5 Stars

Just when I didn’t think Tessa Bailey could get spicier…she did. #MeanDaddy

I'm not normally a huge fan of age gaps, and this one really worked. I'm also not a huge fan of nanny tropes or single-dad tropes (who am I, a monster?) but my goodness, can Tessa Bailey make me reconsider everything.

This couple has my whole heart and I kind of have a mean daddy kink now!

I adored this book! It was such a good follow up to Fangirl Down!! The relationship between Burgess and his daughter was so sweet and I loved how Tallulah really helped them get even closer. I cannot wait for the next book!

I love a good age gap romance and Tessa Baileys always comes through. Nanny and shocker player romance is a great trope combo. This was super cute and had me feeling all the feels. Solid 4 stars

Thank you to @NetGalley and @avonbooks for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey is a sizzling sports romance that combines humor, heart, and a touch of grumpy-sunshine dynamics. This novel follows Tallulah Aydin, a marine biology graduate student, who becomes the live-in nanny for Burgess Abraham, a burly, surly, single dad and professional hockey player.

What I Loved:
Character Chemistry: The chemistry between Tallulah and Burgess is electric. Their interactions are filled with witty banter and genuine emotion, making their romance both fun and heartfelt.
Humor and Heart: Bailey’s signature humor shines through, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The story balances these lighthearted scenes with deeper emotional beats, creating a well-rounded narrative.
Unique Premise: The idea of a nanny falling for her employer, a professional hockey player, adds a fresh twist to the sports romance genre. The backdrop of professional hockey and the challenges they face together make for an engaging and entertaining read.

Overall, The Au Pair Affair is a charming and spirited romance that will leave you smiling. Tessa Bailey delivers a story full of love, laughter, and sports magic, making it a perfect read for fans of contemporary romance.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #avonbooks #ltbreaderteam #theaupairaffair #tessabailey

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Baily was a good follow up to Fangirl Down, which is my favorite book from this author so far. The plot moved along nicely and the characters were relatable. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey is a fun, steamy, and engaging romance that delivers everything fans of her work expect. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and Bailey’s signature wit shines through in their banter. The plot moves quickly, balancing romance with just enough drama to keep things interesting without being overly complicated. While some moments might feel a bit predictable, the strong character development and emotional depth more than make up for it. It’s a perfect, escapist read for anyone looking for a sizzling love story with heart.

Thank you Avon, Tessa Bailey, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

Anyone that knows me knows I love hockey so I was so excited to read this book! I will say that the Boston Bearcats has to be one of the most ridiculous team names I’ve ever heard but I got my initial laugh in and looked past it.

Tallulah is a fun fmc. She is smart but also unsure of herself and needs to build her confidence. Burgess is more of a misunderstood kind of guy. He has love to give but doesn’t really know how to show it.

I loved this book for the first 3/4s. I wanted to love the whole thing sooo badly but the third act breakup killed me. Burgess’ outburst felt so out of character for how he typically treated Tallulah and it had me feeling like I didn’t even want them to get back together because he didn’t deserve her. Overall, I enjoyed the book. The first 75% was great, the last 25% a little more frustrating for me. But since it’s Tessa Bailey who I know and love and a hockey book, I can still justify 4 stars!

The age-gap trope is not one of my favorites but in this book, it worked amazingly. Burgess, a 37 year old single-dad hockey player. Tallulah, the grad-student he has hired to be his live-in nanny. Burgess knew instantly that he was going to fall for her but Tallulah had a past that made her hesitant to trust. As they start to develop a more-than-friends relationship, complications arise.

This story is well written with the pent-up passionate feelings from the two main characters leaping off the page. Though there are obstacles (as there often are) you find yourself cheering for these two, whole heartedly. I also love that there's multiple appearances by Wells and Josephine - giving readers a glance at their happily ever after.

Tessa bailey has a formula that just works. I’ve yet to read a book of hers that I haven’t LOVED! 10/10 would recommend and I can’t wait to pick up a trophy copy for my shelves.

This book!!! The tension and banter was everything. I love everything Tessa Bailey writes and this one is no different. Highly recommend!

I'll admit right off the bat that I did not care for this book as much as the first in the series, Fangirl Down. I connected way more to Wells and Josephine, and found their relationship to be way more wholesome.

I also found myself really really invested in Chloe and Sig, which took a bit away from the main romance. I cannot wait for that book!

That being said, you really can't go wrong with a Tessa Bailey novel; she always provides the right amount of steam and tension.

a single dad and the nanny trope will never get old, I ate this up! despite having the third act breakup I always dislike, the groveling was worth it tbh.

"You could be wasting your time on me."
"Time with you could never be a waste. Only a privilege."

Forced Proximity, Single Dad, Age Gap?! SIGN ME UPPPPP!!!
This is honestly one of my first hockey romance books and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed this one a lot more than Fangirl Down. Burgess is my big boy and I want one of those in my life now!

Tessa Bailey is big hit or miss for me sometimes, but when he hits I am obsessed! I can’t wait for the next book now and for more sports romances!

I haven’t read many books by this author but for sure our relationship is bounded with enemies to lovers trope hihi. There were few books that didn’t match my taste but this one definitely hits all the right places.

I enjoy it from the beginning and couldn’t put down. Author thought very well all twists connecting it with romance at the finest. Must read alert.

Not sure why I held off on reading this one for so long. Probably because I don’t want to be without one of Tessa’s stories so I need to read it when I’m closer to a new book coming out lol.

Overall really enjoyed this one. But I am very preferential to hockey romance. Best out there for me. The characters were lovable. The dueling kept me engaged. I really don’t have a bad thing to say about it. Fantastic read!

Burgess “Sir Savage” Abraham is a sexy, grumpy single dad and hockey player. Tallulah is his beautiful and much younger nanny, who is hired to care for his 11-year-old daughter, Lissa. Tallulah comes in and disrupts his life, but he doesn't mind since he starts to grow feelings for the cute nanny.

The single dad and nanny trope never fails, especially when Tessa Bailey writes about it. I enjoyed learning about Tallulah’s past and watching her overcome past trauma. I also loved his daughter Lissa and her interactions with her parents and Tallulah, it felt more realistic.

4 stars ⭐️

Oh my gosh - I could not put this down! I read it all in one sitting, I loved the characters, and how Tessa Bailey writes the story. The book is so good, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Bailey's writing.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing a copy to review.

This book had me giggling throughout it. Tessa Bailey just always picks me up. The Au Pair Affair is the second book in The Big Shots series. I enjoyed the first book, Fangirl Down so I wanted to read this one, too. Sports Rom-coms are always a favorite of mine.

I loved the banter between Tallulah and Burgess. I think many people, who have dealt with divorced parents, will be able to see themselves in Lissa, who just wants her parents back together.

This book was so much fun! After reading the first book in the series, I was very excited to read these two characters' love story. I loved the single dad/nanny trope, and I feel like it was done in a way that didn't feel creepy or power imbalance-y at all. Tessa Bailey always kills with the spicy scenes, and this one was no different. It was super spicy, but not in a way that took away from the plot at all. I think that if you've loved Tessa Bailey's previous books or are looking for a spicier romance, you will really enjoy this one.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey is a steamy and charming romance that explores the complexities of love, trust, and second chances. The story revolves around an au pair who becomes entangled with a captivating family, leading to unexpected chemistry and emotional conflicts. Bailey’s signature wit and engaging characters make for a delightful read filled with sizzling moments and heartfelt connections. This novel beautifully balances humor and romance, making it a perfect choice for fans of contemporary love stories.