I am already anticipating being in the minority here. The previous book by Tessa Bailey was not my favorite but I trudged forward because I don't know how to put down a book and the hype was consuming, However, this couple was teased and I was intrigued...I'm a sucker for friends to lovers. This book definitely will win others over like it's companion, even I was sucked into the world with the vivid town descriptions, but I think Tessa Bailey's writing and mostly pacing just is not for me. The conflict and the last 100 pages just really wore me out. My favorite part of this book was the hero's internal struggle, it felt very flushed out and real to me yet I don't feel like I have read it before. This book will be so successful and I am excited for people to get their hands on it, it just wasn't for me!

Firstly, thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

The second book in the Bellinger Sisters series had a lot to live up to, given how much I enjoyed the first. I can happily note, “Hook, Line, and Sinker” did not disappoint! In fact, I rather enjoyed Hannah’s book more than Piper’s.

The romantic buildup between Hannah and Fox was a bit slower, as they started out as friends, letting their relationship progress into more over the course of a year+. Because of this, I found their rapport to be a lot sweeter, and certainly more believable.

The romance works even better thanks to how likeable Hannah and Fox are. Hannah is the same sweet, hippie girl we saw in the first book. She might be tentative when it comes to fighting for career opportunities, but when it comes to those she loves, she fiercely defends them.

It became evident that Fox needed a girl like that in his life, having been perhaps unjustly labeled as a playboy and heartbreaker. He desperately needed a cheerleader in his corner, since he couldn’t rely on family or friends to reaffirm his self-worth.

Like with the first book, there is no real prolonged drama or angst in these pages, just a sweet, simmering romance that will make you smile!

I don't think I've ever requested a book here on Netgalley faster!

After reading Piper's story in the first book of this series (and falling in love with it!), I was so excited to see Hannah and Fox's story come out! To be honest, I wasn't sure if I would end up liking this book as much as the first one, but to my surprise, this one might be my favorite of the duology!

Something about both Fox and Hannah struggling to shed their very different reputations and move forward towards the goals and lives that they really want was motivational in a way that I wasn't expecting. I'm not sure if there is anyone who can say that they've never let the opinions of others or their own self-doubt get in the way of going for what they want in life, and because of that I found it so easy to root for both Fox and Hannah!

If you're a music lover, this one will also be for you as Hannah has a music recommendation for any and every scenario! It also certainly didn't hurt that this book has some seriously steamy scenes alongside the more raw, emotional ones!

The epilogue at the end set ten years in the future was a nice touch and really helped tie up both this book and the previous one!

I would definitely recommend!

rating: 5 stars

<i>Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for providing me with a eARC.<i>

When I'd first read It Happened One Summer, I absolutely loved Hannah as a character-she seemed so entertaining and her little side story with Fox seemed so promising. When they actually didn't get together, a part of me was insanely disappointed until I found out that we would, actually, be getting their story in this book.

The way Fox and Hannah's chemistry is done is so GOOD-their interactions are so fun and entertaining to read, and despite this book being far from a slowburn, the pining between the two of them is just immaculate. My personal favorite book trope has always been friends to lovers, and the way it's executed in this novel is perfect. Their banter is so well written and just FUN-you really do get to laugh as you read this book and that's something I adore.

Another thing I loved was just Hannah's dynamic as a character. I loved her growth throughout the book and the way she thinks of songs when going through events-it made reading it 10 times more fun simply because I felt a soundtrack running through my head. I thought Fox's character arc was a little cliche and silly, but the way it wraps up in the end does make it worth it.

P.S the Piper and Brendan crumbs we get are so fun. I love them so bad.

Something about Tessa Bailey's writing style is just perfect for me as a reader-she doesn't make it very wordy and seems to favor dialogue over thoughts, which I definitely prefer in romance books. This was only my second book to read by her, but I can see myself picking up the rest of her books. I genuinely can't wait for this book to hit shelves and see it in my hands, I DEVOURED it in 24 hours and have no regrets.

Tessa Bailey did a fabulous job with “Hook, Line and Sinker.” I cannot believe how good this book was! I truly couldn’t put this book down until the wee hours of the morning. I really enjoyed Hannah and Fox’s story and felt a strong connection between these two characters, and how they really seemed to belong together.

Without any spoilers, it’s good to see a male character be given the “one night stand/playboy” title and the opportunity to overcome it. At the same time, Hannah progresses from “supporting actress” to “leading lady” learns to stand up for herself and ask for what she wants. “Hook, Line and Sinker” has all the feels – laughter, tears, anger and sheer happiness. Oh, and the epilogue is just the icing on the cake! So looking forward to reading Tessa Bailey's next book!

While this is a stand-alone book, I would recommend reading It Happened One Summer before reading this.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for allowing me to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Five stars all around! Tessa Bailey is amazing at creating characters and I loved coming back to Hannah and Fox. This story picks up after it Happened One Summer and loved coming back to the world that was created there. Tessa Bailey is amazing and am never disappointed!

Thank you to Netgalley, Tessa, and the publisher for my copy in exchange for a honest review!

I love Fox and Hannah - easily one of my favorite book couples. Tessa Bailey does such a good job at creating characters who feel like people you want to know in real life.

The follow up to It Happened One Summer was a sweet slow-burn friends to lovers story. Set back in Westport, Hook, Line, and Sinker follows Hannah and Fox as their friendship grows into something more as they support each other in facing their own insecurities. Both Hannah and Fox are bogged down by their own insecurities, letting it hold them back in their personal and professional lives. They lift each other up as friends, which leads to them being better partners to each other. Their friendship remains strong throughout the book.

My only complaint is it felt like something was missing. I wanted to see Fox and Hannah interact more with Piper and Brenden and I wanted more tension.

I've read a few Tessa Bailey books, and Fox and Hannah's story feels the most like a real-life relationship. There is something kind of magical in how genuine and realistic Fox and Hannah are. This book is hard not to like. The characters are great. The setting is so charming. It's the sweetest form of escapism.

Thanks to an eARC from Netgalley, I was able to read this book early. I'm so grateful to get the opportunity as I am a huge fan of Tessa Bailey's books.

If you haven't read It Happened One Summer first, you can still read this book but I recommend reading previous book just to understand the relationships more. Fox is a well-known womanizer and best friend of Brendan. Hannah has always felt like a supporting character to everyone else in her life especially her sister, Piper. The first book in the series explores the love story of Piper and Brendan with some hints showing interest between Fox and Hannah. Fox and Hannah both have trauma and issues they need to work through together before moving from being friends to something more. This is definitely a Friendship to Lovers but the chemistry is there from the beginning as well.

LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD



I absolutely loved this book and how Fox rejects the womanizer stigma that has been put on him his whole life due to family and failed relationship/situationship in college. He finally realizes that what society tells us about men can be toxic and detrimental to their mental health and view of their selves. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a sucker for rom-coms that start as friends and grow to more.

Hook, Line, and Sinker follows Hannah and Fox, both introduces in the amazing spicy rom-rom It Happened One Summer. The book follows Hannah on her path through her career while she comes back to visit Westport, the town where her sister lives, and her father died. From where IHOS ends, you can tell that there is some kind of chemistry between Hannah and Fox, but will Fox end his playboy behavior to take a chance on love with Hannah, or will it end in heartbreak when he can’t do it?

I really enjoyed reading this book, as I can really relate to Hannah, complete with quoting my therapist and having a loving relationship with music. I thought the relationship between Hannah and Fox was amazing, with the focus on Hannah and Fox stepping up to be the person each of them needed, and to be great support friends that would defend each other through anything. It was also fun seeing Piper and Brendan, as I loved IHOS soooo much.

I can’t wait for you all to be able to read this March 1st, 2022! Mark this one on your calendar!!

I genuinely screamed in delight when I found out I had been approved for Hook, Line, and Sinker! I loved It Happened One Summer and was so excited to read Hannah's story, since I loved her character already.

Hannah returns to Westport after convincing her boss that it is the perfect filming location for his movie. In the time between the first and second book, she has continued to work on film sets with the dream of scoring movies due to her love of music. Throughout the time she was in LA, she and Fox texted often, securing their friendship. When she comes back to Westport, she ends up having to stay in his spare bedroom. Through their forced proximity, they are forced to acknowledge the attraction they have for each other. However, both Fox and Hannah are given pause due to Fox's "reputation" around town as a womanizer.

This was a much slower burn than It Happened One Summer and had fewer spicy scenes because of that. I enjoy a slow burn and totally get the reasoning for this book since Fox really had to come to terms with his past, but I wasn't expecting it given the first book in this series. Tessa Bailey's spicy scenes are still incredible though!

I think ultimately I liked It Happened One Summer just a bit more than Hook, Line, and Sinker but they are both great and I would absolutely read again!

REVIEW: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

When I got an arc of this follow-up to It Happened One Summer after finishing that book earlier in August, I was ecstatic! Thank you to Net Galley and Avon Books for sending it to me to read and review ❤️

We finally get Hannah and Fox’s story in Hook, Line, and Sinker. We learn that Fox has a reputation as the town playboy, and he has spent years wrestling with that and trying to overcome his past. Hannah is back in Westport filming a movie, while also trying to get her dream job as a music coordinator for films. The two reconnect after 7 months of texting, and while Hannah is trying to help Fox realize he isn’t defined by his wild past, Fox keeps putting her in the friend zone because he isn’t sure if he believes that.

This was much more a slow burn romance than It Happened One Summer. There was also some forced proximity as well, which I liked and adding to the sexual tension in the story. There also wasn’t as much steam in this one as in the first one, and I missed it! It’s still a must read if you enjoyed IHOS, though 😊 Hook, Line, and Sinker releases 3/1/22!

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Wow! Just Wow! This book was a stunner! Hannah and Fox’s story was not just a love story, it was also a story of true self-discovery for both main characters. Hannah wants to be the “leading lady” in her own life and struggles with imposter syndrome, which is, unfortunately, something I think many women can relate to. Fox struggles with his past, his own reputation as a player, and how he has been living his life to fulfill a role he was unfairly cast in.

When we talk about “slut-shaming,” it’s not usually applied to men with the same degrading tone as it is with women. Instead, men are praised for being “players” or “heartbreakers.” But this story shows that even this type of “praising” banter can be damaging to a person’s self-worth.

The friendship between Fox and Hannah helps them both learn to fight for who they truly want to be, and from that friendship, an amazing love story is born. Following these characters on this journey was such a joy and one I won’t soon forget. Tess Bailey writes with such understanding, thoughtfulness, humor, and depth. She really gets inside the character’s heads, unpacks their decision, and what makes them tick. It was really beautiful to watch it all unfold.

I also loved the way Hannah’s love for music was used throughout the book to set up the mood for each scene. So clever! This is definitely a 5 star read for me and I will be singing its praises for a while. It comes out in March of 2022! It’s a must-read!

Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital ARC.

My heart is screaming for joy over Fox and Hannah’s story! I knew there was more lingering between them after the first book (which you don’t have to read to enjoy this book)!

Hannah’s life is now in California but her soul still songs for Washington state! With miles between them Fox and Hannah talk through text sharing about their day and music! When chance leads Hannah back to Washington she snaps up the opportunity but with it comes a revelation she isn’t sure she is ready for!

Fox had spent his life being the person everyone things he is! He doesn’t fight it and just takes things as them come! With Hannah back he has to face truths that scare him more than life on the boat!

I loved getting to know Hannah and Fox more! Seeing them bloom individually as well as a couple was a just absolutely beautiful! Fox is the most amazing hero! There was so much more to him and I loved who he became! This story really hit my emotions and I love a good emotional book!

Tessa Bailey reeled my heart in once more with this adorable friends to lovers book. This is the sequel to the wildly popular, contemporary romance book, "It Happened One Summer", following Piper and Brendan. "Hook, Line, and Sinker" continues the story of Brendan's right hand man on his fishing boat, Fox Thornton, and Piper's younger sister, Hannah. I was immediately intrigued by the cover and loved the illustrated representation of Fox and Hannah.

Hannah and her sister, Piper moved from their luxurious, sprawling mansion in Los Angeles and traded it in for a dingy apartment above a bar, that once belonged to their deceased father. When they arrived, Piper was disgruntled and could never picture her life in a quiet fishing village. Her heart belonged in the flashing limelight and glory of LA. Very different from her older sister, Hannah rolled up her sleeves and began to work on the bar and at a local record store. Whereas her sister wore designer dresses and heels, she preferred sneakers and her headphones. During her stay, she managed to confront Brendan, a tall, broody sea captain who thought the girls were fish out of water in Westport. She also became good friends with a gorgeous, tattooed womanizer, named Fox Thornton. While her sister kindled a steamy romance with the widowed sea captain, Hannah began a platonic relationship with Fox. Wondering if something more could be between them, the pair texted daily for about seven months after Hannah's stay in Westport.

Back in LA, Hannah is working as a production assistant for a grungy director named Sergei. When she suggests the melancholy fishing village as the set of his new film, Sergei readily agrees. Heart-eyed Hannah has been holding an unrequited crush for her boss for years. She is giddy to see her sister and her fiancé, and the bad boy fisherman she left behind.

Back in Westport, Fox finds himself constantly thinking of the blonde beauty who enraptured his heart. He convinces himself that he will never be enough for her and that their feelings for each other are purely based on friendship. With no where else to stay during the filming of the movie, Brendan offers Fox's sparse two bedroom apartment, for Hannah.

When she arrives, their friendship becomes more of a flirty situationship. Could Hannah find herself settling down with a player? Can Fox change the beliefs he has about himself, before the woman of his dreams walks out of his life forever?

The natural energy between them, made this story flow perfectly. The epilogue?? Made me sigh with happiness. I adore Piper and Brendan, but this may be my favorite book of the summer. I suggest reading the first book, but of course it isn't required and can be read as a standalone.

Besides an adorable romance, I loved the character development and vulnerability of Fox. I also loved Hannah's passion of music and the discoveries she finds about herself.

tropes: HE FALLS FIRST, commitments and compromises, and friends to lovers, slow burn, and close proximity
2/5 🌶️ steamy scale

ARC kindly provided by Avon Books and NetGalley!

While I haven't read the first book in the Bellinger Sisters series, this very much feels like the second book. Hannah suggests the small town of Westport for a scene in the movie they are filming. Since her sister won't have her guest room available, she will have to stay with Fox, the guy-with-a-reputation she met the previous year who has become one of her best friends.

It felt very repetitive. Dual third person POV recounting the same scene with hardly any added story to move the plot forward. It felt very formulaic and not necessarily in a bad way, but in a "I've come to expect this from a second book in a series" way.

It took way too long for the characters to actually get together and while I know slow burn is a thing, there is nothing really that is stopping them that couldn't be talked out. The progression from friends to lovers while I was expecting it just felt forced and came on out of nowhere. It didn't feel natural and it wasn't satisfying.

crossed posted to goodreads

I was beyond excited to read Hook, Line, and Sinker after devouring its predecessor, It Happened One Summer. Here, it's Piper's younger sister Hannah's turn in the spotlight. We've got a tale of a reformed playboy who's secretly harboring romantic thoughts about his platonic best friend while giving her tips to land a different guy. Taking place six months after IHOS, local fisherman Fox has texted Hannah daily after she left her three-month stay in Westport. Every day, every night, all the time. When she's in town for work, she crashes in his guest room but the more time she spends with Fox, the more apparent her actual feelings lie and the thin line between friendship and flirtation gets very blurry. Though they are both hopelessly against it because of his major reputation around town and she doesn't want to be just another notch in the bedpost. So, we've got forced proximity and friends-to-lovers tropes at play for a delicious romance read that I legitimately couldn't put down. Plus, more insight into the beloved characters we first met in IHOS.

In the prologue, we see how their friendship has developed since IHOS through their daily texts, which is a nice introduction to their mindsets and inner thoughts because they are 1000 percent the same lovable characters we met in the first book. And yes, there is an adorable post-HEA check-in with Piper, Brendan, Opal, Sanders, and the rest of the Westport townies. Told in dual point-of-views, Tessa Bailey brings her signature style to this novel with her penchant for compelling language and relatable characters that enthrall me to keep reading.

As a rom-com pair, Fox and Hannah have tension and banter, which I love and is so adorable, but they also have so much heart, vulnerability, and emotional depths. I seriously couldn't put this book down, which ended up being cuter and less spicy than IHOS. Don't get me wrong, I still really really enjoyed it, it's just comparatively, yes, there was less spicy moments. Still spice, just not as much as the first book.

