Unfortunately Yours is a dream from which I never want to wake up. This is my favorite Tessa Bailey book in a long time - and that’s saying something because I have been a fan from the beginning. This book is the perfect blend of all the emotions, making it the best of all worlds. August is a freaking hero and Natalie is a freaking genius…and together they are the most precious of gems. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Summary:
Natalie Vos has returned to Napa jobless, fiancé-less, and in need of money to start her own investment firm. August Cates owns a vineyard that makes terrible-tasting wine, but owes it to his friend not to give up. August and Natalie may hate each other at first sight, but their respective financial struggles causes Natalie to propose a marriage of convenience so that both of them can get the capital they need to fund their dreams...

My review:
TESSA BAILEY IS BACK. I enjoyed reading Unfortunately Yours, and I think what made this book really hit was just how reminiscent it was of Tessa's older works. August and Natalie reminded me a lot of Brent and Hayden from Asking for Trouble— August is a brash, cocky retired Navy SEAL, and Natalie is a pedigreed investment banker. There's this immediate sexual tension between August and Natalie, but circumstances make them "enemies" of sorts, which leads to a lot of pretty hilarious back-and-forth arguing between them (as always, Tessa knows how to write good banter).

Natalie and August are both at their lowest when they meet, and I actually liked that. This isn't a story about a ripped-and-ready soldier and a socialite; August is a former SEAL who's now trying his best to create a profitable vineyard to honor a friend's legacy. Natalie is trying to start up her own investment firm and struggles with being seen as a valued member of her own family. She also has a history of struggling with alcohol. They're both a little pathetic (but in an endearing way), little prickly, and scared to let their guards down. But because they both need money, they need to put their hang-ups aside and go ahead with this marriage of convenience.

Regarding their marriage, I appreciated how the wedding happened around midway through the book (ft. dancing to "Brick House" by the Commodores, him tenderly plucking rice out of her hair, and that lift from Dirty Dancing), so lot of the story is Natalie and August learning to live and work together while they "pretend" to be married for real. And that close proximity led to a lot of excellent bonding moments (and not just physical lol). SPEAKING of which—

The sex:
When I say Tessa's back, I mean this in terms of the sex as well. Because August fucked up his first chance with Natalie, he's determined to do this RIGHT the second time around. And by right, I mean no p in v sex until he's convinced she won't regret sleeping with him. Which.... makes for an excellent self-denial subplot.

Here's what worked for me:

a) The dirty talk is still a little paired down compared to Tessa's older works, but it did the trick

b) WEDDING NIGHT! Maybe I've been brainwashed by historical romances about the excitement of wedding night sex but this one was great— the stand-out moment was August telling Natalie he's imagined going down on her so many times "imaginary August has lockjaw". Then there was a classic Tessa Bailey blowjob scene (I feel like a lot of contemporary romances skimp on these, so I like the level of detail Tessa provides).

c) There is, in fact, face-sitting

d) Do I think the opportunity for August to showcase his SEAL skills was a bit shoehorned? Yes, but when it leads to a level of scared/horny desperation that has them pulling over their car during a FLASH FLOOD and he's standing OUTSIDE IN THE STORM while railing her from behind.... I'm here for it.

Basically, I don't believe in the "wife guy" but August is the only kind of "wife guy" I condone, namely, the kind that gets off on it.

Overall:
I had a lot of fun reading this book and absolutely would recommend. If you're looking for a light read (a beach read, if you will) with plenty of heart that also doesn't skimp on good sex, this is the book for you!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I binged this in like.. 5 hours? This was such a wholesome and well-written book 😭 Tessa Bailey's books are always perfect, but this book was a special kind of perfect ❤️ I loved the depth of the emotions both MCs felt for each other, and Tessa Bailey has done such a great job of exploring all the feelings in a patient, slow-burn manner.

💫 Enemies to fake marriage to lovers (and they loved each other all along, AND he fell first 😭)
💫 MCs taking care each other when they're facing emotionally vulnerable stuff 😭
💫 The resolution of the third act conflict was top-knotch. I was legit bawling through the conflict, but the MMC came through in such a perfect way, I would like to reread this many times over.
💫 THE EPILOGUE OMG, literal wholesomeness and perfection. Tessa Bailey can write 50 more pages of that fluffy fluff and I'd read it 😭

TWs - friend's death in a war (past), MC being rescued from a fire (past, described), PTSD from war, flash flood + rescuing people trapped in it(present)

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I fell in love with August more and more with the turn of each page. I love the banter back and forth between Natalie and August. Their relationship is fun to watch unfold. Tessa Bailey is a go to for a fun, laugh-out-loud, heart warming story.
Natalie Vos is a wine heiress but she has never had too much to do with the family process of wine making. She found her niche while in New York for trading. Now all that has blown up in her face and sent her running back home with her tail between her legs. Just because she's down doesn't mean she's out.
She needs her trust fund money to help launch her way back into the Wall Street scene. The only problem is to recieve the money she has to be married.
Now to marry the one person she hates, but there is a fine line between love and hate. Now only to see if she can get by without killing him.

Mandy Harris
Angel Wings Bookstore

Unfortunately Yours is the second book in the A Vine Mess series and it follows the story of August and Natalie. After losing her job and fiance, Natalie returns home to lick her wounds. A few months later, she’s ready to get back on her feet. She just needs her trust fund to finance her dreams, but unfortunately for Natalie, her trust fund comes with stipulations she never saw coming….August knows literally nothing about wine, but is desperate to make his late friend’s dream come true. His wine is awful and no one is willing to give him a loan to turn things around. And when Natalie enters the picture sparks fly….

Overall, I found this book to be a really cute read. I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers vibe between August and Natalie. Their banter entertained me and I loved the way they pushed each other’s buttons. The chemistry between the two of them exploded off the pages and when it comes to tropes, this book hit all the marks.

Unfortunately Yours is a fantastic enemies-to-lovers, fake relationship romance. Tessa Bailey’s signature wit and steamy romance will leave you glued to the pages. I hope you’ll fall head over heels for August and Natalie just as I have.

This book unexpectedly arrived on my dashboard and it was like my birthday came early.

Unfortunately Yours is a enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience romantic comedy featuring August Cates, who's trying to start a winery and Natalie Vos, who's family has been in the wine making business for a very long time. Set in Napa,
They start off instantly attracted to each other, yet not getting along. Their banter is intense, fantastic, and funny.
When Natalie and August do sync up both emotionally and physically, fireworks abound.
I really enjoyed this book. It was totally worth giving up sleep to keep reading.
Tessa has a wonderful wit and voice. Her characters are fun, real, and a bit wounded, but as with all characters who are trying to heal, the perfect medicine can be someone who truly gets you and is willing to walk with you as you find your peace.

I received an ARC from the publisher for my honest review.

Natalie Vos CANNOT stand August Cates, and his wine is disgusting too. But when she discovers the archaic terms of her trust fund, she realizes he may be the one person who can help her out.

Cute, typical romcom. The characters were secondary characters in Secretly Yours (Natalie is Julian's sister). An adorable, easy, perfect-for-summer, beach read. Its not too substancy - TB's novels aren't meant to be - but it'sfun. Numerous steamy scenes in this one, but also skippable if you prefer. If youre looking for a good mindless read, this could be it.

Natalie and August lit up the pages in Secretly Yours and now get their happy ending in Unfortunately Yours.

After their steamy-firey to chaos-firey first meeting in Secretly Yours, Natalie and August blow up any interaction thereafter. They can't help hitting each other's buttons and keeping their walls up, yet being drawn together over and over.

When Natalie wants to leave St. Helena, start her own firm, and show everyone in NY that she matters and shouldn't be forgotten, August is ready to give up on his vineyard, run out of funds and sure he can't do his late best friend's dream justice. To access her trust fund and get the capital to open her own firm, Natalie needs to be employed and married, and she finally lets down her walls to ask August for his help.

Now, to convince the her trust fund's trustee (and loan officer at the bank), August and Natalie need to convince St. Helena they're together, the wedding in a couple weeks is real, and when she threw that wine at him it was...foreplay?

But when they're on the same team, they start to let each other in, and by the time the wedding comes, they choose each other (though of course the other doesn't know their true feelings). And when they finally do, they're a perfect team.

They both have issues they need to work through, but they end up helping each other, even though it's not an easy journey and they seem to find a way to hit each other's sore spots. That defensiveness, where you lash out to protect yourself, felt real but you see how they work through that so they can have a healthy relationship and support each other.

A fun, spicy rom-com and I LOVE that they both thought it was a marriage of convenience but they actually just wanted to marry each other (any excuse to be together lol). Such a great journey of love and choice.

Feat: enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, banter, protective hero, forced proximity, prank war, adorable epilogue (for series), "mine", MC's in their thirties, "I don't hate you but pretend to", grand gesture, dirty talk (classic Tessa), "good girl", perfect match, healing from grief

Thank you to netgalley and Avon for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars
2.5 spice

Thank you NetGalley and Avonbooks for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

I’m a big, huge fan of Tessa Bailey. I always said Hook, Line, and Sinker would be my favorite book by her but it’s just got knocked down to number two. This is hands down my favorite Tessa Bailey book now.

The characters were adorable. The plot was top notch. The spice was SPICY. This is probably the best spice she has written in her books so far and I AM HERE FOR IT! I truly just freaking loved this book. It was too dang cute. I can’t handle it. I am forever an August girlie now. He was just 🥵. I can’t. I really just can’t. I know he’s fictional but Nat is one lucky girl.

I recommend literally everyone to read this book. You won’t regret it. I need the next Tessa Bailey book now please. I am officially book hungover.

5 Spicy stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the Tessa Bailey I know and love! Secretly Yours wasn’t my favorite, but I’m a fan of Bailey’s books so I just had to pick up the sequel. Let me just say, it did not disappoint! This book has all the heat and best tropes. A marriage of convenience quickly crumbles as August and Natalie come together. I loved the chemistry of these two characters. Would definitely recommend!

Quick Hitters
He Falls First
Marriage of Convenience
Enemies-To-Lovers
MMC is a retired NAVY SEAL
Book #2 in the A Vine Mess Duet

Natalie Vos has returned home to Napa after losing her Fiancé and job. She spent quite some time getting sloshed and trying to move past the mistakes she made in New York, and now she is ready to get back on her feet and back in the game. All she needs in some capital. She asks her mom, Corinne, for money, but she is no help, which means her only other option is her trust fund, and in order to do that, she needs to be married...Enter August Cates, an Ex Navy SEAL, trying his darndest to make wine in honor of late friend, but he is terrible at it and ready to throw in the towel. They both need money- Natalie to go back to New York and August to keep working on his wine, so why not get married, it's purely transactional, right?!

AUGUST CATES. MY GOD. He is so freaking forward, and I LOVE IT. Natalie doesn't take his crap, and he doesn't let her hide. Honestly, I really, really loved this Tessa Bailey novel, and I feel it is one of her spicier reads. 10/10 recommend this one!

4 Stars! I enjoyed this book. This is the 2nd book in ‘A Vine Mess’ series and can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Natalie & August and I loved them! Neither one is perfect but really, besides me, who is?! They have a love to hate, enemies to lovers, tons of sexual chemistry that leads to a marriage of convenance type of romance. The ‘sexy times’ scenes were a bit drawn out for my tastes but I still enjoyed skimming through them. This book really highlights a need for good communication in a relationship, since almost all of their issues could’ve been solved by talking honestly to one another. Interesting read that has a HEA ending and I loved the epilogue that wrapped it all up! Cute book that was annoying at times but still worth checking out! Remember - communication is key to a happy, healthy relationship!
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

I’m still tearing up from finishing this book 🥹 The romance was sweet and steamy, the story had so many fun tropes, and was just so freakin cute. Tessa hit a home run with this one.

Here’s what to expect:
💜 enemies to lovers
💜 fake dating
💜 marriage of convenience
💜 he falls first
💜 Navy SEAL tough teddy bear MMC
💜 Tough as nails sassy FMC
💜 Wine country
💜 Healing trauma
💜 tension, angst, arguments, swoony romance
💜 Spicy and steamy

Tessa Bailey’s books are hit or miss for me, and I’m happy to report that this was a hit. Her last book didn’t work for me, but I loved this one! I think because the romance in this story fit the characters well, and seeing how sweet their love was and the deep emotion behind it was why it worked.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

"I love you just as much, August, Cates. Despite the fights. Maybe even because of them. Because there is no one more worthy of battling for.”

I knew I was going to love this book! Natalie is running short of money and needs her trust fund to get her back into the corporate world of New York. August is trying to own a winery in memory of his best friend’s dream. Natalie and August decide to have a fake marriage in order for Natalie to get her trust fund and for August to receive a bank loan. I loved that while August liked bickering with Natalie, he did it for her to have any other emotion besides sadness. I swooned at how after Natalie and August had a fight, August would want to make it right and to cheer Natalie up. He never wanted to hurt her feelings and wanted her to feel loved! August is an ex-Navy SEAL and always wanted to protect people. Whenever he got worried, or had a panic attack, Natalie would be there to calm him down and to comfort him. I loved that while they might be have a fake marriage they were truly acting like they were married couple. This book somewhat has a third act break up. I really liked though, that the characters worked through their issues and fought for their relationship. I also need to mention that the spicy scenes in this romance are amazing! Since August is an ex-Navy SEAL, the things that came out of his mouth were so hot and dirty! I really liked that while obviously August wanted to sleep with Natalie, he wanted and waited for her to not be a one night stand, and for it to mean something. He didn’t want her to regret everything in the morning. Be still my heart!!!

