Thank you so much to NG and the publishers for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I absolute love Tessa Bailey and everything I have read by her. She is my sweet spot in romance. Enough spice but where there is still a plot outside of the bedroom. I really enjoyed It Happened One Summer and thought it set up perfectly for Hannah to have her own story. Typically, I don't love "friends to lovers" trope but in this case it worked because they really did like each other from the start even if they were weary of it! I love Fox and he is just so precious for Hannah. This was very much a slow burn but worth the wait!

4.5/5

I’m so happy we got to read about Fox and Hannah! They had CHEMISTRY in It Happened One Summer and it just got even better in Hook, Line, and Sinker.

There’s so much more to Fox than you realize. I just wanted to wrap him up in bubble wrap and protect him from the world. I loved how much Hannah cared for him and trusted him. It was refreshing to read about a playboy without the “girl thinks guy cheated on her cause he’s a playboy” trope. I absolutely adored this book. Can’t wait to see what Tessa Bailey comes out with next.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is the second book in the Bellinger Sisters series, and focuses on younger sister Hannah, who wants to create movie soundtracks, but is stuck as the world's most competent PA, and Fox, the local Romeo who is so pigeon holed into his role that even he believes he can't be anything else.

Falling back into the world of Westport and Tessa Bailey's writing was great. I'd been in a multi-book slump, and this broke through. Fox and Hannah's relationship begins in It Happened One Summer, and here we get to see how they build a long distance text friendship, which is so sweet and epistolary, and yum. While Hannah and Fox don't jump into bed with each other right away, there is so much tension. And innuendo. And tension. Then when they do? It's worth the wait.

The characters both have journeys which lead to them better establishing who they are and who they want to be. And we get to revisit Piper and other characters from the first book. I would recommend reading that one first because 1) it's great and 2) the Hannah and Fox dynamic begins there.

This is one for the keeper shelf.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is the standalone follow-up to It Happened One Summer. This story features Hannah Bellinger and Fox Thornton, who were first introduced in the previous novel. After Hannah’s sister, Piper, moved to Westport, Washington, and fell in love, Hannah returned home to Los Angeles where she continued to work in movies as a production assistant with a dream of transitioning into soundtracks. She met Fox, who is the best friend of her sister’s now fiancé, Brendan, and the two of them became friends. When Hannah convinces the director, who she has a crush on, to film in Westport, it is a chance for Hannah and Fox to reunite. The two of them get closer when Hannah is unable to stay with her sister and ends up staying in Fox’s guest room.

Hannah is used to being in the background while Piper remains in the spotlight, so she is convinced that she is the supporting character. She wants to change this in some ways, but it is easier said than done. Fox has the reputation of being a ladies’ man with a string of one-night stands. He is afraid of rejection to change this part of himself now that his reputation is established. Both Hannah and Fox were attracted to each other during Hannah’s initial time in Westport and they decided to become friends. Throughout this novel, both have their reasons for both wanting to become a couple and to remain friends, so there is a lot of angst written for each character. I loved the friendship between both of them as it seemed genuine and not just in place to create the basis of the friends to lovers trope. The two characters supported each other and helped each other grow throughout the story and their transition to a potential couple seemed natural and realistic.

While the story did deliver on the fun and sweet friends-to-lovers story, it provided a lot more heart than I initially expected in an amazing way. Fox and Hannah on the surface are a rake and wallflower type story, but the author created a lot more complexity for both characters. Each received a lot of attention for their growth throughout the story, so it was a very balanced and romantic read. Since this is a slow burn, there are some moments where scenarios seem to repeat, which may not be for every reader. For me, I did not mind as I was invested in the characters, setting, and story. Although I enjoyed the steamier moments between the characters, as a reader, I connected more with the emotional intimacy the two characters shared. Overall, this was an excellent wrap-up to the Bellinger Sister duology and I hope that there are more novels to re-visit Westport in the future!

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

“Not everyone has to strive for greatness. Sometimes getting by is just as rewarding.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review Tessa Bailey’s new release prior to its 3/1 release!

I am so disappointed. I LOVED the first book (It Happened One Summer). I think it made its way as one of my favorite romances of the year to be honest. When I was approved for this one, that follows Piper’s sister Hannah, I was pumped. I loved Hannah in the first book and was eager to read her story. I am so sad I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I had hoped.

“No, this was her story line, and she had to write it herself.”

Fox has some serious trauma, and that is reflected in the story. He is known basically as a f*** boy and only good for sex. So when he starts to fall for Hannah, he pulls away (typical) because of what society labels him as due to his trauma. I get it. This was an important aspect of the book BUT it was mentioned SO many times that I actually got very annoyed. I kept saying “Not again Fox, we all know you have issues. Why are we doing this again?” I kid you not, it was in just about every chapter.

I did enjoy Hannah’s story as she became her own “leading lady” and finally standing up for what she wanted. I loved her love for music and how that was intertwined in the story. I loved her patience for Fox and her therapeutic approach (I see you girl) to him and his life. She was absolutely way TOO good for Fox. Yeah, he got better eventually but, I said what I said.

This book was STEAMYYYY 🔥🔥🔥 (mostly towards the latter half of the book). Tessa Bailey remains the queen of writing very intense and steamy scenes. I don’t hate it.

“How did I look at her? He was afraid to find out.
“Ah, son. Like a summer day showing up after a hundred years of winter.””

Overall, I was not impressed. It took me WEEKS to get through this because I just did not want to pick it up. But I was determined to finish it with hopes of it getting better. It did slightly improve, but not enough for me. I still love Tessa Bailey though.

“”Our love is always enough. It’s always more than enough.””

This book. Wow. I loved It Happened One Summer last year, but Hannah and Fox’s relationship has a certain tenderness in it that made me fall for them a bit more. The way Tessa Bailey described the characters’ inner thoughts and feelings is all SO convincing. I genuinely feel them falling for each other and even *initially* trying not to.

Starting from It Happened One Summer where we saw glimpses of Hannah and Fox’s friendship, it continued through their text exchanges while Hannah came back home and Fox remained in Westport. I love how both of them kept trying to form a connection even when they were apart. Now that Hannah is back in Westport and staying in Fox’s house, the tension and attraction keeps building between them.

Hannah is trying to get past Fox’s walls. He’s kind of closed off on his feelings and he also doesn’t want to ruin their friendship. His reputation is that he’s not known for committed relationships, so he thinks she deserves more than him. And yet Fox finds himself slowly opening up to her and allowing himself to be vulnerable.

It was very relatable how Hannah felt like she wasn’t “leading lady” material, thinking she’s just a supporting character to the people around her. I admire her traits and her trying to achieve her dreams, and I LOVE that she was able to find a connection with her late father in a way that felt very special to her.

I want to give Fox the biggest hug. I loved his growth so much. He had a lot of unlearning to do coming from how he was sexualized and slut-shamed growing up – with all the words said to/about him that molded into truths in his mind, but now he’s straying away from living up to that and letting himself be the kind of person he actually wants to be.

I think this is a very well-rounded romance complete with a good story arc for both leads. This is now one of my favorite romances of all-time.

Thank you, Avon Books and netgalley for my E-ARC, in exchange of honest review.

Tessa Bailey has nailed it once more! 'It Happened One Summer' had me captivated from the first page, and while I love Piper and Brandon, I was immediately drawn to Hannah and Fox. For me, Hook, Line, and Sinker was a perfect romance. Everything about Hannah and Fox's story was fantastic!

It follows the story of Hannah, who is Piper's younger sister, and she isn't used to being the star of the show in her own life. She's back in Westport, where she's working on a film, and it feels good to be back. She's back with her sister, and she's back with Fox. While Hannah was in town before, Fox and Hannah became friends and have remained in touch. Hannah sleeps in Fox's extra room while in town. It's not a big deal because they're just pals. While Hannah has a crush on a coworker, Fox decides to assist her by flirting with her to pay her more attention. When that flintiness becomes genuine and actual sentiments get involved, they must make difficult decisions.

Hannah and Fox's chemistry was outstanding. It was the perfect friends-to-lovers relationship. It was wonderful how they were able to connect via music, anxieties, and friendship. Their love was so pure and sincere. It was a slow build that seemed both raw and utterly authentic. But don't get me wrong, it was still a Tessa Bailey book, so there was enough spice and tension. This novel made me laugh out loud. I'm completely smitten with this couple. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars because it was incredible. Highly recommend!

This is the kind of magic I love to find in romantic comedies and in contemporary romance but have such a hard time finding. It’s hard to grab and keep my interest through a full-length romance novel that’s not totally down with spice. I know not everyone’s like that, but I am. I’ve always liked more than a little spice in my romance, and I tend to get easily bored when romance novels go above 300 pages and there’s not plenty of spice involved. But this book is one of less than a handful I can think of in recent memory to be able to disarm, charm, and wreck me enough that its page count and amount of spice mattered not at all by the time the last page had passed. All that mattered was that the book was excellent in every way, and I enjoyed every page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for early access to this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was so excited to dive back into the Bellinger Sisters world and this book sure did not disappoint. Reading about Fox and Hannah was such fun experience. They were like the complete opposite of Brenden and Piper and it was nice to live in their world for a little bit. I thought they had phenomenal chemistry and banter. I was really rooting for their friendship, and eventual love story, all the way through. I would honestly consider this book to be pretty slow-burn. Some pretty heavy topics were discussed in this book that I wasn't expecting, but I ended appreciating VERY much. Overall, this was such a sexy (very), funny, and heartwarming book. I recommend this series to anyone who will listen.

This book was steamy perfection and everything i wanted it to be. I was so excited to read the follow- up to It Happened One Summer and it did not disappoint. This story is centered Piper's younger sister Hannah and Brendan's best friend Fox. Since we saw the Bellinger sisters last, Hannah returned to L.A while Piper stayed in Westport. Additionally, Hannah and Fox started a long distance friendship via text. When Hannah finds herself back in Westport for work and also staying in the guest bedroom of Fox, will the two remain friends or more?
I really enjoy the friends to lovers trope because I find it so believable. The friendship between Fox and Hannah is so cute and I loved the development of the story as they both discover they are more than what others think about them.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper/Avon for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Tessa Bailey is absolutely killing it lately. This is my third 5 star read from her in a row and I'm just obsessed with the way she builds and writes romance.

This book had a lot to live up to after It Happened One Summer. But boy did she deliver. This book had it all - amazing friendship, sweat-worthy tension, thought provoking themes, and a romance for the ages. I knew from the prologue alone that this would be a 5 star read (how did she build such amazing chemistry in 3 pages of text messages? The world will never know)

Fox is hands down of my all time favorite heroes. He was sweet yet sexy and cared for the heroine whole heartedly. There is nothing I love more in romances than a hero that is completely head over heels for the heroine from the get-go.

Fox has a very heavy backstory - so CW for sexualization and abuse. From an alarmingly young age, Fox was overly sexualized by everyone around him and it led him down a path he felt like he could never get out of.

But Hannah helps him work through this trauma in the most heart-melting way. The way these two talk and care for each other cut right through me. I'm just so absolutely in love with their romance.

Tessa Bailey has been, and continues to be, one of my favorite romance authors of all time. She just never lets me down with her swoony heroes and steamy romances.

This book was hands down 10 stars just for the epilogue alone. Loved the slowburn friends to lovers, Westport setting.

to think I'd love Fox more than Brendan...who knew?! absolutely loved every bit of this book, Tessa did it again!

This book is yet another example of why Tessa Bailey is one of my favorite authors. Hannah and Fox are truly amazing together. Their banter is incredible and I really enjoyed getting to know more about them both. The chemistry between Fox and Hannah is all sorts of intense! Fox collecting records was the sweetest gesture, and I loved how they communicated through music. It felt like they had a secret language. The spice was excellent, and going back to Westport felt like coming home. This book captured my heart and won’t let go. Loved every word! *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hannah Bellinger feels like the supporting actress in her own life movie, except when she’s with Fox. Fox Thornton is a known playboy, but doesn’t want to be that way with Hannah.
Tessa Bailey did it again with a cute, light. and steamy 🔥 read. This book kept me coming back and I was able to finish it in 2 days. The writing flows so well and you find yourself getting lost in this adorable fishing town. Bailey is able to really develop these characters within a few chapters and leaves you wanting more!
I will definitely be wanting more of Ms. Bailey’s work in the future.

I absolutely loved It Happened One Summer so I could not wait to read Hook Line and Sinker!

Piper’s sister Hannah is back in Westport for work. When Brendan’s family comes to stay Hannah has no guest room. Cue hunky Fox to save the day. Since their time at the record convention they have gotten chummy over text. When Hannah tries to win over her boss Fox steps in to make him jealous. You see where this is going.

Is it me or does Fox look like the late Luke Perry?!?! Absolutely dreamy in my opinion plus bonus points for being a seaman. I loved the chemistry between these two 🔥🔥. Their love of music created a sound track for this book so I found myself looking up all the songs mentioned. The story slowed a bit through the middle but picked up at the end. I think I liked It Happened One Summer better but honestly I’d read the phone book of Tessa Bailey wrote it.

Romance lovers will thoroughly enjoy this well-written friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, by far the most popular trope in the romance industry, by prolific author Tessa Bailey. Tessa takes her readers to a picturesque, sleepy fishing village on the Pacific Coast where self-described man-whore Fox Thornton becomes a one-woman-man while he falls in love with Hannah Bellinger.

Will their love last forever? Can a notorious womanizer be reformed? In Romancelandia the answer is always yes and all roads lead to Happily Ever After. The fun for readers is learning how they get there.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing an ARC to read and review. *NetGalley Top Reviewer". Bayside Book Reviews will publish this review on release day, March 1, 2022, at https://.baysidebookreviews.com and on its Bayside Book Reviews Instagram page.

I loved this book! Hannah and Fox had so much depth and it was beautiful watching them and their love grow, including some bumps along the way. I loved the way Bailey infused this book with music. This was a fun romance with some deeper moments I wasn’t expecting but truly enjoyed. I thought the amount of spice for this book was just right. 🔥

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet and fun! It is really nice to revisit Westport and it's motley crew of characters. Hannah's journey to main character in her own life is exciting and it is nice to see her grow.

I really liked the first book in this series (It Happened One Summer), but I LOVE this book.

𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗞, 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗥 is everything! A reformed rake. A sweet female lead who is coming into her own. Complex family relationships. Slow burn. Heaps of sexual tension and chemistry. Freaking hot steamy scenes. I just loved this book. Hard.

Hannah is a perfectly relatable female lead who is supportive of everyone else in her life, but struggles to take charge of her own life and put her needs first. She is passionate about music and has worked hard to put herself in a position to help work on music for a major motion picture....if she can get over her impostor syndrome and speak up for herself.

Fox is so epically swoony. He is just a shallow man-whore on the surface, but we get to see the real him as the book unfolds. His own insecurities play a major part in his story and I loved his character. I especially loved Fox's mother. She is a ball-buster and very flawed, but so lovable and she gets her own character arc, despite being a fairly small character in the book.

𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗞, 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗥 has laugh-out-loud moments, but also ALL THE FEELS. I might have teared up a bit. Okay, I did tear up a bit. Fox and Hannah are one of those book couples that you desperately invested in. Not just, "awwww—what a cute love story" and more "if these two don't get over their issues and make it work I may never recover.

𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗞, 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗥 starts with their ultra-sweet texting and ends with an HEA that will have you smiling and swooning. And don't forget some serious melt-yo-kindle scenes in there too.

Seriously, this is one of the best books I've read in a while and I am sure I will be re-reading it sometime in the future. It's just so damn