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Okay so yesterday I somehow got my request accepted on NetGalley for an ARC of Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey. I downloaded it to read immediately. I actually just read It Happened One Summer last week and loved it. If I loved that I’m not sure what the right word is for HL&S because I liked it even more.
Hannah and Fox climbed right into my heart! Hannah getting the confidence to go after what she wanted professionally and become the main character in her own life was so good to see. Her love of old music and records also is a soft spot for me. But what really got me in this book was Fox. The impact the way people make assumptions and treat someone can be really profound. Especially as a child. Kids remember what is said to them about themselves and it can leave a mark. I won’t say too much more because spoilers but hell yeah Tessa, f toxic masculinity.
For those who read IHOS I will mention that this was a little less spicy than it was. Not a bad thing, I mean the spice is definitely there it’s just, in my opinion, not quite as much.
I’ve never had the opportunity to read an ARC before so I feel kind of goofy saying the disclaimer but, I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. It’s excellent, 10/10, check it out when it’s released 3/1/22!

4.5 heartwarming stars!! This is a friends to lovers book that tackles issues such as slut shaming. I thought that Tessa Bailey did a great job of deep diving into slut shaming and how that affected one of the character's lives so deeply. I found myself completely enveloped in this book until around the ~75% mark. At that point, it did begin to drag for the smallest amount - which is why I give it 4.5 stars. But other than that, I loved this book and highly recommend it when it's released! Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC!

This is a very good book. The two main characters are Hannah and Fox. They meet through her sister and her boyfriend. Hannah and Fox texted and got to know each other through their love of music. Hannah was doing a film in in Fox’s hometown, she needed a place to stay. So Fox offered a spare bedroom. Their friendship bloomed. They both had some issues his and fathers. They figured out ways to help each other and found love.

This book! Having recently read It Happened One Summer, I was so excited to read the sequel and dive into the relationship of Hannah and Fox. I absolutely loved this one! It didn't have that addicting quality that I felt it's predecessor had, but I was still hooked and never bored. I must admit that I liked their actual relationship better and loved the friends to lovers trope. Hannah and Fox were so supportive one another another and relentlessly forgave each others' flaws. Highly recommend!

Tessa Bailey did not disappoint with the next book in the series. After reading It Happened One Summer I couldn't wait to read about Fox and Hannah.

“ It’s always been like that. The male pressure to live up to this expectation-and I don’t even know when the hell it was set.”

This book was amazing. Tessa Bailey never disappoints. It had a heavier feeling, in my opinion, than It Happened One Summer because it talked about the toxic treatment of men and their over-sexualization which is often looked over because women’s fight against this is at the forefront, for god reason. It was nice though to see Fox grow to love and believe in himself. To truly believe he was worth being taken seriously.

This was a steamy read, not as much as It Happened One Summer, but I don’t feel it needed it. In fact, I wish the last scene hadn’t been steamy at all. Just because of the message I felt it was trying to give didn’t match with the ending scene. I feel like it was fit in because it wasn’t as steamy as they probably wanted it to be. Overall though amazing! I will reread and I will recommend! Specifically, this has a 4.5 star rating.

*I was provided an arc of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. In the sequel to It Happened One Summer, we follow Hannah Bellinger and Fox Thornton as their friendship blossoms into more. Hannah is brought to Westport for work and she ends up having to stay in Fox's guest room because there isn't any room at Piper and Brendan's house. Fox doesn't understand why Hannah wants to be friends with him. He is known to be 'appreciate' himself with different women each week, and he plays along with the belittling of himself because he believes what is being said about him is true: that he will never settle down and he could never be a part of a healthy relationship. Over the course of events in which Fox helps Hannah grow in her career, he realizes he fell for her 7 months ago when she first visited Westport.

Hannah can sense the sexual tension between her and Fox, and she doesn't want to ignore it, but she can see that he is hiding in his sexual advances. She wants to get to the core of his insecurities before she sleeps with him, and that turns out to be much more difficult than she expected.

I preferred this book over It Happened One Summer... which I didn't think was possible. Tessa Bailey's writing is so cohesive and just flows off the pages. There were times Bailey had me laughing (their playful banter), and times I was crying (Fox learning the reason for his mental illness).

I rated Hook, Line, and Sinker 5/5 stars as it was easy to relate to these characters and their emotions, and I couldn't put it down.

I like Tessa Bailey books a lot. The focus here was really on Fox and his struggles to understand himself and his past. It was a bit too much for me and I wanted more of Hannah.

I didn’t love this as much as It Happened One Summer but it was still a very enjoyable read and I loved how it ended.

