📖 Overview
A Hollywood socialite gets cut off from her family's wealth and is sent to manage a run-down bar in a small fishing town in the Pacific Northwest. Piper Bellinger's dramatic lifestyle change forces her to adapt to an entirely new community and way of life.
She encounters Brendan, a local sea captain who initially dismisses her as superficial but finds himself drawn to her determination and spirit. Their opposing lifestyles and values create friction as they navigate their growing attraction to each other.
The novel centers on themes of self-discovery, challenging assumptions, and finding authenticity in unexpected places. Through the lens of an enemies-to-lovers romance, the story explores how people can grow beyond the limitations others place on them.
👀 Reviews
Readers compare this romance to the TV show Schitt's Creek, noting similar "rich girl in a small town" storylines. The spicy scenes and chemistry between leads drive many positive reviews.
Liked:
- Steam level and explicit scenes
- Humor and banter between characters
- Growth of the female protagonist
- Small town setting and fishing community details
Disliked:
- Female lead called "too immature" and "bratty"
- Male lead described as "stereotypical alpha male"
- Some found the story predictable
- Several note the relationship moves too quickly
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (300,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.4/5 (23,000+ reviews)
StoryGraph: 4.0/5
Common reader quote: "If you like steamy romance with grumpy/sunshine trope, you'll enjoy this."
Multiple reviewers mention skimming through repetitive internal monologues but staying engaged with the overall story.
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The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren Two enemies take a free honeymoon trip in place of the bride and groom who got food poisoning and must pretend to be married while fighting their attraction.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Two best friends take annual vacations together until one trip changes everything, forcing them to confront their feelings years later during one final getaway.
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey A former baseball player returns to his hometown and falls for his best friend's sister who transforms from the neighborhood kid to a woman he can't resist.
The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker A city girl moves to rural Alaska to reconnect with her estranged father and clashes with a rugged pilot who challenges her perspective on life.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren Two enemies take a free honeymoon trip in place of the bride and groom who got food poisoning and must pretend to be married while fighting their attraction.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Two best friends take annual vacations together until one trip changes everything, forcing them to confront their feelings years later during one final getaway.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 The book is a modern retelling of the beloved TV show "Schitt's Creek," following a socialite who is sent to a small fishing town
📚 Author Tessa Bailey is known as the "Queen of Steam" in contemporary romance for her signature spicy writing style
🎬 The story was partly inspired by Alexis Rose (played by Annie Murphy) from "Schitt's Creek," but Bailey created a distinctly different character in Piper Bellinger
🌊 The author extensively researched commercial fishing in the Pacific Northwest to accurately portray the dangerous profession of the male protagonist, Brendan
💫 The book sparked such reader enthusiasm that Bailey wrote a companion novel, "Hook, Line and Sinker," following Hannah (Piper's sister) and Fox (Brendan's best friend)