Hello Tessa Bailey!!!

I was very excited to receive a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley, I had read Fix Her Up when it came out and loved it so I was hopeful I'd love this too. It did not disappoint!

From the start of this book I knew I'd like it. In the opening acknowledgments Bailey mentions she based Piper off of Alexis from Schitt's Creek, one of my favorite shows and characters! Add in the setting of a town next to the ocean and fisherman, I was sold.

It Happened One Summer is a story of a spoiled rich kid who gets into trouble and is sent to a small fishing town where she was born to learn a lesson. Piper and her sister Hannah go to this town with plans on trying to get back to LA as soon as they can, but in true Hallmark fashion, things don't go as planned.

I loved this book! Plain and simple! The characters are fun and all have their own personalities. The side characters were all so wonderful, wish we got more of Abe and Opal. I also wish we had seen more of Hannah, but the end of the book cleared that up with a bonus scene and announcement of Hannah's story coming next year and I can't wait for it!!

I also loved that this was in both Piper and Brendan's POVs. Being inside both of their heads at different points in the story really pulled it all together for me.

The only complaint I really have is the use of "Baby" but that is 100% a me thing, not a story thing.

I was left wanting so much more and I'm excited to be back with these characters in Hannah's book, but I'm still wanting more of Piper and Brendan!

Overall, I loved this and also found out with this that there are two more books that follow after Fix Her Up, so I think I know what I'm going to reading soon!

Piper is a spoiled rich girl who lives off of her step-father's wealth and hops from party to party trying to stay relevant. When she gets arrested her step father teaches her a lesson by sending her to a small fishing town where she has family history. Can Piper learn to be self sufficient or will she go running back to LA the first chance she gets? And will the sexy fisherman who thinks she is a joke help her find herself?

Piper is a wonderful lead character. Much like Alexa from Schitt's Creek, she is vacuous, spoiled, self-centered, and clueless. The true strength of this character is not that she "learns her lesson and changes completely" it's that she actually DOESN'T change completely. We learn to love Piper and watch her personal growth, but she retains a large part of who she always was. She still has weaknesses, but we also see the strengths born from being a party-girl. This is ballsy writing and it is magnificent writing.

Brendan is also complex and well-written. We see his positive characteristics, that he is dependable, loyal, and steady. But those characteristics also hold him back. His struggle with loyalty to his past is fantastic to read since we see both sides of that personality trait. It is so much of what is good about him, but also something he needs to grow through.

This book is filled with funny moments, engagingly flawed side characters, un-preachy life lessons, and a small town you will fall in love with. Oh yeah. And did I mention how FREAKING HOT this book is? Because you will need to prepare yourself for the steamy scenes in this book! It's definitely a NC-17 rated read.

This is such a great read from a great author!

I really enjoyed this, in the "you don't have to change or fit a mold to find your place" and it reads like a raunchy Hallmark movie, but it was a little long for what it was so I got bored around 60% and had trouble finishing, but picked back up around 75%. Also the phrase "recharging station" was SERIOUSLY overused. Fun book though.

This romcom page-turner gives us all hope for warmer, more carefree days. I loved Piper and Brendan's story; the LA party-girl and the grumpy fisherman start out as enemies, but their relationship journey is adorable and both characters are extremely likeable. Piper's step-father banishes her to a coastal village in Washington after she gets arrested, and she is tasked with fixing up her family's pub. She and her sister, Hannah, get to know the locals in the village, including the company of crab fishermen who regularly brave the dangerous Bering Sea near the Alaskan Coast. They also try to learn more about their father, who died during a fishing expedition when they were toddlers. It Happened One Summer is heart-warming, fun, and steamy--the perfect antidote for the winter blahs or the perfect companion for the pool or the beach! Be sure to add this one to your TBR--it releases July 13th. I am already looking forward to the sequel! Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the librarian preview.

**Review to be shared on IG within 60 days of publication date**

After a scandal and a night in jail, party-girl Piper is cut off from her step-dad’s money and sent to the small town where she was born to learn responsibility. When she arrives to the town, and the nameless bar her father left her and her sister when he died, Piper meets Brendan, a hot but grumpy local. The two are polar opposites, but despite neither of them wanting to like the other, they can’t deny the chemistry between them.

When I read the description of this book and saw the main character was inspired by Alexis from Schitt’s Creek, I was immediately sold. At first Piper annoyed me so much, and felt way too stuck on herself but she very quickly grew on me (much like Alexis did in Schitt’s Creek) and he character development was fantastic. The chemistry between Piper and Brendan was incredible (this book also gets very steamy) and the way they spoke to each other was so sweet. They might be one of my favorite fictional couples. After reading this one I already can’t wait for Hannah’s story to come in 2022!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It Happened One Summer will be released on July 13.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Tessa Bailey is back and better than ever. A spoiled socialite is thrown into a new world (ala Schitt's Creek style) and collides with a stony fisherman and changes both of their lives. With a steamy romance and wonderful secondary characters this rom-com is full of laughter and heart.

