A review by lovelymisanthrope
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

This novel was a very sweet grumpy/sunshine romance. Piper is a wealthy (her stepfather's money) socialite who no one seems to take seriously. After she is arrested for throwing a party in a hotel pool, she is sent to the middle of nowhere seaside town and cutoff from her stepfather's money. Her and her sister find out that their biological father, who passed away when they were really young, left them a bar, so they go there and try to fix it up to prove that Piper is not just some spoiled rich girl. This super close-knit small town has a whole cast of characters that all seem to know more about their dad then they do, including grumpy fisherman Brendon. 
I loved seeing Piper develop as a character. She always knew there was more to her than everyone wanted to believe, but it took a new environment for her to truly believe in herself. I love that she is unapologetically herself, and so confident in her skin. She loves life's luxuries, and she will not apologize for wanting expensive things, but she is so much more than some spoiled rich girl who parties all day and only dates boys for a week tops. Brendon was also a really interesting character that was so easy to fall for. He is a deeply loyal guy who lost his wife many years ago. Rather than move forward, he is committed to living his life in a standstill to try and honor her, that is until Piper comes into town and wakes him up. Piper and Brendon never try to change each other or push one another to do anything they are not ready for. They really bring out the best in one another and they both are exactly what the other one needed. 
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