What is the age rating for It Happened One Summer?

Piper was Hollywood “it” girl, young Posh spice girl meets Clueless’ Cher and Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods: she loves to get attention, followed by millions, a true social media goddess and sparkling influencer. As Kei$ha says the party don’t start till she walks in!

But her romantic life fails a little bit: she never has a relationship lasts longer than three weeks. Her last boyfriend dumbs her before things are getting boring for them, telling her she’s an airhead without any life purpose and there’s nothing special about her! She’s just one of the thousands!!!( Yes, he’s a total A.hole, I wish Pipes could see that before)

Piper takes those words so hard. Being dumbed at a party in front of the crowds and public humiliation on social media trigger her to make a foolish mistake. She trespasses the Mondrian hotel to give an after party at the roof top pool, inviting thousands of people. It was like an early 4th of July celebration! Then she finds herself at jail with full bladder, raccoon eye makeup and lots of humiliation.

Her best and only friend/ sister Hannah gets her out of jail. She thinks she could get away with this scandal but her rich stepfather Daniel who is highly achieved Hollywood producer thinks otherwise. The Mondrian Hotel’s owner finances his next movie so the stunt Piper pulled affects the future of his upcoming project. To teach her a lesson he has a perfect plan: Piper will be exiled to a small Pacific Northwestern town: Westport . That’s the place sisters’ fisherman father lived and died at the sea when they were little girls. Their mother couldn’t handle her grief so well so she cut her ties with the place.

Now as a punishment Piper will spend three months at this town, taking over the bar she inherited from her father and live in a dilapidated apartment.

Thankfully her music prodigy, more private, mature, two years younger sister Hannah has no intention to leave her alone at this journey!

As soon as they arrive the town they feel like they move into a strange territory. Piper walks into the bar in her trendy clothes, cheerful, vivid attitude, she feels like she’s been transported to a different planet.

Sexy, charming, widowed captain Brendan acts judgmental around her, thinking he’s dealing with a spoiled brat who will run after spending one night at that dilapidated apartment comes with rats as roommates.

But guess what? Piper stays and she slowly gets under his skin. He cannot stop thinking about her. After 7 years passed from his wife’s pass away maybe he can deserve a second chance.

And Piper feels like first time she belongs to somewhere. Can she leave her shiny, glamorous, partying LA life behind to be with this irresistible captain!

Could they find their happy ending in each other’s arms?

I already told too much. I feel like I’m your chatty neighbor who speaks without breathing when she loves something passionately. But I truly loved this book soooo much!

I cannot wait to read Hannah and Fox’s story, too. I adored both of them as supporting characters!

Overall: perfect chemistry, so smart, so humorous, so entertaining, so heartfelt! Giving my ship ahoy, millions of likes, five blazing poshy stars!

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

at the risk of sounding melodramatic, tessa bailey has brought me back from the brink of "do i actually like books" not once but twice this year

and that is extremely magnanimous of her, if i do say so myself.

this romance was fucking perfection. i was a little wary going into this because right off the bat, piper is beyond airheaded. which can certainly be fun but i didn't know how that would translate into a romance. but almost instantly she's transported to a sleepy port town and the fish out of water transformation begins. she starts falling for the grumpy fisherman who is desperate to not only bed her but get her to fall deeeeeply in love with him. swoon fuggin swoon. and along the way she starts figuring out what she wants beyond instagram likes and notoriety.

without ever having to change her personality and the things that make her happy!!!

from start to finish this book was a fucking delight. and i'm going to continue to use profanity because i feel that strongly about it. i wanted a grumpy x sunshine summer romance and this absolutely delivered.

i know this book won't work for everyone (i.e. there is dirty raunchy filthy sex & tessa bailey writes her heroes to be pretty alpha) but it was certainly for me. brb going find a crab boat captain of my very own.

#1 it was down right hilarious like for real i was laughing out loud. that memorial party scene? i was in fucking tears y’all. if it ain’t obvious already this book had me going feral.🏄🏻‍♀️🔥💥💖😜😝🤪

piper is such a lovable character. she carried this whole fucking story. she’s so entertaining and funny and i love everything about her. she’s a baddie and nothing less. i love the way she loves Brendan. 🥹🫦🥰😘😍😝💜❤️🤸🏽

Brendan on the other hand has me looking for apartments in a small town known for fishing in the hopes that i may come across a 6 foot something, breaded, grumpy, buff as fuck dude that’ll fall hopelessly in love with me. if there’s one thing i love, it’s words of affirmation and Brendan wasn’t here to fucking play! “Piper, spoiling you makes my dick hard” shiiit i guess chivalry isn’t dead y’all. there aren't enough circles in hell for the amount of sins I would let this man commit upon my fleshy vessel😩😩🤚 my legs are open as usual. 🤟🏽💖😩

i was feeling a roller coaster of emotions reading this book. till the room stinks, till the walls sweat, till the police are breaking down the door after the 45th noise complaint. yeah it was that fucking good to me. 😝🤩🫦✨🎉⭐️💖

The story started out great but quickly fizzled. Why?
🔸Too short enemies-to-lovers phase took away opportunities for witty/sassy banter.
🔸Lack of humorous or awkward situations made the story feel mundane.
🔸Piper and Brendan's characters were one-dimensional and heavily based on stereotypes.
🔸The dialogue was predictable and cheesy.
🔸The storyline was uninspired and predictable.

It's my first book by this author, and to be fair it appears her books just aren't for me. What I look for in a good rom-com are funny situations, witty banter, and an evolving relationship. In lieu of that, this story just focused on one steamy scene after another. All that to say, this is the case of it's not you, it's me.

Why did it take me so long to get to this book? I kept putting it off because I'd seen some mixed reviews and was afraid I wouldn't enjoy it. But of course Tessa Bailey wouldn't let me down. I should've known better than to doubt her.

Piper is a wealthy socialite who passes her days with shopping, partying, and attention-hogging on the internet. But after a publicity stunt goes wrong, her stepfather cuts off her funding. She's forced to go to Westport to find her roots and her purpose in life. But what does a girl like her know about fitting in at this small fishing town? Soon though, she starts to understand what makes Westport so special, including a certain gruff, hardworking sea captain.

Can we take a moment to talk about how adorable the Piper and Brendan pairing is? Piper appears a bit frivolous at first with her glamorous exterior, but underneath is an optimistic gal with a heart of gold. And Brendan is clearly besotted with her, though he tries hard to hide it beneath his grouchy, reticent demeanor. How cute is that! Honestly, I just can't get enough of the grumpy/sunshine trope.

While a lot of romances skirt around the fact that the female lead might be high-maintenance, I love how this book puts it front and center. Both Piper and Brendan not only acknowledge it, but it's a big part of their attraction to each other. She wants nice things and he wants to give them to her. While I'm a pretty low-maintenance girl myself, it still makes my heart go pitter-patter to think of a lover who wants to work hard to keep their beloved's affection.

As the story progressed, I loved the focus on Piper taking the time to discover who she really is and finding the meaning that she so desperately craves. The backstory of why she is in Westport and all the supporting characters add so much heart to this whole thing. Change is hard, and it's heartwarming to see both Piper and Brendan change and meet in the middle to make their relationship work.

This is the fifth book by Tessa Bailey I've read, and I've loved them all. You'd think by this point, her stories would start to feel old and stale, but no. Each of her books feels unique, with its interesting characters and fun storylines. They just draw me in and I'm always riveted.

Since this is a Tessa Bailey, of course it comes with a public service announcement regarding the steam factor. Please watch out, especially if it's your first one by her. She definitely isn't shy about including explicit, open-door scenes, even though the cute cover will have you thinking otherwise.

No doubt about it, this was a delightful experience from beginning to end, with enough sizzle to leave a permanent sear on my heart. In fact, of all the Tessa Bailey's I've read so far, this has got to be my favorite. It totally spoke to me, and I loved every character and every moment. And there's just enough teaser in here that I can't wait to read Hannah and Fox's story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Hook, Line, and Sinker

Window Shopping

Hot & Hammered
Fix Her Up
Love Her or Lose Her
Tools of Engagement
~~~~~~~~~~~~

and even though the stories are similar, i think i actually loved this one more. and mainly for the humour. oh my gosh. i was grinning like a fool the entire time i was reading this. i also enjoyed how the romance progresses from strangers to friends to something more. its very natural and has realistic pacing. not to mention, brendan is practically perfect and piper has some of the best character development, so i was rooting for them every step of the way.

such a sweet, hilarious, heartwarming story. easily TBs best book, to date!

↠ 5 stars

I don't think there is anything more disappointing than audibly thanking god with a deep sigh of relief for finishing a book. Especially when you thought this would be a solid 4-5 star read.

PIPER:
💄 Wildchild
💄 LA party girl
💄 The center of every scandal
💄 Famous for being famous
💄 Often misjudged for being a blonde bimbo
💄 Longest relationship - 3 weeks
💄 So much more than the seemingly shallow exterior

She was courageous, sweet, clever, seductive, adventurous, kind, guileless one moment, mischievous the next.

PIPER'S VIBES:
1)

BRENDAN:
🎣 Widower
🎣 No he does not pine after his dead wife, thank lord. His actions are more out of obligation than emotion
🎣 Fisherman
🎣 Captain of his own boat
🎣 Wants the heroine & acts grumpy abt it
🎣 Fucking adorable
🎣 Protective af
🎣 Jealous af
🎣 Obsessed with routine

BRENDAN'S VIBES:
1)

^Those are just vibes btw and do not represent their physical appearance

After a humiliating breakup, an illegal party and a night spent in jail, Piper finds herself in a nightmare of a situation.

She along with her sister are being sent away from the money, mansions and galas to a remote town near sea, the town she had once called home before the death of her dad. A fitting punishment in the eyes of her stepfather. Piper needs to be taught a lesson any 28 year old woman should have known long prior: aspirations and responsibility.

Now she -an impulsive party girl- is stranded with a huge, bearded fisherman obsessed with routine and constant brooding, in a town full of people so unlike her usual crowd.

she got a choice: Quit and prove all the assholes they were right about her worthlessness or..... finally find something deeper than the shallow, surface level life she has been living.

What does that mean? It means we're about to have one wholesome ass romance.

I heard many readers ask whether this is a slow burn and I'm here to tell you - NO.

The book starts as enemies but quickly turns into friendship. The hero goes from just being a mean grump to an adorable grump.

If you guys like pining heroes then this one hits the spot. Brendan managed to remain a simp throughout this ENTIRE book, and for the first half of it, he hides his attraction behind a grumpy exterior which Piper is semi oblivious to.

When Brendan was being conscious about his humble living (which turned out to be not so humble after all) and thought Piper was out of his league, IT WAS PULLING AT EVERY STRING OF MY FROZEN HEART.

The heroine took longer to admit her feelings. For a time she thought only of platonic friendship while Brendan was scaring men away and stalking her (or attempting to) on socials.

But it can't exactly be called insta-love either. They did fall for each other pretty fast (the hero fell first btw tehe). I couldn't make up my mind on whether it was moving too quickly for my tastes or the cute ass moments between them were worth the pace.

WHAT ABSOLUTELY RUINED THIS BOOK FOR ME THOUGH was the sheer ridiculousness and laughable convenience of the third act conflict.

My lord that shit was more dramatic than Diver's heart

(view spoiler)[- They fight

- Branden storms out like a sulky child

- Piper promises she will come and see him off for his fishing trip the next day. Which is her way of proving that she wants to stay with him instead of going back to LA

- Convenience #1 happens: For no reason whatsoever Piper has been walking some random old man for weeks now. Some of you may tell me it's because she is a good person, but I know now it's so he can get a fucking head injury right before Piper has to meet Branden.

