

Another super cute romance from the one and only, Tessa Bailey! The romance is as sweet as the cover, and in true Tessa Bailey fashion, equally (and delightfully) spicy. This was a great grumpy-sunshine rom-com!

This was a wonderful book that was fun to read. i finished it in a long afternoon and I look forward to more stories from Tessa Bailey.

Tessa Bailey has always been a hit author, churning out stories so quick that I’m struggling to read them all! I couldn’t put this one down though. Storyline was well thought out, entertaining and the perfect blend of funny and charming. I loved the characters and the world building. 5/5

I have some mixed feelings about this one. I love Tessa Bailey and everything she writes but sometimes I think it falls a little flat or isn't what I expected it to be. Don't get me wrong, this book is still good and worth a read but is it her best? No. Right off the bat, I was kind of meh about this and it continued throughout the book. First, this book is in third POV and while I know 90% of her books are like this (with the exception of a few that are written in first person POV), I know she is capable of doing so because she has before. I think that would have elevated the book, at least somewhat. Second, it was really weird how Julian didn't remember Hallie at all but she harbored this immense crush on him for literally half her life, compared all other men to him (even though they never really even spoke to each other) and we were just expected to believe that he is this *great* guy because Hallie said he did some nice things for some people? I'm not so sure about that. She seemed very obsessed with him, which comes across in the secret admirer letters. I'm sorry, but you are almost thirty years old. We are too old to be sending secret admirer letters, especially when he is RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. At that point, they were already friends, so why the need for the letters? I don't know, it just seemed like a cheap cop out plot device. Also, she was a virgin at almost thirty years old. Okay, I'm not shaming her or anyone else who decides to hold onto theirs until that age but again, it just felt weird, like why include that? And Julian went from a shy, anxious, nerdy type of guy to all of the sudden sexy and dirty talking? It was not a great transition. Tessa Bailey can write smut so well though, so I give her props there. It just didn't fit Julian's character. He also was weirdly OBSESSED with her boobs and brought them up numerous times and it was borderline creepy. I think once they finally got together and decided to try things for real, it got much better, and I like how things played out after that. I also give kudos to Tessa Bailey for some fabulous anxiety representation. Overall, I thought it was just okay. I am looking forward to Natalie's book!

I was immediately obsessed with this opposites attract romance. These characters saw each other for who they were and their chemistry was off the charts. They bantered and fought it but all along you knew that they were meant to be and just had to wait for them to figure it out!

Tessa Bailey never fails to make me laugh and cry at the same time when it comes to her romance. Everything about this book is perfect.

It took a little while to get into the story but once I did I really enjoyed it. I liked the mental health representation with anxiety and PTSD. I also loved the letters they'd send to each other.

One eclectic gardener reeling from the loss of her grandmother stirs up trouble in Napa, California. Hallie is drifting through life, with no desire to look into her grief or her inability to respect others time. She has no respect for others time and will get to appointments when she feels like it and plants her gardens only as she sees fit, not with any input with her customers. To say I didn't enjoy Hallie from the beginning is an understatement. I felt for her in having lost the grandmother who raised her but one too many instances of self sabotage was too much for me. I finally gave up at the 60% mark. In the world of opposites attract, this one felt extreme. I also thought this book was missing the Tessa spark.

Overall this was a fun read by Bailey. She had well developed characters with a fun plot line. Overall a good read. I did like her other book Window Shopping better. She’s always a fun read though.

This was a super fun romance from Bailey—I loved the chemistry between the leads, the humorous antics they get into, and the fun, witty voice!

I’ll admit this one was harder to get into than I’m used to from Tessa Bailey. While I found it enjoyable in the end, I felt the story dragged at times.

a beautifully written romance that will make you swoon, laugh, and maybe even shed a tear or two. The chemistry between Hallie and Julian is simply off the charts. It's the kind of love that starts with a spark and slowly burns brighter with each page turned. Trust me, you won't be able to help yourself from rooting for them to find their happily ever after. The setting of the story, Napa Valley, adds an extra layer of charm. Tessa Bailey's descriptions of the vineyards and the beautiful landscapes make you feel like you're right there, experiencing it all alongside the characters.

Three Stars! ***

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Secretly Yours is the first book in Tessa Bailey's series A Vine Mess. I really wanted to like this one more than I did. This book was just too slow for me and didn't have all that much story to it. Hallie and Julian are complete opposites to the point it felt a little corny to me. I didn't care enough about the vineyard and the town to really get into the book.

Overall, this was a pretty light read and not bad but not great either.

This was an enjoyable story featuring grief and mental anxiety. I liked both the story and the exploration of these issues. However, I felt that the sex scenes were too many and did take away from the solidness of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC.

Tessa Bailey, need I say more? I LOVE when she comes out with a new book. Her books are always fun, easy to read and just the distraction I need each time.

Secretly Yours was a fun rom-com. It was an easy read and did not disappoint. The characters were fun and I liked how the characters found each other again later in life.

4 STARS

Tessa Bailey always brings her readers a delightful & refreshing story line with the right amount of spice and sass! This one was no exception. It was masterfully chiseled with characters who come alive for the reader. I enjoyed every minute of swooning over Julian! Seeing him and Hallie together was great! I will be gifting this one for the holidays!