Happenstance – Tessa Bailey

Genre: Romance, Reverse Harem
Publisher: Independently Published
Pages: 274
Release Date: November 7, 2022

From #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer comes a romantic comedy about an accidental relationship between three smitten men…and one commitment phobic woman.

Elise Brandeis has never won a Pulitzer—and she never will. At least not while she’s delivering sandwiches at the Gotham Times, instead of working there as an actual reporter. Her only shot at seeing her byline in print is to prove to the no nonsense managing editor that she has a nose for news. And she’s got just the story to grab her elusive attention.

Right after she delivers this turkey on ciabatta.

Chasing down leads brings Elise to Roosevelt Island, but just when the trail of clues begins to take shape, she gets stuck. Literally. On a cable car with three strangers who couldn’t be more different. An uptight rugby coach, a construction worker and a former adult film star she pretends not to recognize a little too well.

At first, Elise wants nothing more than to be rescued ASAP.

An hour later, everything has changed. By pure happenstance, four separate journeys have collided in an intense, meaningful way. Suddenly, disentangling their lives feels more impossible than winning that Pulitzer. Good thing Elise is too busy proving herself at work to consider three boyfriends. Nobody has time for that—even if they make giving in feel oh so right. But three heads are better than one and these loners will teach themselves to work together to win Elise over forever…

And more importantly, keep their dirty socks off her floor.

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Happenstance is a reverse harem novel full of smut. It follows Elise as she boards a cable car on Roosevelt Island with three men. It’s instant attraction between the men and Elise, but who will win Elise’s hand? Why not all three?

The opening chapters of Happenstance are where Bailey shines. Elise, Banks, Tobias, and Gabe’s meet cute is intense and full of tension from the first step Elise takes onto the cable car until she exits. It’s also in these moments that Bailey establishes the men as individuals. Each of them stand apart from the others, so readers have no difficulties differentiating between them.

Happenstance is full of smut, as are most reverse harems. So, if you’re looking for something tame… Happenstance is not for you. There are conventional sexy moments as well as foursome moments.

The plot of Happenstance reads like filler. The story is light on details and is concluded quickly and efficiently. The plot is very much second to the romance between Elise and her men.

Overall, Happenstance is a fun, quick, and sexy reverse harem about four people trying to find themselves and their place in the world and with each other. 

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Have you read Happenstance? What did you think?