Tessa Bailey Books in Order

By the Ember team · Updated July 2026

Tessa Bailey has written 50+ contemporary romance novels since 2012. Her books are high heat, emotionally grounded, and often feature blue-collar heroes, grumpy sunshine pairings, and small-town settings. Her most popular series include Bellinger Sisters, Big Shots, and Hot and Hammered.

Start with It Happened One Summer, the first Bellinger Sisters book. It is being adapted by Netflix with Nina Dobrev as Piper, the socialite who gets sent to a small fishing town and falls for the grumpy sea captain next door. If you want a standalone, try My Killer Vacation, a funny, steamy hitman romance.

Short answer

Tessa Bailey has written 50+ romance novels since 2012. Her most popular series include Bellinger Sisters (It Happened One Summer Netflix adaptation), Big Shots, Hot and Hammered, Broke and Beautiful, and Line of Duty. Start with It Happened One Summer (2021) for grumpy sunshine small-town romance, or her standalone My Killer Vacation (2024).

Where to start with Tessa Bailey books

If you want grumpy sunshine small-town romance

It Happened One Summer

Piper is sunshine personified. Brendan is the grumpy sea captain who does not want to like her. The forced proximity, fish-out-of-water setup, and explosive chemistry make this a viral BookTok favorite for a reason.

If you want pining friends-to-lovers with a former child star

Hook, Line, and Sinker

Fox has been in love with Hannah for years, but she only sees him as a friend. When Hannah moves to the small town to rebuild her life, Fox finally gets his chance. The pining is real, the emotional payoff is huge, and the heat is off the charts.

If you want a hitman rescuing a schoolteacher on vacation

My Killer Vacation

This standalone is funny, filthy, and absurd in the best way. A kindergarten teacher witnesses a murder and gets rescued by a grumpy hitman. The premise is wild, the banter is sharp, and the steam is high.

If you want Hollywood starlet meets bodyguard

Runaway Girl (Big Shots book 1)

A famous actress fakes her own disappearance and ends up in the protection of a grumpy bodyguard. The forced proximity, the tension, and the forbidden element make this a high-stakes romance.

Bellinger Sisters series in publication order

Two socialite sisters sent to a small Washington fishing town. Each book follows a different sister and can be read alone, but they are better together.

1

It Happened One Summer

Published 2021

Piper is a socialite forced to run a dive bar in a small Washington fishing town. Brendan is the grumpy sea captain next door. They have nothing in common except explosive chemistry.

2

Hook, Line, and Sinker

Published 2022

Hannah is Piper's best friend and a former child star trying to rebuild her life. Fox is a pro fisherman who has been in love with Hannah for years. This is his last chance to prove it.

3

Untitled Bellinger Sisters Book 3

TBA

The third Bellinger Sisters book is confirmed but not yet scheduled.

Big Shots series in publication order

Hollywood bodyguards and the women they protect. High stakes, forced proximity, and explosive chemistry.

1

Runaway Girl

Published 2023

A Hollywood starlet fakes her own disappearance and ends up in the protection of a grumpy bodyguard. The tension is high and the heat is higher.

2

Broken Rival

Releases October 2026

The second Big Shots book releases October 2026. Details not yet announced.

Other Tessa Bailey series

Hot and Hammered

Construction workers in Brooklyn. High heat blue-collar romance with found family vibes.

Broke and Beautiful

Roommates in New York City navigating money, love, and messy twenties.

Line of Duty

Police officers and the women they fall for. High stakes, protective heroes, and steamy romance.

Tessa Bailey standalones

My Killer Vacation

Published 2024

A schoolteacher on vacation witnesses a murder and gets rescued by a grumpy hitman. This standalone is funny, steamy, and wildly entertaining.

Read more about Tessa Bailey

It Happened One Summer Netflix adaptation

It Happened One Summer is being adapted by Netflix with Nina Dobrev cast as Piper Bellinger. The book became a viral BookTok sensation for its grumpy sunshine dynamic, small-town setting, and explosive chemistry between the socialite heroine and the grumpy sea captain hero.

No release date has been announced yet, but the adaptation is highly anticipated by romance readers and BookTok fans.

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Frequently asked questions

What order should I read Tessa Bailey books?

Tessa Bailey has written 50+ romance novels since 2012. Her most popular series include Bellinger Sisters (It Happened One Summer Netflix adaptation), Big Shots, Hot and Hammered, Broke and Beautiful, and Line of Duty. Start with It Happened One Summer (2021) for grumpy sunshine small-town romance, or her standalone My Killer Vacation (2024).

Which Tessa Bailey book should I read first?

Start with It Happened One Summer (Bellinger Sisters book 1, 2021). It is her most popular book, with a Netflix adaptation starring Nina Dobrev. The grumpy sunshine, small-town, forced proximity romance is a perfect introduction to Tessa Bailey's style: witty banter, explosive chemistry, and emotional depth. If you want a standalone, try My Killer Vacation (2024).

Are Tessa Bailey books connected?

Most Tessa Bailey books are part of series that share settings and recurring characters, but each book focuses on a different couple and can be read as a standalone. The Bellinger Sisters, Big Shots, and Hot and Hammered series all have interconnected characters, but you do not need to read them in order. Her standalones like My Killer Vacation are completely independent.

Is It Happened One Summer being adapted?

Yes. It Happened One Summer is being adapted by Netflix with Nina Dobrev cast as Piper. The grumpy sunshine small-town romance became a viral BookTok favorite and is one of the most anticipated romance adaptations. No release date has been announced yet.

What is the heat level of Tessa Bailey books?

Tessa Bailey books are high heat. They include explicit sex scenes and dirty talk. The balance of humor, emotional depth, and steamy scenes is a signature of her writing. Her books are marketed as adult contemporary romance.

Sources

Bibliography and Netflix adaptation details verified as of July 2026.

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