I have read four books by Tessa Bailey and this one was by far my favorite. This is a classic fish out of water rom com that I could not put down. I was up until 2am finishing it last night. Piper is a spoiled rich girl who lives her life through her pictures on Instagram. When a wild hotel party goes wrong and lands her in jail, her stepfather decides it’s time to make her stand on her own two feet and sends her back to the small fishing village she was born in Washington. The author noted that Piper was heavily drawn from the character of Alexis in Schitt’s Creek and I definitely pictured her the entire time. She was just as lovable as Alexis and I am glad the character finally got her happily ever after. Brendan is a grumpy widowed fishing Captain who has been living his life in a routine. When Piper and her sister show up in town, he can’t help but be drawn to her and the chaos surrounding her.

Brendan and Piper had incredible chemistry and I loved their banter. It Happened One Summer was filled with sexy sailors, lovable sisters and a charming little village. There were some laugh out loud moments and also some really touching ones. Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good romance. I can’t wait for Hannah and Fox’s story next!

Piper is a spoiled rich girl is banished to a small town where her flaws magically become endearing, and she unexpectedly finds love. "It Happened One Summer" is a light but steamy romance.

I haven't watched the show Shitt's Creek which the author noted she heavily drew on for the development of Piper's character and wanted to give her a "happy ending." So, I am unsure if the character's quirks can be attributed to the television character or the author's invention. The naivety of both Piper and Hannah about real life is a bit hard to stomach--but they are all likeable enough.

The story is likeable enough.

This was probably the best book I've read by Tessa Bailey. Usually her writing style is not to my taste, but I really enjoyed this one. Piper was incredibly likable, despite being a bit vapid and shallow. Brendan was a good character, too, and the romance was believable and cute. These books, however, are not for everyone as they are usually a bit naughtier, so this would definitely be a recommendation but not for those who only want a light romance. I'm looking forward to Hannah and Fox's story. 4 stars.

I DNF this one. I could not get into at all. I thought for sure once Piper was cutoff I would have been able to relate to her more and enjoy her character. Not the case for me so I ended up quitting this one - I didn’t even skip to the end to see how it ended because I just didn’t care.

Tessa Bailey elevates Schitt$ Creek fan-fic to a higher level in her latest book. She does a great job writing her character's banter.

Enjoyed this book, especially as a kickoff to my 2021 reading challenge. It was light and fun and a quick read, but still had some heavier tones that felt somewhat relatable. Would recommend to other chick lit lovers!

I really enjoyed this book! I've read other books by Tessa Bailey. I loved the inspiration for this one from Schitt's Creek. I enjoyed it!

Tessa Bailey's new Schitt's Creek inspired romance is a sexy romp through a small fishing village fraught with hot sailors, endearing sisters, and life lessons at every turn.

God, where do I start with this one? I have been in need of a good romance FOR AGES. And this one DELIVERED 🙌 It checked all the boxes for me.

1. Characterization ✅
2. Smut & Spice ✅
3. Humor ✅

The spicy scenes had me sweating, I kid you not. Brendan was the ultimate beanie-wearing dream. Piper was such a refreshing character who definitely broke the pretty airhead stereotype. She was so kind, I loved her! And did I imagine Brendan as Sailor Henry Cavill from Man of Steel? Probably.

Who am I kidding? I did. I definitely did.

I loved Hannah's sass, Fox's douchey quips, the quirky townspeople, and Piper and Brendan above all else! This was such a fun ride, and I can't wait to read about Hannah and Fox's story 🧡that book can't come soon enough!

Big thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager for sending me an ARC copy of this book!

Admittedly, I've had some struggles with Bailey's books in the past. Her Hot 'n' Hammered series was a very long journey for me. I was super close to really enjoying It Happened One Summer, but there were a few execution choices that made that difficult.

This is definitely a personal preference, but I love when authors let their novel's dominant trope just breathe for a bit. This was supposed to be enemies-to-lovers story, but Piper and Brendan stopped being enemies far too soon—and were ~enemies~ for relatively mundane reasons to begin with. There was a real missed opportunity to let them stew in that mutual dislike a little bit more, considering how juicy the premise was. If they're supposed to be enemies, let 'em hate each other for a bit!

Additionally, there's obviously been a lot of hype around the comparison to Alexis Rose from Schitt's Creek. But I think the very critical difference—and one that makes more sense for a long-running TV show—is that Alexis' growth took place slowly over six seasons; Bailey makes the case that Piper's similar transformation happens in a matter of days and weeks, and I just don't think I was as convinced in the process. There were so many fantastic sections in this book where Piper was showing growth, but they just came far too quickly and therefore tipped into "unearned" territory.

And of course, it wouldn't be a review of a Tessa Bailey novel without addressing the steam: This book, in my opinion, is even dirtier than Bailey's Hot 'n' Hammered series. I've always had trouble with her sex scenes and often just thought they weren't my taste, but I've read far dirtier things in other books without issue at this point and wondered why I never struggled as much with those. I think the problem, which felt a little clearer to me in this one, is that the sex scenes don't match the characters' personalities and backstories. Sex can obviously bring out a different side of people than how they present in daily life, but the whole time I was reading, I kept thinking, "This is a well-done and dirty AF sex scene but just...not for these two people." They weren't cringe-y in a traditional sense necessarily; they just felt mismatched.

Overall, I liked this book, but I don't think I quite loooved it, if you get what I mean. And obviously, a lot of this is preference: I adore a slow-burning journey over something quick 'n' dirty.

Content warning: Widower, mentions of parental death

I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in one sitting. Piper is a shallow, self-absorbed, selfie taking influencer who finally goes too far and is banished by her stepfather and mother to Westport, a small fishing town. She and her sister have to stay there for three months and run their late father's bar. Supposedly it's been managed by a caretaker since his death, but it's obvious when they arrive, the man didn't do his job. Now they have to fix it up and try to make enough money to live on.

Brendan is a grumpy sea captain who is at first amused by these clueless women then exasperated. While they're fine to look at he doesn't want anything to do with them. Unfortunately, they are the daughter's of the deceased town hero and so he feels obligated. Slowly Piper gets under his skin and their relationship develops. I recommend this hilarious, sweet, sexy, good read.

This book was just what I needed to get me out of my slump. We first meet Piper as she gets dumped by yet another boyfriend. Piper is the epitome of a LA socialite. When she takes her antics a bit to far her step-father sends her to Washington State to learn the value of the dollar, she isn't there for 5 minutes and she meets Brendan, a fisherman. Brendan we learn is a widower.

I thought this was a wonderful book and I can't wait for the series to continue and learn about Hannah, Piper's sister.

Except: Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who’s cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town... where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong.

Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar... in Washington.

Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.

Review: I adore Tessa Bailey's books and I was so excited for this one. I really liked the town of Westport and the characters were so fun and interesting. And I loved Brendan, he is the best character and definite book boyfriend material. I didn't like Piper as much as I wanted too but she had a lot of shining moments, and I could not be more excited for Hannah's book coming next!

I love rom coms especially Tessa Bailey’s.

Piper is sent to Westport, Washington after getting into trouble in LA. Her sister Hannah comes along as well. While there Piper meets Brenden a local sea captain who’s not impressed with Piper. As they continue to see each other in town they start to become closer.

This was a really great read and I thank NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for this arc.

Just by the title and summary, I was already so pumped to check out this new Tessa Bailey because she does her niche so well that'll always have me hooked. Here, Piper is a socialite slash Hollywood "It" Girl who's been cut off from her family after the wild child twenty-something gets arrested. Not only that, but her millionaire stepfather cuts her off and exiles her to a small fishing-centric beach town in the Pacific Northwest. In this "Schitt's Creek" inspired rom-com, while stuck in this small town, she bumps into a surly yet sexy local fisherman called Brendan. They butt heads at first, but after they keep running into each other all over town, it's clear there's something between them that is too palpable to ignore. It sounds like so much fun, and this book totally delivers! In this exile from her stepfather when he cuts her off, Piper is sent to run her late biological father's dive bar in town with her younger sister Hannah. Soon after her arrival, she meets sea captain and widower Brendan who doesn't think this spoiled princess can survive here for even a week. She's determined to prove she can, and a delicious enemies to lovers plot is born. She keeps running into Brendan all over town only to discover that while they are polar opposites, he's also a nice and friendly guy. They have such an undeniable pull to one another in this indulgent story that's chock full of witty, compelling language that draws me in. This book, with its dual perspectives, also explores the hidden depths of each character. Piper is also digging into her dead dad's, who she barely remembers, past while Brendan is attempting to finally move on with his life. Once these two figure out who they are and how that grows, it's such an all-consuming type of love, and I'm pretty sure I'm obsessed. This book is so frothy, vulnerable, sexy, intense, and fun! It's so much and I'm loving it. I'm just so into this read that I cannot put it down and ended up devouring it in a single sitting. I totally feel all of the zings from reading, and then, by the end, it's just so cute! I just cannot wait for the sequel to read all about Hannah'+Fox's story next! I need to read this like four more times right now because I just can't stop thinking about one.

I am so obsessed with Tessa Bailey's books. She has a pulse on what the industry and readers alike want and that is pure sexy romcom goodness. That is exactly what we got with It Happened One Summer. I love, love, loved Piper and Brendan. This was the perfect opposites attract sexy goodness we have come to expect and die for from Bailey.

Ahh! When Beverly Hills party girl Piper Bellinger's life falls apart, she is exiled to a small town in the Pacific Northwest and meets grumpy fisherman, Brendan, who turns her life upside down. These two opposites butt heads and hilarious hijinks ensue. But when they take a closer look at one another, they realize they have more than one thing in common.

I LOVED this story. It was sexy and heartfelt and uber steamy (this is from Ms. Dirty talking Bailey of course.) I loved the heat and the tension between them but loved how Brendan and Piper were perfect for one another. This story was pure excellence! 5 stars! ~Ratula

Piper and Brenden were hilariously awesome!

After her life snowballs into one massive mess Piper finds herself in a new town trying to connect with her roots and learn a lesson! What she didn’t count on was the broody, sexy fisherman who she wanted to slap and kiss at the same time!

I love the lessons that both Piper and Brendan learn through the story and the fact that any changes are because each wants to be the best version of themselves not because they have too!

I love this story, this town and these amazing characters!

Two words, Vaginal Orgasm…

Those two words had me hooked. It was steamy and hilarious all at the same time.
I want to write more about this book, but I feel like those two little words covered it all.



I cannot wait for the next addition in this series.


***I received an advance digital copy from Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyage in exchange for my honest opinion.***

*ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a lot of Tessa Bailey books so far and can seriously write a good romcom.
At first, I know heroine is more a party girl but as the story progresses, we get to peel back Piper Bellinger’ layers and she ends up being an endearing and whimsical character.
Brendan is grumpy fisherman, I liked him immediately and his character arc was also done nicely.
When the two meet, they instantly form misguided opinions of each other but there is this underlying serious heat between them as well.
Their romance of opposites attract is a bumpy but fun ride.
I was so invested in Hannah and Fox and can't wait for their book.
It Happened One Summer was a light hearted and super fun romance full of swoon and sizzle. With plenty of banter, endearing secondary characters, and a deliciously entertaining plot.

I was looking for a fun, light-hearted rom-com to ease my mind and heart, and It Happened One Summer was just what the doctor ordered! Described as “Schitt’s Creek inspired,” and I couldn’t have said it better myself. What could possibly go wrong when a wild, fashionable Beverly Hills “It Girl” is exiled to the Pacific Northwest and meets a rugged, brooding fisherman? Magic, that’s what!

Punished by her step-father for an unforgivable indiscretion, spoiled, pampered Piper Bellinger is dispatched to the fishing village of Westport to live for three months in a run-down apartment over an old bar. Grumpy sea captain Brendan wants nothing to do with her; he just wants to simmer in his own miserable fish stew. Unfortunately for Brendan, he is soon captivated by Piper and realizes that the outside doesn’t match the inside, and he has to know more. On the other hand, Piper can’t be distracted from her end game of returning to California and doesn’t want any attachments.

If you are a Schitts Creek fan, or even if you are not, this is a lovely read. It was so much fun to watch the cold, gruff and burly fisherman woo the beautiful, flighty, yet good-hearted Piper. Who do you think will possibly win the end game? I went back and forth on the rating; four stars, no five stars, no four. Well, damn it, girl, you utterly enjoyed it, so four and one-half stars rounded up to five! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. #netgalley #ItHappenedOneSummer

Publication: July 13, 2021

A trust-fund Hollywood fashionista meets a crab king fisherman widower in a town small enough that everyone's business is everyone's business in Tessa Bailey's upcoming romcom?
That right there is all the review It Happened One Summer needs.
Just go read it and smile the day away.