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jax10124's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Enemies to lovers is my favourite trope. And BOY does Tess Bailey deliver! I’m a sucker for anything armed forces, but August Cates literally takes the cake 🧁
Marriage of convenience, *chefs kiss.. well done too! The banter was ON POINT! I could gush about this book forever but I will stop, and simply say, “Go read it! Now!”
Marriage of convenience, *chefs kiss.. well done too! The banter was ON POINT! I could gush about this book forever but I will stop, and simply say, “Go read it! Now!”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Cursing, Grief, and War
jrae_miller's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
A really fun and fast read. Second in a series, apparently, but I didn't find that I needed anything from the first book to inform this one. Natalie's and August's POV narration was really distinct, and I loved that I could learn a lot about each of them from just their internal thought processes. I found much of August's ex-SEAL posturing and internal thought to be distracting, personally, but I loved his dedication to Natalie and her mental, emotional, and physical safety. I liked that Natalie's mother and brother were able to begin to reconcile with her, and that her mother in particular was able to at least partially own up to the ways that she contributed to Natalie's unhappiness as a teenager and young adult. Some of the mood/scene shifts felt very sudden to me, so that was a bit distracting at times.
Some more specifics, I couldn't figure out why August didn't just Google "how to make wine" and figure out that he was missing some steps?? I can understand his not wanting to ask Natalie for help and the need to take full ownership of the process, but my dude, you have the whole of the internet in your pocket! And potential spoilerafter their wedding, they just... do the Dirty Dancing lift? just like that? Inside?? I've tried it, and it's fucking hard, and I don't believe for a minute that she has the body awareness to be up there, airplane shaped, and also looking down at him ?
Also, the pranks!
Some more specifics, I couldn't figure out why August didn't just Google "how to make wine" and figure out that he was missing some steps?? I can understand his not wanting to ask Natalie for help and the need to take full ownership of the process, but my dude, you have the whole of the internet in your pocket! And potential spoiler
Also, the pranks!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
megbetweenthepages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Cursing
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Grief
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and War
thenecromancer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Can't believe I'm saying this but I wish there was more actual romance and less sex. In lust with each other? Check. In love with each other? Less believable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, and Sexual content
onefineelephant's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
8/10. I enjoyed it quite a bit but the tropes are not my favorite. Also, neither mc is my type or as relatable to me specifically so I'm not as invested. The really tense scene and the epilogue did make me cry/tear up so that's a bonus. The couple also has lots of chemistry and love so I also liked that a lot. Personally, I preferred Hallie and Julian's story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Cursing, and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and War
callidoralblack's review against another edition
emotional
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing
Minor: Medical content, War, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Blood, and Car accident
oglbe's review against another edition
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
1.0
Too much sex and not enough story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
misse3's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Cursing
whatbeccareadnext's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Unfortunately not Tessa Bailey's best...
I've read quite a few Tessa Bailey books now having been sucked in alongside the rest of the world by It Happened One Summer.
I read Secretly Yours when it came out and was so disappointed, I almost didn't pick this one up because I felt that the series was lacking. I'm glad I stuck in out and finished this one though as it was a marked improvement on book one.
August is a fantastic character, I thought he was funny, loveable and charming. Certainly helps that the man is supposedly the size of a tank and gorgeous. Where I found the characters in Secretly Yours to be almost childish and unrealistic, I felt Tessa found her way back to the kind of characters she writes best in this novel. A little bit ludicrous, but not to the point of idiocy.
Worth a read, but not sure I'll pick it up again.
I've read quite a few Tessa Bailey books now having been sucked in alongside the rest of the world by It Happened One Summer.
I read Secretly Yours when it came out and was so disappointed, I almost didn't pick this one up because I felt that the series was lacking. I'm glad I stuck in out and finished this one though as it was a marked improvement on book one.
August is a fantastic character, I thought he was funny, loveable and charming. Certainly helps that the man is supposedly the size of a tank and gorgeous. Where I found the characters in Secretly Yours to be almost childish and unrealistic, I felt Tessa found her way back to the kind of characters she writes best in this novel. A little bit ludicrous, but not to the point of idiocy.
Worth a read, but not sure I'll pick it up again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Blood, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and War
readerette's review
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Funny and touching. Two people who can't stop fighting end up in a marriage of convenience that is definitely more than convenient. Typical enemies-to-lovers and romance tropes ensue. Slightly cold family dynamics add depth to Natalie's character and grief adds to August's.
The sex scenes involve a lot of dirty talk mixed in with sentimental stuff, just in case that's not your thing.
The sex scenes involve a lot of dirty talk mixed in with sentimental stuff, just in case that's not your thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Death, Abandonment, and War