Natalie and August have been at odds since they first crossed paths. Natalie is the snooty daughter of a prestigious wine family and August is an ex-Navy SEAL who makes awful wine. When Natalie learns that her dad isn’t budging on not giving her access to her trust fund until she marries, and August learns that he isn’t going to get a loan until he has more stability and roots, the pair decide to enter into a marriage of convenience until they both get the money they need and can part ways. They of course are deeply attracted to each other and quickly learn they cannot live without each other.

I liked this book, but I missed the humor of the first book (this is the sequel to Secretly Yours). I was expecting there to be a lot more bickering banter than there was. Instead we got an awful prank war for a chapter (I hate pranks and there is no reason people in their mid-30s should be pulling pranks). I did like both Natalie and August individually but I wished we got more of their relationship developing on a level that was more than physical. I enjoyed the cameos from characters from the last book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the digital ARC and Avon for the gifted finished copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Unfortunately Yours" by Tessa Bailey is a new favorite of mine, and let me tell you, this author never disappoints! I've loved every single book I've read from her, and this one is no exception. It's like a shot of pure romance straight to the heart.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book is how the main characters, Natalie and August, had some killer chemistry right from the start. Their connection was so real and electric, it practically jumped off the pages. And despite everyone thinking August is a big, dumb brute, it's clear he's ready to move mountains to support Natalie. Talk about relationship goals!

Natalie and August are both relatable and lovable throughout the whole story. I found myself totally invested in their journey, desperately wanting them to just admit their feelings and be together already. Seriously, I was practically yelling at them, "JUST FALL IN LOVE ALREADY!"

Tessa Bailey's writing style is as awesome as ever in "Unfortunately Yours." It's witty, funny, and seriously spicy. Her words just flow effortlessly, keeping you hooked from beginning to end. The pacing is perfect, with a great mix of sweet moments and hot romance.

"Unfortunately Yours" is a total gem of a romance novel. Tessa Bailey's storytelling is top-notch, and the characters she creates are so damn lovable. If you're a fan of her previous books, trust me, you won't be disappointed. And if you're new to her writing, well, consider this the perfect introduction. I can't recommend this book enough. It had me hooked from page one, and I loved every single second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for this ARC.

Not me feeling like I made it because I got an ARC for Tessa Baileys upcoming book in her “A Vine Mess” duet 🤣

I loved this book so much. I was obsessed with August’s golden retriever personality - he was so in tune with Natalie’s needs and let me tell you I ate that shit up. Their banter was top tier 👩🏻‍🍳 😘 - Natalie was strong, honest, and such a baddie. I loved that she knew exactly what she wanted and worked to get it.

Overall, this book was a 5/5 for me.

this book so the second book of interconnected standalones, the first being secretly yours! i have yet to read secretly yours; however, this book was definitely super cute!

natalie and august are completely different people (a retired navy SEAL and a vineyard heiress) stuck in wine country for very different reasons. with that being said, they both find themselves needing money, and the only way they both can do this is if they tie themselves to one another. i mean, what is better than a marriage of convenience trope??

between the spice and the banter, this was definitely such a fun and quick read! gotta love tessa bailey and the soice her cartoon cover books all have! definitely gave all the summer vibes! i do plan on reading the first book i’m this duology, but i wouldn’t say one needs to in order to get everything they should from this book.

thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

I gotta admit, being married to an Army veteran means I have soft spot for military men in romance novels and August is no exception.

August is the ultimate male love interest. A veteran Navy SEAL who is funny, fit af, talks dirty and treats his “princess” like she’s his whole entire reason for being. Add in hero and thoughtful best friend and he's the absolute whole package. The fact that he opened the vineyard in honor of his best friend's memory is just so touching.

Natalie, tough and independent yet self conscious about her worth thanks to past family issues and an ex fiancé who didn't appreciate her. I felt for her every time someone made a snide comment about her drinking, I mean, what person wouldn't want to drown out the stuff she was dealing with?

The back and forth banter (or better yet straight up insults) and constant fighting gave me the enemies to lovers vibes I know and love. Despite how hard they went at each other, as soon as August realized something he was saying was actually upsetting Natalie, he vowed to stop it right away. Swooooon! Watching them fall in love and help each other heal was romance gold. And the spice!!!! Don’t let the cute cartoon cover fool you, this book is spiiiicy! The way Bailey described August's physique, I was right there with Natalie getting all hot and bothered. The muscles. The big hands. And of course the desire all these romance novel men have to taste the woman. It ticked all my spicy boxes!