After an over-the-top (even for her) shenanigan in LA, Piper, an apparently flighty, shallow rich girl, gets sent away to a small, seaside town in Washington state. Her step father hopes she’ll “grow up” in the new environment which also happens to be the town where Piper and her sister lived when they were very young. This book, while quite predictable, is a satisfying, light read in something of a Prince and the Pauper-ish way. Piper and her sister meet the locals (most notably for Piper, a handsome fishing boat captain), reconnect with the community and discover new personal strengths. What’s not to like?

Piper is insta-famous. She knows how to throw a party, has millions of followers and travels in all the social circles in LA. When a party gets out of control, Piper's stepfather cuts her off from his finances. Turns out Piper's late father had a bar in a town called Westport in the Pacific Northwest and Piper's stepfather is putting Piper in charge for a few months so she can understand how to be a more responsible adult.

Brendan is a no-nonsense sea captain. He has specific rules he follows and doesn't like to deviate from routine. Piper comes through Westport and throws a wrench into all of his carefully laid out plans. Piper and Brendan immediately start off on the wrong foot. Brendan doesn't think she'll last more than a few days. Piper has had it with the men in her life telling her that she isn't good enough or strong enough and is determined to make it in Westport.

I loved the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance in It Happened One Summer. The chemistry between Brendan and Piper was evident from the moment they set eyes on each other. The slow progression from enemies, to friends, to lovers was done so well. I love that Brendan and Piper took their relationship slow. They got a feel for each other and truly got to know one another. As usual Tessa knows how to bring the steam and Brendan and Piper were hot hot.

Not only was I charmed by Piper and Brendan, but also by every side character in It Happened One Summer. I loved the sisterly bond between Piper and Hannah. They were truly there for one another at all times no matter what.

If you're looking for a sweet and sexy grumpy meet sunshine, slow burn romance - pick up It Happened One Summer when it releases July 13, 2021.

I would rate It Happened One Summer between a 4.5 - 5 stars. I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book.

This was my first Tessa Bailey book and I must say that it did not disappoint. After a scandal causes Piper and her sister, Hannah, to move to their mother's hometown of Westpoint for ninety days, she thinks that her life is ending. Westpoint is a tiny fishing town where everyone knows everyone and you cannot get a cell phone signal to save your life. Piper ends up staying in a tiny efficiency apartment above a bar that their mother owns. The bar is supposed to be taken care of, but instead has fallen into disrepair and Piper is traumatized that she has to go from her posh life to that if sharing the efficiency with her sister. To see Piper grow though and realize that there is actually more to life than parties and who's who of society is a terrific story. Watching her change Brendan's opinion of her and watch him fall in love with her and what she has become is an endearing story of its own.

I really loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to read a funny rom-com!

When Piper's stunt goes too far, lands her and jail, and threatens the financing on her step-father's movie, she is banished to her father's hometown in the pacific northwest. There, along with her sister Hannah, they find themselves living in a one room apartment above their father's old, abandoned bar. Brandon is NOT impressed when these two LA women barge into the bar and interrupts his life. And he keeps bumping into the gorgeous Piper wherever he goes. Sparks inevitably fly and Brandon and Piper have to deal with a new relationship with the reality of her returning to her life in LA always looming. Can their new relationship survive the drama (which does seem slightly manufactured and silly).

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an EARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is UNDOUBTEDLY my favorite Tessa Bailey book to date, I cant believe I have to wait another year for the sequel! Going into this book having read the Hot and Hammered series and reading the synopsis, I wasn’t sure if I’d like it. I had liked Fix Her Up but the others weren’t as good for me. The synopsis mentions Schitts Creek which I don’t really like (sorry) and I was worried I was setting this book up for failure, but I still wanted to give it a try. I’m SO happy I did! This book had everything I want in a romance: steam, banter, and lovable characters. I immediately was immersed in the story and felt a lot of empathy for all the characters, even the spoiled main character, which is a testament to how well this story was written.

First, let’s talk about the steam. I have read Tessa Bailey before so I was expecting to be impressed, but my expectations were blown out of the water! There were many very steamy, descriptive scenes, that were very well done. I was slightly let down by this in the last romance books I’ve read so this was super refreshing.

Now the banter/laughs. I felt like the characters in this book had great chemistry and I found myself laughing a few times in this book. It didn’t feel forced and it made this book a much more enjoyable experience. It also made me really look forward to the next book (give it to me now)!

Lastly, the characters!!! I loved them all so much. Usually there’s at least one main character I don’t care for but I really loved them all in this book. They were all so great in their own ways and made this book very individual and sweet. It’s the kind of cast that makes me SO excited for the rest of the series, and I think this will be a new favorite romance series for me.

I love Tessa Bailey's books and this one was really fun! SUPER steamy with a male main character that was sweet and loving, I love the journey the Piper went on to discover herself and really become the woman she was meant to be.

Thank you so much to Avon Books and Netgalley for providing an arc of It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey in exchange for an honest review.

It Happened One Summer is written by Tessa Bailey and is published by Avon Books. Before reading this, I knew very little about Tessa Bailey and her brand of fun, smart, and sexy happy ending romance. This year, I wanted to open my reading arms to more genres I tend to avoid and having binged Schitt's Creek with my boyfriend. I was sure this would be the book for me. Marketed as a Schitt's Creek-inspired rom-com, readers are introduced to socialite Piper Bellinger.

Upon starting, Bailey introduces Piper through the lens of a breakup. She is characterized as a sensitive person who doesn't understand why people think she's a privileged air-head. It's through this mental anguish that Piper decides to throw an extravagant party that involves breaking into a hotel and skinny dipping. It's fun and simple. The real meat of this story is when Piper's Hollywood director step-father sends Piper to the fishing town of Westport, Washington to stay where her mother is from as punishment for her hotel stunt. He believes that Piper needs to be stripped of her wealth and learn the value of money. Unfortunately, I don't think the exploration of Piper's relationship with money is thorough enough. It does not have the care and nuance you can see in Schitt's Creek. The writing is weak and Bailey has Piper's step-father give her a small set of money that she can use to start up in that town. It feels like an easy way to offer surface-level comparisons to the hit show without really exploring a growth with Piper. There are some mentions of budgeting and not eating out often sprinkled throughout the novel but it was severely disappointing that it wasn't a focal aspect of the narrative like readers are lead to believe. 

When in Westport, there is a burly, strong fisherman named Brendan who is the other protagonist. He seems to be a stereotypical example of masculinity. Although, Bailey characterizes him as someone who is incredibly flawed, sensitive, and caring. There is a small inkling of the enemies to lovers troupe from the first moment Piper meets Brendan. He sees that Piper is not cut from the same cloth as most people in this town and dismisses her as a waste of space. While reading their initial sequences, it was thoroughly enjoyable to see Piper stand up for herself as she learns how to work and do things for herself. Bailey makes sure to put readers into both Piper and Brendan's heads so we can view their growing feels for each other.

What ensues is a great exploration of hurt, healing, and steamy intimate scenes. As Piper and Brendan fall for each other Bailey explores the concepts of true love vs earned love. Brendan has many emotional barriers that are broken down throughout the novel. Before Piper, he was married to a woman who was the exact opposite of Piper and had died. Brendan has lots of external forces still expecting him to honor his ex-wife and not move on. The connection that Bailey writes between Brendan and Piper is as addicting to readers as they are to each other.

Each page makes you root for the main couple more and more as they approach the main conflict of Piper needing to go back to California at the end of her punishment. With such a ticking time bomb inserted into their relationship, the third act of It Happened One Summer is organic and moves quickly. Many romances usually have a central conflict whether it is a misunderstanding or their first argument but having both Brendan and Piper grow as people together who discuss what their options are is refreshing. There is still a misunderstanding that occurs between them but it isn't because of what they say to each other but rather a circumstantial monkey wrench.

Aside from their character growth, the atmosphere and secondary characters of It Happened One Summer is as delightful as the main romance. Since Westport is a fishing town, there were multiple locations Bailey had her characters explore. We were treated to a fishing trip with Brendan and his crew. Piper's sister explored the local town's business strip and volunteered at a record shop (since she was very fond of music). Her sister even has hints of a budding romance with one of Brendan's crewmates that could make for a very promising sequel (I hope that's what those interactions were written for). The townsfolk, while initially skeptical of the Bellinger's, accepted and integrated them into their life and culture of Westport. There were instances of Piper renovating the living space she was staying at which was the town bar called No Name. She connected to her past through familial locations and memorials to her father. Bailey had fun writing her characters and as a reader, you can tell. 

All in all, It Happened One Summer is a short and sweet whirlwind contemporary romance that mostly delivers on the promise to make a steamy and happy romance novel. Piper's journey is not as deep as I would have personally liked but it was still an enjoyable ride to see her and Brendan fall in love with one another.

When I read the blurb for It Happened One Summer, I was immediately drawn in (anyone who is a Schitt’s Creek fan would be) - who wouldn’t want to read an Alexis Rose like story? Well, heads up - the comparison ends quickly.

We first meet Piper (a too well off Instagram Influencer) as she is being dumped by her boyfriend of three weeks. Piper and her followers break into a hotel and throw a huge pool party which ends her up in jail and in bad terms with her stepfather. He subsequently cuts her off for three months by sending her to a small boating town in Washington so she can figure out her life (and learn much about her unknown roots).

We meet characters along the way, which I wish were given more development (specifically her relationship with her grandmother Opal, and her sister Hannah - who we find out will have her own book, next) as I feel those relationships could have given more depth to the story. And we are introduced to fisherman Brendan and some of his crew.

The love-hate relationship between Brendan and Piper is quickly developed and their affair begins - this is where the book loses stars for me. I’m no stranger to love scenes, and romance books - but the tones, verbiage between the two just doesn’t match up with their characters. It was honestly, just too much for me at times. I really loved the overall story line - I thought there was a lot of opportunity for this to be a five-star read for me but the sex scenes just killed it for me.

This is my first Tessa Bailey book, and I haven't watched Schitt's Creek, and the main character is loosely based on Alexis Rose, so I came into this book with absolutely no point of reference (maybe in a good way!)

Piper Bellinger is a Los Angeles socialite with toooo much money and toooooo much time on her hands. After getting into a spot of trouble with the law, Piper's stepfather packs her off to the tiny town of Westport, Washington to renovate and run the dive bar left to her by her deceased father as "punishment." There she meets grumpy fishing boat captain Brendan and both of their world's get turned upside down as they navigate their feelings for each other and the vastly different worlds they come from.

This book was intially giving me strong Bergdorf Blondes vibes, which I absolutely loved. Honestly everything was going great until the sex scenes started and I was like *SCREEEEECH* what is this!?! The Piper and Brendan of the majority of the narrative just did not match up with the Piper and Brendan doing the weird "dirty" talk they were doing. Dear reader, I have absolutely read racier scenes than these, but something about them was just making me go 😝. Way too much infantilizing "honey" and "baby" stuff thrown around for my taste. I have never said this about a romance novel before in my life, but if these scenes had abruptly faded to black the book might have been better for it.

All that aside, this book had a lot of things going for it. I enjoy the combination of a effervescent (if slightly vapid) heroine and a grumpy hero. And boy do I love the way a little danger heightens a romance, which certainly is present here. I liked how we got to see Piper's growth as a person, although it did come on a little abruptly.

The central trope of this seemed like it was supposed to be an enemies-to-lovers, but they certainly weren't enemies but for a hot second. I would have liked to see a little more development of the trope before the payoff. The main plot point of Piper needing to renovate the bar was absolutely paper thin, but did its job fine.

In conclusion, I liked this book just ok. It was funny and smart and the characters had great chemistry when they were upright, but the number of times I went 😝 was just too many for any more than three stars.

There were parts that I loved and parts that I didn’t like about Piper and Brendan’s story. I loved initially how they met and got to know each other. The ending pulled at my heart strings but I felt like everything happened so abruptly. Also the sexy-times didn’t feel like it matched their personality, specifically brendan’s. I am looking forward to Hannah and fox’s story though!! I might be even more excited about their book than this one, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for that one.

I love a good enemies to lovers romance, and I absolutely love Alexis Rose from Schitt’s Creek. After realizing that It Happened One Summer was an enemies to lovers story featuring a heroine modeled on Alexis , it became a must read for me. I have to say, I haven’t enjoyed a rom-com this much in quite a long time. It was cute and fun (not to mention sexy). Both Piper and Brendan were like able and well developed characters. My only wish is that I would have liked to see the relationship between Piper and her mom explored a bit more. Other than that, it was perfect. Highly recommend!

Anything claiming to be inspired by Schitt's Creek is an automatic read for me. This was a wonderful summer novel. More to come in this review, closer to the release date.

It Happened One Summer is a gorgeous summer read. I knew I had to read this book because Tessa Bailey took her inspiration for Piper from Alexis from Schitt’s Creek. Seriously, if you threw in a few “boops” and “ew, Davids” Piper could have been season 1 Alexis. Piper is an it-girl who hides her sweetness behind a façade of sparkles and sass.

Brendan is the opposite of Piper. Down to earth and hardworking. The combination of these two mean clashing turns to sparks. The heat level of this book is a little more than I usually read in books from Avon and honestly it didn’t really fit with the characters, especially Brendan. I’ve read dirtier books but the sex scenes in this felt more vulgar because it was in such a sharp contrast too the sweetness of their natures.

This book has all the hallmarks of a small-town romance including a wonderful cast of side characters. From Abe to Opal to Mick to Daniel to Marueen. They all felt like fully dimensional people. I do wish a few more of the side stories involving secondary characters had been resolved fully. Hopefully those stories will be completed in the course of the upcoming book(s).

This was my first book by Tessa Bailey and I will happily read Hannah and Fox’s story when it comes out in 2022.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute book!!! I loved all of the characters and the small town setting. I really enjoyed Piper and Brendan's journey. This was funny, angsty and I truly enjoyed it.. It is a perfect summer read. Can't wait for the next story!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.