Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - It Happened One Summer

This was a cute, lighthearted, & delightfully steamy audiobook! I loved Piper's development, & I thought her character was charming & genuine! I loved how she gained so much confidence, & how Brendan was always so adamant that she wasn't the spoiled, vapid, helpless person everyone thinks she is!

Hannah, her sister, was supportive & interesting despite being a not-main character & thus not knowing much about her. I'm excited to read her story too. I love seeing female besties/siblings in f+m romance novels, especially when they do actually call both the MCs' shit out.

There was 1 moment where I hated Brendan. The way he handled

Piper showing up late to the dock

was hella uncalled for; I wanted to be like, "Pipes pls do not let a man disrespect you like that. Idc if he's sexy & sweet & muscular & rugged & rich (!!!) & thoughtful, he's being a douche rn!!" But other than that, I loved him, lil ocean man <3
Oh & I also kinda hated the

bringing up children? Y'all met 3 months ago, slow your roll just a bit! Also, what's gonna happen to the awesome sex y'all have been having once there's a sticky noisy toddler around?

Get a grip!

The spicy scenes were so much fun & very well written! The narrator was easy to listen to & I do think she brought Piper to life! My first Tessa Bailey book! I can't wait to read her new Christmas novel...but consider this a warning to Ms Bailey: if it's not the smuttiest, most festive shit I've ever read I will be disappointed :(

Content Warnings

koistyfishy's review

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

3 Recharging Station Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5 (It's not Kinky, just graphic)

So I am in a little book dilemma because I don't particularly like typical "cookie-cutter" rom-com in books (Do not judge though when I am watching my 17th Christmas Hallmark Romance). From a high-level view, it's very superficial but then as you start to analyse, that superficiality starts being an issue and that left me in this weird realm of not being really sure how I feel.

I have attempted to write this review multiple times. At the start of the book, I was really into it. It gave me that classic rom-com movie vibe and I was eating it up. I loved the spoilt little Rich Girl who is forced to learn a humble lesson in a small town of fishermen. But then I started thinking about this a little bit more... and as I did that beautiful bow, the adorable, cute, charming rom-com started fraying along the edges and unravelling.

I mostly didn't like this because I didn't really like the main characters. Piper, while she does have a slight redemption arc, the timeline for this redemption is too quick. I don't believe a spoilt, vapid, extremely financially short-sighted person can, within a month learn the value of money. She threw around flippant comments which is almost a slap in the face to anybody who has actually struggled financially. At the start, she was a spoiled rich girl who was obsessed with Instagram and by the end she was a spoilt girl with a rich boyfriend.

I also had a problem with Brandon. He's been loyal to his dead wife

(who conveniently he didn't actually love)

and within a month is so completely in love and has changed just because he finally wants to have sex with a woman again. I do not mind him starting a new relationship, but...

I would have preferred he actually did have a deep connection with his wife so he would have to work through those emotions - not have a convenient reason that he had never found love before Piper.

If I haven't already made it clear....this TIMELINE is SUPER FAST....everything happens in 1 month...That's way too fast to go from Hate to Love... Hate to Lust SURE....but not undying professing eternal love!

There were also aspects of the writing I didn't enjoy...I am not a shy girl when it comes to smut...BUT this book made me uncomfortable. The overly descriptive descriptions. It was cringe and awkward. There were also so many unanswered questions and plotholes.

Like these SISTERS have a grandmother that they NEVER knew about and who never tried to reach out and contact them for 20 years????

So if you like these tropes and don't care about looking deep you might like it... You will certainly get a cliche cheesy Rom-Com.
▶ Hate to Love
▶ Small Town
▶ Opposites Attract
▶ GrumpyXSunshine
▶ Schitt’s Creek Vibes

Content Warnings