This was fine; entertaining but not my favorite. I didn't like the characters and wanted more from the setting and circumstances. Could have used more development of the characters and the setting. Didn't feel like much actually happened. A quick, predictable read.

I didn't realize Napa was the new Big City for romances. I appreciated the change from Bailey's most recent works, but it was very apparent that this was setup for other books. Very pleasant read, probably not a high demand title.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing an arc for an honest review.

I adore this book! Hallie is such a whirlwind of a person and crashes into Julian’s life throwing off his schedules and perfectly laid out plans. Of course what he doesn’t know is that she has had a serious crush on him since high school and in a drunken moment Hallie decides to confess these feelings in a secret admirer letter. Like clockwork Julian finds the letter and thus begins his journey to letting go. Through her letters and her presence Hallie challenges Julian to break free of the constraints of his schedules and learn to live life again.

There was wonderful dialogue around anxiety and grief and how both can affect an individual in a myriad of ways. As usual the spice was amazing and I was happy that it was later in the book when they both have a better understanding of each other outside of high school crushes and first impressions. Also the side characters are amazing and I absolutely cannot wait for Natalie and August’s book!

You can't go wrong with a Tessa Bailey title and this one was no exception. From teen dreams to real-life opportunities, this was a delightful read. I love her uplifting and funny books!

Love Tessa Bailey, and this one was no exception for me! I loved the small town and vineyard setting, and the steam factor was there too!

Tessa Bailey does NOT miss. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I LOVED it more than I ever thought I would. This reverse harem love story has Tessa Bailey’s signature rom-com touch and is filled with incredibly lovable main characters.

I’ve recently discovered Tessa’s books and have become a rapid fan. I laugh out loud several times in each book, and am struck by how different each of the characters are in the books in this series. Westport holds a place in my imagination similar to Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls. I enjoy the opposites attract dynamic here and the sensuality between Julian and Hallie. It’s great to see a sassy plus sized protagonist that Julian is busy listing after. I remain a big fan and recent convert. I’m busy spreading the word on TikTok about how great the book is and people are excited! That’s no surprise though.

I didn't particularly like either of our main characters, but they grew on me and won me over by the end. However, I still liked the books with the Bellinger sisters better. I think Natalie's story will be a fun one.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

How does Tessa Bailey keep doing it?! I loved this book! So cute and hot as usual. I’ll read anything she writes.

I honestly don’t think tessa Bailey will let me down..ever. I loved this. I love sweet heroines, their love for flowers and grumpy heroes that don’t realise what they’re missing until they’ve met that special someone. I was over joyed reading this - as I expected nothing less. 5/5 stars!

This was an amazing grumpy-sunshine romance! I think fans of "The Love Hypothesis" would really enjoy this book, it reminded me a lot of those same dynamics between the characters, and I think that the academic setting is perfect to read in autumn, too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read an ARC copy of Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey.

Hallie is the color yellow. She is sunshine, happiness, a combination of a few good things in one. She is go with the flow, figure it out as she goes, and is unbothered with things like rules and regulations. Julian is the color grey. He is structure, black and white thinking, and rigid with a purpose. On paper, they don't work, but it's a little piece of paper with strong thoughts that make them realize they may not be content with who they have become.

Tessa Bailey always makes me fall in love with her characters. I identified with Julian and the walls he builds to keep him safe and secure. I will always reach for a grumpy sunshine trope and this one did not disappoint!

I’m generally a huge fan of this author’s work, but this book was a bit tough for me to get through. I knew going in that was supposed to be an opposites-attract, grump/sunshine book (which are some of my favorite tropes)…and while this was a well-written book that contained solid story, I did struggle with the pacing a lot and I didn’t find either of the main characters to be terribly compelling or engaging.

Thank you Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my first Tessa Bailey book. I have a couple of her newest ones on my TBR, so when I saw this one on Netgalley, I couldn't resist... I kind of wish I did.

From what I have read, from other readers, is a lot of her characters fall in love instantly. I don't mind instant attraction, depending on the reactions the characters have and how the trope is handled. Reading from Julian's POV, when he first sees Hallie, is like reading from the mind of a teenage boy. And it never stopped feeling that way. I had to keep reminding myself that Julian and Hallie are in their thirties and not teenagers. Hallie had a huge crush on Julian when they were in high school but when she is hired as a gardener at the Vos estate years later, she sees a different side of Julian as an adult. The grumpy (Julian) x sunshine (Hallie) trope is used and I thought it was written okay.

The pacing of the story is very slow. I had a hard time staying focused and, because I couldn't feel a connection with either point of view, it was difficult to want to continue. The chemistry wasn't there as much as I wished it was and I think Secretly Yours is just a bit of a miss for me.

I am still interested in reading Tessa Bailey's other popular works like It Happened One Summer and My Killer Vacation but I might be taking a more hesitant approach when picking up her future works, depending on how those two go.

2 stars

Bailey never fails to give a good romance with some steamy plot lines to it. This book was delightful and the premise was new and interesting.

As long as I can remember Tessa Bailey has been my one click author. Because not only I love her stories but I also love how she manages to write stories with a perfect balance of amazing plot and spice. And this book was no different. I can’t wait enough for it to be it and about in world so I can start recommending it to everyone

Like to read romance?! Check out Tessa Bailey! this book is such a good read! Definitely recommend! 10/10

Tess Bailey books are very hit or miss with me and unfortunately this one was more of a miss. I didn't really love Julian and I know it's supposed to be an opposites attract but I didn't particularly like their characters together. Also, sometimes I feel like the sex scenes happen very early in the characters relationship, when they've only known each other for a very short time, and they feel a little ridiculous. Overall, not my favorite Tess Bailey.

Tessa Bailey is one of my go-to authors and this book proved why. Her books always deliver the laughs and I always find the characters to be very interesting. Secretly Yours was one of my most anticipated reads for the New Year and I'm happy to see that we will be starting the year off right.

No one balances adorable and steamy like Tessa Bailey! In Secretly Yours, she once again creates a relatable, flawed-but-charming heroine in Hallie Welch (landscaper of choice in her small Napa Valley enclave), and an equally well drawn love interest in Julian Voss (black sheep ivy league professor on sabbatical). The opposites attract trope is deftly handled and the journey to their forgone love connection is enjoyably filled with wine country shenanigans and colorful, local, tertiary characters to drive the action.