Friends to lovers
Angsty Slow burn
3 person POV

Plot 4/5
Steam 2.5/5

After It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1) took the world by storm, I was really excited to dive back into the Westport world and learn more about Piper’s quirky and responsible music loving little sister, Hannah. We were given some hints that Hannah and notorious himbo, Fox, might be developing an attraction, but I was not prepared for this angsty and emotional journey.

As the sister to the vivacious and attention seeking Piper, Hannah has felt comfortable in what she calls the “supporting actress role.” She doesn’t consider herself a leading lady although she would like to take some steps in that direction professionally and personally. Hannah works for a movie production company, but has always wanted to develop movie soundtracks. She also has had a crush on her boss, Sergei for years. After the events in book one, Hannah goes back to LA and begins work on a new movie. While she is gone, Hannah and Fox continue their friendship through a string of adorable texts.

However, things with the movie aren’t quite right. Hannah finally asserts herself and pitches Westport as the perfect setting for the movie. Much to her surprise, Sergei agrees. Hannah and the rest of the crew travel to Westport where they will film for a few weeks. Unfortunately, Piper’s future in-laws are visiting, so there is no room for Hannah to stay with her sister. Fox has an extra room in his apartment, so Hannah ends up staying with him despite some reservations from Brendan, Piper’s fiance and Fox’s best friend. Brendan was concerned that Fox wouldn’t be able to keep it in his pants, and Hannah isn’t the type of girl to hit it and quit it.

In a lot of ways, this story is about perception and identity. How do the characters view themselves? How are the characters viewed by others? How do those views impact the character’s actions, decisions, and relationships?

Hannah and Fox’s chemistry is off the charts. The tension in this slow burn is palpable. However, Hannah and Fox are worried that they are too different to make a romantic relationship work. Fox believes that he isn’t the type of person to have relationships at all. They have an amazing friendship and don’t want to mess that up. Will Fox be able to get over his insecurities? Can Hannah take the initiative to become a leading lady in her personal and professional life? Does Hannah even want Fox, or is she still hung up on Sergei?

I highly recommend you read this story as soon as it is released on March 1!

I just reviewed Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey. #HookLineandSinker #NetGalley

*4.5

friends to lovers, forced proximity, dual pov, BANTER, tension?! and just a bit of slow burn. throw in some mutual pining and we’ve got all the favs.

i just loved this book so much y’all. i kept reading pages over and over again because i wanted to savor this book as long as possible — i didn’t want it to be over. fox and hannah have my heart, truly. THEM <333

fox is so down bad for hannah. down TERRIBLE. he’s absolutely obsessed with her and you know what, as he should be. the biggest simp. truly.

i am so down bad for fox. this man who:
- pays attention to what ice cream she eats so he can get her favorite for her
- calls her by his own nickname he came up with [if ‘freckles’ isn’t the cutest thing ever]
- buys new decorations just to make her feel at home
- slow dances! makes her pancakes! buys her favorite records!
- looks at her in that specific way where everyone around them can tell he’s head over heels

fox and hannah’s dynamic, their chemistry, is *chef’s kiss*. they fit together so well and feel so undeniably comfortable with each other, but they also help each other grow. they understand each other on a whole different level. the power of friends to lovers!!!

individually, they each have their own character arcs. fox deconstructs the playboy reputation and toxic masculinity that has trapped him since before he was born, and hannah begins to believe in herself as the leading lady of her own story. they’re both so strong as characters, so together i love them even more.

the cameos from brendan & piper were also very much appreciated hehe

AND THE EPILOGUE LSDJFLSDSDLFJ i’m incoherent it was perfect

oh and! i loved how big of a focus music was in the book! super interesting. makes me want to invest in a record player

thank you to avon and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

tw: death of loved one (in the past), grief

This book is just adorable!! Tessa Bailey did a fantastic job of building the chemistry between Hannah and Fox, and I loved watching their friendship grow to a loving relationship. Beautiful use of the friends to lovers trope :)

I haven't read "It Happened One Summer" yet, which is the first book in this series, but I felt this book was great as a standalone as well. Even though there were technically some spoilers from book #1, it doesn't deter me from reading it at all! Tessa is famous for her happily ever after's.

