HOO BOY. We're about to go on a ride (like in the story) and it is STEAMY.
Sans the steam, this is a cute story! The story follows Piper, who comes from riches and has never worked a day in her life, when she goes to her birth father's hometown of Westport, WA, a small fishing town not like what she's used to in LA. She and her sister Hannah, go to fix her father's old bar and while there, she meets Brendan, captain of one of the boats in the area, and the rest of the story is their love story while Piper also learns to love herself and get away from the LA lifestyle she's grown used to.
While I enjoyed the story, I was really thrown when the love story just quickly progressed in this "enemies to lovers" story. Brendan was definitely not an enemy of Piper's for very long and I would have appreciated more banter. At times the steam gets to be a little much and takes a bit away from Piper's story and their relationship, but I thought the premise was fun and it was an easy read.

It Happened One Summer is a fast-paced and incredibly fun romance that will draw you in on page one and not let go. If you loved Schitt’s Creek you’ll recognize Alexis Rose as the inspiration for Piper. However, you don’t have to be a fan of a show to enjoy this story of a party princess landing herself in hot water then finding her true self far from the life she knows.

It’s impossible not to love Piper. She has a personality that sparkles and draws you in. Has she grown up a pampered LA princess and is spending her life partying and taking Instagram pics? Yes. But she’s kindhearted and she always means well and her sunniness and general likeability draws people to her. Getting out of her comfort zone gives her a chance to grow and find out who she truly is. Is she the party girl who loves shopping and attention? Absolutely. But that’s not all she is. I loved that Tessa Bailey didn’t knock Piper down for loving flash and glamour – there’s nothing wrong with it. And I loved watching Piper become something more. She’s been told that she’s an airhead, that there are a million girls like her, that she’s shallow and there’s nothing more to her, and so on, but that’s just not true. Her perseverance after being uprooted is something to admire and she’s just so nice I loved watching her find her place in Westport. She connects with her father’s world in ways that are delightful but I won’t spoil for the readers. Part of the joy of the story is just following Piper on her unexpected journey.

As for Brendan…oh, the grumpy fisherman with a heart of gold made me smile. He’s a widower who is stuck in his routines. That’s good when he’s on the water; he’s a captain and his men’s lives are in his hands in a dangerous profession. But on land he needs to be shaken out of his rut and that’s exactly what Piper does. Like Piper, Brendan is more than what he thinks he is and I liked watching him break out of his mold. On paper the two of them shouldn’t work but that’s what makes their romance so fun. The unlikely pair fit together extremely well. Their dynamic sparkles, their love story kept me reading late into the night, and the steaminess is off the charts. There are so many cute Piper/Brendan moments in this story I wish I could talk about but I feel like it will spoil readers’ enjoyment by revealing them. Suffice it to say they are a dynamite pair.

It Happened One Summer is a delight from beginning to end. I loved the way Bailey blends sweetness and spice, then rounds it all off with a dose of humor. The emotional moments have impact and feel earned and I finished the book with a smile on my face. I cannot wait to return to Westport to see Piper’s sister, Hannah, fall in love.

Like, I'm sure, many other readers, all I had to know was that this was a new Tessa Bailey novel, and that it was Schitt's Creek inspired, to want to pick it up. I didn't feel that it disappointed at all. From the burly fisherman main character with a secretly very warm heart to Piper, the socialite forced to prove herself in the hometown she's essentially forgotten and her friendly, warm demeanor to those she meets, the characters and the storyline are both solid. There's some humor, plenty of steam, and great imagery (Piper's designer duds in Westport are just as entertaining as the Schitt family's clothes).

Fish-out-of-water meets gruff fisherman in this hilarious and charming romance.

When I first met Piper, it wasn’t that she was unlikable, she was just was very self-centered and appeared to have no substance. The people in her life demanded very little of her, and so, that’s exactly what they got. Take that girl out of L.A., and it was easy to see that there was a lot simmering beneath the surface. Piper’s heart of gold shined through with each small act of kindness she did. It was great watching her learn how to navigate life in West Port as she reconnected with her past and considered her future. There really is a lot to be said about finding the people who can embrace all parts of you and seeing your potential.

I also adored the hero of the is book. Brendan lost his wife several years prior and had been grieving the loss since. Enter Piper and something was reawakened in him. I saw people thought this was supposed to be enemies to lovers, but I don’t think that was ever the case because Brendan quickly saw something special in Piper. Though he was still quite coarse and ruff in his interactions with her, he would make these sweet gestures towards her. I recognized what was happening before Piper did, and I couldn’t keep the grin off my face.

I will always root for a couple who complement one another and are better as a team. That was the case with Piper and Brendan. Brendan’s ability to see past Piper’s surface allowed her to be her most authentic self, and Piper had a similar affect on him. There was lots of chemistry and witty banter, and I just reveled in watching them fall deeper and deeper in love with each other.

The Highlights!

• Grump + Sunshine 😠 🌞
• A heroine with a heart of gold 💛
• A swoonworthy hero 🥰
• A quaint small town setting 🎣
• Sibling love 👩‍❤️‍👩
• Fun and heartwarming 😊

This book was tons of fun, and the Captain won both mine and Piper’s heart. I was left eager to return to West Port! Bailey did an outstanding job laying the groundwork for Hannah and Fox’s romance, and I am beyond excited about this pairing. I am also excited to catch up with this couple too, though I am confident all will be well with them.

This is classic Tessa Bailey goodness!
Everything about this book sparked joy from beginning to end.
The heroine was inspired by Alexis from Schitt's Creek (as was some of the plot) and I think that added a fun element to the story. If you haven't watched the show, don't worry you don't need to watch the show in order to read this. But if you have there are fun Easter eggs throughout the book.
The story is about a socialite finding herself a fish out of water and trying to rebuild her life. She just so happens to fall in love with a sexy sea captain along the way. The writing is superb! The characters are fun and heartfelt. Tessa Bailey has a magical talent where she can create beautiful love stories while also being the queen of dirty talk.
I flew through this book, I couldn't put it down! If you haven't read Tessa Bailey before I think this is a great book to start with.
I can't wait to see if Piper's sister gets her own book!

Thank you so much to Avon Publishing and NetGalley for the arc to review. This in no way effected my opinion or thoughts on the novel. All opinions are my own.

Oh Tessa Bailey, is there anything you write that I won’t love?

It Happened One Summer is the story of Piper. I truly didn’t expect to like Piper; she’s a spoiled rich girl who is on the lookout for Instagram likes and social media status. She’s banished to her biological father’s home town after a stunt that lands her in jail and there she meets grumpy crab boat captain, Brendan.

Brendan is a widower and isn’t sure he likes the feelings that Piper inspires in him. He’s living in a town that feels mired in the past and doesn’t feel like he has the permission to move on.

It Happened One Summer was perfect. Piper learns about herself, matures and grows, and starts to realize what is important. What I love is that as Piper grows, the core of her never changes. She still loves pink and glitter and parties and making friends. And Brendan comes to realize that not all change is a bad thing.

Full of Tessa Bailey’s brand of dirty talking, IHOS was hot and steamy. It was full on SWOONY and gave me heart eyes. One of the best books of 2021, hands down.

This book is cute. Predictable, yeas, but fun at the same time. I love a small town with a good cast of characters and this provided that. I also love some good charactrr growth and we had that in spades. This is a good summer read, that makes you want to be on the water.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recommend for fans of Schitts Creek and The Simple Wild.

*REVIEW* ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I’ve read some incredible rom coms this year and this one was no exception. Great plot, interesting characters, amazing chemistry!

I’m 100% here for anything involving a small town. As I was reading this my mind was picturing scenes and characters from all my favorite small town shows (schitts creek, virgin river, hart of dixie, gilmore girls)

Piper and Brendan have quickly become one of my favorite couples and I miss them already 😂. I wish this would become a movie so I could watch it over and over again.

This is my first book by Tessa Bailey and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

Here Tessa Bailey goes, making me fall in love with her all over again. I thought Fix Her Up would be my favorite of her romances, but It Happened One Summer easily takes over as my favorite book of hers!

Meet Piper – Hollywood elite, social media influencer, and one hot (arrested) mess.

Meet Brandon – a grumpy (but not really), sexy boat captain whose alpha male tendencies are front and center of this work.

Following a dramatic L.A. arrest, Piper is exiled to her mom’s hometown in the Pacific Northwest with her step-father's hopes that she’ll begin to sort out of her life and choose a path forward that no longer includes publicity stunts and drama that costs the family drama and money.

In her first week in Westport, Piper and her sister move into her father’s old bar where she abruptly meets Brandon. Brandon, who loves stability and adores routine, is still mourning the loss of his wife, and definitely does not like ditzy women who don’t understand the meaning of hard work, runs into Piper attempting to move in and flips his life upside down.

This is slightly enemies-to-lovers (more annoyance than hatred, but still …), where mild flirtation boils over into something more. Both characters had a lot of growing up to do; Brandon’s steadfastness is impressive but he needs a push to no longer live in the past. Piper needs to believe in herself, move forward with her profession, and feel confident about the life choices she’s beginning to make. The two of them working together to figure it all out made me feel giggly, bubbly, and so happy.

Bailey’s known for her spicy works, and this one does not disappoint. Brandon knows what he wants, and his alpha male mode is well done. Piper is here for it, and ultimately realizes the physical and emotional can truly pair together. I happily gave this 5 stars, and I think most readers will love it just as much as I did.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Avonbooks for the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book’s pub day is actually next week, July 13th, and if you’re looking for the perfect beach read then look no further!

Review:

This is my first book by Tessa Bailey and she did not disappoint! I can guarantee this will not be my last!

This perfect beach read is funny, charming, steamy, and heartfelt and let me just say that with each chapter it’ll keep you begging for more!

In this book you are introduced to Piper who is Insta-famous, is getting too old for her shenanigans, and is going through yet another break up. After an incident that leaves her in jail, her stepfather decides it’s time for her to learn a little responsibility as he ships her off to her father’s neck of the woods, Westport, Washington. While in Westport, Piper meets Brendan, a grumpy fisherman, who is stuck in his ways who then turns her life upside down. Piper and Brendan instantly bump heads when Brendan decides that Piper won’t last long in her new town and Piper has grown tired of men not believing in her. In the end, Piper and Brendan learn that they could both learn a lot from each other and in the end they will leave you smiling, laughing, and swooning with each page you turn.

Where do I even start? I LOVED this book. If you are a fan of the premise of Schitt’s Creek, definitely pick this up. Piper is a 20 something social media influencer who has never really had to work a day in her life. She gets by mostly from her rich step dad, and sharing pictures online. After a break up, Piper takes it a little too far by breaking into a hotel pool, throwing a party and getting arrested. Her punishment? Getting sent to the little fishing town that her deceased dad was from.

There Piper not only finds love with a HOT sailor, but also finds herself and a community of friends that she did not have in LA. This book was just perfect. It’s steamy, it’s emotional. It touches on grief, the importance of belonging and having a support system. LOVED IT! I can’t wait for book 2!

It Happened One Summer had me at Schitt's Creek inspired rom-com!

LA socialite and party queen Piper was cut off after a party went a little too wild by her stepfather and sent to Westport, Washington a small fishing town where she was born. She runs into sexy sea captain Brendan who is her polar opposite but sparks begin to fly... Will Piper reconnect to her past in this small town or is she counting down the days until she can head back to LA.

This was such a delightful and steamy read! The flirting and sexy talk are what I expect from a Tessa Bailey book and I love a good steamy romance with an emotional connection too.

I loved the Schitt's Creek meets Deadliest Catch vibe of the book. The sisters relationship between Piper & Hannah was an added element I enjoyed. While it's a little bit of insta love, I was down for it with the chemistry and some cute moments plus the steam!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

This was such a great read! In true Tessa Bailey fashion, she did such a great job with this one. It took me a tiny bit to get into this at first, because I didn't connect with the main character as easily I did with her other titles, but as Piper and Brendan got closer it was easier for me to root for her and enjoy their relationship. I love the time away from each other, when Brendan had to go out on the boat. It's not a common component to a lot of Romances, it's always mostly the couple being together almost 100% of the book, but with the fishing trips mixed in, I loved that Piper got to grow on her own and not just always with Brendan. I absolutely adored the grumpy dude and sunshine lady getting together, and how she just started to bring down Brendan's walls. And his backstory was...just a punch in the gut that made me love him even more.

Needless to say there was little to nothing wrong with this book, and I'd pick it up again and again, it's probably become a "get me out of a slump" category read because I enjoyed it so much, read it in almost one sitting and was an absolute wonderful read.

"I've been on a lot of boats with a lot of men that do too much talking about women. And it seems to me that most people like being admired and complimented, they're just not as honest about it. That doesn't make you a bad person, it makes you truthful."

This book not only cured me of my depressive funk, but it had me blushing at the sexy scenes and laughing out loud at the banter.

I went into this book with high expectations because all of my friends were raving about it. Plus, it is pitched as being Schitt's Creek inspired and that is one of my favourite tv-shows. Thankfully, the hype and praise were all 100% accurate.

I adored Piper Bellinger with my whole heart. Despite being a 28-year old Hollywood IT girl with a boat load of money, I found myself relating and connecting to her easily. Piper has a fragile heart but she masks it by wearing her designer clothes as armour and presenting a breezy personality to the media. However, it doesn't stop people from constantly abandoning and belittling her. I cried for Piper because all she wants is to feel like she is loved and valued. Piper kind of reminds me of Elle Woods, because she has all this potential but people just see a rich airhead. Thankfully, Piper has her younger sister, Hannah, in her corner. I loved their sisterly relationship its presence throughout this novel, they felt so natural with one another and I adored them together.

Piper grows so much over the course of this novel. She slowly finds herself becoming a part of Westport and a member of the community. Even I felt like I was part of the Westport community. There is something special about beach-town romances, they give me all the warm and fuzzies.

When Piper and Hannah arrive in Westport, no one thinks they will make it. But Piper is stubborn, and despite not knowing how to do things like cook pasta, it doesn't stop her from trying. She has such a large heart, and people have always taken advantage of that. But Brenden sees Piper for all her personality and loves her wholly. That is something I really adored about their relationship, neither wanted the other to change in any way. Brenden thought Piper was cute when she acted a little spoiled, and he was willing to do anything to put a smile on her face. Piper, on the other hand, saw how the little things mattered to Brenden and wanted to prove that she could step up to the plate. I thought their romance was amazing because they helped build one another up and became stronger for that.

Now, I knew this book got hot and heavy. But DAMN did it get hot (see: butt stuff). If you love your romances to have great sex scenes and foreplay, you will want to pick this up.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I am rooting for Fox and Hannah!

#ItHappenedOneSummer #NetGalley

This was a 5/5 star read for me. No shocker there it had all the things I love in a summer romance: swoon worthy stud, kickass female MC not running from herself or her past, and a few badass side kicks. The gorgeous setting was gravy.

Processing grief is hard especially when you’ve been burying those feelings for a very long time. I think Bailey handles the relationship Piper and Harper have with the hometown of their dead father so well. The two discover long lost family members, themselves, and each other. It’s excellent. It was one of my favorite aspects of the book.

Another thing I loved was Brendan. All the characters are excellent, supporting, mains, all of them. But the male MC in It Happened One Summer could not be more accurately depicted in my opinion. I won’t claim to be an expert but he’s pretty much a carbon copy of the only commercial fisherman I’ve ever known. There’s this calm intensity to people who spend that much time at the mercy of the ocean and I just loved him as a character and as a reminder of a little slice of my past I don’t get to dwell on too often.

There’s plenty of steamy romance, fierce battles, and fun. It Happened One Summer is part coming of age story, part coming home adventure. If you haven’t already added it to your summer reading list do it now! It comes out next week and you won’t be sorry to have read this one.

Full review here: http://www.millennialbeautysisters.com/it-happened-one-summer-review/

Thank you to Avon for my advance copy of It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey in exchange for my honest review.

I want to shout from the rooftops how beautiful and amazing this book is and that everyone needs to read it! Tessa Bailey out-did herself with this one. And I am already DYING to get my hands on the sequel!

Piper is a very privileged young woman, that some would refer to as spoiled. And she probably is. But she has a vulnerability to her that just endeared her to me right away. When she pulls off her most outrageous stunt ever, she is sent off to Westport, where she was born and only lived till she was 4 years old. Her sister Hannah (which is one of my most favorite side characters ever!) volunteers to go with her. When they arrive, they do not get a very warm welcome, especially from a certain grumpy sea captain. What happens next is pure magic and you'll need to read it for yourself to see just how!

There was so much that I loved about this book. Here's the highlights:
* I loved the sister bond/relationship between Piper and Hannah! Piper always made sure she didn't abandon Hannah and put her before Brendan.
* The unexpected compatibility between Piper and Brendan was perfect. That pull and undeniable attraction between them was hot! But even better was that he helped Piper to realize her worth and that she was more than just a pretty face to look at on social media. She wanted to change and grow to be the best version of herself, not because he expected that of her, but because she wanted it for herself. I LOVED seeing Piper realize her worth!
* Brendan is just a good guy. A REAL man. An honorable, no-nonsense, take charge kind of man. Basically, the perfect book boyfriend!


If you have ever read any of Tessa's books, you will know that she is a queen of steam and dirty talk. This book is no exception, but it just has an extra layer of heart and tenderness that took it to another level!

What a great catch! Tessa Bailey brings another hit with this RomCom and all the feels.

I wasn't a fan of Piper at the beginning of the story, but she quickly wormed her way into my heart, especially her antics with a certain grumpy fisherman.

Brendan is the sea captain of my dreams, and I'd endure all the sea sickness in the world to have a day with him. A widower that loves the water, his life is turned upside-down by a city girl entering his life.

The characters growth in this story is so inspiring, and Hannah is a definite scene-stealer (I can't wait for her story next!) I laughed, cried and genuinely couldn't put this book down once I started. I'm so excited to see this series continue!

Wow, I just met my new book boyfriend. Hello Brendan! I love It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey so much! This romance hooks the readers instantly, which is ironic since the premises mixes Schitt’s Creek and the Deadliest Catch. Piper is the wealthy influencer who gets caught breaking into an affluent hotel and is banished by her stepfather to Westport, Washington. Her sister Hannah goes with her for support, and they both discover their family history there since their biological father was a well-known fishing hero who passed away. Brendan is the sexy ship caption who doesn’t think Piper will last a week in Westport. Brendan doesn’t know how quickly Piper will pull him into her undercurrent, of her charm and vibrant personality. Piper is surprised to discover herself and her true desires. This book was full of steam, heart, humor, and romance. I was here for every minute! I’m a new fangirl of Tessa Bailey’s, and now she’s my newest auto-buy author! Do yourself a favor and run to get your hands on this book. It’s one of my favorite romances of 2021.

Thank you, Avon, Harper Audio, and NetGalley, for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Where are my #SchittsCreek fans at?! This book is inspired by the show. With major Schitt’s Creek vibes this book is a pure blast.
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Piper is a party girl influencer ( insert
Alexis Rose, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, you get the drift) After a night of chaos ends behind bars her step dad has officially cut her off, sending her to the Pacific Northwest to her late father’s bar. With her sister in tow she takes one look at the bar and her new “home” and is ready to run for the Hills…Beverly Hills that is.
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Captain Brendan is her polar opposite but he can’t fight the attraction. This is not just a rom com. This book is 🔥🔥🔥. I loved the two of them together and was rooting for them the entire time. Piper must decide what’s real life, her life behind the screen or a small town life with a shipping captain.
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I absolutely loved this one and the sister relationship between Hannah and Piper. I cannot wait to read Hannah’s story next

I have been stoked for this book for SO long!! I’ve seen it being hyped up left and right and I’ve read TONS of 5⭐️ reviews for it on Goodreads. When I got approved to read and review this book through NetGalley I was all like, “Yeeeesss!!! Squeeeee!!!” But, I’m super bummed to report that I didn’t love it 😬

There were parts I really liked and there were definitely some rom-com worthy funny moments. There was also a lot of character growth from both Piper and Brendan, which I applaud 👏🏻 But, I really didn’t feel like the speed that their relationship developed was authentic. I mean, Brendan was a total douche to Piper and then after one semi-normal conversation BAM 💥 love connection. I just didn’t buy it and felt like I couldn’t connect to their story. I also didn’t like how even though Piper and Brendan were both catching feelings, Piper would get nervous and try to distract Brendan by clouding his thoughts with shameless flirting and sex. Come on girl, don’t fall back on bad habits!!

I know I am totally going against popular opinion here, so I would definitely still recommend this book. All of the rave reviews count for something!!