In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man…

King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time—in bed and out—and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

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Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC of Hook, Line, and Sinker. Wow this book was so good. Probably Bailey’s best! What I loved about this book was the journey of healing for Fox. I find that often we get the vulnerability of a woman in books and here we get to see growth in a man! We love that journey for him! Fox and Hannah’s love story was dare I say… better than Brendan and Piper’s? Yes. The beauty of music in this book and taking a chance was so good. I cannot wait for everyone to read it!

5⭐️

My review is probably closer to 3.5 stars, but the high-quality steam bumps it up to 4. I had the same problem with Hook, Line, and Sinker as I did with It Happened One Summer in that both male leads need to go to therapy more than they need a girlfriend. Yet we see the same toxic trope of a woman fixing an emotionally damaged man with no mention of getting him actual professional help. The friends-to-lovers of this was really well done and I loved Hannah's arc of self-discovery. It seemed more realistic than Piper's. Ultimately this was a fun, steamy read,

Hook, Line, and Sinker is the next book by Tessa Bailey in the Bellinger sisters duology. This book was an absolutely fantastic read and I’m now head over heels in love with Fox. This book was fun, quick-paced, adorable and sexy all wrapped in one! If you loved It happened one Summer then you should definitely drop everything to read this when it comes out. Fox Thornton is my new obsession…Tessa you have done it yet again dropping another incredible read.

Tropes: Friends to lovers and Forced Proximity

SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD

The Plot
This installment follows Fox Thornton, the best friend of Brendan, and the town's notorious playboy. Everyone knows he's always down for a good time- both in and out of bed - and that's exactly how he prefers it. Until Hannah Bellinger, Piper's younger sister, comes crashing back into town. She is the first girl he met who is immune to his charms and looks and actually seems to develop a genuine friendship with him which he has never had with a woman before. Now that she's here for work he offers up his place to her and goes into it thinking that it can't be that hard to live with his best friend…until she's walking around his place in tiny towels and he begins to find himself fantasizing about her. Unfortunately for him she's nursing a crush on her director boss and he offers up his help to get the guys attention.. But helping her flirt with another guy is pure touture for him.Even though Hannah sets out to catch her coworkers eye it seems the more time she spends with Fox the more she begins to realize she wants to be with him instead. The lines between friendship and flirtation begin to blur but she refuses just to be another notch in the bedpost for Fox.

The Characters
Starting off with talking about our two protagonists I absolutely adore both Fox and Hannah. Hannah is this music loving nerd who's always there for anyone who needs help and Fox is this “playboy” with a heart of gold who is struggling with some nasty inner demons. After reading about Fox and seeing the way he was treated I just wanted to give him a big hug! This man was given some pretty nasty expectations from a young age, even from his own mother, and was pressured into living up to that idea. People labled him a heartbreaker and playboy from a young age and deemed him the guy who people would only have sex with for one night then leave… just like his dad. Parents would warn their kids away from him and his crewmates would even make fun of him for having a constant line of hookups. His own mother.. Ugh, this woman even supplied him with money for condoms at a very young age and flinches every time she sees him. What kind of mother does that! So instead of fighting this pressure and expectations, he ended up going along with it and was never able to have a healthy stable relationship. No one seemed to treat him with respect and he was even losing it in himself. Then comes Hannah who considers herself a side character in everyone's story and not the leading lady type. She has dreams of scoring music for films but is too afraid to take the step forward in furthering her career. She also doesn't really believe in herself and this is where Fox comes along. She and Fox have an instant connection and hit it off, but because of their self image issues he doesn't pursue anything with her. At the same time, he values their friendship highly and is afraid to lose her. She on the other hand starts to develop strong feelings for him and starts to see through his facade and that scares the shit out of him.

The Romance
I don’t usually go for friends to lovers romances but I'm confident to say this is now my favorite one of all time! It was done spectacularly and I feel like these two are absolutely perfect for each other. It's like they connect with eachother on both physical and spiritual levels. Hannah sees Fox for who he truly is and not what the townspeople perceive him to be and Fox sees Hannah as the leading lady in his story and absolutely falls to his knees to worship this woman. I also love how Hannah encourages growth in Fox and his character development is so wholesome. I also love how Fox is an absolute SIMP for Hannah in the best way possible. Like get you a man who carries you when he notices that walking in heels makes you uncomfortable. Or talk about he loves being in her presence and literally worships the ground she walks on. There is obviously some turbulence in their relationship because he doesn't think he is good enough for her but she shuts it down everytime he tries to bring it up. Can we also talk about the fact that he bought a record player and a whole bunch of vinyls because they remind him of her and also how her texts are the highlights of his day! Ahhhhh so cute! Like I said these two are legit perfect for each other! Hannah being there for him and listening to all his fears and internal conflicts and Fox pushing her to take the step forward in her career and going for what she wants.

The Writing
The writing in the novel is brilliant and I absolutely loved how Tessa focused on toxic masculinity and how damaging it can be to one's self esteem. I feel like this is a topic not talked about enough and I was glad to see how it can affect the mind. Every time I was reading from Fox’s POV my heart was breaking for him and I've never realized how big of a burden it could actually be. His character development was my favorite part of the novel, aside from the music aspect, and going through this journey with him was emotional and touching. Seeing him fight his past and all his beliefs about himself in order for him to be with Hannah was rough but seeing him defeat his demons was astounding.

Overall Thoughts
In the end I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for everyone to read it! I love how this book focuses on what I feel like more of Fox than Hannah and seeing her fight for him was a breath of fresh air. These two deserve everything and more and it felt good to be back in this world! Plus that epilogue in the end was just oh so satisfying. I can't wait to see what Tessa has in store for us next!

Favorite Quotes
“I didn’t know what right felt like until you…. I’m holding on to the good you give me. I’m holding on to you” - Fox Thorton

“There was never going to be a life away from you, because Jesus, that’s no life at all. You Hannah. Are my life. I love you and I’m coming home” - Fox Thorton

Final Stats
Final Rating: 4.5/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Plot and themes: 4/5
Wow Factor: ⅘

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

I absolutely loved this book! All the heart eyes. After you’ve read so many romance novels you know there’s a formula and specific character types. Tessa Bailey always managed to create a story and characters who feel real, with specific character traits that you see in yourself and the people around you, I finished this lovely book in one sitting. Thank you to Avon books for not making me wait a second longer for the resolution to this duology! ❤️

I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This duology is seriously unputdownable and I loved it so much. I loved the character development in both books, especially the way in which our two MCs learn to communicate with each other on their own levels. It has some stereotypical romance tropes but I didn’t hate it. I could not wait to pick this book up every chance I got to sit down and read. I will definitely be recommending this series for a long time.

Fox and Hannah made me laugh, cry, and scream with how much I loved their love!!!! I couldn’t get enough of Hannah and her quirky attitude, and I fell in love with her through Fox’s eyes. Tessa Bailey, you definitely know how to write a love story!!

Special thanks to Tessa Bailey, Avon and Harper Voyager publishing for the ARC!

This book tore my heart out and put it back together. The perfect and endlessly endearing sequel to It Happened One Summer. Fox and Hannah are seen in the dictionary next to the words “persistence” and “hope”. Hannah believes in Fox at his worst and he loves her for it. I enjoyed this book to its fullest extent. (I’ve read 25 books so far this year and this one has set the bar infinitely higher).

I was totally looking forward to a sequel where Hannah and Fox finally get some time in the spotlight, and for a good reason! I was hooked from start to finish, and I can safely say that I may have enjoyed this sequel a bit more than the first(she is also a masterpiece of course). I really felt like I connected more to Hannah in this book, as I have never once thought myself the equivalent of a main character. And still, she was so incredibly passionate and driven, and it was so heartwarming to watch her fufill her goals! Now with fox, I was so involved with his character development, and it was refreshing to dive deeper into the male lead’s problems, as I usually don’t see it too often. It pained to watch the two refuse their feelings over and over again, but it was completely worth the wait. Hannah and Fox’s relationship as a whole was intense, sentimental, and so utterly captivating that I could’t help but finish the entire book in one sitting(yes it was that good!) Every time I witnessed one of Fox’s jealous moments, I practically rolled off my bed in excitement. And everytime he made himself vulnerable to Hannah and really opened up, I may or may not have teared up a bit. Overall, I would completely reccommend this book to anyone looking to immerse themselves into a romance touching enough to melt their cold, dead heart(well mine at least). Thanks to Net Galley and Tessa Bailey for allowing me to experience this!

Well folks, Tessa Bailey has done it again. Tessa Bailey has the art to make your heart throb and your eyes tear up from the deep romance between her characters, but she also has a very special way of making everything incredibly sexy. Hook, Line, and Sinker continues after It Happened One Summer. This novel follows Fox, Brendan's best friend and Hannah, Piper's little sister. Fox is a town-wide known playboy, however he's turned celibate after the summer in which he meets Hannah. Hannah and him become best friends over the course of the next 6 months, only texting, until her job brings her back to Westport. In the midst of Fox helping Hannah learn how to score the guy she's been crushing on for the past two years, he begins to see his relationship with Hannah differently. However, nothing really happens according to plan in romance novels, as Fox is too scared of what his past might do to affect what might happen with Hannah -- or, more importantly, how other people see Hannah if she's with him. Overall, an incredible love story that had me dying to get to the next chapter to get more of Hannah and Fox.

Friends to lovers. Emotional growth. So funny, spicy and witty. What more could you love?

Tessa Bailey has did it again. I absolutely fell in love with It Happened One Summer. It was one of my absolute favorite books I read last year. I was obsessed with dynamic enemies to lovers vibe that Piper and Brendan gave off. (I love him so much and seeing his POV was my favorite part..) I didn’t think anything else would top it but Fox has officially won me over.

Hook, Line and Sinker is a sequel featuring Piper’s little sister Hannah and Fox who is Brendan’s best friend, and shipmate. He is known for his ability to charm and woo the ladies, and his friendship with Hannah is too special to jeopardize so they are just pals. And the fact she is currently crushing on someone else is killing him.

Hannah becomes roommates with Fox and doesn’t realize he is having to resist temptation when she walks around in a towel. He is falling for her fast and while Hannah is attempting to catch the eye of her work colleague she asks Fox for advice. But the closer she gets to Fox, the more Hannah realizes that she might actually want to be more than friends but can’t handle being another notch on his bedpost. And Fox knows that he needs to work on his issues for her to give him, the Casanova of Westport, a chance.

5 stars, I am obsessed and will re-reading them both in the summer. Perfect duology. Highly recommend if you want a summery Romcom to warm up this winter season!

Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest book review!

Can we somehow discover a third Bellinger sister? Because after getting absorbed by Piper’s and now Hannah’s stories, I’m desperate for more from these characters and this setting.

Hannah might just be the best character in this duology. She’s kind and smart and motivated, and she’s admirable in how she sees past what people try to show the world and into their hearts — and she loves what she finds there, no matter what. She’s not as glitzy and exciting as Piper, but Hannah is warmer and steadier and is the kind of person you want in your corner. Meanwhile, Fox is a fun and flirty complicated mess who could most definitely benefit from a good deal of therapy. But what would contemporary romance be without at least one character who is so caught up in their own head and with their own flaws that some professional help would be useful?

While I think I preferred these characters and their relationship to those in “It Happened One Summer,” this book could have used a tad more depth and some plot outside of Hannah and Fox’s relationship. It’s fun being caught up in their world, but it gets just an eensy bit claustrophobic when most of the book takes place in Fox’s two-bedroom home. I wish that more happened in the book and that we got more time with the setting and other characters we met in the prior book. I did, however, like how Hannah and Fox aren’t idiots in love who don’t understand their feelings for each other; they’re just idiots in love who won’t act on them.

Yet again, Tessa Bailey has written a book that’s sickeningly adorable in the best possible way. The relationship is a wonderful mix of steamy and sweet, and reading this book gives you all the “ugh, I want that for myself” feelings you could dream of.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books, and Tessa Bailey for proving me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love Tessa Bailey for something quick but emotional. And so another story from charming Westport was exactly what I wanted! And this time we get playboy Fox and music-obsessed Hannah and tenderness abounds. I think that this story was more compelling in a lot of ways than the first -- Hannah is more likable, Fox's internal struggles are something I've never read before in a romantic lead. I liked that tension and all of the extra characters that we know and love making appearances. I do wish there had been a life-or-death scene again, but I know that might have been overkill. I think this was paced a bit slowly and I wanted maybe one more big conflict for the climax, but otherwise it was worth the absolute bangxiety I had reading it!

4 stars.

After reading It Happened One Summer I was absolutely DYING to read this sequel. I knew I would love this book and Hannah and Fox’s relationship just from the few snippets we got from the first book.

Tessa Bailey just does such an incredible job making you fall in love with the characters in her books. The tension, the kind gestures, the shared love of music, the texts, everything about the relationship between Hannah and Fox was just SO good. My only wish was that it hasn’t ended as quickly as it did. I would’ve loved to have read more between the ending and epilogue. But besides that I really enjoyed reading and I can’t wait to see what Tessa Bailey has up her sleeve next.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tessa Bailey has done it again! I think this might be my favorite novel of hers so far. This duology is definitely on my top ten list; they are simply superior.

I loved Fox and Hannah from the first moment we saw them together, and this book seriously delves into their relationship in a way I wasn’t anticipating, but it felt so raw and real in ways a lot of fiction relationships don’t, and I really appreciated that. Hannah is such a genuine sweetheart who cares so much about the people she loves that sometimes she forgets to put herself first, and I found that I related to her character much more than I did her sisters. Fox, on the other hand, is kind of torn between what others expect him to be and what he wants to be. He struggled a lot throughout the whole book, and for justifiable reasons, and it was so rewarding to see him overcome his fears in the end.

I’ve never been much of a “friends-to-lovers” fan, but this book may change my opinion of that. Even though Fox fell pretty hard in the beginning, their friendship was a huge factor for most of the book and it was delightful to read about. Fox and Hannah are like two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly. This was all around a phenomenal book and it’s definitely a bittersweet ending.

Don’t even get me started on the epilogue because tears dotted my eyes as soon as I read the first sentence and it went downhill from there. My heart felt so full after finishing it. <3

Wow did I love this one. Really enjoyed Piper and Brendan’s story in the first of this series - and recommend reading before this one - but Fox and Hannah are fantastic. Their chemistry and friendship is through the roof. Highly recommend this one if you’re a fan of the friends to lovers troupe or like contemporary romance.

This is my third Tessa Bailey book, and so far I’ve enjoyed them all. This book was lighthearted, fluffy, sweet but with spice added. What more can you ask for?? It was a sloooooow burn, my god.

I actually enjoyed this book more than the first. I related more to Hannah than I did with Piper. It’s crazy to think that they are sisters since they are polar opposites.
Hannah enjoyed music, and vinyls and just seemed to be more down to earth. I also enjoyed her banter and evolving relationship with Fox. I was really excited to see there would be a sequel after the first book because you could really see little figments of their relationship growing.

You could also see Fox evolving through the book, but deep down he still had his bad side, which I don’t think will ever go away. Not that that’s a bad thing ;)

Some of the *scenes* were a bit cringey, if I’m being honest. And… I don’t always love the use of pet names; for some reason they always tend to be used way too early and haphazardly.



Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

Okay, so after reading “It Happened one summer” I had been dying to read “Hook, Line, and Sinker”. I wanted to read it so badly that I made a NetGalley account just so I could request to read this ARC. And for some crazy reason Avon & Harper Voyager approved my request. (THANK YOU!)
This book was everything I could ask for. It made me laugh, made me cry, and fall in love with the characters. Hannah is just an absolute gem. It was so refreshing to see a female character who is so ready to confront tough situations head on. Her love for music made me want to put my record player on and really listen to all my records.
Fox was just so beautifully broken. The fact that he really wanted to know and understand Hannah was so beautiful. He wanted to be a man that Hannah deserved.
Hannah and Fox were a match made in heaven. The epilogue made me cry.
I loved the friends to lovers trope
This book was a treasure. I’m going to miss the Bellinger sisters. 💖
If you love romance/rom-com books, you will enjoy this.
Maybe I’ll move to a small town, meet a local fisherman, and fall in love. ☺️

Slow burn. Best friends to lovers. He’s a player turned good guy and she’s a nice girl.

“How did I look at her?”
“Like a summer day showing up after a hundred years of winter”

I just spent my whole day reading this and wow! This book really delivered.

This book follows Fox and Hannah's relationship as they navigate being friends and trying to discover if they can be more. It's all under a short timeline as Hannah only plans to stay in Westport for 2 weeks.

I am usually not a fan of the whole friends-to-lovers trope, but this book really did it for me. I loved Fox and Hannah's relationship so much. I also really appreciated the character development of both of them. It was very interesting and satisfying to see both of these characters grow together and apart.

The tension between these two characters was INTENSE...and it worked so so well. This is the perfect summer romance book to read by the pool and was one of the best romances I have read in a while. I can't say enough good things about it.

3.5 ⭐️

I was lucky enough to get an arc of Hook, Line, and Sinker through Netgalley, and after binging It Happened One Summer I decided to dive right on into Hannah and Fox’s story. As excited as I was after seeing the two of them dance around each other in Piper & Brendan’s book, HLS was kind of a disappointment.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Hannah & Fox together—their romance and the epilogue were perfect, but everything else I expected from this book fell flat. The banter I was used to in book one was nowhere present in HLS—Hannah was the queen of sass and that just fizzled out in the book. Plus the whole Sergio thing—you’re telling me she PINED after this man for TWO YEARS and then when he finally asks her out she’s like meh, no thanks? & that’s just after a good heart to heart with Fox about why he is the way he is? I expected there to be more turmoil and angst before she was all in, but nope. & don’t even get me started on her music career/talent search/producer thing she does—that was so interesting and it was just a blip that was mentioned in the epilogue?!

Overall the book isn’t bad, I just wish there was MORE…