From the Bookshelf of Swooning for Rom-Coms…

It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1)

Tessa Bailey

Start date: September 18, 2022

Finish date: September 20, 2022

Why we're reading this: This one literally had everything
[close] This one literally had everything

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What Members Thought

Feb 22, 2023 oria rated it did not like it

I thought I was gonna love this book but no, first of all the main guy annoyed me so bad, okay he was manlyy and a fishermann and he wears a beanie wowww but omg he just sees the main girl as a piece of meat it annoyed me so bad and he didn't even have any personality apart from "grunting" and "sighing" in response to anything he was asked. Didn't like him AT ALL. Their dirty talk and scenes made me feel SICK and I genuinely don't want to read another romance book again because of it, filthyyyy ...more

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Apr 09, 2023 lea rated it it was ok

2’5

la premisa estaba chula hasta que decidió dejar de estarlo. estuve casi todo el libro con una interrogación en mi cabeza pero weno

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May 19, 2025 Michelle rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is the third Tessa Bailey book I’ve read and I’m still on the fence about whether or not I like her work.

I’ll start with the positives: this book has the most depth of any of hers that I’ve read so far. Piper was a very well-developed character, and there was a good amount of focus on her own growth, self-discovery, and self-worth as an individual, which I really appreciated. I immediately liked the premise of the book with her being a young, rich LA socialite. I feel like so many romance This is the third Tessa Bailey book I’ve read and I’m still on the fence about whether or not I like her work.

I’ll start with the positives: this book has the most depth of any of hers that I’ve read so far. Piper was a very well-developed character, and there was a good amount of focus on her own growth, self-discovery, and self-worth as an individual, which I really appreciated. I immediately liked the premise of the book with her being a young, rich LA socialite. I feel like so many romance books write a FMC who’s shy, awkward, etc. Piper was flashy, confident, flirty, and fun. I really loved her character.

Brendan (that name is an ick for me but I tried to ignore it lol) was also a very well-developed character. The MMC’s in Tessa’s books tend to be very stereotypically masculine, which is very meh to me. A lot of gruff, big, men’s men with a bit of a savior complex. So even though he wasn’t necessarily appealing to me, his character was very well established in how much he liked his routines, was steadfast, and loyal.

I also really loved how the author built the town of Westport. I’ve never been to the PNW but felt like I could clearly picture the town in my mind, and I loved the side characters of Opal and Abe. I also liked Hannah and Fox seems like more of a charming MMC, so I may read the second book in this series.

Now onto the bad: this book was so cringe. I literally cringed so many times reading it. I even considered DNFing and read another book, then came back and pushed myself through this one. The “recharging station” is literally one of the cringiest things I’ve ever read and all I read are cheesy romance books. And it was mentioned so. many. times.

I also really wish we could’ve seen more of them in LA together, more of Brendan in Piper’s world. I think it would’ve been fun to see.

Overall, it was fine. Extremely cheesy. Very cringe. Like a Hallmark movie but with sex. But, it had a lot of good parts too. Honestly, I think if Brendan would’ve just been a side character and the focus of the book was solely on Piper’s journey of self-discovery and self-worth, I would’ve absolutely loved this. ...more

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Jun 06, 2022 Kate Fredrick rated it it was amazing

Oh Tessa...this was such a good story! I enjoyed Schitt's Creek and this totally reminded me of Alexis Rose. The steaminess of this book was STEAMY! I didn't expect the ending conflict, my heart hurt for all involved! I can't wait to read the next book in the series! ...more

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