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A review by theespressoedition
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
funny
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? Yes
1.0
After much consideration, I have lowered my rating since I first added it. Honestly, I need to think about my ratings a little harder when I'm adding them because they often change after a bit of time has passed (whether rising or falling).
This book is a lot. I knew it was supposed to be spicy, so I wasn't totally unprepared going into it, but I wasn't expecting it to be quite as smutty as it was. I enjoy a good open-door scene as much as the next gal when it comes to romcoms, but this hit me so wrong. There's open-door and then there's just straight-up pornographic content, and that's what this felt like. It wasn't romantic or sweet. It was just sex without anything to go along with it. And the sexual content was unnecessary. It didn't add to the story, there wasn't anything meaningful that happened during the scenes, and the sex itself was actually kind of gross. It wasn't a turn-on, it was just crude.
That being said, I thought, "okay, there's a lot of sex, but was it at least a decent storyline?" I'd heard it was based on Mutt and Alexis from Schitt's Creek and that's why I picked it up in the first place. Those vibes were so vague, they were barely distinguishable. On top of that, Brendan is a possessive ass. It was less "grump and sunshine" and more "controlling, sex-crazed jerk and... 'there's a brain and heart under that blonde bimbo exterior somewhere'" and that just doesn't fly with me. The double standards throughout the storyline really hit me the wrong way.
When I finished the book, part of me was thinking that'd I would read Piper's sister's story when it comes out. Now I know I totally won't because apparently the whole "nearly erotica posing as a romcom" thing is basically all this author writes and I just can't. I just... can't.
This book is a lot. I knew it was supposed to be spicy, so I wasn't totally unprepared going into it, but I wasn't expecting it to be quite as smutty as it was. I enjoy a good open-door scene as much as the next gal when it comes to romcoms, but this hit me so wrong. There's open-door and then there's just straight-up pornographic content, and that's what this felt like. It wasn't romantic or sweet. It was just sex without anything to go along with it. And the sexual content was unnecessary. It didn't add to the story, there wasn't anything meaningful that happened during the scenes, and the sex itself was actually kind of gross. It wasn't a turn-on, it was just crude.
That being said, I thought, "okay, there's a lot of sex, but was it at least a decent storyline?" I'd heard it was based on Mutt and Alexis from Schitt's Creek and that's why I picked it up in the first place. Those vibes were so vague, they were barely distinguishable. On top of that, Brendan is a possessive ass. It was less "grump and sunshine" and more "controlling, sex-crazed jerk and... 'there's a brain and heart under that blonde bimbo exterior somewhere'" and that just doesn't fly with me. The double standards throughout the storyline really hit me the wrong way.
When I finished the book, part of me was thinking that'd I would read Piper's sister's story when it comes out. Now I know I totally won't because apparently the whole "nearly erotica posing as a romcom" thing is basically all this author writes and I just can't. I just... can't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying