“You can be as high maintenance as you want, honey. But I’m the only one who does the maintenance.”
Books like It Happened One Summer are fun, flirty and the ultimate beach reads. In the first entry in her Bellinger Sisters series, author Tessa Bailey introduces readers to Piper Bellinger, the fashionable, influential wild child. When a champagne-fuelled party leads to her being arrested, her stepfather cuts her off and sends Piper to run her late father’s bar in Westport, Washington. There, she meets the bearded sea captain, Brendan, who doesn’t think she will last a week in her new surroundings. But, Piper is determined to prove both him and her stepfather wrong, even if running into her handsome grumpy neighbour is an everyday occurrence. If you love summery settings and grumpy/sunshine opposite-attract romance stories, join us at What We Reading for the best books similar to It Happened One Summer!
The Simple Wild (Wild #1) – K.A. Tucker
First up on our list of books like It Happened One Summer is K.A. Tucker’s The Simple Wild. If you loved Piper’s dilemma of being torn between Los Angeles and Westport in Tessa Bailey’s story, Tucker’s Wild series is a great follow-up read. Calla Fletcher was two when her mother took off with her and left her father in the Alaskan wilderness, unable to handle their isolated and rural lifestyle. Since then, the hustle and bustle of city life in Toronto is all Calla has ever known. But, when her father reaches out to her to tell her his days are numbered, she makes the long trip back to the frontier town she was born.
Whilst she struggles with the rugged way of living, she enjoys caring for her father in his final days. There’s also Jonah, the quiet, brooding proud Alaskan who keeps her father’s plane operational and who couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. And, like Brendan, doesn’t think Calla can handle the wilderness. As Calla begins to prove him wrong, their disapproval is replaced by friendship and then something deeper. But, she isn’t in Alaska to stay, and he isn’t ever going to leave. It would be foolish to set off down the same path her parents tried, and failed, years ago.
Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout #1) – Lucy Score
Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was leaping to the rescue of her estranged twin in Knockemout, Virginia, a town where quarrels are settled the old-fashioned way aka. Fists and beer. Unfortunately for Naomi, her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After rinsing her of her car and cash, Tina leaves her with something else entirely unexpected: the eleven-year-old niece she didn’t know she had.
There’s a reason bearded bad-boy Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women. But, seeing as Naomi’s life has just imploded right in front of him, the very least he can do is help her out of her present jam. As soon as she’s back on her feet, he can carry on with his simple, solitary life. At least, that’s the plan. Another one of the best opposites-attract books like It Happened One Summer, Things We Never Got Over is a 2022 romance read by Lucy Score.
Twice In A Blue Moon – Christina Lauren
Similar to It Happened One Summer, Christina Lauren’s getaway romance book Twice in a Blue Moon is a story of secrets, second chances and redemption. Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’ first. During a whirlwind two-week holiday overseas, the pair connected in a way only first loves can. So much so, that Tate shared her one deepest, darkest secret with him – her true identity. However, when it turns out that trust had been badly misplaced, her entire world shattered for good.
Fourteen years on, she only thinks about her first love once in a blue moon. That is until she steps onto the set one day and finds him standing there. He’s still the same charming, confident man she once knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the person who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if someone can really do the wrong thing for the right reason, and whether ‘once in a lifetime’ can come around twice for some people.
Protecting You (Bailey Brothers #1) – Claire Kingsley
Grace Miles misses her easy friendship with Asher, but growing up means growing apart. And, really, how were they supposed to fall in love when they spent their childhoods splitting sticks of gum and getting muddy together? But this summer feels different. Is Asher flirting with her? From his winning smile to his dark eyes, her heart begins to hope for the sorts of things she’s convinced herself she’ll never have.
For Asher Bailey, falling for his best friend is more complicated than it should be. He has to contend with his pack of brothers who are a protective bunch, a take-no-sass grandmother, a small town where gossip is a spectator sport and a feud that stretches back generations. But, his feelings are too big to ignore. One night and one kiss finally kickstarts this fairytale romance. That is until it is cut short by a tragedy, the result of which will change Grace and Asher forever. Like It Happened One Summer, Claire Kingsley’s Protecting You is a small-town romance and a story of second chances.
When In Rome (When In Rome #1) – Sarah Adams
After years of maintaining her ‘Princess of Pop’ persona, Amelia Rose is burned out. Inspired by her favourite Audrey Hepburn movie, Roman Holiday, she drives off in the middle of the night for a getaway in Rome. Rome, Kentucky, that is.
When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear that he hasn’t got time for her A-List problems. He’s far too busy trying to run the pie shop his grandmother left him, whilst telling his nosy neighbours to mind their own business. He lets her stay in his guest room, but only until her car is fixed. Then he starts to see a different side to Amelia: kind, goofy, and lonely from years in the public eye. She’ll have to return to the glitz and glamour of the celebrity world soon but, in the meantime, he’ll show her all the small-town experiences she’s been missing. One of the best books like It Happened One Summer, When in Rome is an opposites-attract tale of celebrities, small towns and finding where you really belong.
Get A Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1) – Talia Hibbert
Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer nerd with a plan, a goal and a list. After almost – but not fully – dying, she conjures up six directives aimed to help her ‘Get a Life’. She completes the first one by moving out of her affluent family mansion. The last of her objectives is to do ‘something bad’. But being bad is not easy when you’ve written a step-by-step guide on how to do it correctly. Luckily for Chloe, she knows the perfect man to be her tutor.
Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle and more sex appeal than a thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who keeps his work away from the light of day, which Chloe only knows because she is spying on him. But, after enlisting him to help her, she begins to see a side to him that no amount of spying could ever teach her. Why he resents her family’s money so much, why he never shows his art to anyone, and what really lies underneath his rugged exterior?
Archer’s Voice (Where Love Meets Destiny #1) – Mia Sheridan
Archer’s Voice is the first entry in Mia Sheridan’s Where Love Meets Destiny series, another of the best books like It Happened One Summer with vibes of small-town America and the significance of the past. When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes this is the place she will finally find peace. On her first day, she encounters Archer Hale, an isolated man with an agony of his own.
Due to a childhood accident, Archer is mute and the community around him misunderstands his solitary life. The pair soon begin to strike up a deep bond as they get to know each other, with Bree seeing beyond Archer’s silence and recognising the kind and gentle soul inside. Archer’s Voice is a contemporary romance tale of suffering, fate and the transformative power of love, perfect for any fans of Tessa Bailey!
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
