Tessa Bailey fan? Me too! I knew I needed to add this title to my collection. Which was your last #TessaBailey read?

#GoodReads Synopsis: Hallie Welch fell hard for Julian Vos at fourteen, after they almost kissed in the dark vineyards of his family's winery. Now the prodigal hottie has returned to their small town. When Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate, she wonders if she'll finally get that smooch. But the grumpy professor isn't the teenager she remembers and their polar opposite personalities clash spectacularly. One wine-fueled girls' night later, Hallie can't shake the sense that she did something reckless--and then she remembers the drunken secret admirer letter she left for Julian. Oh shit.

I struggled to get through this one. It just fell flat and I was very disappointed because I usually love her books so I’m not sure what happened with this one. There were so many ups and downs and emotions were everywhere. I did finish but I had to force myself to do so

Tessa Bailey's books are just so much fun. They are so easy to read when you need something quick and fun! This one was no exception. The characters were relatable!

Tessa Bailey is just such a fun author to read. I like that her writing never strays from her roots.
This was such a fun, sexy read.
& I'm loving the covers so much!

Secretly Yours is spicy small town rom com about a grumpy professor and the bubbly neighbor he clashes with at every turn. But their undeniable chemistry might just lead to a happily ever after.. I love Tessa Bailey books, but this one was not my favorite. It's cute and light, but I wanted more tension. This one wasn't as memorable as her others.

I feel like I remember absolutely loving this one but it's been so long since I read it I cannot give detailed thoughts, so sorry!

Though I found it hard to become invested in the relationship between the two main characters, I did manage to finish this title. The both left a lot to be desired. It felt as though the author had a outline of the characters but they were never fully realized.

Love the characters and the love story but the stalker plot arc was sort of off-putting and weird. The FMC was a joy to read with a giant personality who really brought out the MMC's better side than how he started. Tessa Bailey does it again,

Loved this flowery second chance romance! The characters were adorable, the small town was perfect and honestly I can't ask for more in a romance. I don't think this will land on my list of life changing romances but it will land on my list of small towns I'd love to visit again in another story (which works out since there is another in this series). Highly recommend, I really enjoyed it!

Thank you for allowing me to read and review this story. My review can be found on goodreads, storygraph, barnes and noble and my instagram @manymerrybooks.

To kick off Tessa Bailey's latest series, Secretly Yours pairs up two people who *almost* kissed in high school and lived to pine over it. Hallie's now a gardener grieving the grandmother who raised her. Impulsive and more than a bit chaotic, she's taking action to ruin the Instagrammable new wine spot in town. Its instant success is sure to ruin the little wine shop where her grandmother used to sit, read, and chat with passersby. Meanwhile, Professor Julian Vos has recently returned home to wine country, trying to write a book. The Vos Vineyard is an Institution in St. Helena, but it's struggling (not that his mother is liable to admit it). Julian has learned to manage his anxiety by timing his every action just so, meaning his writing time is heavily structured and inflexible. A certain messy gardener could be an issue tramping around his workspace, but here Hallie comes with her three dogs only adding to the enthusiasm and spectacle of her presence.

There are some really cute moments on their road to romance. From making a prank call together to herding children at a wine event, I liked seeing them make goo-goo eyes at each other. In another fun scene, Julian rescues Hallie from the consequences of her own cheese thief actions because he doesn't like the tone the evil wine shop manager is taking with her. The absurdity of stealing cheese samples paired with the white knight energy is a fun concoction. In terms of spice, as I've learned is typical of Tessa Bailey, it's hot as hell. Even outside the explicitly intimate scenes, she knows how to turn up the heat. For example, I noted a hand flex out of Julian, and I suspect the inspiration is tall, dark, and Darcy.

There are other parts of the romance I cared for less. The secret admirer shtick wasn't quite up my alley, but I could see the purpose Hallie's letters served. In theory, she could be more open in writing, and some of her earnest admiration for Julian helps him reconnect with who he wants to be. The problem here, I think, is that Hallie's pretty open in her speaking, anyway, and I think it would not only have been plenty in character for her to share her admiration out loud and in person but also more meaningful as a moment between them.

Another issue is that the slow-burn energy here felt a bit unnatural to me, no matter how much I generally prefer it (you know things are weird when I have more fun with the almost love triangle/jealousy plot than I do with the slow-burn). The cause in this instance is that Hallie's angsty because Julian doesn't remember her or their almost kiss of yesteryear, so she puts on the brakes in the present. They only overlapped one year in school, and their one significant moment was an anomaly. Because of that, it was hard for me to get behind Hallie's disappointment that their *moment* didn't leave this larger-than-life, magical impact on him as it did her. Hallie's long-term fantasy about Julian only makes it worse because she's putting so much pressure on her idea of him.

I did like the personal journey each protagonist needed to take. Julian's father made him feel like his anxiety deemed him unreliable and unworthy of the family legacy. He has to realize that how he's learned to cope with his mental health can still have unintended negative consequences. Meanwhile, Hallie needs to work on how unmoored she's allowed herself to get in her grandmother's absence.

This romance is hot and fun while still taking time for the characters to grow. The teenage baggage, in tandem with the secret admirer letters, feels like unnecessary noise in an otherwise cute story about two opposites teaming up to save a family winery and a local wine bar. While not my favorite of Bailey's books, I still admire her writing style and like this pair of characters. Thanks to Avon for my copy to read and review!

Loved this book! Adored Hallie and love Julian. I really like the vineyard setting. Julian is so uptight and anxious and I love how Hallie swoops in and calms him down.

Ugh I loved this book and Hallie's bubbley personality. I loved getting to know her as a character and see her fall in love with her long time crush. I've never rooted for a character to have a more happy ending, she was just so sweet and had been through a lot.

Amazing book! Tessa Bailey is back! I felt this book is similar to her Hot and Hammered series, which I love! If you need a quick, romance read with funny antidotes, then this is it!

This was actually my first Tessa Bailey book, and I just fell in love. I love the secret letter, writing aspect, the male lead is a good guy, but really buttoned up and needs to relax, and her female lead is so fun and relatable. This is a great book.

Tessa Bailey's latest novel delivers a delightful and engaging romance set against the picturesque backdrop of a Napa vineyard. Hallie Welch and Julian Vos are wonderfully crafted characters whose chemistry ignites the pages. Hallie’s quirky, spontaneous nature and Julian’s structured, disciplined lifestyle create a compelling dynamic that keeps readers invested in their evolving relationship.

The romance plot is both sweet and steamy, filled with humorous and heartfelt moments. Hallie’s secret admirer letter adds a layer of intrigue, while Julian’s gradual unraveling of his feelings for Hallie provides a satisfying emotional journey. Their interactions, fueled by misunderstandings and undeniable attraction, are rich with tension and charm.

Despite their differences, Hallie and Julian's connection feels genuine and deeply relatable. Bailey excels at making both characters likable and multidimensional. Hallie’s vibrant personality contrasts beautifully with Julian’s more reserved demeanor, leading to a romance that feels fresh and invigorating. While not breaking new ground in the genre, this novel offers an enjoyable and heartwarming read that fans of contemporary romance will appreciate.

I very much appreciate being able to request ARCs. I think it’s wonderful and am very happy to leave a review for books in kind. However, there comes a time when some books just don’t match up with the reader and I’m afraid Tessa Bailey is not for me. So thank you NetGalley and thank you to the publisher. I don’t believe it would be fair of me to leave a review on Goodreads as I did not end up finishing this book.

tessa bailey has her niche, and i respect that. i also find that it is not for me. i am glad her work can serve a certain audience and demographic, i just do not find myself within that. and that's okay! so glad she is around for those who need her. would read again but still not for me.

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey is a delightful fit for readers who adore lighthearted, humorous romances with a touch of whimsy, set against the charming backdrop of wine country, and featuring a grumpy-sunshine contrast that will leave them smiling and rooting for the lovable, eccentric heroine and her starchy, yet secretly swoon-worthy, professor hero.

No thanks. I had to DNF about 30% in. This story was SO boring. I felt no attachment to the characters and everything just felt very flat.

I don't know why I keep giving this mediocre author a chance but this book is enough for me to say, goodbye to Tessa.

Thanks Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC.

Bailey has a bunch of good ideas for stories I feel and falls just short of executing them well. While I did enjoy the cuteness of this book and the overall heart-warming feels it gave me, it's just a cute story with a happy ending. A good fluffy read and nothing else, which is what I hope she was going for.