REVIEW: It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey: The last thing notorious party girl Piper Bellinger expected was to get
shipped of to some small middle of no where fishing village, but after her latest stunt pushes her stepfather to far Piper and her sister find themselves heading to Westport, Washington to learn how to be a responsible adults while running their late fathers dive bar. If the dingy bar that she had to call home for the next three months wasn’t bad enough the less than thrilled welcoming party sure pushed Pipers buttons, to bad she just couldn’t keep her eyes of the big grouchy bearded sea captain Brendan.

“That danger in a man can be exciting to a woman. Until it’s not anymore. Then it’s shattering.”

Determined to prove that she is more than just a pretty airhead Piper and Hannah get to work giving their dads old bar a face lift in the hopes they can prove to their stepfather that he should bring them home earlier. However somewhere between learning to fend for themselves and deep cleaning the old bar Piper beings to find her spot in the tight knit Westport community with the help of Brendan.

The sea is his whole life, it provides him the calm and order that his soul so desperately needs, which begs the question what is Brendan thinking wanting to get involved with the sparkly spontaneous party princess? However for the first time in seven years something has woken up inside of the broody seaman and it is all thanks to Piper. Determined to prove to her that this attraction between them is more than casual Brendan finds himself stepping way out of his comfort zone in order to win Pipers heart the question is will these two finally be able to get their acts together?

“One second he was holding the toolbox, the next it was on the ground and he was turning. Piper’s momentum brought her up against Brendan’s body, hard, and his boat captain forearm wrapped around her lower back, lifting her just enough that her toes brushed the concrete. And then he bowed her backward on that steel arm, stamping his mouth down onto hers in an epic kiss. It was like a movie poster, with the male lead curling his big, hunky body over the swooning, feminine lady and taking his fill.”

Take my heart and my money right now! This was hands down THE BEST novel that I have read in a long, long time! I have been a fan of Bailey’s work for a while now but this has got to be her best work to date! This book was the equivalent of putting on your favorite cosy sweater and cuddling up with a hot cup of tea on a cold rainy day but for my book loving soul!

“She writhed underneath him, trying to find the bottom of the pleasure well, but until his mouth landed on hers, anchoring her, she didn’t realize . . . didn’t realize the bottom of the well wasn’t physical. She needed their emotional connection to calm herself down. Needed him, his heart, his Brendan-ness.”

Oh the characters in this book were all so amazing, I just want more of all of them! I absolutely loved Piper, getting to see grow and believe in herself was just amazing. I loved that she didn’t back down once she had an idea and she proved that she is way more than a party girl. Watching her form bonds and connections with the locals and Opal was just the cutest. I also loved the relationship that she and Hannah had, I really hope we get to see Hannah and Fox’s friendship develop into more soon!

“Recharging station?”
“That’s what I call it . . .Never mind.”
“When I hug you?” Fuck. His heart was turning over and over like a car engine. “My hugs are your recharging station?”

Brendan stole my heart right from the moment we first meet him, oh how this salty sea captain opens up to a big old softie was the cutest! I loved getting to see him open up and break from his schedules and routines, and getting to see him share his love for the ocean with Piper. I can easily say Brendan is my new favorite book boyfriend, I loved that he was so protective of Piper and went out of his way to do small things to make life easier and safer for her. Also how cute was it that he downloaded Instagram just to checkout her pictures! I absolutely adored the relationship that Brendan had with his crew and especially Fox, he definitely needs his own book soon!

I can easily say that It Happened One Summer is my absolute favorite book of 2021, nothing can top this beautiful tale of two individuals rediscovering themselves and opening their heart to love. I highly recommend reading this novel asap, like push this baby right to the top of your TBR you won’t regret it!

Book Info:

Publication: July 13th 2021 | Avon | It Happened One Summer #1

Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar… in Washington.

Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.

Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart.