Until reading Tessa Bailey’s “Fangirl Down” I would have claimed there was only one woman writing who could ever convince me to care about the romantic fate of an arrogant, frustrating, spoiled, jerk of a golfer. That woman is Susan Elizabeth Phillips and that particular golfer, featured in “Lady Be Good”, is a man named Kenny who needs to be brought down a peg or twenty-seven before he’s fit for happily ever after.

Much like Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Tessa Bailey has a way of serving up heros with such gruff exteriors that at first it seems a near magic trick to see how we’ll ever find ourselves rooting for them to succeed. And yet again, in “Fangirl Down”, Bailey serves up a prickly pear cactus of a man in Wells Whitaker - down and out former champion golfer who has finally lost his last fan. And when Josephine tears up her Wells sign and leaves him behind, he realizes he wants her, and by extension the reader, to give him a shot at redemption. …And dang it, it works.

The reason why rooting for the redemption of a grumpy pain in the kiester like Wells is possible rests solely on the heroine of the story. In another parallel to Ms. Phillips, Bailey often excels at taking women with their backs against the wall and letting them work their way through disaster while never losing their inner fortitude. Sure, they get emotionally dinged up. But at their core, a Tessa Bailey heroine usually is going to pick herself up, shake off the road rash, and keep going.

Josephine is exactly this kind of heroine - down, but nowhere near out. As a Type I Diabetic, Josephine could let her condition limit her life in a multitude of different ways. And to a certain extent we see she cannot always control how that condition will affect her life, especially from a financial perspective. Life is limiting her choices and therefore her dreams, but throughout the whole of “Fangirl Down” Josephine never lets her family, improved finances, career opportunities, or relationship with Wells overshadow the reality of her world.

As expected, this book is very hot, open door, and full of the dirty talk we love from this writer. But much like Bailey’s “Wreck the Halls”, it’s also quietly, and beautifully, emotional in a way I did not expect from a book about a golfer and his fan turned caddy. As we see Wells and Josephine fall in love they also grow as people - not in this way that’s often only for the reader to see in internal monologues, however. They work through obstacles in conversations, until they reach places where no more talking will work and actions must be taken.

“Fangirl Down” has one of the more deftly handled third acts I’ve read in a while, where we see two people who are not going to break up because of some silly misunderstanding or contrived conflict. They will need to go through one last set of trials before they both see the path. And when they do, it leaves no fear that these two people are destined for a Happily Ever After. Wells will get the family and person who will truly love him and not leave. Josephine will get a man who fiercely loves her, respects her, and never treats her like a fragile, broken being.

The ten years down the line epilogue is the extra bit of frosting on an already delicious slice of cake.

I can easily recommend “Fangirl Down” to fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Christina Lauren, and anyone looking for a witty, steamy, and heartwarming sports romance.

This is a charming book, though the dynamic is a bit odd for me. Josephine is a massive Wells Whitaker fan and then she becomes his caddie and they fall in love. That is a bit icky for me, but their dynamic is really solid and they both help the other grow so much that I can let it slide. She is super knowledgeable about golf and he actually listens to her suggestions, which I love. He may be a big, scary, grumpy golfer, but she tears down his walls while he helps her build some backbone up. The spice is spicy (Tessa Bailey is the queen of dirty talk) and the sweetness is fabulous. It also sets up the second book in the duology that I can't wait to read.

4.5. * thanks to the arc from net galley * i just truly enjoyed this book. it was a veryyy good story line with two extremely lovable characters. because she was originally his fan, i was concerned there might be power dynamics / fan behavior but there wasn't. i will say the ending took me a bit by surprise but i was overall here for it, would definitely recommend. i am so excited for the next in the series ( pls tessa hurry up )

This is one of my favorite Tessa Bailey books!

Knowing nothing about sports was not a big deal and the tale of this washed up golfer and his adoring fan captured me from the beginning. Their forced partnership to save both of them in different ways gave valid stakes in the story.

I really enjoyed both characters and seeing the growth and development inside both characters. I also enjoyed how Bailey advanced the story but avoided some of the traditional romcom tropes that could have made this a less enjoyable read.

Just what I needed!

