thank you NetGalley for my copy of Unfortunately Yours!

Tessa Bailey is one of my favorite authors, even though i am not a fan of third person pov. she makes me feel as if i am so encapsulated in the story that the third person pov isn’t even an issue like in other books.

Natalie is currently living at home because she was fired from her finance job in New York & her fiancée ended their engagement. August is in Napa because he is fulfilling his best friends dream of making wine. These two find themselves in a marriage of convenience of sorts & seeing this progression from enemies to lovers was fantastic. Their banter was great & seeing their inner turmoil as well added to their respective viewpoints while they are freshly married.

This story was a nice read & i liked it a lot better than the previous novel because i felt more drawn to the story and the writing in this book. i think that i would have liked the ending to be a little more interesting because the conflicts were spaced out with not as much dialogue & events in between that it felt rushed. but the epilogue was amazing & also so cute, i loved it !

I almost didn’t commit to reading this after reading the first one as it just wasn’t my cup of tea. But I loveeeee Tessa’s books as a whole and I’m so glad I gave this one a chance!

August’s character is a breath of fresh air! My kind of man IRL! He’s funny, a tad dorky at times, says what’s on his mind and apparently has the best d*** 😂 He’s quirky AND a giant Navy Seal and I just adored all the layers to his character. The chemistry and the spice was 👌

This book is an adorable and funny marriage of convenience. Natalie Voss has returned home after losing her job and fiancé all at once. She needs money to start her new business venture. The only problem is in order to access her trust fund she must be both employed and married. Enter August Cates a former Navy Seal who owns a vineyard but so far has only produced absolutely terrible wine and no bank in their right mind will give him a loan which he desperately needs if he is going to fulfill he's friends dream. He and Natalie had piping hot chemistry when they first met but somehow they've found themselves trading insults rather than kisses. When Natalie suggests that they enter a sham marriage so they can both get what they want August decides to take the plunge. What could go wrong? A few weeks under the same roof, he'll get his loan, she'll get access to her trust fund it should be easy. However, neither of them account for the undeniable attraction they feel and as the days wear on they both have to wonder if they've stopped pretending.

Unfortunately Yours is book 2 of the A Vine Mess by Tessa Bailey. It is told from both POV with a HEA.

Tropes:
➵Enemies to lovers
➵Fake marriage / Forced proximity
➵Takes place in Napa Valley / vineyard

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey is a pleasant surprise, delivering a captivating blend of banter, sexiness, and heartfelt moments.

One of the highlights of the book is the way August and Natalie stand up for each other and defend one another regardless of the antagonistic relationship between them. Their loyalty and support create a strong bond between them, deepening their connection and making it feel endearing.

The relationship between August and Natalie develops at a lightning speed, moving from begrudging attraction into instant love. While there’s abundance in sexiness, it still left me longing for a more gradual and substantial build-up. The lack of knowledge about the characters and their limited understanding of each other raises questions about the authenticity of their love. I craved a more organic unfolding of their connection, allowing me to fully invest in their journey.

Despite this slight reservation, Unfortunately Yours remains a delightful read. Tessa Bailey's ability to combine humor, spice, and heartfelt moments is commendable. The banter between the characters keeps the narrative engaging, while the moments of passion and vulnerability tug at the heartstrings. The book strikes a balance between light-hearted entertainment and deeper emotional exploration, making it an enjoyable experience.

To recap, Unfortunately Yours offers an engaging blend of tropes, humor, and genuine moments of connection. While the instant love aspect may leave some readers longing for a more gradual development, the story still captivates with its well-crafted banter and the characters' loyalty to one another. This installment in the series made me laugh, swoon, and fan myself.

Oh Tessa Bailey, how I love thee. You never let me down and Unfortunately Yours is another gem of a book. The banter, the dirty talk, the pranks, all made my heart so happy. The way August only has eyes for Natalie and his fierce protective side is perfection. Natalie's "oh no, I'm falling in love" moment made my heart leap. And that epilogue, cue all the tears and feels. It's all an excellent mix of everything you could want in a rom-com.

This one was cute! Overall pretty predictable, and I didn't feel much of a connection to either character. I also didn't feel much of a connection between them, and was confused when they suddenly shifted from enemies to lovers. A quick, easy read but ultimately forgettable.

I absolutely adored this book. I am a sucker for Brendan from it happened one summer, but august is everything ! I love love loved him. Natalie was spicy and ballsy and I felt I could relate to her character wounds. The spice was everything and the banter was top notch. This was an easy 5 star for me.

What Tessa Bailey writes well, she writes very, very well—and that is steamy, contemporary romance with great banter, some genuinely burst-of-laughter scenes, and well-realized, well-matched protagonists. (I already mentioned steamy, right? Because, yeah, she writes that well, too.) Unfortunately Yours ticks all of these boxes.

A quick recap: Despite their long standing antagonism, joining forces would benefit both Natalie Vos and August Cates. Marriage would allow Natalie to finally gain control of her trust fund, and marrying into Napa Valley’s Vos family would help August secure a small business loan to keep his own floundering vineyard afloat. A marriage of convenience is the obvious solution! And, BONUS: they’ll only need to stay married for a short time. A foolproof plan. Win-win. Right?

[Is it even a spoiler to reveal that it’s a hard ‘no’ to the foolproof but a definite ‘yes’ to the win-win…with a little extra winning thrown in?]

What I loved:

1. The character growth: I’m not always a fan of the alpha hero, but I have to admit I enjoyed watching August fall for Natalie and then learn how to be more than just A Protector. At the same time, seeing Natalie grow into herself and realize her own self-worth—it was, in a word, rewarding.

2. The pacing: The sizzle built quickly, but the love was slow-burn-ish— thankfully without overdoing the mutual “My feelings have turned real but I’m afraid s/he is still faking” insecurity nonsense.

3. The epilogue: Another thing I’m not always a fan of, but in this case I found it sweet and satisfying. An effective wrap-up, a peek at the future, and a reminder of how far the two MCs had come since their wine-tasting face-off days.

I will absolutely be recommending this title to my reading pals who enjoy quick, sizzling romances. It would make a perfect summer read, whether enjoyed with a glass of wine or not.

This was a really fun, fast-paced, and overall enjoyable read. I was initially skeptical because the first in the series wasn't my favorite, but this one was great. The characters were super well-developed and likable and you really rooted for them by the end. This will be a great beach read for summer and fans of Tessa Bailey's other work will definitely not be disappointed!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for this ARC!

Oh man, I just LOVE Tessa Bailey. Unfortunately Yours is the second in A Vine Mess Series. You don't have to read the series in order (the first being Secretly Yours). Each stands alone, but pairs beautifully. In Unfortunately Yours we get a marriage of convenience. Its everything you want and have come to expect from Tessa Bailey. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager / Avon for the advanced digital copy.

I really enjoyed this sweet and funny marriage of convenience romance! This is the type of book where you just have a big goofy grin on your face the entire time you’re reading. The banter was fantastic and the romance was swoony. Unfortunately Yours is the second book in the A Vine Mess series and is an interconnected standalone.

August and Natalie first met at a wine event. They almost hooked up, but ended up sparring instead. Dire financial circumstances for both of them land them in a fake engagement. August needs a small business loan to improve the winery that he is attempting to run (a winery that he is opening in honor of his deceased best friend), and Natalie needs access to her trust fund to launch her own business after her life in New York City imploded around her.

Natalie is a really endearing character. She hasn’t really found her place. She left her family’s winery to find her own place in the world, but unfortunate circumstances landed her right back home. She is extremely undervalued but has so much heart. August is a former Navy SEAL turned disastrous winemaker, who falls for Natalie fast and hard. I love how much he loves her as much as I love his dirty talk. The contrast of sweet and spicy is done so well.

This was such a fun and enjoyable read! I definitely recommend it.

I dropped EVERYTHING in my to be read list to read Tessa Bailey's latest upcoming novel, Unfortunately Yours, and am glad I did.

Natalie Vos returned home to cleanse her soul after losing her job and fiancee all in one. Months later, she's drank enough cabernet to set her sights on new lines. Unfortunately, her trust fund cannot be leased unless she is married. The only hope may be her nemesis, August Cates.

August Cates is on the verge of selling his vineyard, finally coming to terms that he cannot make wine. He cannot get funds needed to save the place.. until Natalie walks in with a proposal. Marry her and he can get the funds, she can get her trust fund. What can absolutely go wrong?!

Tessa Bailey is back to her charm with Unfortunately Yours and I could not put my Kindle down while reading! The short chapters made the book flow and the dual character's point of view fly off the pages. I was laughing, cheering and getting in the feels while reading Bailey's book. This is SURE to be one of rom com lover's books of the summer!

I'm not always a fan of a fake relationship or marriage of convenience, but Unfortunately Yours does it so well! August is absolutely head over heels for Natalie who is guarded as all heck. These two were explosive on the page, but more than a straight up enemies to lovers story, this is a story of a man who fell first trying to keep the woman he loves without scaring her away.

Parts of this book were surprisingly emotional, August is a former navy SEAL who lost a close friend when deployed dealing with feelings of survivors guilt, and grief. Natalie has abandonment issues from her family and feelings of inadequacy, all of which leads to some truly heartfelt moments. There was also a lot of Tessa Bailey's trademark humor especially when they bicker back and forth and when things get hot and heavy as August has a hard time thinking with his upstairs brain.

I very much enjoyed Unfortunately Yours, and fans of Tessa Bailey books like It Happened One Summer and Fix Her Up will love this book!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and voluntarily give my review.

This is Tessa Bailey at her best! I absolutely loved Unfortunately Yours. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Secretly Yours, so I went into this book visit III sky optimistic, and Tessa Bailey completely blew my expectations out of the water. August and Natalie have my whole heart. Tessa Bailey truly writes a witty enemies-to-lovers story like no other. The banter, the laughs, the chemistry, literally everything that makes you love a Tessa Bailey book was present here. August may overtake Fox as my favorite TB leading man; there is just something about an awkward, protective, fun-loving guy. I loved the way Tessa wrote Natalie and August’s relationship, it just felt so genuine. And that epilogue? Literal perfection. 10/10.

unfortunately yours follows natalie and august pushed into a marriage of convenience to achieve their own goals with one small challenge: they hate each other. not just a little dislike, but near screaming matches any time they are near each other. i’m not always a fan of marriages of convenience but i really loved how tessa bailey built up their friendship alongside the romantics to show their growth. they were each other’s match and opposite in every way. and can i just say she has mastered the hero to the rescue scene, they just keep getting better! all in all a fun read that is perfect for this summer!! thanks harper collins and net galley for early access to this title!!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

I really enjoyed this rom com! August and Natalie are marriage of convenience and I enjoyed watching them fall in love.

August was head over heels almost immediately. It was nice to see him not deny his feelings and realize his faults. He was constantly putting his foot in his mouth. Thankfully he was always willing to put in the effort fix it.

Natalie has a lot of prior trauma she has to work through. I wish we saw more of her working through this with her family as well as her working through the NY drama. I enjoyed watching Natalie drive to get better and do what she could to improve the winery.

Overall I really enjoyed the chemistry in this book. August was really sweet and enjoyed the war background. The banter between Natalie and August didn’t always jive in my opinion. Other than that this was a fun quick read!

If you enjoy a good old fashioned trope, you'll enjoy this one. Rivals to lovers, the 'I can't stand to be away from you' trope as well as the 'hurt her and I'll kill you' one. This book has all of them. And the spice level is just fine. This book is a good time for a very specific kind of person and for them I am happy.

Rating: 4.5 stars

I think I might finally be warming up to Tessa's writing and understanding her style. Before she was a hit or miss author for me, but now I feel like I'm enjoying her books more and more. Maybe I'm just getting used to that anything and everything she writes has strange sentences that make me question things, but I end up laughing anyways when reading it. Because seriously: who can come up with these things??? Tessa Bailey, that's who apparently. But in all honestly, this one isn't as crazy as Happenstance, so there is that.

This one is my favorite trope: marriage of connivence. And I love seeing this in a contemporary romance book! WE NEED MORE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE BOOKS WITH THIS TROPE!!! But I thought this one was very well done. I was afraid at first that the feelings would hit before the wedding took place, but the way Tessa Bailey wrote this story was perfection.

And August. Poor August couldn't catch a break. He just didn't have a filter on his mouth. But his character was so sweet and all he wanted to do was make Natalie happy. I loved seeing both August and Natalie's growth in this book. I thought that it was very well done.

This book won't be for everyone, but just know that I enjoyed this one more than book one and am now questioning why I rated that one so high.

I was truly blessed by the Netgalley gods with this ARC.

This was a very highly anticipated read for me. I am a Tessa Bailey hoe and will read anything she writes, and it's more often than not 5 stars. The first book in this series left a little something to be desired for me, but this one hit it right out of the park.

I am obsessed with August Cates. He may be my all time favorite Hero. Marriage of convenience is a top tier trope for me, and it was done really well here. I loved the forced proximity and how they couldn't keep away from each other. There were so many swoon worthy and emotional moments with all of the laughs that you expect from TB.

If you like an alpha, military, sweet and sexy hero.....look no further.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unfortunately Yours is like your favorite glass of red wine - smooth, sharp, satisfying, sexy, and so good you just have to have another glass!

We met Natalie and August in Secretly Yours, and the small scenes they had in that book popped off the page, so I had high hopes for their story. Tessa Bailey did not disappoint and I felt like I knew who these characters were from the start. Each of their backstories gets more fully fleshed out. The chemistry between Natalie and August is intense every time they are together, and their barbs and heated insults never read as mean, but as extended verbal foreplay.

August doesn't hold back in any aspect - I was not expected as much dirty talk, but it fit with his character perfectly! I loved seeing Natalie be assertive and finally stand up for herself with her family. The climax of the book is straight out of a movie, probably defies reality, but caps a really fun spicy adventure. The sweet epilogue 8 years in the future was exactly what I wanted for all of the Vos / Cates family.