Book veers too much into 'woman is determined to change man, when what he really needs is therapy' territory. The romantic lead, Fox, is nowhere near as compelling or pitiable as the book i.e. Hannah makes him out to be. Pros: fun banter, Hannah's passion for music, and the sister dynamic (though unfortunately, there's not much of it).

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

⭐️ 4.75

I LOVED this book. I truly have never experienced a storyline like this one, where you’re able to see how:

A) your childhood affects so much of your adult choices
B) toxic masculinity deeply affects the male character and not only how he views himself but also how he experiences relationships

I feel like the author did a brilliant job at discussing that issue (which is still very present in society today).

I absolutely LOVED Hannah. She truly is one of my all-time favorite female characters, and her storyline was one I could relate to A LOT (always the supportive role afraid of being the leading lady)

Her determination to make it work with Fox (no matter what) was inspiring, and I was happy to see the importance of communication within a relationship brought up as well. Because it is extremely annoying when the biggest hold up in a storyline is lack of communication.

The ONLY reason I rated it 4.75 is because this is the first time I’ve experienced a “slow burn” style plot and I’m not sure if it’s my favorite. I felt like I was constantly on edge waiting to see if anything was going to progress with their relationship, and I don’t know if I can handle another story like that 😅

“More than anything in that moment, he wished for Hannah.”

Ok, wow, this book gave me all the feels. Hannah and Fox’s story was teased in It Happened One Summer, but I in no way expected their relationship to come about the way it did. I really loved the character development, especially Fox’s. I think it’s rare for a romcom to give so much depth to the male character, and I think his story was a unique one that hasn’t been told yet. I loved how Hannah pursued being a “leading lady” while never straying from who she was. Hannah is very authentic and her ability to forgive and fight for her man is admirable. The epilogue was very sweet and I like how we get to see a glimpse into their futures.

After becoming completely obsessed with It Happened One Summer, I could not wait to get my paws on Hook, Line, and Sinker. I wasn't completely sure how I felt about Hannah in book 1, but I absolutely LOVED Fox's character so I had high hopes for how their story would unfold.

Tessa Bailey did not disappoint with this sequel, and I found myself fully emotionally invested in Hannah and Fox's budding friends-to-lovers relationship and the many nuances therein. Fox hides behind his playboy persona and reputation, but underneath it all is a man who has never had the chance to believe in his own self-worth. Watching his carefully constructed walls get demolished by Hannah made me fall in love with their relationship, and I truly feel that they made each other better, stronger people by the end of the book.

As always, the spice, banter, and dirty talk were top-tier. I am now a lifelong Tessa Bailey fan and no one can stop me.

I've never read an ARC this far in advance! Last month I read the first in this series and was dying for Hannah and Fox's story. So when I got approved for this ARC this week, I couldn't wait and dove in right away.

Friends to lovers is my favorite trope and this story does everything right in that regard. Seven months have passed since the first book, Hannah and Fox have developed a long distance friendship based on texting and music references.

The story is sweet, swoony, and thick with sexual tension from start to finish. What I loved most was the characters' personal journeys, especially Fox's. He believe's he's a manwhore with nothing to offer except a good time. Hannah believes she's not leading lady material in life and has resigned herself to a supporting role. They see the best in each other and eventually lead the other to see how much they have to offer, separately and as a couple.

I read this book in two sittings and it was pure joy. Since this is a series based on sister's, I would have liked to see more of Piper in this book, and for her to have been more supportive of her sister. I also wasn't crazy about the epilogue, those are the only two things keeping this from being a five star read.

I absolutely loved this story. The complete honesty and vulnerability of the two main characters made it so wholesome and uplifting and just perfect. The writing feels almost reverent in it's telling really showcasing Tessa Bailey's gift to hook readers from beginning to end. It's beautifully written and structured with the perfect balance of slow burn goodness coupled with great tension and witty banter. The journey in this one is smart, mature, and really makes a reader wistful because the relationship cultivated here feels that much more real and important.

Westport, Washington is a place I would go to visit the Bellinger sisters and their fussy fishermen any day. These stories are charming and just feel good. They are perfect for romance lovers and women's fiction lovers alike. I can't wait to read them again and again when I'm looking for electric, simple, fun, and pure romance to escape. Highly recommend Hook, Line, and Sinker.

And just like that Tessa Bailey does it again with Hook, Line, and Sinker! As a follow up to It Happened One Summer, we get taken on the love journey with Hannah Bellinger, Piper's sister, and Fox Thorton, Brendan's best friend and boat mate.

I absolutely love how we were introduced to these characters in the first book and have picked up from where we left off with them. But most importantly I love the story of friendship first which turned into an amazing love. They always say friends make the best lovers and through some struggles both Hannah and Fox took that journey together.

This book also helps one to see past the insecurities and take the leading role. No-one has to be the supporting actor in their own life. I highly recommend this book and would give it a ton more stars if I could! Next up, this needs to be turned into a movie because everyone wants the romcom!

It must mark my growth in maturity because I’ve been finding myself loving best friends to lovers books more and more. And Hook, Line, and Sinker frickin delivers!
I literally scared my husband when I was approved for this arc (admittedly the sounds I produced were alarming). I was so excited to be back in West Port with my loves and wow oh wow it did not disappoint. Hannah’s and Fox’s story was everyyyything. But what else did we expect from Tessa Bailey?
I felt like both of their character arcs were so well executed, seeing both of them learn to have faith in themselves and go after what they want? *chefs kiss* a good ducking meal. I had so much fun watching Hannah learn to go after her goals and to learn what exactly it is she wanted. Her belief in herself after feeling like a supporting character for all of her life was gratifying to watch, I loved going on that journey with her. And Fox🥺I’m soft for a reformed rake, I can’t help it, he was built to be my kryptonite. I think his arc could have been a little silly or cringe if Tessa Bailey wasn’t such a skilled author, but because she is a gift to the genre, my heart strings were plucked like a guitar in a sea shanty. His moments of stark vulnerability nearly did me in, I wanted to protect him from the world. Seeing how much he loved Hannah from the start was exactly what I need from a former player- a simp for only one girl.
If you are into explosive chemistry, great music references, and two little softies who are just trying to figure out how to love each other, this is more than worth the read. I plan on pushing this series on everyone I know for years to come.
Thank you so much (seriously the idea of having to wait until 2022 was agonizing) to Avon and Harper Voyage and Netgalley for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this one! I think it is my favorite Tessa Bailey to date. It was more emotional that I thought it was going to be and it hit all the right spots.

I absolutely loved HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER. I haven't read IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER yet, but that didn't deter from the reading experience at all. I'm obsessed with friends-to-lovers and it was done so incredibly well here- Hannah and Fox were both hesitant about starting a relationship together so the slow burn was there, but it was also fun getting to see them realize that the other one (gasp) might actually be interested in them too! My only complaint is for how much Hannah talks about her bond with Piper and how she is the most important person to her, there's a lack of Piper in the book. (Also, just me personally and not a real complaint, but I would have loved a scene towards the end where Fox took off the bracelet for ~growth~.)

Overall, I really really enjoyed this book and it's made me want to go and read Tessa Bailey's entire backlog, to be quite honest.

review to be posted on goodreads closer to release

i received an arc from netgalley.

this book is phenomenal, that’s all the words that i have for it. i’m such a sucker for a story where one of them thinks they don’t deserve love and they are only good for sex. fox is just such a good guy and every part of this story left me wanting more.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is the second book in the “It Happened One Summer” series and I honestly enjoyed it from start to finish. Hannah and Fox were great individual characters but I also loved them as a couple. They were so sweet together. This book was unexpectedly slow burn and I think that’s what elevated the story. Their relationship developed perfectly and didn’t feel out of the blue.

Hannah is one of the sweetest girls ever. She’s always taken a backseat to others and she finally gets her moment to shine. Fox complimented Hannah perfectly. He never put her down and always uplifted her. The way he was stuck on her since first meeting her was too good.

Tessa Bailey’s writing fits the story and the characters. The book is littered with pop culture references and it feels very current. I also loved the Piper and Brendan crumbs we got. I wish we had more sister bonding because I loved their relationship in the first book.

Oh wow. This is early thoughts flying from my fingers. I *just* finished the book and to say I swooned, friends I SWOONED. Fox and Hannah may be the best, reigning from the top of Tessa Bailey’s couples yet. The progression of their relationship is so well paced. It allowed for SO MANY artfully placed layers within their friendship. I absolutely adored every page.

I grew up with a parent working on ships in the Bering Sea. Tessa Bailey really captured the spark that drew him to the sea and this high adrenaline insanely dangerous career.

this was definitely a much slower burn than it happened one summer and i loved it and they were ROOMMATES. hannah’s so sweet and very set on what she wants and the way that she just plays music in her head is very relatable. the story setting is back in westport but with the buzz of a movie being filmed there giving the small town a romanticized feel. i loved fox and hannah’s story especially the prologue with all the text messages on how the kept in touch with wach other over the past months and never fell out of rhythm

*I received a free copy of this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Tessa Bailey does it again! I loved this as much as the first one. Hannah and Fox are amazing. I think I like them even better than Brendan and Piper. The angst, the will-they-won't-they, the chemistry! It was so good. The character development, the story, just so good. I might have to make Tessa an auto buy author.

i fell for this series when i read the previous book - ‘it happened one summer’ - two months ago and i was absolutely stoked to receive an advance copy of fox and hannah’s book, which i wanted to read desperately. i’m really not a a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, but when you do it right (like what tessa bailey has done with this book) that trope can be *chef’s kiss*

‘hook, line, and sinker’ contained all of the things that i loved from ‘it happened one summer’ - a well-developed small-town setting and cast of side characters, lovable leads, plenty of well-placed humor - and then some.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is the second installment in Tessa Bailey's "It Happened One Summer" series. Ever since reading the first book, I was truly aching for a chance to read Fox and Hannah's story. Their relationship was hinted at in the background of Piper and Brendan's book--and I was so excited to see how their story would unfold when they were at the forefront. Tessa Bailey so effortlessly brought me back into the atmospheric town of Westport that readers fell in love with in "It Happened One Summer". This setting truly allowed the explosive chemistry between Fox and Hannah to explode, and I was immediately hooked. (Truly, I read this book within a span of a day) Everything from the buildup, to the steam, to the familial dynamics concurrent on the side made this such an enjoyable and addicting read. I had such high hopes for this sequel, due to my enjoyment of its predecessor, and I am so happy that my expectations were blown out of the water. Such a great book and series that I will be thinking about for ages to come. Bailey has truly set the bar for summer RomComs, "Hook, Line, and Sinker" was outstanding.

This book deserves ALL of the stars. I adored this book from start to finish. My only complaint is that the book ended. I could read about Hannah and Fox all day. Their story was everything. It was the most exquisite slow burn, heartfelt, friends-to-lovers story.

Tessa Bailey wrote Fox’s character and his struggles so well. I really felt for him. Everyone judged and forced him into a role he never wanted from a young age. Fox never thought he could deviate from that path since everyone who knew him believed he would be a playboy. It broke my heart. Watching Hannah help Fox realize his true potential and character was such a rewarding reading experience. His character arc was executed flawlessly. Hannah’s character arc was also written really well. Hannah believes she’s a secondary character rather than a leading lady. She wants to be a leading lady, but she isn’t sure she’s capable. Fox, however, knows she is. These two characters complimented each other perfectly.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. It’s a must-read for all romance lovers. Everyone needs to add this book to their TBR immediately.

I loved Tessa Bailey's Hot & Hammered series, so I was excited to read her series about the Bellinger sisters. Hook, Line, and Sinker is the second book in what I'm assuming will be a duology. It focuses on the younger Bellinger sister, Hannah. Unlike her famous older sister, Hannah has always played supporting character to someone else's lead. But she is determined to change that, and finally start taking charge of what she wants. Professionally... and personally? Fox is the town's resident Casanova, known for his one-night stands and little else. But he is uncomfortable with a role that he feels he has been forced into, and a reputation that he doesn't like.

This book is described as a friends-to-lovers story, but it didn't really feel like that to me. First of all, the friendship was of very short duration, and Hannah and Fox only ever labelled each other as friends because, although they were terribly attracted to each other, they both felt they couldn't have a relationship with each other for various reasons. Then Hannah comes to stay in Westport for work, and ends up staying in Fox's spare bedroom. Of course, the close proximity makes it *hard* for them to ignore their chemistry. But Hannah is pining after someone else. And Fox is worried that attaching himself to Hannah will ruin her reputation as a good girl.

I loved this book, and probably would have read it in one sitting had my life allowed. It is quite spicy, and was a different take on the bad boy and girl next door dynamic. Hannah was a fun character, and Fox was a secret little cinnamon roll. If you enjoy rom coms, you'll love the Bellinger sister books. I would recommend reading It Happened One Summer (Piper's story) first, since the start of Hannah and Fox's relationship is set up in that book.

I loved It Happened One Summer and "meeting" Hannah and Fox in that book, I knew their story would be a sexy, heartfelt one. And Tessa Bailey does not disappoint! This is a soft, emotional, deep-feeling romance about how the right people help heal us from past hurts and emotional damage. Hannah is such a sweet, caring, interesting character, a "supporting player but never the leading lady in life" in her words. Her journey as she starts to take bigger career chances and truly believe in herself is beautiful to see. But I think I was most moved by Fox's emotional growth arc from his pattern of playboy flings to a deeper and richer relationship once he found the right woman to be vulnerable with and risk everything for.