Book Review: It Happened One Summer

You know I'm an outrageously enthusiastic, probably more than normal, fan of Tessa Bailey. I will buy and read anything with her name on it, I don't care what it even is. I know I'm going to enjoy it and this did not disappoint. 

It Happened One Summer

Tessa Bailey

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. 

Right out the gate, this was advertised as  "Schitt's Creek inspired.." and I am all in. I absolutely love that show and watch it over and over again, it's so underappreciated. Anyways. We have Piper, a spoiled rich kid who gets into trouble and as her punishment she's banished to a tiny fishing town on the coast of Washington. Because her sister is ride or die, she also agrees to go with her and she is a damn good sister. 

Piper quickly meets Brendan, who is clearly not welcoming, and her accomodations are.... they are straight up awful. No amount of Clorox is going to make this place alright, I don't care what anyone says. Piper and Hannah soon learn about their father who died tragically on a fishing trip when they were very young, and they start meeting the colorful characters of Westport, Washington and already, I am in love with all of it. 

Of course this is Piper and Brendan's story and I love, love, LOVE how their story is rolled out. Both of them have similar humor/sarcasm but in very different ways that compliment each other, which is what each other need. Piper has zero long term relationship experience and Brendan was married but his wife actually died a few years prior, so they are different in that area too, which leads to a little difficulty as the story goes on. Piper and Hannah decide to revamp and revive the bar their father was so proud of, so they are trying to do this all on their own with a very limited budget, Piper is trying to connect with the community and finds that she's quickly finding her niche, and of course, things are getting hot and heavy with Brendan. Tessa Bailey is known for writing great steamy scenes and she doesn't disappoint here. 

(Side note: I actually listened to the audiobook version of this and loved it! I will say, it's a different vibe having someone read these scenes to you versus reading them yourself. *ahem*)

Overall, I really loved this one. I didn't want it to end at all and I am ridiculously excited the next book is Hannah's book, I can't wait to start it. I loved the characters so much, I loved the plot, I loved how the little town is set up so you feel like you're walking through it with Piper and totally get the feel for it. I loved Brendan so much, he's a solidly great guy, and I was so excited that him and Piper are the focus in this one. 

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