Tessa Bailey. It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters, #1). Avon/Harper Voyager, 2021. ISBN 9780063045651 $15.99.

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I have to confess, I was fresh off binge-watching Schitt’s Creek when I read this description for this book, which sounded a little like Alexis’s situation: an influencer socialite has everything, loses it, and has to rediscover herself and her values. Freshly dumped and accused of being vapid, Piper breaks into a hotel’s rooftop pool for an after-hours party with 200 of her closest acquaintances and followers. Her sister breaks her out of jail, but at home she has to face the wrath of her wealthy step-father, who cuts her off and sends her to her parents’ small port town to run their late father’s dive bar. Sunshiney socialite Piper is a fish out of water…but finds her calling with ideas to improve the No Name bar, falling for a local grumpy crab fisherman during the process. There is real character growth, soul-searching, and relationship building with the local community, the grandmother she didn’t realize she had, and stronger bonds forged with her younger sister Hannah as well.

Bailey writes funny, steamy romps with real heart. There is a strong sense of place, supporting characters are fully fleshed out personalities, and the sex is spicy. Chapters are from the point of view of both Brendan and Piper, and we also get to see Hannah’s burgeoning friendship with skipper Fox. She gets her own dreams–and own man–in the excellent sequel Hook, Line and Sinker.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #ItHappenedOneSummer from #NetGalley.