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It Happened One Summer

Book 1 in the series:Bellinger Sisters

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In "It Happened One Summer," Piper Bellinger, an Instagram influencer accustomed to a glamorous Hollywood lifestyle, is sent to her hometown to look after a bar left to her by her father. In Westport, Washington, she meets Brendan Taggart, a crab fisherman, and the two navigate their differences and attractions. The book explores themes of self-discovery, change, and romance, with characters evolving and finding common ground amidst initial animosity. The writing style is described as engaging, with a mix of steamy romance, character development, and a small-town setting reminiscent of the TV show Schitt's Creek.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Piper being a complex socialite and Brendan showcasing emotional depth as a grieving widower.

Writing/Prose:

Tessa Bailey's writing is characterized by engaging prose and humor, utilizing a third-person perspective to provide insights into the characters.

Plot/Storyline:

The story features a party girl who must confront her past and seek personal growth after being sent to a small town, where she unexpectedly finds love with a grumpy fisherman.

Setting:

Set in a picturesque small fishing town, the setting plays a crucial role in shaping the characters and their experiences.

Pacing:

The pacing is well-executed, allowing for a gradual build-up of romance and character development.
Piper Bellinger looked down at her lipstick-red, one-shoulder Valentino cocktail dress and tried to find the flaw but came up with nothing. Her tastefully tanned legs were polished to such a shine, sh...

Notes:

Piper Bellinger is a socialite and Instagram influencer who is forced to spend the summer in a small fishing town after her extravagant lifestyle leads to trouble.
The book features a grumpy fisherman named Brendan Taggart as the male lead who initially resents Piper's presence in town.
Piper is inspired by Alexis Rose from the show Schitt's Creek, showcasing a character who grows from being superficial to more self-aware.
The story revolves around themes of personal growth, acceptance, and romance as Piper learns to embrace her roots and find her own identity.
Readers noted strong chemistry between Piper and Brendan, contributing to the book's appeal as a steamy romance.
The book blends humor with romance, offering comedic moments throughout the narrative.
It has been suggested that the dynamic between Piper and Brendan reflects elements of the 'opposites attract' trope.
The novel explores Piper's internal struggles of being perceived as a spoiled rich girl versus her true kind-hearted nature.
Tessa Bailey's writing is recognized for its explicit scenes and unique dialogues, particularly around consent and sexual dynamics.
The setting in Westport, Washington adds a quaint, small-town charm which contrasts with Piper's glamorous past.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of grief due to the protagonist's late spouse and elements related to mental health.

Has Romance?

Yes, the book has a high level of romance throughout its narrative.

From The Publisher:

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt's Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood "It Girl" who's cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town... where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn't belong.

As seen on E!Online, PopSugar, CNN, EliteDaily, Vulture, Buzzfeed, Bustle, the Nerd Daily, PARADE, LA Magazine, Country Living, USA Today, and more!

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.

Ratings (228)

Incredible (26)
Loved It (84)
Liked It (62)
It Was OK (36)
Did Not Like (16)
Hated It (4)

Reader Stats (383):

Read It (233)
Want To Read (105)
Did Not Finish (9)
Not Interested (36)

5 comment(s)

Loved It
1 week

Piper and Brendan. Oh boy, where do I even start? So, Piper’s life as a famous socialite who partied her way through life and caused trouble—yeah, that annoyed me. It felt a little… much, honestly. But when she was sent to Westport, I was like, okay, we might get a shift in the story here.

And then came Brendan and Piper—polar opposites who butted heads constantly, and I LOVED it. Piper didn’t back down, and I was like, YES, girl—don’t let that tall, buff sea captain push you around. I loved how she was stubborn and a bit sunshiney at the same time. Brendan would judge her based on how she presented herself, telling her she wouldn’t be able to do something, and she’d be like, “I’ll take off these heels and do it myself.” That’s when I knew—he’s falling for her. He was starting to want to make things easier for her, and I was 100% here for it.

And let’s not forget the spicy moments. AYE YA YA. When they finally broke the ice, they literally could not keep their hands off each other. I was living for it, but also… I was nervous. Later chapters had me on the edge of my seat, thinking there might be some big miscommunication that wouldn’t get resolved, and if that happened, I swear I would’ve screamed and put the book down.

But overall, I really enjoyed this one! Piper and Brendan had amazing chemistry, and I loved watching them challenge each other and grow. If you're into opposites-attract, banter-filled romance with some steamy moments, definitely pick this one up.

 
Did Not Like
1 month

Too graphic

 
It Was OK
4 months

The spicy was good, the plot was meh

 
Liked It
9 months

It was a pretty good story. This was exactly what I needed at this moment.


I don't usually like female characters like Piper in my romance stories. A bit silly and naive, always happy and sweet. But the author managed to create a really interesting and deep character out of Piper. We quickly see that Piper is not just a cute silly girl, but a woman who is looking for her place in life. The girl no one ever expected anything great from. The author did not create Piper as a comic character, but approached her with great respect.


I love that Piper isn't going through any big personality changes while living in Westport. I mean, of course, she changes. But it's not that her character entirely changes. It's just the qualities that she already had before, such as an open heart, caring nature, the ability to win over people, have the opportunity to fully reveal themselves. But Piper remains the same person in her core, it is just that, in a changed situation, her true character has the opportunity to finally shine.


I like Brendan too. There is something unique about him that I rarely find in romances. But I can't put my finger on what is so different about him. Maybe the fact that he understands Piper so well and that he is able to give her the space she needs. I also love the fact that he can so easily spot the real Piper behind the façade on Instagram, and he understands that both sides of Piper make up her true colorful personality, he doesn't expect her to change.


I don't like rom coms, and I'm glad this book didn't really turn out to be one. And I expected it a bit when looking at the cover. There are some funny moments, but this is not a typical rom com. Piper and Brendan's relationship is quite mature, and I loved that. I also like that Brendon knows what he wants and just tries to convince Piper to be with him. Their feelings are credible. And there is such a calm certainty and stability in their relationship that warms your heart. The sex scenes are quite passionate, too.


I like Hannah, Piper’s sister, and am very curious about her relationship with Fox. So I will definitely read the next book in this series. I am also curious if there will be any confrontation between the girls and their mother and Daniel, their stepfather. In my opinion, they are quite absent from this book and are not giving the girls enough support. I am curious if it will be addressed.

 
Incredible
1 year

Excellent novel. An contemporary romance novels that will keep you wanting to turn the page. You don’t want to miss out on this exciting live story.

 

About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey aspires to three things. Writing hot and unforgettable, character-driven romance, being a good mother and eventually sneaking onto the judging panel on a reality show baking competition. She lives on Long Island, New York with her husband and daughter, writing all day and rewarding herself with a cheese plate and Netflix binges in the evening. If you want sexy, heartfelt, humorous romance with a guaranteed happy ending, you've come to the right place.

 
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