Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey Series: Bellinger Sisters #2
Published by Avon on March 1, 2022
Pages: 400
Genres: Romance
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In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man...
King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he's a guaranteed good time--in bed and out--and that's exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She's immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his... personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.
Now, Hannah's in town for work, crashing in Fox's spare bedroom. She knows he's a notorious ladies' man, but they're definitely just friends. In fact, she's nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport's resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker's eye... yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can't deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.
Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she's walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and... and... man overboard! He's fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he's all in, she'll choose him instead?
After reading It Happened One Summer, I was excited to learn more about Hannah, Piper’s sister, as well as Fox, Brendan’s best friend. While there are elements of Hook, Line, and Sinker that I truly enjoyed, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a tad bit disappointed in the characters. Well, one in particular.
The beginning of the book is really catchy and fun. Hannah and Fox come from different worlds—she lives Los Angeles, and he lives in a tiny fishing village—but they develop a friendship while exchanging sweet, music-related texts. Hannah’s whole life revolves around music. Every emotion is tied to a specific song. I loved her passion and creativity. She’s a production assistant for a film company, with aspirations of breaking into the music industry as a producer. People always count on her for encouragement and support. Unfortunately, Hannah lacks the confidence to advocate for herself, and it has held her back in her career and personal life.
Fox has a well-earned reputation as a ladies man, to put it nicely. People think he’s a carefree fisherman who avoids responsibility and racks up one-night stands like it’s his job, and he’s given them little reason to think otherwise. Hannah is the only one who truly sees him—his potential, his wounds, his loving heart.
Personally, I like a little vulnerability in my leading men. I love alpha-males as well, but it’s refreshing to get a break from them sometimes. However, Fox is deeply insecure, and his constant negative self-talk and need for validation is exhausting. I felt sorry for him, but I also wanted to send him to a good therapist ASAP. Hannah is far more patient than I am. She offers repeated assurance that Fox is good for more than just sex. Part of that means keeping him in the friend zone despite her attraction to him.
The sexual tension is wonderfully palpable, and it simmers slowly throughout. Tessa Bailey—God bless her—makes it well worth the wait when Fox and Hannah finally get on the same page. I also liked the storyline about Hannah pursing her dreams and trying to form a connection with her deceased father.
Despite some repetitive character flaws, Hook, Line, and Sinker will likely win over readers with soft hearts who are fond of friends turned lovers scenarios.
Recommended for fans of:
Friends turned lovers
Vinyl records
Small towns
Texting
About Tessa Bailey
Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.
Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.
She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of ten years and six-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.
Totally get what you’re saying about this one. I had some issues with the pacing, too. Oh, and the accuracy of the geography in the epilogue, but that’s a whole other story. Great review!
Nice review. I really liked the slow burn romance in this book.