Another KNOCK OUT hit by Tessa Bailey! Can this woman do no wrong? She is a really phenomenal author. I loved this sequel to her previous book. I am so sad that I just finished it. Can I reread it again? The romance was hot, believable, and just wonderful. I loved these characters. When does the third book come out?!?!

I loved this! I may even love it more than the first book, and I really enjoyed that one too.

Hook, Line, and Sinker takes place about 7 months from where It Happens One Summer leaves off but instead of being with Piper we're with Hannah and Fox and I couldn't be happier about it! I remember wanting more of Hannah and Fox in the first book and was so excited when I found out we'd be getting their story.

I love everything about Hannah and how she's so different from Piper, I liked Piper and wish we got to see a bit more of how she's doing in this but for the most part I really wasn't missing her as much as I anticipated. Hannah is completely her own person the same way Fox is different and all his own compared to Brendan in the best possible way! We could have had a little bit more of the side characters in this but, like with Piper, I didn't really miss them because I was so engrossed in the events unfolding in Hannah and Fox's bubble.

Getting to see a bit more of the movie set and Hannah's work was fascinating and I love how she was able to navigate things and where she ends up by the end of the book. Wish we got to see a little bit more of Fox's work on the boat, but the stuff we do see was nice.

I feel as if I connected with Hannah and Fox more than I did with Piper and Brendan. There were many points within this book that I was thinking "mmhmm yup" and a few points I was telling a friend about before I had to stop because she plans on reading this. Basically I love them and they're so good for each other!

I really have no complaints for this book, in fact it almost has solidified my love of Tessa Bailey's writing. This is the third of her books I've read and I don't know why I haven't read the other 'Hot and Hammered' books yet.

Overall this is an amazing sequel/companion novel to It Happened One Summer! You really don't need to read the first to read this one, all the main points are recapped and we really don't see much of the main couple from book one, but I would recommend them both for each is fantastic and I love them both!

Tessa Bailey consistently writes books that are so good you hate for them to end. Hook, Line and Sinker takes us back to Westport and the story of Fox and Hannah with a true friends to lovers story line. Like many of the author's books there is more to the story than you think. This book delves into the way a handsome, well, truly hot, man might feel to be objectified and thought he is only good as stud material. And a woman who knows she would be really, really good at a job but is also only looked at as if she is there to perform mundane tasks and look good. The communication in this book Is great, you get that feeling right from the start with a series of insightful, funny text messages between the two friends. I highly recommend this book and sure hope there is another book coming in this series.

Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
Release date: March 1, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

Y'all know I'm a big, huge Tessa Bailey fan. Like, if I was stranded on a desert island and can only have a few books - I'd take more than one of hers (but please don't make me choose!). It Happened One Summer has been my favorite summer read so I was salivating when I got my hands on HLS. And to make it even better it was my first buddy read! Had so much fun with @the.bookish.mom, @travelinglovereads and @thankstomylocallibrary.

Hook, Line and Sinker is the second book of the Bellinger Sister series (behind It Happened One Summer) and follows the story of Hannah (Piper's sister) and Fox (Brendan's best friend). This is a great friends-to-lovers/reformed player story. The texting early in the book was on point - I wanted so much more of it. Fox and Hannah evolve individually, fighting through insecurity and shaky self-worth and you can feel their devotion to each other jump off the page. There were a few points I wanted to do a classic Cher in Moonstruck, "Snap Out of It" slap to Fox to speed things up in his own journey but other than that, I loved being part of their world and missed them when I finished. This had it all - sexy, endearing characters, excellent jokes and dialogue, perfect build up and as one would expect, lots of dirty talk and steam. Music references were also woven in throughout the book (too bad I hardly knew most of them!) so an added bonus if you’re an indie buff.

Quote: "You make me feel like I'm in the exact right place...nothing to run or hide from. Nothing I want to avoid." (and if I'm honest, "I can smell the oil, Hannah.")

Song for Hannah and Fox: All To Myself by Dan and Shay, "I'm jealous of the song that you've been singin' And the way it's rollin' off your lips. It might be selfish but I'm thinkin'...I want you all to myself, don't need anyone else...girl, I want you in the worst way."