If you liked It Happened One Summer, you’ll love Hook, Line, and Sinker!

Hannah, a production assistant looking for her big break in the movie music scene, is back in Westport for work and finds herself staying in her new long-distance bestie’s, Fox, spare room during her trip. But will they be able to stay “just friends”? With emotions running high and hormones even higher, Fox and Hannah embark on a journey of finding themselves while discovering what they could be together.

Tessa Bailey has done it again! Just like the first book in the series, Hannah and Fox’s story is one that will pull on the heartstrings while revving up your engine.

Hannah is a very relatable and real character. She struggles with the same insecurities and self doubt everyone deals with at some point in their lives. And it made her very easy to love and root for.

Fox is sex on a stick! The man knows what he has and he knows how to use it. But there is so much more to him than his dazzling good looks. He’s a broken man who just needs someone to believe in him and love him for who he is on the inside.

This book is a delicious example of the friends to lovers trope! The spice was fantastic with great tension building. It never felt forced (i.e. the spice was not the plot but rather added to it) and always occurred naturally in the story. It gets 3 peppers from me!

So if you enjoy contemporary romance, a salty, sexy fisherman, a woman discovering her inner leading-lady, then this is the book for you!

I was so excited to continue with this series as I loved Piper and Brendan's love story. I liked this but it did not give me the same warm and fuzzy obsessed feelings as the first book.

I loved the chemistry between Fox and Hannah, the intimate moments were done so well. I liked the pacing of their relationships and loved how they got together. Friends to lovers is typically not a trope I like to read about but the banter and chemistry between them border friends the whole time which kept me intrigued.

My biggest problem with this was the plot and drama felt non-existent. The first book had SO much happening which created drama besides just the coming together of the couple yet this lacked that. I felt the whole book encompassed them talking about their feelings. Where was the drama?

I loved the epilogue in this story and am so glad I got that moment in this world but this book did not live up to the expectations I had after reading the first one!

Thank you Netgalley & Harpercollins for a ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This is just a delightfully fun rom-com. I loved getting to see Hannah have her "leading lady" moment. I honestly wish we'd gotten a little more of her at work. I also liked seeing more of Fox. In the previous book he was fairly one-dimensional, so I was a bit worried he wouldn't carry the weight of an entire story. I do wish that more of Fox's development had been spurred by something other than Hannah. It went a little heavy on the "changing myself for another person" than I think is ideal. Overall, though, the book was super engaging and a fun read.

This book was amazing! It was so good to be back in Westport among all these fun characters!

Fox was his usual charming self, but in this book we got to see behind the sexy smile and it made him a much more interesting character. Watching his growth and the hand Hannah played in him growing was a joy!

Hannah also found herself and her confidence in both her family life and her career. I feel like both her and Fox really grew up and came into their own.

And let’s not forget the spice! These two were a bit of a slow burn, but the story called for it and the foreplay was off the charts hot! I loved every second of the will-they-won’t-they!

Definitely a 5-star read, would gladly read anything this author writes in the future!

This was a little to slow for my liking especially with a friend's to lovers romance. I absolutely loved the first book which I think i had me going into this one with high expectations but it was just falling flat for me.

Look. I don't need to tell you that Tessa Bailey is a queen among women when comes to writing extremely sexy romance books, but just in case you don't know: She Is A Queen of Romance. This book was no exception!

Picking right up where It Happened One Summer left off (so we can just jump right in to the good stuff) this book opens with some mild epistolary texting (my favorite format!!) and evolves into a classic “forced proximity” romance. The shades of “friends to lovers,” mild “fake relationship” and so much personal growth and self discovery blend into a love story that is sweet and ever so spicy all at once. You are rooting for the couple from page one and the conflict is understandable, realistic and resolved with life-like behaviors, not a wild rush to insane grand gestures. The HEA here is pure perfection.

Bailey has absolutely done it again!

So can we all agree that this author knows how to write some chemistry cuz my gawdddd. 🥵❤️‍🔥🌮🍆

This is the perfect friends to lovers situation. And on top of that, Fox and Hannah have to share a small space…GASP! Whatever could happen! 😱😱

This was a great romance read with characters that show sensitivity and battle with expectations thrown upon them. The small fisherman town backdrop is so perfect for this romance to bloom between sweet Hannah and rugged hottie w a body Fox.

If you know anything about my preferences, you know that I need romance to be more than 🍆. I need a relatable story with real feeling people. This was it. We get both.

If you enjoyed It Happened One Summer, you’ll enjoy this. FYI- these is just as much steam. This was the perfect follow-up to close out this duology. The epilogue ties up the Bellinger Sister series up w a nice bow.

Tysm @avon @tess for this ARC.

First off, thank you Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC. After reading the previous book in the serious, I was so excited to see Fox and Hannah’s story. In the first book I adored these two, their interactions had me screaming. The events of the book happen right after the first, starting off with cute text messages (AHHHH I LOVED THIS PART!!). As the story unfolds, this book was the perfect friends-to-lovers. The tension, jealous, banter, and confessions were unmatched. The plot itself heavily relies on the characters and sort of follows the same concepts of the previous book, the main difference being Hannah and Fox. However, I did not complain and enjoyed reading both Hannah and Fox’s character development, they were both interesting and were deeper than I originally thought. Overall, it was an addictive read full of good tropes.

Hook, Line and Sinker was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022 and it exceeded my expectations. I loved Hannah’s character in It Happened One Summer and I knew I would love her in this one too. Hannah is compassionate, creative and thoughtful. Fox has been conditioned to be a heart-breaker and has quite the reputation around Westport. After meeting the previous summer, they bond over music and continue their friendship through texting while Hannah is in LA. Hannah finds herself back in Westport to film a movie and ends up staying with Fox and they discover their friendship might actually be something more. This book isn’t as spicy as IHOS and is definitely a slow burn. However, I think the spice level was perfect and fitting as their focus is more on emotional intimacy and trust. I love how Fox adores Hannah and I love how Hannah pushes him to challenge himself, professionally and emotionally. I absolutely loved this friends to lovers book, 5 stars!

Things I adored about this book:
• Fox calling Hannah, Freckles
• Their shared loved of music
• Hannah’s protectiveness of Fox
• Bingo night with his mom

Definitely read if you love:
• Friends to lovers
• A reformed playboy
• Books where the guy falls first
• Forced proximity
• Temporary roommates

Thank you Avon Books and Net Galley for the digital ARC!

Holy angst! I have loved every Tessa Bailey book I've read and I really enjoyed It Happened One Summer, the first book in this duology. I have to admit that I was expecting it to continue and was bummed at the 10 years later epilogue. This story follows Hannah (Piper's sister) as she navigates her role as a production assistant trying to earn the role of her dreams in film music. She makes the suggestion to the director (who seems to be possibly interested in her romantically) that Westport, the town her sister now lives in with her sea captain hunk, would be perfect for the film they are shooting. Unfortunately, her sister does not have room and her friend, Fox, has a room that she can stay in while there. Fox is a well known player and ladies man but the two are just friends. ::smirk::

What I really enjoyed about this book is that the two so obviously like each other but are both torn. Hannah thinks she should be involved with the director who is in the same field and same lifestyle as her instead of Fox. Fox thinks he just can't be in a relationship because that's what everyone expects of him. So they carry on acting like friends with the motherlode of angsty goodness thrown in. I didn't really care for the conflict and how it played out but I feel like I'm really picky with conflicts in these rom-com books. Just a personal preference and it wouldn't stop me from ever picking up another Bailey book because I truly love the characters she creates. They are fantastic.

How freaking cute are Hannah and Fox?! I really enjoyed how the characters evolved and developed through the story - how they helped each other figure out who they are and what they want out of life. The spicy scenes were an added bonus! There were a few times that I got a little annoyed with Fox’s thoughts and how repetitive he always was with being a player. Overall though, Hannah was such a great FMC, strong, bubbly and positive. And I adored how well she and Fox fit together. I also absolutely loved the epilogue and the little peek into their lives 10 years down the road!

Music. For me, I don’t feel right if I don’t listen to some kind of music every day. It’s been a soundtrack of sorts over the years. I can mark certain times in my life by what I was listening to at the time. I felt like music was the third main character in this story, next to Fox and Hannah and I loved it! 🎼🎶⁣
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There is something about a player slowly realizing he no longer wants to be a player that gets me every time! 🥰 Fox falls for Hannah as they build on their friendship while Hannah realizes she wants something more from Fox than just friendship.⁣
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The support these two gave each other was probably my favorite part of this story though. Fox encouraging Hannah and showing her that she is, in fact, leading lady material. Hannah, helping Fox realize that he is more than a means to physical pleasure. ❤️❤️⁣
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As always, Tessa Bailey gives us the banter we all love and brings the steam, even if she made us wait a little longer for it this time. And the dirty talk is on point! 😉⁣
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This will absolutely be on my reread list! I loved these two so much! Are we sure there’s not another sister out there that needs their own book??⁣
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Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

5 Stars ⭐️
I loved this book and I loved these characters. The plot, the romance, the character development, this book had everything!

Tessa Bailey has a way with developing characters to their full extent and making sure the readers are invested in their story. She did exactly that with Hannah and Fox. Their friends to lovers romance was heartfelt, wholesome, and also discussed themes of toxic masculinity.

Hannah has never seen herself as the main character, but to get the job she has always dreamed of she has to start putting herself out their. Fox is a lady’s man. He has always had that reputation within his small fishermen’s town, but when he met Hannah everything changed.

I new I would love these characters when I read the first book in the series. Both Hannah and Fox each go through changes throughout this book and I loved the friendship and relationship they had. The banter and tension was captivating!! Hannah is one of my favorite characters, she’s so relatable and I can see a lot of women seeing themselves in her.

I highly recommend reading this book and the BELLINGER SISTER series. If you love friends to lovers romances, this is ONE OF THE BEST!!

This was a fluffy and easy to consume romcom. Not as funny as the first Bellinger sister book, but has a niche for music lovers. Hannah and Fox make a cute HEA, and sprinkle in a bit of Piper and Branden’s background.

Do you ever have these authors where you’re lowkey mad at yourself that you haven’t discovered them sooner? Because Bailey is one of those authors for me. I read my first Bailey novel last year and really, there was no turning back after devouring half her backlist in one week. So I was very antsy to get my hands on her newest release and friends, Hook, Line and Sinker did not disappoint!

Hook, Line and Sinker follows Fox Thornton, who’s got a reputation around Westport as the flirtatious player that’s hard to shake. Everyone in town assumes that he’ll never keep a woman for longer than a night, much less ever settle down with one for good. When his best friend Hannah Bellinger returns to town for work as part of a film production, his routine of going out to sea and hooking up on the few nights he’s home is paused as circumstances cause Hannah to stay in his guest bedroom instead of at her sister Piper’s place. Helplessly crushing on her colleague, Hannah needs someone to help her get the guy—and thinks Fox will know how to help her. Yet the more time they spend together in confined quarters, the more lines blur and suddenly, Hannah finds herself questioning if her crush on her colleague was ever real to begin with—and if perhaps, her real true love is waiting just a room over. But Fox is boggled down with self-doubt and and his reputation and the question arises—can their baggage become lighter if they let someone else help carry it?

What I really loved about this story is how it addressed what it feels like being the sidekick rather than the main character in your own story (yes, that’s a slightly edited quote from the movie The Holiday, sue me). Both Hannah and Fox think they’re not good enough to be the leading roles even in their own lives and that they only exist to hype up others.

Hannah has always felt like the hype girl for her sister and even in her own life (both romantic and professional), she’s taken a backseat, dreaming and aspiring from afar instead of going for what she wants. Now, she’s finally ready to take some risks and make the most of her life but there are things that hold her back and we really get to see her blossom through her friendship with Fox. Hannah realises a lot of things about herself, her crush (that is more of a crutch if anything) and what it means to bet on herself.

Meanwhile, Fox’s growth within this novel was just so wholesome, I’m still not over it. Fox suffers heavily from impostor syndrome and it shows. You really get to see how much of what Fox acts like is due to how others perceive of him. Fox believes being a good hook-up is all he’s good for because people have continuously not only given him that impression but told him to his face that he’s not “dating” or “boyfriend” material. It was heartbreaking to see those jokes from others landing like barbs and the way Fox forced himself time and again to just laugh and smile, to snark and walk off and yet all the while, internalising these beliefs that make him feel worthless. We see this in so many different ways—Fox’s reluctance to take Brendan up on a work opportunity with a leading role, the way people look at him when he’s with Hannah and even how he reacts when Hannah shows him that he’s so much more than he gives himself credit for. My heart wept for this fantastic man and his uphill battle to believe in himself and his worth again.

Now, as you might guess, these tense personal struggles are cause for some absolutely explosive romantic encounters. Fox initially doesn’t trust himself around Hannah and doesn’t want to mess with their friendship, yet can’t seem to stay away from the woman who’s taken over his guest bedroom and his heart. Hannah has her own battles to overcome and yet, the two of them can’t keep denying their attraction and intense chemistry. But what makes their connection even better and stronger is the fact that they have this history of being friends, of sending songs that describe their days and confiding into each other about their lives—it just adds so much to their relationship. From delicious tension and funny banter to panty-dropping steam, Fox and Hannah’s romance is one for the ages. Bailey delivers an outstanding follow-up to It Happened One Summer—as if we’ve expected anything less.

Of course, we also get some cameos from Brendan and Piper and even Piper and Hannah’s grandmother which will be a real sweet treat for fans of the first book in this lovely duology. I pray this isn’t the end for Westport but even if it is, what a grand time it’s been!

Intense, funny and endearing, Hook, Line and Sinker is a delightful friends-to-lovers romance all about self-worth and the bravery it takes to believe yourself to be the leading role in your own life.

Oh Tessa Bailey. You swept me up with Brendan and Piper in It Happened one Summer and to be honest, I wasn’t sure you could top that. But top it you did. Fox and Hannah’s story is one that needed to be told. The opening to the book was PERFECT. Thank you for that. It showed me how the connection was built. And I enjoyed that along with the banter between the two.

So Fox and Hannah. Fox, the player, the never settle down guy, the “he will break hearts one day” I loved learning so much about Fox. Dare I say, as much as I love grumpy sunshine Brendan, I LOVED Fox more. And then there is Hannah. Smart, beautiful but soft spoken Hannah. What can happen when they’re forced to speak things out loud? Who will fall first?

Thank you Tessa Bailey for sharing Fox and Hannah’s story. Thank you to Avon Books for an advanced reader copy in turn for an honest opinion

This book was a great sequel to IHOS! I liked both main characters and appreciated how the author brought to light past relationship experiences and how they impact future relationships in a real way. It was nice to get glimpses into where Piper and Brendon’s relationship throughout too! The steam was good and the tension was palpable. The music aspect was fun and I enjoyed looking up some of the songs mentioned that I was unfamiliar with! Loved the epilogue in this one too!

4.5 stars
Let me just start off by saying that this book is in a ~ different league ~ from the first. Completely different dynamic in the best possible way. I didn't enjoy this book's predecessor which was Piper and Brendan's story, but I knew from the get-go from reading that book, that I loved Hannah & Fox and couldn't wait for theirs.

This is a forbidden crush to friends to lovers and it was incredibly addicting. If you have ever felt like you take the supporting role in life rather than being a leading character, you will find connection with this book. Always being the advice and therapist friend, never fully feeling like you have the confidence to take strides over your life. It will touch those who feel like imposters when stepping into things as well as accepting the reputation the people around you see you for instead of paving your own path.

This story really snuck into my heart and had me fully engrossed and attached to these characters and their destined love. Hannah is one of my favorite types of female characters. She is a strong individual, yes with insecurities, but when she believes in something—nothing stands in her way. She was the defining character to Fox's growth overall, and constantly showed her faith and trust in him. His character development was beautiful to see and seeing his struggles with societal pressures and reputation only made you fall deeply more in love with his vulnerability and openness with Hannah.

Ending this duet in the best possible way with a ten years later epilogue that showed us a glimpse into the life of both Fox & Hannah and Piper & Brendan leaving you teary and touched.

Heat Factor: Get your fans out, it’s a steamy one
Character Chemistry: They have SUCH chemistry. It was obvious in book one, and it’s delicious in book two.
Plot: Hannah convinces her movie director boss to move their location to Westport, where she ends up rooming with her sister’s husband-to-be’s best friend, Fox. Unfortunately, Fox has a MAJOR reputation for being a deadly handsome casanova, so even though he’s got it bad for Hannah, he’s terrified of messing everything up.
Overall: Just electrifyingly steamy and so romantic…

I’m pretty sure Tessa Bailey not only follows our blog, but also is a huge fan of mine. That’s the only explanation for why she chose all (ALL) of my favorite tropes for The Bellinger Sisters series.
In It Happened One Summer we had a grizzly, capable, grumpy sea captain paired with a bubbly, extroverted socialite. So good. And in this even more delicious book, we have a love-them-and-leave-them Don Juan who falls for a genuine, kind, girl-next-door, music lover.

Basically, Hannah convinces her movie director boss to move the filming location to Westport. When she finds out her sister’s guest room will be occupied, she ends up staying with her friend (and her sister’s fiance’s best friend–TROPE ALERT) in his small apartment. Hannah has a mild crush on the director, but has been texting Fox since she left Westport after the previous book. They’re both connecting deeply, but it’s not until they’re face to face again that the feelings resurface and they both struggle to suppress them.

Both characters are at the beginning of their careers and have serious doubts about their abilities. Fox, in classic small-town fashion, has ended up with a cemented reputation as a himbo, and leans into it to avoid the soul-crushing hurt and rejection that has historically come from trying to be someone different. And in fact, trying to protect Hannah from his reputation is one of the major reasons he tries to push her away throughout the book.

Hannah is sweet, and often overlooked. It’s clear that living in her sister’s shadow and as a production assistant has convinced her that she really is a supporting character, but she desperately wants to use her musical skills in movies and she’s just too shy to take the leap. Fox’s swagger and support helps her make that leap.

Here’s the thing about this book (and series, honestly)--the author is SO good at cooking up both romantic and sexual tension. It’s not too slow, but she peppers the whole plot with long glances and lingering touches. Every time the “action” starts, it feels like you’ve been slogging through a slow burn. Every time! And there’s multiple times!!

The author gets you so invested in the characters that you end up rooting for them even if you normally wouldn’t be into it. For example, Piper in book one is a socialite/extrovert, and it would be so easy to make her look silly and over the top, but she’s fantastic. In this book, Fox in the hands of any other author would induce major eye rolling. (“Oh, poor Fox with his absurdly good looks and never ending supply of willing one-night-stands…”) But in this book, the author breaks down the moments and memories that make Fox relatable and human and by the time you’re done, you really want him to go for it and succeed.

This series ROCKS. I loved both books so much, and I can’t wait to read anything (seriously, anything) Tessa Bailey writes next.



I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

Seriously can Tessa Bailey do no wrong? I am completely obsessed with her work and the amazing stories she is able to spin. I loved this book just as much as It Happened One Summer but for different reasons. This book was the complete opposite of the first where it was the woman pursuing the male and helping heal him emotionally. Teaching him about love, how to love himself and learn to love his life. It was such a sweet intimate telling that went well above any physical part of a relationship. These two are definitely end game and I'm not going to lie the epilogue had me choked up because all 4 of them deserved that ending. These two books will definitely be added to my "Will Read Again" list

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58283080-hook-line-and-sinker

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