Name: Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia's review of Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
Item: Hook, Line, and Sinker
Rating: 5
Author: Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

Tessa Bailey

   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?

Bellinger Sisters #2

Hook, Line, and Sinker

nanafark

“The whole Hannah thing.” He snorted. What a paltry description for being so in love with her, he didn’t know what to do with himself. “Yeah, well. Maybe if you paid a little closer attention, you’d realize I haven’t been to Seattle since last summer. There’s been no one else. There will never be anyone else.” He pointed back at his apartment. “I’ve been sitting there for months, thinking about her, buying records, and texting her like a lovesick asshole.”

That second option gave him fucking hives.

His cute, perfect, freckle-faced girlfriend running around LA being cute, perfect, and freckle-faced without him? 

He’d want to bang his head against the wall nonstop.

“It’s wrong every time someone makes assumptions about what you feel or want [...]"

Maybe humans couldn’t change, but nature could. Nature lived to change.

Because it was easier to give them what they wanted. Laugh with them, instead of being laughed at. Make the joke, instead of being the joke. And above all else, don’t let them see how much it all bothered him.

“I’m fine right where I am. Not everyone has to strive for greatness. Sometimes getting by is just as rewarding.”

There was simply no use involving everyone in problems she could fix herself, right?

In a generation where sex is so common is refreshing seeing someone say no because they know that’s what the other person needs. Loving their friendship so far

Emily Ines 🤍

"No." She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him, her smaller chest heaving against his larger one. "We’re ok just like this.”

María | @AltroReader

There was no helping it. She felt like the sunrise coming up over the water after a bad storm.

Fatiema 

Jesus, Hannah,” he whispered in a rough voice. “Do you ever get so happy, you can barely stand it?”

“Yes.” She reached up and cradled his jaw. “With you? All the time.”

He made a sound in his throat, brushed some snowflakes from her cheek. “Doesn’t feel like enough to say I love you at this point.”

“Our love is always enough. It’s always more than enough.”

She felt like the sunrise coming up over the water after a bad storm

laura

Zoe Wilson

"What is it Was that you love so much about them?" She tugged the hem of her dress down, drawing his eye. "The fact that someone thought about me, I guess. Wanted me to feel special."

He made a humming sound, tilted his head sympathetically. "Tell me which bag is yours and I’ll bring you back to my place." Gently, he tugged on a strand of her hair. “Make it all better.”

Kiara

Abigail | 

"Hannah. I can't answer what I don't know," he said through stiff lips. "What do you want me to say? Do I want to fuck you? Yes. Oh my God, I” - his eyes closed briefly, those fisherman's hands flexing on the steering wheel "I want you underneath me so bad that I can't lie in bed without already feeling you there. I've never even had you, and your body haunts mine."

"You're enough when you're not touching me" she whispered, not even sure she said it out loud until Fox's expression went from lusting to dumbstruck, his chest starting to heave. "You're enough on your own."

syd!

"I've been sitting there for months, thinking about her, buying records, and texting her like a lovesick asshole."

"’I'm jealous as fuck.’" He seemed to be having a hard time getting breath into his lungs. ‘You're...my Hannah, you know?’"

Awww, The fact that he asked so he can be the one she wants. 

Shelby 

"What makes a man your type? What is eventually going to make a man The One?" - Fox 

Micah Sarile

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

Another Tessa Bailey Book read in 2 days all before the end of April! Once again, I’m continuing with my mission when I start a series that I must complete that Series before moving on to something else, so it was time for the 2nd Bellinger Sisters novel, and this was the perfect company for the Late April warmth and sunshine that has been around. 

From the moment Fox and Hannah met, there's always been a little sizzle of attraction there. But between Fox's reputation as a ladies’ man and Hannah being the younger sister of his friend's fiancée, it doesn't seem like a good idea to take it further. Now they are solidly in the friend zone, texting every day and sharing their deepest thoughts. But when Hannah must stay with Fox for a few weeks because of her job, will that finally nudge them towards being honest with their hearts and each other?

As a forbidden crush storyline with friends to lovers it was such an addictive read. If you have ever felt like you take the supporting role in life rather than being a leading character, you will find connection with this book. Always being the advice and therapist friend, never fully feeling like you have the confidence to take strides over your life this is the book for you and always remember the people around you see you for instead of paving your own path.

