A review by cepbreed
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I’d never picked up a Tessa Bailey book before this one, but the high praise on social media had me interested. Unfortunately this didn’t live up to all of that hype for me. I am a lover of romance books, especially cheesy histroms but for some reason this book just felt…clunky. The dialogue was so u realistic I was cringing after every sentence. I will say though that Bailey really understands what the girls want. Brendan isn’t your classic romance novel boyfriend, he’s gruff and masculine in just the perfect ways. Talk about female gaze. No matter how wonderful he seems the problems created in their relationship didn’t make me want to root for them with all of my heart. Sure I did like them together but seriously? His whole spiel changed once Piper actually became invested. No way the decided and tenacious captain would just give up just like that. I found it hard to suspend my disbelief. For all its faults I still enjoyed the book and am really intrigued by Fox and Hannah. I just love a reformed player (rakes in histroms lol). 
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