Book Review: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

I was beyond excited to dive into Hook, Line, and Sinker. It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I loved Fox and Hannah so much and felt like I was a part of their journey. There were so many fantastic moments in this, I could not read it fast enough. It's officially a favorite for 2022!

Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters #2) by Tessa Bailey

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 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?

5 out of 5 stars

Officially a favorite of 2022! Hook, Line, and Sinker filled me up in so many ways, I cannot say enough good things. It was an absolutely exceptional story. I laughed, I cried, and I was filled with so much anticipation for Fox and Hannah to come together and to also succeed with their own personal triumphs. My emotions were on a roller coaster and I never wanted to get off. I was immediately in love with them and loved watching them grow over the course of the story.

Fox and Hannah were amazing. I loved Hannah and her determination to break out of her shell and put herself out there. She was such a relatable character. I loved how kind, encouraging, and supportive she was too. And Fox… a dashingly handsome man with swagger yet my heart hurt for him and all of his internal struggles. He had the biggest heart and I was rooting for him. When things start to click for Fox and he really opens up, I swear I was holding my breath. I loved those moments of vulnerability, they felt raw and real. I loved the development and growth Fox and Hannah both experienced over the course of the story and the faith they had in one another.

The saying “all the feels” comes to mind when thinking about this story. It was incredibly entertaining with fun, sweet, and playful moments but oh man with all the emotion it held. I had butterflies as Fox and Hannah got closer and their friendship grew. And the sexual tension? Off the charts! The more their true feelings surfaced, the more their chemistry together sizzled. There was a fantastic slow burn between them that consumed me, I could not wait! When that want and heat finally explode… Wow. I mean, WOW! The build was excellent.

I loved Hook, Line, and Sinker so much. I loved the first book, It Happened One Summer as well, it was one of my favorites of 2021 and I was a little scared to start this one because I wasn’t sure if it would live up to my expectations. To say it exceeded them is an understatement. It's one of those stories that broke me a little and then built me back up. Phenomenal story!!!!

Complimentary copy received from Avon Books.