Tessa Bailey has done it again. The second book in the Bellinger Sisters series is by far my favorite. We are reintroduced to Piper's sister Hannah and Fox, Brenden's shipmate. Hannah and Fox start texting one another at first once a month, and slowly but surely they are texting each other everyday and using music to communicate their feelings. Their friendship blossoms and they become each other's voice of reason. After Hannah's latest film moves production to Westport, Hannah and Fox are forced to confront their true feelings.

This book is an extremely slow burn, friends to lovers trope that is so different from Bailey's other works. Hannah and Fox work through their perceptions of themselves. It was an extremely emotional book, that left me on the edge of my seat frantically turning the page wanting to know what was next. You will be dying to know if these characters find their happily ever after.

Tessa Bailey does it again with this friends to lovers story for Fox and Hannah. There are way more tropes thrown in there too, a little forced proximity, roommates, small town romance. I was so happy to get this opportunity to travel back to Westport and get the story I knew was coming from the moment Fox and Hannah first met in It Happened One Summer. What I wasn't expecting and absolutely love was that Tessa Bailey didn't let these characters make stupid and immature decisions. Communication happens between these two even when they are struggling and it was so beautiful. The musical aspect of this book was a necessary and fun touch. I loved finding out which song Hannah or Fox would choose for their mood or to answer a question and was happy to hear all their choices. My favorite, Modest Mouse even got a mention and I think I squealed while I read it.

This story is a slow slow burn with lots of building tension. This book was less spicy than the previous book in the series, but spice was well timed and perfect for Fox and Hannah and their chemistry.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is a must read and a wonderful addition to the series.

I received a galley of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily give my review.

This book is just what I needed to give me a mental break from work, grad school, and real life in general. Swoony and romantic, with tempered humor and only the best lyrical references-Fox and Hannah gave me a world I could retreat to and enjoy. I loved the HEA and the epilogue was perfect. While this book is part of a series, it is not necessary to read the first to enjoy the second.

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions are mine alone.

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey is the follow-up to It Happened One Summer. This book follows Fox Thornton and Hannah Bellinger. Fox is the King Crab fisherman who is a self-proclaimed bachelor. Hannah is the assistant to a movie producer but wants to be the music soundtrack producer. When work is looking for an ideal location, Hannah suggests the quaint town of Westport so she can see her sister... and her friend Fox, who she's been texting since last summer!

Hannah and Fox have TONS of emotional baggage and self-image issues. You know how you want this book to end, and are rewarded with how the story progresses. This was a great follow-up to It Happened One Summer. My only issue is that there are only two sisters... and I want MORE of Hannah, Fox, Piper and Brendon!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me an advance copy of Tessa Bailey’s latest romance novel, Hook, Line, and Sinker, in exchange for an honest review.

#HookLineandSinker is the sequel to the first book in the Bellinger Sisters series, It Happened One Summer. Unlike the first novel, the second book focuses on Hannah this time instead of Piper. I sense a trilogy coming at some point in the near future, but for now, the reader definitely does not need to read the first book in order to enjoy this one because Piper is barely featured in it.

Unfortunately, book two did not draw me in like the first one. In my review for the first novel, I wrote that Hannah was not necessary to the story and seemed as if she were a throwaway character. Here, it seems as if Piper is the throwaway character, so hopefully they will converge as a foursome by book three.

I loved the idea of Hannah and Fox as a couple. Between music and the entertainment scene, I was so much more excited for this novel, but for some reason, the execution fell flat. I do not know if the author did not enjoy writing these characters as much as the characters in the first novel or what, but the whole story felt like a long-drawn-out tease where nothing even remotely interesting happens and I am reading just to get it over with by the midway point.

I do hope that the third novel will be a redeeming reward for making it through to the end of book two. However, if you are choosing to read this as a standalone novel, then I suggest you skip it and read the first one instead.

Hook, Line and Sinker picks up where It Happened One Summer left off. When the movie Hannah is working on needs a new location, she offers up the idyllic Westport, which puts her in close proximity to Fox, who is "just a friend." Neither want to acknowledge their growing attraction, especially with the pair sharing an apartment. But when the line between friendship and flirtation begin to blur, Hannah and Fox must decide whether to leave their past behind and take the plunge into a possible forever.

I was not ready for the magic of this book! This angsty, ultra slow burn friends to lovers romance was everything I hoped for and more. The forced proximity was pure perfection. The burn was so slow, I think I might have been more sexually frustrated than Fox!

Tessa Bailey has the gift of writing characters with such vast emotional depth and Hannah and Fox are no exception to this rule. Hannah speaks in song lyrics, letting her mood flow with music. She is loyal to a fault, whether it be her sister, Piper or Fox. Consistently, Hannah shows how committed she is to Fox, no matter how hard he pushes her away.

Fox is so beautifully broken. I absolutely adored his character. While he is content to live up to others' expectations of his actions, because it's easier. But quietly, he harbors his silent love for Hannah, secretly collecting vinyl just because she loves it.

If any couple deserves a happily ever after, it's these two. Hannah is Fox's North Star, ever steady, always believing in his worth and what they have together. The epilogue for this book was so beautiful and gave my heart the biggest hug. It closed this series up with a perfect bow that was pure perfection.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This was a fantastic slow burn friends to lovers. Hannah is for every person who has ever felt imposter syndrome in their industry. The way Hannah and Fox build each other up and support each other is so wonderful and true couple goals. I loved how Fox secretly pined for Hannah from the seemingly the moment he met. This is probably my favorite Tessa Bailey series and I need more.

Hannah and Fox have found themselves searching each other out as companions each day through text. When Hannah convinces her director they should move the location of the movie they are shooting to Westport. Since Hannah is unable to stay with her sister she somehow finds herself sleeping in Fox’s guest room. They one rule, they will not hook up or fall for each other.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is the second installation in the Bellinger Sisters series (although, since there are only 2 sisters, I imagine the series is over sadly!). After receiving and loving an ARC of Happened One Summer, I immediately requested this one! Hook, Line, and Sinker follows the relationship between Hannah and Fox, who we meet in the first book and had instant chemistry. Unfortunately, their story didn't quite pull me in like Brendan and Pipers and I didn't tear through this one like the first, but it was still a sweet romance.
We also didn't get much Piper, so you could probably read this one first/without the other, but I highly recommend It Happened One Summer too. Then again, I will read anything Tessa Bailey writes (especially when I'm in the mood for escape romance).

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon books for the ARC of Hook, Line, and Sinker!

After loving It Happened One Summer, I was ecstatic to get my hands on Hook, Line, and Sinker!

Unfortunately, Hannah & Fox’s love story didn’t pull me in the same as Brendan and Pipers. While I was rooting for them, I felt their connection was lacking and I wanted more depth and emotion.

It’s safe to say Tessa Bailey is a steam queen, which I love, but to me this one was all steam and not much growth as a couple. However, I did enjoy watching Hannah grow as an individual and stand up for herself in her career.

I was also disappointed that there wasn’t much interaction between Hannah and Piper. I truly enjoyed their sisterly bond in It Happened One Summer and would have loved to see more of them and Opal together in Hook, Line, and Sinker.

All in all, it was a cute romance full of steam so if that’s your cup of tea and you liked the first in the Bellinger sister series, then I’d recommend picking this one up!

Let me first say that I loved the first book in this duology - and this was was different, but still good! Compared to It Happened One Summer, this book is less on the steamy side, but way more on the emotional side. The relationship definitely does have raw sexual tension and attraction that we know and love from Tessa Bailey, but the focus is definitely on the main characters trying to break down some emotional walls.

I love Westport and I love the Bellinger Sisters and I love the grumpy fishermen. My only wish is that they suddenly have a long-lost sister so we can get a third book!

Book: Hook, Line, and Sinker. Book 2 of the Bellinger Sister Series.⁣⁣⁣
Author: Tessa Bailey ⁣⁣⁣
Genre: Contemporary Romance⁣⁣⁣
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦: This story follows Hannah and Fox in a friends to lovers romance. I love how the two main characters bond over music. Both characters show growth individually and together during the book. I love how Hannah gained the courage to start being the leading lady in her own life. More importantly, I loved the growth Fox made during the story, coming to the realization that he can and is worthy of love.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Note: I did not read the first book in series and felt this book worked well as a stand alone⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Hannah Bellinger has a case of the chronic supporting role and Fox Thorton is infamous for his one night stand reputation. With Hannah back at Westport for her job, she finds herself staying with Fox since they’re friends. Right? Debatable. They both allow each other the freedom to be their ideal selves. They find such companionship and joy with each other that it’s hard not to ship them together from the prologue!

Overall, it was such an amazing friends to lovers romance and I am so glad to be immersed back into Westport. Hannah and Fox are both so passionate and truly belong together. Not shocked this book was amazing, Tessa Bailey truly knows how to write the perfect spicy novel with complex characters. Also the ending... was *chefs kiss* PERFECT!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for sharing my honest review!

Hook, Line, & Sinker

Thank you to @avonbooks and @Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my official petition for an entire Westport series - two books are just not enough for this cozy, seaside town full of fun characters! I read It Happened One Summer and, no joke, immediately picked up this book because I needed more of Piper, Hannah, and the gang.

This book follows Hannah's story, who we met in IHOS. It was clear in the first book that Hannah and Fox would make a great match, and this friends to lovers romance played out perfectly and so sweetly. Hook, Line, & Sinker definitely works as a standalone novel, and is full of a slow burn "will they won't they" attraction. I'd rate this moderate on the steam scale, and it worked well with the story so it didn't come across as forced.

Full review to come on Bookstagram.

I could tell there was something there between Hannah and Fox while reading IHOS. I was so excited to dive into this book and find out what it was! Even though they're just friends, they could not stay away from each other and always got pulled back to one another. I'm not usually a friends to lovers girl (give me enemies to lovers!!!) but omg this book was so cute!! I loved watching them realize their feelings for each other while independently growing as people. I loved this book so much but I will say, IHOS is still my favorite! And now I want a Fox!

If you enjoyed It Happened One Summer, you will undoubtedly adore Fox and Hannah’s story! I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and I am so happy I did!

This friends-to-lovers story was raw and vulnerable. I loved the feministic themes about breaking down toxic masculinity and fostering empowerment. Fox and Hannah’s relationship was developed so beautifully! And, of course, Tessa Bailey’s spice scenes were definitely worth the build-up!

I also loved getting to see Brendan and Piper’s relationship progress throughout the book since I fell in love with their story in It Happened One Summer!

Be sure to pick up this book when it comes out in March! You won’t be disappointed! :)

A review was also posted on my Goodreads account (@megbooks02) and on my Tiktok page (@megbooks01)!

Bellinger Sister #2, Hannah, is back in Westport with her film crew co-workers. She's there, trying to be "leading lady" stuff and move up the ranks in regards to music. Bonus: she is staying in Fox's guest room since Piper's in-laws are in her guest room. The time with Fox really allows Hannah to get to know him-- and his hang-ups-- better. They get along so well, that they should probably try the whole relationship thing, right? :)

I don't know how Bailey does it: fresh takes on emotional growth, fresh conflicts, fresh sexy times, and fresh keep-the-pages turning magic, but she does. I loved this one!

I really liked It Happened One Summer, and was excited to read about Fox and Hannah, so I was therefore psyched to get an arc of this one...but I just did not feel it. I loved the whole "supporting role" thing (felt on a deeply emotional level) but I found myself skimming most of this book. I just was not invested at all. The characters felt different to me than the characters we met in In Happened One Summer. Still an enjoyable read, but not what I was hoping for.

I am obsessed with this series. I loved the first book and I think I loved Hook, Line and Sinker even more! I need more of this charming town!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and HarperVoyager for this ARC!!

Immediately right off the bat I HAVE to praise this book. This has to be the first romance book that I have read where it is the male love interest instead of the woman dealing with some internal struggle.

I often read about the male love interest helping our female protagonist grow, so to read a story in which those roles are reversed was very refreshing.

In this story we have one of our main characters, in this case Fox, struggling with this internal sense of self identity and worth due to the toxic role that society and those closest to him have expected him to play. I feel that when you are writing a story with a conflict such as this that is important that you do not make this something Hannah tries to “fix” about him.

Throughout the story, Hannah does not give off any “I can fix him” which I believe is incredibly important. Instead, her character merely shows Fox that she is there and will remain there which is her way of showing support while he battles with his own issues.

That being said I do think that there were times — granted very few — where Hannah comes across as trying to therapize Fox. I didn’t really love that part, but I will say that Fox does bring it up one and then she never does so again.

Overall, the story had me hooked instantly. I completed devoured the story in a few short days. The characters were entertaining with chemistry and sexual tension that took over the entire page so much it was palpable.

Thank you again for honoring with an Arc to this book. It was amazing!