Trying to pick a book for this category that was not based on something too fantasy or wasn’t too spicy was more of a challenge than I thought it would be. In the end I went for It Happened One Summer by Tess Bailey. The writer was inspired by the character of Alexis Rose in Schitt’s Creek which I must confess I haven’t watched.

What it’s about?

From Goodreads:

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. 

What I think:

This is such a fun read!

When the world is a dark and increasingly depressing place, everyone needs some escapism, and this is absolutely that.

Piper is drifting. Famous for being famous, her life is expensive and glamorous, and Instagram perfect. In reality, she is bored and lonely. She veers from one relationship to another and with a new generation of It Girls ready to replace her she is completely purposeless.

When her antics go one step too far, she is banished to a small fishing town. Tasked with finding out about her family roots, Piper sets out to rebuild her father’s bar and prove she can survive by herself.

This is a classic fish out of water storyline. Piper is determined to prove there is more to her than fashion and followers. She gradually wins over the townspeople with her friendliness and naturally thoughtful nature.

The romance between her and Brendan is fantastic. While she is poised and beautiful, he is gruff and grumpy. But beneath that weather-worn exterior is a heart of gold, a man who focuses on community and supporting his crew.

There is great chemistry between Piper and Brendan. The romance is witty and fun and heart-warming. They learn to compromise with each other and trust their feelings. Piper realises that she is more than just a pretty face and finds where she belongs.

This is fun and feel- good, and I am looking forward to reading the next instalment, Hook, Line and Sinker, which is Hannah’s story.