You’ve been spending time on Booktok and came across It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey and wondered whether you should read it or not?
You’ve come to the right place! In this ultimate review of It Happened One Summer, I tell you everything you need to know about this book by Tessa Bailey.
I’ve included the summary, some information about the book but also the things I loved and didn’t like.
You will also find a FAQs section with all the questions and answers about the book.
So, are you ready to learn more about It Happened One Summer? Let’s get started!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
It Happened One Summer Cover and Quick Introduction
Author: Tessa Bailey
Published: 2021
Number of pages: 379
Category: Contemporary Spicy Romance
Themes and tropes: Small town, Travel, Opposite personalities, Enemies to lovers, Grumpy sunshine, Opposite Attract
Set in: Westport, Washington, USA
Where to buy: Amazon
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Boyfriend Rating: 💍💍💍
Likelihood of reading a sequel: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
It Happened One Summer Summary
It Happened One Summer is a spicy romance book about a girl from LA, Piper, and a fisherman from Washington state, Brendan.
Piper is what we could call a bit of spoiled girl. She is 28 and has never really done anything with her life apart from creating quite a bit of online presence on Instagram.
At the beginning of the book, her boyfriend dumps her and she ends up breaking into a hotel to throw a massive revenge party.
After being bailed out of jail by her sister, her step father decides to send her to Westport, the small fishing town where her late dad came from, for 3 months.
She goes with Hannah, her little sister with whom she is very close.
At the beginning, she is not exactly welcomed by some of the locals, particularly one, Brendan who is now the captain of the boat on which her dad died.
As things go on, Brendan realises that he actually likes Piper and they start dating. They have a bit of a rough start because obviously Piper doesn’t want to commit. She wants to go back to LA but they fall for eachother more than anyone would have even thought possible.
It Happened One Summer: Is it for you?
Before we dive into the actual review, it’s important to see if that’s a book that you would like. We all like different things and all the opinions in the world won’t matter if that is just not a right fit.
So,
Yes it is for you for if you love:
- Spicy rom com (this is a spicy one!)
- Grumpy Sunshine trope
- Page turners (it’s very well written and the story goes through very nicely)
- Dirty talkers but also cute during the day time
- Books that are about love but also about sisterhood
No it’s not for you if you don’t like:
- Small town romances
I also wouldn’t recommend it if you are triggered by the following topics: loss of a parent, loss of a spouse.
It Happened One Summer Review: My Opinion
I absolutely loved ‘It happened one summer’ by Tessa Bailey. It’s one of my favourite spicy rom coms.
It was such a page turner. I read it in 2 days and could probably have finished it in one sitting.
It’s a great book on every level. The storyline is great, it’s well written, it flows very well and you get very attached to the characters.
Things I loved about It Happened One Summer
The thing I loved the most about It happened one summer was the character development of Piper.
At the beginning, she is in effect a rotten Instagram obsessed kid (though adult) but she turns out to be so much more than that.
The thing that I particularly loved is the fact that she doesn’t actually change. She is just a very lovable person and she is unapologetic for loving the things she loved. And that’s exactly how we should all be. We are all allowed to love the things we love and even if they seem superficial, we shouldn’t have to apologise for it.
That’s exactly Piper! But on top of that, she is kind, an amazing sister and takes care of people. She is a great character and it you get very attached to her.
I also loved Brendan and how he went from a grumpy widower to be so loving to Piper. He has eyes only for her and it really transpired through the book.
The small town setting was also very nice especially since it was linked to Piper and Hannah discovering their roots.
The character of Hannah also adds a lot to the story. The two sisters are very close and it’s something that really stayed throughout the book.
Things I didn’t like about It Happened One Summer
Honestly, I can’t really think of something I didn’t like about this book. If you’re looking for a good spicy rom com book, that’s the one for you!
It was pretty perfect.
The only thing I would have liked would have been an epilogue that gave insight on their future life but that’s not something to actually complain about because there is a sequel to this book. It’s called Hook, Line, and Sinker and it’s just as good if not better!
It Happened One Summer Review: The Characters Ranked
The characters in this book were all pretty great so they were hard to rank but here we go.
- Piper. As previously said, she is such a kind person and she reveals herself more and more throughout the book.
- Brendan. He is so in love with Piper, it’s great to see. Also, he is the grumpy in this grumpy sunshine trope and it’s very cute to see Piper and her sunshineness go through.
- Hannah. Piper’s little sister is a bit in the background in this book but she is the funniest character. She is so protective of her sister and has no problem telling off a bloke twice her size. She is great.
- Fox. Again, Fox is not a main character in this book but you can already see he is deep down a good guy even if his reputation says otherwise. He is very caring and yet nobody seems to notice.
- Abe. I mean, who can’t love a cute old man helping out?
Best It Happened One Summer Quotes
Here are some of the best quotes from It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey.
- “I’ll love you until my heart gives out. I’ll be your man for a thousand years, longer if I’m allowed” – Brendan
- ‘You can be as high maintenance as you want, honey, but I’m the only one who does the maintenance’ – Brendan
- “You’re getting off baby, or nobody is getting off” – Brendan
- “Who wouldn’t die trying to earn her loyalty”
- “Can you be mad at me while I kiss you, baby?”
FAQs about It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Now that you know everything about our review of the book, it’s time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about It Happened One Summer.
What is the genre of It Happened One Summer?
It Happened One Summe is a contemporary spicy romance book.
Is It Happened One Summer part of a series?
Yes, It Happened One Summer is the first book of the Bellinger sisters series. The second book is called Hook, Line and Sinkers and is about Piper’s little sister, Hannah.
Is It Happened One Summer a spicy book?
Yes it is. There are several spicy chapters.
Can a 13 year old read It Happened One Summer?
No, absolutely not. This is definitely a spicy book so it’s not recommended for people under 18.
Does It Happened One Summer have a good ending?
Yes, it does. At the end, Piper decides to live in Westport with Brendan because she realised that that’s where she belongs and where she is happy.
The ending is also quite nice because it leaves a bit of hint about what will happen in the sequel.
Is there a part two to It Happened One Summer?
Yes, the book ‘Hook, Line and Sinkers’ is the second book in the Bellinger sisters series. And guess what, it’s just as good if not better than the first one!
How old is Piper Bellinger?
Piper Bellinger is 28-year-old and Hannah is 26.
Are Piper and Brendan in Hook, Line, and Sinker?
Yes they are but they have a very secondary role in this one (a bit like Hannah and Fox in the first book) so you won’t hear from them as much. However, it’s nice to see what their life has become and they are still involve with what is happening between Fox and Hannah.
Who is Piper Bellinger’s sister?
Piper’s sister is Hannah Bellinger. She is 2 years younger and loves music. She always has her earphones on and loves browsing for records. She works for a movie production company in Los Angeles.
You may also be interested in:
