Hook Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

Synopsis

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?

Review

A very solid 4 stars

Hook Line and Sinker is an interconnected standalone centered this time around Hannah and Fox. Hannah is Piper’s sister and Fix Brendan’s best friends, both Pipper and Brendan being main characters of the first book.

Surprisingly, I loved Fox even more than I loved Brendan. Who knew that the pretty boy, the womanizer had such depths!

But that’s the crux of the problem: Fox is trapped   into everyone’s mind as a flight risk. The man you go to have a good time. The one who does not take responsibilities.
Delving further in the story, we’ll realize that he had been “groomed” from a young age to think and act that way. He was never offered the opportunity to think he was more than a ladies pleaser.
Add to it that the one time he tried to escape that reputation he had been burned badly and you know have a man who think he is not worthy of being the sea captain Brendan wants him to be, nor worthy of a girl like Hannah who is a sweetheart and someone you marry.

Hannah has her share of misconception. She’s always been in a supportive role. The side character to someone’s main story.
She’s cheered and encouraged Piper. She is purposefully doing odd jobs on film making instead of having her father in law helping her get a more glamorous position.
But in this story, music genius Hannah will realize that she wants more. She wants to become a leading lady.
And she wants to become a leading lady job wise, having her huge knowledge of music put to good use and be a leading lady on Fox’s life!

For months, since she came to Wesport to support her sister, Hannah and Fox have secretly texted. Every single day. Forming a strong friendship.

But now that Hannah is back in Westport, sparks are flying! Now the only thing is to have Fox realize that he is worthy of Hannah. And to have him ignore others bad opinion.
Can he do that?
And can Hannah overcome her shyness and ask for the job she deserves?

I had a really great time! Hannah and Fox are both endearing and Fox’s surprising vulnerability made him really touching.
I felt very protective of him, just like Hannah.

This is a great romance, mostly sweet with just the right amount of spice to make you need a cold shower. There is character growth, joy, past trauma and I loved being back in Westport. 

Thanks for reading.

Sophie