I became an instant fan of Tessa Bailey when Fix Her Up came out and since I’ve recently gotten into Schitt’s Creek, I figured this would be right up my alley! And it completely was! I was not disappointed at all with what I was given nor shown anything other than what I’ve grown to expect from a Tessa book. It was sexy, steamy, and full of laughter!

Piper was way more dimensional than I initially thought her to be from the first couple of pages. I honestly thought she’d start as a 100% airhead but she had depth to her to begin with and it was so amazing to see her grow but also except and celebrate her own awesomeness. She was vivacious, funny, caring, and honestly, smarter than she gave herself credit for. Her relationship with her sister Hannah was honestly my favorite part as well. She not only stood up for her younger sister but always, ALWAYS, put her first.

Brendan, on the other hand, was very one dimensional. Rough and tough fisherman stuck in his ways. He literally had no appeal to me other than he worshipped the ground Piper walked on and was sexy in the bedroom. Other than that, to me, he had no personality. What you see is what you got with him, which is fine, but I really wish he’d had the chance to have more of a shine personality wise in this book, though I get why because it’s more a book for Piper than for them as a couple.

The story itself also takes the course over a month so I really felt as if the timeline of the romance was a skosh too quick. I can’t remember how long the timelines were in Tessa’s other books, but for some reason this one just really stood out for me. Piper moves to Westport, falls in love with Brendan to the point of moving in, and discussing babies all within the span of a month. That’s just…fast. I do have to give it to Tessa for not ending the book with them getting engaged and married, though. That’s a nice change from most contemporary romance that I’ve read lately.

All in all, solid story. Wonderfully funny humor, great cast of characters, growth, SISTERLY LOVE, and steamy sex. Would definitely recommend.

It Happened One Summer is a book I was so excited to read. First, it's by Tessa Bailey, an author I love. I can always count on her to make me laugh. Second, it's set in my home state. West Port, Washington is a place I've been to a few times over the years. My first reason for wanting to read this book worked out well. The second, not so much.

The whole "it" rich girl trope was a lot of fun. Piper was definitely a fish out of water when arriving in West Port. I loved how she had to learn how to survive without her wealth and the people who helped her along the way. Her relationship with Brendan was fun and full of steam. I liked their enemies to lovers path. He was a gruff fisherman who was a sentimental man underneath it all. They balanced each other well and their relationship made me happy. The romance of this book was well done, earning the 4 stars. 

Now, West Port....

THIS BOOK IS FACTUALLY INACCURATE.
West Port is a cold, dreary place most of the year. The Washington coast has cold water. I know I'm SPOILING something here, but Bailey has a typhoon from Alaska hitting West Port. A TYPHOON?!?! There has never been a typhoon to hit WA in my lifetime, nor has there been one that I could find historically when researching. There are wind and rain storms that hit the coast, but the water wouldn't be warm enough for a typhoon. This happened toward the middle of the book, and I couldn't get over it to fall in love with the rest of the book. I wish Bailey had done more research on the climate of the Washington coast.

A Schitt’s Creek-inspired romance? Yes, please and may I have seconds? This author has clearly found my catnip. Which could be why I liked Piper as much as I did. Because a character so vapid and self involved as Piper, would normally be a huge turnoff for me. But between imagining Alexis, and the hints of a deeper side (her love for her sister and feelings of not belonging), Piper stayed just this side of likeable.

And then there was Brendan. I vacillated between thinking he was a bit OTT in how he fell for Piper, and thinking he was incredibly romantic and sweet and I wanted one of my own. For someone that was hostile to Piper on their first meeting (somewhat understandably), he ended up falling for her fairly quickly, but it actually felt natural and not insta-lust/lovey.

There were some great, romantic moments <spoiler>Brendan building the pergola for the bar before asking Piper out</spoiler> and then some really cringey ones <spoiler>Piper showing up to Brendan’s wife’s memorial with shots and yelling about partying or riding the unicorn into her “return” party.</spoiler> In all I thoroughly enjoyed this book while I was reading it, but I waited a few days to write this and had to go back and remind myself of stuff. But it was still fun and enjoyable.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Piper is a fashionable, influential and has a reputation as a wild-child. Her step-father decides to cut her off and sends her to a small town to fend for herself.I

This was a fantastic book. A different type of romance. A spoiled rich girl and a devout fisherman. Could they ever reach a place where they could exist together and still keep their own independence? Very interesting characters. Loved the small fishing brown. I recommend this book.

After Hollywood socialite Piper breaks into the Mondrian hotel, she is sent to the Pacific Northwest for three months as punishment. While there, she meets a very sexy and gruff ship captain named Brendan, and sparks fly.
I never realized I needed Schitt’s Creek fanfiction starring Alexis Rose, but here we are. Tessa Bailey has stated that Piper is based on Alexis Rose. While the tension slowly builds up (the first kiss isn’t until halfway through the book), the rest of the book is absolutely sizzling with desire. Both characters experience significant growth; Piper learns that her past life, while fun, had no meaning and solid relationships, and grows to love living in Westport, Washington. Brendan, a widower of seven years, realizes it is possible to love again, to fall deeply, utterly, and madly in love with the most gleefully chaotic woman he has ever met.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romance. I forgot how much I liked Tessa Bailey’s books and this one is serving up emotion and steam in one package.

Spoiled city girl meets surly small town boy - it’s hate/lust at first sight that quickly turns into more. Not only was this romance off the charts hot but the character development in this one was top notch. We really saw our main character, Piper, learn to believe in herself and grow. I also loved all the secondary characters and I’m already looking forward to the next installment. A must read for romance lovers!

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

Egads this was hot. Piper is fun. Brendan is a little grumpy, but a great guy.

together? Well, have you read Tessa Bailey? If you have, you know what happens when the characters get together and their attraction and chemistry just work.

As the blurb says, this definitely feels like Schitt's Creek...not only in the fish out of water story, but also in the way Piper comes to love and be accepted by the town, while they also come to lover her. It's a story about finding what you didn't know was missing, and as you get to know both Brendan and Piper, you learn that they are both dealing with things in their past that make them reluctant to move forward, but also make them crave the connection they have with one another.

Add in a few colorful characters and the additional drama of learning to live in a totally different world and you have a book that is charming, fun, and hot.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

While I have read and loved many of Tessa's books, this is by far my favorite! And it's probably going to be one of my all time favorite romcoms too (that's how much I loved it!). Readers, if you like Schitt's Creek, this is the book for you! Although I must say this is even BETTER than the show! Highly recommended!

This was a super fun read! I live in the Pacific NW so it was especially enjoyable because I recognized so many of the place names. I appreciated the character development in this book, it’s a reminder that you can’t judge someone from outward appearances alone. The relationship between the two sisters was lovely, and the relationship that developed between them and the town as they discovered their roots was so endearing.

I really really enjoyed this book! I read the first 80% in one sitting and was internally screaming from cuteness the entire time. The ending wasn't my fave as it relied on a trope I'm not fond of and is over-used in romance books (but perhaps that is to be expected?).

The male love interest is a gruff manly man who is set in his ways and his life is shaken up when Piper, a socialite, comes to his small town. I really enjoy this dynamic of grumpy man and sunshine girl. Some of the romantic elements felt a little cringey to me but that's mostly a me problem, not a problem with the book itself.

Overall, I think fans of light and fluffy romantic comedies will like this and it would also be a good introduction to the genre for someone looking to start into romance!

This book was one that I was sooooo excited to get approved for. I adore Tessa Bailey and was so ready to read and review this book.

It did not disappoint. And it honestly was NOT what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be your classic enemies to lovers, but it really wasn't. They weren't that big of enemies. Were they opposites? Definitely. But neither of them seemed to hate each other once they got over their initial differences.

Piper was such a great character. You relate to her and all her insecurities. You sometimes just want to wrap her in a hug. But don't worry because Brandon treats her like the queen she is. He is such a dreamboat. It was honestly really nice to see a male character that wasn't terrified of commitment and who was actively pursing the girl he liked.

Also, do not let the cartoons on the cover deceive you, this book is SPICY. Like you might not want to read it in public. It is very open door and pretty intense lol. I didn't hate it.

But seriously, I can't recommend this book enough. Pick it up when it comes out in July!

When you read something that feels really good you want to hold on to it forever. I kept finding myself do this with It Happened One Summer. Let me just start by saying that a book that has not only one of my favorite Rom-Coms of all time as the inspiration for the title and the main characters was a sure-fire success for me right from the get-go. If you're not familiar with It Happened One Night starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert then please watch it after you devour this book.

I can't say that I didn't despise Piper in the beginning. I totally did, but the best part about trusting an author is letting them shape the character before you. Piper Bellinger's character growth, her honesty, her kindness, hit me in all of the best ways. And then there's Brendan Taggart, who I swear to God, made me want to uproot my whole life to find a small sea-shanty-esq town and find myself a handsome sea captain who also could double as one of the stars of "Deadliest Catch." But regardless, I enjoyed the two characters' dynamic and vulnerability, and what it means to feel something for someone so deeply that you don't know how to properly talk about it.

If you are looking for a fabulous summer beach read, I swear you will love It Happened One Summer.

As I began tor read this, I could tell early on I didn’t like the main character but I didn’t give up and I’m glad. This was s a great story and the character arc in Piper was refreshing. I enjoyed getting to know the quaint town and all the characters. There was a lot of depth to this story and I was pleasantly surprised. A little too R rated in some parts but overall al great story. Thank-you for the advanced copy!

Schitt's Creek was my favorite show ever, and this is the romance that it inspired. I ADORE Tessa Bailey already but anyone new to her books will love her after this one. She's a must read author. Loved this!

Typical Tessa Bailey fare: an entertaining plot, a satisfying love story, and two characters you can't help but root for. I wouldn't necessarily buy this for the HS teen crowd as it's an adult romance, but I'd be happy to recommend it to any school staff wanting a light, enjoyable romance.

I’ll admit, it took me awhile to get into this one. At first I found it hard to relate to Piper (and in many ways I couldn’t!), but eventually I fell in love with how vulnerable tge characters were.

After that, I couldn’t wait to get to this book each day! Even though I didn’t have high hopes at first, it ended up being such an enjoyable read!

Rating: 4/5
Laughing Score: 2/5
Crying Score: 0/5

Plot: Piper is a fashion influencer who is the life of the party, thanks to her reputation as a rich socialite. After one event gone wrong, Piper’s step dad cuts Piper off and ships her to Westport, a small town on the coastal in Washington where her father was from. Hannah, being the loyal sister that she is, joins Piper on her adventure of going to run her late father’s dive bar. When they get to Westport, this dive bar that has been ‘well maintained over the years’ is nothing that they expected and neither was gruffy sea captain, Brendan.

My thoughts: I found myself loving this book and story, but there were certain characteristics of the characters that drove me crazy. I could not help imagining the show The Simple Life with Paris HIlton & Nicole Ritchie, when I thought about Piper and Hannah When I thought about Brendan, I thought about Jack from Revenge. These characters added a lot to the story, and were fun to read about, but at some points I felt like it was too much. I found Piper to be very endearing, and I liked reading her story and seeing the real sides of her. I thought her and Brendan were cute together, and their relationship read like it could be a movie. There’s something beautiful about romance novels centered around small charming towns like Westport, and the people who find themselves there. This was my first Tessa Bailey book and I will definitely be reading more!

It Happened One Summer comes out on July 13, 2021. It’ll be a perfect beach read :) Thank you @netgalley and @avonbooks for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. Tessa Bailey is one of my favorite romance authors and she does not disappoint with the start of this new series. The characters are sweet and complex, and the comedy felt organic. It would be easy for Piper to be a spoiled rich girl who everyone hates, but the complete opposite happens. The reader falls in love with her almost instantly, as does the grumpy Brendan. This book is steamy and also super emotional, as there are some serious themes of grief which I was not expecting. If I have one gripe with the book it is that the blurb kind of sets up a lighthearted rom-com and, while this definitely has those moments, it also is pretty heavy at times as well. I think the author does a great job balancing these themes, but I also think it might be helpful for readers to know what they're getting into before picking it up. Overall though, I loved it. I've already re-read it!

I’d liken this book to a Bravo reality show (or Schitts Creek) meets Deadliest Catch. A socialite/influencer ends up in a small PNW fishing town, and of course falls in love with a gruff fisherman. There’s some emotional backstory and family issues for both Piper and Brendan, and the story is generally fast moving. The steam is of course 🔥🔥🔥/🍆🍆🍆 given that is TB. Thankfully while Brendan is an alpha male, he isn’t an alpha asshole from the earlier days of TB. If you’ve enjoyed her Fix Her Up series, you’ll enjoy this one as well. It’s an enemies to lovers story, and has some great banter and the chemistry is off the charts. It releases in mid July this summer, and would be a great distraction to pickup before hopefully heading on a summer vacation.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely love seaside tourist towns. Westport sounds like the ideal place to live for me, even if it wasn’t for Piper!

My two favorite things about this book were Piper’s growth throughout the story, and her relationship with her sister. Although I’m astounded whenever I read about rich no-longer-kids that can’t do anything for themselves since they’re used to daddy’s credit card paving the way, Piper and Hannah didn’t stay that way for long. I loved reading about them working together to figure out what to do with their time in Westport, and I loved how Piper so easily made friends there.

I guess the trope here would be opposites attract. I enjoyed Piper and Brendan’s relationship, and how she was able to pull him out of his seven year funk following the death of his wife. Brendan also helped Piper find herself outside of the party scene of LA. I thought they balanced each other out pretty well and ended up being a good fit.

The sex scenes in this one were a little too over the top. I’m all for a steamy sex scene, but in this case it felt like they were trying way too hard to be sexy and just turned out awkward and forced. I sent a screenshot of a particular salad-tossing scene to my boyfriend and a friend to laugh about, because it just was so unnatural and unsexy. Also if anyone ever referred to my vagina as my “entrance” in real life, I guarantee you I would vomit. If you’re the sort of reader that prefers closed-door romance, this one is definitely not for you.

Overall, I enjoyed this quick little romance. I could picture myself in Westport, and overall enjoyed the characters. I read on Goodreads that this was inspired by Schitt’s Creek, so if you’re a fan of the show then this is the rom-com for you! I’m excited to read Hannah and Fox’s love story next, coming in 2022!