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Bellinger Sisters #1
It Happened One Summer
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romance (2021)Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar... in Washington.
Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.
Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart.
Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town... where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong.
Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.
Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart.
Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town... where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong.
397 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 2021
About the author
Tessa Bailey
94 books60.3k followersNew York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57,843 reviews
August 21, 2024
Wow! Just wow! So far, this is my favorite Tessa Bailey romcom! The chemistry between Piper and Brendan could set the entire La La Land or thousands of harbors on fire! They were amazing together! Their sizzling romance and steamy, heart-pounding love scenes will hook you in. You won’t be able to put this feel-good romance down! It warms your heart and captures your soul. Even though the characters are polar opposites, they perfectly complete each other.
Piper is the quintessential Hollywood “it” girl—a young Posh Spice meets Clueless’ Cher and Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods. She loves the spotlight, with millions of followers—an absolute social media goddess and sparkling influencer. As Ke$ha says, the party doesn’t start till she walks in!
But her romantic life is a bit lacking: she’s never had a relationship that lasted longer than three weeks. Her last boyfriend dumped her just before things got boring, telling her she’s an airhead with no real purpose in life and nothing special about her—just one of thousands. (Yes, he’s a total A-hole. I wish Piper could’ve seen that sooner!)
Piper takes his words to heart. Being dumped at a party in front of a crowd and publicly humiliated on social media pushes her to make a foolish mistake. She trespasses onto the rooftop pool of the Mondrian Hotel, hosting an impromptu after-party for thousands. It was like an early 4th of July celebration! But soon, she finds herself in jail with a full bladder, smeared raccoon-eye makeup, and a lot of humiliation.
Her best—and only—friend, her sister Hannah, bails her out of jail. Piper thinks she can escape the scandal, but her rich stepfather, Daniel, a highly successful Hollywood producer, has other plans. The owner of the Mondrian Hotel is financing his next movie, so Piper’s stunt jeopardizes his upcoming project. To teach her a lesson, Daniel devises the perfect plan: Piper will be exiled to a small Pacific Northwestern town, Westport—the place where the sisters’ fisherman father lived and died at sea when they were little girls. Their mother, unable to handle her grief, cut ties with the place.
Now, as punishment, Piper must spend three months in the town, taking over the bar she inherited from her father and living in a dilapidated apartment.
Thankfully, her music prodigy, more private, mature, and two years younger sister, Hannah, has no intention of letting her go through this alone!
As soon as they arrive, they feel like they’ve entered a strange new world. Piper walks into the bar in her trendy clothes and with her cheerful, vivid attitude, feeling as if she’s been transported to another planet.
Sexy, charming, widowed Captain Brendan is immediately judgmental, thinking she’s just a spoiled brat who will run away after spending one night in the apartment—with rats as her roommates.
But guess what? Piper stays, and she slowly gets under his skin. He can’t stop thinking about her. After seven years since his wife passed away, maybe he deserves a second chance.
And Piper, for the first time, feels like she belongs somewhere. But can she leave behind her shiny, glamorous, party-filled LA life to be with this irresistible captain?
Could they find their happy ending in each other’s arms?
I’ve already said too much! I feel like your chatty neighbor who can’t stop talking when she’s passionate about something. But I truly loved this book so much!
I can’t wait to read Hannah and Fox’s story too. I adored them as supporting characters!
Overall: perfect chemistry, smart, funny, entertaining, and heartfelt! I’m giving this five blazing stars, a ship ahoy, and a million likes!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this fantastic reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
I hope this captures your enthusiasm while refining the flow and clarity of your writing!
Piper is the quintessential Hollywood “it” girl—a young Posh Spice meets Clueless’ Cher and Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods. She loves the spotlight, with millions of followers—an absolute social media goddess and sparkling influencer. As Ke$ha says, the party doesn’t start till she walks in!
But her romantic life is a bit lacking: she’s never had a relationship that lasted longer than three weeks. Her last boyfriend dumped her just before things got boring, telling her she’s an airhead with no real purpose in life and nothing special about her—just one of thousands. (Yes, he’s a total A-hole. I wish Piper could’ve seen that sooner!)
Piper takes his words to heart. Being dumped at a party in front of a crowd and publicly humiliated on social media pushes her to make a foolish mistake. She trespasses onto the rooftop pool of the Mondrian Hotel, hosting an impromptu after-party for thousands. It was like an early 4th of July celebration! But soon, she finds herself in jail with a full bladder, smeared raccoon-eye makeup, and a lot of humiliation.
Her best—and only—friend, her sister Hannah, bails her out of jail. Piper thinks she can escape the scandal, but her rich stepfather, Daniel, a highly successful Hollywood producer, has other plans. The owner of the Mondrian Hotel is financing his next movie, so Piper’s stunt jeopardizes his upcoming project. To teach her a lesson, Daniel devises the perfect plan: Piper will be exiled to a small Pacific Northwestern town, Westport—the place where the sisters’ fisherman father lived and died at sea when they were little girls. Their mother, unable to handle her grief, cut ties with the place.
Now, as punishment, Piper must spend three months in the town, taking over the bar she inherited from her father and living in a dilapidated apartment.
Thankfully, her music prodigy, more private, mature, and two years younger sister, Hannah, has no intention of letting her go through this alone!
As soon as they arrive, they feel like they’ve entered a strange new world. Piper walks into the bar in her trendy clothes and with her cheerful, vivid attitude, feeling as if she’s been transported to another planet.
Sexy, charming, widowed Captain Brendan is immediately judgmental, thinking she’s just a spoiled brat who will run away after spending one night in the apartment—with rats as her roommates.
But guess what? Piper stays, and she slowly gets under his skin. He can’t stop thinking about her. After seven years since his wife passed away, maybe he deserves a second chance.
And Piper, for the first time, feels like she belongs somewhere. But can she leave behind her shiny, glamorous, party-filled LA life to be with this irresistible captain?
Could they find their happy ending in each other’s arms?
I’ve already said too much! I feel like your chatty neighbor who can’t stop talking when she’s passionate about something. But I truly loved this book so much!
I can’t wait to read Hannah and Fox’s story too. I adored them as supporting characters!
Overall: perfect chemistry, smart, funny, entertaining, and heartfelt! I’m giving this five blazing stars, a ship ahoy, and a million likes!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this fantastic reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
I hope this captures your enthusiasm while refining the flow and clarity of your writing!
January 5, 2024
Every time I'm about to embark on a Tessa Bailey book, I'm just filled with glee. She has always spoken my love language, and with this Bellinger Sisters series, I feel like she's really hit the top of her game.
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
My Killer Vacation
Hot & Hammered:
Fix Her Up
Love Her or Lose Her
Tools of Engagement
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
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
My Killer Vacation
Hot & Hammered:
Fix Her Up
Love Her or Lose Her
Tools of Engagement
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
June 7, 2022
update 2022: still fucks & my husband thought so too
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.
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.
April 30, 2022
i read this book and now i don’t wanna unalive myself. all this grumpy man does is grunt and why did that make my coochie tingle? this book had my back arching, toes curling, neck cracking, bed sheet gripping, knee trembling, and ass smacking. 😏😫😤😩🥵🤬😶🌫️🥶🤯🫥
#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. 😝🤩🫦✨🎉⭐️💖
#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. 😝🤩🫦✨🎉⭐️💖
July 26, 2021
This book was marketed as a Schitt's Creek-inspired rom-com, so I'd been looking forward to it. The good news is that I'm no longer looking forward to it, since I've now read it 😃. The bad news, is that I didn't care much for it 😏.
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.
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.
August 10, 2021
Any rich crab boat captains named Brendan wanna spoil and fall in love with me??
August 23, 2021
i hope i never hear the phrase "recharging station" in reference to a HUG ever again
August 29, 2021
i would sell my soul to be spoiled by this bearded fisherman
July 28, 2021
Jesus this was bad. Well, the romance before the sex was cute enough. The sex was ridiculous and graphic and cringy. I've never read anything so profane. Will never attempt to read another by this author. This isn't a cute romance with some sex. This is just pure pornography. Not my thing.
