Hook, Line, and Sinker: A Novel

Tessa Bailey

Mar 2022 · Bellinger Sisters Book 2 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES AND #1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER

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?

Ratings and reviews

The book blurb does not do this book justice. It sounded like another she's all that or something and it actually put me off reading it for a while (despite my love for Tessa Bailey's books), not my fave trope. I should have known better. Another beautiful story, with characters that you can't help but connect with. I absolutely loved it, definitely recommend it, great reading. I didn't know how you'd match Piper and Brendan. But you did and it is its own brand of beautiful.

If the first book is a fun little story between Piper and Brendan, then this is a rollercoaster ride with Hannah and Fox! My feelings are especially with Hannah, mostly because we both have an immense love for music, and so many times I found myself putting on headphones and slipping into her love story. But this is also Fox's love story, and the way he's portrayed in the book, his struggles, his feelings for Hannah, is equally, if not even more vivid and penetrating. Of course not forgetting the intimate scenes, and the emotions and undercurrent between the characters really added the spice!

While reading “It happened one summer” I was already looking forward to read Fox and Hannah’s story. And can i just say Tessa Bailey delivered!! So romantic, so sweet, that texting at the beginning of the book my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE PART!!!! I was in love with the idea of both of them. I mean Fox, what a name!!!! In love in love in love with this book. My absolute favourite romance book. Tessa Bailey is the best romance author by far ❤️

About the author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue-collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after.