Oh my goodness, this book was so dang good! Honestly, I fell in love with Piper's book and while I loved Hannah/Fox there, I didn't expect myself to really love them as much as I did. I just...I cannot describe how much I enjoyed this book. I really loved how the big issue wasn't an outside source or something stupidly innocuous, but something very serious and hardly ever discussed.

I've never personally read a book that touched on the subject of men being oversexualized and the repercussions of that, and I have to say that I really enjoyed seeing that represented here. I think Tessa Bailey did an excellent job of having Fox be the perfect example of how simple comments and seemingly innocent remarks could affect you so deeply and so damagingly later in life to the point that it shapes your whole psyche. Not only did she do an amazing job representing that but I feel like she did a good job of having Hannah not only being a support but not a doormat. Hannah grew into her own while helping and supporting Fox. She didn't become a background character. She truly became a leading lady and I love that she didn't have to be less than for Fox to become more.

One of the bigger perks of the book was also the love of music. You could see how Hannah found so much joy in music, how it was such a huge part of her life, and just how she used it to move through life. The descriptions of how she saw music and how she wanted to share it to the world were just breath taking, to be honest. I've always loved music but my god, you can just feel how much joy Hannah experiences with music. It was such a lovely thing to read.

All in all, A+ book. I loved the new characters added. I loved the humor. The romance was beautiful, the sex scenes were steamy as always, and I'm sad this is only a two part series because I want more Wesport.

Fox is a playboy mess thanks to his parents, he's in love with Hannah but scared to acknowledge it, and Hannah is (fortunately or unfortunately) in love with him. What could possibly go wrong?

The story flew along and I enjoyed it. Would recommend for anyone looking for a steamy and somewhat mindless read.

It's the second book of a series, but it definitely stands alone. I started reading the first book after completing this one, but it's about Piper and Brendan, and Piper starts out extremely dislikeable. I left book one a DNF and have no intention of reading it. I doubt it would add much, if anything, to this story.

I absolutely loved it happened one summer so when I got approved for the arc of the second installment I RAN to my kindle immediately.

this started off so cute with texts from fox & hannah that showed their growing friendship and them seeing each other again after so many months.

but it went downhill from there. quickly.

this book feels like a third act conflict that runs on for 400 pages. an angsty, melodramatic slow burn in the worst way. if that’s your vibe, mayhaps you’ll enjoy this. but I was so incredibly bored and annoyed by how our characters acted.

we learn a lot more about fox and his baggage here and although I do like the convos about toxic masculinity, I did not like his insecurities being the sole conflict of the book. it simply wasn’t strong enough for me. is that harsh of me? probably. but if you time and time again aren’t going to listen/trust your love interest imma lose sympathy fast. sorry about it, peacock.

the one of two smut scenes we get (yes, only TWO in a tessa bailey book, very sad for me indeed) made me very uncomfortable. that was not sexy and fox really does deserve to get punched in the face, me thinks.

a constant battle of lack of communication and actions not matching with words said.

also an epilogue set ten years in the future?? hated that.

this is my most disappointing read of the year by far. very sad.

One of my favorite reads of the year. Coming off of It Happened One Summer, I wasn't expecting anything to live up to it but wow did this book do it. I think I still prefer IHOS just a little bit more. Fox and Hannah are phenomenal characters that are real and easy to root for. I'll write a longer, fuller review closer to the release date but just know that whatever expectations you have for this book, it will meet them and more.

✨HOOK, LINE, & SINKER by Tessa Bailey✨

★★★★★

Okay I LOVED this book! I was so excited to get approved for the sequel to It Happened One Summer and it did not disappoint. I actually loved it even more than the first book!

Thank you so much to @avonbooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy!

🍊 Drink: Grapefruit Vodka Soda
- 2oz vodka over a glass of ice
- Fill glass with Fevertree Grapefruit

In ~the cast party scene~ one of the characters makes Hannah one too many of grapefruit vodka sodas and let’s just say she gets a little tipsy! It’s one of my favorite scenes in the book … once Fox arrives 🤫

🌟 Review: if you loved It Happened One Summer make sure you grab a copy of this one AS SOON as it hits the stand!

I am so glad I discovered Tessa Bailey! This is book 2 in a series about the Bellinger sisters (book 1 is It Happened One Summer). When I finished the first I had to read this one immediately! And I enjoyed it so much!

While I will admit I enjoyed Brendan and Piper's story more in book 1, I enjoyed Fox and Hannah's story here, too. But it was a slower burn and it got a little frustrating waiting for these two to get on the same page.

But it had the same charm as the other and I am so glad I've discovered Tessa Bailey! She writes male characters that had me questioning if romance books were setting unrealistic expectations because... swoon! These men are so confident, so capable, and so sure of what they want. As a single reader, I just ate that right up.

Both of these books will stay with me. I can't wait for this to come out in early 2022 for readers to discover Hannah and Fox's story, too. There's more depth to their story but it's got all the things we loved about the first: steam factor, love, sweet and funny moments.

Also posted on my Goodreads page. This is the second novel of the Bellinger Sisters. Although I feel like this could be a standalone, I really recommend reading "It Happened One Summer" first. These books are very cute and lighthearted, but do touch on some really deep topics. "Hook Line and Sinker" deals with two characters who made an appearance in the first book, Hannah and Fox. Overall, this is a great romantic read and I highly enjoyed this series.

A cute follow-up to everyone's favorite, IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER. I liked the pacing of this one much more than the last, and loved Fox and Hannah as a couple.

Looking forward to reading more from this author!

What can I say? Tessa Bailey has grown on me as an author. I read her Hot and Hammered series and thought they were good. But her Bellinger Sisters series is where I got hooked. I enjoyed this series a lot! And that's saying something because I usually don't go for romance heavy books. I wish there were more sisters so that the series could continue.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Rated 3.5

In Hook, Line, and Sinker, Tessa Bailey takes us back to the small fishing town of Westport, this time with Hannah and Fox's story. Hannah is back in town for work and stays in Fox's apartment. Can their friendship survive the close proximity?
I love love love Tessa Bailey's romcoms; she has quickly become one of my "auto-buy authors," and I loved Piper and Brendan's story in It Happened One Summer. So, of course, when I heard Hook, Line, and Sinker was about Hannah and Fox, I could not wait to read it. I already loved Hannah's character so much. I love how loyal, kind, and feisty she can be to protect the ones she loves. I also loved seeing her taking charge of her life and her journey to becoming "a leading lady."
But I was honestly not expecting to fall for Fox the way I did. Initially, he just seems like a womanizer who doesn't have a care in the world. But oh boy, we couldn't have been more wrong about him. He ended up being such a complex character, and I am a sucker for great character development.
The romance was slower when compared with the author's other books, but I really think the story called for a very slow burn to give it the meaning it did. This book just checked all the boxes for everything I personally look for in a romcom. It made me laugh, swoon, and cry. I wanted to scream at the characters and also hug them tight.
This was one of my favorite books I've read this year so far. I could not recommend it more if you like sweet and fun romcoms, the close proximity trope, friends to lovers, and fantastic character development!

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey was, dare I say, even better than It Happened One Summer. Fox and Hannah have such a beautiful relationship and I just fell for both of them so much! This book has everything we love from Tessa- love, angst, humor, and plenty of steam. It was just so good and a great story that you are sure to enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

Will post a review on Instagram and retail sites closer to publishing day.

Can I give more than 5 stars? I can't express how much I loved this book. A friend to lovers with all the angst, love, and friendship I could ever want. I can already see myself rereading this book for years to come.

Fox, Fox, Fox. I love him so. A playboy who is sick of being seen as such, he has fallen for his surprising new best friend, Hannah Bellinger, music nerd. They text all the time, share their theme songs for the day, and yet Fox doesn't dare cross the friend boundary with her. When Hannah convinces her longtime crush and director boss to bring his latest movie crew up to Westport because she knows it's the perfect set for his script, she finds out that her sister Piper's guest room will be occupied by Piper's future in-laws and has nowhere to stay. Until Fox offers up his spare room. WHAT COULD HAPPEN?! Forced proximity! Secret record players! Waning crushes on directors! Feelings of inadequacy stemming from one's asshole father's wiley ways!

Fox's character had so much depth in this book, and I had many moments when I just wanted to go give him a hug. Tessa Bailey does such a great job exploring the ramifications of toxic masculinity in his character. Hannah was also an interesting character as someone who generally is the supporting character of everyone else's life rather than the star of her own. This was a surprising slow burn, and despite some hot moments, I kinda wanted more. However, I'm not complaining too much-- I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Fox and Hannah. It feels like this might be the end of the Westport books, which makes me SO SAD. I loved everyone and don't want to let them go yet!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

In the second book in the Bellinger Sisters we follow Hannah, sister to Piper, who we met in the first book It Happened One Summer. Hannah is a more relatable down to earth character than Piper. She seems like a girl that a reader could instantly be friends with. Hannah has a deep love for music, especially records. Fox begins his interest in Hannah in It Happened One Summer, and continues his affection at the start of this novel. Hannah and Fox try to remain friends only while living in with Fox while Hannah is on location filming for work. This is an epic friends to lovers romance, full of steam, angst and affection. Highly recommended.

So, SO many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC of one of my most HIGHLY anticipated releases of 2022! I actually got the approval notification while hospitalized after an emergency surgery, and that email was the first thing to bring a smile to my face in days. I had to wait a couple days until after discharge, so I could finally be free the hazy brain fog of painkillers and experience this book in all its glory!

So often, series, even series of standalones in the rom com genre, experience a second book slump. Well I'm just here to let you know, if you loved the first Bellinger Sisters book, you will ADORE Hannah and Fox's story. There is no second book slump here, no disappointment, no let down. In fact, it was the book that broke my post-op depression reading slump!

We return to our beloved fishing seaside town in the Pacific Northwest, with some familiar characters and many new ones to love. I don't want to reveal too much this far ahead of release day, but I will say – for those who read It Happened One Summer and were dying to know Fox and Hannah's story...it was everything I could have dreamed it would be and more. Adorable, funny, heartwarming, heartbreaking...I ran the gamut of emotions with this one.

Pre-order, pre-order, pre-order! You will not want to miss this one next spring.

Wow, wow, wow!! This book is steamy and hot! Whew! I loved 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 then 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!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in return for my honest review!

Do you need a bit more Feyre and Rhysand without the magic? Lookin' for that forbidden romance tension between two people who become their best selves when put together but take FOREVER to figure that out????

Because that's Hook, Line, and Sinker from @tessabaileyisanauthor ⚓🎧🎣🎶

Fox Thornton's character is basically Simon Bassett from Bridgerton (except better because I kinda hated Bridgerton). He's described as blond, but being a gruff, handsome, fisherman in small town PNW I pictured Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He can get any and every girl he wants and the whole town knows it, but can he redefine himself to take hold of true love?

Hannah is the overshadowed, hard working sister of Fox's best friend. She has a song for every moment, and her love language is vinyl. To Fox's dismay, she won't stop seeing past his cracked exterior to the loving heart inside 💘

Sounds so cheesy, right?!?? But the setting is lovely, the dialogue is excellent, the introspection is adequate, and the romance is 🔥. It's a little heavy handed at times, but I couldn't help but root for these characters!!! And it definitely left me wanting to read more from Tessa Bailey.

I LOVED Pipers story but Hannah's story I found to be more my jam. Maybe it's because I could relate to Hannah and saw my husband in Fox right down to the feelings they both felt regarding who they were and how people saw them. This book is a slow build that starts out as a friendship and the burn was well worth the wait.

There's an epilogue that jumps 10 years into the future that seals the book perfectly. I might've even shed a few tears upon finishing it.

Tessa was writing this book during the height of covid and her husband was in bad shape and in the hospital for 3 months. I can't image how scary that was for her and her family. So glad he pulled through! Her acknowledgement section in the book talks all about it and is so heartfelt and beautiful.

Thank you so much Net Galley, Tessa Bailey and Avon Books for an advance copy of this book!

Oh my goodness. After breezing through “It Happened One Summer”, I could not wait to get to the sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The sequel picks up right where the first book left off (so it would be beneficial to read the first book before the second). You have young, beautiful Hannah Bellinger who played second fiddle to her older, outgoing sister Piper and Fox, the charming local who snags all the ladies. Two complete opposites but naturally have fallen for each other.

Okay so I am not a fan of slow burn romances and this one was so exception. So that would be my bone to pick but that might be someone’s else jam just not mine. It was so frustrating to see the cat and mouse game between the two.

While this did not give me the same ooey gooey feelings as it’s precedent, it still made me feel & make me warm in the face (if you know what I mean).

The epilogue made my swoon & make my heart so happen.

It did make me wonder if there will be a third in the series and where it will go from here. And once you read, you’ll see what I mean. I have a couple ideas and those who have read, I would love to discuss!

I have rated this book a 4.5 out of 5.

This was super cute, and I really enjoyed the buildup of the relationship, as well as both characters a lot. As some others have noted, I appreciated that a lot of the character development was there for Fox, as well as for Hannah. Fox was a really well-rounded character, and I really bought into his pain and his character growth.

My only real criticism is that the pacing felt a bit off with this one. It's a pretty slow burn (although definitely very spicy), and so it when Fox and Hannah finally "get together," it feels almost like everything should be resolved and the book should be over, making the final quarter a little bit anticlimactic and not as interesting to read.

I did really love the characters and setting overall though, and I will definitely continue to read books by Tessa Bailey! This was so fun.