Hannah is one of my favourite types of female characters. She is a strong individual, yes with insecurities, but when she believes in something—nothing stands in her way. She was the defining character to Fox's growth overall and constantly showed her faith and trust in him. His character development was beautiful to see and seeing his struggles with societal pressures and reputation only made you fall deeply more in love with his vulnerability and openness with Hannah.

Ending this duet in the best possible way with a ten year later epilogue that showed us a glimpse into the life of both Fox & Hannah and Piper & Brendan leaves you just wishing the best for them! 

Ian Brakspear

Another Tessa Bailey Book read in 2 days all before the end of April! Once again, I’m continuing with my mission when I start a series that I must complete that Series before moving on to something else, so it was time for the 2nd Bellinger Sisters novel, and this was the perfect company for the Late April warmth and sunshine that has been around. 

From the moment Fox and Hannah met, there's always been a little sizzle of attraction there. But between Fox's reputation as a ladies’ man and Hannah being the younger sister of his friend's fiancée, it doesn't seem like a good idea to take it further. Now they are solidly in the friend zone, texting every day and sharing their deepest thoughts. But when Hannah must stay with Fox for a few weeks because of her job, will that finally nudge them towards being honest with their hearts and each other?

As a forbidden crush storyline with friends to lovers it was such an addictive read. If you have ever felt like you take the supporting role in life rather than being a leading character, you will find connection with this book. Always being the advice and therapist friend, never fully feeling like you have the confidence to take strides over your life this is the book for you and always remember the people around you see you for instead of paving your own path.

Hannah is one of my favourite types of female characters. She is a strong individual, yes with insecurities, but when she believes in something—nothing stands in her way. She was the defining character to Fox's growth overall and constantly showed her faith and trust in him. His character development was beautiful to see and seeing his struggles with societal pressures and reputation only made you fall deeply more in love with his vulnerability and openness with Hannah.

Ending this duet in the best possible way with a ten year later epilogue that showed us a glimpse into the life of both Fox & Hannah and Piper & Brendan leaves you just wishing the best for them! 

korfai 

Megan Helberg Keiser

🦇 Hook, Line, & Sinker Book Review 🦇

❓ #QOTD What song is stuck in your head right now?

🦇 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? While Hannah's in town for work, she stays in Fox's guest bedroom, and the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur. Will they fall, hook, line, and sinker, or are they only destined to remain friends?

💜 The best part of this romance, by far, is the complete LACK of miscommunication trope. Instead, Hannah refers to what she's learned through therapy to coax Fox to confront his demons. On the surface, Fox comes off as a lady's man with little interest in love or commitment, but for once, there's a reasoning behind what otherwise feels like cliched behavior. The concept of family and friends defining who we are before we get the chance to decide it for ourselves DIRECTING Fox toward the reputation he's earned, creating a pressure that he could never amount to more, truly gave this book the depth it needed to beyond a typical friends-to-lovers rom-com. Meanwhile Hannah learns how to become more than a supporting character in her own story, eventually taking the reigns to become a leading lady. This story also doesn't entirely depend on smut to push the story forward (thought the lust is strong with this one), as so many do. Instead, Hannah and Fox TALK (I know, right?) and work through their issues together. 

💙 I have never read a friends-to-lovers book that relied on the word "friends" nearly so much. There are a few questionable word choices throughout the entire story that create a level of cringe, unfortunately. There's a sudden, rushed moment of self-doubt for Fox that tears apart his growth, returning Fox to his imposture syndrome mindset. Instead of that, we really could have had a better discussion about hypersexualization and toxic masculinity. Somewhere around the 50% mark, everything from the romance to the prose starts faltering (I may be wrong, but I think her husband was in the ICU while she was working on this book?). So, while cute, this didn't quite meet the level I expected.

🦇 Recommended for fans of Icebreaker and Practice Makes Perfect.

❝ I just kind of stand around waiting for things to happen, while other people seem to make them happen so easily. I can help others—I like doing that—but I’m a supporting actress, not a leading lady. ❞

❝ “You’re enough when you’re not touching me,” she whispered, not even sure she said it out loud until Fox’s expression went from lusting to dumbstruck, his chest starting to heave. “You’re enough on your own.” ❞

❝ “I’m jealous as fuck.” He seemed to be having a hard time getting breath into his lungs. “You’re … my Hannah, you know?” ❞

❝ “You make me feel like I’m in the exact right place.” ❞

❝ “I didn’t know what right felt like until you.” ❞

Jazelle H

🦇 Hook, Line, & Sinker Book Review 🦇

❓ #QOTD What song is stuck in your head right now?
 
🦇 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? While Hannah's in town for work, she stays in Fox's guest bedroom, and the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur. Will they fall, hook, line, and sinker, or are they only destined to remain friends?

💜 The best part of this romance, by far, is the complete LACK of miscommunication trope. Instead, Hannah refers to what she's learned through therapy to coax Fox to confront his demons. On the surface, Fox comes off as a lady's man with little interest in love or commitment, but for once, there's a reasoning behind what otherwise feels like cliched behavior. The concept of family and friends defining who we are before we get the chance to decide it for ourselves DIRECTING Fox toward the reputation he's earned, creating a pressure that he could never amount to more, truly gave this book the depth it needed to beyond a typical friends-to-lovers rom-com. Meanwhile Hannah learns how to become more than a supporting character in her own story, eventually taking the reigns to become a leading lady. This story also doesn't entirely depend on smut to push the story forward (thought the lust is strong with this one), as so many do. Instead, Hannah and Fox TALK (I know, right?) and work through their issues together. 

💙 I have never read a friends-to-lovers book that relied on the word "friends" nearly so much. There are a few questionable word choices throughout the entire story that create a level of cringe, unfortunately. There's a sudden, rushed moment of self-doubt for Fox that tears apart his growth, returning Fox to his imposture syndrome mindset. Instead of that, we really could have had a better discussion about hypersexualization and toxic masculinity. Somewhere around the 50% mark, everything from the romance to the prose starts faltering (I may be wrong, but I think her husband was in the ICU while she was working on this book?). So, while cute, this didn't quite meet the level I expected.

🦇 Recommended for fans of Icebreaker and Practice Makes Perfect.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🎧 Forbidden Romance
🎧 Slow Burn
🎧 Friends to Lovers
🎧 Small Town Romance
🎧 Dual POV
🎧 2nd in a Duology

💬 Quotes 
❝ I just kind of stand around waiting for things to happen, while other people seem to make them happen so easily. I can help others—I like doing that—but I’m a supporting actress, not a leading lady. ❞
❝ “You’re enough when you’re not touching me,” she whispered, not even sure she said it out loud until Fox’s expression went from lusting to dumbstruck, his chest starting to heave. “You’re enough on your own.” ❞
❝ “I’m jealous as fuck.” He seemed to be having a hard time getting breath into his lungs. “You’re … my Hannah, you know?” ❞
❝ “You make me feel like I’m in the exact right place.” ❞
❝ “I didn’t know what right felt like until you.” ❞

Daphne

Hanna Rybchynska

DNF at 75%
I don't know why it took me that long to DNF this book. It is soooooo boring... Definetly not for me! I enjoyed the first one, but this one was turture.

aleksandra

3/5

Meh, no one will beat Piper and Brendan.


  
    "Jesus, Hannah,” he whispered in a rough voice. “Do you ever get so happy, you can barely stand it?”

“You can’t live life worrying about what people will think. You’ll wake up one day, look at a calendar, and count the days you could have spent being happy.”

“She felt like the sunrise coming up over the water after a bad storm.”

Marcy Pursell 

** spoiler alert **
           I can't tell you the last time I flew through a book in 24 hours! I remember liking 'It Happened One Summer', and so I was excited for this book, but I was not prepared for everything it would make me feel. Fox's and Hannah's uncertainty and fear about following their passions, and standing up for what they want made me want those things too, and let's not forget, reading the epilogue made me feel so giddy.

Robi Carballo

4.5/5

“Whoever we become together, Hannah. I’m yours and you’re mine. So it’s always going to be right.”

i don't think i can write a long review i can't put into words how much i adore this book and hannahfox's relationship. and talking about the last chapter and the ending, they made me cry lol.

they serve strangers/annoyances to text buddies to forced proximities to friends to lovers with angst it's so so good. just... come here to hannahfox diaries they got everything you want <3

e-arc provided by netgalley in exchange of honest review.

carolreadabook

não sei, eu gosto dos personagens, mas acho que faltou mais declaração de amor no final, pra mim

