Secretly Yours: A Novel

Written by Tessa Bailey

Narrated by Callie Dalton

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES 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.

""Tessa Bailey is the queen of rom-coms. Long may she reign!"" — Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Merry Little Meet Cute

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Feb 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063239005

Tessa Bailey

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue-collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. 

Reviews for Secretly Yours

[Carli met n C · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars! Awesome read , quick and easy loveable characters. Perfect sunshine X grumpy trope book!

[saab BL · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was ok, but not what I am used to by tessa bailey. The romance was too slow burn and not that hot and steamy. I especially did not vibe with the MCs. Their romance and chemistry felt forced. This did not work for me. And I am not continuing the series.

[Micha Faamausili · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought it was ok, def not my fav book of hers.

[Emma Malito · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Really wanted to love it, and at first I was, but the back and forth in the last half just lost me

[Claire Smith · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Just a couple of 30 year olds spending an entire book refusing to communicate.

Also, the narrator, though good, didn’t fit the book. :/

[Siena De Salis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was a fun one I will admit. I love how opposite Hallie and Julian were. I liked there progression as characters and balancing out for each other. I loved Natalie, Julian’s sister and the relationship he worked to get back with his sister and mum. There is some mental health rep in this and let me tell you the mouth on Julian wow sign me up. I do have a few things that I’m like why wasn’t it explored or added to the story such as:
- Owen I thought we would see way more of his presence in this book
- Julian wasn’t grumpy for long at all. Wished he was more grumpy.
- The dogs I didn’t think they were necessary
- The letters weren’t a stand out for me but liked the idea.
- Thought there would be more scenes with corked. Julian helped but wanted more.
- The reveal in the first connected spice scene didn’t make sense to me due to Hallies personality
- The ending felt rushed and I was confused in why it wasn’t more intimate location to make up.
- The library gardens wish I saw the vision played out.
Overall I feel this book was missing a lot but still an enjoyable story.

If you love:

? Free Spirit & Wine Lover Gardner
? Broody Professor / Writer
? Secret Admirer Letters
? Previous Past Connection
? Family Vineyard
? Family Traditions & Issues
? Dirty Outdoor Spice

Genre/Type: Romantic Comedy 18+
APK: Physical
Pages: 372
Rating: ???.5
Spice: ?️.5
Series or Stand alone: Book One In Duet
POV: Multiple, First Person
Tropes or Themes: Opposites Attract, Grumpy Sunshine, Friends-Lovers and Small Town. Professor/ Write and Gardener.
Check Triggers ⚠️

[Jess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fell in love with Julian when he got to the good bits. Loved this book, very cute rom-com feel but with some spice ?

[Emilia Márquez · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

DFR at chapter 3. Super disappointed at Tessa. She was my happy place in romcoms but THIS?
This feels written by an amateur who took special care into making an obnoxious female MC. I was zero intrigued about they “met” once again.
Plus, narrator definitely didn’t help. Where’s Charlotte North? ?

[Haley Price · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book gave me the ick. Tried to trudge through but DNF with 2 hours left.

[Tonya Barker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tessa Bailey never disappoints!!!! I loved the story line !!!!!

[Nicole Hattingh · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love Tessa Bailey, but didn't enjoy this one as much.

[Danielle · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I did not like the narrator’s voice. I had to DNF.

[Julie Stancil · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Normally Tessa Bailey knocks it out of the park but this book really fell short. The characters weren’t likable. Romantic angst only felt from the lead male. Tessa usually has huge chemistry between characters but this really fell flat. DNF

[Geneviève Rouleau · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

DNF 40%

Way too much cringing and eye rolling in my part