Tessa Bailey knows how to write a steamy romance! I loved the small coastal town setting, and the main characters' professions felt unique for this genre as well.

What a great follow up to It Happened One Summer!! After getting a sneak peak of Hannah and Fox, I already knew that Hook, Line, and Sinker would be the friends to lovers book I needed!
Hannah and Fox have amazing chemistry as friends from the beginning, but when they’re forced into close proximity, the slow burn between the two of them is *chefs kiss*.
Hannah and Fox each have a tendency to underestimate themselves, which is why it’s so satisfying to see them grow as individuals and as a couple. Their relationship has great spice and tension, but they also connect on an emotional level that will make your heart feel all warm and fuzzy.
“There was no helping it. She felt like the sunrise coming up over the water after a bad storm.”
Ugh, I wish I could forget this entire book and experience it all over again! Overall, I absolutely loved seeing Hannah and Fox’s story unfold. The epilogue was EVERYTHING I wanted to wrap up the story of the Bellinger sisters. I can’t recommend this book enough, I promise you won’t regret picking it up!

Thank you to Avon Books and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book totally lived up to my expectations. After meeting Hannah and Fox in the last book, I was already more than halfway in love with them - but this book took me all the way there. Hannah is the other Cross sister - she helped Piper get settled in to Westport and refurbish the pub last summer - but had her own career in the film industry to get back to. Before she left Westport, Hannah and Fox connected with trips to the record store and a final walk around the record convention in Seattle. Since then they've been texting (their text conversations were just everything) and becoming close friends.

Hannah is a very well adjusted person - but she definitely has a strong case of imposter syndrome and has always felt like the sidekick, not the main character in her own story.

Fox has a lot of baggage to unpack. He's a gorgeous guy and has a broad sexual history - this is very much ties to low self esteem and that his only worth is in his physical appearance. As much as his friends glorify his extensive sexual experience and sex appeal, they also show a pretty strong level of disrespect for him as an individual apart from that. Hannah is really the only one who seems to see him as he is.

I adored that this book confronted living up or down to expectations - particularly when it comes to boys. Kids are so often labeled and put in a box of expectations at an early age, and when those kids are particularly physically attractive, those labels are often sexualized. In Fox's case - he was labeled a "heartbreaker" long before a kid should ever even be thinking about that. And since then,

I also adored that Fox and Hannah actual talk to each other. Granted - Hannah would never let it be any other way - but still - they have the tough conversations. The meet each other straight on - and acknowledge the baggage each of them brings to the table. This also gave both of them the courage and strength to lay things out on the table with other people in their lives. It was just awesome.

The best thing about this book is that the characters really do bring out the best in each other and support each other in the truest sense of the word. I will also say that Fox is a classic Tessa Bailey Dirty Talker - be warned he really is that sexy.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinion are all my own. You're going to love this one.

I really enjoyed this delightful friends-to-lovers story. And get ready for some serious steamy sex scenes!

The book, Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey, centers around Hannah and Fox who are convinced they should only be friends even though their chemistry is off the charts! Each character has their reasons why they feel that friendship is for the best.

Hannah is a film production assistant who dreams of creating music scores for movies. In fact, music plays a big role in the book. Hannah who can find a song for every important moment shares her passion for music with Fox. Music helps them express themselves to each other when words won’t come. Fox is a King Crab fisherman who dreams of being captain of his own boat but doesn’t feel he can measure up. His past continues to haunt him but he is determined to become a better man for himself and maybe a special someone.

Hannah and Fox’s relationship slowly builds as they help each other overcome their insecurities and go for their dreams. And their chemistry slowly smolders creating big sexual tension. On the other hand, one of the drawbacks of the book is that I felt the story relied too much on sex. I love to read steamy sex scenes but I felt they got in the way of this story sometimes.

I thought the story was going to be just a fun, light rom-com, but it had some depth to it which I really appreciated. I love rom-coms but won’t rate them highly if they don’t deal with real-life issues in a meaningful way. I truly rooted for Hannah and Fox as they pursued their dreams together. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

Big thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

ARC Review: Hook, Line, and Sinker

This is the sequel to It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey. I loved this book!! I cannot wait for it to come out in March, so I can own a physical copy. Go to Netgalley and request it if you couldn’t wait like me to read Hannah and Fox’s story.

Quick hits:
👩‍❤️‍👨Friends to lovers
💬Cute texts
🏠Close proximity
🥊Battling imposter syndrome
🎧Music references - it really does add something so beautiful to the story! I always put on the song, and felt more immersed in the scene

I really enjoyed It Happened One Summer in which opposites Piper and Brendan find love in an unlikely situation. This is Piper's sister, Hannah, and Brendan's best friend, Foxs story. After meeting each other when Piper and Brendan, got together in Seattle a year ago, Hannah and Fox have developed a long distance texting friendship. When Hannah gets the film crew she works with to shoot in Seattle, she's looking forward to seeing Fox. Fox has been warned repeatedly not to get involved with Hannah so he puts himself firmly in the Friend Zone. Fox's claim to fame, according to others is being a manwhore. Sadly, this stereotype pains him, because he feels he has a lot more to offer but only Hannah sees his real worth. I really enjoyed this friends to lovers romance. Recommended.

One of the best feelings in the world is when you know exactly what kind of book you want to read — and you find it. I wanted a fast-paced, charming story with a comforting HEA, and that's exactly what Hook, Line and Sinker gave me.

I don't want to reveal too much of the plot, but I'll add that it dealt with some complex subject matter in a patient and kind way, which made me like this book even more. Throw in Hannah's career and love of music, and it's one of my fave rom-com reads of the year.

I have read all of the books in the Hot & Hammered series and the first book of the Bellinger Sisters by this author. So of course I wanted to read the next book about Piper Bellinger’s younger sister, Hannah. I love these books so much and the fact that it is a series with recurring characters is like a gift that keeps on giving.

This newest series reminds me a bit of Jasmine Guillory’s books because it stresses the bonds of family and friendship and makes the romances so realistic. I could see people that I know in circumstances that the main characters go through. They are real people dealing with real feelings. While they do fall madly in love, they face challenges and setbacks, but persevere so that love wins.

This book also takes place in the fishing village of Westport. Hannah works for a film company and finagles the current production that she’s working on to film on location in Westport. While there she reconnects with Fox, the best friend of her sister’s fiancée, whom she flirted with last summer and has been building a solid texting friendship with since then. You know where this is going, right? But of course, there are some detours along the way.

Overall it is a feel-good, can’t put down type of story, and the best part of all is the epilogue!!! I am a person who likes to know what happens to characters after the story ends and this book provided all of that. I hope this doesn’t mean that there won’t be any more Bellinger Sisters books though.

I love this tiny little town, I love these sisters, I loved this book! It Happened One Summer hooked me completely, and I had to pick this book up right away. Hannah is AWESOME, and the sparks between her and Fox!!! So much swoon!

Just absolutely amazing!! I honestly can’t tell if I loved Hook, Line, and Sinker or It Happened One Summer more! THIS BOOK LIVED UP TO THE HYPE!! I mean I was already expecting it to be great because there was definitely something going on with Fox and Hannah in It Happened One Summer but I was not expecting it to go down the way it did! I absolutely love Hannah she is an amazing ✨LEADING-LADY✨! Fox was absolutely amazing I haven’t read a book that had male character portrayed the way he is and it really made me think about things and I just love this book it was so amazing and funny and sweet and ughhh my heart ♥️

I knew I loved Hannah and Fox before I started this book but I was really not expecting Fox to have such depth. Admittedly I was expecting a cocky playboy and some spicy scenes, and then I felt bad for judging Fox like everyone else lol. liked how in tune Hannah and Fox were to each other and they kept surprising me. This is a totally character driven story and I'm here for it.

I also really liked how beautifully Hannahs love of music was tied into the story, it was not forced at all and yet it weaved everything together.

This is the 5th book I've read by Tessa Bailey and frankly I'm obsessed. I love her writing style, its just great writing and the sexy scenes are just so well done without being cheesy!

Lastly, I love love LOVED the epilogue 💕

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

Book 2: Hook, line, and Sinker in the series It Happened One Summer was another cute love story. In this follow-up, Piper's sister, Hannah and her " friend" Fox who may or may not turn out to be just the guy she's looking for are in the friend zone, but who knows for how long when the line between friendship and flirtation gets crossed.

An easy, feel good story that makes you want to fall in love all over again with the butterflies in your stomach and the wishful feeling of love. Totally swoon-worthy!

Thank you to #netgalley and @avonbooks for this gifted copy. This title is due out March 1, 2022.

The last couple books of Tessa Bailey's have just really been a miss for me. I feel like the type of plots she has been writing about the last year or so are pretty cliche. They've been done over and over again. I just couldn't connect to this one. Loved the first book in the series though. And her previous works before this series.

I actually read this book before the first one in the series and thoroughly enjoyed it and have now gone back. Tessa is an extremely talented writer who makes me laugh out loud and blush under the covers of my book. If you're on the fence about a Tessa Bailey romance, just buy it!

I read It Happened One Summer and when I saw the second book was available on Netgalley, immediately requested it. The grumpy/sunshine, Alexis Rose vibes was perfection and I really liked Hannah’s character as well and was eager to see her story.
Hannah and Fox’s story is definitely more friends to lovers, while Brendan and Piper’s was enemies to lovers. Fox is a playboy who thinks that is all he can be, a box that he was put into as an adolescent by his parents due to his dad’s philandering ways. Enter Hannah, the only woman he has ever wanted to settle down with.
Determined to be a leading lady in her own life, Hannah is stepping out of the “sidekick” box she’s always put herself in. She no longer wants to sit idly by, but rather take charge - both in her career and romantic life. And what she is stunned to realize she wants - in her romantic life - is Fox.
What I loved the most about this book was the way that the author showed how damaging toxic masculinity is for men, and how hurtful these expectations can be when placed on boys. Fox felt that all he brought to the table was sex, and Hannah challenged this idea of himself, showing him that he could be so much more.

This one is delightful. I loved the two leads and was happy to watch them learn to communicate. Tessa Bailey is also top notch at writing desire, so while the spice level doesn't kick into full gear until later in the novel, it still feels very sexy throughout. Another thing I really appreciated is that with less skill, this would've been a frustrating game of miscommunication, but Tessa's characters unpacked the reasons behind their insecurities while also giving a great example of toxic masculinity and the damage it causes. I'll absolutely recommend this.

The 2nd in the series of the Bellinger Sisters….
Now we hear the sizzling story of Hannah and Fox. Two people the were thrown together by coincidence, finding they had undeniable chemistry last summer.
When Hannah’s film production moves out of LA to the fishing bill of Westport- Hannah and Fox realize the texts they’ve been exchanging for 7 mos are more than just friendly.
What happens when they are close and Fox sees Hannah in a different light? Can Hannah break Fox’s barriers? Can Hannah give up fancy LA for Westport like her sister Piper?

Welp, this was a hook, line, and STINKER. I really want to like Tessa Bailey’s rom-coms and this book’s companion, IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER, provided a glimmer of hope for me. However, HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER was unfortunately a big let down.

My main disappointment with this book was that our leads Hannah and Fox were two-dimensional characters. They each had one interest and one inner conflict, and every single line was about those attributes. The prose was VERY redundant - there are only so many ways that you can say “Hannah wants to be a ‘leading lady’” and “Fox gets upset when people think he’s a player.” Their chemistry wasn’t necessarily off-putting, but there was nothing special about it.

Minor spoilers ahead, but here are a few other things that just didn’t make sense to me:
- Hannah’s fallback, “safer” option guy was her BOSS? And no one mentioned how this could be toxic?
- I was annoyed at how often gendered words were used - both during and outside sex scenes. If I have to read phrases like “feminine heat” or “masculine grunt” one more time, I might take a shot of bleach.
- The events of IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER (book 1) are info dumped at the beginning of this book. I get why this was necessary because people read romance out of order all the time, but there was no flow to this. It messed up the pacing for the whole first half of the book.
- A TEN-YEAR epilogue time jump? With a moose??? I normally have a tolerance and fondness for corny epilogues, but this was too much.

Reading this book was like waiting for two Triscuits to fuck… dry and unsatisfying. I was bored, and I wasn’t given enough of a reason to root for the characters. Read this sequel to a beloved by TikTok rom-com at your own risk.

First of all, thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Once again, Tessa Bailey knocks it out of the park 👏🏼

Seriously, go ahead and add this to your TBR list and preorder for its March 1 release because it is GOOD.

Hannah and Fox follow my personal favorite trope of friends to lovers and I just adore how their relationship blooms and grows and we get to learn from and admire their tenacity as we follow them over the span of a year.

Fans, of the first book in the Series will appreciate the special appearances by Piper and Brandon.