Romance books are a very fickle genre. If your love language and quirks aren't represented, then the book can feel disconnected or awkward. Sometimes romance books represent fetishes and dynamics that turn people off, which happens occasionally for me.

Secretly Yours was of those cases. Specifically, the intense sexual dominance of Julian in regards to Hallie was not something I enjoyed. Don't get me wrong—I love dominance when done right *insert It Happened One Summer* but that wasn't the case here. The power dynamic just felt odd since Hallie had a crush on Julian since she was fourteen, so a lot of times this whole relationship felt more like infatuation than an actual healthy relationship. Hallie is emotionally at a disadvantage in this relationship because she has so much history with her crush on Julian, whereas he did not remember her at all from their near-first kiss. Plus, my feelings over this unequal power dynamic worsened when Hallie's virginity was brought up. Now I like the fact that this book shows virgins can be any age, and there is no shame in that, but the fetishization of virginity is not something I'm personally into. Julian just gave me the ick, to be honest, as he gushed for pages on her "virgin" tightness/ lack of other partners. Just ew. Not for me AT ALL. This book was pretty much tainted with that the rest of its length.

Now I'm excited for Unfortunately Yours. The synopsis already makes me think this relationship dynamic will be much more my speed. I have a physical ARC of it staring at me through time and space over on my shelf, so I'm really REALLY hoping I can have a fun ride with the sequel. Who doesn't love enemies to lovers involving a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience?

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.