If you're into:
enemies to lovers
he falls first
marriage of convenience
forced proximity
funny
and SPICE!

then pick this up and thank me later!

August and Natalie are officially on my list of favorite book couples!

Thank you Avon Books, netgalley and Tessa Bailey for this ARC!

“Maybe you’ve been with men in the past who don’t want to label shit or be tied down. Well, that’s not me. Not when it comes to you. I want you to count the minutes until we’re breathing the same air again, the way I do.”

A Tessa Bailey romcom was the perfect way of getting out of the major reading slump Fourth Wing had put me in.

Funny, cute and with so many swoony moments, Unfortunately Yours once again proved that I have a thing for book #2 in a series or duet. Or maybe it was August. Sorry Julian but August had just this vulnerability to him that just made me want to hug him while crying because he made me laugh so hard 😂

Natalie was what I expected her to be: a relatable ball of romcom perfection 🤌🏼👏🏼🖤 And to see her finally being cherished and acknowledged was amazing.

What’s inside:
🖤wine country romcom
🖤marriage of convenience
🖤dislike to love
🖤he falls first

Adult. 4.5 stars ⭐️

I really loved Natalie as a character in Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey. It was heartbreaking how much she wanted to be valued and respected by her family and how much they just…didn’t. The courage it took Natalie to continue to try and try again was really inspiring to read. It just kind of turned around the whole rich-girl-who-gets-everything vibe. Natalie really worked for her success.

Natalie’s relationship with August fell a little flat for me. There was plenty of humor, cringe-worthy awkwardness, and patented Tessa Bailey spice but it just never felt super believable to me. It all happened SO fast.

It was kind of enemies-to-lovers but also not really. Their “playful bickering” came across as cruel many times and I kept wondering how they would even want to be together in the first place.

But I did love the ending and was generally happy to be back in St Helena.

This book had me hooked from the start! August and Natalie are hilarious! Their hate fuels the fire of lust between them and man do they set each other on fire!!

The banter, quick wit but love between Natalie and August made this book so enjoyable! I absolutely loved everything about their story and how it all played out!

I want to gush so hard but I don’t want to ruin anything! I will say that August is all talk! The man is a huge softy inside and the way he loves is unmatched!! Natalie is a tough woman but deep down she just wants acceptance and to be valued for who she truly is! It was beautiful watching them heal their hurts!

I must admit this book is by far my favorite by Tessa!

No author has received as many 5⭐️ reviews from me as Tessa Bailey. Unfortunately Yours takes the marriage of convenience trope to a whole new level with sweet and steamy banter that had me literally laughing out loud. The #1 best part of a romcom is when you can feel the love and August and Natalie loved each other SO MUCH. I loved both characters, and the way they overcame their past traumas and hangups together was perfection. Ugh, I loved it so much. Apparently the first in her next series is set to be released fall 2023, so I’ll just be over here eagerly awaiting news about that!

These two characters are so horny for each other that it’s so easy to forgive any shred of weakness in this book. August Cates is the epitome of a hulking Navy SEAL doofus, who only has eyes for Natalie Vos. He makes the book what it is, with his dogged adoration for Natalie, his over the top virility, and his willingness to please his wife. What starts as enemies butting heads, quickly develops into the now-that-I’m-conveniently-married-to-you-I-want-no one-but-you vibes. August and Natalie know how to rile each other up, but when they apologize, they do it so well with make-up sex and orgasms. We all know by now that Tessa Bailey is the Queen of dirty talk, and August Cates is the hyperbolic version of the smuttiest hero of actions and words; and this is why we love him. The book got better and better as August and Natalie begin leaning into their feelings and trusting one another, because that’s when we get a sense of who they are. August helps Natalie become less closed off and even though he makes several huge mistakes in their relationship. It’s easy to forgive him and overlook those mistakes when he always has Natalie’s back and just sees what she needs and offers it to her. I don’t feel like the narrative was anything new, but I had a lot of fun with this book and it was a super quick read, and isn’t that what a romcom is for—laughing and enjoyment? I will continue to pick up Tessa Bailey books for her over the top characters and wildly virile dirty-talking heroes. Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for my advanced copy. I chose to read and review this book in advance; all opinions are my own.

Another Enemies to lovers, fake marriage, romcom romance that I died for!! Loved this one with the magic that it could muster was perfect!! I would love to see this one on the big screen and can not wait for another book set in this world. I really need to read book one now. This was just super cute and a fun read that I could not put down.

Even better than the first in the series. I love a marriage of convenience and it's done exceptionally well here.

Natalie Vos has returned home to the family winery after losing her job and fiancé in New York City. Now she's desperate to get her trust fund so she strikes up a deal with August for a fake marriage. Except August has always been crazy about Natalie.

This book is funny and very sexy. Natalie and August have terrific banter. It was fun to watch them work together while bickering all the time.

Grief and survivor's guilt are prominent throughout the story. It's a beautiful mix of light and heavy. Highly recommend, read Secretly Yours first.

4.5 ⭐️

Don’t let this cartoon cover fool you. Tessa Bailey knows how to write the spice.

August is a ex SEAL who is failing out starting a winery near Napa. Natalie is a failed finance advisor who has come home to lock her wounds. She needs her trust fund to start over and August needs a loan to build his winery. The only way is for them to get married.

This is actually my first Tessa Bailey book and I am now hooked. I have many sitting on my shelf that are now a top priority.

She knows how to write some spicy books, that also make you feel good with some good plot thrown it. We love a cutest hallmark happy ending with these two.

Tessa Bailey writes these quiet manly men but in the bedroom they speak all the dirty words and I love it!!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper / Avon Books for giving me a chance to read and review.

Unfortunately Yours - Tessa Bailey
Format: e-ARC
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

"A down-on-her-luck Napa heiress suggests a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience to a man she can't stand... only to discover there's a fine line between love and hate."

Leave it to Tessa Bailey to sweep me off my feet once again! I could not put this one down. I haven't read the first book in this series, but I immediately bought it after reading this one.

Give me a fake marriage to a hulking teddy bear any day. The hatred turned love between Natalie and August was everything I didn't know I needed. In true Tessa Bailey fashion, the spiciness is real. If you can't handle the heat, do not open this book.

If you're looking to devour a book, this is the one for you!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 Avon, Harper Voyager, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

Full disclosure, this isn't my favorite of Tessa Bailey's worlds. That said, Natalie was my favorite character in Secretly Yours and I was excited to see her story. Natalie and August have good banter and steamy attraction, but the rationale for them to be "enemies" felt insubstantial making some of the arguments and issues seem silly.

I received this book as an Advance Reader’s Copy from NetGalley. I was honestly very disappointed by the story. This is not to say I wasn’t surprised. I didn’t absolutely love the duo’s first book “Secretly Your’s,” so my expectations were fairly low. There were a couple things I couldn’t get past. The first being the dreaded miscommunication trope. This story was littered with miscommunication in almost every chapter. It was almost laughable at how many times August had the internal monologue of “Oh my gosh I’m going to lose her because I didn’t communicate, I lied, or I wasn’t using common sense.” It was painful to read. Secondly, I felt like the relationship between August and Natalie was very rushed and underdeveloped. Although this couple was first introduced in “Secretly Your’s” it felt like there wasn’t enough foundation or growth. Lastly, I believe the SEAL aspect of the storyline was half-baked. There wasn’t enough care in how they talked about PTSD in veterans and all the trauma that comes with serving. Instead we got a few chapters of August talking about his deceased military friend and his protectiveness of Natalie. But it didn’t seem like there was an accurate depiction of a veteran. All in all, I did not enjoy this book.

This was another banger! Loved this storyline :) so happy that Natalie and August got their own book and that little hint at the end of the first one in the series. It was done well and had a great amount of steaminess!

Book 2 is here and I scored an ARC!! Ahh!!! I loved the first one and was so excited to dive right into this one.

To put it mildly, Natalie and August hate each other. Natalie, a vineyard heiress, is back in town after screwing up a major deal at her firm in NYC. August is in Napa trying to start his own vineyard/wine, however he completely sucks at it. When Natalie figures out she needs to be married to receive her inheritance, her and August strike a deal and come up with a plan that serves them both; get married, get the money, get divorced. And DONT fall in love.

Not sure if this opinion is popular or unpopular, but I actually liked this one better than the first one. Granted it was focused on different characters, but I really felt like I connected to them more!! And I’m a true sucker for an enemies to lovers trope.

As always, Tessa Bailey is our rom-com queen and can do no wrong!!!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Spice rating: 🌶️ 🌶️ (out of 3)
Tropes: enemies to lovers; marriage of convenience.

Yesss Tessa Bailey brings the charm and the spice in Unfortunately Yours and I was enamored the entire time. Marriage of convenience romances are my favorite when they are done well and this one hit all the right notes. Highly recommend!

I mean, this was better than the first one. It's a marriage of convenience book but they don't get married until almost 50% through the book. After they get married the book takes place over something like 7 days. It felt like I was being told that they changed without being shown that they've changed.

I received an arc through netgalley.