It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Piper Bellinger is fashionable and 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 land Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off and sends her and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar…in Westport, Washington.

Piper hasn’t even been in Westport five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan Taggart, 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 just 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.

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Ok, I ended up falling completely in love with this book even after swearing I wouldn’t so… that’s the power that this story has. I’d figured this book was over-rated. I’d read some of Tessa Bailey before and was underwhelmed (I guess you shouldn’t judge an author by her Christmas novella?) so I went into this thinking it couldn’t possibly be as amazing as everyone said. I was wrong. This story was so good and not just the romantic aspects, I really loved seeing Piper’s character growth and self-realization and how her and Brendan both grew to be better people without changing who they are. I did go in a little grumpy because of the author note at the start of the book but after pushing past that I really enjoyed the story and I honestly am ready to re-read it again right now (I might have to before the summer is over, it’s an addictive book). I loved the fishing town setting, I loved that Piper was based on Alexis from Schitt’s Creek, I loved the side relationships, I loved the third act angst. There was very little about this book that I DIDN’T love. Safe to say, I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read her other books.

This book was inspired by Alexis Rose from Schitt’s Creek and in the author note (spoilers for anyone who hasn’t finished the show), Bailey comments that she wanted to give Alexis a “happy ending” so she wrote a romance novel where the Alexis-like character gets the guy. I was pretty turned off from that because, if you’ve watched the show, you know that Alexis finding happiness by being single and successful and on her own for the first time EVER is a huge character development and a great ending for her character. I didn’t like the implication that strong female characters can only find happiness if they’re in a couple by the end of the story. So I went into chapter one already fuming and determined not to like this book. That’s how strong these characters were, I was determined to hate it all and came out loving the whole thing despite the author comments. Maybe it was my love for characters like Alexis, the misunderstood, or maybe Bailey is that great at character development but I absolutely adored her characters and the plot. And despite what her comments implied, her female lead was strong and independent and I was convinced by the end of the book that, even if she ended up alone, she’d be ok. Better yet, she’d still find ways to thrive.

Piper is a party girl who’s left her fun early 20’s years behind and is quickly realizing that she’s no longer the hot commodity, that there are younger generations replacing her and that she isn’t “wild” enough to be interesting anymore. She starts off the book knowing with absolute certainty that the only thing she has going for her is the value other find in her, in the face she puts on for the public. Obviously drastic measures end up getting her into more trouble than she could count on and she’s banished to a sea-side town to learn the value of money and responsibility. She meets Brendan in the first five seconds in the town and they immediately dislike one another. Yet they can’t seem to stop bumping into one another until all that’s left to do is fall in love ;)

I loved the multiple POV’s in this, I especially enjoyed Brendan’s character as he’s someone stuck in his ways but eventually finds himself willing to step out of his comfort zone and try new things. I think it was a good nod to the fact that even people who seem so set in their viewpoints and traditions can make room for change in their lives. I liked his journey into moving on in life, finding reasons to stop wasting away in the past and opening his eyes to new experiences. I also loved the relationship. It wasn’t just that it was cute or spicy etc, it’s that they were the perfect balance for each other. Piper opened Brendan up to the more fun side of life, and Brendan offered stability to Piper in moments she found herself lost and floundering.

I was extremely intrigued by the background story for these characters and I liked the glimpses we got into life “pre-meeting” for the couple. To me it gave them a lot more depth and gave the book more plot to work with opposed to ONLY focusing on the relationship part of it. I want a prequel story about Henry Cross and Maureen (even if it will break my heart). I want a spin-off of Brendan before meeting Piper. I just want a whole world built around Westport. Character development and scene setting are my favourite parts of a book. If I can relate to the characters or see myself travelling to where it takes place, I know it’s a good book and this is definitely one of them.

Loved it, want to reread it, and miss the characters in it already so… yeah, I enjoyed the book. 4 stars as I did feel a small niggling of bitterness still over the authors note (so I’m slightly petty, oh well) but otherwise, had no problems with this book. If you’re into romance, you’ll love this.