Title: Hook , Line and Sinker
Author: Tessa Bailey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Avon Books
Pages: 385
Release Date: 14 April 2022 (UK)
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Hello fellow book lovers, I’m back with a review for my stop on The Random Things Tours blog tour for Hook,Line and Sinker, the second book in the Schitt's Creek-inspired, Bellinger Sisters Duology from Tessa Bailey.
My tour spot is actually over on Instagram @natashaleighton_ (so do head on over there and check it out) but I wanted to share my slightly longer review with you guys here.
I also wanted to say a massive thank you to Anne from Random Things Tours and Harper360UK for the incredible finished copy.
Synopsis
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?
Review
I absolutely loved the first book in Tessa Bailey’s Schitt’s Creek-inspired romance Duology. In fact, it was soo good I pretty much inhaled it and was super excited for the opportunity to read and review its sequel, centring around the Younger Bellinger sister Hannah and her burgeoning friendship with Westport’s flirtatious King crab fisherman, Fox.
Both Hannah and Fox made rather memorable (and loveable) supporting characters in It Happened One Summer, and despite not being the main focus their chemistry was definitely palpable. It’s on the reasons I had such high hopes for Hook,Line and Sinker. And thankfully, the god/goddess of all things romance were listening as it lived up to—and even surpassed—all of my expectations in this heartfelt and swoon-worthy friends to lovers romance that I literally couldn’t put down.
The depth and emotion Tessa manages to convey and the journey she takes us on in only 353 pages was incredible! I loved Piper and Brendan but, Hannah and Fox (in my personal opinion) brought more meaning, more intensity and more spice to their arc, which beautifully tackles the struggles of trust, intimacy and toxic masculinity. Honestly, there were some moments that really had me sobbing when it came to Fox, who’s self worth has been all but shattered by the less than stellar perceptions of those around him.
I loved Hannah, who is the absolute sweetest and most supporting character and her patience and encouragment of Fox made her such an incredible protagonist. Helping him to overcome the societal pressures (caused by toxic masculinity), just caring about (and believing in) him when no one else does. Likewise, Fox sees Hannah’s self worth and encourages her to stop limiting herself to the ‘side character’ in her own life inspiring her confidence along the way.
The emotions woven into the romance are more intense than the previous book too; the slow build up was just incredible and the clever use of music throughout really brought a new dimension to the story—being able to listen to the same music and get a feel for Hannah’s mood was wonderfully transportive—and I highly recommend checking out Spotify as there’s a fan made playlist I’m a little obsessed with.
This may only be the second of Tessa’s books I’ve ever read but it’s definitely her best book soo far. I ADORED that epilogue, which was sheer perfection and I loved that it ends on a pretty satisfying high note for both Bellinger sisters and their respective partners— I honestly cannot wait to, not only read the rest of her backlist, but also see where she takes us next!
So, if you love deliciously fun, friends to lovers rom-coms then I thoroughly recommend picking this one up (and the first book, It Happened One Summer) and spend a weekend or sunny getaway binge reading it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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