- She misses his departure and stares at the retreating dot of his boat😔

*tears, sobbing, end of life crisis, oh no*

I mean it's not like he's coming back in 2 days or anything

- She has her bar opening and no one shows up. Not even Branden, her grandma or the stepfather.

*self doubt, basically the end of the world at this point, she "loses her sparkle" lmao*

- So in her defeat and despair, she packs up her shit and goes to a party in LA🤡

- Convenience #2: Branden doesn't show up to her bar opening because as he was coming back from his trip there was some delay. Ikr? The magic of accidental head injuries and unexplainable delays. Poor guy misses Piper's hurried departure to LA.

*THE REAL DRAMATICS BEGIN*

(hide spoiler)]

This book was fuckin delicious! It’s books like these that have you setting fictional men as the standard, as the baseline which has you judging real-life men on.

Because am I really expected to settle for anything less than a Brendan?

It’s easy to dismiss someone like Piper, she's very much painted as an airhead, who indulges in the frivolities and luxuries of life but also chooses to use that as a coverup. Social media was her coverup. Not that she’s necessarily conscious of it at first. But that lifestyle became comfortable.

After a certain incident, she’s sent back to a small town her father grew up in, instantly feeling like a fish out of water.

But not for long.

They (Piper and Hannah) decide to reform this bar as an ode to their father, to rehash some memories that they’ve lost and to come to terms with their past. But throughout it all, Piper discovers herself and her duality and her many complexities and that she’s allowed her presence on social media to rule her life. Surface level wasn’t enough for her any longer and I loved that she came to that realisation in her own way.

Along the way she meets this man who fuckin’ sees her for her. He sees through the facade she’s held up for far too long and those walls, that guard, slowly starts to crumble and it’s just beautiful to witness.

I’m thinking I might reread this book again before the end of the year.

4.5 🌟

The synopsis itself draws your name to the page and wanting to add this beauty to your TBR one hundred percent. And just the fact that it's a Tessa Bailey book speaks highly of itself. At least for me. I know what to expect, a grumpy sexy, handsome and possessive alpha that makes me drool and dream more and more of Henry Cavill every single day. And this fierce heroine of a character who knows exactly what she wants in life and so much more. When I first started meeting (reading) more of Piper, not going to lie, I was not the biggest fan. The way she was described as this preppy, and Hollywood a-list celebrity, having everything and being handed everything to the palm of her hand was not something that I found appealing to be honest. It's at a later line where she learns her true self, and finds that finding love and having a bond relationship with her sister is much more then having so many followers on social media.

Brendan, a seven year widower that had a guilt on his back of not moving on, finds himself in a contracting state of attraction towards not only Piper's sparky attitude and charisma, but also her way of being with others. This random stranger, comes to his town and takes it by a storm that he never encountered, no matter how many he has when at sea, Piper becomes someone to be reckoned with. It's at first that Brendan knows that messing "around" with someone like Piper was not a healthy move;

He'd ridiculed her at the outset. Now he wanted to fight off anything that made her sad..."

ARC kindly provided by Avon Books, in exchange for an honest review...

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The way i would die for Brendan…

I honestly started this book worried I wasn’t going to like it. The beginning is obviously introduction and there are just some books for me that i love from the first page, so when i started this, i was iffy because i wasn’t feeling that immediate pull.

But daaaamnnn, wait until you get a few chapters in. Wait until you meet the grumpy fisherman.

THIS MAN IS THE BLUEPRINT!!!!! Literally him having a handyman install a foam cover on the bottom of the top bunk bed because she hurt her forehead on it and he NOTICED AND DID NOT LIKE.

Every single thing he’d done for her, the way i got choked up with their relationship, that certain scene with Abe and then the boat and then the panic WHEEEEEW.

Stop it RIGHT NOW!!! I love this love this love this. 20,000% recommend.

VERY HOTTTT. My first Tessa bailey book and if her other books are like this?? You bet your ass I’m gonna read them.

Now while i am wholly obsessed and will rave about this book forever, I will say i found that ending to be a littttle bit lackluster. And by “ending,” i mean the club scene. That part was okay for me and i feel like it felt a little anticlimactic.

But everything else (again, minus how i felt with the beginning)? Immaculate. Go read it.

Spice is i think about 3.5-4 from what i can remember. I’ll have to flip through the pages again to be sure, but that’s off the top of my head 🌶🥵

We’ve got a very capable fisherman you guys, VERY CAPABLE 😏

Can't believe it took me so long to read this.
It is simply too good, close to perfection (had the unnecessary drama at the end not happened).

Tessa Bailey can write good spice and it is a fact. Also, I finally get the hype about Brendan. Man is too hot. Piper's character development was chef's kiss 🤌

But I do have a feeling that I might just like Fox more. I'm so ready to find out 😩😩

🐠 there's nothing wrong w this book i'm just... struggling
🐠 i liked piper
🐠 brendan was fine he's just not my type
🐠 it was a bit too hallmark-y for me i think? v cheesy and the relationship development felt a bit weird to me
🐠 the way i need hannah and fox's book tho 😅😭 i was way more interested in them than the main romance. the tropes might kill me... friends to lovers, 'not each others types', fuckboy turns soft simp for one girl i need it 🙇🏽‍♀️

The characters are also easily likeable and fun. I wouldn't think the spoiled rich girl would succeed in making me love the book but Tessa Bailey made it work. And I wouldn't want Piper any other way. She is endearing, loyal, and is just full of love, it makes my heart whole. While Brendan might start on the wrong foot, with his grumpiness and no-nonsense attitude, he did come around in loving Piper the way she is. He is sensitive, caring and overall affectionate.

This also brings me to point out the romance which is definitely off the chart. They start antagonistic especially with their opposite personalities but the chemistry between the characters made this a super easy read. It was lovely to watch these two grow since they both needed soul searching. But I especially liked how they did it together and understood each other in a way that no one else could.

It Happened One Summer also highlights the phoniness of social media and the significance of love and family. Moving to Westport, being financially cut off, and connecting with Brendan make Piper question her extravagant lifestyle. It gets her to think about what she truly wants (and deserves), and to learn live in the real world. You can see Piper changing herself along the way and develop into a more wonderful person.

Overall, this book has been fantastic and I don't think I would want to change any of it. Plus this is a small-town romance, which means that a lot of care went into developing the setting and the residents of the town/side characters. It’s a great book to lose yourself in. I couldn't wait for the spin-off (´∀`)

I didn’t have much luck when it comes to tessa Bailey’s books, they just kind of never worked for me, but the synopsis of this one sounds like something that is totally my thing. An unapologetically spoiled city girl in a fishermen small town?? Alexis from Schitt’s creek vibes?? Wrong first impression? Yes please!!

I just totally love this trope. I loved the character development of Piper. I just really liked her and how she was unapologetically herself. We don’t get to see her change herself or her personality for someone, but instead we get to see her find her true self? And just grow? I just loved everything about Piper!

Brendan was really sweet as well. I liked how he was working on making her fall in love with him even when she kept promising him nothing serious. Another thing is the sibling relationship between Piper and Hannah, it was definitely the highlight of the book. I loved how these two were always there for each other.

The thing that kinda ruined this for me is how freaking dramatic the conflict was!!! I was reading then suddenly I was rolling my eyes so hard, like are you kidding me??? It was just beyond dramatic!! Overall this was a really cute summer story. I haven’t read many TB’s books, but I think this might be my favourite.

What I learned from this book
1) How can FOMO affect your daily life?
I am also currently reading a book called Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice by Patrick McGinnis . The author mentions the problems FOMO can cause in that book. We can see a similar pattern of how too much indulgence in social media and party life can backfire and negatively affect your life through Piper’s character.

