Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Secretly Yours

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

118 reviews

carlyjoann's review

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charminggoats's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

4.25

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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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golden_girl_03's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

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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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meganmershon's review

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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kcbatts's review

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medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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meg_'s review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.5

I found this book to be be pretty boring and almost had to force myself through to finish it. I did not find the relationship between these two characters super compelling and the overall plot just had me bored. My opinion may have been impacted by reading book 2 first because I did enjoy that one more than this and just didn't feel compelled to read Hallie and Julian's story.

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thaliareads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

This was I think my third read through of this book. I enjoy it every time. I love a good secret letter situation. I also love Hallie as a main character. She rebels in the most ridiculous and petty ways, and I really admire that. I think it's also interesting to see the other side of her that is an anxious mess trying to work through her grief. It's the opposite of the firecracker she seems to be the rest of the time.

Julian is also interesting because he is working through his own form of anxiety. Sticking to his strict regimen, keeping things in order, and generally avoiding doing things outside of the way he planned to.

Overall a fun story and a great re-read!

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linnea_tornblom's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

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