Tessa Bailey isn’t afraid of rolling out bestseller after bestseller. Secretly Yours is no exception! Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey was an instant bestseller and was hyped as a TikTok and Bookstagram sensation for all romance lovers.
This book features the lovable pair of Hallie and Julian. Hallie is a local gardener in Napa Valley and Julian is from a wealthy family who has their own vineyard. The two have a history and feelings get complicated.
With a surprisingly profound belly, this book packs more than expected. Are you ready to be invested?
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Secretly Yours
AN INSTANTÂ NEW YORK TIMESÂ BESTSELLER
From Tessa Bailey—#1 New York Times bestselling author, TikTok favorite, and “the Michelangelo of dirty talk” (Entertainment Weekly)—comes a spicy small town rom-com about a grumpy professor and the bubbly neighbor he clashes with at every turn…
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 Napa Valley, and when Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate, she wonders if she’ll finally get that smooch. But the starchy 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.
On sabbatical from his ivy league job, Julian plans to write a novel. But having Hallie gardening right outside his window is the ultimate distraction. She’s eccentric, chronically late, often literally covered in dirt—and so unbelievably beautiful, he can’t focus on anything else. Until he finds an anonymous letter sent by a woman from his past.
Even as Julian wonders about this admirer, he’s sucked further into Hallie’s orbit. Like the flowers she plants all over town, Hallie is a burst of color in Julian’s grayscale life. For a man who irons his socks and runs on tight schedules, her sunny chaotic energy makes zero sense. But there’s something so familiar about her… and her very presence is turning his world upside down.
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Our Review
In this bestselling contemporary romance, we meet Hallie Welch, a local landscape artist and business owner, and Julian Vos, a professor seeking solitude to pen his novel during a sabbatical. Hallie’s heart has held onto the memory of an almost-kiss in Julian’s family vineyards from their high school days. Now, with Julian’s return, she sees an opportunity to explore whether the older Julian can match the allure of his younger self.
Whilst this book may not have offered the bingeability of Tessa Bailey’s other releases, we can’t deny that we understand why it became an instant bestseller. With signaturely interesting and well-rounded characters we grew slowly attached to Julian and Hallie. Additionally, the plot is simple without being boring. Easy to follow, interesting, and it well provides the escapism we all crave with romance books.
We also found tons of enjoyment in the book’s setting and the supporting cast of characters, despite their tendency to engage in some exaggerated behaviors and situations. Their presence added a playful and loyal dimension to the protagonists’ lives.
Contrary to the title and blurb of Tessa Bailey Secretly Yours, the inclusion of secret admirer letters introduced more angst and conflict than anticipated. Thankfully, this all ended in a satisfying happily ever after. Beneath the cute cover and blurb lies a story that delves deeper, touching on themes of anxiety, panic attacks, the loss of a grandparent, and grief. The two central characters, stark opposites, share a profound and secret yearning for one another. Those who are a fan of the “Will-they, Won’t-they” trope will be happy to hear that this book is rallying on that trope. It’s done well and tastefully, with just the right level of suspense. The presence of angst in the novel, despite the trajectory of contemporary romance novels, makes you second-guess that it will have a happy ending.
The steamy scenes, although somewhat unexpected in their intensity, felt like a signature Tessa Bailey touch. Julian’s transformation from Mr. Straightlaced to a dirty-talking heartthrob, while slightly unexpected, added a layer of complexity to his character. Not to mention it was oh so fun to read.
Tessa Bailey Secretly Yours, despite not quite meeting the lofty expectations set by the author’s previous works, remains an engaging read with well-crafted characters and a unique take on the romance genre. While it may not have achieved the same level of magic as its predecessors, it offers a heartfelt exploration of love, miscommunication, and the complexities of human connection. We definately recommend this to Tessa Bailey lovers! However, if you’re yet to indulge in Bailey’s worlds, we recommend her other works, such as It Happened One Summer first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the age rating for Tessa Bailey Secretly Yours?
This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age. Due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.
What is the best Tessa Bailey Book?
Some renowned novels may be:
- It Happened One Summer
- Hook, Line, and Sinker
- Secretly Yours
- My Killer Vacation
What is Tessa Bailey Secretly Yours about?
This book centers around Hallie and Julian. Hallie is a local gardener in Napa Valley and Julian is from a wealthy family who has their own vineyard. The two have a history and when fate brings them together again will the two find a way to be together?
