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My Killer Vacation
New
290 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2022
About the author
Tessa Bailey
97 books61k followersNew York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 15,936 reviews
June 25, 2022
me looking at my frog plushie: this book is bad
I will never trust any of you ever again. You all are just lying to me. I will start scrolling through this website with my eyes closed. You posting a five star review? I ain't reading that. I'm not looking. It's all just a conspiracy to make me read bad books. I'm deleting my Goodreads so I'm not tempted by your fake reviews anymore. Who is paying you to deceit me? Hope you are at least making good bag with this cruel joke.
i desperately want to know whether straight people are okay. cause wtf was sexy about this
this was some insta love bullshit i tell you. myles was ready to rip her panties 0.0000000000001 seconds into meeting her. they talked about sex 0.00001 seconds into meeting. there's the possibility that i am too asexual to get it but... you all really look at someone who you have known for one millisecond and imagine being on all fours for them?? that's wild?
Myles is like "I'm not gentle in bed and she needs that. Tenderness."
He's known her for five minutes at this point. And I'm not even kidding. This isn't a joke. Literally five minutes. Are allosexuals okay???? He doesn't even know her goddamn name?????
Taylor tells him that she likes dating boring finance guys in suits but also wants them to angry fuck her in bed.
Who shares this ten minutes into a conversation with a stranger?
Also they pick this point up several pages later when she is like "No-one ever gets my sexy kitten energy, maybe i need hook up panties and a more sexy vibe" and Myles is like "nah, you're fine" and she's like "You pick up on my big sexy kitten energy" and Myles starts salivating and is like "oh god, oh fuck i do" LIKE OBVIOUSLY???? BECAUSE YOU TOLD HIM????
which brings me to another point: why doesn't she just talk to her finance guys about wanting to be killed during sex??? it's not that hard?? she could tell Myles five seconds into their first conversation? just tell your partners?? have you heard of Communication??? straight people?? are you good??
Myles is so ... not attractive? He steals her panties and she's like cool with it. With this stranger stealing her underwear fifteen minutes after meeting.
He also keeps going on about how she is wife material and wouldn't want to have rough sex. I didn't know wife material means being vanilla? Different people like different things? You don't have to dress the part to enjoy rough sex?
Also him constantly going on about how she is "someone else's wife". She's her own fucking person what are you on about? Why make everything about her about a man that doesn't even exist?
One time pretty early on, during their first conversation, he just randomly licks her stomach? The writing didn't even mention him being on the same level as her stomach - which would be some way down considering she is apparently tiny and he's huge. So what i was imagining is him just stopping mid conversation and kneeling before her to lick her stomach. Who does that??? Also why, if all he thinks about how he shouldn't fuck her and then he just goes and licks her stomach?
Imagine a man you've known for five minutes licking your stomach. I don't care how hot he allegedly is - I'm running.
they later have a fight and he is like "stop strutting that ass so sexy" and she is like "are you saying, i'm asking for it" and he's like "i would never but you are clearly offering" - this isn't any less disgusting and rapey than if he said she was asking for it? wtf?
at another point he acts like they are soulmates because he was choking her but they get interrupted and quickly look at each other and nod their agreement that they are still cool. and they say true love is dead
it definitely is though
also: "Well let me clarify. I can see your tight asshole and nothing could stop that from being cute, but the rest of you? Now you're a girl who likes to fuck dirty."
i have so many questions
honestly every minute i had to spend in Myle's head gave me a headache and took years from my life
the writing also ain't it and i have zero hopes for this murder mystery tbh. i should have learned my lesson with Verity because thriller/mystery and romance do not mix well
TL:DR: this review has so many question marks because i do not understand the good ratings this book is getting. dnf at page 78. i simply cannot do this anymore.
also the fact that this came out on my birthday is a hate crime against me personally
I will never trust any of you ever again. You all are just lying to me. I will start scrolling through this website with my eyes closed. You posting a five star review? I ain't reading that. I'm not looking. It's all just a conspiracy to make me read bad books. I'm deleting my Goodreads so I'm not tempted by your fake reviews anymore. Who is paying you to deceit me? Hope you are at least making good bag with this cruel joke.
i desperately want to know whether straight people are okay. cause wtf was sexy about this
this was some insta love bullshit i tell you. myles was ready to rip her panties 0.0000000000001 seconds into meeting her. they talked about sex 0.00001 seconds into meeting. there's the possibility that i am too asexual to get it but... you all really look at someone who you have known for one millisecond and imagine being on all fours for them?? that's wild?
Myles is like "I'm not gentle in bed and she needs that. Tenderness."
He's known her for five minutes at this point. And I'm not even kidding. This isn't a joke. Literally five minutes. Are allosexuals okay???? He doesn't even know her goddamn name?????
Taylor tells him that she likes dating boring finance guys in suits but also wants them to angry fuck her in bed.
Who shares this ten minutes into a conversation with a stranger?
Also they pick this point up several pages later when she is like "No-one ever gets my sexy kitten energy, maybe i need hook up panties and a more sexy vibe" and Myles is like "nah, you're fine" and she's like "You pick up on my big sexy kitten energy" and Myles starts salivating and is like "oh god, oh fuck i do" LIKE OBVIOUSLY???? BECAUSE YOU TOLD HIM????
which brings me to another point: why doesn't she just talk to her finance guys about wanting to be killed during sex??? it's not that hard?? she could tell Myles five seconds into their first conversation? just tell your partners?? have you heard of Communication??? straight people?? are you good??
Myles is so ... not attractive? He steals her panties and she's like cool with it. With this stranger stealing her underwear fifteen minutes after meeting.
He also keeps going on about how she is wife material and wouldn't want to have rough sex. I didn't know wife material means being vanilla? Different people like different things? You don't have to dress the part to enjoy rough sex?
Also him constantly going on about how she is "someone else's wife". She's her own fucking person what are you on about? Why make everything about her about a man that doesn't even exist?
One time pretty early on, during their first conversation, he just randomly licks her stomach? The writing didn't even mention him being on the same level as her stomach - which would be some way down considering she is apparently tiny and he's huge. So what i was imagining is him just stopping mid conversation and kneeling before her to lick her stomach. Who does that??? Also why, if all he thinks about how he shouldn't fuck her and then he just goes and licks her stomach?
Imagine a man you've known for five minutes licking your stomach. I don't care how hot he allegedly is - I'm running.
they later have a fight and he is like "stop strutting that ass so sexy" and she is like "are you saying, i'm asking for it" and he's like "i would never but you are clearly offering" - this isn't any less disgusting and rapey than if he said she was asking for it? wtf?
at another point he acts like they are soulmates because he was choking her but they get interrupted and quickly look at each other and nod their agreement that they are still cool. and they say true love is dead
it definitely is though
also: "Well let me clarify. I can see your tight asshole and nothing could stop that from being cute, but the rest of you? Now you're a girl who likes to fuck dirty."
i have so many questions
honestly every minute i had to spend in Myle's head gave me a headache and took years from my life
the writing also ain't it and i have zero hopes for this murder mystery tbh. i should have learned my lesson with Verity because thriller/mystery and romance do not mix well
TL:DR: this review has so many question marks because i do not understand the good ratings this book is getting. dnf at page 78. i simply cannot do this anymore.
also the fact that this came out on my birthday is a hate crime against me personally
July 5, 2022
not super into the whole greasy older man obsessed with younger heroine's big ole tiddies thing
i mean sure, there are exceptions. nobody's perfect, i have wildly varied taste. but as a rule of thumb, if the romance is purely based on physical attraction and a man stealing my lace underwear... eh. not sure it's something that's gonna win me over.
i mean sure, there are exceptions. nobody's perfect, i have wildly varied taste. but as a rule of thumb, if the romance is purely based on physical attraction and a man stealing my lace underwear... eh. not sure it's something that's gonna win me over.
January 16, 2023
You know what? Your mum.
I hate reading crappy books. I’m pessimistic enough as it is in real life. The only thing I’m stupidly optimistic about are books. And I’ve become way too attuned to my taste that reading terrible books is not all that common for me.
But it happens anyway. And whenever it does, I just become irrationally irritable. Because betrayal. I feel cheated. I’m putting my trust in the author to deliver good stories. I’m trusting myself to select the type of stories that work for me. It’s all a fuckin’ gamble.
And that trust feels extra broken when it’s an author who usually works for me.
I didn’t even go into this with high expectations. Me expectations were neutral.
This book, however, is theatrical. From beginning to end. And quite frankly, that’s not what I want to be fed for almost 300 pages, especially when there was hardly any substance present.
Not only is it theatrical, our main characters are very horny for each other. 🤭
Which I should not be complaining about.
But. Some parts of this just read sleazy… alright, a lot of parts did.
I mean, this all depends on personal taste - and no shaming here - but I was cringing during some of the sex scenes we got. And that is the very opposite of what I should be feeling. Plus, I hardly ever cringe. I’m all for writing what you want, however you want it.
But it was just getting too much and I don’t even believe in too much.
Do you sense my confusion? 😵💫
Myles has a dirty mouth and thoughts on him, which is very typical for the types of hero’s Tessa Bailey writes. We like that.
But, again. Too much.
“Don’t think of her wrapping her thighs tighter, tilting her hips and praising me for my healthy swimmers.”
I’m sorry, what? 🤨
Should I be turned on by this? Am I rooting for this relationship? Did Tessa Bailey write this because the supposed overall tone of this book is seemingly over-the-top, thus it was done for humour’s sake?
Someone clarify. Because it read like amateur porn.
Our lovely hero also proceeds to steal her underwear within the first chapter or two of meeting one another.
Cute. 🫠
Now call me crazy, but I will condone this level of fucked-up behaviour in a dark romance. But not a contemporary one. Get it together and get it right.
These characters lacked backstory, the writing felt choppy, the murder mystery was overshadowed because of how horny they were.
I feel hollowed out. Am I now proceeding with caution when it comes to Tessa Bailey? Yes. The trust has somewhat been fractured. 🥲
Plus, the 1-star rating is mainly for the headache it gave me once I finished reading it. 🤕
No book has a right to do that.
I hate reading crappy books. I’m pessimistic enough as it is in real life. The only thing I’m stupidly optimistic about are books. And I’ve become way too attuned to my taste that reading terrible books is not all that common for me.
But it happens anyway. And whenever it does, I just become irrationally irritable. Because betrayal. I feel cheated. I’m putting my trust in the author to deliver good stories. I’m trusting myself to select the type of stories that work for me. It’s all a fuckin’ gamble.
And that trust feels extra broken when it’s an author who usually works for me.
I didn’t even go into this with high expectations. Me expectations were neutral.
This book, however, is theatrical. From beginning to end. And quite frankly, that’s not what I want to be fed for almost 300 pages, especially when there was hardly any substance present.
Not only is it theatrical, our main characters are very horny for each other. 🤭
Which I should not be complaining about.
But. Some parts of this just read sleazy… alright, a lot of parts did.
I mean, this all depends on personal taste - and no shaming here - but I was cringing during some of the sex scenes we got. And that is the very opposite of what I should be feeling. Plus, I hardly ever cringe. I’m all for writing what you want, however you want it.
But it was just getting too much and I don’t even believe in too much.
Do you sense my confusion? 😵💫
Myles has a dirty mouth and thoughts on him, which is very typical for the types of hero’s Tessa Bailey writes. We like that.
But, again. Too much.
“Don’t think of her wrapping her thighs tighter, tilting her hips and praising me for my healthy swimmers.”
I’m sorry, what? 🤨
Should I be turned on by this? Am I rooting for this relationship? Did Tessa Bailey write this because the supposed overall tone of this book is seemingly over-the-top, thus it was done for humour’s sake?
Someone clarify. Because it read like amateur porn.
Our lovely hero also proceeds to steal her underwear within the first chapter or two of meeting one another.
Cute. 🫠
Now call me crazy, but I will condone this level of fucked-up behaviour in a dark romance. But not a contemporary one. Get it together and get it right.
These characters lacked backstory, the writing felt choppy, the murder mystery was overshadowed because of how horny they were.
I feel hollowed out. Am I now proceeding with caution when it comes to Tessa Bailey? Yes. The trust has somewhat been fractured. 🥲
Plus, the 1-star rating is mainly for the headache it gave me once I finished reading it. 🤕
No book has a right to do that.
September 18, 2024
Huh. I guess I've finally found a Tessa Bailey book I don't like.
When I heard that one of my favorite romance authors was going to write a steamy romance and murder mystery combo, I admit I about drooled in anticipation. I imagined sparks and sizzle and detecting galore. But alas, it wasn't that. And maybe this was just a case where my expectations were too high, so reality had nowhere to go but down.
Almost from the very first page, it felt like something was a little bit off. Tessa Bailey has always had an eminently readable style, and that's part of the charm of her writing. But this story didn't have that. There were many moments where sentences felt awkward or didn't quite flow together, and scenes were repetitive and drawn out. It's as if the story was rushed out the door without going through the proper rounds of editing.
Regarding the romance, I just couldn't get jive with either of the two main characters. They both felt like caricatures instead of real people, with Taylor being timid but secretly wanting rough sex and Myles beating himself up over one teeny mistake while stalking and salivating over Taylor. I want to swoon over my romances, but this pairing only left me creeped out.
If you read Tessa Bailey, you know her steam factor is high. But the raunchiness in here is so in your face and over the top that it comes across as cartoony rather than hot. There were many moments where it felt like I was reading porn in written form (complete with keeping stolen panties in pockets and referring to the guy as "Daddy"). I enjoy a good sizzle as much as the next gal, but this wasn't it.
And when it came to that murder mystery—the reason I was so excited for this to begin with—I was disappointed there too. I wanted clues and suspects and red herrings. Instead, the story just eventually revealed the guilty party, without any sort of buildup.
After reading seven Tessa Bailey books, I guess coming across my first dud was only a matter of time. And all things considered, that's not a bad record. I'll certainly continue to read Tessa Bailey in the future, but this book is going in the donation pile posthaste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Window Shopping
Bellinger Sisters:
It Happened One Summer ✧ Hook, Line, and Sinker
Hot & Hammered:
Fix Her Up ✧ Love Her or Lose Her ✧ Tools of Engagement
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
When I heard that one of my favorite romance authors was going to write a steamy romance and murder mystery combo, I admit I about drooled in anticipation. I imagined sparks and sizzle and detecting galore. But alas, it wasn't that. And maybe this was just a case where my expectations were too high, so reality had nowhere to go but down.
Almost from the very first page, it felt like something was a little bit off. Tessa Bailey has always had an eminently readable style, and that's part of the charm of her writing. But this story didn't have that. There were many moments where sentences felt awkward or didn't quite flow together, and scenes were repetitive and drawn out. It's as if the story was rushed out the door without going through the proper rounds of editing.
Regarding the romance, I just couldn't get jive with either of the two main characters. They both felt like caricatures instead of real people, with Taylor being timid but secretly wanting rough sex and Myles beating himself up over one teeny mistake while stalking and salivating over Taylor. I want to swoon over my romances, but this pairing only left me creeped out.
If you read Tessa Bailey, you know her steam factor is high. But the raunchiness in here is so in your face and over the top that it comes across as cartoony rather than hot. There were many moments where it felt like I was reading porn in written form (complete with keeping stolen panties in pockets and referring to the guy as "Daddy"). I enjoy a good sizzle as much as the next gal, but this wasn't it.
And when it came to that murder mystery—the reason I was so excited for this to begin with—I was disappointed there too. I wanted clues and suspects and red herrings. Instead, the story just eventually revealed the guilty party, without any sort of buildup.
After reading seven Tessa Bailey books, I guess coming across my first dud was only a matter of time. And all things considered, that's not a bad record. I'll certainly continue to read Tessa Bailey in the future, but this book is going in the donation pile posthaste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Window Shopping
Bellinger Sisters:
It Happened One Summer ✧ Hook, Line, and Sinker
Hot & Hammered:
Fix Her Up ✧ Love Her or Lose Her ✧ Tools of Engagement
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
September 6, 2024
I ended up DNFing this book😭. I got about halfway through, put it down for a day, and had no desire to pick it back up. The concept of a murder mystery vacation romance is a fun idea, and I did pick this up when I was in the mood for a light, fun read. This book is a light and, at times, fun read, but it was just too cheesy/cringe for my taste and felt so one-dimensional, IMO. Just meh overall and I have so many books on my tbr that I'm very excited for so no point in reading something I'm not that into!
June 7, 2022
why does the cover look like acotar fanart😭
edit: there’s a new cover now and it’s amazing
edit: there’s a new cover now and it’s amazing
July 5, 2022
romantic suspense is my all time favourite romance subgenre, so i was excited to see how TB would handle it. shes the queen of romcom banter, but can she do high stakes murder investigations??
and the answer is… no. not really. hahaha. i mean, the suspense elements of this story are so severely lacking. it obviously takes a back seat to the lustfest that is myles and taylor. and when they revealed who was behind it all, well, i just rolled my eyes.
that being said, i adored this. its a fun and cute beachy summer read. it doesnt take itself too seriously and its lighthearted enough that you can breeze right through this. so not a dealbreaker that half of the plot wasnt as engaging as i would have liked.
more TB standalones, please!
↠ 3.5 stars
and the answer is… no. not really. hahaha. i mean, the suspense elements of this story are so severely lacking. it obviously takes a back seat to the lustfest that is myles and taylor. and when they revealed who was behind it all, well, i just rolled my eyes.
that being said, i adored this. its a fun and cute beachy summer read. it doesnt take itself too seriously and its lighthearted enough that you can breeze right through this. so not a dealbreaker that half of the plot wasnt as engaging as i would have liked.
more TB standalones, please!
↠ 3.5 stars
July 13, 2022
“From the first second I
saw you to the last second I’m given. Stay with me. Watch me prove it.” ❤️🔥❤️🔥
Swoon worthy and deliciously spicy🥵🥵
✔️Age gap
✔️Grumpy x sunshine
✔️Dual POV
✔️Small town setting
✔️Murder mystery
✔️HEA
✔️Witty banter
✔️Insta lust to love (didn't like that)
✔️Did I mention the SPICE (It's off the charts)
It's my first Tessa Bailey book and I absolutely adored it. I see what the hype is about. This book is pretty close to perfection. I liked how fast pace it was, never a dull moment. The murder mystery kept me intrigued and the romance had me feeling butterflies 🥰
The characters Taylor and Myles are amazing and their chemistry is sizzling hot 🔥🔥
Taylor although a bit quirky, is quite humourous and likable. She perceives herself as the serious, responsible type adult but reality is something else (not in an annoying way). She's a total romantic at heart and doesn't shy away from what she wants. But the way she babies her brother (who's twenty three btw) was a bit much.
"Being hurt only makes me need you more."😭
Myles is simply hot. He's the grump to Taylor's sunshine, which of course means he's a total softy at heart. The moment he sees Taylor, he wanted her. And boy did he fell for her hard. He was practically more romantic than Taylor. I thought the way he called her "Half pint" was too cute.
"She makes me a better man. A better human. She makes me so much better."🥺
The only thing that didn't work for me is that I'm a sucker for slow burns and this one was insta lust which doesn't resonate well with me. But I must say the transition from insta lust to love is well executed.
If you are looking to read something fast paced and light hearted with lots of smut, this is your book. I highly recommend it. I couldn't keep this book down and basically devoured it. Need I say more?😉
saw you to the last second I’m given. Stay with me. Watch me prove it.” ❤️🔥❤️🔥
Swoon worthy and deliciously spicy🥵🥵
✔️Age gap
✔️Grumpy x sunshine
✔️Dual POV
✔️Small town setting
✔️Murder mystery
✔️HEA
✔️Witty banter
✔️Insta lust to love (didn't like that)
✔️Did I mention the SPICE (It's off the charts)
It's my first Tessa Bailey book and I absolutely adored it. I see what the hype is about. This book is pretty close to perfection. I liked how fast pace it was, never a dull moment. The murder mystery kept me intrigued and the romance had me feeling butterflies 🥰
The characters Taylor and Myles are amazing and their chemistry is sizzling hot 🔥🔥
Taylor although a bit quirky, is quite humourous and likable. She perceives herself as the serious, responsible type adult but reality is something else (not in an annoying way). She's a total romantic at heart and doesn't shy away from what she wants. But the way she babies her brother (who's twenty three btw) was a bit much.
"Being hurt only makes me need you more."😭
Myles is simply hot. He's the grump to Taylor's sunshine, which of course means he's a total softy at heart. The moment he sees Taylor, he wanted her. And boy did he fell for her hard. He was practically more romantic than Taylor. I thought the way he called her "Half pint" was too cute.
"She makes me a better man. A better human. She makes me so much better."🥺
The only thing that didn't work for me is that I'm a sucker for slow burns and this one was insta lust which doesn't resonate well with me. But I must say the transition from insta lust to love is well executed.
If you are looking to read something fast paced and light hearted with lots of smut, this is your book. I highly recommend it. I couldn't keep this book down and basically devoured it. Need I say more?😉
September 17, 2023
be so for real now, can a woman who is in her mid-twenties and a man in his mid-thirties can become sexually addicted to each other at first sight and can fall in love in just four days? i can’t even choose which elective courses i’m going to take for uni in a week 💀
this book started off so good, fmc goes into a house where she is going to spend the next week for vacation but finds a dead body, then sister of the murdered person hires a grumpy bounty hunter. i was expecting a book where the main plot is two characters trying to solve this mystery and fall in love in the process but it was more like they were constantly having sex and (so to say) falling in love and this murder mystery continues in background. all myles (mmc) did was protecting taylor (fmc), at some point i wasn’t sure if he wants to find the killer or just wants to spend time with taylor.
there were actually cute parts too, for example this was their first interaction;
“Come back here.”
“I don’t think I will.”
“Half pint.”
“I have a name.”
“Come back here and tell it to me, then.”
or there was a scene where taylor was on the hot pavement and her feet was burning so myles pulled her on top of his boots but a few cute scenes didn’t made the book good for me bc i was annoyed by him in like 60% of the book.
taylor; i have not much things to say about her. i liked her but not adored her, she is just cute and trying to get out of her comfort zone and be brave.
myles; i have no idea what color is this man’s eyes or if he’a muscular but i know he’s addicted to taking antacids bc in first 100 pages all we read about him was that pills and his massive boots that he wears in a freaking beach. and he has trauma from his past work experiences so he isolates himself but the way he was not sure about what he wants was so tiring, one minute he is so passionately touches taylor and then he hears a voice so he turns to coldest mf 🙄
jude; best thing in the entire book. he’s taylor’s brother, taylor always adores and supports him and i can clearly understand why, he is the cutest person to exist. i mean while taylor and myles were arguing he was constantly talking about how he likes his burritos 😭
taylor & myles; it’s clear that they love each other but their relationship was just off; their intimate times are always interrupted, they were always going on and off, everything between them started so quickly.. i just think that they are one of the couples that breaks up after the epilogue.
it had potential to be good book bc it was this mixture between summer love and murder mystery but second part was just nonexistent :( i mean it has less than 300 pages so if you want a quick read it is okay but nothing special in my opinion 🫥
sep 17: maybe summer should be over🧍🏻♀️
sep 15: summer is not over until i say so 🫡
this book started off so good, fmc goes into a house where she is going to spend the next week for vacation but finds a dead body, then sister of the murdered person hires a grumpy bounty hunter. i was expecting a book where the main plot is two characters trying to solve this mystery and fall in love in the process but it was more like they were constantly having sex and (so to say) falling in love and this murder mystery continues in background. all myles (mmc) did was protecting taylor (fmc), at some point i wasn’t sure if he wants to find the killer or just wants to spend time with taylor.
there were actually cute parts too, for example this was their first interaction;
“Come back here.”
“I don’t think I will.”
“Half pint.”
“I have a name.”
“Come back here and tell it to me, then.”
or there was a scene where taylor was on the hot pavement and her feet was burning so myles pulled her on top of his boots but a few cute scenes didn’t made the book good for me bc i was annoyed by him in like 60% of the book.
taylor; i have not much things to say about her. i liked her but not adored her, she is just cute and trying to get out of her comfort zone and be brave.
myles; i have no idea what color is this man’s eyes or if he’a muscular but i know he’s addicted to taking antacids bc in first 100 pages all we read about him was that pills and his massive boots that he wears in a freaking beach. and he has trauma from his past work experiences so he isolates himself but the way he was not sure about what he wants was so tiring, one minute he is so passionately touches taylor and then he hears a voice so he turns to coldest mf 🙄
jude; best thing in the entire book. he’s taylor’s brother, taylor always adores and supports him and i can clearly understand why, he is the cutest person to exist. i mean while taylor and myles were arguing he was constantly talking about how he likes his burritos 😭
taylor & myles; it’s clear that they love each other but their relationship was just off; their intimate times are always interrupted, they were always going on and off, everything between them started so quickly.. i just think that they are one of the couples that breaks up after the epilogue.
it had potential to be good book bc it was this mixture between summer love and murder mystery but second part was just nonexistent :( i mean it has less than 300 pages so if you want a quick read it is okay but nothing special in my opinion 🫥
sep 17: maybe summer should be over🧍🏻♀️
sep 15: summer is not over until i say so 🫡
June 8, 2022
4.75 ⭐️ this was the light and funny read I needed… but make it spicy & murder mystery. I wanted a quick and captivating book and this hit the perfect spot. Taylor & Myles were SO MFF FUNNY, the way I cackled the entire time??? and their banter & spice? unmatched. i’m not a fan of insta-love, but this book requires an exception 😙✌🏻
“what is a princess cut” <3
ps. if taylor’s brother gets his own story… i’ll RUN 🏃🏻♀️
“what is a princess cut” <3
ps. if taylor’s brother gets his own story… i’ll RUN 🏃🏻♀️
Read
March 21, 2023I solved the crime.
My vibes were killed.
Culprit: read on.
I really wanted to finish this book so I could write a proper rant-view for it, but I don't hate myself enough to force myself to go through another 70% of it, so...DNF, meet My Killer Vacation.
Ironically, I'm kinda glad this turned into a trainwreck immediately, because I can only imagine how frustrated I'd be if my expectations of this got too high because of a decent beginning, only to have them disintegrated later on.
There are a tons of things I could list that made this (the bit I've read, anyway) so unenjoyable, but I think the biggest chunks of guilt belong to the mystery plot (pretend I just used the most gargantuan air quotes you've ever seen, here) and the main characters.
The mystery aspect of this book is absurd. I mean, for me, autenticity is not a requirement when a thriller is paired up with romance, but I expect my mystery romance novels to at least be believable.
I expect the author to try, at least.
We all love amateur detectives solving crimes; we all like to pretend we'd do the same if we were in the situation, but this was a level above Pretty Little Liars in terms of common citizens turning Sherlock Holmes and trespassing yellow tape like it's limbo time every time they feel like poking their nose into a crime scene.
Because of course, crime scenes and investigation files are known to be open to anyone who wants to lend a hand.
Taylor is the most immature main character I've encountered lately. She's naive, childish, and if I was the parent of one of her students, I'd be very concerned about my child's safety and mental state.
I know she's just fictional and the sole product of a writer who cleary didn't bother doing many research about the thriller aspect of their story, but it seems to me the romance part could have used some additional work, as well.
Which brings us to the main course, also known as Mr Male Main Character.
Myles is a douche. Plain and simple.
And a creep.
From the very first moment we meet him, we get a graphic idea of what we're getting ourselves into.
This bad boy parks his motorcycle and his tattoos right in front of our delicate flower (becaue of course she's impressed by the tattoos and the bike and the broody aura and the massive mountain of muscles he OBVIOUSLY is sporting)'s rental house, sees her, and immediately thinks "I got to open her up like an oyster".
So classy, dude.
Really makes me wanna throw my panties at your face and let you go full korean buffet on my lower parts.
He's got a sudden nickname for her, too, because she's oh so tiny and he's oh so big he could pick Half Pint up like a little bird.
We readers are immediately informed that he's NEVER felt like this before. Never been so attracted to another woman, never wanted another oyster like he craves hers.
We believe you, Myles.
We believed you especially after you picked up her panties just because.
That really sealed the deal for me and also made me gag a little.
Flash forward to a couple chapters later, when Delicate Flowers and Broody Creep start spending a lot of time together -because it's perfectly normal for Delicate Flower to parade around crime scenes like she gifted Horatio Caine his first pair of sunglasses-, and two seconds after they've met, she starts going all femme fatale on him, rebuking to his provocations like a proud teenager who just learnt how to flirt and feeling cool about it.
She goes on a totally out of character oversharing mode and tells him all about her sexual fantasies out of nowhere and for no reason in particular other than the author obviously wanted us to feel the tension building.
Oh, I felt the tension alright, only it was that of my libido leaving my body.
Broody Creep is no better.
He goes all alphasshole ten minutes after they've introduced each other and I'd lie if I said the way he grew super proective of her, so quickly, didn't make me roll my eyes.
The will-they-won't-they bullshit we were lead to endure by his POV was exausting because poor fucker was on a spiral that convinced no one but himself; he was like "she's so innocent and lovely and she doesn't deserve a man like me."
1) NO ONE deserves a creep like you;
2) YOU'RE LITERALLY HERE TO SOLVE A MURDER, BITCH, STOP JERKING OFF AND DO YOUR JOB.
His dirty talk made my skin crawl, and I can assure you, I've read a lot of disturbing books in my life, but a little few things are as concerning as a slimy guy written like he's hot.
Dude, no. Listen to your inner Elsa and let the creep go.
Or, at least, admit you're morally questionable.
That would 100% make the difference.
I've stopped reading after they started getting too fond of each and the unsexiest dirty talk made an appearence once again, so I can't tell you if it got better after this.
On a hunch, I'd go with no, but I'm a practical person who's also a closeted dreamer, and I like to think we're all redeemable, somehow.
Even Broody Creeps, if they work hard for it.
(Except Myles and Miles from Ugly Love)
My vibes were killed.
Culprit: read on.
I really wanted to finish this book so I could write a proper rant-view for it, but I don't hate myself enough to force myself to go through another 70% of it, so...DNF, meet My Killer Vacation.
Ironically, I'm kinda glad this turned into a trainwreck immediately, because I can only imagine how frustrated I'd be if my expectations of this got too high because of a decent beginning, only to have them disintegrated later on.
There are a tons of things I could list that made this (the bit I've read, anyway) so unenjoyable, but I think the biggest chunks of guilt belong to the mystery plot (pretend I just used the most gargantuan air quotes you've ever seen, here) and the main characters.
The mystery aspect of this book is absurd. I mean, for me, autenticity is not a requirement when a thriller is paired up with romance, but I expect my mystery romance novels to at least be believable.
I expect the author to try, at least.
We all love amateur detectives solving crimes; we all like to pretend we'd do the same if we were in the situation, but this was a level above Pretty Little Liars in terms of common citizens turning Sherlock Holmes and trespassing yellow tape like it's limbo time every time they feel like poking their nose into a crime scene.
Because of course, crime scenes and investigation files are known to be open to anyone who wants to lend a hand.
Taylor is the most immature main character I've encountered lately. She's naive, childish, and if I was the parent of one of her students, I'd be very concerned about my child's safety and mental state.
I know she's just fictional and the sole product of a writer who cleary didn't bother doing many research about the thriller aspect of their story, but it seems to me the romance part could have used some additional work, as well.
Which brings us to the main course, also known as Mr Male Main Character.
Myles is a douche. Plain and simple.
And a creep.
From the very first moment we meet him, we get a graphic idea of what we're getting ourselves into.
This bad boy parks his motorcycle and his tattoos right in front of our delicate flower (becaue of course she's impressed by the tattoos and the bike and the broody aura and the massive mountain of muscles he OBVIOUSLY is sporting)'s rental house, sees her, and immediately thinks "I got to open her up like an oyster".
So classy, dude.
Really makes me wanna throw my panties at your face and let you go full korean buffet on my lower parts.
He's got a sudden nickname for her, too, because she's oh so tiny and he's oh so big he could pick Half Pint up like a little bird.
We readers are immediately informed that he's NEVER felt like this before. Never been so attracted to another woman, never wanted another oyster like he craves hers.
We believe you, Myles.
We believed you especially after you picked up her panties just because.
That really sealed the deal for me and also made me gag a little.
Flash forward to a couple chapters later, when Delicate Flowers and Broody Creep start spending a lot of time together -because it's perfectly normal for Delicate Flower to parade around crime scenes like she gifted Horatio Caine his first pair of sunglasses-, and two seconds after they've met, she starts going all femme fatale on him, rebuking to his provocations like a proud teenager who just learnt how to flirt and feeling cool about it.
She goes on a totally out of character oversharing mode and tells him all about her sexual fantasies out of nowhere and for no reason in particular other than the author obviously wanted us to feel the tension building.
Oh, I felt the tension alright, only it was that of my libido leaving my body.
Broody Creep is no better.
He goes all alphasshole ten minutes after they've introduced each other and I'd lie if I said the way he grew super proective of her, so quickly, didn't make me roll my eyes.
The will-they-won't-they bullshit we were lead to endure by his POV was exausting because poor fucker was on a spiral that convinced no one but himself; he was like "she's so innocent and lovely and she doesn't deserve a man like me."
1) NO ONE deserves a creep like you;
2) YOU'RE LITERALLY HERE TO SOLVE A MURDER, BITCH, STOP JERKING OFF AND DO YOUR JOB.
His dirty talk made my skin crawl, and I can assure you, I've read a lot of disturbing books in my life, but a little few things are as concerning as a slimy guy written like he's hot.
Dude, no. Listen to your inner Elsa and let the creep go.
Or, at least, admit you're morally questionable.
That would 100% make the difference.
I've stopped reading after they started getting too fond of each and the unsexiest dirty talk made an appearence once again, so I can't tell you if it got better after this.
On a hunch, I'd go with no, but I'm a practical person who's also a closeted dreamer, and I like to think we're all redeemable, somehow.
Even Broody Creeps, if they work hard for it.
January 19, 2024
Disappointed but not surprised. Things just aren't looking good since my least favorite Tessa Bailey books have started to outnumber my favorite Tessa Bailey books.
In all fairness, I do think Tessa Bailey had the potential to write a good mystery romance as this combination is not something we often had. I started the book with the hope that I will come around to enjoy this especially after being so disappointed with Hannah and Fox's story — owing to the fact that Tessa Bailey knows how to hook her reader. It always felt like you're being enchanted and this book is no less the same.
Unfortunately, like many others, she is married to using the same tropes in her pairings which is not my cup of tea. The romance had to go rack and ruin it because I hate insta-lust with a passion. I love to see when people have to work for it; though I find some of them fitting or refinedly done in her past works. I was counting on Bailey to draw up a layout of the premise instead of just going off with the dirty talks and sexy times, where more and more the mystery seems like an afterthought.
While I do find Myles and Taylor delightful, I only come around to it at the end of the book. The murder mystery at hand was supposed to allow readers to see them outside of a completely romantic context but it was so hard to hit it off with them at the first start with Myles' lewd thoughts and alpha male behavior that always come off as demanding. Like, I know we are doing grumpy-sunshine here but thanks, I've met better Tessa Bailey's hero. And Taylor? is sweet, but also as scatterbrained. Her sudden objective of self-discovery by deciding to investigate a murder case did not sit well with what was supposed to be and what was conveyed.
That being said, the romance didn't win me and needed more time. It felt rushed, and balancing the whole murder to be solved was difficult. Some books contain both plot and sensual sequences, but this one contained only steamy scenes with no plot. Not to mention the continual interruptions and push-pull after almost-fuck moments irritate me. The only lovable addition to the book would be Taylor's brother and that pretty much wraps it up.
Conclusively, this wasn't bad but it wasn't the best either. I needed to start setting low expectations so I will be less let down the next time.
In all fairness, I do think Tessa Bailey had the potential to write a good mystery romance as this combination is not something we often had. I started the book with the hope that I will come around to enjoy this especially after being so disappointed with Hannah and Fox's story — owing to the fact that Tessa Bailey knows how to hook her reader. It always felt like you're being enchanted and this book is no less the same.
Unfortunately, like many others, she is married to using the same tropes in her pairings which is not my cup of tea. The romance had to go rack and ruin it because I hate insta-lust with a passion. I love to see when people have to work for it; though I find some of them fitting or refinedly done in her past works. I was counting on Bailey to draw up a layout of the premise instead of just going off with the dirty talks and sexy times, where more and more the mystery seems like an afterthought.
While I do find Myles and Taylor delightful, I only come around to it at the end of the book. The murder mystery at hand was supposed to allow readers to see them outside of a completely romantic context but it was so hard to hit it off with them at the first start with Myles' lewd thoughts and alpha male behavior that always come off as demanding. Like, I know we are doing grumpy-sunshine here but thanks, I've met better Tessa Bailey's hero. And Taylor? is sweet, but also as scatterbrained. Her sudden objective of self-discovery by deciding to investigate a murder case did not sit well with what was supposed to be and what was conveyed.
That being said, the romance didn't win me and needed more time. It felt rushed, and balancing the whole murder to be solved was difficult. Some books contain both plot and sensual sequences, but this one contained only steamy scenes with no plot. Not to mention the continual interruptions and push-pull after almost-fuck moments irritate me. The only lovable addition to the book would be Taylor's brother and that pretty much wraps it up.
Conclusively, this wasn't bad but it wasn't the best either. I needed to start setting low expectations so I will be less let down the next time.
June 6, 2022
A bounty hunter & a school teacher... two opposites that make one hot rom-com that makes you fall in love, laugh and cry in the best of ways...
Never will I ever... ever... say anything bad about Tessa. Her writing speaks for itself. And no matter how many books she keeps on writing, and what tropes she writes, I will always be reading them and fall hard. Over and over again. Taylor and Myles here are no exception. Not one tiny, hot, scorching, panty stealing, bit! My gosh, when I tell you that the spice is there... THE SPICE IS THERE🌶!! And alongside the murder mystery aspect to it, Tessa always brings the term rom-com to the best level.
Taylor being the typical yet not typical elementary school teacher that she is, always seems to play it safe when it comes to dating. And her obsession with true crime podcasts is what makes her the type of quirky and funny heroine I always seem to enjoy to read. With a crime taking place in the air b&b that Taylor and her brother are staying at, they meet the broody and swoony Myles. Even though he is uncertain of getting her help, he also does not seem to be able to stay away from her. This book is the summer read, the one book you don't want to miss out on. 'Cause Myles & Taylor are the best of opposites that just blend together as one in such a sweet and organic way;
Every single word, every single scene was the best and so much more. I cannot wait to see what else Tessa has in store for this world. I know she already has hinted on Taylor's brother having his own story. And I believe it will be an MM romance which has me even more hyped!
ARC kindly provided by Tessa in exchange for an honest review...
Follow Me On:
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Never will I ever... ever... say anything bad about Tessa. Her writing speaks for itself. And no matter how many books she keeps on writing, and what tropes she writes, I will always be reading them and fall hard. Over and over again. Taylor and Myles here are no exception. Not one tiny, hot, scorching, panty stealing, bit! My gosh, when I tell you that the spice is there... THE SPICE IS THERE🌶!! And alongside the murder mystery aspect to it, Tessa always brings the term rom-com to the best level.
Taylor being the typical yet not typical elementary school teacher that she is, always seems to play it safe when it comes to dating. And her obsession with true crime podcasts is what makes her the type of quirky and funny heroine I always seem to enjoy to read. With a crime taking place in the air b&b that Taylor and her brother are staying at, they meet the broody and swoony Myles. Even though he is uncertain of getting her help, he also does not seem to be able to stay away from her. This book is the summer read, the one book you don't want to miss out on. 'Cause Myles & Taylor are the best of opposites that just blend together as one in such a sweet and organic way;
"Even if we walk away, we’ll still belong to each other..."
Every single word, every single scene was the best and so much more. I cannot wait to see what else Tessa has in store for this world. I know she already has hinted on Taylor's brother having his own story. And I believe it will be an MM romance which has me even more hyped!
ARC kindly provided by Tessa in exchange for an honest review...
Follow Me On:
Instagram ❀ Twitter ❀ Goodreads ❀ Facebook
June 15, 2022
THIS LITERALLY HAD ME LAUGHING OUT LOUD MULTIPLE TIMES. ON A PLANE. Honestly it was the perfect vacation read and I'm gonna need Tessa Bailey to give us more cozy mystery romances! Also, if you love sunshine x grumpy romances, you will adore this. He's this giant, grouchy bounty hunter and she's a sweet grade-school teacher who, against his will, joins in on his murder mystery solving. Their meet-cute was HILARIOUS and I just adored them together!
August 14, 2022
➳ 1 star
dnf @ 25%
guys… why??
dnf @ 25%
guys… why??
April 29, 2023
Hm… okay look, is this a wonderfully written novel with a beautiful message? Not really. Is it a well-crafted mystery with endless twists and turns? Nah, but is it at least a fun adventure with charming characters and a cute little romance on the side? Again, no. I’m sorry, but I’m pretty sure I hated this.
I think Myles might just be the horniest character I’ve ever had the displeasure of encountering in a book, and that’s saying something. Maybe this wouldn’t be an issue if there wasn’t A MURDER TO SOLVE! Get your head in the game dude. The horndog came across as really creepy in my opinion. And Taylor uses racially-coded language when describing Myles, saying he looks like a “criminal” and a “gorilla” on separate instances early in the book.
But what about the things that I liked? I guess I kind of liked the first three chapters, and the cover is pretty cute. I honestly hesitate to even call this a mystery novel. They both spend so much time talking about how hot the other person is, which got really frustrating because there’s A MURDER TO SOLVE! Also, Taylor’s relationship with her brother is weird too, she babies him even though he’s only like two years younger than her? I’m not sure if this is a bad book per se, but I’m probably going to need a palate cleanser.
I think Myles might just be the horniest character I’ve ever had the displeasure of encountering in a book, and that’s saying something. Maybe this wouldn’t be an issue if there wasn’t A MURDER TO SOLVE! Get your head in the game dude. The horndog came across as really creepy in my opinion. And Taylor uses racially-coded language when describing Myles, saying he looks like a “criminal” and a “gorilla” on separate instances early in the book.
But what about the things that I liked? I guess I kind of liked the first three chapters, and the cover is pretty cute. I honestly hesitate to even call this a mystery novel. They both spend so much time talking about how hot the other person is, which got really frustrating because there’s A MURDER TO SOLVE! Also, Taylor’s relationship with her brother is weird too, she babies him even though he’s only like two years younger than her? I’m not sure if this is a bad book per se, but I’m probably going to need a palate cleanser.
June 11, 2023
He looked directly at her asshole and said it was cute. I ascended.
June 10, 2022
4.5 stars ☀️
nothing is more satisfying than when a book you’ve been mentally hyping up for months, works out. the way this was funny, hot and had a great plot?? it almost feels impossible for a rom-com
tropes:
⇾ murder mystery
⇾ dual praise kink
⇾ grumpy/sunshine
⇾ age-gap (26h/34H)
⇾ bounty hunter/2nd grade teacher
nah tessa bailey really handed me a book that has every trope i loved and thought she could get away with it ✋🏻
does this book have:
insta-lust? ✔️
insta-love? ✔️
was i able to find one fuck to give, despite hating insta-anything? NOPE 😤
please, the way tanaz asked me, while i was reading this, if i liked brendan (from it happened one summer) or myles better and i go…“who’s brendan?”
my mind completely washed every trace of brendan the second myles popped his first antacid 😌
myles summer (H) meets taylor (h) when she discovers the body of her temporary landlord in the vacation home she was renting. myles was hired by the victims brother-in-law (also myles’s friend) to investigate the murder.
myles did this out of a favor, being that he was a former detective (turned bounty hunter). taylor basically interjects herself into his investigation, leaving him literally no choice 🥰
when i tell you this man fell into lust the moment he saw her—
it was so cute watching him get annoyed at the thought of her being married, which caused him to interrogate her on who she was on vacation with (it’s her brother). poor baby was confusing his heartburn with jealousy 🥹😌
i’m obsessed with the way he discovered her red, hook-up panties and stole them because he hated the idea of her wearing them for anyone else. but also, the way he walks around with them in his pocket and tries to talk himself into returning them to her—
the smut was so fucking hot. the way the dirty talk had me blushing at times. plus the praise kink from BOTH sides?! someone call 911 🪦
⇢ “Get that mouth away from me before I fuck it again.”
⇢ “Work it tight, baby. Baby. Perfect for me. Jesus Christ. Don’t you ever get hurt on me again. Don’t you ever.”
⇢ “You make me feel safe and protected…But at the same time, you make me feel like I can protect myself. Isn’t that kind of amazing?” She lays kisses along my jawline. “Aren’t you kind of amazing?”
She feels it.
The way my cock swells over her praise.
⇢ “Good. That’s a good girl.”
this doesn’t even account for the fact that he’s so protective over her 😭 he sleeps on her porch to protect her from the killer that’s on the loose, he jumped onto top of her to prevent her from getting hit by a flying object, he freaks out at the THOUGHT of her getting hurt, period.
but also the way he would simp after her omfghdjfuwjx. since he’s always on the road bounty hunting and she has a stable job along with him not thinking he’s relationship material…he gets these confusing thoughts about a future with her. the way letting go of her hand was like climbing Mt. Everest—
WHY DO I HAVE TEARS IN MY EYES RN 😭😭😭 THIS IS THE CUTEST SHIT EVER.
did i forgot to mention this whole romance occurs over 5 days? idk the way TB wrote this, it felt likes it took place over years. myles and taylor fell for each other in such a natural way that i fully believed it was possible for insta-love to exist.
how can insta-love not exist when myles cums before taylor because she admitted she could ‘love him so easily’. i was freaking out because i expected him to do the cliché 'pulling away from her because he scared of feelings blah blah' but then he thinks this—
myles’s characters growth is so amazing. i love the way taylor made him a better person, but also made him realize that he’s better than one mistake he made while he was a detective.
taylor is also so crazy protective and sweet, especially to her brother. at first i wasn't sure how I felt about her, but her sunny personalty was the perfect contrast to myles's cloudy disposition 💖
the killer
it was almost too obvious for i, a professional in watching true crime documentaries like i'm getting paid to do it
honorable mentions:
this line had no right being this hot—
typically i’m like: daddy kink 🤢🤮
but here i was like…SAY THAT AGAIN (he didn't 😔)
also, the church scene...thank you tessa bailey for your service 🫡 😌
nothing is more satisfying than when a book you’ve been mentally hyping up for months, works out. the way this was funny, hot and had a great plot?? it almost feels impossible for a rom-com
tropes:
⇾ murder mystery
⇾ dual praise kink
⇾ grumpy/sunshine
⇾ age-gap (26h/34H)
⇾ bounty hunter/2nd grade teacher
nah tessa bailey really handed me a book that has every trope i loved and thought she could get away with it ✋🏻
does this book have:
insta-lust? ✔️
insta-love? ✔️
was i able to find one fuck to give, despite hating insta-anything? NOPE 😤
please, the way tanaz asked me, while i was reading this, if i liked brendan (from it happened one summer) or myles better and i go…“who’s brendan?”
my mind completely washed every trace of brendan the second myles popped his first antacid 😌
myles summer (H) meets taylor (h) when she discovers the body of her temporary landlord in the vacation home she was renting. myles was hired by the victims brother-in-law (also myles’s friend) to investigate the murder.
myles did this out of a favor, being that he was a former detective (turned bounty hunter). taylor basically interjects herself into his investigation, leaving him literally no choice 🥰
when i tell you this man fell into lust the moment he saw her—
I’m lusting after this stranger in the heart of Middle Class Vacationville wondering what her nipples would look like in the sunshine, all licked up in my spit.
it was so cute watching him get annoyed at the thought of her being married, which caused him to interrogate her on who she was on vacation with (it’s her brother). poor baby was confusing his heartburn with jealousy 🥹😌
i’m obsessed with the way he discovered her red, hook-up panties and stole them because he hated the idea of her wearing them for anyone else. but also, the way he walks around with them in his pocket and tries to talk himself into returning them to her—
“Going to return them. You are giving them back.”
So she can wear them for another man?
Suddenly, my jaw feels like it’s about to snap.
the smut was so fucking hot. the way the dirty talk had me blushing at times. plus the praise kink from BOTH sides?! someone call 911 🪦
⇢ “Get that mouth away from me before I fuck it again.”
⇢ “Work it tight, baby. Baby. Perfect for me. Jesus Christ. Don’t you ever get hurt on me again. Don’t you ever.”
⇢ “You make me feel safe and protected…But at the same time, you make me feel like I can protect myself. Isn’t that kind of amazing?” She lays kisses along my jawline. “Aren’t you kind of amazing?”
She feels it.
The way my cock swells over her praise.
⇢ “Good. That’s a good girl.”
this doesn’t even account for the fact that he’s so protective over her 😭 he sleeps on her porch to protect her from the killer that’s on the loose, he jumped onto top of her to prevent her from getting hit by a flying object, he freaks out at the THOUGHT of her getting hurt, period.
I swear to God if another car comes within ten feet of us, I’m going to go fucking ballistic.
— him getting nervous about taking her on his motorcycle 😌
but also the way he would simp after her omfghdjfuwjx. since he’s always on the road bounty hunting and she has a stable job along with him not thinking he’s relationship material…he gets these confusing thoughts about a future with her. the way letting go of her hand was like climbing Mt. Everest—
I have to let go of her hand to reach for my wallet, but I keep an eye on it as I pay for the ice cream, so I can collect it again as soon as possible.
WHY DO I HAVE TEARS IN MY EYES RN 😭😭😭 THIS IS THE CUTEST SHIT EVER.
did i forgot to mention this whole romance occurs over 5 days? idk the way TB wrote this, it felt likes it took place over years. myles and taylor fell for each other in such a natural way that i fully believed it was possible for insta-love to exist.
how can insta-love not exist when myles cums before taylor because she admitted she could ‘love him so easily’. i was freaking out because i expected him to do the cliché 'pulling away from her because he scared of feelings blah blah' but then he thinks this—
I could love you so easily, too. I already do.
myles’s characters growth is so amazing. i love the way taylor made him a better person, but also made him realize that he’s better than one mistake he made while he was a detective.
She makes me a better man. A better human. She makes me so much better.
taylor is also so crazy protective and sweet, especially to her brother. at first i wasn't sure how I felt about her, but her sunny personalty was the perfect contrast to myles's cloudy disposition 💖
the killer
it was almost too obvious for i, a professional in watching true crime documentaries like i'm getting paid to do it
honorable mentions:
this line had no right being this hot—
“You’re too sweet between the legs to say please, Taylor. You just ask for Daddy and I’ll do the rest.”
typically i’m like: daddy kink 🤢🤮
but here i was like…SAY THAT AGAIN (he didn't 😔)
also, the church scene...thank you tessa bailey for your service 🫡 😌
June 11, 2022
3.5 stars
The grinch who hates rom-coms has left the building for tonight. This was just a fat load of wholesome, OTT, harmless fun.
No one can argue when I say Myles must've been inspired by this guy💀:
Okay fine, the grinch still has one foot in the door because the dirty talk and the smut were not for me😬 I'm sorry. The tingles simply vanished the moment Myles opened his mouth.
AND holy hell, if y'all thought the stars are against Tory and Darius??? THINK THE FUCK AGAIN. Cause the gods, the stars, and all the prophets hate these two with a power of a 1000 suns judging by the amount of times they were interrupted.
PS: Misha and Tanaz....you were right....This is the face of Jessa Kane...
#TeamTessaKane I'd know that writing anywhere.
The grinch who hates rom-coms has left the building for tonight. This was just a fat load of wholesome, OTT, harmless fun.
No one can argue when I say Myles must've been inspired by this guy💀:
Okay fine, the grinch still has one foot in the door because the dirty talk and the smut were not for me😬 I'm sorry. The tingles simply vanished the moment Myles opened his mouth.
AND holy hell, if y'all thought the stars are against Tory and Darius??? THINK THE FUCK AGAIN. Cause the gods, the stars, and all the prophets hate these two with a power of a 1000 suns judging by the amount of times they were interrupted.
PS: Misha and Tanaz....you were right....This is the face of Jessa Kane...
#TeamTessaKane I'd know that writing anywhere.
June 15, 2022
"I´d take a bullet between the eyes before I raised a hand to you, Taylor. The fact that you have to spend a second in pain makes me want to die. Are those the kind of words you´re talking about?"
This is a two POV book, told by the POV´s of Myles and Taylor.
I liked Taylor a lot. She has that lady in the streets, freak in the sheets thing going for her and I love it. I loved how honest Taylor and Myles were with each other and how they communicated openly. Myles was honest and kind and he really gives the whole softie at heart vibes. I really liked their chemistry, the sexual tension was really good and the sex scenes were HOT.
This is more of a insta-lovish trope but I didn´t mind it that much here, we still got a bit of tension out of it.
I liked the side characters, although there were a bit few. I especially loved Jude, he was an amazing brother to Taylor and it felt like he was also her best friend in that way, because no other friends of Jude are being mentioned. I also liked the introduction of their childhood friend, although he somehow vanished after a few pages.
I liked the plot to this. A murder mystery combined with a romance are normally almost always a hit. I loved that Myles is a bounty hunter, it felt like something a bit different and new in comparison to all the cop romances. I liked the mystery part to it, I was suspicous of two different characters and I kept guessing along with Taylor. The pacing of the book was okay, although it is more fast paced, I definitely wouldn´t have minded if the book was a couple pages longer. I also don´t really agree with the representation of mental health in here.
Overall it was a fun, quick read that I definitely enjoyed. Also the cover of this is just beautiful.
trigger warnings: murder, kidnapping, trauma
This is a two POV book, told by the POV´s of Myles and Taylor.
I liked Taylor a lot. She has that lady in the streets, freak in the sheets thing going for her and I love it. I loved how honest Taylor and Myles were with each other and how they communicated openly. Myles was honest and kind and he really gives the whole softie at heart vibes. I really liked their chemistry, the sexual tension was really good and the sex scenes were HOT.
This is more of a insta-lovish trope but I didn´t mind it that much here, we still got a bit of tension out of it.
I liked the side characters, although there were a bit few. I especially loved Jude, he was an amazing brother to Taylor and it felt like he was also her best friend in that way, because no other friends of Jude are being mentioned. I also liked the introduction of their childhood friend, although he somehow vanished after a few pages.
I liked the plot to this. A murder mystery combined with a romance are normally almost always a hit. I loved that Myles is a bounty hunter, it felt like something a bit different and new in comparison to all the cop romances. I liked the mystery part to it, I was suspicous of two different characters and I kept guessing along with Taylor. The pacing of the book was okay, although it is more fast paced, I definitely wouldn´t have minded if the book was a couple pages longer. I also don´t really agree with the representation of mental health in here.
Overall it was a fun, quick read that I definitely enjoyed. Also the cover of this is just beautiful.
trigger warnings: murder, kidnapping, trauma
August 28, 2022
Tessa girly I just wanna talk because what was this… the only thing that saved this being a 1 star was that I didn’t guess who the murderer was but seriously this book deserves jail time
September 1, 2023
it’s so bad i wanna give it a 0 but that’s not possible so i give it 1
June 17, 2022
Ah, Tessa Bailey… I really wanted to like this one!!!!
One thing about Tessa’s books is that the heroes are always very (VERY) over the top - just growly, broody, very tall humans who become completely obsessed with the heroines within seconds of meeting them. And, sometimes, that works really well (hello, It Happened One Summer) and sometimes it’s very annoying (this, unfortunately).
Our heroine is second-grade teacher Taylor Bassey, who decides to take her brother on a beach vacation to cheer him up after his favorite panda (from the panda sanctuary he works at) dies of old age. Okay, this part I did love, lol.
It’s all going very nicely, but, when they get to the rental house, they have the unfortunate luck of finding the owner’s dead body in the laundry room. Gunshot wound to the head. Lots of blood. Very traumatic.
There comes in Myles Sumner, the hot, scary private investigator hired to solve the murder. And it’s at first glance that he falls head over heels for Taylor.
Like all Tessa Bailey heroes, Myles pretty much wants to wrap Taylor in bubble wrap and keep her away from any danger. Little does he know - but soon does he find out, lol - that Taylor has no intention of staying safely at home and enjoying her vacation. No, she’s gotten a taste of what it feels like to be brave, and she’s ready to solve this murder!
I really liked Taylor; she was so funny and corageous and awesome. Plus, she sang Kelly Clarkson in the shower, which brought us closer. 🤷🏻♀️
Myles, though. He was… too much. His whole personality was growling and taking antacids (🤔) and manhandling Taylor. He was less like a human person and more like a caricature. It made the book really hard to get through, honestly.
My favorite part ended up being the murder mystery. Tessa really nailed it with the plot twists and the suspects and the rich characters. I kept coming up with theories that were shut down every time, lol.
I’m very sorry to be one of, like, three people who didn’t love this book, but I’m very happy for all of you who completely disagree with me! 😂
One thing about Tessa’s books is that the heroes are always very (VERY) over the top - just growly, broody, very tall humans who become completely obsessed with the heroines within seconds of meeting them. And, sometimes, that works really well (hello, It Happened One Summer) and sometimes it’s very annoying (this, unfortunately).
Our heroine is second-grade teacher Taylor Bassey, who decides to take her brother on a beach vacation to cheer him up after his favorite panda (from the panda sanctuary he works at) dies of old age. Okay, this part I did love, lol.
It’s all going very nicely, but, when they get to the rental house, they have the unfortunate luck of finding the owner’s dead body in the laundry room. Gunshot wound to the head. Lots of blood. Very traumatic.
There comes in Myles Sumner, the hot, scary private investigator hired to solve the murder. And it’s at first glance that he falls head over heels for Taylor.
Like all Tessa Bailey heroes, Myles pretty much wants to wrap Taylor in bubble wrap and keep her away from any danger. Little does he know - but soon does he find out, lol - that Taylor has no intention of staying safely at home and enjoying her vacation. No, she’s gotten a taste of what it feels like to be brave, and she’s ready to solve this murder!
I really liked Taylor; she was so funny and corageous and awesome. Plus, she sang Kelly Clarkson in the shower, which brought us closer. 🤷🏻♀️
Myles, though. He was… too much. His whole personality was growling and taking antacids (🤔) and manhandling Taylor. He was less like a human person and more like a caricature. It made the book really hard to get through, honestly.
My favorite part ended up being the murder mystery. Tessa really nailed it with the plot twists and the suspects and the rich characters. I kept coming up with theories that were shut down every time, lol.
I’m very sorry to be one of, like, three people who didn’t love this book, but I’m very happy for all of you who completely disagree with me! 😂
November 16, 2024
Tessa Bailey, the queen of dirty stories with pretty covers.
I've read enough books written by her so far to know that there are only two reasons someone could like her stories: they didn't have their Wattpad phase - and/or they never got behind it - or someone really needs to get laid.
It's not a flaw, but imagine this same book with one of those covers with shirtless men on it. How many of you would have read it? I'm honest enough to say I wouldn't, and this is how publishing houses trick us.
First of all, I'm not a fan of the love-at-first-sight trope because being good-looking doesn't necessarily mean you're attractive. What will happen when you'll get old and you'll start having grey hair and your boobs won't be the same? I'll tell you: divorce.
A good example of my theory is that Myles is pretty attractive and good at sex, but reading his pov made me uncomfortable a couple of times.
But all the things I can say about this novel - the narrative, the descriptions, the characters - fade away in comparison to the true meaning of the story: sex.
I've never experienced something like that so… is it actually possible? They met two hours ago and they’re so horny they can't even stay put in the same place without touching each other. I'm not sure I’d like a stranger to lick my belly after I talked to him once, I don't care how much I'm attracted to him. And it just escalates until they finally have sex.
I don't mind it, I do think Tessa Bailey is great at writing erotica, but it's so obvious that it's the plot of the book. Not Taylor and Jude’s little holiday, not the mystery murder… the plot is these two having sex.
And it has to be a cliché, or what is even the point? Myles is tall and grumpy, but so sweet on the inside; Taylor is short and cute - so cute -, but she's also smoking hot and she wants a Man.
From their long excruciating monologues, we learn the two main topics from the beginning: he's dangerous and she's wife material; she's too good for him, and since he looks and talks like a bad cop from the 80s he could probably fuck the hell out of her.
Fun fact: I felt less uncomfortable when I read Fifty Shades of Grey. Let's be clear: most of the time Myles doesn't think with his brain, but what the hell were those thoughts while they were having sex?! If a guy would express these types of thoughts in such moment I’d just disappear from his life, end of the story.
My opinion is that the author just wanted to use her potential in writing great sex scenes. And even if there's nothing bad about it, the plot suffers the consequences of that.
I don't think it's a bad story, I didn't dislike it, but when you close the book and think of what you’ve just read you realise it wasn't that good. Myles is not that hot and Taylor is a caricature of the classic good girl.
Maybe the next one, Tessa.
↠ 2 stars
I've read enough books written by her so far to know that there are only two reasons someone could like her stories: they didn't have their Wattpad phase - and/or they never got behind it - or someone really needs to get laid.
It's not a flaw, but imagine this same book with one of those covers with shirtless men on it. How many of you would have read it? I'm honest enough to say I wouldn't, and this is how publishing houses trick us.
First of all, I'm not a fan of the love-at-first-sight trope because being good-looking doesn't necessarily mean you're attractive. What will happen when you'll get old and you'll start having grey hair and your boobs won't be the same? I'll tell you: divorce.
A good example of my theory is that Myles is pretty attractive and good at sex, but reading his pov made me uncomfortable a couple of times.
But all the things I can say about this novel - the narrative, the descriptions, the characters - fade away in comparison to the true meaning of the story: sex.
I've never experienced something like that so… is it actually possible? They met two hours ago and they’re so horny they can't even stay put in the same place without touching each other. I'm not sure I’d like a stranger to lick my belly after I talked to him once, I don't care how much I'm attracted to him. And it just escalates until they finally have sex.
I don't mind it, I do think Tessa Bailey is great at writing erotica, but it's so obvious that it's the plot of the book. Not Taylor and Jude’s little holiday, not the mystery murder… the plot is these two having sex.
And it has to be a cliché, or what is even the point? Myles is tall and grumpy, but so sweet on the inside; Taylor is short and cute - so cute -, but she's also smoking hot and she wants a Man.
From their long excruciating monologues, we learn the two main topics from the beginning: he's dangerous and she's wife material; she's too good for him, and since he looks and talks like a bad cop from the 80s he could probably fuck the hell out of her.
Fun fact: I felt less uncomfortable when I read Fifty Shades of Grey. Let's be clear: most of the time Myles doesn't think with his brain, but what the hell were those thoughts while they were having sex?! If a guy would express these types of thoughts in such moment I’d just disappear from his life, end of the story.
My opinion is that the author just wanted to use her potential in writing great sex scenes. And even if there's nothing bad about it, the plot suffers the consequences of that.
I don't think it's a bad story, I didn't dislike it, but when you close the book and think of what you’ve just read you realise it wasn't that good. Myles is not that hot and Taylor is a caricature of the classic good girl.
Maybe the next one, Tessa.
↠ 2 stars
December 14, 2022
"From the first second I saw you to the last second I'm given. Stay with me. Watch me prove it."
This was a fun rom-com and mystery about love, second-chances, being true to yourself and being courageous. Taylor is a second-grade teacher who wants to have a relaxing vacation in Cape Cod with her brother, but when a dead body is found in the rental house Taylor's plans change. Taylor wants to help solve the mystery, but the bounty hunter, Myles who is on the case doesn't think that Taylor can help. Will Taylor and Myles solve the crime? Will Taylor help Myles believe in love again?
This book was so good!! This book is told from Taylor and Myles' point of view. I was transported into this wonderful book from the very beginning. I really liked the mystery aspect in the book, it was fun trying to solve the crime along with the characters. I loved the characters so much. I love Taylor, she is stubborn, sweet, smart, brave, and helpful. I loved that Taylor showed herself and others that she is brave. I'm in love with Myles, he is so hot, protective and sweet once you see past his hard exterior. I also really liked Taylor's brother Jude, he is such a great guy and brother. The chemistry and sexual tension between Taylor and Myles was amazing. The banter between Taylor and Myles was so good! The only thing I didn't like was the insta-lust to love between the characters. The ending was so cute and good! I'm so glad it ended on a happy note. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic comedies and great characters.
This was a fun rom-com and mystery about love, second-chances, being true to yourself and being courageous. Taylor is a second-grade teacher who wants to have a relaxing vacation in Cape Cod with her brother, but when a dead body is found in the rental house Taylor's plans change. Taylor wants to help solve the mystery, but the bounty hunter, Myles who is on the case doesn't think that Taylor can help. Will Taylor and Myles solve the crime? Will Taylor help Myles believe in love again?
This book was so good!! This book is told from Taylor and Myles' point of view. I was transported into this wonderful book from the very beginning. I really liked the mystery aspect in the book, it was fun trying to solve the crime along with the characters. I loved the characters so much. I love Taylor, she is stubborn, sweet, smart, brave, and helpful. I loved that Taylor showed herself and others that she is brave. I'm in love with Myles, he is so hot, protective and sweet once you see past his hard exterior. I also really liked Taylor's brother Jude, he is such a great guy and brother. The chemistry and sexual tension between Taylor and Myles was amazing. The banter between Taylor and Myles was so good! The only thing I didn't like was the insta-lust to love between the characters. The ending was so cute and good! I'm so glad it ended on a happy note. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic comedies and great characters.
June 13, 2022
This wasn't bad. I had swore off Tessa Bailey books because of her writing style and how cringy her s&x scenes were, THEN she decided to put out a murder mystery and I love stuff like that. I decided to give her a second chance.
Here's what's difficult: she is getting better and less cringe as time goes by when it comes to romance, but for a muder mystery? This was so so incredibly and torturously:
I fell asleep five times trying to read a 200 page romcom. Something ain't right.
I thought I'd be here writing about how awful her FMC was, and how cringe the relationship was but, not really. She nailed those this time.
These two together were funny, sweet and they had some chemistry.
It gets a little repetitive at the end with the whole: I don't do relationships bit.
He is the NO commitment guy, he calls her bridezilla, but he finds himself deeply and emotionally attracted to her and he tries to avoid those feelings the entire book.
We had some good side characters, like her brother. He was a great non-stereotypical gay character (I hate when authors write a gay character to be extra gay. A guy who knows everything about clothes and nails and uses annoying language.) No, her brother was just a random cool guy who happened to be gay and I respect that.
The relationship was sweet, funny and surprisingly way less cringe than what I expect a Tessa Bailey book to be.
However, I picked this up in the hopes that a murder-mystery romcom was going to be super exciting and hilarious, and it wasn't.
So yeah, 3/5. Didn't hate it, but also not crazy about it either and will probably forget all about this book tomorrow.
NOT GONNA LIE THO: I am happy to see that romcom authors are getting out of their shells and trying to do something different, out of their cookie cutter quirky fmc, broody mmc, small town shabang. Please, keep this up. I am sick and tired of reading the same story packaged in different cartoon covers. So this gets points for creativity.
December 8, 2022
this was my face the entire 2 hours it took me to read this book:
myles was popping antacids like it was fruity vitamin c candy. i just wanna know who is gonna take responsibility for the excessive amount of tums that I'LL have to take after reading this??
i for the life of me can't understand why there are so many 4-star and 5-star ratings for this book. even on a good day this can't be more than a 2.5.
that insta-lust to insta-love journey over five days is wild but what's even more wild is every single myles chapter. usually i'm screaming at the top of my lungs for dual pov. in this case - i would beg the author to get rid of the myles chapters.
why was he so unsettling from the start?? he was stealing her panties on DAY ONE?? and not like oh she left them at his place. he STOLE HER UNDIES and then left his business card.
i'd immediately call the flop police of this town on him. it also makes sense that he's an ex-cop. (i refuse to elaborate but iykyk)
the writing style is atrocious. i genuinely paused 50 pages in and tried to figure out if this was like a ghost writer situation. they're both cartoons - like not for a second did i picture these two clowns as real people. they're as cardboard as you can make them. also it's 2022 please stop using the word 'buns' as a serious way for grown adults to refer to buttocks please!!
and the smut? where's that guy from a few years who was squirting lemon juice in his eyes for clout? that's sounding really appealing right now.
is it a rom-com if there was barely any rom and the com made me desperate enough to want to watch a couple snl compilations??
when i started adding popular books to my tbr - i put basically half of (the evil side of) tessa bailey's collection on my library request list. i regret this everyday.
my favourite thing about this book was that taylor thought myles had ugly tattoos.
myles was popping antacids like it was fruity vitamin c candy. i just wanna know who is gonna take responsibility for the excessive amount of tums that I'LL have to take after reading this??
i for the life of me can't understand why there are so many 4-star and 5-star ratings for this book. even on a good day this can't be more than a 2.5.
that insta-lust to insta-love journey over five days is wild but what's even more wild is every single myles chapter. usually i'm screaming at the top of my lungs for dual pov. in this case - i would beg the author to get rid of the myles chapters.
why was he so unsettling from the start?? he was stealing her panties on DAY ONE?? and not like oh she left them at his place. he STOLE HER UNDIES and then left his business card.
i'd immediately call the flop police of this town on him. it also makes sense that he's an ex-cop. (i refuse to elaborate but iykyk)
the writing style is atrocious. i genuinely paused 50 pages in and tried to figure out if this was like a ghost writer situation. they're both cartoons - like not for a second did i picture these two clowns as real people. they're as cardboard as you can make them. also it's 2022 please stop using the word 'buns' as a serious way for grown adults to refer to buttocks please!!
and the smut? where's that guy from a few years who was squirting lemon juice in his eyes for clout? that's sounding really appealing right now.
is it a rom-com if there was barely any rom and the com made me desperate enough to want to watch a couple snl compilations??
when i started adding popular books to my tbr - i put basically half of (the evil side of) tessa bailey's collection on my library request list. i regret this everyday.
my favourite thing about this book was that taylor thought myles had ugly tattoos.
June 9, 2022
See, this could've been something if the murder mystery was the only thing going on, but the romance had to ruin it.
Taylor is cringy, but Myles is even worse. And together? They're the cringiest couple that has ever dared to cringe.
I think if we only got Taylor's PoV, MAYBE the romance wouldn't be so bad. But instead we got a dual PoV and being in Myles's head was not a good time. I would smack him with the poor jellyfish that stung Jude. And no, the jellyfish didn't do anything to me, but the point still stands.
This man meets her, and immediately thinks about her in sexual scenarios, but it's not even that, it's that it's not sexy, and it's supposed to be sexy, since this is a romance novel.
Then that same day he licks her stomach area and STEALS HER PANTIES which he goes on to keep in his pocket and feels them until she steals them back days later. HOW IS THIS HOT AND NOT CREEPY???
And then there's the typical "they want each other but she wants a relationship and he doesn't so they shouldn't be together but they are oh so attracted to each other that they just can't help it" until they eventually admit their feelings and solve the mystery. Hurray.
I think Tessa Bailey could write a good thriller, the potential is there, but the characters would have to be dramatically different. I'm hoping that the rest of her books are different, because I've been meaning to read them and I'd prefer not to hate them, you know.
2 stars only because it wasn't totally terrible (the mystery) and it's easy to read.
Taylor is cringy, but Myles is even worse. And together? They're the cringiest couple that has ever dared to cringe.
I think if we only got Taylor's PoV, MAYBE the romance wouldn't be so bad. But instead we got a dual PoV and being in Myles's head was not a good time. I would smack him with the poor jellyfish that stung Jude. And no, the jellyfish didn't do anything to me, but the point still stands.
This man meets her, and immediately thinks about her in sexual scenarios, but it's not even that, it's that it's not sexy, and it's supposed to be sexy, since this is a romance novel.
Then that same day he licks her stomach area and STEALS HER PANTIES which he goes on to keep in his pocket and feels them until she steals them back days later. HOW IS THIS HOT AND NOT CREEPY???
And then there's the typical "they want each other but she wants a relationship and he doesn't so they shouldn't be together but they are oh so attracted to each other that they just can't help it" until they eventually admit their feelings and solve the mystery. Hurray.
I think Tessa Bailey could write a good thriller, the potential is there, but the characters would have to be dramatically different. I'm hoping that the rest of her books are different, because I've been meaning to read them and I'd prefer not to hate them, you know.
2 stars only because it wasn't totally terrible (the mystery) and it's easy to read.
June 16, 2022
i'm not usually in the business of being mean to authors but i think tessa bailey just needs to Stop
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