“Maybe she should try to put her phone down more often. Or at least take in the real moments when she could.”

2) How can you tackle the judgemental people?
The author tells us how to react when society tries to deal with us in a judgemental way. Should we try to take revenge against them, or should we try to win their affection? This novel will give you the answer to it in a subtle yet effective manner.

“Everyone’s low expectations of her were beginning to wear kind of thin, though. One look at her and this prick had become as dismissive of her abilities as her stepfather and her ex-boyfriend. What was it about her that courted such harsh judgment?”

3) How can a single person change the way we look at a place and its people?
The presence of people we love will change our outlook to something we disliked earlier. We can see how Piper started liking Westport after falling in love with Brendon.

“When I was falling in love with you, I was falling in love with Westport at the same time. That is my home. Our home. And I don’t want to be anywhere else. I knew it as soon as I got here tonight. Nothing was right. Nothing was right without you.”

My favourite three lines from this book

“Her soul was made of musical notes.”

“My hugs are your recharging station?”

“If this woman tacked the word “please” onto any request, he would find a way to fulfill it.”

What could have been better?
I am not going to say that the romance was cheesy and cringe as it is expected to happen between the romance of two normal individuals. (Not everyone can act like Romeo and Juliet). It is a totally different case if it becomes unbearable, though. Piper’s and Brendon’s relationship turned from enemies to friends a little quicker than most of us expected. The author missed a golden opportunity to use banter and multiple other love tropes there. This novel has the problem that most contemporary romance novels face, which is the absence of subplots. There was an excellent opportunity for developing the subplot involving Hanna and fox. But the author saved it for the second book in the series.

Rating
3/5 This will be a good choice if you love to read romance novels

foxhannah i'll see you cuties in march tho xx

____________________________________

july 2021 - dnf @ chapter 9

i tried guys. i really did but why did she have to make brendan a fisherman??? i don't want that smelly man anywhere near me.

i made it to chapter 9 but i just can't connect with this book, my slump is real and it's a bitch.

one day i'll pick this back up and continue it just to see if brendan is a good pussy licker cos you know he likes fish. and for the fox and hannah crumbs before their own book <3

I've been sitting with my thoughts on It Happened One Summer for a few days now because I loved it so much, I wasn't in the mood to explain why. (Do you ever feel that pressure as a reviewer? Like sometimes you just don't want to justify your enjoyment...you just want to sit in a pleasant bubble of swoony comfort and joy as long as you can? Or is that just me? 😍)

This book left a permanent smile on my face. It's feel-good romance with a side of steam. It's grumpy cinnamon roll meets high maintenance babe deliciousness. It's Schitt's Creek meets Legally Blonde meets Clueless.

Oh, I just loved it so much.

And look, I'm not oblivious to this books flaws. Like, it's definitely predictable and full of cliches, but I'm not a NYT book reviewer, I'm a stay-at-home-mom who wants to get lost in a romance exactly like this one and escape for a little while. Sometimes you just have to leave your fine tooth comb at the door and enjoy a book for what it is, and this book is fun and romantic and comforting and I'm here for it.

Best paired with The Best by Tina Turner...and no, not because of Schitt's Creek 😘 This song is so fitting for his book. (the lyrics and the vibe)

Pack a bag and enjoy the trip to Westport. You won't be disappointed.

Now, excuse me while I go mark the release of Hook, Line, and Sinker on my calendar, so I can cross off the days until I have Hannah and Fox's book in my hands.

Best character development goes to Piper.
Cutest cinnamon roll goes to Brendan.
Best crew goes to the Della Ray crew.
Dads that I don't claim goes to Piper and Hannah's stepdad.
Someone I wouldn't let into my kitchen goes to Piper again.

