I am a huge fan of Tessa Bailey. And I feel like with each book, her writing gets stronger. I like the Bellinger Sisters duology a lot, and feel it's a step up from the Hot & Hammered series.

Hannah and Fox are adorable, and there were times I just wanted to just give them both a hug. Their story was raw and real, and Bailey did a nice job of showing the struggles each of them went through.

Would definitely recommend.

What I Liked:
-I loved Piper's story, but this one topped even that. There was such depth in this one.
-This book went past your normal romance novel. We got to see the depths of Fox's mind and why he was the way he was. It dealt SO well with generational trauma and just plain self-deprecation, and Hannah was a beautiful juxtaposition to that.
-These characters. I just loved them so much. Tessa Bailey has such a way with characters that makes them shine off the page and this was no exception.
-LOVE the symbolism with music throughout the book.

What I Didn't Like/Wanted More Of:
-Brinley's character, while important, needed more depth to her.

This book was simply amazing!! I really liked the first book in the series, but I absolutely loved this one! Hannah and Fox go through so much together that I could not stop reading to see where these two would end up. Friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, slow burn, steamy steam steam- this book has it all!!

After texting for seven months, Hannah comes back to Westport for work and ends up staying with Fox. They've been building their friendship, and feelings for one another, in secret all those months and it's all coming to the surface as they live together for a few weeks. Hannah is kind and loving and wants to follow her dreams. Fox is seen as player, the hook up king, and no one takes him seriously- including himself. The looks, conversations, and moments between these two made me feel like I was right there watching it all unfold. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and I devoured this book! And that epilogue, oh that epilogue!!!

Five stars, a must read!! Side note: It would be best to read this book after reading It Happened One Summer so you have background on the beginning of Hannah and Fox's friendship.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for an advanced copy of this book.

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER is an incredibly sizzling romance story that stars a hunkalicious king crab fisherman, Fox Thornton, a confirmed ladies man and player. He helps his gorgeous best friend, Hannah Bellinger, nab a work colleague who she is crushing on. However, life is about to get messy!

Fox's reputation precedes him around town as a flirtatious and fun ladies man. Everyone assumes he won't settle down, because he likes his options open. Domesticated life is not for him. When his best friend Hannah blows into town for work, his life shutters to a stop. Hannah stays just down the hall from him in his flat and she decrees to remain friends, no more. Besides, she has the hots for a colleague and Fox is the perfect guy to help her land her crush. However, as time passes, friendship lines begin to blur. Fox is going out of his mind because he is falling hard for Hannah! Hannah has intense feelings for Fox too. Does their friend status turn into love struck lovers? Will they ultimately realize they are meant to be?

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER is an outstanding love story, complete with anxiety, emotional minefields and comical situations. The author shines in this second entry starring all the characters from the first novel, It Happened One Summer. This time around, Fox, a sworn ladies man, helps out his best friend, Hannah, get a guy at work. Fox is seriously attracted to Hannah. Also, Hannah's notices how deliciously sexy Fox really is up close. This, just friends, business is difficult to maintain when sparkles are pinging all over the place between them. Will they navigate the waters of togetherness? This is the perfect friends-to-lovers romance book that I love! The author brought realism to the story through insecurities, connections with hobbies, genuine relationships, and heart felt emotions. HOOK, LINE AND SINKER is definitely a story to treasure!

DEATH BY FOX (AND HANNAH)...

Such an amazing follow-up to "It Happened One Summer," this time following Hannah Bellinger and the sexy, "playboy" fisherman, Fox. Personally, I enjoyed "Hook, Line, and Sinker" just as much or even more than Piper's story. Hannah is such a relatable character. She is someone who is used to supporting others and making sure their needs are met before hers, but throughout the story, she begins to appreciate her own shine and becomes the main character of her life. I loved how strong and understanding she was especially to Fox, who does not have the best reputation in town. Together the two of them have great physical and emotional chemistry and you could really tell that they bring out the best in each other yet are still great characters individually. I am also a fan of the two perspective storytelling because as a reader we were able to look into Hannah and Fox's minds. This book is fun and flirty with a great story about learning to love yourself and own who you are.

The epilogue was also super cute and a sweet way to share the Bellinger sisters' happily ever afters.

4.5/5 stars

Wow!!! Okay, I loved this. I wasn’t the biggest fan of It Happened One Summer, but immediately found myself drawn to Hannah so I knew that this sequel was going to be more up my alley. And I’m so glad that it was.

This is friends-to-lovers done right. Hannah and Fox’s romantic relationship is top-tier, but I couldn’t help but adore their friendship as well. It was obvious just how much they cared about each other and didn’t want to mess up what they had, and I just loved it.

I identified so deeply with Hannah and her personal journey as the supporting character in everyone’s stories. And I adored how intrinsically music was woven through this book. Music courses through Hannah’s bones and I loved how that translated on page.

My favorite aspect of this, however, was Fox’s character arc. I feel like it’s rare to have the male protagonist have the primary growth plot, but it worked so nicely. Hannah is naturally supportive and encouraged Fox to see past what he’s always been, even when it was difficult.

I just truly enjoyed this!

TESSA BAILEY HAS DONE IT AGAIN! I L-O-V-E-D Hook, Line, and Sinker, the second in a series. Although this can certainly be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first of the Bellinger Sisters entitled It Happened One Summer. I can't say enough good things about this one. Ms. Bailey, you are one of my faves and a definite one click. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The fact that this book took me 4 days to finish is an indication of my feelings on this book. I was….bored? I liked the characters fine, i actually thought that Fox had a better character arc and development than Brendan and I also think Hannah was written better than Piper. And typically, the tropes presented in this book would work really well for me - a slow burn, friends-to-lovers, mutual secret pining, forced proximity romance. I love all of those things. However. It was all FINE and i think that it was a Tessa Bailey slow burn sort of caught me unaware. One of the things that continues to bother me about TB’s sex scenes is the gendered essentialism language that’s so prevalent in her books. It just doesn’t work for me. I actually liked Hannah and her musical interests and the professional goals more than the actual romance in this book, which is a sad summation for a romance novel. I think it worked for a lot of people, it just didn’t suit my tastes.

Thank you Net Galley and to the publisher for giving me an advanced e-reader of this book!

Honestly, if I ever need a comfort rom-com, I look at what I haven't read by Tessa Bailey. This one had me bawled up in a blanket feeling all the feels. There was a lot more depth and emotion in this one than a lot of her others, and I didn't know I needed that until I read this. If you are expecting a fun-loving book, you might be disappointed in that aspect, but end up feeling all the emotions. I honestly really loved this one.

This book has one of my favorite tropes that is not raved about at all. I love friends to lovers, it is so underrated. Seeing a friendship bloom into more is something I love to see. I don't want to give too much away in this one, but I recommend picking this one up especially if you've loved Tessa's work so far!

Thank you @avonbooks @netgalley for my review copy!

Fox doesn’t do relationships. He’s a good time guy and he’s not looking to change that anytime soon. When Hannah temporarily stays in his guest room, he finds himself having more than just friendly thoughts.

I love this series so much. I was obsessed with Piper and Brendon’s story so I was freaking out when I got approved for this title. I didn’t love it quite as much as the first, but I was still totally smitten with Fox and Hannah. If you love romance and you haven’t picked up these books yet, you need to get on that!

📚Read if you enjoy a steamy romance or if you’re a fan of friends to lovers. My favorite trope 😍

✍️How I rated other books by this author:
It Happened One Summer 5⭐️

4.5 stars! I'm telling you, Tessa Bailey can do no wrong, but this is hands down my favorite series.
We met Fox and Hannah in IHOS but we only touched the tip of the iceburg with these two and all of the emotional baggage that has been weighing them down for years. Hannah has kept in touch with Fox since she left Westport (via text, and I absolutely love a good text string) and when the movie she's working on looks like it will be better filmed in the small town from her childhood, she finds herself staying in Fox's extra bedroom.
Fox is a playboy (yes, we all know I hate them but hear me out on this review), he has some deep rooted issues making him believe that he is just the fun guy, the one that is around for a laugh and to make you feel good. He isn't the one you settle down with. He's been told this by so many people over the years, he just decided to embrace it, that is, until he met Hannah.
Fox knows in his heart that Hannah is the one person that he cannot live without, but the doubt is so hard to overcome when you've been told the same thing by everyone else you know. No one will take him seriously, but no one can if he doesn't do it for himself.
Hannah has had a crush on her director for years now, she loves the dark and broody ones, so why can't she stop thinking about Fox? She has alwasy been the side-kick, especially to her sister Piper, but it is time she believes in herself and chases her dreams and makes them happen.
I loved the way Hannah handled Fox. He was trying to be so convincing but she stood her ground and saw through the lies to the real man inside. The man who was broken down and scared to be vulnerable. After you have been hurt, I understand it is hard to put yourself back out there, but the difference is trust. Not only trusting your partner but trusting yourself and having a voice. I think they both learned so much on their journey.
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Tessa Bailey for an early copy!

WOW!! Another amazing book by Tessa Bailey! This series is one of my favorites from this author. I absolutely loved Piper and Brendan's story and Hannah & Fox were no different. Hannah was such a fun character. Lively, caring, and ambitious. Fox was everything I needed in a book boyfriend, hot, thoughtful, and protective. The chemistry these too have is just amazing. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes.

I loved seeing Hannah develop as a character. From going to a background lady to eventually finding her own niche was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. Having the push from Fox made it so much better. I wish there were more of these books in the series!!!

ALL THE STARS! HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I was ecstatic to be able to read this book. I liked “It Happened One Summer” when I read it, but I didn’t like it as much as everyone around me because I couldn’t relate to the main character. That was not the case with this book. Hannah is a much more relatable character than Piper was in the first book, so I became emotionally invested in Hannah and Fox’s story.

I also love the “friends to lovers” trope so much more than “enemies to lovers.”

The plot of “Hook, Line, and Sinker” is much more believable and relatable.

I really liked this story. I enjoyed the communication between the two and how they grew personally and romantically. There were a few spelling mistakes, and I wish Hannah had asked Fox to pick up something heavy and bite her lip at the end to call back to Fox, telling her to flirt, but this book was done really well. I liked the reverse trope of misogyny; really well done. This book is a 5/5.

"I tried to keep you out of here.” He knocked his free fist against his chest. “But you won’t go. You’re never going to go. You just won’t.”

Yeah, I might've swooned over this book - and this beautifully broken hero - in a big way. I devoured it in one sitting, and I was hooked the whole way through. I really, really LOVED it. We met this couple in It Happened One Summer, the first stellar book in this interconnected series, and I've been impatiently waiting for their love story ever since. I'll admit to being a little worried about this playboy of a hero, but I shouldn't have been - he's the best part. It's angstier and more emotional than I anticipated, with a focus on self-worth, expectations, reputations, and doubt. Fox is more broken than anyone knew, and he's got to piece himself back together if he's got any hope of a future with his girl. I loved the intimacy, the level of trust and determination, and this slow burn to SIZZLE romance had the kind of sexual tension that heats up the pages.

The story follows Fox, a fisherman whose playboy reputation has followed him around since high school. He's always been the good time guy, the man who leaves before his heart is involved - and no one expects anything different from him. Fox met Hannah last summer, and she sparked something inside of him that he doesn't know how to handle. When Hannah left town, she kept in touch in Fox, and they've developed a text-based friendship in the months since. So when she returns to town and moves in with Fox temporarily, it puts their friendship to the test. Things between them don't feel purely platonic, but Fox is confident that he can't be the man Hannah deserves... even if he wants to be.

Will this read as a standalone? I guess so, but I don't recommend it. We met both Hannah and Fox in It Happened One Summer, and the foundation of their relationship was developed there. When Hook, Line and Sinker begins, they've been friends for months and are already teetering on the edge of more. I actually really loved that element of the story - Fox has been quietly working on himself for months, and he's already started to change and grow. He might not believe himself worthy of Hannah, but he's proving that he can be the man she deserves. I'm not always the biggest fan of reformed playboys (especially in a friends to lovers scenario), but this was executed in such a great way. Yeah, the focus of the book is Fox's past and his doubts about the future, but his actions showcase all of the ways he's worthy. I adored him, even if I kinda wanted to shake him sometimes. Together, these two have some serious chemistry, and their love story was so immensely compelling - I might've even liked it more than the first book, and that set a very high bar. This had my heart in my throat the whole way through, and I couldn't help swooning. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy, and am voluntarily leaving a review of this emotional romance.

This may be the favorite rom-com of the year! I loved this book and will recommend it over and over again. I am going to buy myself a copy for my personal shelf!

I hate to say it, but this is not my favorite series by Tessa Bailey. I have given many of her books 5 stars and will continue to read them, but this series set in my home state has left me on the disappointed side.

First, let me talk about what I loved about Hook, Line, and Sinker. I was 100% behind the Hannah and Fox relationship. Their friendship was adorable and I loved their text messages. The connection they had when they were in the same city was perfect. I could feel the attraction between them and was happy with their emotional connection. I loved that Hannah saw behind the mask Fox wore. It was all so sweet and there were some fun moments between them.

What didn't I love? Well, the pacing was off for me. I'm not exactly sure what it was, but the book felt super slow to read. I had to force myself to keep going despite loving so much of the story and romance. The only things I could think of that might have slowed it down for me were the third person narration or the length of the book. I couldn't figure it out. Other than that, I enjoyed this book. Well, until I got to the epilogue. Then things went downhill fast for me. 

Here’s where I get RANTY. I had some issues with It Happened One Summer and the accuracy of a fictional typhoon hitting the Washington coast and town of Westport. I was pleased that the vibe of Westport felt more accurate in Hook, Line, and Sinker and that WA felt more factually accurate. Then, the epilogue happened. How hard can it be to Google information about a state? I could point out all the things wrong geographically and also involving animals that aren’t native to the area, but I won’t. I will say it was frustrating for a reader who has lived in WA their whole life and enjoys this author’s writing. It was a letdown.

Back to the good things. Fans of the first book will enjoy this one. It's a cute story with lots of favorite characters involved. Both Hannah and Fox learn more about themselves and grow in the best way possible. They're sweet together.

Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for my gifted copy of Hook, Line, and Sinker, by @tessabaileyisanauthor. This book is out March 1st. Hook, Line, and Sinker follows Hannah Bellinger, after the conclusion of It Happened One Summer. And though Hannah is very different from her sister, she and her adventures are just as much fun and romantic.

I just love and adore Tessa Bailey. So far, both of the Bellinger Sisters books have been easy to get lost in and forget what’s going on in real life. You get swept up into the adventures of this tiny fishing village and these two sisters who are learning to get grounded in reality. Though, Hannah is more grounded and it shows. But, on to that now.

Hannah was a delightful main character. I loved how grounded she was, and how she didn’t want to depend on her stepdad to make a name for herself. You really got to see her grow throughout this book too, and it was delightful. Fox was such a fun person too. Without saying too much, there were times when I just wanted to tell both of them some very strongly worded things.

Overall, grab this if you’re in need of a fun romance! It’ll have some spoilers from It Happened One Summer though, just as a warning.

This book made me giggle and clench my toes like a school girl but also cry at 2 am so that’s always fun. Ms. Tessa Bailey, once again, DID NOT DISAPPOINT! I can’t wait for everyone to read this book when it finally comes out and fall in love with Hannah and Fox and their beautiful story <3
(Make sure to read the first book of this series first!)

For those of you who read It Happened One Summer, and have been dying to get your hands on Hook, Line, and Sinker to read Fox and Hannah's story like I was...it did not disappoint!

I fell in love all over again with Westport, fishing, and Tessa Bailey's characters (and believe me, if you've got me wishing I could move to a small fishing town in Washington, that's all you need to know). The little bit of tension and banter that we got to see in It Happened One Summer had nothing on the fully fleshed out storyline between these two characters.

Hannah and Fox start off as friends, sharing their (one old and one newly-found) love for music, witty banter, and need for true and deep connection with a person that understands them so fully. They're both at a sort of cross-roads in their careers, needing the confidence to take charge and the support to get them there. They contrast and blend together so beautifully; both as just friends and as a couple.

Through being forced into close quarters, deep conversations, a new record player, and a dash of jealousy, Fox and Hannah strip each other down to their barest bones and build each other back up intertwined.

While they both had their path of progress, both as people and eventually as a couple, I really loved how focused Hannah was on encouraging Fox to grow and process his emotions. Usually in romance books, the majority of character development seems to be owned by the female character, with the male lending support and praise, so it was really refreshing to see it the other way around.

All in all, Hook, Line, and Sinker was a super cute read and a perfect ending to the Bellinger Sisters Duology.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!