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.

As a huge Schitt's Creek fan, I absolutely loved this book! Tessa Bailey was able to capture the complexities of a character like Alexis Rose and have you whole-heartedly rooting for her HEA.

Well, I loved this. I loved Tessa Bailey's Fix Her Up books, and this was just as hot, but also funny and goofy.

Piper is a spoiled little rich girl who spends her time shopping, partying, making bad decisions and posting it all on Instagram for the world to see. But when a very public breakup leads to an even more public arrest her movie mogul Stepfather decides to teach her a lesson once and for all and effectively cuts her off by shipping her to her (deceased) father's hometown for three months to learn some responsibility. There she is confronted by the reality of her own shortcomings, the legacy of a father she's never known and a sexy but surly Sea Captain determined to keep his distance.
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I'm sure it comes as a surprise to absolutely NO ONE that I loved this book. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to a good Rom-Com, but this one really checked all my boxes.
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✅ Enemies-to-Lovers
✅Small Town
✅ Alpha Male with a big heart and a tragic backstory
✅Tessa Bailey
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Ever since randomly grabbing Fix Her Up last year I've been obsessed with Tessa Bailey's books, so when I saw this on on Netgalley I couldn't request it fast enough!

I LOVED this book! I feel like the story opened it's broad arms and admitted me into the recharging station that I needed so far in 2021. It was cute. It was sweet. It was heart-wrenching. It was steamy. It was everything!

I received the book for free from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

This is why you give authors another chance. I didn't love my last read from Bailey (part of the Hot and Hammered series). But I snagged this book because it was inspired by the character of Alexis Rose from Schitt's Creek. Piper is the epitome of the Hollywood rich girl who is famous for being famous. After she leads a rooftop party to get the ultimate Instagram photo her step father says enough. He cuts her off and sends her to a dive bar in the small fishing village of Westport that was left to her by her father. He hopes she'll learn responsibility. Her younger sister Hannah bravely decides to go with her in support. Piper is genuinely kind but is a fish out of water. Brendan is a handsome, grumpy fishing boat captain and a widower. His run ins with Piper brings out his protective side.

This is a fun rom com. Lots of humor and nothing overly serious. I loved the little jaw dropping price mentions like a gift of a Rolls Royce for a birthday. I was surprised at how emotionally attached I became to the characters and especially saddened at Piper's final disillusionment making her lose her sparkle. There are some hot steamy scenes which oddly didn't fit my image for Brendan who was still wearing his wedding ring after seven years. And I would have liked to have seen her changes acknowledged by her parents. Overall a fun read and I can't wait for the sequel to learn Hannah's story.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for a ARC ebook in exchange for a honest review.

Entertaining rom com but I hated how Brendan kept calling Piper baby. Why did this annoy me so much? I didn’t really like him very much but I love Piper and I wish we had spent more time at the bar and with the townies.

This is by far my favorite from Tessa Bailey. I finished it all in one go.

Piper is one of LA's most famous party girls. After getting dumped by her ex-boyfriend rather publicly, she decided to pull off a crazy revenge stunt that lands her in jail. Her movie producer stepdad ships her off to Westport, where her mother and father lived prior to her dad's death. Her younger sister Hannah decides to accompany her and together, they slowly learn to do things on their own and meet friends they didn't think would come to accept them. But a local fisherman/captain named Brendan isn't making life easier for Piper. He swears she won't last a single day in his town.

I thought this story was cute and hilarious. Piper was the perfect lead character for a plot like this one. She is your typical Hollywood socialite. Her growth was endearing to watch. Even her voice sounded exactly like those in rom-com movies. Brendan too was hot and grumpy and so set in his ways that you can't help but cackle at his little slips. Even though things between them escalated quickly, the chemistry was definitely A+ and so was the steam. What I loved best was Piper and Hannah's relationship, and I can't wait to read more of Hannah in the next book. Already, I ship her and Fox.

Overall, this is something you've probably watched or read several times before, but it still was a complete joy to read.

Thank you Netgally and Avon and Harper Voyager for the earc!

3.75/5 stars!

After a breakup led to disaster, the heroine's stepfather ordered her to go to her late father's bar to recuperate. With her sister in tow, the heroine returns back to her childhood hometown and meets the hero. The hero doesn't want want the heroine in his town, but can't help but be there for her as he is attracted to her. Though duty and loyalty to certain townspeople keeps him from acting upon said feelings, how long will he stay away before he succumbs? And after spending some time in the town, will the heroine stay or will she return back to her old life?

Like any Tessa Bailey book, this one is a steamy read. The characters has flaws, but they are redeemable. Like how the heroine was first introduced until her metamorphosis during her stay at her childhood hometown. And how the hero was set in his ways but also changed a bit as he lets the heroine into his life. There were also secondary characters that supported the couple, like the heroine's sister and the hero's best friend, who I look forward to reading in the next book. I do feel like certain parts of the story needed more details for closure, but that's a personal preference. Overall this is a nice Tessa Bailey book and I look forward to reading more from the author.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.**

Great light read. Brendan and Piper were a polar opposite individuals that eventually find love unexpectedly. 

I love that Brendan acts like a man and not just your usual guy. He was quite a gentleman that is a bit grumpy (I would've love a more grumpier hero 😂) that do not know how to verbally express his interest  towards Piper so he showed it towards his action. 

I love Piper's relationship with her sister, they were a power duo. I noticed that Daniel plays only a little part in this story,  yet it seems that he has better relationship with them as compared to their mother who was better off being dead because she doesn't show any care.  None at all. 

I love Piper's sparkle and Brendan's care Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

Tessa Bailey does it again!

Between laughing, crying, and butterflies in my stomach I couldn't put this book down! Tessa Bailey can do no wrong in my eyes!

Piper Bellinger is the definition of spoiled Hollywood party girl and after a breakup which results in some very questionable decisions, she ends up in a small town named Westport along with her sister, Hannah.

Brendan Taggart is the definition of a growly alpha. He is grumpy, bossy and all kinds of sexy. He is a resident of Westport and when he and Piper meet sparks fly and our romance begins! Without giving too much away, I loved seeing Piper go from spoiled little rich girl to putting down roots and learning the value of hard work. She has a huge heart and everyone slowly starts to see that.

My only complaint is towards the end there is a misunderstanding and from there the ending felt a little rushed. I'm also selfish so I wanted a longer epilogue but the characters of course got their HEA!

Nobody quite writes alpha males and love scenes like Tessa Bailey! (WHEW) If you're looking for laughs and romance, READ this book! I'm eagerly awaiting book 2 which will feature Piper's sister, Hannah.

**ARC provided by Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley for review.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Avon/Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an advance copy of Tessa Bailey’s latest romance novel, It Happened One Summer, in exchange for an honest review.

I am not one to go out of my way to read romance novels, so it no surprise that this is the first book I have read by Tessa Bailey. #ItHappenedOneSummer is promoted as a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com. I wish book blurbs would stop comparing themselves to other books or TV shows because I always end up disappointed. The closest this comes to Schitt’s Creek is that the protagonist, Piper, can easily be envisioned as Alexis Rose (at least initially), and that her love interest, Brendan, is comparable to Mutt Schitt. Other than that, the author must have lost focus on writing the characters in that vein, since around midway through I cannot unsee Piper becoming a whiny Jessica from Love is Blind. There, now I am guilty of TV comparisons too.

Overall, I would give this story a solid 3.5 stars, 4 stars for the first half. It starts off really strong and intriguing, and it is without a doubt going to be a solid beach read this summer. In a way, there are even some similarities to Emily Henry’s novel Beach Read, which was released last year. However, Piper’s sister, Hannah, seems like sort of a throwaway character (though readers will understand why once they make it to the “announcement” page at the end of the novel). I also felt like more could have been done with the grandmother, Opal, and potentially, having her mother and/or stepfather coming to visit. Again, I am not familiar with Ms. Bailey’s work, so I kept waiting for a Taylor Jenkins Reid-esque twist, or any twist at all really, but I understand that the author enjoys wrapping-up her stories on a happy note and that is completely fine; I just was not expecting it. So, if you enjoy fairy tale endings, then this book is for you.

As for the plot, the novel opens with LA party girl Piper being dumped by her current celebrity beau, Adrian, who has some scathingly honest words about who she is as a person, namely, a vapid rich girl who is famous for her IG stardom and her stepdaddy’s money. This leads to her being convinced by her faux friend Kirby to break into the Mondrian and throw an epic pool party, which lands her in jail. After her loyal sister Hannah bails her out, she returns home to discover that her stepfather is banning her to her childhood hometown in Westport, Washington, and that her mother is not going to defend her this time.

At 28 years old, Piper’s survival skills consist of knowing how to take perfectly curated selfies, applying make-up, and partying; she barely knows how to make toast by the time she reluctantly arrives in Westport. After making a quite a scene at the local No Name bar, which happens to be the bar that her father left to her and Hannah in his will, she catches the eye of a brooding sea captain named, Brendan, who unbeknownst to her at the time will change her life for the better forever.

Piper’s three month stay in Washington is a lesson in growing up and learning that there is more to life than posting selfies on social media. She forges a stronger bond with her sister, makes true girlfriends along the way, connects with her family roots, renovates her deceased father’s bar, and helps out members of the local community without seeking anyone else’s validation. Most importantly, she figures out how to fall in love with herself and gains a boyfriend who loves her for who she is, not just her looks and money.

Again, the book is a fast-paced and entertaining beach read, there were just a few choices at the end that dragged it down from a 4 to 3.5 for me. I do not know whether fans of Bailey’s or the romance genre will agree, so it might be best if you check it out for yourself instead. If nothing else, you will acquire some knowledge about the modern day fishing industry.