July 16, 2021
3.2 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
PIPER'S VIBES:
1)
2)
3)
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)
2)
3)
^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
Long story short, after non stop tears, misery, pain, loss, anguish, torment, torture and every other depressing thought you can think of, they were finally reunited and all was right in the world.
EXCEPT ME!!!
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)
2)
3)
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)
2)
3)
^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
Long story short, after non stop tears, misery, pain, loss, anguish, torment, torture and every other depressing thought you can think of, they were finally reunited and all was right in the world.
EXCEPT ME!!!
September 13, 2021
if you read and loved KATs
‘the simple wild,’
you are going to want to pick this up immediately. instead of an alaskan pilot, this features a pacific fisherman who also falls in love with a city girl who finds herself in an unfamiliar place.
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
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
April 23, 2023
UH... no estuvo tan mal, pero sí me dio mucho cringe.
January 17, 2022
“Home. He’d made it.”
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 🌟
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 🌟
May 17, 2022
So.
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
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
July 14, 2021
Angst building, panty melting. Just another novel that describes the work of art that comes from Tessa, featuring a fierce character named Piper, and her soul mate of a grumpy yet sexy character named Branden...
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;
Once they both started opening up their hearts and breaking down the that wall, they start to realize that the urge that surrounds them to want to be together is so pure yet strong that nothing can break it apart. Nothing can break apart their "charging station" whenever they touch each other, hug each other, are in the same presence. And their physical attraction no matter what, is always off the roof of wanting more and more every time;
Gosh this book had me turning with wanting more. And more we shall hopefully get! Hannah, Piper's younger and musical lover sister, alongside Fox, Brendan's best friend and crew mate are expected to have a story of their own which I am truly excited about. They have this bond to them, this friendship, and this attraction in which Fox is trying to admit to himself that he does not have but truly does that makes me rip my hairs with wanting their book ASAP! Hopefully we can all get their book soon as well.
ARC kindly provided by Avon Books, in exchange for an honest review...
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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..."
Once they both started opening up their hearts and breaking down the that wall, they start to realize that the urge that surrounds them to want to be together is so pure yet strong that nothing can break it apart. Nothing can break apart their "charging station" whenever they touch each other, hug each other, are in the same presence. And their physical attraction no matter what, is always off the roof of wanting more and more every time;
She writhed underneath him, trying to find the bottom of the pleasure well, but until his mouth landed on hers, anchoring her, she didn't realize... didn't realize the bottom of the well wasn't physical. She needed their emotional connection to calm herself down. Needed him, his hear, his Brendan-ness..."
Gosh this book had me turning with wanting more. And more we shall hopefully get! Hannah, Piper's younger and musical lover sister, alongside Fox, Brendan's best friend and crew mate are expected to have a story of their own which I am truly excited about. They have this bond to them, this friendship, and this attraction in which Fox is trying to admit to himself that he does not have but truly does that makes me rip my hairs with wanting their book ASAP! Hopefully we can all get their book soon as well.
ARC kindly provided by Avon Books, in exchange for an honest review...
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July 24, 2021
Inject this book into my veins. Pure joy!
July 26, 2021
Two words: BEARDED FISHERMAN
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 😏
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 😏
December 4, 2021
4.5 o 4.75
no esperaba nada de este libro y lo amé. es un romance preciosoooo, muy bien construido y con personajes bastante especiales jajaja. la protagonista, piper, es típica chica millonaria que no ha tenido que trabajar nunca en su vida, mientras que nuestro interés amoroso, brendon, es todo lo contrario, un macho alfa que se ha esforzado por lo que tiene.
es demasiado sunshine gf y grumpy bf y me encantó. además, las escenas cochinas le dieron todo su toque, es bien sucio todo JAJAJA.
no esperaba nada de este libro y lo amé. es un romance preciosoooo, muy bien construido y con personajes bastante especiales jajaja. la protagonista, piper, es típica chica millonaria que no ha tenido que trabajar nunca en su vida, mientras que nuestro interés amoroso, brendon, es todo lo contrario, un macho alfa que se ha esforzado por lo que tiene.
es demasiado sunshine gf y grumpy bf y me encantó. además, las escenas cochinas le dieron todo su toque, es bien sucio todo JAJAJA.
