I liked this book, it was an enjoyable experience. However, to me, it was completely forgettable. I really liked Hallie, I thought her character was really sweet and I loved her chaotic-ness, and that she was written as fuller figured. Julian was okay, he had some stellar one liners, and I like that Bailey is trying to be inclusive by writing about Julian's anxiety disorder, but it felt a tad "touched on" instead of really in depth.

The whole secret admirer thing was a little juvenile to me, also, but this is purely opinion and taste, not about Bailey's writing of it. She did a good job with the storyline and the conflict, but the ending was a little...silly to me.

Overall not my favorite Tessa Bailey book, although I know there will be many happy readers reading this one! 3.5 stars (I like to round up in these cases where I like the author)

Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Voyage and Avon for providing a copy of Secretly Yours. I first found Tessa Bailey through the Berlinger Sisters series which I adored. While I didn’t like Secretly Yours as much as those two books I certainly enjoyed it and will continue to read any others in the series. This novel was a great end of summer read and is a classic opposites attract romance. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives and the world building that Bailey does. After finishing I wanted to visit St Helena, have a drink at Corked and a doughnut from Fudge Judy. I agree with another reviewer who mentioned that the secret admirer plot line, while supposed to primary, felt a little tossed to the side. I didn’t even realize that the title was based off that plot point until about half way through. That being said the story didn’t need it since the story focused more on the two characters reconnecting.

I’m excited Natalie’s story next and hope we still get to say Julian, Hallie, and the boys make cameos. (3.8 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

This marks my sixth Tessa Bailey book this year. I have read some of hers that I absolutely loved and some that I just liked and were fun to read. This one falls in the middle. I really enjoyed Hallie and Julian together and separately, I just found myself wishing for something…more.

When I read It Happened One Summer, I fell so deeply in love with the characters and was so invested in the world that I got that magical feeling that I didn’t realize I was reading. I fell in love with the characters here, but I couldn’t quite reach that feeling. I am still very interested in future books in this series and Tessa Bailey books going forward, I just wanted to love this more than I did.

Tessa Bailey writes wonderful contemporary romance, and this new addition is no exception. For lovers of It Happened One Summer and Hook, Line, and Sinker.

I loved every second of this book! It was such a cute read! The characters are wonderful and I completely fell in love with them. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

If you liked My Killer Vacation, you'll love this one!

Definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Avon for sending me a copy of 'Secretly Yours' in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I've noticed in other Tessa Bailey books that insta-love is a common theme, and 'Secretly Yours' is no different. Julian and Hallie are complete opposites, yet consistently battle with how drawn they are to one another. Julian is enamoured with Hallie as soon as they're introduced and Hallie, who has been harboring a crush on Julian for over a decade, is obviously in love with him as soon as they're reintroduced.

Unfortunately, their relationship bored me. The conflict was one dimensional and the use of anxiety felt more like a plot device pushing the story a specific direction, rather than a character trait. While it's admirable that Bailey is trying to make her characters feel more realistic, the way it was applied didn't work for me.

I think people who like Tessa Bailey and romance novels are going to like this book. Personally, I'm more interested in reading what I assume will be the next installment in this series - Natalie (Julian's sister) and August's (a very minor character in this book) relationship. This isn't surprising to me, though, because I enjoyed Hook, Line, and Sinker (The Bellinger Sister's Series, Book 2) more than the first. I still enjoy Bailey's books, but this one ranks fairly low on my list.

This book was so stinkin' cute, I read it twice! I related to Hallie's chaotic, chronically late, sunshiney energy SO much. Julian's grumpy perfectionist vibe was perfect, but it was nice to see how he developed by the end. The plot was well-paced and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. Overall, this was a wonderful book! If Tessa Bailey writes it, I will read it!

Don’t even know how to put my review into words. I love all of Tessa’s books, but this one is particularly special. I’ve spent honestly the past year feeling like I’m floundering. And this book!!!! This book put those feelings into words and made me feel like less of a human disaster. It has all of Tessa’s signature humor and spice, but there is an honesty in this book that I adore.

A silly, sweet second-chance romance set in Napa. If you liked My Killer Vacation, it has similar pacing (and issues). I liked the setting and some of the side characters even if the main characters and plot fell a little flat. Looking forward to Natalie's book!

I love Tessa's books and their ability to just take me away to wonderful small towns and stick me in the metaphorical phone booth with two people who don't understand their own feelings. I loved both Hattie and Julian. I loved Hattie's story of having to learn that the person she thought she knew wasn't real and having to fall in love with the real Julian. I loved Julian's story of learning to trust and accept himself and those around him. They were opposites in a way that was obvious but no annoying. I loved that the book was dual POV because I just loved hearing how they described each other. Great read and I definitely recommend!!

I love Tessa Bailey, I love her writing style and characters and banter. That being said this book was not for me. I really wanted to like it but the main characters fell really flat for me. I wish that they had been more thought out especially Julian. I feel like he didn’t really have much of a personality unfortunately. I did really love his sister Natalie’s character and I will definitely be giving her book a chance.

Remember that boy you were crushing on in high school? What if he was a hot professor and author, with money and a history in the posh wine business? Would it be worth it to seek him out? Maybe get a first first chance? What if your life didn't look so hot in comparison?

Oh, Hallie is definitely in for it.

"The greatest tragedy of her life, right up until she'd lost her grandmother, was not landing that kiss from Julian Vos."

"But who could measure up to a figment of her imagination?" Who indeed.

This romcom is deliciously easy to enjoy while also dipping into anxiety and stress in a thoughtful way. Definitely recommend.

I loved this story from the beginning! I was turning pages as quick as I could!! I fell in love with all the characters. This story had me wanting more. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!!!

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey is a romantic comedy that gives readers all of the trademark elements that make Tessa Bailey novels so special—from quirky characters to steamy moments to emotional scenes that are almost too much to process. Hallie Welch—a human hurricane and perpetually late gardener meets up with her long-held teenage crush, Julian Vos—a time-obsessed, anxious professor. This novel explores past traumas, finding your place in the world, family, friendship, and love with humor and depth. Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey is the first novel in the A Vine Mess series. It looks like Tessa Bailey readers can look forward to more sexiness and shenanigans from the characters in this series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Secretly Yours was a cute rom-com about a grumpy-sunshine pairing, with plenty of spice. I enjoyed the setting and I liked the anxiety rep. It was one of her weaker books for me. I don't think the secret admirer letters were necessary and didn't add much to the plot I think enough could have been made just from their vastly different personalities. I also didn't like how quickly Julian fell for Hallie, it was too instalove. I get that Hallie fell quick because she had an unrequited crush on him since she was 15. I also could have gone without Julian going on about how Hallie was a virgin and the tightness of her vagina. You can't tell if someone is a virgin based on the tautness of their vagina, that's a myth, and one that should stop being perpetuated. That was my biggest problem with the book and it just left a bad taste in my mouth.

I’ve come to the realize that Tessa Baileys books more often than not have Insta love. As you all probably know I am not a fan of this trope whatsoever, so I struggled quite a bit with this book. It had a cute concept about opposites attract and how the two main characters were completely different from each other, that was nice to read about. I don’t like how the characters get together so quickly in a book because I seem to lose interest when they do. I like the angst and slow burn romance but this didn’t really have it. The main character Hallie, had a crush on him right from the beginning so that wasn’t a good sign. Tessa Bailey does know how to write a good spicy scene though so those were appreciated. I do think that this book will be loved by many but I just couldn’t get past the characters getting together so quickly. I liked seeing Julians struggle with anxiety as well as Hallie struggling to accept this new life without her grandmother, there was definitely some deep topics discussed. Overall it was an average read for me sadly.

This was a cute rom-com about a gardener and an author who meet in their home town years after meeting in high school. One remembers the other, one doesn't. There's instant attraction.
Most of the book was pretty predictable. I ended up skimming that last quarter of it because I was a little bored.

#SecretlyYours #NetGalley #TessaBailey

After days of sad news in the media I wanted a pick me up book. Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey is just the ticket. Coming out in February 2023 it is a Valentine gift to Bailey readers. The setting is a small wine town in Napa. Hallie Welch is 29 and took over her grandmothers gardening business after her death. She is kind, chaotic, can’t limit herself to one necklace and lets her plants tell her where they want to be placed. Her dream crush is Julian who almost kissed her once in his family vineyard. Julian Vos is on leave from Stanford where he is a professor. He came home to write his first novel. He is a structured person with checklists and time limits setting his boundaries. His mother hires Hallie to add plants for color to the yard and Julian is instantly drawn to her. They are the opposite in so many ways but I love that they aren’t bound to those traits. She for reasons of her own works on being more organized. And he accepts that her that being in her presence means a little chaos including her yapping dogs and helping her save a local business.

I love that this is duel POV and their voices are unique. Hallie is wonderful as she falls for grown up Julian who is different from her boy crush. I love that she is confident and yet vulnerable about herself and her curves. Julian is entertaining as he goes from rigidness to wanting to fight every battle that brings her unhappiness. The longing and loving for each other is obvious to everyone but themselves. Julian also has a dirty mouth that contrasts his persona. That dirty talk takes typical intimate scenes to screaming hot levels. I enjoyed Bailey’s last series but these characters are more real and relatable. They have problems but work hard and want the best for those around them. Together they are charmingly perfect. Please put me on the list for his sister Natalie’s story. And I hope within that book I get a little more of Julian and Hallie.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley for this advanced copy.

What a great, fun-loving book. I think plenty of girls have had these high school crushes and have always wondered "what if." Hallie gets a chance to live out the what-if when her crush since she was 14 comes back to town to write a book. Julian is every bit as handsome as she remembers, but does he remember her?

There is so much to love about this book. I loved the story of the super smart professor coming home to write a book, to only turn into the family savior of his vineyard. The sex scenes were so steamy they made me blush at times. Tessa Bailey has a great imagination. Her attention to detail in some of those steamy scenes makes me want to live her life.

I loved this book, I can't wait until the next one comes out.

Stars 4.5

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and Tessa Bailey for an eARC of Secretly Yours

I absolutely adored this book! I read this book in one sitting, I simply couldn't get enough! It definitely provides the grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract tropes. And the tension was *chef's kiss* perfect.

I must admit that this is my first Tessa Bailey book, though I've been following her on social media for awhile now. After loving this book so much, I will 100% be reading her past and future books. When this book comes out in February, I can tell its going to be getting loads of attention from BookTok. I mean, I feel like everyone was already losing their minds when the cover was announced a few weeks back.

Secretly Yours is a 5 star romcom read that I highly recommend with a glass (or a few glasses) of wine.