What's not to like? An enemies to lovers romance set in wine country, with plenty of banter and steaminess thrown in!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Unfortunately Yours!

Unfortunately Yours is the follow up book to Secretly Yours. I was very fortunate (hehe) enough to get arcs of both. I definitely recommend this series. This book follows the tension and aftermath of fight that Natalie and August have in Secretly Yours. While you don't have to read them in order I would highly suggest that you do.

This is my second Tessa Bailey book, and after reading them I can officially say I'll likely keep reading her books. They are the perfect blend of spice, comedy and heart. While I didn't like as much much as Secretly Yours, I thought it was a great conclusion and follow up to the character's stories.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

I adore the Napa Valley folks! Tessa nailed it again with this continuation of the series. Seeing the growth of Natalie’s character was beautiful, and tears were definitely shed while reading this novel. I would love to see a book three about Corinne!

Though I love Tessa Bailey, I’ll admit that I almost passed on this one. I truly didn’t enjoy Secretly Yours, which is its companion. I felt some regret for a few chapters, yet kept going. I’m so glad I did! Unfortunately Yours returns Ms. Bailey to top status as queen bee of sexy romance authors.

We first met August and Natalie back in Secretly Yours. They move front and center here, with the focus being on their marriage of convenience. What begins as animosity blooms into a lustier passion, and then love.

A fun story with plenty of sexy scenes, and no huge plot surprises, I stayed up until 3 AM to finish it in one sitting, and I don’t regret it a bit.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me access to a digital ARC in return for my opinion!

I picked this up, read the first two chapters and put it down — August and Natalie were just too mean to one another. When I realized this was a companion book to Secretly Yours, and after re-reading It Happened One Summer, I decided it was worth another chance.

Natalie Vos has come home to Napa Valley fired, broke, drinking too much and not engaged anymore. She had a hot moment with Navy vet and former SEAL turned vitner, August Cates, back in Secretly Yours, but since their one-night stand didn’t turn into something, and it turns out he makes terrible wine, they snark–nastily–at one another. (Side note: I couldn’t remember the details of their previous encounter, and a recap would have been helpful). They cross paths again at a wine competition she’s judging, are mean to each other when she doesn’t like his wine, but he’s still desperately attracted to her brains and beauty. He needs her help with making drinkable, profitable wine, and she needs to be employed and married to get access to her trust fund to finance an investment deal back in New York. They decide on a marriage of convenience–but no sex. Okay, just orgasms for her. Okay, just oral for him… the lines keep getting drawn in the sand and smashed through because of their off the charts chemistry. The sex is a little rougher and a little spicer–August is a consummate dirty talker and not squeamish about rimming, and his new wife goes wild for it.

In general, the characters are not as three-dimensional, likeable or mature as Hallie and Julian. I think I liked the cat the best, though I don't believe it sat docilely through their wedding ceremony. Some depth of story comes from Natalie’s character growth and desire to make something of herself independent of her famous family, and August’s commitment to honor his fellow soldier’s vineyard dreams. They do seem to have each other’s back as the story progresses: she won’t allow her mother to insult him, and he is very protective of her. Her family’s dismissal of her is frustrating, and so are August’s self-deprecating remarks about his own intelligence.

Those close to them see through their sniping to their true love… but it was hard to watch people who cared about one another be so unkind. An emergency near the end of the book puts August in a life or death situation to force them to reveal their feelings, and it just felt a little too contrived. The pacing is fast and not terribly believable, either. August’s calling Natalie “Princess” reminded me of Han Solo calling Leia “Princess,” and then that’s who I imagined them as in my head, and it didn’t jive with how they are described in the book. Also, August is so exaggerated in his physical stature I actually couldn’t picture him at all.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #UnfortunatelyYours from #NetGalley.

This was just as good as book one! I really love the enemies having to marry trope and this one definitely kept my attention the entire book!

This is a hard book to review. I really liked Julian and Hallie's book. It was a lot of fun, and I love the grumpy/sunshine trope. This book - Natalie and August's book - has the fake marriage trope. Which, when done well, is also a lot of fun. And this wasn't done *terribly*, I just felt like it was really clunky.

One thing I thought was really forced was the *literally endless* snarky banter between Natalie and August. While I appreciate witty banter done well, this was just too much. It was constant and heavy and eventually got exhausting.

I think Bailey did August a disservice in making him appear like a horny meathead who can't control his impulses. The "she's so hot I can't control myself" attitude is in direct contradiction to his years of training and conditioning as a SEAL. And if his depiction is meant to show that he's just so attracted to her so much it overtakes everything, then it's even more ridiculous.

I do, however, really like Natalie as a character. I think she is well-written, and have interesting layers that Bailey takes care to craft. Her development is genuine, and I loved seeing her (re)build her relationships with her family.

I still absolutely adore Hallie.

I am withholding feedback until Harper Collins pays their workers a living wage, In solidarity with the HCUnion. Thank you,

I love Tessa Bailey and this did not disappoint. I don’t usually care for the marriage of convenience trope but I really love the way Tessa writes romance. I don’t necessarily think the first book in this “series” needs to be read first but this one is better if you have read the first one. It is a fast paced romance but so good!

I have to say, I am just gobbling up anything Tessa Bailey writes lately. While I was reading Secretly Yours I saw Natalie and August coming from a mile away. I was immediately into their chemistry and could not wait to read their story. That being said, and my friends will disagree, I do not think you need to have read secretly yours to enjoy Unfortunately Yours. You probably should though, cause it’s real cute and hella hot. This book really spoke to me. I loved to see Natalie’s growth after coming to grips with her past self. Read if your love language is teasing with a side of worshiping your partner. I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley, thank you to them. All thoughts and opinions are my own

UNFORTUNATELY YOURS hit just the right notes for me. I'm a longtime Tessa Bailey and enemies-to-lovers reader and feel this book smushed the very best of those two things together in a highly readable package. The first book in this series, SECRETLY YOURS came off a bit too sweet and cheesy for my taste, but I feel our Napa Valley protagonists are back on track with this fiery addition.

August Cates may own a vineyard, but he doesn’t know jack about making wine. He’s determined to do his late best friend proud, no matter what it takes. Except his tasting room is empty, his wine is disgusting (seriously, he once saw someone gag), and his buddy’s legacy is circling the drain. No bank will give him the loan he needs to turn the business around... and then the gorgeous, feisty heiress knocks on his door. Natalie has haunted his dreams since the moment they met, but their sizzling chemistry immediately morphed into simmering insults.

Now, a quickie marriage could help them both. A sham wedding, a few weeks living under the same roof, and then they can go their separate ways—assuming they make it out alive. How hard could it be? There’s just one thing they didn’t account for: their unfortunate, unbearable, undeniable attraction.

I almost put this one down because I’ve read so many Napa books lately but I’m so glad I didn’t! I’ll admit at first I didn’t get why Natalie hates August but I definitely bought the chemistry between them. Natalie’s brother and his girlfriend are adorable and I’m so glad they were in the story! Tessa Bailey has done it again!!

not my favorite of all of the tessa bailey books, the plot moved ridiculously fast and had a totally ridiculous premise BUT she does what she does best well here

Tessa Bailey does it to us again. Much like her other books, this story isn’t just about finding a love match, it’s about finishing yourself. Natalie Vos is a premiere winemaker from a famous wine house in Napa. She has just lost everything by breaking away to make it big again n New York. She wants nothing else but to break back into the investment scene and get outta town. During this awful time of her life, she keeps running into a doofy Navy Seal that insists on making bad wine and bugging her. Natalie just find away to unlock her family trust fund in order to get back to business on New York, but there’s a snag in the plan. She has to be employed and married to get it…

Thank you for the E-ARC NetGalley!

I think this may be my FAVORITE Tessa Bailey yet! Natalie Vos, of the Vos Vineyards, has to marry someone and be employed to have her trust fund be released by her archaic father. Enter August Cates, former navy SEAL and absolute shit wine maker. August has just decided that he needs to give up trying his luck at wine making for his late best friend when Natalie offers him a solution. If he marries her for her trust fund, he can probably get the small business loan he needs. Just temporarily though! One month. Tops. What starts off as a marriage of convenience, quickly grows into something more.

These two were on fire together! Their chemistry is electric and they help each other grow in such incredible ways! Natalie and August both are so vulnerable with each other and it makes this book even more worth the read. Is it a fun and frothy rom com? Yes. Is it also a great example of a couple helping their partner grow? Also yes. I loved this and I think fans of Tessa Bailey and romance, in general, will love this sweet and steamy read!

Tessa Bailey is a must read author for me, and Unfortunately Yours does not disappoint! I absolutely loved meeting financier Natalie Vos and ex-SEAL August Cates. Bailey writes such strong alpha males but never skimps on her multi-layered female characters.

Hot headed enemies-to-lovers Natalie and August are clearly made for each other and are Spicy with a capital S. What starts as a marriage of convenience shifts into something more real as the characters learn about themselves and each other, And making wine, don't forget about the wine.

I whole heartedly recommend this book to fans of enemies-to-lovers and open-door romances. Don't even thing twice, especially if you are already a fan of Tessa Bailey. She had me laughing out loud and swooning at the same time.

Meh. I haven't been as wowed by this new series from Tessa! I usually enjoy her books for what they are - they let me have a nice "no thoughts, head empty" moment and detach from the world. But I just have not jived with "Secretly Yours" and "Unfortunately Yours". So many storylines not wrapped up!

5 whole stars


There are situations I've never thought to fantasize about, but Tessa Bailey thinks of them all. The physical, sexual chemistry the main characters have is absolutely scorching. I mean.. sex in the rain while amped up on adrenaline and he's afraid he will hurt her? I was panting.

Then we are fortunate enough to see Natalie and August build emotional intimacy right on top of all the lust and angst. I was wrapped up in the book. I blew through this one faster than the first of the series.

Marriage of convenience, but there's feelings involved.. I almost screamed! Those who grew up wearing the title "family disappointment" will be able to connect our main character, Natalie. The characters' relationship really hone in on what it can feel like, entering a romantic endeavor after growing up in a difficult family situation. I appreciate Natalie recognizing her privilege and her lifestyle while being able to work on herself. There isn't a big "woe is me" moment from her despite her getting heartbroken by all of those closest to her.

The book was amazing, the spice was spicy, and the characters were likable.

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey will be released June 6, 2023

Thank you, NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Tessa Bailey for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC!

WHEW. Tessa Bailey does it again. I absolutely loved this book! Natalie and August's relationship had me hooked from the very beginning. Their snarky banter, their sexual tension, and the way that they continuously kept learning and growing (both personally and together) was an absolute delight. Tessa has a way of writing such fun stories while also giving her characters such depth and August and Natalie are no exception. I highly recommend!