We’re back with another edition of ‘If Tessa Bailey Writes It, I Will Read It And Tell You About It.” This time, we’re wrapping up the “Vine Mess” duology with Unfortunately Yours, which is the sequel to Secretly Yours.

Secretly Yours [Buy Bookshop Amazon LibroFM] followed Julius and Hallie after he returned to his family home in Napa Valley. His sister, Natalie, was introduced along with her man August, but now we’re following her love story.

Unfortunately Yours [Buy Bookshop Amazon LibroFM] picks up shortly after the events of the first book. Natalie has been living in her mother’s guest house at the vineyard, but she’s itching to get back to New York City to redeem herself. All she needs is money to start her own company. She has a trust fund, but she doesn’t think her father (who ditched the family for Italy) will change the archaic terms. In order to get her money, she must be gainfully employed and married.

Meanwhile, August is in Napa making (terrible) wine in memory of his fellow Navy SEAL who died in combat. He’s run out of money and can’t get a business loan, so he’s ready to give up. That’s when Natalie, who he is attracted to and loves bickering with, approaches with the idea for a marriage of convenience that would benefit them both.

Unfortunately Yours is a really fun marriage of convenience/ enemies-to-lovers story, in classic Tessa fashion. It is pretty funny and made me laugh out loud a couple times. My boyfriend repeatedly asked what was so funny with all the smirking coming from me. The banter is delightful. I was living for their arguments and debates because they are so witty and fun. This also has the steam and spice we’ve come to expect from Tessa.

There’s also some wonderful depth to the characters. Natalie is tired of feeling like an outsider from her family, people she used to work with, and even August in some ways. August is dealing with grief and the feeling of responsibility for his friend’s death and carrying on his memory.

Plus, the first line of this book had me cackling. It’s perfect, and its sentiment is wonderfully woven through the entirety of the book. Oh! And the epilogue gives you a little bit of a peek into Julian and Hallie’s future too, so it’s a great way to wrap up the duology.

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