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A review by renpuspita
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
emotional
lighthearted
slow-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
2.5
Well, that was disappointing 🥱😕. I guess I have high expectation since I loved It Happened One Summer and friend-to-lover trope is totally my catnip. But sadly, Bailey didn't deliver with this one.
If I'm being honest, Hook, Line and Sinker have almost same formula with its predecessor. It deals with many issues, especially impostor syndrome and how Bailey try to address toxic masculinity in which happen to Fox. However, I just don't feel the charm and fuzzy feeling like I feel with book 1. I don't mind with slow burn because the sexual tension usually paid off in the end. I also don't mind the sex happen in almost near the end. What make me pissed off is the overused martyr trope. How Fox, constantly unsure of himself, even he already communicate and talk about his feeling with Hannah, still feel that he's unworthy of her. Even when Hannah try to leave him, but only just for a few hours (what the?), it's just feel forced because she believe him so she want to give Fox a chance. I just, what the point of the drama then?? *raise both hands*.
I also think that Hannah's conflict is pretty underwhelming, because I prefer to read about how she address her "impostor syndrome" or like in her own words, she is not a leading lady material. It's just, Idk, happen too fast? Also, she's feels like a fixer to Fox's problems. I also think the "friend to lover" trope is just a so so, since it's apparent that Fox already smitten by Hannah in their first meeting on Westport but constantly said that they are friend and try to be platonic because Fox believe that he's a womanizer to the core. Read that part make me sad and I do know why Bailey want to write about toxic masculinity and the first place, how Fox already resigned to what people's opinion deemed about him, that he see women as his conquest without they try to consider Fox's feeling. It's just all that passage delivered in inner monologue and too wordy for my taste. I have a feeling that if only Fox and Hannah address their growing interest rather than hide behind "well, we are FRIEND. Friend didn't screw each other even it's apparent we really do want have seggsss because of close proximity y'all!!", the story will end in 150 pages rather than going around for almost 400 pages. Figures.
Things that I liked maybe the creative process behind the movie production and how Hannah can search for any songs that suitable for the movie scene. Although I don't familiar enough with some titles that Bailey throw, maybe because most of the titles are classics 80-90's songs. Sadly, not enough Hannah and Piper's interaction, also the crews of Delta Ray are asshole, especially to Fox. I can't even with their prejudice toward Fox, even they are just joking about Fox's womanizer habit. Is it an example that boys will always be boys? Not enough interaction with Westport citizen too, although I liked to read Hannah and Christian (one of the actor in the movie) interactions.
Tessa Bailey's titles usually is a hit and miss for me. Unfortunately, Hook, Line and Sinker is those title that missed.
If I'm being honest, Hook, Line and Sinker have almost same formula with its predecessor. It deals with many issues, especially impostor syndrome and how Bailey try to address toxic masculinity in which happen to Fox. However, I just don't feel the charm and fuzzy feeling like I feel with book 1. I don't mind with slow burn because the sexual tension usually paid off in the end. I also don't mind the sex happen in almost near the end. What make me pissed off is the overused martyr trope. How Fox, constantly unsure of himself, even he already communicate and talk about his feeling with Hannah, still feel that he's unworthy of her. Even when Hannah try to leave him, but only just for a few hours (what the?), it's just feel forced because she believe him so she want to give Fox a chance. I just, what the point of the drama then?? *raise both hands*.
I also think that Hannah's conflict is pretty underwhelming, because I prefer to read about how she address her "impostor syndrome" or like in her own words, she is not a leading lady material. It's just, Idk, happen too fast? Also, she's feels like a fixer to Fox's problems. I also think the "friend to lover" trope is just a so so, since it's apparent that Fox already smitten by Hannah in their first meeting on Westport but constantly said that they are friend and try to be platonic because Fox believe that he's a womanizer to the core. Read that part make me sad and I do know why Bailey want to write about toxic masculinity and the first place, how Fox already resigned to what people's opinion deemed about him, that he see women as his conquest without they try to consider Fox's feeling. It's just all that passage delivered in inner monologue and too wordy for my taste. I have a feeling that if only Fox and Hannah address their growing interest rather than hide behind "well, we are FRIEND. Friend didn't screw each other even it's apparent we really do want have seggsss because of close proximity y'all!!", the story will end in 150 pages rather than going around for almost 400 pages. Figures.
Things that I liked maybe the creative process behind the movie production and how Hannah can search for any songs that suitable for the movie scene. Although I don't familiar enough with some titles that Bailey throw, maybe because most of the titles are classics 80-90's songs. Sadly, not enough Hannah and Piper's interaction, also the crews of Delta Ray are asshole, especially to Fox. I can't even with their prejudice toward Fox, even they are just joking about Fox's womanizer habit. Is it an example that boys will always be boys? Not enough interaction with Westport citizen too, although I liked to read Hannah and Christian (one of the actor in the movie) interactions.
Tessa Bailey's titles usually is a hit and miss for me. Unfortunately, Hook, Line and Sinker is those title that missed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship