Fox and Hannah were so much fun. There were things in the storyline that aren't my favorite but Tessa Bailey knows how to entertain! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.

The main characters were both so problematic in this story. Fox's insecurity problems had me rolling my eyes so hard it gave me a headache. Hannah kept saying she wasn't the main character in her own story so much I started to believe it honestly. Just not a fun read all the way around and the ending was done up way too hastily and so unbelievably.

Hook, Line, and Sinker (#2 Bellinger Sisters)
by Tessa Bailey
• contemporary romance

Rating: 4 stars

Hannah Bellinger, the smart, determined, more reserved sister of Piper, is in Westport for work and moves in with her friend Fox Thornton…who happens to be the local sexy crab fisherman with a bed-hopping reputation.

These two are just friends/roommates bonding over music when sparks start to fly. Hannah needs help from Fox getting the attention of her crush at work, but all that does is push these two out of the friend zone.

Thoughts: Oh boy was I feral for Fox….He’s a hot, tortured, reformed player with a bit of a dirty mouth in the bedroom *fans oneself. I felt for Fox constantly having to dodge his notorious playboy reputation. The sexual tension between the two love interests was so addictive!!! I finished this book within 24 hours (2 sittings). This is the perfect cute, hot, sweet, romcom! Tessa Bailey never fails for me.

Things to Note: friends to lovers, slow burn, small town vibes

Interest: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Heat: 3/5
Stand-alone: can read independently, but could come across mild spoilers for book 1.
Cliffhanger: no
Would I recommend: yes


*** I was given a copy of this book for an honest review by the author/publisher through Net Galley.

Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters #2). By Tessa Bailey. 2022. Avon (eBook ARC).

I’ve really liked reading some of Bailey’s books, but there have been some ho-hums for me as well. This book would probably be my least favorite to date. Fox has a lot of issues that he continually self-sabotages himself over. While this could be delved into, hopefully achieving realizations and healthy steps forward, thanks to friends, family and love interest; there is no growth or healing. This reminds me of Dominic’s PTSD not being really addressed in “Love Her or Lose Her.” So now there is a pattern. And Hannah is dull. I just couldn’t form an attachment to the characters or plot.

I am such trash for Tessa Bailey. The guys are always a little alpha and nothing I'd want in real life, but the spice is always spicing!

I absolutely loved this book and this series. I've enjoyed a lot of books by this author. I'm hoping to be better about reviewing netgalley books as I read them but I know this one was one of my favorites. I actually own the paperback now.

Thank you for the review edition.

This was a fun series to read. This one I felt wasn't quite as good as the previous one, but I enjoyed the whole series none-the-less.

absolutely loved tessa bailey as usual. her character dev and description of intimacy and sex. She is an open door queen,

I may or may not have a new obsession with a broken man who does not know his self worth. Insert Hannah and he’s a changed man. I really fell in love with Fox.

I love how realistic this one felt to me. The relationship between Hannah and Fox started out as a friendship, and was a slow building flirtation. As a reader, it kept me screaming and begging the two of them to just “give in already.” There was so much built up emotion, I was literally biting my nails and waiting for the relationship to peak.

Don’t get me started on the steam. Holy hell, Fox. I was about ready to wake up my own husband to reenact some of these scenes.

I loved how Hannah was a strong independent woman and got Fox to the point of BEGGING for her. Yes girl! These two have my heart forever, and that epilogue. My heart! Chefs kiss!

A cute story. I loved the characters and their storyline. I found myself looking for more books by this author. Definitely a recomend!

4.5 stars!!! I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN!! The was such a wholesome friends to lovers book and had me SWOONING!!! I love how connected fox and Hannah were, and how they could tell if something was wrong with the other. Am normally not a friends to lovers girl, but I did really enjoy this one. I think this was a great ending to the duology, and I will be due for a reread of this series soon!!!!

When Hannah's job brings her to Westport for several weeks, she finds herself falling in love with her best friend Fox.

This started out strong. Fox and Hannah were likeable supporting characters in the first book in the series, and I was certain their romance would be epic. Instead, it was epically…not great. Not bad, but not great. Fox is a mess. He has so many unhealthy viewpoints about romance, women, and sex. This was truly his coming-of-age story as he dealt with the deeply unhealthy thoughts and habits he had woven into his psyche over the years. I don’t mind a tortured protagonist, and his issues were certainly valid and worth exploring, I just didn’t expect it to be explored in what I considered a light hearted romance. I also hated, HATED, how dismissed he was by everyone, especially his mother and Brendan. I get Brendan is not someone interested in diving deep into feelings, but his constant berating of Fox and Fox's potential relationship with Hannah just rubbed me the wrong way.

Hannah’s story arc was much more dynamic than Fox’s story. She had always felt like a supporting character in her own life so her learning to put herself out there, both for herself and her professional goals, was enjoyable. What was not enjoyable was her essentially becoming a woman with little to no flaws. Fox constantly talked about how sweet and wholesome and good Hannah was and, sure, I agree. But toward the end it was like Hannah had conquered all of her unique flaws to become this saint. She dipped her toe out of a sainthood for a minute during the last 10 percent of the novel, but then she sprang back to sainthood again.

I don’t know, I’m certainly rambling on. I expected a sweet, lighthearted romance between two adorable characters. I got a not lighthearted romance that explored some dark places with little to no progression of the main male lead’s issues until the end of the novel. I’m glad I gave it a shot on its own merit by reading it several years after the first book, but it just did not have the charm or spice to make it memorable on its own.

Funny, well-written romantic comedy with an atmospheric small town setting and easy to care for characters.

I'm going to be honest, I haven't been a fan of any of the last few Tessa Bailey novels and I decided to DNF this one just due to not vibing with it. I appreciate the opportunity to review!

Oh man, it took me forever to finally read this but it was so good. This was the perfect beach read and the chemistry between Fox and Hannah was just smoking hot. I really loved It happened One Summer and I think you should definitely read that one first since it’s about Hannah’s sister Piper and her romance but you get some really good scenes with Fox and Hannah that set it their friendship for this book and they do reference them a particular scene in the previous book a lot. I love the growth that Fox had over the course of the book and that he finally realized that he can change and to let go of his reputation and how much he leaned into it since it was expected of him from a young age that he was just like his dad which his parents and other adults in his life perpetuated. I loved that Hannah finally took charge and became the leading lady instead of the supporting cast. This was a really great fast read and I am glad I finally finished the duology also the epilogue was so great.
Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I did read this book a few years ago, but believe me, I have thoughts! This is a sparkling romance, so much so I read pages and paragraphs at great lengths to discover the hidden meanings of subtexts. The characters in this book care a lot about life and about each other. The leads are an OTP.

This book was excellent. Hannah and Fox made me want to move to the west coast and find my own fisherman! I regularly re-read this and It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey really hit the jackpot with these.

This was just the sequel I needed. Fox is what dreams are made of. The self sacrificing was a bit much at times but made the book whole as Fox and Hannah worked thru their issues.

this book has no right being this amazing. this duology
as a whole is seriously god tier.
this particular installment will speak to anyone who has
ever seen themselves as the support, rather than the
main character, in their own story, to the people who
always have the perfect song for the mood they are in, to
those who struggle with imposter syndrome, and to the
ones who always believe in those they care about, even
when they dont believe in themselves. this story oozes
charm and heart and sweetness and understanding. its
the perfect embodiment of the younger bellinger sister.
and honestly, i love how hannah prompts and
encourages fox to grow. usually the female characters
are the ones who goes through the development in
romance novels, so its beyond refreshing to see the guy
be the focus instead. foxs character development is
so wholesome and purposefully combats the societal
pressures men face when it comes to maintaining a
certain reputation and image. its a topic that definitely
needs more attention.
this is a wonderful follow up to 'it happened on summer
and gives a heartfelt send-off to the bellinger sisters.

Tessa Bailey strikes again! She's back with another Bellinger sisters books, or what I like to call the "spicy Cowbelles" series.

TROPES: Friends to Lovers, Forced Proximity

Hannah is in town for work, to the cute asf fishing town, and is crashing with "friend" Fox. Except for Fox has a massive crush on her, and is used to acting on what he wants... and getting it (enter: bad boy persona). And as much as he'd like to "get it" with Hannah, he is scared of ruining the friendship (he should really listen to that Demi Lovato song).

SPICE: It does indeed get spicy - but in my personal opinion, Miss Tessa Bailey knows the perfect dose of spice for each dish - er book. She doesn't overdo it, or drag it out, and writes it oh, so well.

I love these characters, these sisters, the town. 5/5 Stars. I bought copies after reading them on Netgalley because I enjoyed them so much - and will be rereading too!

*Gifted by Netgalley & Avon - thank you! All opinions are my own.