Reviews with content warning for Cursing - Hook, Line, and Sinker

Fox - you dirty talker, you. The so-called maestro of feminine wetness - I absolutely loved getting to know him in this book. It Happened One Summer was just an ok read for me - nothing ground-breaking, merely a cute, little rom-com, but HL&S was a fantastic addition to the duology (with a fabulous epilogue - I'm gonna need a novella or something to expand on that whole sitch, 'cause what was given in the epilogue isn't nearly enough)!!

Fox had a third, and most important, reason for keeping his hands off Hannah. She was his friend. She was a woman who genuinely liked him for something other than his dick. And it made him feel terrifyingly good to be around her. To talk to her. They had fun. Made each other laugh.

I found the relationship between Fox & Hannah was well-fleshed out. Normally I don't enjoy mind-games played out for the sake of creating conflict, but the cat-and-mouse game that they participate in lent really well to the story, as both fight against their own perceived roles - Fox as the player and Hannah as the supporting act. Hannah's anger at the objectification of Fox was entertaining to read, and her unwavering support and confidence in Fox (which he lacked) helped make me fall in love with both.

She thought that compassion made her a supporting actress instead of a leading one, and didn't realize that her empathy, the fierce way she cared, made her something bigger. Hannah belonged in a category far more real than the credits of a movie. A category all her own.

For such a promiscuous male lead, I'm glad that this ended up being quite the slow-burn romance because we were able to really dive deep under Fox's skin and witness Hannah's rise to the leading lady of her own story.

You can't live life worrying about what people will think. You'll wake up one day, look at a calendar, and count the days you could have spent being happy.

Content Warnings

kfmcf's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have been anxiously waiting for this ever since I read IHOS and it was worth the wait. I wouldn't say this book is better than its predecessor by any means but it excels in some areas that the other lacked.
First of all, I was team Hannah & Fox more so than Piper & Brandon even while reading IHOS. I think the two leads of this book are more relatable and interesting (whoops) than the others, but I know that Piper & Brandon were more pushed into the realm of homage to Schitt's Creek's Alexis & Mutt (and done well, especially on the Piper side). However, with Hannah I almost feel personally attacked by how relatable she is. And Fox has a similar character arc to that of the MLs in "The Kiss Quotient" and "The Roommate" where he believes he is only worth what his body gives. My heart broke for him many times over, truly.
If I have one real gripe with this book is that it is too slow. I would have loved to have had more time with Hannah and Fox actually together to see what they were like. I think the pacing of IHOS was pretty masterful and while I understand why Hannah and Fox's story had to be slower, genuinely, I'm just greedy, I guess.
Also, the epilogue was very sweet.

okay but how is Piper and Brandon's son 9 when it's 10 years in the future liiikkkeee I feel like that's a little sneaky sneaky

Content Warnings

giuliaathenalombardo's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

Ever since ‘It Happened One Summer’ I have been dying to read about Hannah and Fox. I really enjoy their dynamic and the way he has such a soft spot for her, while she initially desperately tries to only see him as a friend. The entire forced proximity trope was done so well and the way Fox talked about Hannah was so heartwarming and sweet. For me the only issue I had was that Fox feeling like he was just seen as a playboy or as a one hit wonder kind of guy was slightly self-pitying and overdone, he had such powerful insecurities when it came to what others saw him as that it prevented him from opening himself up to Hannah, which was so frustrating because it was crystal clear that she didn’t just see him like that. If he had been able to make himself vulnerable and talk about his true sentiments then all would have been resolved a lot sooner, but I guess that would have made this book a short story. Despite this, I loved Fox’s character and his development, as well as Hannah’s perseverance and the way she stands up for herself, specifically in front of her coworkers.

Content Warnings

bookedupchick's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging slow-paced

4.0

“There was never going to be a life away from you, because, Jesus, that’s no life at all. You, Hannah. Are my life.” 🌊🦀❤️

Fox has lived up to his image as a “playboy” for years, which has left him with feelings of low self esteem and a poor self worth. When Hannah enters his life, it makes him question everything he has ever assumed about himself. 🙍🏼‍♂️❓

Hannah has always been a side character and never a leading lady in her life. Always there for others, but never really there for herself. 🙇🏼‍♀️

Hannah’s movie production has just been approved to move to Westport and she has to room with Fox since Piper’s in-laws are in town…🌲🌊🏠

I was very excited for this book after reading IHOS and I enjoyed it. It has humor, lots of tension, swoon-worthy moments, and everything I usually enjoy from Tessa Bailey’s writing. 💕

The only thing that truly bugged me through this book was the overwhelming feelings of unworthiness from Hannah, but especially Fox. 🥺 It took up a lot of the story and I just wanted a little more of Fox & Hannah’s moments together. I wanted more text messages!! 📱

I would still very much recommend this book! I think it wraps up the Bellinger sisters’ story quite well 🥰🥰🥰

Read this if you like ⤵️

👫 Friends To Lovers
👥 Forced Proximity
🏠 Roommates
👱🏻‍♂️ Reformed Playboy
🔥 Slow Burn
🏘 Small Town
🌲 PNW
📚 Stand-alone Duet

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶/5 — Sporty Spice

Hook, Line, And Sinker by Tessa Bailey
Bellinger Sisters Book 2

Content Warnings

debby_caleb's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content Warnings

nebraskanwriter's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I was hoping this book was going to be more up my alley than “It Happened One Summer” where I felt the characters had no chemistry (that scene where Brendan and Piper had sex in a HOSPITAL where he pinned her up against the wall—-all I can say is EW) and it was in some ways, but in other wats, not so much.

I will say though, Fox and Hannah’s relationship in this book felt much more natural than Brendan’s and Piper’s. Fox and Hannah have been texting for 7 months since she left town, building this genuine friendship and chemistry that I really enjoyed watching develop organically.

I also related to Hannah so much more then I did with her older sister in the first book, Piper. Hannah loves music, it’s basically her way of processing the world. Her personality, genuine goodness and kindness endeared her to me immediately.

My main issue with this book is the love interest, Fox. He was a bad boy a little too damaged, a little too alpha. Tessa Bailey wrote him SO possessively, it just took me out of the story. I know that may get your gumption but it just made me so uncomfortable. He was not a separate person outside of Hannah. She was “my Hannah”, if she didn’t like him back it was “going to destroy him”. He could not be whole without her.

Hannah herself is super mature and wants to work through all of Fox’s past trauma with him, she wants to stick with him. So I really did appreciate how Tessa Bailey wrote Hannah and how maturely Hannah handled the difficult conversations/situations that her and Fox worked through.

But towards the end of the book, once Fox realizes his love for Hannah, she just becomes his whole world in a very unhealthy manner. She is his morning, noon and night. Hannah at least has dreams and aspirations outside of Fox, she has her music career in the cinema industry and other hobbies. Fox’s whole motus operandi is to be with Hannah forever and ever, his whole character just becomes so one dimensional because of how much he is blindly obsessed with her.

I just wish that Tessa Bailey would have written them equally, both of them being mature. Fox felt so childish while Hannah is so mature, as their relationship progresses from friendship to relationship, it reveals how unevenly matched their personalities actually are and how personally, I just don’t think they really work as a couple.

Sure, Hannah helps Fox out a lot because she’s basically his therapist and has a level head to help him talk through things. But Fox literally does not bring a single thing to the table for Hannah, minus his “skills” in the bedroom.

What started off as a very meaningful and deep friendship turns into a very shallow, toxic relationship. Disappointed.

Content Warnings

soniajoy98's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

More...