A review by isabezza
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

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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