Member Reviews
So good!! Tessa Bailey kills it again, I LOVED HANNAH AND FOX! Their story was so spicy and swoon worthy, definitely a must read.
I was obsessed with It Happened One Summer when I got the arc in June and wow this one was just as good. I liked seeing the friends to lovers trope develop.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Y'ALL! I loved It Happened One Summer, and somehow this book was even better. It is perfection. I loved Hannah and Fox's relationship, how they pushed each other to take risks and be better and grow. Hannah is so emotionally mature and it was amazing how she refused to let Fox hide and avoid dealing with his shit. The discussions around toxic masculinity were so important. The slow burn, yearning, and spice were ON POINT. And I can't possibly adore a book more that deliberately avoids the miscommunication trope, even going so far as to say, we could have some miscommunication here, but NOPE not doing it.
So yes, read this and IHOS and get ready for pure perfection. I can't recommend them enough!
I was desperate to read this book after I finished book 1 in this series!
Hannah, my sweet Hannah. She was my spirit animal. Music is her life and she thinks in songs and lyrics.
I loved that music was the love language for Fox and Hannah. It melted my heart when they would use songs to communicate with each other. Relationship goals, am I right?!
Fox, with his broken, tortured and kind soul. He was such a good guy.
It's hard to call this a slow burn because the author does such a good job of filling in those holes with a different type of intimacy. You still felt their connection and chemistry (HELLO BATHROOM MASSAGE OIL SCENE😍) even if they aren't acting on it. Ugh I just love them! This was so good I wish I could unread it just to read it again. Miss Bailey has not let me down so far and I can't wait for her next book!
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager.
i was interested in hannah and fox in it happened one summer, and this book made me fall in love. this was so satisfying and the epilogue was amazing.
It’s always a pleasant surprise when you love a sequel even more than the first book. And that was without a doubt how I felt about Hook Line and Sinker. I enjoyed It Happened One Summer so much and recommended it heavily to everyone and once I got an ARC of the sequel, I knew I had to read it immediately!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the friends to lovers trope is my favorite. Hannah and Fox are the cutest. This book focused on self-image and how we see ourselves. I loved how Hannah was patient as Fox worked on himself and overcame his and everyone’s expectations.
I so wanted to love this. Hannah and Fox with their own story? Yes, please! However, it fell flat for me, mostly because these two characters were grown-ups who had it bad for each other, but Fox, the male lead, let other people's perceptions and opinions about him decide who he was. Thus, he decided he wasn't good for anything but a good time and never even took the time to evaluate what HE really wanted in life. It's this fear of what others think of him that separates the main characters and it seemed like a weak way for these two characters to "break up."
Like other Tessa Bailey books, there is a lot of heart, a lot of steam (eventually!), and likeable characters. I do not typically love Epilogues, but I loved seeing where both of the Bellinger sisters were a decade later.
I didn’t think Tessa could top It Happened One Summer, but y’all SHE DID IT. I never thought I’d say this but I loved this book even more than the first! This friends to lovers romance has so much banter, angst, character growth, and steam. Hannah is so sweet and relatable, and Fox just melted my heart with his pining!
I do have some nit picky opinions, but with the book being so far out I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone - so if you want to know send me a DM!
Thank you so much @avonbooks and @netgalley for the eARC to read and give an honest review! And thanks @hereforthehea @travellovereads and @thankstomylicallibrary for buddy reading this with me!
Listen- I had broken up with Tessa Bailey books because her '𝘏𝘰𝘵 & 𝘏𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥' series just didn't work for me. But- I decided to give her another try and it's safe to say we've kissed and made up. I read It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters #1) and loved it. As soon as I finished I immediately requested HOOK, LINE AND SINKER in the series because I wasn't ready to leave Westport.
This book was even better. I loved how Hannah and Fox's connection started via text messages and built from there. I adore men in romances that show heartfelt, authentic vulnerability and Fox did that and so much more. I loved watching Hannah step into her leading lady role and carefully pull him apart layer by lovely layer.
Emotional and positively scorching
Friends to more with forced proximity that's laden with chemistry
Pacing perfection- the progression from a slow-burn to high tension felt natural.
Music as a common love language
Impeccable culmination
Near-perfect epilogue
I loved it.
Candidly- I'm still not a fan of the sexytime vocabulary/word choice, but it's no longer a deal breaker.
I am a proud Tessa Bailey fan girl, but I’m pretty sure this newest book, to be published in March 2022, is my absolute favorite by her.
First, we’ve got the friends-to-lovers trope. Then, we’ve got the hot (🥵) hero who is a modern-day reformed rake (and also a sexy fisherman). And we’ve got two main characters who are so deeply kind, such good and flawed people, that you spend the whole book rooting for both of them to get their HEA.
This story follows “It Happens One Summer” and picks up with the first book’s heroine’s sister, Hannah, in a starring role. Hannah is the more reserved, patient, supportive sister in her family, but is starting to want more from her life. While helping her sister get back on her feet in book 1, she meets Fox, her sister’s love interest’s best friend. Fox, a notorious player, wants to become friends with Hannah - something he’s never experienced before with a woman - but before long, they are sharing an apartment, and Fox is having problems controlling his not-friendly feelings for Hannah.
In many ways, this story hit home for me as a reader. Who doesn’t sometimes feel like a supporting character and not a leading character in the movie of their life? Who hasn’t let what other people think of them influence their own thoughts? These are real issues that our characters need to work through, and I love that there is such a focus on Fox’s emotional growth throughout the book. I love a hero who shows real change.
Let’s be real, though. Hannah is a QUEEN. She is thoughtful, a little shy, and always loyal to those she cares about. I think most readers will fall in love with Hannah and the way she cares about her sister and Fox.
If you love a pining hero, good character development, spicy scenes, a slow burn with a large pay-off… then get this book when it comes out. This five star read will be one of my favorites of 2021, and will definitely go on the keeper shelf to re-read.
Thanks to @netgalley and @avonbooks and @harpervoyagerus for the ARC.
How is it that I haven't read a Tessa Bailey novel in a long time? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? Because now that I've read Hook, Line, and Sinker I remember how much I enjoy the worlds and characters she creates.
In this second book of standalones in the Bellinger Sisters series, I fell in love with the small town vibe, but even more so I fell in love with the story of Hannah and Fox. I loved how their friendship/relationship developed over time --it was something I don't think I've read before and it was refreshing and fun to read. So as the blurb shows us Hannah and Fox are cohabitating just as friends, though they both have ginormous crushes on each other that they insist on stifling. This denial leads to some humorous scenes and eventually, a revelation that their feelings are mutual. He's hot. She's gorgeous. 2 + 2 = 4, right? Eventually it does, but they had to make everything hard, which made it fun, and so rewarding at the end.
One thing I really liked about the way Tessa Bailey developed her characters is that she wrote Hannah as this forthright, to the point, do the hard stuff, confident woman (with maybe a few small exceptions). She wrote Fox as the uncertain one. I liked that. It's rare that you see a male character really struggle and delve into it the way Fox did and I really appreciated that reading experience.
I'm sure fans will appreciate the cameos of characters from the first book in this series, It Happened One Summer, but I can confirm that if you haven't read that one yet (ahem, that would be me), you can clearly follow the connections between characters. I cannot recommend Hook, Line, and Sinker enough--but I'm sure gonna try. It's romcom with depth and I can't wait to read more of Bailey's backlist.
I can’t describe how much I liked this book. I was drawn in quickly and found myself missing it when I had to put it down.
Usually we see the female characters as the ones that need “fixing” but not here. I really liked the way the characters went through their development.
The book felt like foreplay as it moved through the story. I appreciated the musical references throughout as well.
For anyone that suffers with Imposter Syndrome, this book will speak to you. I found myself agreeing with many of Hannah’s thoughts and although this isn’t what I would consider a “deep thinking” book, I think it made me think just a bit about how I approach my job sometimes.
Highly recommend and cannot wait to dive into more from this author!
Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager & NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
After falling completely in love with Piper and Brendan in It Happened One Summer, this sequel was top of my list for most anticipated reads. My expectations were high, but I am here to tell you - THEY WERE ALL MET!!!
Hook, Line, and Sinker follows the story of Piper's younger sister Hannah and Brendan's best friend Fox. Hannah is a sweet, girl-next door type who dreams of creating movie soundtracks, while Fox is a fisherman with a very well-known reputation for being a player. They seem like they would naturally clash, but a mutual love of music and incredibly charming personalities have made them an adorable pair of besties.
An adorable pair of besties with some of the most insane chemistry I've ever read in my life. The tension between the two is swoonworthy, but both Hannah and Fox have convinced themselves they aren't good enough in different ways. Hannah doesn't want to be a conquest, and Fox doesn't want her to be one either (an idea he is unfamiliar with) - so they agree to reside in the murky waters of friendship. Fox even goes as far as to help Hannah win over her longtime crush.
But then they have to live together... and Fox does a bunch of thoughtful things for Hannah... and she starts to break down Fox's walls... it's just all so so good.
I loved everything about this book - the precious glimpses we got of Piper and Brendan, Fox and Hannah's use of nicknames, the piggyback rides, THE SALT LAMP!!! But my absolute favorite thing was the amount of careful conversations Hannah and Fox had. As someone who isn't always a friends-to-lovers fan, this one was so great because of the COMMUNICATION!!! I appreciated the frank talks about imposter syndrome and so much more because it made me fall in love with Hannah and Fox even more.
This duology is a perfect 5 stars for me, and that epilogue? Sobbed. Tessa Bailey hit it out of the park once again.
I'm loving this new series from Tessa Bailey. The characters are flawed and funny, dialogue is great, scenes are steamy, what's not to love?
I know, I know, 3 stars isn't bad. So I want to make sure that point gets across while I list how blah this book was for me. I think I've come to have high expectations of Tessa Bailey books, and I've enjoyed all the other books I've read, but there was just something about this that I didn't love.
Maybe I have high expectations for books when the main character's name is Hannah.
Anyway, Hannah is Piper's sister, and talks about how she's the supporting actress, and just coasting along in life. She was sweet, but didn't go much past that for me.
Fox was so sweet and I loved that for him, but I don't think the romance lived up for me.
4 stars
Tessa Bailey's books are hit or miss for me and this one was kind of right in the middle, not bad but also not amazing. I loved It Happened one Summer so much that I was super excited to see this pop-up and I know that it is super early for me to be reviewing it. I enjoyed the little bits we saw of Fox and Hannah in the first book and was so looking forward to their story. I love the tie of music that Hannah has and how she finds a way to go back to the small fishing town to film the movie that she is working on. Fox is such a broken man because of issues in his childhood mainly terrible parents, and Hannah is in love with her boss. It ends up with forced proximity because Hannah stays with Fox while they are in town because her sister's soon-to-be in-laws are in town.
This review is a little more disjointed than I intended. Overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next rom-com by Tessa Bailey.
Thank you Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Like 'It Happened One Summer', 'Hook, Line, and Sinker' is a phenomenal romance and character journey centered book. I once again fell in love with the world of this series, its endearing characters, and town of Westport.
When we meet Hannah, she exemplifies this fierce and loyal protective younger sister. Here in her own book, she is able to shine and show that same loyalty to herself. She not only follows her goals but makes a path for herself. I love how she starts off unsure but grows into a confident and even stronger person who knows what she deserves. This is especially shown in the healthy boundaries she sets in her relationship with Fox. She is hopeful, brave, and will show those characteristics when it comes to love.
We get to know even more about Fox and how he too is a loyal friend who believes in other people, just not himself quite yet. Seeing these two bring out the best in each other makes for a wonderful journey of them as a couple. I also appreciate how Fox being characterized as a "player" is discussed, and how that categorization is a deeper issue than often portrayed.
I am so grateful to have visited this world again and found myself already rereading the same day I finished. It will truly stick with me forever. Cannot wait to read again when it releases.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for an ARC to review! And thank you Tessa Bailey for another fantastic read.
*ARC provided by NetGalley*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.. Also a huge thank you to Tessa Bailey for this book.
Since I read It happened one summer earlier this year, i knew this book was going to be amazing and I'm so glad it was.even when i thought the direction was gonna be different , it still gave me what i didn't know i needed. Hannah and Fox relationship was so heartwarming and fun, not only did it feel more mature and there was NO MISCOMMUNICATION!!!! but also how they connected through music and how their relationship developed make total sense and it felt real. Once again the steamy scenes were amazing (i was expecting more of them but to be honest i was enjoying the book so much it did not matter).
THE EPILOGUE WAS PERFECT AND I AM STILL SMILING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.
One of my most anticipated book of 2022 and I'm so excited for everyone to read it.
Also kinda sad to say goodbye to Westport but happy they all got their happy ending.
The Bellinger Sisters are amazing.
After reading the first book and being introduced to both Hannah and Fox, I knew they would have a sweet love story yet I wasn't prepared for the banter. From friends to love sick lovers where both want each other but are too stubborn to admit it. Even with the past that lingers on Fox's shoulders and the words that always seem to be thrown at him, he realizes that he can be who he wants to and not who others expect. And Hannah? Oh lord, she's such a sweet and supporting sister but I knew that from "It Happened One Summer" yet now? With her own story? It's beautiful to see her take what she wants, to grow and be the 'leading lady' as she refers to it as.
Anyways, I loved the way both Fox and Hannah grew, how they faced their fears.
Do I even need to talk about the tension? The steam? How Fox can make you swoon? How Hannah can make him doubt himself?
With that said, loved the story.
Tessa Bailey is one of my new favorites. She has the best dialogue, relatable characters, and I love the interconnectedness of her titles. They are series without being SERIES. Her descriptions are great, I love the imperfection of her leads and the journey I get to take with them. Highly recommend!
are you joking??? from piper and brendan’s book, i knew i would love fox and hannah, but they exceeded ALL expecations. this was such a cute and fun read with just the perfect amount of spice, and now i will be obsessing over fox thornton for the rest of my life
“there was never going to be a life away from you, because, Jesus, that’s no life at all.”
tessa bailey did such a great job of writing their story, if you loved piper and brendan, you’ll definitely love fox and hannah.
thank you NetGalley and the published for an eARC of this book!!!