A huge thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dude, Tessa Bailey is in her literal MVP era right now because she is CRUSHING it!!!!! I honestly did not think that she could get any better than Fangirl Down for me, and then she went and straight up did it. I loved Burgess, a Sam Hartman reincarnate who falls first, and Tallulah, his marine biologist live-in nanny with a vibrancy for life. This was honestly SO cute, so so so spicy and just the most fun I've had reading in a while (since I read Fangirl Down when it came out.). I'm officially the conductor on the Tessa train. Five stars.

I started The Au Pair Affair last night and then read the whole thing in one sitting. I stayed up until 4am because I needed to finish this book. Tessa continues to write fun sexy rom coms that I cannot put down. A sports romance combined with Tessa Bailey’s writing is everything I could ever want.

The Au Pair Affair continues to have the Tessa Bailey magic where although it’s third person, to me it reads like first person and the shift from Tallulah to Burgess’s pov is so seamless. It reads as though you’re watching everything happen in front of you, like a movie. I really love the way Tessa’s writing feels when you read it; it feels like you’re immersed in the story.

Tallulah and Burgess had such incredible tension. I was hooked on their banter from the first chapter. I loved their immediate chemistry and watching it play out with the bit of “forbidden romance”. Burgess was overprotective and pining hard but still so respectful. Tessa continues to write my ideal hero. I also thoroughly enjoyed all of the side characters (hoping for a book with Chloe and Sig). Burgess and Lissa were so sweet and the hockey boys were hilarious.

This was a really fun read, but it also had its tender heartfelt moments. I did find myself crying a couple of times. This felt almost more serious than some of the other Tessa novels, with all of Tallulah’s past trauma and Burgess’s current bodily trauma, and I appreciated the way Tessa dealt with that tough subject matter while still managing to keep the book fun.

I loved the Au Pair Affair and I cannot wait for whatever Tessa writes next!

you can always count on tessa bailey to write a short, cut, fun romcom with quirky characters and a panty-melting smut.

thankyou netgalley for an arc of this book. all opinions are my own!

I don't know what made me pick up Fangirl Down, but I did and I loved it. I think that I'm just a Tessa Bailey first book girl. Loved It Happened One Summer, absolutely hated Hook, Line, Sinker. Loved Fangirl Down, this one is a little meh for me. I was super stoked to be reading it during playoffs and I might finish it on audio when it publishes but... I feel like they keep repeating themselves and they went 0-60 so fast, the pacing was just off throughout and the timeline... I dunno. Sig and Chloe fascinate me, but I hope I stay strong and away from it lol

This was my first read from Tessa Bailey and somehow nobody prepared me for the spice! She has chemistry, yearning, and romantic desire down to a science. This book was so fun. Tallulah and Burgess were so easy to root for (loved everything about them besides their names lol). It was well paced and I read it in one sitting. Really looking forward to reading my copy of Fangirl Down now. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, and Tessa Bailey for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

It was a big ask for Tessa Bailey to follow “Fangirl Down,” but man did she make a strong attempt with “The Au Pair Affair.”

I don’t know the last time I read a book with this much visceral hunger and yearning - from both characters!

Bailey is the queen of writing men who are obsessed with their women, and Burgess Abraham perhaps takes the cake. From the moment we meet him in “Fangirl Down,” he is down bad for Tallulah.

The only thing I wish we had seen was the reconciliation between Lissa and Tallulah, since their relationship was so important, but overall another win from Bailey.

Mrs Tessa does it again! At first going into I will say I kind of struggled to get that “hooked” feeling but once the story line developed I was all in. I really enjoyed the story/romance of the characters and it was nice to see the previous characters as well. The only thing I would have liked to be a little more involved with would be the story behind her family/the boy etc. While we got mentions of them it never really broached the topic beyond what happened and the postcards. Thanks so much for letting me ARC!

I was thrilled to receive an eARC of one of my anticipated reads for 2024. I’m thrilled to report that I enjoyed it.

Tallulah is a grad student, studying to be a marine biologist. To make ends meet, she takes a job as an au pair for Burgess Abraham and his 12 year old daughter, Lissa. Their beginning was a little rough to get going due to Tallulah’s past trauma. I thought for sure that she’d agonize more due to the nature of her trauma, but it wasn’t mentioned too much after the beginning of their story. The MCs from Fangirl Down are pretty prominent in this entry to the Big Shots series, and it was fun catching up with them. That said, the bulk of the book centered around the burgeoning relationship between Tallulah and Burgess. There’s an age gap trope, and he definitely falls first. He’s also very “touch her and see what happens” with anyone that even hints at being interested in her. The spice was enjoyable and I was having a good time until the third act breakup which felt a little rushed to me. Then we were left with a time gap that felt like it took too long before the eventual HEA. All in all, I had fun with this one.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an eARC and Harper Collins / Avon for providing an early finished copy in exchange for my honest review! My opinions are my own, as per usual.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
I’ve finally deigned to read a sports romance bc if Tessa Bailey writes it I’m reading it!
Really enjoyed this one and especially the character elements, I found Tallulah very interesting relatable and inspiring to read and of course loved our MMC who Tessa always manages to make so scrumptious with their falling harder and falling first ugh I eat it up. Do I like hockey romances now?!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 I’m going to fess up and admit that this is my first Tessa Bailey book and I am beyond thrilled!!!! What a treat this was. Tallulah may be broke as can be but she has aspiring goals to be a marine biologist that she is going to make happen! When the chance to be a live in au pair to a hockey player becomes available in Beacon Hill in exchange for a place to live, she takes it! I paid rent in an apartment in Beacon Hill for a year and can indeed attest that this is a good bargain! Tallulah brings her honesty, vulnerability, and just all around good nature to Burgess and his daughter, Lissa’s lives.

The characters were absolutely delightful and beyond likable, immediately feeling like old friends. Both Tallulah and Burgess show us that success can come in many different versions and can create a beautiful balance among individuals. What starts as playful banter between the two quickly becomes some amazing chemistry!

At the end of this book, I was okay with not having read Fangirl Down- I will 💯 be going back to devour the first book in the Big Shot series because I cannot get enough of Tessa Bailey’s writing and fantastic characters!

Review is posted on Goodreads and the final review I’ll be posted on Instagram ahead of the publication date.

As a second book in a romance series, The Au Pair Affair did well combining the world Tessa Bailey set in FanGirl Down, and a new bubble for Burgess and Tallulah's relationship to exist. Tallulah And Burgess' conflicts felt real and not contrived which is a breath of fresh air for this genre. I have an affinity for hockey romances and would have liked a bit more of the sport but the spice was just right. I would give it a 3.5/5 on my spice chart.

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This was a fun read! After reading Fangirl Down earlier this year, I was frothing at the mouth for Tallulah's book. I'm a die-hard lover of hockey romance, and the idea of a romance between a player and his au pair? I was hooked.

The romance between Tallulah and Bergress was amazing. Tessa Bailey never fails to write a romance where the male falls first and falls harder. We love to see it. And while I really loved the way the romance unfolds, I do feel like it happened a bit fast. Apart from that, it was sweet, sexy, and an overall fun time.

The characters themselves I found to be complex and intriguing, especially Tallulah. She was such a well written character that I found myself often feeling the emotions she was feeling. It was like her anxiety or elation jumped straight off the page. Her and Burgress together I found complimentary. Her softness to his roughness, his calm to her storm. They worked very well together, and I loved watching the characters come together.

I think my biggest critique would be the lack of relationship between Tallulah and Lissa. I found myself wanting more by the end of the book. I loved them so much in the scenes they were in together and it would've been so much better if we just got a few more crumbs of them in this book.

Overall some rough bits but a lovely addition to my Tessa Bailey addiction. I can't wait to grab my physical copy on release day!

The Au Pair Affair was a great read and it was just as good as the first book, if not better. Tessa Bailey is a master of romantic comedies and this is a prime example. If you want a hockey romance that has a protective MMC, a sassy FMC, and a preteen trying to figure out the world, this is for you. Definitely spicy and lots of tension.

Tessa has done a fine job with this sports romance. Always a fun read with spice that is on point. Always glad for the HEA!

We met Tallulah and Brugess in book one, and now you get to fall in love with them in book two. As Tallulah gets to Boston to become Burgesses live-in nanny she starts second-guessing herself, mostly from her traumatic past but the mans nickname is Sir Savage. Burgess, ever the gentlemen and not exactly Sir Savage off the ice. He tries to help Tallualh feel comfortable in his home while trying not to fall in love with the nanny.

Only Tessa Bailey can come through with the pure magic of Burgess and Talullah after blowing our minds with Fangirl Down. Round. Of. Applause. 👏👏👏

I am so glad I found out this is going to be a series before I started reading because the way I felt about Burgess and Talullah in the first book is how I now feel about Sig and Chloe.

I really tried to wait closer to publication date to read in hopes I would for sure know the status of the third book, but I couldn’t wait any longer and now I will be crossing my fingers until Sig and Chloe are confirmed!

The Au Pair Affair does need a TW: stalking, harassing, kidnapping (prior to start of book), ptsd, chronic pain, and injury.
(I am glad I came across a review with this information because I know I needed it to be in the right mindset to read)

But don’t let that take away from this being a romantic comedy because you better believe there is a whole lot of romance and many a laugh out loud moment 🥰💕😂💕🤗

There is also talk of penguins and 500 pound sea turtles, a revenge dress, Wells and Josephine’s wedding, athlete intervention, memories of being a 12 year old girl, $75 sweatshirts turning into a heart-melting moment, banter for days, rookies who are precious like misbehaving puppies, personal growth, groveling, and a happy ever after!


5 stars and a book I highly recommend!!!!!


Dual POV
Sports romance
Single dad
Live-in nanny
Grumpy x sunshine
He falls first
“Touch her and die”
Age gap
FUN 🤩

Grad student Tallulah agreed to be the live-in au pair for professional hockey player Burgess’s tween daughter, but the idea of living with the imposing player with a brutal reputation makes her nervous. Both have been attracted to each other since they were introduced by their best friends Wells and Josephine (the couple from Fangirl Down), and their newly found proximity only allows the attraction to grow. Burgess knows he needs to start dating again, but the only woman he can focus on is the one living in his house. They have a fling that ends in disaster and must work out their issues to come together in the end.

Tessa Bailey books are the perfect palette cleanser for me. I needed something fun and steamy and this was exactly that. The book is not perfect and I don’t care because it was fun. The connection between Tallulah and Burgess was palpable from the beginning and they still managed to form an emotional connection that was believable. I love that while this was an age-gap and boss/employee book it never felt gross and it was clear the two saw each other as equals and respected one another. I don’t typically like books that involve children but Burgess’s daughter didn’t bug me. I enjoyed the side characters and I do desperately want Sig and Chloe’s book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the digital ARC and Avon for the paperback ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Holy hell man this book was the best. I’m a whore for Tessa honestly. If she writes it, I’ll read it. The first book in this series, Fangirl Down, was probably my favorite book of hers to date. But this one…was also just so freaking good, it might be a tie 🫢

This is a nanny/boss, age gap romance with a sprinkle of grumpy/sunshine because my man Burgess is a grump only for everyone else but is a teddy bear for Tallulah. Tallulah is a hot, smart, marine biology grad student, who takes a job as Burgess’s live-in au pair. She’s got some trauma and is understandably restrained around a large man who happens to be 11 years her senior and is unsettlingly good at breaking noses on the ice, but they work together to navigate each other’s boundaries. My favorite thing about both Fangirl Down and the Au Pair Affair is the amount of respect that the MCs have for each other (I know respect should be a bare minimum but it rarely is in this world). There are constant check-ins, accommodations, and efforts to communicate, for both parties and you can tell there is a sense of comfort that doesn’t feel manufactured.

The smut was so perfectly smutty, the romance was a punch in the heart, and the characters had so much personality, I couldn’t stop laughing. I can’t wait to read about Sig and Chloe 🥰

This book needed more edits, but overall a solid Tessa Bailey. The kidnapping sub-plot was completely unnecessary and should have included a content warning!

Extremely thankful to have received an ARC for this summer release! A highly anticipated continuation of this Tessa Bailey universe and I will take 12! Never in my life have I been this invested in these little sportsmen! Or not so little in this MMC’s case 🤣!

Tallulah & Burgess are going to take the hockey romance fanatics by storm with this heartwarming & deeply emotional love story!