Book 6: Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

Summary: Hallie Welch and Julian Vos are the main characters in Tessa Bailey’s novel Secretly Yours. Local gardener Hallie in Napa Valley learns that Julian has returned. Hallie had the biggest crush on Julian when she was younger, so it’s almost as if her childish fantasies have finally come true. They came very close to kissing when she was fourteen, and Hallie has never forgotten the Julian Vos since.

As a professor, Julian has gone back to the Vos estate to write. He discovers that with Hallie working there, he can’t accomplish much. She’s loud and obnoxious, but she’s also stuck in his head, and he has the impression that they have already met. Hallie feels wronged. After a night of drinking, she writes a letter to him in private but doesn’t remember their almost-kiss and merely signs it with yours at the bottom. The following morning, she regrets it right away, but it’s too late; Julian has already obtained the letter.

In the meantime, Julian finds himself engaged in a struggle with Hallie and the author of the letter. Will he be able to identify the author of the letters? Will Hallie finally get her wish to date the more attractive-than-ever Julian Vos? It combines the “love at first sight,” “second chance,” and “friends to lovers” tropes into one.

First impressions: Usually when I read romance novels they’re written in first person and the chapters jump from characters to characters and each chapter is in their point of view. But that wasn’t the case for Tessa Bailey’s books. Hers are written in third and they don’t jump from character to character every chapter. I thought. I wouldn’t enjoy the book all too much because of how it was written but boy was I wrong. I turned out to love it and all the romantic scenes between the two.

What I loved: I truly appreciated that the characters were more complex than that; as a result, I came to really like them. They had strong characterization and were well-rounded and the characters all had great depth to them. Hallie was more than simply a flower enthusiast. Her background is revealed to readers, and we were able to see Hallie’s personality via other characters. Julian is in the same boat. He was more than just a teacher. While it is true that he came from an affluent family, there was more to him, such as how the vineyard fire affected him.

Impact on teens: Tessa Baileys book “Secretly Yours” examines themes of love, struggles, and self-discovery. Because it addresses issues that many young adults face as they negotiate their own relationships friendships, and sense of identity, the book has the potential to have a big impact on teenagers

Overall rating: 3/5

This book was such a mood-lifter and a terrific way to get out of a reading slump that I would highly suggest it! Secretly Yours is the ideal book to read if you’re seeking for a romantic, steamy small-town romance with a strong opposites-attract relationship.