Oh how I wish this book was written in first person! I feel like novels with this type of story are best told from the heroine's perspective. I loved the blurb, the cover, and the idea for the story. I feel like this would be a 4 star read if it wasn't written in third person. I tried to push through it, but sadly, it ended up in my DNF pile.
Thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC!

Wow! Steamy and sexy! I loved this book!! It started off giving me flashback vibes to the old tv series The Simple Life with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie and turned into a fun, steamy love story! The character developments of Brendan and Piper were perfect. The chemistry between them was sizzling hot. I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out and see what happens between Hannah and Fox. This was the 1st Tessa Bailey book I’ve read and I can’t wait to read more of her books now! It’s was the perfect, light, feel-good romance book I needed!

Thank you Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Imagine if Alexis from Schitt’s Creek and Luke from Gilmore Girls got together. That’s this book.

Alexis...I mean Piper... gets in trouble with her LA friends. Her stepdad sends her back to her parent’s home town in a small fishing town in the PNW. She knows nobody. She doesn’t know how to cook. She doesn’t know how much anything costs. This LA “it” girl learns how to put down her social media and live in a fishing town.

It’s funny. It’s sweet. And VERY smutty. (Don’t read this in public. 🥵)

This might be my new favorite Tessa Bailey! It was the perfect escapist read to a cozy seaside town with a gruff fisherman and misunderstood socialite. Bailey wrote that she wanted to give Alexis Rose of Schitt’s Creek a happy ending through this book, and it really felt like that! This book was equal parts sweet and sexy, and had such a lovable cast of characters that I’m already looking forward to revisiting in the next installment of the series.

I’ve been in a bit of a funk. I’ve been starting a lot of books, but only finishing a few. I got frustrated not being into any of the books I was currently reading and started It Happened One Summer. I never looked back. All right, I did have a moment of whether I wanted to read a book written in the third person or not. I decided to persevere. This book took hold of me and didn’t let me go. It’s a classic bougie heroine having a fish out of water experience of being sent from a city to a smaller community. Plus a grumpy, adorable hero. I had a blast and can’t wait for the next book.

I voluntarily read an early copy.

I would have LOVED this book if I was 4-10 years younger. This was an incredibly graphic novel (which I loved), though overused the C and P words to the point where it was just uncomfortable. I liked the characters for the most part, though did find the story was unbelievable overall. I did really enjoy this book, though would not recommend to friends. Solid 3 star.

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.

WARNING: Some spoilers ahead

Oh dear. I think I might end up being in the minority opinion for this one. (But also, good for the author! I'm glad people seem to be liking it, because I don't want to diminish the work she's put into it. Writing a book is no easy task.)

When I first picked this book up, I was sure it was going to be a 5-star read. It was billed as a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom com, and lord knows that’s 100% up my alley. At the beginning of the story, it was clear Piper Bellinger was essentially supposed to be Alexis Rose (to the point where I pretty much just imagined her as Alexis for the entire book), but honestly, I loved that about it. It was fun. Piper made me laugh more than once.

That’s sort of how I felt for the first 40% or so of the book. Piper was cute, Her gruff love interest, Brendan, seemed cute, the romantic premise was cute. But then, after a certain point, it just seemed… off. The love I felt for the characters at the beginning started tapering away.

I’m going to say the problem here might be, at least in part, the pacing. Brendan very quickly went from “I can’t stand this girl” to “I need to protect this girl,” which was cute when I was in the process of reading it, but the conflict that was presented in the beginning seemed to disappear really fast. Their relationship moved so quickly, to the point where they were declaring their undying love for one another after knowing each other for two weeks (not quite at Romeo and Juliet’s level, but dangerously close!). Not to mention the characters just felt so needlessly dramatic sometimes, especially when the stakes really didn’t feel that high. Half the time I found myself quietly telling the book, “PLEASE calm down.”

Brendan especially was just A Lot. He acted like Piper going to LA, even for just a while, would mean losing her forever. He expected her to drop her ENTIRE LIFE for him and barely considered doing the same for her. And honestly? He was also kind of sexist, and more than a little possessive. Him cooking up all the ways to convince Piper to stay in Westport—and to brand her as HIS—sometimes felt kind of manipulative, even though I might not go so far as to explicitly call him that. Half the time I wanted to put down the book just to get away from him and his overbearing personality. I know Piper moved pretty quickly too, but for some reason it felt less overwhelming with her. (Now that I think about it, it's probably because she was more concerned with her own inner life and what she wanted than with trying to police Brendan's thoughts and actions.)

Honestly, I wish Piper’s connection to Westport had gone deeper than Brendan. I know we were TOLD it did—supposedly she had all of these rituals and relationships with some of the locals—but we never really saw them. And it’s funny, because usually when I read romance books, I find myself wanting to skip the non-romance related sections, but I actually felt the opposite way with this one. Maybe it’s because, after a while, the romance didn’t offer anything new—once Piper and Brendan were together, they had the same cyclical thoughts over and over again, just punctuated by sex. I would have preferred the author use that time to explore other aspects of Piper’s life, like her newfound connection with her estranged grandmother and even her relationship with her late father. (Seriously, what happened to that plot line? Piper made a big deal about how she felt like Henry had been forgotten by the people he loved, then quickly seemed to forget about him again.) Her character development would have felt so much more authentic if she’d been given the room to interact with the environment and her history in Westport more, not just her love interest.

But now I feel bad. I don’t want people to think this book is terrible, because it’s not. I read the entirety of it in two days, which I wouldn’t have done if I hated it. Quite simply, it just wasn’t for me, something I don’t think I fully realized till I got to the end. The storyline didn’t offer me much of what I usually look for, and honestly, Brendan and Piper’s relationship is the kind I would probably cringe away from in real life. But obviously this book spoke to a lot of people, and I don’t want to belittle that. I just want to point out that, if the things above are the kind of things that bother you, this book might not be for you, either.

So here you go, IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER: three stars for you, because even though you weren't exactly what i had in mind, we still had some fun times. Here’s to hoping I have a stronger connection with your spin-off novel (which was very obviously being set up throughout this book, even before I saw the announcement at the end, but I will withhold my judgment!).

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!

This book was perfectly described! I definitely got the feeling the Alexa Rose was popping off the page. I also love that the story also focuses on a sister relationship. Thanks again for the opportunity to read this early!

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.