Book Review: Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey (A Vine Mess #1)

4 ✨

Tessa Bailey rarely fails to elicit pure joy and excitement as her characters find their way to one another.

Julian, a history professor with an anxious past that begins to re-emerge when he encounters Hallie after years of suppressed memories and feelings that he has concealed behind a rigid schedule. Hallie is a chaotic and yet well meaning woman who is desperate to save a wine store connected to her beloved grandmother, and simultaneously juggling the idea of grounding a future she wants for herself.

With hints of grief and trauma, these characters are beautifully flawed and real. What I continue to appreciate about Tessa’s characters is that these “issues” do not just miraculously evaporate once the two protagonists fall in love. They continue to struggle, but they learn to allow the other person to see themselves even at their lowest and aid the other in becoming the best versions of themselves. The romance between Julian and Hallie is adorable, and I loved every page when they were together bantering.

The added element of the secret admirer letters was swoon worthy to say the least. I also enjoyed that we get glimpses into a not so perfect family dynamic which is also growing and changing through the plot of the book. I cannot wait to see what Julian’s sister gets into in the next book!