Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Had me laughing the majority of the book, but the author wasn't afraid to get serious when she needed to. Even brought me to tears a couple of times. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Lighthearted romance but with some unexpected emotional punches. The characters have been through some stuff: the death of a close friend, emotional neglect. This is part two in a HEA duology (I didn't read the first, but I didn't feel like I missed much). I feel like Tessa Bailey's male protagonists are always a lot more thoughtful and sensitive than those in most romance novels, but I'm not complaining. She does also like to throw butt stuff into her sex scenes, which is a surprise!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Alcohol
emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, War
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury
funny
inspiring
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, Alcohol
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
funny
lighthearted
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
A classic Tessa Bailey with a marriage of convenience plot. The characters are engaging and you certainly find yourself rooting for them, but the miscommunication was frustrating in this one for me.
August carries it, simple as that! Natalie grows on you.
August carries it, simple as that! Natalie grows on you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Death
Minor: War
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Most of the book revolves around insta-lust with consequent lusting and smut; if that is all you're after, you'll enjoy this book a lot. There's also some sweeter romance and some plot with the main characters dealing with their own issues. If the lusting was dialed down a little, the issues could have gained more space to be dealt with together – and in my opinion, that would have made the book more interesting. The enemies to lovers aspect feels disappointing, because the grounds for the enemity are weak and are further weakened by the mutual, barely contained insta-lust.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief
Minor: Violence, War, Classism
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Tessa Bailey writes the most silly, ridiculous, funny romances with characters who are just shy of being caricatures.
And i eat them up every single time.
Unfortunately yours was another venture into the silliness that is Tessa Baileys mind and loved to bits.
Though i have to admit there are some books of hers i didn’t enjoy most of her books are just perfect for having a good time without thinking really anything.
When you read one of her books you can be sure the chemistry will be chemistrying and you will have a good laugh even if it’s at the expense of her characters.
Natalie and August are the sweetest couple and i was rooting for them SO HARD. And i kind of hope we will see them and Natalies brother and his wife again. Maybe when their kids are older and the cousins take over the city?🤭
And i eat them up every single time.
Unfortunately yours was another venture into the silliness that is Tessa Baileys mind and loved to bits.
Though i have to admit there are some books of hers i didn’t enjoy most of her books are just perfect for having a good time without thinking really anything.
When you read one of her books you can be sure the chemistry will be chemistrying and you will have a good laugh even if it’s at the expense of her characters.
Natalie and August are the sweetest couple and i was rooting for them SO HARD. And i kind of hope we will see them and Natalies brother and his wife again. Maybe when their kids are older and the cousins take over the city?🤭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rating: 5/5 stars
Natalie needs to get married for her trust fund—so she decides to enter into a fake marriage with the least expected person, her “enemy” and local vintner August Cates.
I cry at books all the time, but I’m not sure I’ve ever cried at an audiobook…until now. Something about hearing instead of reading just doesn’t usually generate the same emotional impact but IT DEFINITELY DID HERE. I loved this book so much, and August is just perfection…where do I sign up to marry him, exactly?
Anyway, this book is funny, and heartfelt, and sweet, and swoony, and spicy, and one of my favorite Tessa Bailey’s, and one of my favorite romances, and I loved it.
CW: Grief/loss of loved one
Natalie needs to get married for her trust fund—so she decides to enter into a fake marriage with the least expected person, her “enemy” and local vintner August Cates.
I cry at books all the time, but I’m not sure I’ve ever cried at an audiobook…until now. Something about hearing instead of reading just doesn’t usually generate the same emotional impact but IT DEFINITELY DID HERE. I loved this book so much, and August is just perfection…where do I sign up to marry him, exactly?
Anyway, this book is funny, and heartfelt, and sweet, and swoony, and spicy, and one of my favorite Tessa Bailey’s, and one of my favorite romances, and I loved it.
CW: Grief/loss of loved one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
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: Cursing, Sexual content, Alcohol
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury