It Happened One Summer: A Novel (Bellinger Sisters Book 1)

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 48,933 ratings

Price: 13.99

Last update: 08-19-2024


About this item

Make room in your beach bag for this great summer read

The first in a spicy and unforgettable rom-com duology from #1 New York Times bestseller and tik tok favorite Tessa Bailey, in which a Hollywood “It Girl” 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. 

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. 

As seen on E!Online, PopSugar, CNN, EliteDaily, Vulture, Buzzfeed, Bustle, the Nerd Daily, PARADE, LA Magazine, Country Living, USA Today, and more!


Top reviews from the United States

Lyndsey
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the story!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
Tessa for the win again!! This one was a slow start for me, which I usually get right into Tessa's characters. But man, once I was in I couldn't put it down. Loved it!!
Read-Love-Review Blog
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Romance Read
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2022
This book is a sweet small-town romance about a spoiled party girl, her sister, and their unexpected late summer plans. Piper and Hannah arrive in the small town of Westport to learn about life. While there, they both learn about themselves, love, and community. This book gets steamy and includes a whirlwind of enemies to lovers; opposites attract romance that is emotional and exciting. I liked the whole premise behind this story with the Captain and the small fishing town. This story was enchanting, sweet and a great romance read.

Piper is a spoiled woman who runs with the rich and famous; her life is about being seen and noticed. Her life is upside down as she gets dumped by her prestigious boyfriend. She messes up bad, but what happens now? I love that the author includes a consequence, even this rich girl's actions. Her sister is a breath of fresh air in the story. I love Hannah's vibe. I love the doled-out punishment, which also seems fitting, but it truly begins this story.

Brendan is a captain in Westport who has a long history in this small town. The girls don't like him first, but we shall see where this goes. This enemies-to-lovers romance heats up, and I love the old-fashioned style of Brendan. He is a true gentleman and so sweet and kind when he isn't being an ass. This story gets steamy, but Piper wants a fling, and I think Brendan is in it for the long haul. They are indeed opposites.

I will admit that this story has its strange moments. I wouldn't call them to laugh out loud funny, but they definitely hold a weird appeal in the story and might make you chuckle. I don't think I will forget them as some are very memorable. This book does have some sad moments and a lot of steamy ones. But Piper learns to live with herself and others and not just things. Brendan knows to open his heart and his schedule. This book does end happily.
Yoakamlisa17
5.0 out of 5 stars Love This Story
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
This story was one of my few 5 stars that I have read this year. Great plot. Marvelous characters. The climax was great and believable because of the character development in the story. This had all the feels and perfect amount of spice. Truly a 5 star!
Sabra Lucas
3.0 out of 5 stars Read great book quality bad
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
Loved this book, great story. A little cliche, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. My book just completely fell apart. The entire center of the book pages all fell out mid-read which made reading very difficult. ????
Jennifer
5.0 out of 5 stars A top 2021 favourite! This story completely swept me away!
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2021
There’s absolutely nothing better than being swept away by a story and that’s exactly what It Happened One Summer did. I fell in love with the characters and Westport, the location where this story takes place. Brendan and Piper's story is a perfect blend of heartwarming swoon, and steam. I love, love, loved Piper and Brendan. This was an absolute delight and I pretty much inhaled it.

This story had me swooning, smiling, tearing up, and laughing! I felt the connection Piper and Brendan had and was so invested in their story that it kept me turning pages until late at night wanting to read just one more chapter. Brendan, the perfect grumpy hero, was the ultimate beanie-wearing, dirty talking, swoonworthy dream. Piper was such a refreshing character who definitely broke the pretty airhead stereotype. She had a heart of gold and I loved how people were drawn to her and her infectious personality. I loved her coming into her own, finding her place, and seeing in herself what others saw, not just what was portrayed on social media. I thought there was a great build to their relationship and I loved the tension of them fighting their feelings. The character development of both Brenden and Piper was beautiful and so natural and authentic. The growth in these characters, the chemistry and the steam made for an epic and romantic love story that I could not get enough off.

This book was so precious. I wasn’t expecting so much depth to the story, and with so much raw emotion from the characters. It was hard to not get drawn in and fall in love with them too. I loved watching Piper bloom and finding her footing, and the steamy scenes with Brendan was just the cherry on top. This is one of those books that had me smiling so big when I finished it...pure excellence!
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Worth a read-????️
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
As a mon of 4 I don’t get a lot of down time. I am super picky about the books I read. I like Rom Com books that are spicy. This book had a cute plot I could see being a movie. It also had a good amount of spice. The beginning moves a little slow but once you get half way through you will make time to finish the book asap ????
Mtn mama
5.0 out of 5 stars cute read
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2024
Love this book! So cute and fun. Really enjoyed it. I have read multiple books by tesaa bailey, love her work
Candace Hood
5.0 out of 5 stars Just perfection
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2024
I couldn't decide what I thought about Piper for the first few chapters but I realize now that she was written perfectly. I adore her and Brendan and I can't wait to start Hannah's book

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