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renpuspita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
If I'm being honest, Hook, Line and Sinker have almost same formula with its predecessor. It deals with many issues, especially impostor syndrome and how Bailey try to address toxic masculinity in which happen to Fox. However, I just don't feel the charm and fuzzy feeling like I feel with book 1. I don't mind with slow burn because the sexual tension usually paid off in the end. I also don't mind the sex happen in almost near the end. What make me pissed off is the overused martyr trope. How Fox, constantly unsure of himself, even he already communicate and talk about his feeling with Hannah, still feel that he's unworthy of her. Even when Hannah try to leave him, but only just for a few hours (what the?), it's just feel forced because she believe him so she want to give Fox a chance. I just, what the point of the drama then?? *raise both hands*.
I also think that Hannah's conflict is pretty underwhelming, because I prefer to read about how she address her "impostor syndrome" or like in her own words, she is not a leading lady material. It's just, Idk, happen too fast? Also, she's feels like a fixer to Fox's problems. I also think the "friend to lover" trope is just a so so, since it's apparent that Fox already smitten by Hannah in their first meeting on Westport but constantly said that they are friend and try to be platonic because Fox believe that he's a womanizer to the core. Read that part make me sad and I do know why Bailey want to write about toxic masculinity and the first place, how Fox already resigned to what people's opinion deemed about him, that he see women as his conquest without they try to consider Fox's feeling. It's just all that passage delivered in inner monologue and too wordy for my taste. I have a feeling that if only Fox and Hannah address their growing interest rather than hide behind "well, we are FRIEND. Friend didn't screw each other even it's apparent we really do want have seggsss because of close proximity y'all!!", the story will end in 150 pages rather than going around for almost 400 pages. Figures.
Things that I liked maybe the creative process behind the movie production and how Hannah can search for any songs that suitable for the movie scene. Although I don't familiar enough with some titles that Bailey throw, maybe because most of the titles are classics 80-90's songs. Sadly, not enough Hannah and Piper's interaction, also the crews of Delta Ray are asshole, especially to Fox. I can't even with their prejudice toward Fox, even they are just joking about Fox's womanizer habit. Is it an example that boys will always be boys? Not enough interaction with Westport citizen too, although I liked to read Hannah and Christian (one of the actor in the movie) interactions.
Tessa Bailey's titles usually is a hit and miss for me. Unfortunately, Hook, Line and Sinker is those title that missed.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship
iamamyyyyy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Aside from that, Fox and Hannah had great chemistry so some points for that.
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
mypatronusisajedi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic friendship
arthur_ant18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Minor: Grief
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Fox’s “tragic backstory”… dude needs some therapy and some better friends, not a relationship. Two decades of reinforcing his toxic masculinity won’t evaporate overnight.
For all Hannah’s internal monologue about being a main character, not a side character… didn’t feel like she achieved that. I should know, as someone who feels like a side character in her own life.
The romantic leads sexually manipulated each other. A lot. Which seemed super out of character for Hannah, given what had been established about her as a person in the first book & up to that point.
This is what I get for reading romances that aren’t written by Ali Hazelwood, I guess.
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
kb33's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Hannah and Fox were so great, so likable and relatable. Hannah took a chance in her job, not because of a man, but because she planned to anyway, and Fox just made her feel better about it. Fox knew his reputation and the things he’d done to perpetuate that were all bullshit, and he’d already been wondering if he could be different. Hannah just helped give him the courage to visualize it and do it. And sure, some people will bitch about “woke” or complain about trying to remove masculinity instead of just toxic masculinity, and I’m pretty sure those people just feel guilty about their role in toxic masculinity so fuck them. I thought it was truthful, brave, and amazing.
I also liked that the little additions of Piper and Brendan didn’t feel phoned in like in so many other series.
And the epilogue. Holy shit. Not over-the-top sweet, and so perfect.
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Toxic friendship and Death of parent
bookishgoob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
andeng's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
roebschter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Will I reread this book: Maybe
As with It Happened One Summer, I enjoyed this book, possibly even more.
What I liked
- I loved the third act breakup and the resolution in this book. Hannah saw right through Fox and gave him space even though she was hurt but I loved that she straight up refused to break up.
- The pace in which Fox opened up to Hannah felt really natural and believable, I love how he let her in more and more.
- I just found both of them so lovable in their own way, like you just wanted to give them both a big hug.
- Westport as a setting is as great as in the last book.
- This book felt a lot less possessive than IHOS which I liked more.
What I didn't like
Edit: So after some time and thought and discussion and rereading some scenes I had to edit my review because in hindsight the book somehow gives me some ick. I can't name the reason a hundred per cent but part of it is that they can be in a heart to heart one second and literally the second after that they are in the middle of pretty possessive dirty talk which just seems wrong. Also why would he ask her if she was a virgin out of nowhere? And I fell like the author attempted some sort of consent discussion but failed to do it properly because he literally says “If you want to say no, we’ll stop. I’ve gotten pretty fucking good at waiting for you.” which is kinda asking for consent but also kinda not.
Rated with the CAWPILE rating system (https://pagesplots.com/book-rating-system-cawpile/)
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship