Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Secretly Yours

Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

19 reviews

onefineelephant's review against another edition

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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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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uranaishi'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? It's complicated

3.75

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annahamburger's review

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emotional funny hopeful 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

4.25

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allisonplus's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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bzliz's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.25

Hallie has had a thing for Julian since they almost kissed in high school. Now she’s a chaotic gardener turning his life upside down as she transforms the grounds around his quarters at his family’s vineyard. Julian can’t stand disorder and always keeps to a rigorous schedule, even now that he’s taking a break from teaching history at Stanford to write a book. But something about Hallie makes him forget his strict schedule and make room for a little chaos. One night after too much wine, Hallie writes an anonymous secret admirer letter to Julian, which can only go really right or really, really wrong.

Fans of “opposites attract” tropes will love this. For me, the pacing was a little weird and I kept backtracking to see if I’d missed a point where the characters had real chemistry. The first spicy scene made me laugh but it did feel fun. I can’t get over the second spicy scene where they

have sex in the middle of a vineyard and also this is Hallie’s first time. I can’t stop thinking about bugs and being poked by vines and it just seems unpleasant to me.

This one was just okay for me; I think Tessa Bailey has better books.

Trigger warnings:
Alcohol- lots of wine drinking throughout, some general drunkenness
Alcoholism- side character regularly drinks to a blackout state, is not a main focus
Fire- past event, led to family fallout
Panic attacks/disorders- main character suffers from panic attacks and occasionally shuts down and loses time as a result
Sexual content- it’s a Tessa Bailey book

Content Warnings

nickoliver's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

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

1.0

Are all of Tessa Bailey's books like this? Because if so, I'm judging all of you right now. This was fucking horrible.

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kaybob_0708's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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iamsammie27's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

izziepng's review against another edition

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funny inspiring 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

3.0

SPOILERS AHEAD LIKE I MEAN THE WHOLE THING

I enjoyed the book and all the characters however I’m a hater at heart and here’s what I don’t like.

I feel as thought Hallie was only a virgin to satisfy the kink some people have of fucking a virgin. It added nothing to the story or her as a character. Everything would of been the EXACT SAME if she had not been.

I also don’t think this is a second chance romance Hallie never had a chance in the first place Julian forgot about her seconds after their “almost kiss”

Her last name being Welch like after the juice company is for sure something.

Hallie OBSESSION with him after 15 YEARS is excessive to the greatest extent. Name characters more creatively and not just after a random plot point/ characteristic ( cough lily blossom bloom cough cough)

Now this isn’t a complaint it’s more of a hole he woke up from a almost 3 week mental nap and planned a HUGE party in hours?? if I am wrong please correct me. but i do believe that her and Owen were supposed to leave that after noon and julian came out of his room a few HOURS before her point of view of getting kidnapped by Lavinia.

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