Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

17 reviews

blackveilbeccy's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Tropes: Grumpy-sunshine opposites attract romance between a rich influencer (FMC) and a grumpy deep sea fisherman.

At first I really did not like the FMC and found her selfish and vapid, but her personal growth and character development were both very deep. The MMC was someone I liked from the start - his stoic, practical, routine-driven personality was appealing.  I did not buy the InstaLove here, but the relationship gradually became more believable as it unfolded.

The sexual content in this was absolutely gratuitous and took a lot away from the story. I skimmed / skipped it all. 
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caitlinemccann's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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martapsalvado's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

girlies, I get it, but I also don't
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ka_ke's review against another edition

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adventurous funny 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

5.0

I understand the hype behind Tessa Bailey’s books now. 

It Happened One Summer is a perfect mix of Schitts Creek and Canadian East Coast culture, as a Canadian thats the best way to describe this lovely book. 
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isabezza's review

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

2.0

I read this book as part of a summer romance reading challenge, having heard a lot of positive reviews online for Tessa Bailey's writing style. I am going to warn anyone who does not like a smutty or steamy books to AVOID; I got way more than I bargained for with this one. Although this did impact my enjoyment of this story (I like to read the sexual tension not the graphic detail), the narrative arc and the writing style do deserve praise. 

Danger in a man can be exciting to a woman, until it's not anymore, then it's shattering. 

Bailey constructed a gripping narrative, with predictable but breath-taking twists where our characters are forced to make tough decisions which as readers we would not want to make. Bailey's world-building and setting descriptions were beautiful, naturally talented, and engaged a reader's imagination. 

There was a ghost between them, and a ring on his finger, and all of it needed resolving first. 

[...] making her close her eyes, press her forehead to the tile wall, and ask God, very politely, to bring this stubborn man home safely. 

Overall, this story had a good level of tension and tellability, but the sexual content was too severe for me to enjoy, the characterisation was a little uncomfortable, and the plot predictable. 
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michaelat21's review

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

4.0

This book was so cute and I did really like the storyline a lot more than I thought I would. The main male mc was incredible and very well written. I loved the character development. It was a little cliché and the plot was a little obvious but i went into it knowing that and expecting that which helped my rating. The spice is also amazing in this book! 
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vj_thompson's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Cute rom-com book. The characters were lovable. I forgot how much I love Tessa Bailey’s writing!! I thought the relationship moved very fast and the small internal battles were resolved quickly. Overall, a cute summer read 💕
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skyeuqx's review

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

4.0

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mhairi_reads's review

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 
Tropes: Grumpy x Sunshine, small town romance, guy falls first, enemies-friends-lovers. 
POV: Third person 
 
We follow Piper - the “It Girl.’ Known for throwing the most outrageous parties and being a bit of a good time in Los Angeles. She was raised by her Mum and Step-Dad in Bel-Air with more money than sense. 
 
After throwing an impromptu party that ended in her being arrested her Step-Father cuts her off, sending her off to Westport for three months to live in her late Father’s pub and see what life is like for the majority of people. Cue my sexy bearded fisherman. 
 
Sea-Captain and king crab fisherman Brendan is a widowed fisherman who was born and raised in Westport. It’s all he’s ever known and that’s just how he likes it. He is a man who lives a strictly scheduled and routine life - after all strong routine is what keeps his crew and him safe on the water. He is content eating his fish and chips on a Monday night and spending is life out at see. That is until he meets Piper. She is from a different world and completely out of his league. So why is he so damned drawn to her? 
 
I have read a few Tessa Bailey books and I thought she might just not have been for me as an author. Then I read It Happened One Summer and fell in love with this quaint little fishing town. 
 
I didn’t know if I was going to get on with this book because I did take a few chapters to warm to Piper. But after she stripped off the fake exterior she was just a sweet girl who wanted to feel seen. 

I can be in a room full of people that I know and still not feel like I belong. 
 
Brendan on the other hand. I absolutely adored Brendan from the get go❤️. Rough round the edges, a real man’s man but a big teddy bear inside. What more could you want? 
 
I fell in love with the characters, the town and all the townies! It was just so wholesome. 
 
But I really want to pick up Hook, Line, and Sinker - RIGHT NOW!! I need Fox and Hannah’s story. Hannah was a sweetheart and I love me a bit of a player being tamed. 
⚠️ Content Warnings: Death of parent, death of spouse, death of a child (adult child), drowning.
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hrtlss_grl's review

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I was going to, since the main character is so ditzy at the beginning. But being a product of the 90s, I love Clueless, and this book really gives off those vibes. I did have a few issues with the very NSFW scenes and how most of the last 40% of the book was smut. I enjoy a good scene here or there, but these were graphic cheesy messes that were everywhere. Most of their 4 week relationship is sex, and honestly after thinking about it, there isn't much else to them. Very Insta-Love, and a little bordering on controlling for my tastes, but still fairly enjoyable. I think I'll prefer Hannah and Fox's story. Hopefully.
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