But best relationship of this book? I'm sorry to say this to you Piper x Brendan and Hannah x Fox, but that one actually goes to ✨ Piper & Hannah ✨ ! I loved their sibling relationship the most. They were so supportive of each other. I mean, Hannah followed Piper to Westport, this in-the-middle-of-nowhere-town, so she wouldn't be alone. If that's not sibling goals idk what is. 🥺

Saying "Can I have a hug?": ⭐
Saying "Can you let me into the recharging station, please?": ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall, It Happened One Summer was a cute summer read and I can always count on Tessa Bailey to bring on the dirty talk even with this cute fisherman. But it wasn't very memorable or interesting enough to me otherwise to say anything more.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️,5

❗This review contains no major spoilers❗

So I started my summer reading in September. Yeah...I know. 😅😅 Anyhow, this was a ton of fun to read. There wasn't anything particularly exceptional about the story, more like your average, quirky rom-com book, but the execution was fairly well done. I've had some trouble liking the writing here and there but other than that it was a great read. It was humourous, emotional, and spicy as fuuuuuuck. 😍😍

Occasionally, I found some of the dialogue to be a little cheesy, cringy, and even a little unrealistic. Basically, it got too emotional too fast. There is absolutely no reason for Piper to talk about her conflicting feeling for her late father with Brendan after knowing him for less than 15 minutes tops. I guess it's some typical romance book characteristic that indicates the deep connection between two people even at the very beginning of their story, which makes no sense to me whatsoever. You cannot feel connected to someone after talking to them for mere minutes, much less if most of your interactions are negative. It's too illogical and a bit of a cliché. Also, the constant and casual use of 'tits' and 'tight ass', etc. was not really appreciated...🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

My initial impression of Piper Bellinger was not a positive one. I knew I would grow to like her soon, since she's the main character, and I did. Even more so because she seemed so unlikable in the beginning. It was a tasteful and clever addition to the story that can essentially give you the opportunity to view Piper from an outside perspective before getting to know her, much like other characters in the book. Sure, she's a social and energetic person that attracts people to her but the majority of her relationships were nothing more than superficial because she herself was superficial (or seemingly so). This is the kind of character arc that I always appreciate in books. You don't always have to read about a bad character turned good, you can just enjoy the story of a spoiled brat turned into a well-functioning and passionate member of society that learns to appreciate things on a deeper level.

I had the same feelings about Brendan. I did not entirely like him in the beginning as well, since I actually started to like Piper when they met and his initial reaction to her (same as mine) did not sit well with me. Very hypocritical of me, right?? 😂😂 I guess Tessa Bailey taught me a lesson. Anyhow, as expected I grew to like him just as much as Piper (duuuuuh) and he is now the newest member of my neverending list of fictional men I wish were real. Seriously, it's so unfair they aren't...I mean, this man has done things to me...and my lady parts I will never forget.

As far as their romance goes, this was one of those times when I both cringed and swooned from start to finish. I cannot deny that some of it was very cheesy and cliché and many moments between Brendan and Piper had me like uuugh, really now??? 🙄🙄 But I can also NOT deny that there were many other moments that had me sighing and blushing like a schoolgirl over this couple. I actually struggled to decide on a rating because of this. I had a long debate over it.

Before I start, I should just say that I loved Hannah and Fox in this book, they were very likable characters, especially Fox who became my favourite very soon after appearing on paper. BUT...this bonus scene does NOT give me much hope about the quality of the next book. It was barely 5 pages long and it was so utterly full of cheesy romantic moments and unbearable clichés that I have little to no expectations for Hook, Line, and Sinker...I just hope the spice scenes will be just as good as they were in this one so I don't have to dnf it. 😬😬

What do you think of this book? Have you read it? Do you plan on reading it?

Reading vlog where I read it: //youtu.be/8s5cz0XmpY0

This has heaps of rave reviews.

I can genuinely see why this book is so popular but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I'll explain. I understand Piper came from a life of privilege, but to me she was written in an almost childlike way that felt incredibly unrealistic for a person this age (spoilt upbringing aside). Paired with the possessive, caveman-like and oddly paternal instincts of Brendon, the relationship felt a bit weird to me. I've written weird but really I want to say icky. She was so amazed that he seemed to like her for her personality, but I didn't see much evidence that he liked her for anything other than her full kissable lips and banging body (until the final parts of the book anyway). He constantly said things like 'she is mine', 'you are mine', *points to arse* 'this is only for me', he was constantly taking her and claiming her and owning her. Sorry, but this is not romantic to me. His possessiveness and jealousy would in fact ring alarm bells for many people I know. So I guess that's what it comes down to - what a person finds attractive in a partner, and this did not float my boat....see what I did there? Coz he is a captain...on a boat.... As a rule, I also prefer my female leads to be way smarter than a box of hammers. It started off well but ultimately this is definitely a case of 'not for me'.

CW: detailed steamy sex scenes

Sail away with this feel-good factor book of growing up and second chances as the gorgeous sea faring Brendan Taggart meets crazy tinsel town socialite, Piper Bellinger.

If you want a book with a feel-good factor then this book might be for you. It offers total escapism, that all important love-in, no shortage of sex, and a pleasant read.

However, if like me you dislike excessive lewd language and mushy dialogue then you might feel a little seasick. Nauseous at least.

The Plot

The sexy and unruly stepdaughter of film company director, Daniel Bellinger has created one too many waves. So, after a highly publicised blow out, she is forced to chart a new course and is sent away from her Bel-Air mansion to a rundown apartment in a fishing village that was once home to her late father. The mission is a new form of rehab and forced character building to help Piper mend her ways, fend for herself, and take some responsibility in her life.

However, what is not planned is the pairing of the gruff fisherman and the fun-loving ‘it-girl’. Yet despite finding themselves in choppy waters and after a stormy start it doesn’t take Brendan and Piper long to discover they share a lot of chemistry and interest in all things sex.

Review and comments

It’s a typical boy meets girl story. Brendan and Piper meet, they dislike each other at first and then they fall in love. However, they both have issues and a lot of history to contend with, not to mention coming from very different worlds.

This book is different from my preferred genres, and sometimes it is nice to read a story with a happy ending, a lot of chemistry and a bit of fun. And so, this is what we have got with this one. A very light-hearted beach read, where total escapism is served up for those who want a lovely romance, well kind off. In fact, no it’s not a romance novel. It’s a steamy encounter where the emphasis on relationships took a bit of a back seat to the sex and a lot of protestations of love. Personally, I like something with a bit more depth to the characters, a good storyline and sex that is less vulgar.

Two stars, not because I prefer other genres more, nor was it because of a storyline that has been well trodden or the predictability. It was the corny lines like

“It was like a movie poster, with the male lead curling his big, hunky body over the swooning, feminine lady and taking his fill.”

That did it for me, plus unnecessary crude language in some parts. I guess if you behave like an airhead then you deserve to be called ‘babe’!!!! Anyway overall, a cheerful story that will appeal, saucy in many parts but also too predictable with some trite expressions. I liked parts of this story but did not love the book.

Brandon’s hugs are Piper’s recharging station. Well, this book is MY recharging station.

You can bet I’m voting for this gem in the Goodreads Choice 2021 for “Best Romance” (even though I have a stinking suspicion the winner is going to be that damned Hating Game Rip-Off, The Spanish Love Deception). Honestly, she can have the “Best Debut Novel” trophy. Just let my baby win this catefory.

(Read as an Audiobook)

[1st Read]

Jul. 2021 — 4.5 Stars

It happened one night while I was reading this book and having the best time of my life. Tessa Bailey, I’m at ur mercy.

(Read as an Audiobook)