Ahhh I do not want to say goodbye to Westport and the Bellinger sisters! "Hook, Line and Sinker" is the second in the series following "It Happened One Summer" and in this story we watch Hannah really come into her own as a "leading lady" while she develops a connection with Fox. Yet again Tessa Bailey's writing shines with wit and charming characters. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading!

The growth of each of the characters was really amazing to see. I felt sad to see how hard Fox was on himself and was cheering both of them on as they grew to be more confident. For me what makes a good romance is when I find myself rooting for the characters and I absolutely was rooting for Fox and Hannah. Does a man like Fox actually exist?! Because he sounds perfect. I also appreciated all of the music references and Hannah's taste in music was good - a playlist needs to be made from this book!

The epilogue put a huge smile on my face as well. It was such a cute way to wrap up each of the stories. But I loved all of these characters so much I hate that it's over!

I really enjoyed this book but would say that I liked "It Happened One Summer" more. Something about that book gave me literal butterflies while reading and I didn't have quite the same reaction to this story. But still highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I very, very, very rarely like the later installments of a series more than the original. But WOW. This was so good. Hannah was easily my favorite character in It Happened One Summer, and I’m so happy she got her moment to shine in this book. I loved how we got to watch her grow as a person outside of the romance storyline. Her insecurities about being a supporting character made her so relatable and made it so easy to root for her. I also love how we got to see Fox’s individual character arc, too. Don’t get it twisted – I definitely came here for Hannah and Fox’s friends-to-lovers story. But it was so nice to see them grow as people and be better versions of themselves for each other. Something I also really love about this duology is the role of the supporting Westport cast in the story. None of the side characters feel extraneous and I’m so attached to literally all of them, which is a testament to Tessa Bailey’s ability to create a very realistic, well-thought-out world.

Returned to the cute fishing town of Westport for book two following the Bellinger sisters in Hook, Line and Sinker. This time around we follow Hannah and Fox. Hannah is Pipers music obsessed, quiet, younger sister. Hannah has always taken a back seat to Piper, seeing herself as a “supporting actress” to Pipers “leading lady”. When an opportunity presents itself for Hannah to return to Westport for a work project, she jumps at the chance. Not only will she get to spend time with her sister, but she also might be missing Fox. The towns playboy and best friend of Branden, Fox has been unusually drawn to Hannah and they’ve kept in touch since she returned to LA. Forming an unlikely friendship that definitely can not lead to more. Or can it?

As usual, I flew through this one. Tessa Bailey writes books that are so relatable, funny, vulnerable and romantic. The way that she brings life into her characters and their story gets me every time. I loved Hannah and Fox.

Going into HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER, I didn't expect to love it as much as I loved the first book, IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER, but I ended up loving it even more. As hot as Piper and Brendan were together, Hannah and Fox were even hotter in this one. I appreciated the fake-dating trope, although I felt the author could have done more with it. But what I really enjoyed was how this one was more of a slow burn romance. It was sweet seeing how Hannah tried to so hard to break down the walls Fox put up and help him change his negative feelings about himself. I don't know if I've ever seen a romance hero dealing with toxic masculinity quite like this before. Everyone expected Fox to be a player his whole life, so he internalized that and thought he would never be good enough for someone to want a real relationship with him. I loved how the author explored this, even though it did start to feel a bit repetitive by the end.

The one thing I wished we'd gotten more of in this book was the exploration of this small fishing town, especially with Piper and Hannah now owning the bar. It makes sense that the author developed the town in the first book and wouldn't need to do so as much in this second one, but the town is such a fun, rich setting that I just wanted to see more of it. But overall this book was steamy, sweet, and funny. Definitely a didn't-want-to-put-down romance for me.

HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER comes out March 1st! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am so in love with this. The perfect end to an amazing duology. I thought I could wait to read this until release day, but this is just the thing I needed today. I’m sitting here crying like a baby just from reading that sweet sweet epilogue.

Tessa Bailey continues to blow it out of the park with her amazing writing. Some people get the ick when reading about modern things (like Instagram Reels and AirPods), but I think it makes the story more realistic. This isn’t supposed to be timeless, it’s contemporary and now and perfect. I did not think I could like this one as much as I loved “It Happened One Summer”—but the character development, the spice, the longing, the banter, the nicknames, the MUSIC, just everything about this was so much more than I expected.

Also, Fox is just the actual love of my life. His words and actions and the fact that even when he was insecure he was able to be himself for Hannah no matter what. I just love him so so so so much. Especially at that wind music garden☺️ and in that epilogue ugh I just love him and Hannah so much.

I think this is the start of an obsession with all things Tessa Bailey, so if you see me binging her books, you know why.

Literally so freaking grateful I was able to read this early. If you haven’t checked out the first book in the Bellinger Sisters duology, “It Happened One Summer” is out now, and “Hook, Line, and Sinker” comes out March 1st!

This is such a fun and feel good book. The characters were extremely likeable and their chemistry was perfect. Tessa Bailey write the perfect romcoms and this one did not disappoint.

very good and funny. really enjoyed the humor and seeing a strong and emphatic leading lady. I also really enjoyed seeing a male struggling with self perception issues about being too promiscuous. I enjoyed seeing toxic masculinity being taken on in this way

This utterly delightful romance was filled with compelling characters and fun vignettes. From the beginning, it was clear how the story should play out, and the writing, pacing, and characters made the journey enjoyable and more of a page turner than I would have guessed. The settings were rich and detailed enough to feel that you were in the story with the characters. I'll be recommending this one to my friends.

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Genre: 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Format: 𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤
Length: 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬


𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘛𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

This is book two in the Bellinger Sisters series, you really need to read It Happened One Summer before picking this book up! Let me just say right off the bat, I enjoyed book one but I loved this book even more. I had no idea what to expect from Fox and Hannah’s story but I didn’t want to put this book down!

To me, this book was really a coming of age story for both Fox and Hannah. Their whole lives they’ve had these perceptions about themselves; who they are and what they’re capable of achieving. This is their journey about their growing friendship/closeness and really discovering themselves as individuals.

What I loved about this book:
* I love well developed characters and it was such a treat to learn more about Hannah and Fox. I care so much about both of them and the growth they go through in this story. I will protect Fox at all costs!
* So many great tropes! Slowburn romance with plenty of angst, friends to lovers, close proximity, guy falls first.
* Tessa Bailey doesn’t let you down when it comes to the spice!!

What I didn’t like:
* I would have appreciated seeing more of Brendan and Piper, especially if this is the last book with all of them.

This series has been such a pleasant surprise and I am honestly so sad if this is the end. The Bellinger Sisters will always be a special experience for me!

I really enjoyed a lot of things about this book: the friends-to-lovers trope, chemistry, small fishing town, all of it. Hannah and Fox's story carried over really seamlessly from It Happened One Summer, but I think this book probably works really well as a standalone too.

There were a few minor annoyances. First, I sometimes felt like we were really being beaten over the head with the conflict, which was Fox being so caught up in people's perceptions of him as a playboy. I think it's fine for him to care about that and be frustrated by it, but it seemed like the reader was just told the same line over and over sometimes and I wanted a little more development there. Along those same lines, the scene when Fox walks into the party didn't make a lot of logical sense to me. Hannah is upset that the women are talking about him like a sex object and not like a full person, so she...kisses him? And then asks him if he wanted to meet any of the women who called dibs on him? I just didn't really understand how any of that was supposed to show that SHE even saw him differently, much less that she was trying to show him and all these women that he's more than just a good sexy time. Aaaaand lastly, the author seems to use the words "score" and "soundtrack" interchangeably, and it really threw me off. Not that the same person who composes a score couldn't also be involved in picking songs for a soundtrack, but a score and soundtrack are not the same thing. I will ignore the fact that composers/music folks would really have no reason to be on set during the duration of the movie shoot--in the book, the music coordinator's presence did at least move the plot forward--but I can find no justification for Hannah not knowing the difference between a soundtrack and a score. In this case, I think they were talking about the soundtrack 100% of the time, and would not have ever been talking about the score. That probably seems like a nitpicky complaint but I swear, every time Hannah mentioned the movie score in reference to picking out songs, my brain started screaming and I couldn't focus on enjoying the story.

All that said, I'm thrilled to have gotten an arc of this book, I enjoyed this series more than any other Tessa Bailey I've ever read, and I want more books like this!

Well I did not think it was possible to love this one more than It Happened One Summer but somehow I did! Hannah’s story was even more swoon-worthy and adorable than Piper’s. I truly think Tessa Bailey has hit her stride with these books because I’ve read some of her other works and while they were still great, the Bellinger sisters are just next level fun. I truly hope this book is one of the “must read’s” of the summer and I know I will for sure be recommending it.

The Roommate meets Happy Ever After Playlist.

I really enjoyed Hannah and Fox during their limited screen time in It Happened One Summer and was happy to read a story that centered on them.

Two enjoyable characters, overcoming similar insecurities, forming a genuine bond- what’s not to like? The emotional relationship arc was interesting and satisfying. Cute banter, forced proximity, realistic hesitations that seemed in line with their character development.

The physical relationship arc however felt crammed into the last quarter of the book (but I understand why it had to happen that way). The epilogue filled my heart with joy. Fun, cute read that will leave you smiling.

I loved the first book and had high hopes for this one. I was not disappointed!! The same humor, fun scenarios and interesting characters maintained from the first book to this one. If you enjoyed the first one, you’ll love this one too!

I liked this one, but didn't love it as I did with the first book. This was just a cute friends to lovers, fake dating book. The premise of the story as a whole with Hannah and Fox was just ok. Too much bit of a slow burn for me. I do recommend reading the first book It Happened One Summer to know and understand all the characters.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“This one is my favorite.” - me after every book of Tessa Bailey’s.

After meeting Fox and Hannah in It Happened One Summer, I was curious to see how she would entwine their stories. While part of it I anticipated (music), there was just a whole other level to this book that I didn’t see coming.

I do not want this series to be over.

Book 3 with Grandma Opal as the MC, please?

When I read It Happened One Summer (this past summer) I knew that I was going to be in love with Hannah and Fox. Their brief interaction in Piper’s story had me highly anticipating this book. I, foolishly, set high expectations for this story, which is something I really try not to do because it’s often so unobtainable and unfair. Tessa Bailey met every single one of them and more.

The tension between Fox and Hannah, as well as their development as a couple, were just so well executed that I feel a little empty now that it’s over. This story felt a lot like a love story rather than a typical romance, something very intimate and small that crawls into your heart and makes a home there. There was something so realistic and raw about their growth and development, it’s really everything I want in a book.

I loved the progression of each of their characters, how they grow and overcome their problems together. Hannah was definitely a strong female lead, and intertwining her love of music emphasized the emotions of every scene. Parallel to Hannah, Fox created a wonderful dynamic, and I think it was an interesting and refreshing perspective to have Fox face a lot of societal issues that women typically face.

This story has found a place in my heart, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while!

First and foremost, huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this! (Yes, I cried when I got the email).

Tessa Bailey is becoming an instant-buy author for me, and I was SO excited to get into Hannah & Fox’s story. Where IHOS is a more fun and flirty book (in my opinion), HLAS doesn’t shy away from raw emotion and insecurity when it comes to moving from the just-friends stage to the adult-relationship stage.

I loved how the chemistry began in the first book and easily carried over to this book. Their natural banter and flirting made the book 10x more fun to read.

This was the perfect ending to the Bellinger Sisters, and I loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS

🌶🌶🌶/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
THREE OUT OF FIVE SPICE

I got approved for the digital arc and obviously I loved every moment. Tessa really can do no wrong in my eyes. She writes characters you can’t help but become obsessed with. IHOS is an all time favorite book of mine & I’m happy the sequel gave my favorite sisters a perfect ending. Hannah & Fox are goals and I love friends to lovers! This book is fun, sexy and charming. The 1st one is spicer I must say but still didn’t stop this book from being HOT 🔥❤️

I couldn't wait to read about Piper's quirky, song-loving little sis, Hannah, and the flirty, heartbreaker, Fox. This book is a sweet friends-to-lovers story that speaks to anyone who feels they are always in a supporting role - always the sidekick, never the leading lady. Although I enjoyed the book, it didn’t hold the same amount of charm as Piper and Brendan's story for me. The first book in the duology gave me an idea about Fox’s ‘Casanova’ personality, so I was expecting a little more steam, a lot sooner in the book. With his history plus the chemistry he already had with Hannah, I thought their spice would show up earlier rather than later but I was wrong. Keeping Hannah in the friend zone as long as he did just didn’t seem sincere but all and all it was a fun, quick, and unputdownable book. 3-1/2 Stars

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in turn for my honest review.

The hype is well deserving because this one really didn’t disappoint. It has easily become one of my favourite friends to lovers book. Hannah and Fox were two characters that stuck with me when I read them, just as the sister and the best friend in the preceding book, 'It Happened One Summer. Especially, with the easy love I had for them both along with the friendship that they developed, it was quite given how quickly and eager I would get into their very own love story.
I really like the voice of the heroine and the angst, the chemistry, the sweeping romance and most importantly the way Ms. Bailey heavily focused on individual character growth and development; that was something I very much loved. I just adore them and love how they worked through their issues as a “team”!!