Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - Secretly Yours

Liked the characters, honestly wish it had been more of a slow burn, I was confused when they got together with more than 150 pages (in Libby) left. Not a fan of the get-together-and-then-break-up-for-the-dumbest-reason-so-that-the-book-is-longer trope.

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mommareads67's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I LOVED The Hating Game (read it twice AND watched the movie) but this one disappointed me a lot.

I can understand Hallie carrying a torch for a long time and easily falling for Julian again, but Julian’s very, very quick falling for Hallie seemed off. The sex scenes were great, but for Hallie to 1. lose her virginity outdoors on the grass like a high schooler, was disappointing, and 2. be really great at oral sex the first time she did it hard to believe. I will say that I loved the way the panic attack and its fallout was written and it endeared me to Julian a bit more, but it was late in the book and I think it kinda shortened the story a bit. I think parts of the story were in the wrong order for me and that’s why I gave it a three out of five stars.

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emumfy's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

the spice was spicing. very well written spicy scenes.

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onefineelephant's review against another edition

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challenging funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

9/10. I really enjoyed this book. I liked the character growth that both mcs go through during the span of their relationship. Love the dual POV. The only reason that I am not giving 10/10 is because while I love this book, I'm not obsessed with it.

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annabananadel's review against another edition

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funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

“You’re still not going to yell at her anymore. If she’s upset, I’m upset. I don’t think you want that.”

First book of the year was a big disappointment. It is first time where I actually stopped highlighting/underlining/writing anything and just completely scrapped annotating aside from tabbing. The quote was the last straw for me - it was so freaking cringey I wanted to DNF so badly. If only I actually DNF, I would have already but then I bought the second book of this series so I had no choice but to actually try finishing it. I wasn't invested anymore, I wanted to throw both main characters to the trash so badly.

I hated both characters but mostly Hallie just because she's thirty years old but acts like a child. Yes, you're mourning the loss of your grandmother but it does not give you the right to act like a child just to save Corked. You even know it yourself how irresponsible you are. Ugh, just thinking about this character boils my blood so much.

I can't believe how an author who wrote It Happened One Summer can write this trash. From 5 stars to 1 star real quick. To say I wouldn't recommend this book is an understatement. I wanted to just throw this away if not for that it would look good in my bookshelf as soon as I get the second book...

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jillybean357's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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carefulfearanddeaddevotion's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

didnt realize this book was X rated when I picked it up, and it's the first of its kind ive read so maybe im just not familiar with the genre, but the writing and characters (especially Julian) were really...weird? idk how to describe it, very stilted, immature, and oftentimes difficult to like. the best character was by far Natalie, so even though im not sure i liked this book or Tessa's writing, i might read hers just to spend more time with her (plus it has my favorite trope: fake relationship). maybe the author was just unsuccessful at portraying someone with anxiety/panic attacks/ptsd? idk.

i also hated the lack of communication. like i get miscommunication is a big trope in romance, but this was a bit much. like?? you're 30 years old, it's very clear you're into each other (especially after the

mutual masturbation

like hello???) just make an effort to say like one (1) sentence instead of...walking away?? hard to believe they'll last with those kinds of communication skills.

also, and i've tried to think of a better way to word it, but it's just this: Julian gave me the ick SO often. Just when i was like "heheh cute" he'd be like "the world will end if i dont see an Hallie Smile tm" and i'd need to go rushing to the nearest trash can. nasty. like just so weird. the constant simultaneous infantilization and objectification of Hallie was a bit much. but maybe im the weird one idk.

edit: the secret admirer letters are so marginally relevant to the story that i even forgot to include them in this review. Hallie, as the secret admirer, writes a total of 3 letters. Julian responds once. And im supposed to believe that it's a central part of story? it's not. they got to know each other wayyyyyyyy more in person than they did through the letters. the only purpose they served was the, frankly senseless, final conflict.

like getting Hallie out of the house to have Julian have a panic attack over it could have been accomplished by any other mean

.

ALSO! and this is a small thing but

Hallie barelyyyy knows Natalie, she had no right to offhandedly tell her to get her drinking and sleeping in under control?? especially in context.

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callidoralblack's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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