In this book, Hannah is working as a production assistant on a movie that brings her to Westport. While the movie films, she stays with in her friend Fox's guest room and their romance grows from there! At some points, I did find the internal monologue of the two main characters to be a little bit repetitive. Other than that- this book was extremely enjoyable to read!

Very light, fun, and romantic!! I highly recommend this to any contemporary romance readers.

Thank you Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC :)

Can it be better than the first book in the series? Can the sequel or second installment ever live up to the hype? When I read It Happened One Summer I remember thinking, “wow it would be cool to find out what happens with Hannah and Fox”… I didn’t realize I would get the experience the absolute joy of reading that adorably gushy perfect love story. Hannah is just so damn likable in every single way. And I am a sucker for a great female lead in a book. I would highly recommend reading this book and be ready to love it more than the first one, which I thought would be impossible… but here I am relishing in the reality that it was that damn good.

Romance powerhouse Tessa Bailey wraps up her Bellinger Sisters duology with HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER, an unexpectedly emotional journey that explores what it means to define yourself on your own terms, despite what others expect from you. The story follows Hannah (sister of Piper, the main character of the prequel novel) as she returns to Westport for work, and strikes up a romance with her friend and Westport local, Fox. As Hannah pursues her dream of becoming a movie soundtrack producer, Fox battles perceptions of himself, reckoning with his past as well as his future. Funny, emotional, and of course steamy, I highly recommend both novels in this series.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is an absolute delight! Fun and flirty, it begs the reader to look beyond the surface and what you think you might know about a person. I didn't think I could like Tessa Bailey more than I did when I read It Happened One Summer, but the impossible is, indeed, possible. Loved it!

This book delivered EVERYTHING for me. I love Hannah & Fox's dynamic throughout the book & how supportive they are of each other. I mean, he calls her Freckles!! It was different than IHOS in all the right ways. The spice of the novel was sublime 🌶. Thank you Tessa Bailey for everything this novel is!

A special thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager for this ARC! I will definitely be buying the hard copy so I can have it along with IHOS.

I absolutely loved Fox when we were introduced to him in the first book, so I was thrilled to see that we would be getting his story next. Hannah was wonderful as well, and I couldn't wait to see the combination of them together. It did not disappoint! Friends to lovers isn't usually my favorite of tropes (I enjoy it, but there are others I love more), but this one was great. I loved the progression of the story & what they had to work through. These books were so wonderful & I have recommended them to so many people!

This was a delightful conclusion to the Bellinger Sisters storyline! I loved that two supporting characters in the first book, Fox and Hannah, got their own love story. Hannah is such a likeable and kind woman and Fox is so much more than his handsome appearance. I enjoyed the character development for both characters but Fox showed so much growth, it was really heartwarming to see how far he comes throughout the book. I did find some of the dialog cheesy in some parts but overall, very cute.

This is an amazing follow up to It Happened One Summer! If you enjoyed the first installment- you will LOVE Hook, LIne, and Sinker! The use of the friends to lovers trope was excellent. So heartfelt while sprinkling in plenty of spice-loved it!

Though I haven’t read the first book in this series I enjoyed this story. I read this one first because I was more interested in the storyline and characters. It was a fun read that I think you could easily recommended whether you’ve read the first one or not.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the complimentary ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I want to start by saying that I haven't read the first book yet. I'm going to circle back and read it eventually though, because I did like how this one was written (for the most part.)

The main plot of Hannah's job bringing her back to Westport was interesting, though I do wish we had gotten more overlap between the townspeople and the hollywood crew. (Sidenote: I live in WA and was excited to see Westport getting a light shined on it. My husband grew up going there for recreational fishing and it holds a special place in his heart. It's a great little town!)

The flirting scenes between Hannah and Fox were the highlight for me. The story was at it's best when it was sweet/spicy. I did not like how the captain kept insisting Fox had to "stay away from her, keep his hands off her, etc." though. As if a grown man and woman can't make their own decisions. That was weird. Why did he even care?? Why were *all* the men so creepy and obsessed with Fox, too? That was pretty strange.

I didn't like Fox's "jealous" scenes either, especially when Hannah was working. And especially when he was the only reason they weren't just together in the first place! I don't tend to find anything that is bordering on controlling/possessive cute, though.

I was disappointed that the only "roadblock" was just Fox weirdly "protecting Hannah's reputation." I honestly hate everything about that for many reasons, not least of which because it makes for very UNcompelling reading of the two main characters just stuck in their owns heads. It would definitely have been better if the problem was due to her career taking off or the eventual distance between them.

I did absolutely love the build-up in the beginning, with their texting back and forth. That felt so genuine and sweet! I would've liked it more if they hadn't been brought together in person so soon, and we had gotten more of that text exchange lead up instead. It would've eaten up more time too, so then there'd hopefully be less time spent on Fox's inner-thought insecurities.


Overall, it didn't totally live up to the hype for me, but there were good elements and I would still recommend it. I'll definitely go back and read the first book. And if there's a third book, I'd read that one too.

I don’t think this one was for me. It read kind of meh in the overall scheme of things and the drawn out nature of sorting out feelings and thoughts in a third person inner monologue dragged for me.

Romance was cute, but about a third of the way into this, the narrator lost my attention.

I will also say this is my first book by this author, so if you like their other books, you will likely enjoy this one.

Let it be known that the Bellinger sisters are every. Freaking. Thing. and I want to uproot my family to Westport forever.

That’s precisely how charmed I am by this series.

While Hook, Line, and Sinker didn’t quite get me in the same flaily, fangirly way that It Happened One Summer did, the margin was very narrow and probably IHOS wins out by only the faintest sprinkle of romance magic. Because, sigh. I still really really loved this book.

I loved the moody setting and the sort of salt-of-the-earth vibes of Westport. I loved the cast of characters in a sort of fierce way that can only be the mark of a story brilliantly told. I love the way my heart pinched and squeezed and fluttered, and raced for Fox and Hannah. I loved the witty banter and the honest dialogue and the indescribably warm moments. I loved the quiet way Fox loved Hannah without even realizing he was doing it. I loved the loyal way Hannah loved Fox, even when he didn’t think he deserved it. I loved the scorching heat between them (and oof I loved Fox’s filthy mouth). I just loved loved loved these two so much, and I was so addicted to their story.

I also loved the sweet epilogue that wrapped everything up. The best part of a romance that has you wholly invested, is getting that peek into the future that makes your heart so happy. Tessa Bailey delivered in spades with this follow-up to one of my favorite stories last year and I absolutely, enthusiastically recommend it! ~ 4.5 Stars

“I want you underneath me so bad that I can’t lie in bed without already feeling you there. I’ve never even had you, and your body haunts mine.”

I mean come on guys! That line! How can you even get over Fox in the book. DANG! Can someone say that to me please??

I took a bit to write this review because at first I was worried that it took Fox and Hannah too long to get together for my liking. But honestly I went back and read the beginning of the book again, specifically the prologue. I love how Tessa develops this deep friendship between the two of them and is almost also reluctant to let the two of them ruin it.

I love the scene at the party! I love the bingo hall. I love how distracted Hannah got during filming. I love how Fox brings the best out in her, a stronger, more courageous version of herself. The tone is so different in this one than It Happened One Summer but honestly I love it in it’s own way.

Thank you so much Avon and NetGalley for letting me read this early!