Bailey Johnson

Fox and hannah have been friends ever since she came down to the fishing town with her sister last summer. This book was good but I wasn’t as obsessed as I was with the first book. I think it focused too much on fox being a playboy. But I am just biased because there was less smut in this one. 3/5 smut

Marie

melina25

From the moment I read 'It happened one summer' last year and knew the sequel was coming, I was absolutely on the floor waiting for the day it drops to come. And it finally did. Every day of waiting wad absolutely worth it, because this book literally had me so into it that I barely had moments to stop and mark my fave scenes/moments. The absolute love these two have is so amazing, and how Tessa beautifully handled toxic masculinity and sexualisation of men from the very young age has me in chokehold. Both books will always be in my memory as one my all time favourites and go to for comfort and re-read.

What the heck this was so good. Even better than it happened one summer which was already a 5 star read for me. I’m obsessed with Hannah and Fox!!! And the epilogue?! 

Abigail

ok so this has been the best of her books i've read so far.

as i'd already predicted from the previous book, i thought this one would be a good one based on the storyline alone. and it finally was!

i liked the story, i liked the characters, and i liked that i could finally feel somewhat related to her characters.

again, her writing style isn't my favourite but this time wasn't that annoying to me which made the book a whole lot better.

she writes depth in a light way which i appreciate and i always mention it lol.

the amount of spice, sweetness, and laughter was good and i enjoyed it!

ok so this has been the best of her books i've read so far.

as i'd already predicted from the previous book, i thought this one would be a good one based on the storyline alone. and it finally was!

i liked the story, i liked the characters, and i liked that i could finally feel somewhat related to her characters.

again, her writing style isn't my favourite but this time wasn't that annoying to me which made the book a whole lot better.

she writes depth in a light way which i appreciate and i always mention it lol.

the amount of spice, sweetness, and laughter was good and i enjoyed it!

mims

Ellie Alderson

Vijayasarathy Muthu

Wilma Lindmark

This was a really sweet friends to lovers and I loved to read how their friendship developed throughout the book. But how their more romantic feelings poked thought sometimes. They had chemistry and tension and the smut was aaaamazing. Fox's character had such a depth that explained how he acted, even though I was pretty mad at him a few times. He was teasing, funny and very sweet to Hannah, that had me swooning. I could relate to Hannah's character so much more than I could to Piper so that was a plus, even though it was fun to read about someone so far away from how I'm. 

This is a perfect summer read and I love how Hannah stand her ground when it come to Fox and did what she knew he needed even though she wanted something else. Fox made Hannah blush and me along with her and I sometimes had to stop reading to collect my self, in the best way. Though I had an issue with the ending because it felt rushed and the problem they had felt exaggerated could have been done better. Because it didn't feel like that was what they would to since their growth indicated something else. 

But over all I really good read that you should read because it was really good. And the epilogue was AMAZING and had my cheeks aching from smiling so much because it was so wholesome.

There's nothing better than this! Not but out of the two of them, it's quite better.

We have a stronger than usual woman as the main character, even if at first she doesn't believe it, she grows so much through few little pages. 

Hannah is one of the most compelling characters, and you will know it if you're also a type A, people pleaser with impostor syndrome.

On the other hand Fox makes you believe he's alright, good, nothing ever bothers him but you get to know the real him.

There's a lot of tension between them but they're also right for one another.

There's nothing better than this! Not but out of the two of them, it's quite better.

And I'll tell you why🫣

We have a stronger than usual woman as the main character, even if at first she doesn't believe it, she grows so much through few little pages. 

Hannah is one of the most compelling characters, and you will know it if you're also a type A, people pleaser with impostor syndrome.

On the other hand Fox makes you believe he's alright, good, nothing ever bothers him but you get to know the real him.

There's a lot of tension between them but they're also right for one another.

4.5/5

Grace debbage

I did not think it was possible that I would like this book more than “It Happened One Summer” but boy was I proven wrong. 

This story follows Hannah and Fox. Hannah is a music-loving production assistant (and sister to Piper) that struggles to feel like the main character in her life. Fox is known as the womanizer of his town and is best friends with Brendan (Piper’s love interest in the first book).

I knew I would love reading about Hannah and Fox’s slow burn and especially loved the layers of Fox that was slowly revealed over the course of the book. 

This book was such a fast read with how much I loved it and I NEED a movie adaptation of both of the Bellinger sister books.

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia &
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

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Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey