This book was exactly what I wanted it to be and more. I loved Piper and how she both got to continue to be herself AND discover new horizons and goals in life. Don't even get me started on Brendan and his instantaneous attraction and subsequent devotion to her. I can't handle it. So good.

Piper Bellinger is heavily inspired by Alexis from Schitt's Creek, which is, despite my attempts, apparently not a show that can fully capture my interest and attention the way it has basically everyone else. But Piper? Piper captured me nearly immediately. She's accused of having no substance in chapter one and reading her processing that accusation is just fantastic and then everything that unfolds from there on is, in a word, captivating. And when grumpy Captain Brendan Taggert appears on page, my heart was ready. I am also obsessed with Hannah and can't wait for her book.

So, obviously, I'm a huge fan of this book and that's in large part because one of my favorite things in books will always be a person (usually a woman) really coming into her own. It's a journey I love reading about. And this book pairs a thing I love with a man who adores Piper the way she is and is totally content to spoil her because he doesn't find anything wrong with who she is as a person. I mean.... I loved that. Also, this book is very steamy so shout out to Tessa Bailey for i>that.

This book may not appeal to everyone though, so let's talk about a couple of things that may impact a person's enjoyment of this book. First, there is heavily gendered language used here equating biological sex to personality traits and it's real heavy in the sex scenes. Second, the conflict here is both so obvious you know how it's going to go and could definitely hamper one's enjoyment if one really doesn't like third act breakups or miscommunication. Third, if Alexis Rose annoys you, I wouldn't really recommend giving this book a try. Fourth, this book is pretty white and straight. Fifth, I would say that Daniel (step-father) sending his step-daughter to a small town to run a bar (???) was a weird choice and I'm still not sure Piper ever really understood like what things cost, but you know, who cares about the plot really?

But, for me, this book was a delight and I adored it. It was compulsively readable and I was laughing and also swooning and also I almost cried a few times. I've mentioned before how I like books that touch on grief and I thought this book was fascinating in how it included a few different grief storylines. I loved Opal so much. Hannah and Fox are intriguing as all get out. Also, this book said hugs have rights and I am here for that.

Content Notes: hospital scene, death of a parent, death of a spouse, death of a child, alcohol consumption, jail, fire, storms, explicit sex scenes

Comparing this to Schitt's Creek definitely got me invested. Just like Alexis Rose, Piper from "It Happened One Summer" grows in ways you don't expect, and her relationship with Brendan grows on your heart.

loved this romance and being in a new place and finding romance. He was quite a gruff man but had a heart of gold. loved the sister's relationship and fixing up the bar. I loved the friendship that happened first and then the romance. loved the wingman and meeting up with her sister. Overall I would read more books by her.

Oh wow. I really and truly love Tessa Bailey. So much. This book slowly stole my heart during the first half and then had me smiling like a huge dork for the remainder of Piper & Brendan’s story. They were so fun and cute. Piper is such an Angel and Brendan so swoony I think I stopped breathing a couple times. Highly HIGHLY recommend this one.

This book was so lovely! The story was incredibly engaging and the romance was sweet and sexy. The characters are all so loveable, and I just wanted the best for them all. If you're looking for a feel-good, heartwarming story, please pre-order this and pick it up! Tessa Bailey has weaved a cozy web of community that made me not want to leave this small town fishing village ever again! I will definitely be reading more by this author, especially the upcoming companion to this story.

This book was amazing!!! The family connections and secrets, the small town atmosphere, opposites attract trope with a little enemies to lovers thrown in, and grump vs. sunshine made this book a complete delight!

I loved Brendan. He was surly but solid and a complete cinnamon roll of a man! I loved Piper way more than I thought I would and it’s because the writer made us root for her and want to be her friend.

I also loved the side characters Hannah and Fox and am very interested to hear their story!

One of my favorite reads of the year, the perfect poolside read!

When I heard this was inspired by Alexis from Schitt's Creek, I knew I had to read it! Tessa delivers yet another super cute and steamy story!!

Piper is shipped off to live in Westport after a party that went too far. One of the first people she meets is a grumpy Sea Captain who is used to his routines which includes lots of Fish and Chips (not pot pie or a big city girl.) This had me craving Pot Pie even in 90 degrees weather. 😂

Brendan was such a hottie but also a big ol' sweetheart! The scene were he created an IG account was precious and funny! It was so adorable how he was so persistent with Piper. I do wish they had a little more of a slowburn, enemies vibe longer than just the beginning but it was still so fantastic and HOT! They had a lot of heated moments! 🔥

This was such a wonderful and light hearted romance that made the perfect lake read! Brendan and Piper were so ADORABLE! Definitely give this if you're a fan of Schitt's Creek or super cute romances!

A cute romantic take on Alexis of Schitt’s Creek falling for a gruff, but hunky sea captain. Piper is a rather shallow airhead, but somehow she attracts the love of a good man and grows in the process. If that sounds fun to you, you'll enjoy this light romance.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I loved this book! So so cute! I was completely
satisfied with the ending and fell in love with the characters. Piper’s character arc was so fun to watch and her growth was great. Brendan was so cute! I loved him.

I so recommend this for anyone looking for a good summer read.

I believe this is my first Tessa Bailey novel and I don’t know why I’ve not read her before! This was nearly perfection! I got my alpha hero and everything!

It’s funny as hell! Something I needed right now. I even loved the message of not having to change yourself for love. The writing is great, not a boring moment at all. My only gripe is Piper. I felt she could be shallow, and that’s not usually the type of character I like to read about, but I loved how her bubbly personality battled against Brendan and his moody butt.

There is some steam to this book for sure! Don’t let that sweet-looking cover fool you! I honestly thought this would be a more light steam book but man, am I glad I’m wrong! Because I just loved the sexiness so much!

Honestly, this was great, and I loved it!

***THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THIS TITLE***


Will go live on my blog: 7/01/2021

Another amazing Tessa Bailey book. I loved how this was inspired by Alexis's character from Schitt's Creek because she is amazing.
The romance was steamy and who didn't fall in love with Brendan the surly sea captain?
My only complaint is the romance happened a little to fast, I wanted more of a hate to love buildup but other than that I really enjoyed it!

3.5 Stars

Okay, I enjoyed this book. I did.

I *loved* the first 50% and was hooked from page one, but honestly, once the steam happened, I was pulled out from the book and lost interest fast. Not because I don't enjoy smut -- I do -- but the sex scenes felt *really* out of character for Brendan. Like, is this the same person??? I just...wasn't buying it. Hot -- just not right for those two characters. And the writing in those sections was just kind of...cheesy? Plus, there was like, obvious, gendered wording during the sex scenes that I know reeks of cissexism to many readers I've seen discussing the book. It made me v uncomfy.

Also, a few other reviewers mentioned this, but the enemies-to-lovers elements should have been drawn out a bit more. It would've made them finally getting together more satisfying if they'd hated each other for a bit longer and built that up.

Still a fun read, with a premise I thought was really swoony and fun, but not a slam dunk for me.

A thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

This was right on the mark for what I expected from a Tessa Bailey novel: sweet, character-driven, and extremely sexy. When I read that Piper was inspired by Alexis Rose, I needed to read this novel immediately. Piper really grew throughout the book and I loved that journey for her. Brendan was extremely gruff, but I connected with his need for routine and stability. The town was super cute and I honestly want to go visit! The one issue I had was with the more explicit scenes - they were super aggressive, which took me out of the story a bit. Overall, this was a super fun read that had me pulling for the characters and humming "A Little bit Alexis" all evening.

This story follows Piper - a Los Angeles socialite who got into trouble one too many times so her step father sent her away to a small coastal town in Washington state where her father left her a bar after his death. There, she meets local fisherman captain Brendan who seems to think she won't last a single night in town. But the two keep running into each other, Brendan unable to keep from helping her out of any sort of trouble and able to see through her defenses. The longer she stays in town and the more time she spends with Brendan, the more Piper starts to wonder if going back to LA is really what she wants and if maybe she's found her true self in Washington instead. This book was perfection. This is my first Tessa Bailey read and I'll be picking up more for sure. My absolute favorite trope is grumpy vs sunshine and it is *chefs kiss* done so well in this book. Piper does come across in the very beginning as a little shallow and spoiled but we are quickly shown she is more than that though her interactions with her more down-to-earth sister and her determination to prove everyone wrong. Along the same lines, Brendan is very rude during his initial interaction with Piper, but we see from his POV chapters that he was instantly attracted to her and doesn't know how to handle his feelings. He has routines for his routines but she doesn't fit neatly into any of the boxes he's built himself a life on. Their chemistry is electrifying and while Brendan leans into being a possessive alpha hero (which I love!), he is also very upfront and clear about his feelings and intentions and the two talk through their concerns. That talking also extends into the bedroom with some of the best written dirty talk I've ever read.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for review. Expected publication date is July 13. 2021.

It’s impossible for me not to pick up a Tessa Bailey and read it in one (or almost one) sitting, and this one was no exception. I was into the opposites-attract premise from the beginning, and parts of this kind of reminded me of a Nora Roberts contemporary, given the small-town vibes and the lead romantic interest who’s grown up his whole life there. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Piper at the beginning, and Bailey had a fine line to walk in making her privileged but likable too, but she was a character who had strength and compassion from the beginning which made her someone to root for. And don’t even get me started about Brendan the beardy sea captain, because as we all know, Bailey can write the heck out of a dirty-talking hero. There were some lines in this that genuinely bowled me over, and even if some of the plot felt a little contrived, I was too hooked on the story to really mind all that much.

content warnings: widowed MC (wife dies off-page/before events of book), moments of peril (storm, hospital scenes)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t come into this with huge expectations. I read Bailey’s previous trilogy and liked them, but didn’t love them. But with a Schitt’s Creek comp, how could I refuse? And I’m glad I did, this definitely had a lot of heart to it that made it a ton of fun to read. I liked how introspective both the protagonists were and - although I wished that the initial antagonistic stage of their relationship was a little bit longer - I really liked reading them as a couple. So I enjoyed this and am excited for the next book and Hannah’s story.

Oh my goodness!! She writes the best romance ever BUT this has to be the best one yet!! 200 out of 10!!! I loved every minute of it. It’s the best read of 2021

I’ve found my new favorite romance author! It Happened One Summer is a steamy rom-com that made me gasp, cackle, and cry throughout my entire reading of it. I am in love with both Piper and Brendan. Their characters really grew over the course of the novel, and the banter between the two of them was pure gold.

If you’re in search of the perfect summer romance read, look no further than It Happened One Summer. Scorned socialite is banished to her worst nightmare, the small and quiet seaside town of her childhood, where she encounters a grumpy boat captain that couldn’t be more opposite in personality and lifestyle. Yet he might also be her perfect match if he can just convince her to give small-town life a shot. This book has the perfect balance of plot, comedy, spice, and depth. Brendan’s lack of social media prowess combined with Piper’s tendency to commit social faux pas, made for many embarrassing laugh-out-loud moments on my end. I also have to give credit to the author, Tessa Bailey, for really doing her research and teaching me a lot about the tough and dangerous lives of crab fisherman in the Pacific Northwest. Brendan and Piper are definitely enemies-to-lovers couple goals, and their chemistry was off the charts. Seriously, the spice in this book is not for the faint of heart. The secondary characters were also well developed and I felt just as invested in their stories as those of the MC’s. I am already looking forward to the sequel and cannot wait to check out Tessa Bailey’s other works!

Rom-coms, rom-coms oh how I love them. This book was charming and entertaining. I enjoyed getting to know both Piper and Brenden, and following along as they navigate around each other. Super cute story.