I adored him, even if I kinda wanted to shake him sometimes. Yeah, the focus of the book is Fox’s past and his doubts about the future, but his actions showcase all of the ways he’s worthy. I’m not always the biggest fan of reformed playboys (especially in a friends to lovers scenario), but this was executed in such a great way. He might not believe himself worthy of Hannah, but he’s proving that he can be the man she deserves. I actually really loved that element of the story – Fox has been quietly working on himself for months, and he’s already started to change and grow. When Hook, Line and Sinker begins, they’ve been friends for months and are already teetering on the edge of more. We met both Hannah and Fox in It Happened One Summer, and the foundation of their relationship was developed there. Will this read as a standalone? I guess so, but I don’t recommend it. Things between them don’t feel purely platonic, but Fox is confident that he can’t be the man Hannah deserves… even if he wants to be. So when she returns to town and moves in with Fox temporarily, it puts their friendship to the test. When Hannah left town, she kept in touch in Fox, and they’ve developed a text-based friendship in the months since.

Fox met Hannah last summer, and she sparked something inside of him that he doesn’t know how to handle. He’s always been the good time guy, the man who leaves before his heart is involved – and no one expects anything different from him. The story follows Fox, a fisherman whose playboy reputation has followed him around since high school. I loved the intimacy, the level of trust and determination, and this slow burn to SIZZLE romance had the kind of sexual tension that heats up the pages. Fox is more broken than anyone knew, and he’s got to piece himself back together if he’s got any hope of a future with his girl. It’s angstier and more emotional than I anticipated, with a focus on self-worth, expectations, reputations, and doubt. I’ll admit to being a little worried about this playboy of a hero, but I shouldn’t have been – he’s the best part. We met this couple in It Happened One Summer, the first stellar book in this interconnected series, and I’ve been impatiently waiting for their love story ever since. I devoured it in one sitting, and I was hooked the whole way through.

Yeah, I might’ve swooned over this book – and this beautifully broken hero – in a big way.

Hook line sinker tessa bailey