Tessa Bailey did it again! After finishing "It Happened One Summer" I knew I could not wait for Hannah and Fox's story until March. Luckily, I was able to get an ARC. This was the most wholesome book I've read in a while. The book starts off with a series of texts from Hannah and Fox for six months. I feel like that was the perfect start to the book as it gave us an idea of how their relationship had developed while they weren't seeing each other in person. Their first heart-to-heart, when they open up about their insecurities is so cute and meaningful. I love how Hannah does little things that cause Fox to slowly change his view of himself, and realize he might be worthy of her. “She felt like the sunrise coming up over the water after a bad storm”. AHHHHH I just love that quote! But my favorite quote of all is “How did I look at her?” “Like a summer day showing up after a hundred years of winter”. My favorite part of the book is when Hannah calls Fox "babe" because he always called her that teasingly, but he didn't expect to like being called that by her.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, and Tessa Bailey for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed this one, which focuses on Piper’s sister, Hannah, and her relationship with the town and Fox.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t love It Happened One Summer. I enjoyed reading it, but ended up giving it 3.5 stars because I didn’t connect with it like I’d hoped. However, this one was a different story, and I ended up loving it! I think I enjoyed Hannah more as a main character because I could relate to her more. She sees herself as the support, as opposed to the main character, in her own story. This book is perfect for the quiet, supportive friends that aren’t always in the leading role, but are just as important to the story. I also loved her passion for music and the references throughout!

Hannah’s relationship with Fox is the perfect example of the “friends-to-lovers” trope. I’ve never been a huge fan of that particular trope, but Bailey writes it in a way that drags readers in and makes them truly care about the characters. I loved that Fox was the one that went through growth in this story, because it’s usually the female main character that changes. It was refreshing reading about how society can pressure men into thinking certain things and watching how Fox dealt with people’s expectations of him.

Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot more than book one and highly recommend it! The epilogue was bittersweet and it’s sad saying goodbye to the Bellinger sisters. 4.5 ⭐️’s

Does anyone else request a book on Netgalley, get approved for said book, start reading said book, and then realize its a part of a series? WHY AM I THE WAY THAT I AM?!

Spoiler Alert…Hook, Line, & Sinker is a follow up to It Happened One Summer (which I haven’t read) and features Hannah - the other Bellinger sister - and Fox, Westport’s sexiest bachelor. Since leaving Westport, Hannah and Fox have formed a friendship rooted in music. It’s a language that they speak fluently but when Hannah returns to Westport to film a movie and they become temporary roommates, they begin to question if they’re meant for more than just friendship. Can Fox get past the playboy label everyone, including himself, has placed on him or will he place Hannah firmly in the friend zone?

Aside from enemies to lovers, friends to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes. Aside from the angst and the stolen glances, Hannah and Fox’s back and forth banter was adorable. Their support for each other and their development was well written, and I appreciated that this story put a focus on the man overcoming his insecurities and societal pressures. Often it’s the woman who goes through this type of development, so that was a refreshing change from the typical romance novel.

I have never had a main characters inner monologue be so similar to my own as Hannah’s. I absolutely loved this book, didn’t think it could top It Happened One Summer but it absolutely did. So many books try to incorporate music and fail and it dates those books, but not with this one. Really felt like we had a soundtrack to read to. I’m so thankful to have gotten this arc because no way would I be able to wait til march. Everyone needs to put this book on their tbr immediately.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

She thinks she not leading lady material, while he believes he’s nothing more than a pretty face. But, Hannah and Fox are willing to see past the labels as they embark on a friendship together.

It was so wonderful to be back in Westport! This little “thing” between Hannah and Fox began in the last book, and I was excited that it was finally going to happen. But it was a slow road to that HEA filled with much self-doubt.

Both Hannah and Fox harbored a lot of insecurities and dealt with feelings of not being “good enough”. They each had a personal journey to take before they could really explore and act on their feelings. However, I felt Fox had a harder road ahead of him. His pain really hit me hard, and it was so important for me that he recognize how amazing he was.

His whole life, he was valued for his looks, nothing more than a pretty face there for her pleasure. Fox found it easier to live up to the image others had of him then to dispel it. But Hannah saw beneath the Casanova veneer. She developed a true and deep friendship with Fox and was able to see the man he truly was. I was really touched by that aspect of their friendship. Both of them were so supportive too, they were willing to fight for each other, and they allowed one another to be the best version of themselves.

This book had it all for me. There was heat and humor galore, and music! I loved all the musical references woven into the story. It was fun having a “soundtrack” for this tale. And the ending was so good! I was already shedding happy tears, and that epilogue was the whipped cream on top of my giddy little sundae.

Overall: A fantastic friends-to-lovers romance which left me emotionally satisfied and wearing a huge smile on my face.