Such a cute story! I love this romance duo, and I finished it in a day. This story from Tessa Bailey is exactly what I've been looking for, and I'm excited to see it in stores.

When I picked up this book I did not realize how spicey and hot it would get! Sexual tension came off the pages!

To be honest the first 10% of this book, had me wanting to put it back in my library. It took me a long while to get invested in Fox and Hannah. But I’m glad I pushed through because this had one of the hottest scenes I’ve ever read! Which left me baffled because guessing by the cover, I would not have realized it was a sizzling romance.

Fox is a king crab fisherman and Hannah is the hometown girl he develops feelings for him. This is a friends to lovers story and Hannah really has to work it to get his interest. After leaving town and returning, Hannah is back and making a splash- she grabs the attention of her Crab KIng and coworker. She is pulled to both but can’t deny the distraction and friendship Fox offers when she needs the added support to speak up at work.

Don’t be fooled this is a five Chile pepper read!

I would rate this a five out of five- this ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

ARC provided by NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I can't find anything wrong with Hook, Line and Sinker, per se, and it was a good read, but I didn't find it to be a god tier romance, but if you're in for something quick and cute, this book might be for you.

If you've ever felt like the supporting character in your own life, or facing down a serious case of imposter syndrome, you'll probably really like this book. As a PA for an indie movie, Hannah convinces the director that the sleepy sea town she spent her last summer was the perfect place to film his short film. She helped her sister find love last time she was there, this time she goes with hopes of further her career aspirations in the movie and music business.

Fox is the "pretty boy hero", a king crab fisherman, and always ready for a good time, if you catch my drift. Him and Hannah have been friends via texting since the summer before, so when Hannah needs a place to stay while they're filming, his apartment is offered up.

I have not yet read It Happened One Summer, which is the first Bellinger Sister's book, and I don't think that this story lacked in any way for having not read it, but reading book 1 first is probably a good idea. I felt like maybe I was missing some overarching details that weren't exactly vital to the story, but might have been nice to have. But you could also read this book entirely on its own and be just fine.

Like I said at the top, this was a good book, but it wasn't amazing. It doesn't stand out in my mind as next level romance. It was cute and fun, but I think I would have liked more in depth exploration of Fox's character. I'm not sure I feel like I really know him. I think the premise is interesting, but again, not amazing.

I felt like the pacing was a bit... off. This is friends to lovers, which isn't typically my jam, and it felt like there were a bunch of false starts within their romance that made me feel like it dragged on just a little bit, but if you like friends to lovers, you'll probably like this.

There wasn't a ton of on page spice, but what was there was fire in the best way, and I do appreciate some well written smut.

All in all, not a bad read, and I'll be reading It Happened One Summer soon because I enjoyed her writing enough to read another of Bailey's books, so use that information as you will.

CW: death of a parent, slut shaming

This book is steamy and hot! I loved the first book, ‘It Happened One Summer’ with Brendan and Piper and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one to read Hannah and Fox’s story. It did not disappoint! Hannah and Fox have undeniable fireworks between them and some strong sexual chemistry! This book was a fun, quick read and was totally unputdownable. It leaves you with feel good, happy vibes. I can’t wait to keep reading more from Tessa Bailey!

I really enjoyed the first book, It Happened One Summer, and could not wait to get Hannah's story. It was obvious in the first book that she and Fox had chemistry, and from the little glimpses we got, I knew it would be good.

What I didn't expect was for Fox to be so layered. He is a very attractive man with a reputation as a ladies man. He lives a carefree life and never ties himself down. Pretty soon though, he realizes that he is no longer living that life for himself, but rather for the expectations of others. It isn't until Hannah returns to Westport and stays with him while working on a film, that he starts to wonder if he can be the kind of man who is capable of more than just a good time. He knows that's what Hannah deserves.
Hannah has her own struggles to contend with. She happily plays the supporting role in both her professional and personal life, but is she really happy with that. The one thing she is sure of is that the more time she spends with Fox, the more she likes him. And even when the man she's had a crush on for 2 years finally sees her and asks her out, she knows that crush is gone thanks to Fox. Now the only thing left to do is wait for and help Fox to get out of his own way. Hannah had taken some pretty big risks with her job and those risks are paying off. Now she's ready to risk her heart and she can only hope that Fox will do the same.

There was a lot of angst, some steam and most definitely a ton of tension. I loved how the story was told and how Fox struggled with himself, using humor and sex to try and deflect when he was uncomfortable. I loved how Hannah started to come out of her shell while subtly getting Fox to open up to her. It was a great story of friends to lovers that was written beautifully.

I think this could be read as a stand alone, but for the best reading experience, I'd recommend reading It Happened One Summer, first.

I love that every Tessa Bailey book I read hits this great standard of depth and romance, and Hook, Line, and Sinker was no different! I went into this book having not read the first in the series, but like most romance books that was perfectly fine to do. I didn't feel like I missed anything as everything that happened was eluded to but not over-explained in a way that would annoy someone that had read the first book. Hannah and Fox had a wonderfully fleshed-out relationship, even for those just popping in for this book. The characters were fully fleshed out and complimented each other well. They grew in their relationship as well as their personal character which has come to be my standard for Tessa Bailey and one of the things I love most about her. And of course, it had the usual Tessa Bailey level spice :). I loved Hannah and Fox and I hope you read this book and fall in love with them too!

Such a great book! I love Hannah and Fox and although they were minor characters in book 1, I couldn't wait to read what happened to them and dug into this one as soon as I was able to do so. In true Tessa Bailey form, there was a lot of steam in this book and it was done SO incredibly well. I loved the chemistry between Hannah and Fox, and I love how they worked through their issues. I loved all the characters. The book was fantastically written and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a heart wrenching yet incredibly satisfying HEA.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Cute romance that continues the story of L.A.’s Bellinger sisters. Loved seeing these characters become adults and the seaside Washington state setting. Heavy on the self-esteem issues, but all is nicely wrapped up at the end.

Tessa Bailey is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! I loved the first book in the series so much and I am so glad to get Fox’s story in this one! The way this book starts off of the texting banter is priceless! There’s way more to Fox’s character than meets the eye and it is so fun to see that play out in this adorable laugh out loud, witty, joyful romance. And of course I love any talk about captains and beaches and sailing!!!!

Great book. I really enjoyed the storyline and the cover! I can’t wait to read more from this author.

This is my new favorite steamy series! Tessa Bailey brings it again in the followup to the fantastically hot "It Happened One Summer." In this 2nd installment, we find Piper's sister Hannah breaking down the assumed-perpetual-bachelor Fox's walls and resolve. It is SO freaking hot and steamy and filled with pining and yearning and frustration...and respectable boundaries with fantastic consent discussions. I love their bond through music and shared loss and disappointment. Their journey is so sticky-sweet! The epilogue is EVERYTHING, and I'm only sad that there aren't more Bellinger sisters to continue this series.

Thanks to Avon for the advanced read in exchange for my honest review!

Ahhhhh I love this series, and this one did NOT disappoint. I LOVE how Fox and Hannah compliment and read the other so well. They know when it's time for honesty, and time to lay off and give the other time to think. Their chemistry is off-the-charts, and I was HERE for it. I read this within a 24 hour period, and I'd do it again. Amazing 2nd book from this series from Tessa Bailey!

I normally prefer enemies to lovers but this friends to lovers romance had some of my favorite EtL hallmarks. There was one sided pinning, thoughtful gifts, and woven throughout was thoughtful commentary on societal views of male sexuality. It was thought provoking, steamy, and downright fun! My only disappointment was that there are only 2 Bellinger sisters!

✨Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey(Bellinger Sisters #2)✨

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 400
Pub Date: March 1, 2022

📚 King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Thats’s how he prefers it until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his personality and wants to be friends. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah's in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she's nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can't deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.

📝Fox and Hannah were fun to read about. This book focuses on what it means to be the support instead of the main character. Both Hannah and Fox seem to feel that way about themselves in comparison to Piper (Hannah’s sister) and Brendan (Fox’s captain).

The troupe is friends to lovers. The interactions were very angsty which, in my opinion, makes romance books so much better.

I started this without having read the first part of the duology “It Happened One Summer” but it didn’t impact my understanding of this storyline. However, it also means that I can’t really compare both books, but reading this made me interested in Piper and Brendan’s story.

For more reviews, follow me @literaturewithalatte
💫Thanks to @netgalley and @avonbooks for my ARC💫

Y’all. THIS BOOK. THIS is the reason that romance novels are beloved by so many people. Bailey’s ability to craft an excellent romance is truly one-of-a-kind. I’ve honestly never seen her equal. The boys of Westport are giant cinnamon rolls, so not falling in love with them wasn’t an option. Especially when Fox finally admits to others—although it’s been pretty clear to him for a while—that he’s been sitting in his apartment for over 6 months, celibate, and hopelessly pining for Hannah. GAAAAHHHH. My heart can’t take it. Insta-love is my fave romance trope, and this book didn’t disappoint. AND THE EPILOGUE?!?!?!? Holy crap. The epilogue made my chest feel like it was swelling until it just wanted to burst. Just thinking about it now has me in tears. Another perfect novel from Tessa Bailey. I can’t ask for anything more in a romance—it’s perfection. *chef’s kiss*

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an arc.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than It Happened One Summer. I only gave that a 3, and this was no doubt a 5. And, as someone who doesn't love friends to lovers (most of the time), I adored Hannah and Fox's romance. Although I wasn't expecting it to be as slow of a burn as it was, that made it even better.

I loved how there wasn't any miscommunication. That is one of my least favorite tropes along with Instalove, and I'm beyond happy it wasn't in here,

Another thing I love in books is when the couple has a "you're the only one who truly understands me" relationship, and that's exactly what Hannah and Fox have. It warmed my heart every time they opened up to one another, and I adored how music connected them.

Overall, I gave this book a 5/5. Their relationship was everything I wanted and more, and I can't wait to get a physical copy in March.

I absolutely loved Piper and Brendan's story in It Happened One Summer, and I am so glad that Hannah and Fox got their own story in Hook, Line, and Sinker. I will come right out and say that I enjoyed It Happened One Summer a little more than Hook, Line, and Sinker, but I still enjoyed it a lot. I liked that we kind of got to see what Piper and Brendan were up to, and see what was going on with the mysterious Fox, and why he has a reputation for a playboy and why he really doesn't want to captain his own ship. I liked that we got to go back to Westport, and check in with some of the locals, like Opal, and see how the girls' bar was doing. One of the things that I didn't like so much about Hook, Line, and Sinker was how much of a slow burn it was. I wanted to yell, "OMG JUST KISS ALREADY!!" It seemed like every time Hannah and Fox got close to revealing their feelings for each other or showing each other any kind of intimacy, something happened where they broke apart and then stopped. A little tension and build up is nice, but after awhile, I need some payoff. I thought that Fox was very romantic, and loved the whole falling in love with the younger sister trope. I also liked that we got quite a bit of backstory on Fox, and can we talk about how he had a record player with records he was accumulating in secret for Hannah? That was totally swoon-worthy. I am already looking forward to the next book by Tessa Bailey, and this is a series I will recommend to anyone who loves a good romance!

Tessa Bailey has just written a beautifully insecure, vulnerable, strapping, seductive hero I’ve ever read. On top of that, she’s written a heroine I just related too better than any other heroine I’ve ever read. TEN OUT OF TEN. Give this woman any award she applies for.

Seriously. Fox and Hannah. Deserve. Everything.

THE EPILOGUE WAS EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. 😭

I wish I had a more eloquent way to describe how good this book is ❤️.

You knows it’s a good book when you finish it in under 20hrs! What a fabulous follow up to the first in this series (which I did not care for). This story follows Hannah & Fox as they embark on a long-distance friendship which evolves into one of the greatest slow burn romances I’ve read in a while. Whew! I was rooting for them the whole way!

These two characters had more depth and dimension than Piper/Brendan. I greatly enjoyed how they pushed each other to overcome their struggles/limitations and I just loved the incorporation of music into this story.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH WITH MY WHOLE HEART! Posted a few videos of it on my tiktok already! Fox Thornton climbed his way up to the number one spot in my heart I love him so much and I love the way fox and hannah’s relationship developed gradually throughout the book