Reviews with content warning for Fire/Fire injury - Secretly Yours

Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

94 reviews

notsailingalone's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

I thought the characters were interesting but I disliked the

virgin aspect to the story

. I don't enjoy women who are infantalised and men who are written like they're constantly teaching a 30 year old grown woman. Those aspects would be okay if they are eventually turned on their head in some way but they aren't here and it just fell flat for me because of that.

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katierosecrane's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book has a good message in it but it reminded me too much of a hallmark movie. It was a little too cheesy for my taste and I think the conflict through Hallie’s eyes are dumb.

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yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

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This book is not for me. I felt like the FMC was very immature for someone pushing 30 and she was super inexperienced and continued pining over her 14 year old crush. She compared everyone to this man and held him and everyone else up to this high school idea of him. Julian’s severe anxiety would not be so easily thwarted meeting someone for the first time. The entire passage about her breasts at the beginning was cringey and felt like it was written for the male gaze. Julian being threatening also was cringey. They had nice banter but no chemistry outside of that and Hallie’s obsession of him.

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abicaro17's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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

4.25

Julian and Hallie were so sweet! I really enjoyed how their dynamic worked within the semi slow burn. I think the plot was cute and i'm glad they worked out their issues. My problem with the book was first off was the lack of details on important plot stuff (post fire Dad plot, what happened to Hallie grandma, what happened to uncorked?) and the immediate apology acceptance after all the lying Hallie did. Like I get that he thought it was her anyways but she still lied?? It was a good book but not the best Tessa Bailey i've read.

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megbetweenthepages's review

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-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

4.0

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suzelarson's review

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

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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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amyteurhour's review

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1.25

Content warning: death of a (grand)parent, parent abandoning family, fire

This was not good, I did not have a good time. So much cringe. I'm starting to realize that Tessa Bailey's style of dirty talk and smut is NOT for me lol. I read It Happened One Summer last month because a friend recommended it. I didn't love it, but the hinted-at pairing got me interested enough in the sequel, which I actually did enjoy (I think mostly because there wasn't as much smut in it lol).

I found Julian to be super creepy; his inner monologues where he totally objectifies Hallie (from basically the moment he lays eyes on her) and how he hypersexualizes the concept of Hallie's virginity was super gross. I also just had a hard time rooting for Hallie, especially during the third act conflict.

I debated back and forth on whether I should DNF or not at multiple points throughout, but ended up finishing it because I've gotten into the mindset of really wanting to finish the last few books I started in 2023 and have had "open" for weeks (which I know is nonsensical and stubborn-minded). I didn't love the audiobook, but ended up powering through that because I've lately been so tired to the point where it's painful/hard for my eyes to focus when I read with my eyes and not my ears so I couldn't even skim this easily :(

Note to future me - after one meh book, one good (by comparison) book, and two total duds, take this as a sign that Tessa Bailey is not for me.

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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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