After reading IHOS, I was extremely excited to dive into this book. Fox and Hannah had my attention the second he took her to the record store and OH MY GOSH THEIR BOOK DID NOT DISAPPOINT. This honestly became one of my favorite friends to lovers books! There was so much ANGST AND BANTER, I ate it all up! Fox is the charming playboy who is the king of one night stands, but Hannah turns everything he knows into mush. Fox has easily become one of my top 5 book boyfriends. I really felt for him in this book and became so attached to him and Hannah. I absolutely loved watching their friendship blossom. From meeting one summer, to texting and becoming roommates, facing issues (with lots of angst and longing in between), to getting their happy ending. I was smiling like an idiot throughout the entire book. I also shed a few tears during the epilogue. I was just SO unbelievably happy for them. It was a perfect wrap up for both Fox/Hannah and Piper/Brendan. If you love forced proximity, player turns soft for one girl, in charge heroine, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! It was so fun to root for these two throughout the entire book! This releases March 1 and everyone needs to pre-order right now! I cant wait to get my hands on a physical copy.
Thank you to @netgalley + @avonbooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I adored this book, Tessa Bailey has become one of my go to authors. This book follows how Hannah and Fox end up together.. I mean if you read the first book you knew it was only a matter of time due to the record he bought her. It was also about how Hannah and Fox learned grow as individuals, as well as a couple. There was the perfect amount of spice mixed in with all the romance. I will absolutely be recommending this book to others.

“I didn’t know what right felt like until you,” he choked out. “I’m holding on to the good you give me. I’m holding on to you.”

Following the events after It Happened One Summer, Hannah and Fox have maintained their friendship by texting each other daily ever since Hannah left Westport to go back to LA. When the director that she’s working for wants a new location to shoot his short film, Hannah suggests the small seaside town. Since it was a last minute location change, she stays with Fox at his apartment.

Fox is known to be a womanizer and has a “no relationship” rule, but he can’t stop thinking about Hannah after the time they’ve spent together last summer. However, she’s off limits. Their friendship becomes less platonic and more flirty. The attraction between them grows stronger. Can they just remain friends or will they risk their friendship to become more?

⚓️READ IF YOU LIKE⚓️:
- friends to lovers
- dual POV
- slow burn
- close proximity
- vinyl records
- secret mutual pining
- nicknames like Freckles & Peacock
- cw: mentions of death of parent, slut shaming

Thank you to Netgalley x Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy! Hook, Line and Sinker is available on March 1, 2022!

Look. I was already excited for the next instalment in the bellinger sisters series but I didn’t expect to love it THIS much. While they were supporting characters in pipper and brendans story, I knew Hannah and fox had a story to tell and deserved their own book. So you can only imagine the happiness I felt when fox and Hannah’s book was confirmed and ready to be published in 2022.

I love sister relationships. In fact, domestic relationships between characters especially in romance books will always be enthralling to me. After meeting the two quirky but loveable sisters piper and Hannah, I became attached immediately. They are two very driven individuals but what made the two stand out so much to me was how very different they were at the same time. Bailey DIDNT hesitate to make these two sisters quirky and sweet but also responsible individuals driven by so many different things in life.

Now fox and Hannah. Of course it’s not always the case that I’ll be interested in every character in a series of books or even a standalone. But this felt so different and I was right, which is why hook line and sinker is one of the easiest 5 stars I’ve given in 2022. Fox and Hannah shared something special between one another; Hannah is sensible, she knows exactly what she wants which makes her unique and stand out and Fox is a known heartbreaker. So these two individuals falling in love? Perfect! This was one of the sweetest love stories I’ve ever read. I teared up in some moments, I laughed out loud in others, but I can comfortably say that Hannah and Fox, Brendan and Pipper will be characters I will never ever forget.

It was heartwarming to follow these characters. Fox getting jealous in certain moments was a delight to read and also extremely comical. Fox and Hannah have crept up to be one of my favourite romance couples of the decade and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I appreciate the direction tessa Bailey took this book as Hannah represents exactly what so many readers believe in. Life is always about taking risks, so why not! Fox made me swoon and I couldn’t have come up with a better match for Hannah.

5/5 stars, it was the perfect read to end my summer!

I was so excited to read Hannah and Fox’s story after finishing It Happened One Summer! This book could be read as a standalone but I would highly recommend reading that book first, as it sets up the relationship between Hannah and Fox.

Hook, Line, and Sinker picks up after Hannah moves back to LA and returns to working on a movie set with her longtime crush. Her and Fox form a close friendship by texting while she is away, and when the movie needs a change in scenery, she recommends Westport and moves in with Fox while the movie films there. Fox is perceived by his friends and the people of Westport as non-committal, and someone who sleeps around a lot. Although he has strong feelings for Hannah, he resists temptation because he believes he is not good enough for her and does not want to ruin her reputation in town.

I loved the character development of both Fox and Hannah in this book. Both had to overcome their insecurities and they pushed each other in such a positive way. This book was a bit more slow-paced than It Happened One Summer, but I really enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Advanced e-reader copy from NetGalley: This is the second in a series about the Bellenger sisters, and although I hadn’t read the first book it was easy to catch up. The characters were multi-dimensional, the romance scenes were steamy, and it’s a great choice for fans of the friends-to-lovers trope.

Hannah Bellenger has always played the supporting actor role in her life. Fox Thornton has never believed in himself for a variety of reasons. Their friendship turns to desire as they find themselves in close proximity when Hannah stays at Fox’s apartment while her production company films in his hometown of Westport. Through a variety of obstacles, they find it in themselves to step out of their comfort zones and seek out their true happiness.

This was witty, fast-paced, and romantic. Hard to put down. Although I noticed a few continuity errors in the editing, this was overall a great read.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is the second book in the Bellinger Sister series. This book is the sequel to It Happened One Summer and can't be read as a standalone. This romance novel is a friends to lovers trope. I loved Hannah and Fox as supporting characters in Piper and Brendon's love story and was so happy to hear that they were going to have their own book. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! This story is definitely a slow burn and is unlike anything the author has previously written. I really loved the way that Hannah and Fox grow as individuals and also discover their feelings for each other in the novel. Definitely recommend picking this one up if you loved It Happened One Summer!

Tessa Bailey has made me fall in love with a trope I used to love to read but haven’t as much lately: friends-to-lovers. If you are looking for a sweet & slow burn romance that will have you closing your eyes and sighing, this is the book for you.

This is the sequel to “It Happened One Summer”. It follows the story of Fox Thornton, another King crab fisherman but with a reputation; and Hannah Bellinger, a woman with a heart of gold and love for music. In the beginning of this book, their friendship is already established. Their mutual love of music was refreshing. They were able to communicate through songs. I was overcome by how much their friendship meant to them. Fox even tries to help her win her crush over by making him jealous. However, as they spend more time together, they create a wonderful emotional connection that turns into something more.

Oh my goodness, am I obsessed or what? I love Fox & Hannah. This book brought so much more depth to Fox’s character. Tessa Bailey made me feel for him. (Especially when no one truly believed in him besides Hannah. That broke my heart.) I loved and appreciated how Hannah defended and showed she cared for him. I also enjoyed seeing Hannah come to have a connection to her father. This was important to me because I struggled with finding a connection with a parent (my mom) who has also passed. That part made me realize just how special reading and books are to me. Understanding Hannah was an aspect that I was looking forward to going into this book because it was obvious to me that while she wanted to find some way to relate to her father, she definitely struggled with finding it in “It Happened One Summer”. That connection gave her a push in the right direction.

Fox was one of my favorites in “It Happened One Summer”, so I’m really glad I got to know his story. I loved Fox & Hannah’s relationship as friends, what a sweet friendship. Of course, them as lovers was on a whole different level.

The only negative about this book that I can think of is that I wish I could read it again for the first time.

I had the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s e-proof courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay I LOVED Hannah's story so much, even more than Piper's!!

Things I enjoyed:
- I liked how the characters had 7 months of history and build-up to get them to where they were in this story
- The forced proximity trope!!! Always top tier
- Hannah and Fox's banter and how comfortable they were with each other was amazing


Things I was meh about:
- The writing is very very cringey, and I felt that way with the first book too, it's mainly why I took a star off my rating
- I wish Fox's development was more drawn out instead of mushed in there at the end

After reading Piper and Brendan’s love story in It Happened One Summer, I didn’t think I could fall in love with Tessa Bailey’s characters even more. It should come as no surprise that I was wrong!

Musical prodigy Hannah Bellinger has always considered herself a supporting actress, nothing like her leading lady sister Piper. While Piper demands attention and respect, Hannah is more content filling the role of the dutiful assistant or faithful sidekick. When presented with the opportunity to impress her long-time crush (and director boss) Sergio with the perfect movie location, she runs with it.

Missing her sister living in Westport, the seafaring town they both were sent to months before, Hannah gets the movie crew to pack up and move the set from L.A. to the coastal city. Of course her desire to return to Westport has nothing to do with Fox, the charming fisherman she’s been texting for seven months...

Fox Thornton is a self-proclaimed womanizer. He doesn’t like that title, but growing up in the shadow of his playboy father convinced him that it’s easier to become the person everyone assumes he is than to fight against it. Combined with a heartbreaking incident that occurred in college, Fox believes that serious relationships aren’t for him. That is until he starts texting his best friend’s soon-to-be sister-in-law.

This slow-burn romance starts heating up when Brendan’s parents take up residence in his and Piper’s house, leaving Hannah with no choice but to shack up with Fox. Both too stubborn to admit their feelings for each other, Hannah and Fox tiptoe around what is obvious to the readers: they belong together.

I absolutely loved this book and its characters’ developments. Hannah learns to trust herself enough to become the leading lady in her own life, and Fox learns how to believe that he is more than others’ perceptions of him. The witty banter between the two just seals the deal: this is a 5-star book perfect for those who love friends-to-lovers romances!

Special thanks to NetGalley for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This made me want to run to the nearest record store and buy every record that was mentioned. When I was younger I wanted to create movie soundtracks for a living so I loved reading Hannah’s story! Plus, who doesn’t love a flirty fisherman with a soft spot for his best friend!