This was so good, I loved the communication between the two main characters. I couldn't put this book down and just love anything by Tessa Bailey. Can't wait for the rest of the series!

second in a series, very steamy, loved the characters, but was a little thrown by the pretty intense trauma that Bailey put in the female lead's back story and then sort of diminished it throughout. I liked the characters from the other books showing up

I LOVE all of Tessas book and this was no exception. I knew when I was reading the first in the series and they introduced Talluluh that this story was going to be good and it was! thank you for me copy in exchange for a fair review.

Adored Burgess and Tallulah together!! The way he was just so understanding and patient with her as she dealt with her own trauma and fears. Tallulah also brought out the best in Burgess by making him more open to communicating, giving advice, and just being more social. I also loved how he didn't pressure Tallulah to change in anyway possible and was making sure he was being reasonable enough. Also the spice?? Tessa Bailey never misses and especially not with such a handsome mean daddy like Burgess as a mmc! I'm very much looking forward to Chloe and Sig's story!

Tallulah is a young college student who is broke and looking for a job. She never imagined that she would be working for hockey superstar Burgess. She moves in and helps take care of his daughter. There is a deep chemistry and heat between them, but Tallulah tries as hard as she can to keep it professional and not cross that line until she cannot hold back anymore.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC.

I GOBBLED THIS UP! TESSA BAILEY I LOVE YOU! This has me giggling and kicking my feet. I love the MMC so much.

Tessa Bailey is more miss than hit for me, and this was no different. I just didn't enjoy it very much, the writing felt tedious, and I didn't connect with the characters at all.

i dnf’d this at around 30%. The dialogue just seemed cringey to me and the story wasn’t working to me. I was not feeling invested at all.

The Au Pair Affair was the first book I've read by Tessa Bailey, but it won't be the last! As a hockey lover and a nanny myself, I was excited to read this story of Talulah, a student turned nanny and Burgess a grumpy, single dad, hockey star. There was romance, heartbreak and a whole lot of fun.

Tessa Bailey is quickly becoming one of my favorites, this one was so fun! Steamy for sure, but I loved the characters! I loved watching the big hockey player fall hard. I loved watching his relationship with his daughter grow. I loved the side characters. Can't wait to dive into the next one!

I loved this. It was super cute and such a fun read. It held my attention and I adored the banter and wittiness.

Tessa Bailey books are my guilty pleasure. Feeling down, need a pick me up, pick up this book! Full of characters you can't help but root for, spice and heart.

Continuing the current trend of hockey romance, this is Tessa’s second book in a sports-themed mini series. Burgess (who makes a quick appearance in the first book) is a newly single dad and hockey star, looking to navigate this new experience…with some help. He hires Tallulah as a nanny but with feelings involved, boundaries are quickly crossed. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this as much as past Tessa books. I felt it was more smut than substance and there was wasn’t any real plot or character growth beyond the two being horny all the time.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey
Series: Big Shots | Book 2
2024 Publication Date: July 16

⭐️⭐️

Pages: 380
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub-Genre: Sports Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶🌶🌶🌶 (Extra Hot Spicy)
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Boston (US)
Publisher: Avon and Harper Voyager

BOOK QUOTE: "How do we come back from that?... Maybe you don't. Maybe you go somewhere different..." — The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Author for this Arc unfortunately this wasn't my favorite I definitely liked Fangirl down a lot more and was expecting more from this book, it was an okay read for me but just fell short.

This was a great escapist summer book. Tessa Bailey writes great chemistry, and I think the set up for this book was done really well. However, I wasn't totally sold on the conflict resolution at the end of the book.

I enjoyed the character cameos and getting hints for the next book in the series, and Tessa Bailey's humor really shines through in those scenes. Overall, I enjoyed this one, but it felt like there were a few elements missing to help it reach it's full potential. Would recommend to anyone looking to pick up a light, fast paced hockey rom-com.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy!

ATE IT UP LIKE MY LAST MEAL!!!!!! tessa bailey the woman that you are wow oh wow. this has quickly become one of my favorite series of hers

Tessa Bailey has done it again! I'm loving her foray into the sports romance genre -- this series is so fun! I loved THE AU PAIR AFFAIR just as much as FANGIRL DOWN. I can't wait for the next one!

DNFed at over 50% so I'm counting it. It wasn't awful, but it just wasn't doing anything for me. I loved Fangirl Down from this series, so I thought this might be better, but I really also hate the age gap trope. I've never read one where the author did it well. I just don't get why a middle-aged man would want a woman barely out of high school or college. It's my ick. Don't let me sway you. Try this book if you just want a mindless beach read. I wanted something with a little more substance or at least better banter.

✩ 3.25 stars ✩

Everything Tessa Bailey writes is such a joy, and "The Au Pair Affair" is no exception. The characters are loveable with solid chemistry and an engaging enough storyline.

However, the instalust/instalove was a bit excessive here. It felt like the author was trying to pack in as much as possible, and it often felt too overwhelming as a result. There are a few places where the pacing is uneven, with some plot points rushed and others underdeveloped.

Regardless, "The Au Pair Affair" has that wonderfully fun and very recognizable Tessa Bailey style that makes all her books such rewarding escapist reads.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy in exchange for my review.