Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

WHEN ALL YOU NEED IS SOME FROTH

Let me just say, again, that as much as I read pretty much anything, light, easy, raunchy romantic comedies are the genre I am least drawn to. Usually I find them grating, the plus scenes awkward and contrived.

Yesterday I had just finished a deeply unsettling, completely unique, literary novel that was dark, violent and bizarre. And my brain needed froth. I craved light and easy, a distracting laugh.

Well two hours later, my brain had its reset with Secretly Yours providing the much needed joy. @tessabaileyisanauthor is a #1 NYT Bestseller, with her well known books going viral and delighting millions of readers. It Happened One Summer is perhaps her most prolific title. Her latest book was published last month in the UK and is currently a fiver on Amazon. We were sent an advance reader copy and I have to say, I barked inelegantly with laughter more than I expected.

Bailey follows a well traversed path with this second chance, small town, opposites attract romance. You have the chaotic, naive gardener and her high school crush, the dark, brooding professor who organises his life to the millisecond. Back in their home town to write his book, she disrupts everything. Sparks fly. 

There is an added gravity by her grief for a beloved grandmother and his anxiety, but for the most part this is your standard, slow burn, will they won’t they romance that left me furiously turning pages for the explosions. And there are explosions.

This felt like a warm hug in a book, I could see this being a great holiday read or perfect for a cozy night in. It isn’t conplicated and the characters are quickly developed. Sometimes, all you might need is a bit of froth and a few perfect one liners that give a few hours of distraction and get you a bit hot under the collar. C