★★★★ A spoiled Alexis Rose type is cut off by her stepfather and sent to a tiny town in Washington to learn the value of money and reconnect with her birth father's roots... and she meets a gruff, grieving widower.
I'll be honest... I haven't watch Schitt's Creek. But I've seen a few episodes, and a few dozen clips, so I fully understand the parallel between Alexis Rose and the heroine of It Happened One Summer, Piper.
In the opening chapter I worried the parody went a little too far. Was Piper truly an airhead? Would I be able to connect with a character like that? But despite what Adrian - the guy who dumps her in the opening chapter - said and thought, she isn't stupid or vapid. She enjoys material items and looking nice, but she's made a career on social media out of being beautiful and curated.
It's a "fish out of water" story as Piper has to move from Bel Air to Washington. She has to learn to cook, talk to the locals, and try to reconnect with a father she barely remembers. We sort of see her through Brendan's eyes - she shows up with a floppy hat and a ridiculous, bedazzled lipstick shaped purse... he and we know she is ridiculous.
But what I thought was so wonderful about the story is that Brendan sees things that even Piper doesn't. He notices that she is flirty, but backs off when she sees his wedding ring. She is embarrassed and remorseful and careful around him when she learns he's a widower. She has a way of bringing people into the group, of making people feel important and giving them her undivided attention. She sees the beauty and potential in things others don't.
Brendan is a wonderful alpha hero who doesn't let Piper hold him at arm's length for a "fling" - he wants more and he takes it.
I loved that Piper didn't have to change herself to fit him. She didn't need to stop wearing her lipstick purse or always wear jeans... she didn't need to "toughen up"... He loved her exactly as she was (is).
And in typical Tessa Bailey fashion... the dirty talk. Wow. The finger. Yowza.
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