⭐️ 4.5 stars!

I loved this book and I’m a slut for anything Tessa writes.
• age gap
• grumpy x sunshine
• single dad
• hockey romance
• forced proximity
• love at first sight
• nanny x boss


This book was definitely a lot spicer than I was expecting but I loved every minute of it.

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers and Tessa Bailey for the ARC!

While this book was easy to read it wasn’t a favourite for me. There was a lot of spelling mistakes through out which made me not finish reading it. At this point in time I will not be reading anymore and will not be posting a review anywhere else.
Thank you for this opportunity to read this.

The Au Pair Affair

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of Tessa Baileys new book, The Au Pair Affair. Thank you to Net-galley for this amazing opportunity to read this in return for an honest review of what I thought of this book.

Please be aware that this review will contain minor spoilers!

Tessa Bailey has once again hit the ball out of the park, or in this case the puck straight into the net!

I’ve rated this:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 (two full scenes and a couple heavy kisses and touching)

And within this book you’ll find the following tropes:
🏒 Age gap (Burgess, our MMC is 37, and Tallulah, our FMC is 26)
🏒 Boss X au pair (nanny)
🏒 Single dad
🏒 Grumpy X sunshine (opposites attract)
🏒 Forced Proximity
🏒 “He falls first”
🏒 It’s writing in third person but dual POVs
🏒 I’d also like to add a bit of a trigger warning here for past abduction and some PTSD that goes hand in hand with that.

Now, down to my review, I fell head over heels in love with Burgess and Tallulah with pages of their story and literally read the entire book in one sitting. I did not get up from the couch except to pee! From the get go I was so invested in the story and before I knew it, I was half way through. The story flowed so well and I love that for the first time in a long time, the MMC and FMC has open lines of communication and that they weren’t afraid to tell each other what they needed, or didn’t need.
It’s so refreshing to see the “he falls first” trope end so well, and despite the third act break up, Burgess picks up on what he did wrong and wastes no times in fixing what was he broke.

I loved the relationship that Tallulah forms with Burgess’ tween daughter, Lyssa and how through their growing bond, Burgess is also able to strengthen his own relationship with his daughter. I also love that co-parenting with his ex-wife isn’t the drama be associated with divorced parents.

I love that we got to also see Wells and Josephine (our MMC and FMC from FanGirl Down) get marries and how as the two best friends, Burgess and Tallulah fit into that narrative.

Over all, I absolutely love, LOVE this book and I can’t wait for Dream Girl Drama, the throes instalment of Tessa’s Big Shots series! (I have a feeling who I hope the couple will be, fingers crossed!!)

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey follows Tallulah, a marine biology student, and Burgess, a single dad and hockey veteran, as what began as an au pair situation turn into much, much more.

This was my first time reading a novel by Tessa Bailey and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style, The Au Pair Affair was an effortless and utterly addicting read. The relationship, which at first read like an insta-love, a connection of mutual unexplained attraction that had developed throughout the planning and organization of Tallulah Au Pair position, only to growing deeper as they help each other gain a new appreciation of the world.

Burgess was my favorite character; I appreciated his layers of development subtly demonstrated as the novel progressed. Additionally, his character was able to demonstrate perfectly the difference between protective and powerful men, being threating or attractive. I loved the intentional communication that clearly showed this, and how it was clear from the beginning that he understood her boundaries, had his own and would never purposely cross them.

My only two negatives about this read, are the time jumps that were not easily identified until you read a couple paragraphs, and with them the missed scenes that I feel would have added so much more to the novel. Combined these factors left me confused at times and disappointed about having missed a scene, for example I would have loved to see more interactions between Burgess and his daughter, especially the scene after she finds out about him and Tallulah.

In conclusion, this was a fun and addicting read, that was relatively light. I would definitely recommend this novel to romance fans and anyone looking for a relaxing winter read.

I personally had to unfortunately soft DNF this one for now. I think I started it at a time that I wasn’t in the mood for this story so unfortunately couldn’t really get into it. Will probably come back to it later though 🩷

Honestly I’m torn on this one. Is it bingeworthy? Yes. Is it cringeworthy? Also yes. Told in third person, we get both POVs, but it doesn’t flow as well as previous books from this author. This felt rushed, and not fully fleshed out to make me fall for the characters.

Has Tessa Bailey done it again? Check out the much anticipated THE AU PAIR AFFAIR

In The Au Pair Affair, we meet Burgess and Tallulah, who he hires to be his daughter's live in nanny after they meet at the end of Fangirl Down. Unfortunately, this one just didn't hit the mark for me!

I love a single dad trope but would have loved to see more of the relationship between Burgess and his daughter. I loved Tallulah's growth - particularly at the end when she forced herself out of her comfort zone.

There were a few elements I struggled with - I didn't love that Burgess knew about Tallulah's previous trauma and threw it back in her face so viciously. Not cool man!

I LOVED Fangirl Down so maybe my expectations were a little too high - sorry Tessa!

Read for:
Single Dad x Nanny
Age gap
Spicy

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the ARC! Opinions are my own

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this one!! The Au Pair Affair follows single father/superstar hockey player Burgess and marine biologist Tallulah, who he hires as his live in nanny after they meet at the end of Fangirl Down. I enjoyed the forced proximity of it all as Tallulah became a constant in Burgess and his daughter Lissa’s life, and watching the two of them first try to fight the attraction between them and then try to figure out who they are going to be to each other.

Burgess feels like he’s not good enough for Tallulah, a reflection of his hockey life as he gets older and closer to retirement from the sport. Our girl Tallulah has a lot of past trauma she’s dealing with that makes it almost impossible for her to trust or feel safe around a man. Burgess was super thoughtful in the way he made her feel safe and comfortable and I really loved his character at the start of the book, however towards the end he frustrated me a lot. Mostly I just wanted more grovelling!!! I think what disappointed me most was that after (to be vague and unspoilery) some things were said and some things happened I felt that Tallulah was definitely owed more than what she got from Burgess. His attitude towards the situation was kinda toxic, in terms of what he thought he deserved from her. Maybe it’s just me but I would’ve been MAD and it kind of annoyed me how he used their physical attraction to try to gain her forgiveness and that she gave in pretty easily.

Overall this was a fun and easy read, not my favourite of Tessa Bailey’s but I’m looking forward to the next book.

🌈 Age Gap
🌈 He falls first
🌈 Close proximity
🌈 Single Dad
🌈 Sports romance
🌈 Past trauma

I loved the first book in this series so I was very excited to read this book from Tessa Bailey. Tallulah becomes a nanny for a hockey player, Burgess, who has a 12 year old daughter. She's got some understandable trust issues with men due to a past experience and, although she feels attraction to her new employer, she's wary of him. Burgess was bowled over the first time he met Tallulah but even though he tries to keep things professional he finds it difficult to disguise his attraction to her.

These characters have feelings of inadequacy and trust to work through before they can really be with each other. As with all Tessa Bailey novels there is plenty of steam to convey how much the characters want each other but I think this book lacked the electricity I usually love about her romances. It's possible that I was a bit thrown off by the 'daddy' talk - not my thing - and when combined with age-gap and single dad elements, it just didn't work for me.

However, I know this is a personal preference and the writing is still good. The plot is entertaining and I still would love to read anything from this author in the future.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book was such a fun read! I read most of it in one sitting because I was really rooting for these characters.
The chemistry between Tallulah and Burgess was intense! I loved how considerate and thoughtful the big grumpy man was after he heard about Tallulah’s ordeal. I feel like the communication between the two of them was done really well by Tessa, my only criticism is that towards the end the conclusion felt rushed. Like it needed to be wrapped up in a bow too quickly.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book though and I’ll definitely be reading Sig and Chloe’s story!
A massive thank you to NetGalley and Tessa Bailey for the opportunity to read this!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Tessa has done it again. The banter and chemistry between the two main characters is sizzling. There are some serious topics, some spice and who doesn't love a bit of a grumpy/sunshine sports romance. Would definitely recommend!

This is Book 2 of the Big Shots Series!

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

The Au Pair Affair is a charming and well-crafted romance that blends humour, heart, and a touch of angst. Tessa Bailey’s knack for creating vivid, relatable characters shines through in this story. Tallulah is a breath of fresh air—smart, vivacious, and genuinely caring. Her interactions with Lissa are heartwarming and highlight her nurturing nature.

Burgess is a compelling character as well, embodying the trope of the brooding single dad with a heart of gold. His struggle to balance his responsibilities as a father and his growing attraction to Tallulah adds depth to his character and makes his journey towards love all the more rewarding.

The chemistry between Tallulah and Burgess is electric, and Bailey does an excellent job of building tension and emotional connection between them. The progression from employer-employee to friends and ultimately lovers feels organic and well-paced. Their romance is filled with moments of tenderness, passion, and genuine conflict, making their eventual union satisfying and believable.

Lissa’s character adds another layer of emotional complexity to the story. Her desire for her parents to reconcile and her gradual acceptance of Tallulah as a positive presence in her life are beautifully portrayed. The dynamic between the three characters creates a rich, emotionally engaging narrative.

The Au Pair Affair is a delightful romance that combines humour, heart, and a touch of drama. With well-developed characters, sizzling chemistry, and a compelling narrative, it’s a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. Whether you’re new to Tessa Bailey’s work or a longtime fan, this story is sure to capture your heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

Tropes
🏒 Age Gap
🏒 He falls first
🏒Nanny x boss
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine

I was a big fan of Fangirl Down and this has been one of my most anticipated releases of 2024 (and it didn’t disappoint). Burgess is in his late 30s and juggling his daughter and his hockey career and then enters his saving grace, Tallulah.

Tallulah is a college student hoping to become a marine biologist, she has a mistrust of men due to a previous experience (TW past abduction) and I really liked the way this part of Tallulah was explored and how she grew from it and how Burgess helped her heal. This part of Tallulah backstory wasn’t rushed or forced, and you tell Tessa Bailey cares about her characters development.

Burgess is on the tail end of his career and struggling to keep up with his team while also raising his daughter. I enjoyed the dynamic between Burgess and Lissa and seeing how Tallulah contributed to them understanding each other better and finding their new normal.
Burgess and Tallulah as a couple were 🔥Burgess was flustered and obsessed with her from the get go, Tallulah just took a bit to decide what she wanted.

There was spice, dirty talk and a loads of longing glances with open door romance. I don’t love third act breakups, but it was impactful on character development so I let it slide ( I also adore Tessa Bailey and she can do wrong).

Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and I was initially worried I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as Fangirl Down but Tessa Bailey proved me wrong (never underestimate Tessa Bailey). I found the spice and pacing of the story to be perfect for the characters and I now eagerly await Sig and Chloe’s story (have so many questions about this relationship/dynamic and cannot wait to read about them).

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins/ Avon for providing me with an ARC (I actually cried with happiness when I saw it was approved) I will be buying multiple copies to add to my book hoard.

I loved this book. Tessa bailey can't do anything wrong in my eyes she is an instant buy when a book gets released. I live the characters and the storyline. I love the chemistry between the two main characters. It's a great read.

A quick and fun romance read - I enjoyed reading about our two main characters and their backgrounds separately but unfortunately, their romance was a bit unbelievable for me. Burgess is the definition of "he falls first and hard" and while I usually really enjoy that trope, I couldn't really see why, besides physical attraction.

I also feel like this book was very trope-heavy, almost to the point where it made little sense to the plot (e.g. we already have single-parent, age-gap, nannying, and forced proximity, but then the middle part of the book had a dating coach scene as well?). The third act break-up was very understandable though and I liked how it was resolved.

Overall, a cute read but personally not my favourite from Tessa Bailey.

Tessa Bailey can do no wrong!
Her books are always so fun to read !!
This story was adorable with some blush worthy spice!
Age gap
Live in nanny
Single dad
He falls first
Forced proximity!
Second book in the Big Shot series !!
Definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a fun easy read but I would read the first book first !

Tessa Bailey is one of my favourite authors. And this book doesn’t disappoint.

I absolutely loved it and can’t rave about it enough.

We met Burgess and Tallulah in Fangirl Down, the first book in this series, and they promised to be a great couple. My goodness! Burgess was totally gone for Tallulah from the get go!

Tessa Bailey is the queen of dirty talking MMCs and I think Burgess might be up there as one of my absolute favourites. He just kept getting better and better as the story went on. Grumpy and growly, but also thoughtful, emotionally aware and he *listened* to Tallulah.

There were some delicate subjects covered beautifully and carefully. And I just generally enjoy Tessa Bailey’s writing style. The banter between some of the side characters was top notch!

The stage has also been set for Sig and Chloe’s HEA. I’m hoping we get their story very soon.

The Au Pair Affair is a single father/hockey player x nanny romance novel. Burgess is a successful hockey player trying to be a good father to his tween daughter Lissa. For some help he offers a live-in nanny job to Tallulah who is 11 years his junior. She is studying a masters in marine biology and is extremely interested in the opportunity to get paid and live in a safe and fancy neighbourhood. Tallulah also takes it upon herself to help Burgess get back on the dating scence but the lines of their relationship begin to blur and Tallulah and Burgess begin to fall for each other.

This was such a fun and easy read. I was hooked up until the major rift between Tallulah and Burgess, I felt the story became a bit disjointed then and the ending seemed a bit rushed. I just wanted more of Tallulah and Burgess. The sexual tension, dirty talk and smut was so well done. The banter between the characters was very enjoyable and humorous. I really enjoyed the variety of themes in the novel and Tessa Bailey did a superb job of linking them all together. It's a 3.5/5 stars from me!

Thank you Netgalley for providing an eARC and Harper Collins Australia for providing an early finished copy in exchange for an honest review!

Single dad, nanny, and age gap… the perfect combination of tropes for a great romance story! Tallulah, a 26 year old to be marine biologist jumps at the opportunity to be a live-in nanny for ‘Sir Savage’ aka hockey veteran aka Burgess’s 12 year old daughter… what could possibly go wrong?

This book had a little bit of everything, which made it a fun, cute, and easy story to get into. It was angsty, and the tension was high, Tessa was really holding out on us!! There was the perfect amount of spice, romance, and plot, with well developed characters, which were extremely likeable and made the story much more enjoyable. Burgess was such a green flag, a big yes to him and Tallulah !!

Tropes
• Age gap (11 years)
• Forced proximity
• Roommates
• Boss x nanny
• Single dad
• Grumpy x sunshine
• Protective mmc

I thoroughly enjoyed Burgess and Tallulah's journey to their happily ever after.

Burgess, or Sir Savage, was intriguing. He has such a grumpy, mean, imposing hockey persona and definitely lives up to it on the ice. But at home he has such a low self esteem when it comes to parenting his daughter Lissa. His lack of confidence and vulnerability begins to include Tallulah, their age gap and his growing attraction.
I loved Tallulah's character arc. Having suffered a major trauma in the past, she still had a lot of healing to do and it was well written. I loved that Burgess was conscious of this and was respectful of the space and pace she needed.

Burgess fell hard and fast. I found it an interesting slow burn progression. Their chemistry was evident from the start and their honesty about their attraction leds to some steamy exchanges but Burgess had lines he wouldn't cross without commitment.

Sig and the other Bearcats teammates were alot of fun, and I am excited for Sig and Chloe's book.