I felt like this was one of my least favorite of Tessa Bailey's romances. The characters were not as multi-dimensional as past characters have been, and there were so many silly mix-ups. Romance novels are formulaic generally, but this seemed like it was checking off of a list, and there wasn't as much true romance as I would have liked.

I think it was a very spicy book, for those who are interested in that. However I was lacking chemistry and felt that there were additional characters who never got fleshed out or served a purpose other than to act as a vehicle to thwart the couple here and there.

Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. However, I will continue to check out Tessa Bailey's books.

Natalie Vos cannot think of a man she'd less like to be married to than August Cates. He's brash and loud and vulgar, and maybe smoking hot too. However, when money is tied up in trust funds and banks, August and Natalie end up tying the knot to further their own gains. When both begin to recognize the deep feelings they have for one another, will business and money interrupt their budding marriage or bring them closer?

I loved this romance. While the first of this duology didn't quite hit home for me, this one absolutely ticked off all the buttons. Marriage of convenience? Yes. Forced proximity? Yes. Fight hard, love harder? Yes. Making sure we're all emotional above board before the good stuff starts? Yes. Understanding grief and emotional trauma and being able to work with it? YES!

The pacing is perfect, with slow moments balancing out the fast paced courtship and action scenes (there's at least one!) I think this book on a whole embodies the best part of Tessa Bailey's writing. Her romance is equal parts love, understanding and pure emotion. It's also equally balanced out by the absolute burning spice that is their coming together.

I loved getting to see some characters we met in Secretly Yours (Hallie remains the queen) and to explore more of the wine country. This was a 10/10 for me!

3.5⭐️ This was cute yet slightly cringey at the same time. The last 40% is the highlight in my opinion.

~The only way Natalie can receive her inheritance is by getting married. She never thought the man she’d be marrying is the one she’s constantly bickering with. August sees an opportunity and runs with it. He only hopes he makes it out with what he needs most.~

SMH MEN.. The way I wanted to smack August. On more than one occasion too. That said, he really is so dang sweet to Natalie. I was totally swooning.

The cringe for me were the spicy scenes.. they were 🥵 don’t get me wrong but there were a few wtf moments that had me cringing so bad.

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*

I think this is one of the softest and yet horniest books Tessa Bailey has ever written and I loved it so much!

Unfortunately Yours is the second book in the A Vine Mess duology. This one features Natalie Vos, Julian's sister. Natalie has been basically kicked out of New York on her ass by her job and her fiancee. She's hiding out at her family's vineyard trying to work up the courage to ask her mother for capital to start up her own investment firm but when her mother doesn't have the cash there's only one thing left to do. Get married, get a job and satisfy the archaic terms of her trust fund her estranged father set forth for her. Enter August Cates the potential rebound turned public enemy #1 for Natlalie.

I laughed so much at this book, Natalie and August's banter and "fights" were so hilarious but you could definitely see the feelings peeking out at times especially on August's end. He was SO gone on her from the very beginning, I loved it so much! The big strong Navy SEAL being such a soft ass marshmallow for the love of his life, wanting to do anything in his power to help her succeed in her life, protect her from any harm that might come her way...oh my god I wanted to melt! August had zero filter for pretty much all his thoughts and tho it got him in trouble a few times, most of the time I found it so endearing and sweet the way he would say things about her and to her in public (that comment as they got married, am I right? LOL).

While Natalie and August have plenty of sexy good times (and they really do have A LOT of sexy times) I still found it fun and entertaining because the plot was still there. Tessa can for sure write some smut and she does it in such a way that you're not bored after the second encounter the couple has, she doesn't use the same formula for scenes and I appreciate that she can be so ummm...creative in her writing this way! (I'm absolutely red as a tomato writing this review)

Watching them grow as a couple and really lean on each other in every aspect of their lives was really heartwarming and I'm so glad that Natalie got that from someone because her mother was crap at it to begin with. Also I did appreciate how her rehab stint was addressed, it was a major concern for me in the first book that I felt really wasn't touched on. And that epilogue at the end, so adorable, August really would be that guy to fill in at the dance recital, beyond precious!

Overall, very entertaining read, I read it in one go and didn't want to put it down. Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

First of all, a very strong 5 stars to Ms. Bailey on this one. While I liked the first installment of this series, I loved this one. I fell in love with Natalie and August in the first book so I knew it wouldn't take much convincing to make me love this book. And convince Tessa did.

Natalie is struggling with career upheaval back in NYC and turning to old vices (mainly wine, which - understandable) as a method of coping. Unfortunately, to get back on track, she needs to find a way to get ahold of her trust fund. Harder than it looks since she has to be married to do so and her fiancé left her as soon as she lost her job. Here's where August comes in. August is a former Navy SEAL himbo turned (very unsuccessful) vintner who is just trying to make his late best friend proud.

Oh another problem - they hate each other. What could possibly go wrong?

Let's be honest, a good old love-hate relationship results in the best banter and it was absolutely hilarious. You could feel the tension radiating off the pages and when August makes Natalie swoon, he also makes me swoon. Can you get butterflies from ink and paper? I didn't think so until this book.

The best part of this book? Basically NO miscommunication! Rom-com readers everywhere rejoice! I've said it a million times, but I hate the miscommunication trope with a burning passion. I is the one thing that will knock an otherwise 5-star read down for me. Natalie and August, which having plenty of other communication problems, are able to confront their problems and process them together.

Lastly, the epilogue?? August as a girl dad? I died and went to heaven.

Overall a great, fun romance that's a pretty easy read when you're looking for some good banter and a little bit of spice.

This enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience romance was absolute perfection! I loved Natalie and August's story and the verbal sparing, emotional confessions and steamy scenes between the two. I really liked the first book in this series, Secretly Yours, but Unfortunately Yours was on another level!

I really enjoyed this book! I felt like the characters were really well developed and they each had their own flaws that contributed to the story (except Menace. Menace has no flaws 🐈).

The book follows Natalie Vos, of the Vos wine empire and August Cates, former SEAL turned vintner. They strike a deal to marry so that Natalie can gain access to her trust fund and August can get a loan to keep his (terrible) winery afloat. They didn’t expect to fall for each other, but of course it happened.

The book covers a surprising amount of heavy topics: (minor) alcoholism, trust issues, grief, PTSD. And I felt it was done well. I wish the grief was talked about just a *little* bit more, but that’s just a me thing-I want my heart to be ripped out and stomped on just a little!

August and Natalie also had great chemistry. It started as lust and banter and quickly turned scorching and I was here for it! I also love an obsessed MMC and August was OBSESSED with Natalie. Very swoony, chefs kiss. Overall, this was a really fun read and I’m looking forward to Tessa’s next release!

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon/Harper Voyager, and Tessa Bailey for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I can always count on Tessa Bailey to write a hilarious, fun, and sexy romantic comedy! This book was no exception. I loved watching the enemies to lovers dynamic between August and Natalie play out over the course of this book (and in the first book of the series). The banter between the two of them was very entertaining. This book is definitely my favorite of the two in the series! (I thought Hallies character was a little too out there for my taste) The epilogue showing August as a girl dad was absolutely adorable. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s missing something for me that would push it to 5 star rating. Overall, this was a fun, light read that I would recommend to a friend! Thankful to have received an ARC!

Tessa Bailey brings readers back to Napa for the second installment of the Vine Mess series following Natalie Vos (sister to Julian) and August Cates, retired Navy Seal and failing winemaker.

I had such a great time traveling back to small town Napa for Natalie and August’s story in Unfortunately Yours. Tessa has blessed us with an enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience romance and it was so much fun and surprisingly sweet. This book is full of witty banter, a swoony and ultra protective hero and a heroine looking for a place to belong and a person to belong to. I can confidently say that Natalie finds that and more in August Cates.

August has been secretly worshiping Natalie; at times it is a secret even to him since their unfortunate argument at Wine Down Napa. He is intimidated by her social standing and finds her infuriating, but also the most attractive woman he has ever laid eyes on. Natalie finds August intolerable; he is grumpy and unpolished, but her traitorous body finds the Adonis irresistible.

This is one of my favorites from Tessa. I loved watching these two fall in love with each other. They are both secretly protective of one another and feel safe to just be despite their constant banter and verbal sparring. They just really get each other, and I love that they found a place to belong with each other. I adored how August makes Natalie wait till they are both emotionally invested to consummate their marriage.

Overall, I really liked this one. If you weren’t a fan of Secretly Yours, I would still give this one a try because it is so GOOD.

And an epilogue 8 years later, I am UNDONE.

Thank you so much to Avon Books for the early copy!

Unfortunately Yours
by Tessa Bailey
Pub Date: 06 Jun 2023
Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon
General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Women's Fiction
Rating 4.25/5

Unfortunately Yours is hilarious, romantic, and filled with all the right elements for a delightful reading experience. Chandler Cates and Natalie Vos are polar opposites who love to butt their heads. This fun-to-read book features laugh-out-loud banter and strong attraction between the two leads.

Synopsis:
A sham marriage agreement will help Chandler and Natalie survive financially in the future. As long as they can live together for a few weeks after the wedding before divorcing, this goal is possible. Their master plan has only one flaw: their infuriating sexual attraction. It's an interesting problem they didn't anticipate.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for the wonderful opportunity to review this book. I highly recommend Unfortunately Yours to romance readers.

Thanks to @avonbooks for sending me an advance copy of Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey, out June 6th!

This is the second duology of Bailey’s that I’ve read, (shoutout to the Bellinger sisters) and both times I’ve loved the second book more than the first.

Natalie and August’s story picks up right where Hallie and Julian’s left off, but can be read as a stand-alone. Natalie and August have an undeniable attraction, but can’t stop taking shots at each other — until a bonkers proposal (literally) results in them joining forces.

The tropes:
✨he falls first
✨hate to love
✨marriage of convenience

In her author’s note at the beginning of the book, Bailey writes that she wanted to make enemies to lovers work by having incontrovertible proof that the hero has always loved the heroine, and I found that to be one of the best elements of this story! Natalie’s story strikes a less unhinged tone than her brother’s, but still feels true to TB’s silly, swoony, spicy storytelling, and as usual made for a great time.

5 SCORCHING, AMAZING, STARS! I am absolutely in love with this book. Let's start from the cover and move on through... Menace is on the cover and that in itself is just perfect. This type of cover has always been my favorite and I think this one was so well done. I wish August was a bit bigger because he seems larger than life in this book, but it's so cute and really eye catching.

From the introduction of August and Natalie in Julian and Hallie's book, I've been excited to see how their chemistry comes out in their own story. It did not disappoint at all! The way that August treats Natalie is nothing short of perfection. He is completely whipped by her, but he still keeps her on her toes and keeps the spark between them. Natalie is able to give as good as she gets when it comes to verbally sparring with the sexy Adonis she's become tangled with.

The fake marriage trope is one of my favorites and it's made even better when it comes out that the MMC was always crazy about the FMC. The angst level was very low, which I really appreciate, because sometimes I just want a feel good, sizzling love story. If you want spice, then this book is just the right choice. August has a filthy mouth and the chemistry, sexual tension, and interactions between these two will have you fanning yourself. Natalie is one lucky lady.

Epilogue for the win! I haven't swooned this much in a little while and getting a look into their future gave my heart butterflies and I just want to have more! Go read the first book so you can be ready for this one, they've quickly become some of my favorite Tessa Bailey books, neck and neck with The Bellinger Sisters duet!

I have been looking forward to this book since finishing Secretly Yours. While I loved Hallie and Julien, Natalie and August had me hooked from their first interaction in that book. Their volatile enemy-ship becomes a mutually beneficial relationship in this "fake marriage" adventure. Though, not a spoiler since this is a Romance, it doesn't stay fake for long at all. The spice level is incredible, the high intensity arguments of two hot headed folks translates well into the bedroom. I adored every moment of this book and loved seeing these two characters grow together to overcome their issues. Plus, an adorable orange cat named Menace? What's to lose!

Arc provided by NetGalley
4.5
In the first book of this series we are introduced to Natalie and August, whom have a pretty rough start (wine in the face kinda rough). In this story we see both characters trying to deal with each of their own struggles unsuccessfully. However, a marriage of convenience seems to be the best option for these two people who just can't seem to get along (besides their obvious physical attraction to each other). Both characters were very loveable once you see their perspectives. Nat and August probably have some of the best banter I have read. Their story was fun with a lot of different emotions flowing through both of them. This story can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading the prior book, Secretly Yours.

First of all, I love me some Tessa Bailey. I always try to pick up any book that she has out because she's my comfort read. I absolutely loved the chemistry between Natalie and August. I enjoyed their banter back and forth. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I loved how as the book continued, the layers to both Natalie and August unfolded and it seemed so natural and not forced. It really showed who they were as people and their motivations for what they've done in their life. It shows why August decided he needed to start the winery, it showed why Natalie was trying to do her own thing in Wall Street instead of just coasting on her family and their winery. I always love seeing a FMC that can hold her own in a conversation and isn't some weak wallflower. Natalie had such a good quick with about her and it really made me like her a lot. August also had a really great sense of humor. I loved reading them interact with each other and not hold back.
I absolutely would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Tessa's books. It's well written and witty.

This was damn good and so so spicy. Like honestly Tessa Bailey writes the best smut that’s not actually smut. I can’t say this is a fav but I really did love it.

Thank you so much for this ARC! I haven't been enjoying romance novels much recently...UNTIL THIS ONE. I just love a good marriage of convenience and this one was lovely. I love how smitten he is and how protective. Definitely lots of "my wife" and "touch her and you die" moments. Loved the banter! The characters also felt fresh and not like every other main characters in romance novels. Definitely recommend!

Miss Tessa Bailey has been auto buy author for me since I read It Happened One Summer two years ago. I had never read a book by her that didn’t hit the mark for me until I read the previous book in the “A Vine Mess” duology, Secretly Yours. But with that said, everything I had a problem with in that book has been fixed in this one.

Unfortunately Yours has all of “Tessa Bailey Charm” I’ve come to expect in her books. Including big burly men, humor, great smut scenes and men with filthy mouths that are complete simps for their girls. I really love how Tessa handled the enemies to lovers progression with Natalie and August. It felt very natural and showed that it wasn’t really that they didn’t like each other. Neither of them was just not very good at communicating with the other.

*Slight Spoilers*

The only thing that left me wanting more was getting a real conversation with Natalie and her mom towards the end. They had a very complex relationship and I would have liked to see some kind of resolution than just one sentence towards the end of the book.


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for sending me a copy for review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had absolutely fallen in love with the first book in this series, which was also my introduction to Tessa Bailey. When I found out there would be another book, I couldn't wait. Unfortunately, this book didn't draw me in nearly as much as the first. August and Natalie don't have a compelling narrative, the book seems like a constant back and forth of insignificant drama drawn out too long, and some of the dialogue is cringey and awkward. Also, I agree with the reviews stating that August gives some possessive/red flag vibes (and, minor annoyance, but it is constantly mentioned how tall and muscled he is. Like, three men huge. Okay, girl. We get it). I really wanted a more fulfilling story for Natalie, but this wasn't it for me. It did have its cute moments, and your mileage of course may vary for the book in general.

I relished being drawn back into California wine country with Natalie and August. Despite their mutual attraction, those two got on like fire and gasoline in Secretly Yours so I was curious to see how they'd navigate the "I'd drown you in a barrel of wine" enemies to lovers terrain in this book, and I must say, I was not disappointed. I had a good time.

Natalie and August were cute as hell. And communicative to boot! Their banter was not only amusing but infectious. It was like watching two people sword fight with words - disarming each other one-liner after one-liner - which is always fun. In addition to that, a bevy of my favorite tropes enveloped them from marriage of convenience to forced proximity to guy falls first and (also) falls hardest, so this was the kind of story that was bound to fill my romance preference bag to the till, anyway. And it did.

Essentially this was the type of romance I wanted, with a couple nice surprises along the way (like how supportive and protective they could be of each other), so I was happy. Satisfied. And even though the pacing could have been better, especially toward the end, I left with my heart feeling gooier than when I started and that's what matters most to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!