Read if you like:
Third person Dual POVs
Marriage of convenience romance
Enemies to lovers
Banter for days
Ex-Navy SEAL hero
Swoony hero
Hero falls first
Protective hero
Dirty talking hero
Open door romance
Slow burn

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey was an absolute romantic perfection!
This is why I love Tessa! Her writing is engaging and pure escapism.

This book was a fun, quick read and was totally unputdownable.
I loved this story, love the dynamic and phenomenal characters.
Bailey delivers a multi-layered, engaging read here with great characters that I absolutely adored, totally immersing me in Natalie and August’s relationship.
The writing flowed easily and I could see the story playing in my head like a movie.
It was better than I expected.
A superb marriage of convenience romcom, with an amazing balance of banter, steam, and emotion. A well written story that had heart, humor, and loveable characters.
Unfortunately Yours is the absolute most perfect romance ever written!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I absolutely adored this book. I loved the prior book and really enjoyed learning more about these characters in Unfortunately Yours. Sweet and firey!

Be still my heart! I love the connection between August and Natalia and how they help one another with their problems.

A marriage of convenience full of snark and repressed feelings? Sounds like a great time to me. In Tessa Bailey’s Unfortunately Yours, wine heiress Natalie Vos is stuck in a bind. In order to access her sizeable trust fund, she needs to meet one very old-fashioned condition, and that is to marry before it is released to her. Unfortunate, given that she wants to use the money to start up her own hedge fund venture in New York City.

Enter August Cates, an amateur winemaker running a winery in memory of his late friend, but with absolutely no knack whatsoever for the actual process of making drinkable wine. Determined not to give up, August needs just a little capital to keep the venture going.

Though Natalie and August have an initially antagonistic relationship, the two strike up a deal to enter into a fake marriage in order to get what they need. Surely real feelings won’t get involved, right?

The highlight of the book absolutely has to be the snark between Natalie and August. The fact that both are always so game to tease with insults that just toe the line of offensive works because it’s clear both know not to take what the other says too seriously. Words might say one thing, but by and large their actions convey something else entirely. Their chemistry is also really sweet in the fact that they don’t actually protest too much when they realize how real their feelings actually are, and therefore let themselves give in just a little bit sooner.

Where the book ultimately stumbles is in the way the two of them communicate more serious matters. I’m fine with a miscommunication trope, but it does confuse things when the two are so open about some aspects of their lives and feelings, and then shut down completely for other things because they feel they can’t open themselves up to the other. If that were true, where did the trust for the earlier openness come from? Especially when there was little done to warrant a retraction of trust.

On a separate note, while August’s personal plot felt very nicely wrapped up, there were elements of Natalie’s story that, by the end, felt unaddressed, or addressed in a way that didn’t track for who she had been up to that point. I can buy getting to that point eventually, but it felt as though it ended very suddenly. Certain points had me drawing parallels with Bailey’s It Happened One Summer, and I couldn’t help but feel that parts of Natalie’s story would have benefitted from the prolonged treatment Piper’s story got.

Unfortunately Yours is out June 6, 2023. Special thank you to Avon for an advance copy for review purposes.

This is what I am talking about. I especially liked Tessa's forward, letting us know there will be lots of fun banter, but there will also be pining because that is what is absolutely needed so we know how they feel on the inside.
Natalie and August loathe each other, but when Natalie needs a fake husband and August needs capital, they could be a match made in heaven.
This book was exactly what I needed to get myself out of a reading slump, and it worked like a charm. I knew from book one that I would be obsessed with this grumpy wine maker, but I didn't honestly realize just HOW obsessed I would be. August gave me everything I was looking for from a book boyfriend and Natalie gave me all the sass I was hoping for. I loved her strength and resilience but I lived for the times when they picked one another up. Opening up bit by bit, becoming closer and seeing things no one else saw.
If you love Tessa Bailey, RUN and grab this book because it will NOT disappoint you.
Thanks to Avon, Tessa Bailey and Netgalley for an early copy.

Tessa Bailey did it again. Over the last year I have become such a huge fan of this author and she absolutely did not disappoint. Coming into this book I did already read Hallie and Julian's story so I had already gotten a taste for Nathalies character and was super excited to dive into this one. August is literally EVERYTHING. From the beginning he was already worshipping the ground Nathalie walked on. It all just fell into place so conveniently.

Nathalie starts the story off by wanting to get back to New York to try and resume her financial career on Wall Street, where she feels she truly fits in, but in order to do so, she needs money. Unfortunately her dad is extremely old school and requires her to be married and working full time in order to have her funds released to her. In comes August, the perfect temporary solution or so she thought.

If you love a cute romance this is IT. I loved watching the slow burn and reading about the way each character felt about one another without actually informing them of how it really was. This book was super fun and I would definitely recommend.