Scan barcode
A review by nebraskanwriter
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
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.
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
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual content, and Death of parent