5 Reasons Why You Should Read 'It Happened One Summer' by Tessa Bailey

Book Reviews

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Title: It Happened One Summer
Author: Tessa Bailey
Publisher: Avon
Pub. date: 13 July 2021
Series: Bellinger Sisters #1
Page count: 397
Genres: adult, contemporary, romance, humour

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.
Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong.

Content warning: consumption of alcohol, death of a loved one, on-page sexual content

I have been seeing It Happened One Summer all over Bookstagram, so this read is basically a ‘Bookstagram made me do it’ moment for me. I am also a huge fan of Schitt’s Creek. The moment I heard about this rom-com being inspired by it I just had to grab this! Also, that cover is gorgeous and I just love the dark blue!

Piper Bellinger is living the high life in LA but a public break-up that leads to an out-of-control party lands her in jail and her stepdad in trouble with one of his business associates. To make sure she learns a lesson, Piper gets sent off to Westport with her sister Hannah to look after the long forgotten bar their late dad used to run.

Westport is the opposite of LA with its fisherman families, close-knit neighbours and smaller living spaces, so things start off rough for Piper and her sister. They discover their dad’s bar has been pretty much abandoned and is sort of a community space fondly named ‘No Name’. They also find out that the apartment above the bar they’re supposed to live in houses mice and is pretty much a tiny studio space with a bunk bed.

Piper’s first proper contact with Westport is Brendan Taggart, grumpy sea captain who immediately labels Piper and her sister as outsiders whowill never fit in. Literally everything Piper does seems ridiculous and outlandish in the small town of Westport and Brendan has no problem reminding her of that. And so begins a back and forth of banter and simmering looks between the two that makes Piper wonder if it is really so impossible to live in a small seaside town like Westport.

five reason why you should read it happened one summer

1. The character-driven plot is just chef’s kiss!

My favourite bit about It Happened One Summer was the character growth that Piper and Brendan went through. Both protagonists. On their own. Like proper grown-ups. Yes, that happened! That’s what got me really invested in this story, watching both of them work on their own faults/weaknesses to be stronger for them together. The level of maturity there just made me wanna bow down in reverence!

2. The steamy scenes are just hot hot hot!

I knew this was a steam-packed romance, but I haven’t read steamy rom-coms in ages, guys! The chemistry here just brought me to life! LOL! Brendan was all alpha male and Piper unapologetically owns her sexuality, which was a wonderful combo to read about! I also liked that the angst was kept to reasonable levels because thank God!

3. It Happened One Summer really lives up to the rom-com label.

This year I ended up reading quite a few rom-coms that didn’t really end up being rom-coms, meaning I got the romance but where were the laughs and levity? It Happened One Summer lived up to the comedy though. There were many great hilarious scenes that had me snorting with laughter mixed in with the hot and steamy romantic scenes.

4. Piper + Hannah = the amazing Bellinger sisters!

I didn’t expect to get as invested as I did in the sister relationship between Piper and Hannah! They had such an amazing relationship that I actually felt jealous of them having each other! Like, where’s my Hannah? I need one right now! They were great and I loved seeing the positive family connections amongst the messy family background they had.

5. Captain Brendan Taggart, the ruin of any romance in my life for the foreseeable future!

This story was told in dual POV between Piper and Brendan, so the reader really gets to see both sides of the story. And Brendan Taggart just ruined any chance of me finding anything resembling a boyfriend in real life. This dude was just the sweetest, the best. And the way he treats Piper? Oh my! I start blushing when I remember his little speeches to her! Even with his numerous faults, this guy is just perfect!

What started as a lighthearted rom-com ended up being a beautiful story of two very different people trying to be the best people they can be for each other. I loved the humour, the steamy sex scenes, the warm and loving family moments, and everything to do with Piper and Brendan! It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey is definitely one of the best rom-coms I have read so far!

Here’s more It Happened One Summer content you should check out: Etta’s audiobook review, Kayla’s review, Ingrid’s review

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.