July 21, 2022
I found this wildly entertaining—but not, I'm fairly sure, in the way that Tessa Bailey intended. Don’t let the colourful contemporary cover fool you: if you stripped out the references to Instagram and smartphones, It Happened One Summer could pass quite easily as one of those awful 80s romance novels where Alpha Male Assholes do their best to Possess a swooning, delicate Female Flower.
Everything about Brendan, we are told, is Manly with a Capital M. He’s possessive, regressive (no women allowed on a fishing boat, nosirree), monotonous, and male. Have I mentioned he’s a dude? Because the “pride hardening his chest” is described as “masculine”, as are the “thick ropes” of his back muscles; he smells of “salt water and unapologetic maleness” (which is… what, exactly? Lynx bodyspray?) and “real, actual male exertion.” He occasionally shows “rare male vulnerability” but mostly Brendan’s expression is one of “male appreciation [that draws] his features tight.” (I have to imagine that Brendan spends a lot of the book looking mildly constipated.)
Piper, however, well she’s “soft, graceful, feminine. So much smaller than him.” She’s shallow and vapid, and nothing about her supposed maturing as the novel progresses or her coming to terms with her biological father’s death rings true or is developed enough. When she gets turned on, she doesn’t get wet: “feminine pleasure turned to slickness between her thighs.” She doesn’t have a vagina: she has “a femininity”, a “juncture”, a “notch.” (Brendan, by the way, is described as “notch[ing] his first few inches inside of her wet heat”—so he notched her notch?) She’s desperate for a man to possess and control her and provide for her and it’s all wildly offputting.
And that’s even before we get to the sex scenes. I do not mind explicit sex scenes! My beef with this book isn’t that there are a lot of explicit sex scenes: it’s that they’re so bad. It’s that there’s so much terrible dialogue which seems like it was ripped from the script of a very rote porno:
This was around the point where I started sending snippets of it to friends because if I had to suffer facial tics and low-grade hysterics while reading this, then so did they.
Here I started laughing so hard that I had a coughing fit.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m reading a sex scene I don’t want to have the Gingerbread Man from Shrek pop up in the back of my mind shrieking “not my gumdrop buttons!”
Presumably, people got paid to publish this. The mind reels.
Look, if your kink is TradWife roleplay, well, your kink is not my kink, but vaya con dios. But for the love of God, please be upfront that that’s what you’re writing. Don’t market it as Schitt’s Creek fanfic, because Alexis Rose would never.
And even setting aside all of the gender essentialist bullshit, this is just a badly written book. The prose is clunky, the plot (such as it is) is risible, the town of Westport is barely sketched in as a place, and side characters are unconvincing as people and/or are dropped along with their plotlines. (You’d think that a book about a woman returning to her barely-remembered hometown after more than twenty years away, where her mother was from, her estranged grandmother lived, and her father had died tragically, would make more of those potentially very powerful storylines! You would think that, and you’d be very wrong!)
Everything about Brendan, we are told, is Manly with a Capital M. He’s possessive, regressive (no women allowed on a fishing boat, nosirree), monotonous, and male. Have I mentioned he’s a dude? Because the “pride hardening his chest” is described as “masculine”, as are the “thick ropes” of his back muscles; he smells of “salt water and unapologetic maleness” (which is… what, exactly? Lynx bodyspray?) and “real, actual male exertion.” He occasionally shows “rare male vulnerability” but mostly Brendan’s expression is one of “male appreciation [that draws] his features tight.” (I have to imagine that Brendan spends a lot of the book looking mildly constipated.)
Piper, however, well she’s “soft, graceful, feminine. So much smaller than him.” She’s shallow and vapid, and nothing about her supposed maturing as the novel progresses or her coming to terms with her biological father’s death rings true or is developed enough. When she gets turned on, she doesn’t get wet: “feminine pleasure turned to slickness between her thighs.” She doesn’t have a vagina: she has “a femininity”, a “juncture”, a “notch.” (Brendan, by the way, is described as “notch[ing] his first few inches inside of her wet heat”—so he notched her notch?) She’s desperate for a man to possess and control her and provide for her and it’s all wildly offputting.
And that’s even before we get to the sex scenes. I do not mind explicit sex scenes! My beef with this book isn’t that there are a lot of explicit sex scenes: it’s that they’re so bad. It’s that there’s so much terrible dialogue which seems like it was ripped from the script of a very rote porno:
“Y-you’re an ass man, I guess,” she stammered.
He shook his head. “No, Piper. I’m a this-ass man.”
“Oh,” she simpered.
This was around the point where I started sending snippets of it to friends because if I had to suffer facial tics and low-grade hysterics while reading this, then so did they.
“She didn’t even know which part of her was in command. Her head, her heart, her lady business. Or maybe they all three were, three bitches hitting the switches of her control panel.”
Here I started laughing so hard that I had a coughing fit.
“She climaxed. Which was a pitiful word for travelling to a distant plane where fairies danced and gumdrops rained from the sky.”
I don’t know about you, but when I’m reading a sex scene I don’t want to have the Gingerbread Man from Shrek pop up in the back of my mind shrieking “not my gumdrop buttons!”
“Show me what I do to that high-maintenance pussy.”
Presumably, people got paid to publish this. The mind reels.
Look, if your kink is TradWife roleplay, well, your kink is not my kink, but vaya con dios. But for the love of God, please be upfront that that’s what you’re writing. Don’t market it as Schitt’s Creek fanfic, because Alexis Rose would never.
And even setting aside all of the gender essentialist bullshit, this is just a badly written book. The prose is clunky, the plot (such as it is) is risible, the town of Westport is barely sketched in as a place, and side characters are unconvincing as people and/or are dropped along with their plotlines. (You’d think that a book about a woman returning to her barely-remembered hometown after more than twenty years away, where her mother was from, her estranged grandmother lived, and her father had died tragically, would make more of those potentially very powerful storylines! You would think that, and you’d be very wrong!)
August 14, 2022
When the cover is innocent but the book is wild >>>>
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 😩😩
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 😩😩
October 26, 2021
It is with a heavy heart that I rate this a 1-star.
Listen. I really badly wanted to like this. I started out this book super annoyed with Piper and slowly began to root for her. I enjoyed seeing her discover who she is beyond social media, develop friendships in Westport that weren't reliant on her social capital, learn the value of money and hard work, and revive her father's legacy.
But I could not for the life of me fucking stand Brendan Taggert. He's nothing but a sexist wannabe alpha male far too obsessed with his masculine image right out of a 2000s super problematic romcom movie script - which is funnily enough the exact same problem I had with the love interest of the first Tessa Bailey book I ever read. The throwaway line about him sleeping under a pink comforter doesn't change the fact that Brendan doesn't believe in having female sailors on his boat. The fuck.
God I would have loved this book so fucking much if it was just about Piper learning who she truly is, loving herself, and being more genuine and authentic.
Also if I ever have to hear a pussy referred to as "her femininity" ever again it'll be far too fucking soon.
Listen. I really badly wanted to like this. I started out this book super annoyed with Piper and slowly began to root for her. I enjoyed seeing her discover who she is beyond social media, develop friendships in Westport that weren't reliant on her social capital, learn the value of money and hard work, and revive her father's legacy.
But I could not for the life of me fucking stand Brendan Taggert. He's nothing but a sexist wannabe alpha male far too obsessed with his masculine image right out of a 2000s super problematic romcom movie script - which is funnily enough the exact same problem I had with the love interest of the first Tessa Bailey book I ever read. The throwaway line about him sleeping under a pink comforter doesn't change the fact that Brendan doesn't believe in having female sailors on his boat. The fuck.
God I would have loved this book so fucking much if it was just about Piper learning who she truly is, loving herself, and being more genuine and authentic.
Also if I ever have to hear a pussy referred to as "her femininity" ever again it'll be far too fucking soon.
December 5, 2021
dnf @ 70%
“Her soul was made of musical notes.”
🐠 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 🙇🏽♀️
January 14, 2023
Tessa Bailey tells the story of Piper, a wild child who loves the LA lifestyle of attending parties and celebrating life. When her celebration started to exceed expectations and test the tolerance level of her stepfather, he decided to send Piper and her sister, Hannah, to a small Pacific Northwest beach town to run their late father’s dive bar. There she meets Brendan, whom she immediately dislikes. The author tells us about the beautiful relationship that develops between Piper and Brendan in this novel.
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
April 3, 2024
3/5
This man must smell like fish, you can’t convince me otherwise, but at least he could make you come *cough* unlike real men *cough*.
This man must smell like fish, you can’t convince me otherwise, but at least he could make you come *cough* unlike real men *cough*.
August 3, 2021
two stars both for me for somehow finishing this book
March 1, 2022
This is officially the best contemporary romance I've read this year! And if you happened to dislike this, or find it 'just average,' I simply couldn't trust you because It Happened One Summer is upright a perfection. The story is very heartfelt and entertaining, I cried and laughed at how diverting this book has been.
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 (´∀`)
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 (´∀`)
July 22, 2021
Small town romance: 🌟
City girl moving into a small town where she discovers her true self: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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.
City girl moving into a small town where she discovers her true self: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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.
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 13, 2021DNF @ 10%
Piper is shallower than a dry seabed. This is definitely not a character I can spend an entire book reading about.
Piper is shallower than a dry seabed. This is definitely not a character I can spend an entire book reading about.
March 5, 2024
this duology is mediocre at best, and i guessed it early on that this book won't get more than 2 stars from me. so i stayed for the smut. guess where that got me 🤡
“Y-you’re an ass man, I guess,” she stammered.
He shook his head. “No, Piper. I’m a this-ass man.” 🤡🤡🤡
the smut had me running laps... out of laughter.
“Where do you want to give it to me?” she whispered, taking his sac in her hand and juggling him gently. 🤡
--finding her incredible ass with both hands and kneading her buns almost angrily-- 🤡
“God, baby. God.” He rocked deeper, and she gasped. “You’re tighter than sin.” 🤡
He took his forearm off her hips and pressed the heel of his hand to her weeping entrance and rotated it—hard—and she screamed. She fucking screamed.
when did this turn into a horror show💀
Brendan dropped to his own knees and stripped off his shirt. “Ohhh,” she said in slow motion. “Heyyy, looook aaaat thaaaat.”
Dude was yoked. 🤡
“Come on, baby. Let’s have it. Show me what I do to that high-maintenance pussy.” 🤡
She didn’t even know which part of her was in command. Her head, her heart, her lady business. Or maybe they all were, three bitches hitting the switches of her control panel. 💀💀
She dragged her tongue up the meaty underside of him, closed her mouth over the velvet helmet on top. 🤡
God, he pulsed on her tongue, great, quick surges of life that her femininity started to echo, making her groan around his hard flesh. 🤡
She climaxed. Which was a pitiful word for traveling to a distant plane where fairies danced and gumdrops rained from the sky. 🤡🤡🤡
“Y-you’re an ass man, I guess,” she stammered.
He shook his head. “No, Piper. I’m a this-ass man.” 🤡🤡🤡
the smut had me running laps... out of laughter.
“Where do you want to give it to me?” she whispered, taking his sac in her hand and juggling him gently. 🤡
--finding her incredible ass with both hands and kneading her buns almost angrily-- 🤡
“God, baby. God.” He rocked deeper, and she gasped. “You’re tighter than sin.” 🤡
He took his forearm off her hips and pressed the heel of his hand to her weeping entrance and rotated it—hard—and she screamed. She fucking screamed.
when did this turn into a horror show💀
Brendan dropped to his own knees and stripped off his shirt. “Ohhh,” she said in slow motion. “Heyyy, looook aaaat thaaaat.”
Dude was yoked. 🤡
“Come on, baby. Let’s have it. Show me what I do to that high-maintenance pussy.” 🤡
She didn’t even know which part of her was in command. Her head, her heart, her lady business. Or maybe they all were, three bitches hitting the switches of her control panel. 💀💀
She dragged her tongue up the meaty underside of him, closed her mouth over the velvet helmet on top. 🤡
God, he pulsed on her tongue, great, quick surges of life that her femininity started to echo, making her groan around his hard flesh. 🤡
She climaxed. Which was a pitiful word for traveling to a distant plane where fairies danced and gumdrops rained from the sky. 🤡🤡🤡
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