I loved this story! Quick moving, likeable characters and just the right amount of steam. I don't love golf, but still really enjoyed the story.

I… didn’t think I’d enjoy a book about golf and a curmudgeonly golfer this much. 😂 This brought me back to Tessa Bailey a la Bellinger Sisters (I LOVED that duology). It had the same laugh out loud moments and spice. I really had a hard time putting it down and I wish I could read it for the first time again. It did have some predictable moments, but it was a sweet story and I was rooting for Josephine and Wells the whole time!

Josephine is probably one of my favorite TB girlies. She was strong, smart and sassy! Loved her! Her parents were also funny side characters. Wells is basically Happy Gilmore but way hotter and actually good at golfing technique. 😂 I also really liked his “bad boy” backstory.

Read this if you:
⛳️ are drawn to curmudgeon MMCs that actually have a softer side
⛳️ enjoy watching Happy Gilmore
⛳️ are a butt girl 😉
⛳️ and your significant other love a good pet name moment (I call my husband Mr. Big and he calls me Kitty)

I've been a long-time fan of author Tessa Bailey, and this is one of my favorites of hers to-date!

Josephine takes her fan girl gig seriously. Her favorite athlete may be at his all-time low in his golf career, but she's determined to keep supporting him.

Wells doesn't know why this girl keeps showing up for him. He's a lost cause. No one else can stand him, so why is she still here? When Wells quits golf in a blaze of glory, he ensures he destroys every last ounce of faith his fangirl had for him... and he can't stop thinking about it (or her?).

When a hurricane destroys Josephine's family business, Wells offers to make her his new caddy, so together they can spilt the prize money to rebuild her golf pro-shop and his career.

I thoroughly enjoyed this grumpy-sunshine story that made me laugh-out-loud many times. A great pick for your spring break beach read!

I would give this 4 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed this new book from Tessa Bailey. I liked the witty dialogue between Josephine and Wells and their interactions with each other. I also have not read a golf romance so that was new.

I'm a Tessa Bailey fangirl. And even this one blew my socks off! I also know nothing about golf beyond the putt putt kind. And yet this is one of my favorite books ever!

When down on his luck golfer Wells realizes his number one fan Josephine was involved in a devastating hurricane, he does everything he can to find out if she's OK. While she's fine, her golf pro shop is not. And because the premiums were too high, she won't be getting any insurance money to rebuild. And oh by the way, she's a Type 1 diabetic without health insurance. Also due to high premiums. When she starts to warm his cold dead heart, he realizes the only way he can help is to give her a job. As his caddie. The only female caddie on the tour. That alone causes a press uproar, but the fact his game steadily improves with her around causes even more uproar. Needless to say, they're the darlings of the tour. Of course the close proximity leads to far more than friendship. But what happens when Josephine has to leave the tour to reopen her newly renovated pro shop?

Yall. This book. 😭 Its so so sexy but also so damn heartfelt I wanted to cry! The type 1 diabetes representation is done so well you truly leave understanding just how hard it can be for someone to be born with something they can't control and have to manage everyday. Yet, they don't want to be defined by it. And Wells is masterful at taking care of Josephine while letting her be strong and independent and not made to feel "sick". The absolute icing on the cake was Josephine not giving up on her dreams for Wells. So many books have the woman throwing their whole lives and identities away and melding right into their love interests life and identity. But Josephine doesn't. She rebuilds her life while having a life with Wells. It's absolutely beautiful! And the sneak peek of The Au Pair Affair was chefs kiss! I promise, this book will be top five best of 2024. It's perfect in every way!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Avon and Harper Voyager and Harper Collins. ❤️

I greatly underestimated how much I would enjoy this book. Tessa Bailey is the MASTER at grumpy/sunshine. I’m not typically drawn to sports romance but this was perfect. I’ve read more than a dozen of Tessa Bailey’s books and this one ranks as a favorite. Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I hate golf. Like, really, really, can't stand it one bit, hate golf. I absolutely loved this book and read it in one sitting.
Any book by Tessa Bailey is always a solid choice. Different ones will connect at different levels, and I figured based on the golf aspect, this would be middle of the pack for me. I was definitely wrong! This is one of my favorite ever books by Tessa, and I literally had tears in my eyes during the most meaningful parts.
I really connected with the partnership between the main characters and the ability of them to understand each other in a way no one else could. I was jealous of their relationship- talk about wanting a book boyfriend! Wells has been added to my top 5 for sure. The book ventured from humorous to poignant to inspirational and back again. The sexy scenes were super hot and the plot foundation of Josephine and Wells being partners was represented there, too. I loved this book and can't wait to purchase in print!

I loved this book so much! There were so many moments throughout the book I loved that I now have so many highlights. I learned a lot about golf in the process of reading this. This was very OG Tessa! She can do no wrong.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the arc of this book.

No one could get me to read a book about a pro golfer and his number one fan but Tessa Bailey. She could write anything and I’d read it.

Wells is a golfer down on his luck he only has one fan left and when he bites his head off of at her he loses her too. Filled with regret he tracks down Josephine in an effort to make it up to her. When he realizes she needs money for her family’s business he makes a decision that they can both help each other out.

This book is classic Tessa Bailey. It’s hot, fun, romantic and outrageous. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

This was my golf awakening! Fangirl Down was an unexpected delight, that made me realize how much I needed a golf-themed RomCom in my life.

Josephine's unwavering support for Wells throughout his career was the heart of the story, but when she needs help, Wells steps up in an unexpected role reversal.

The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between the characters captivated me from the first page and stole my heart til the end.

Tessa Bailey's storytelling drew me in, making me feel like I was in the moment with the characters, and I can't wait to read this book again!

If you are a Tessa Bailey fan, get ready for another steamy rom com that follows a professional golfer who falls for his biggest fan turned new caddy. As a sports romance fan, I never thought I’d be reading a book about golf (team hockey over here), but TB knew exactly how to make the sport less boring and sexy. I only wish this wasn’t written in third person.

Tessa Bailey does it again! I might be a little biased because I devour everything Tessa Bailey writes, but I truly loved Fangirl Down.

Josephine is a devoted fan - the titular fangirl - of Wells Whitaker, golf's grumpy bad boy. She sticks by him even as his career seems to be on a steady decline, and it seems like he's ready to walk away from it all, until Josephine gets under his skin. To help her save her family's golf pro shop after a hurricane, Wells takes Josephine on as his caddie, and she offers the right combinations of optimism, wit, sarcasm, and spice to help turn his career around.

I love a good grumpy/sunshine trope, and Wells is such a delight. A lot of the book is written from his POV, and it's wonderful to see how he opens up to Josephine and adapts his worldview. I would have gladly read hundreds more pages of this duo and their sparkling banter - I never wanted the book to end.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Tessa Bailey book without plenty of spice, and this book is no exception. I read this on my kindle on a flight, and definitely had a few moments of "I hope no one is reading this over my shoulder right now..." Their chemistry is off the charts and the spice is everything you would want it to be.

The book sets up nicely for a sequel, due out later this year, and you know I'll be grabbing it as soon as it's available. Don't sleep on this wonderful sports romance - you won't be sorry!

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

This is the fastest I’ve finished a book since the perfection of Emily Wilde.

And while I do love me some Tessa Bailey, I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved this book and premise. The banter was so good. The character development was just great. And it was so spicy without bordering in to raunchy or egregious (for me).

And she made golf…really interesting to me for the first time in my life. So kudos there. It takes real talent to make golf into an interesting and competitive sport for outsiders.

I truly had a hard time putting this book down and that’s only happened for about five titles this year. So well done, Tessa. This was a great time. I hope book 2 is just as fun.

To say Josephine Doyle loves golf would be an understatement. Her whole life revolves around the sport. If she's not teeing off herself, she's running her family's pro shop or standing on the sidelines rooting for her favorite player, Wells Whitaker. Because Josephine isn't just a regular fan; she's a proud fangirl. Wells Whitaker was once at the top of his game, but now the bad boy of golf is scraping the bottom of the barrel. The only thing Wells can count on now is the optimistic redhead who's always on the sidelines cheering him on despite his poor swing. But when Wells lashes out, Josephine starts questioning if her faith in the golfer is misplaced.

Determined to get back into her good graces, Wells offers Josephine a job as his caddie and a promise to split the prize money with her. Josephine could use the money, so she agrees, and as the pair travel together, they start to form a bond. Suddenly, Wells is winning again, and Josephine is shocked to find a sweet guy under all that gruffness. With their time on the tour winding down, Josephine will need to head back to her real life, but will Wells be able to let her go when the time comes?

Leave it to Tessa Bailey to make golfing hot. I've enjoyed Bailey's recent releases but kept feeling like something was missing, but that wasn't the case here. It had me in a chokehold the entire time. I was giggling and kicking my little feet. I loved the dynamic between Josephine and Wells. She was so bubbly and energetic, while he was surly and hot-headed. Much like Bailey's other male love interests, he had his fair share of "Me, Tarzan. You, Jane" moments, but he was such a simp for Josephine that I almost didn't mind it. Their relationship was very insta-lovey, but again, I was having such a good time reading it that I didn't care. I'm surprised my glasses didn't fog up with the amount of steam that was in here. I also liked the diabetes representation, as that isn't something I've seen often in romance books. If you're in the mood for a playful, raunchy sports romance, then I recommend checking it out.

Here is the classic Tessa Bailey book disclaimer: I like tessa bailey. Against my better judgment of what makes quality writing, I love Tessa Bailey. And going into a TB book I know to expect a few things: occasional absurd descriptions in sex scenes, extremely graphically horny male main characters, and male main characters who say crazy things that could, in some respects, be regarded as possibly setting feminism back.

With all that out of the way, I have to say this book was pretty fucking fun. I haven't smiled and chuckled at a book like this in A WHILE. We have Josephine and Wells. Wells is a temperamental, temper tantrum-throwing 29-year-old professional golf player. At one point, Wells was fantastic at golf. He has, however, been in a 2-year rut. Josephine is his biggest fangirl. She shows up to every tournament, waves a "Wells' Belle" sign around, and, much to everyone's chagrin, screams encouragement.

The story opens with Wells, essentially, telling her to finally fuck off since he's not great at golf anymore and that he's quitting entirely. In the next day, a tropical storm devastates Josephine's family pro shop, and Wells, out of his mind with worry (of course) seeks her out. He offers to pay for the damages to help her. She rejects. His logical counteroffer? That Josephine becomes his caddy. She'll get paid, and that way he can contribute to fixing up her shop.

Wells was horny as fuck!! As expected, really. I think this book falls into the trap of Tessa's many other novels, wherein the characters basically fall in love within the first few pages of the book. I'm usually quite anti-insta-love, but this book was genuinely so fucking ridiculous and silly that I was really just here for the laugh. And the sex. That was hot. But that is sooooo classic Tessa. I found Wells and Josephine's respective emotional journies interesting on a surface level but I wasn't necessarily personally moved by either of them. And in all honesty, I dont leave this book with that "oh my god this is my new favorite fictional couple" feeling either. Truly not characters or a relationship that I think will be my favorites, but the book was truly engaging and had me laughing and rolling my eyes. And for that enjoyment alone I give this 4 stars.

another win from tessa! there's just something about her specific brand & style of writing that scratches an itch for me. filled with witty dialogue and the perfect level of spice, fangirl down fully leaned into its wacky premise — fangirl nurses down-and-out athlete back to prominence — and it paid off. while I originally worried the premise would result in lots of cheesy moments, I was instead met by such a fun and delightful romance. given she was paired with a once-great hero in wells, josephine was a wonderful lead and impressive in her own right. her ability to cut through all of his doubt and bluster was truly a skill, a major stepping stone towards their happy ending.

there was a lot of satisfaction to see both characters getting what they needed to obtain peak fulfillment. wells and josephine's spark burned bright and never wavered. once they knew they wanted it to be them forever, the pair weren't deterred by the realistic hurdles that might stand in their way. lastly, the final chapter before the epilogue made me so emotional. getting to witness two lifetimes' worth of dreams and dedication result in an incredible accomplishment was wonderful. even if you're not a fan of golf, tessa may just change your mind with this read.

additionally, the quick snippet we got of the dynamics between burgess, tallulah and lissa was perfect. their book, the au pair affair, is next in the series, and if there's one thing I love, it's a single dad romance.

thanks to netgalley, avon and tessa bailey for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.