First off, I don’t think the step-sibling romance trope is my cup of tea. They’re not related by blood or anything (it’s through their parents marriage), but ehhh, was not a fan. Also, there was no sense of relationship building in this story. The two characters just hit it off right away and had instant chemistry. There were also random time skips, which I can understand if the whole book is going to formatted that way, but these were just random. That just made the story feel even more unexciting and clumsy. I’m not normally a hater but sorry, this was just so cringey and bad… just don’t waste your time with this one. It Happened One Summer is still her best work (by far).

Thankfully, I received this as an ARC so it was free to read. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity in exchange for an honest review!

Another great book from Tessa Bailey! Sig and Chloe are great characters and have fantastic chemistry together. Loved all of Chloe's mishaps trying to live on her own in the city, and the way that Sig took care of her without making her feel badly. I didn't really get the high level of taboo around the reason why they couldn't be together - my one real criticism of the story.

As much as I love Tessa’s quirk and banter and her general writing style, this one unfortunately fell a bit short for me. I LOVE a forbidden romance and I love EVEN MORE a stepbrother romance and while this started off very promising, the main and major sole focus was the fact that they were step siblings. Which normally, ok, I can get the taboo in that if you’re growing up with someone your whole life as only that but these were older and late life characters that had no idea their parents were even together and met before even knowing that. I just, don’t truly understand the road block here. I just feel like it missed the mark a bit for me. 3/5 stars.

Could not get into this one! I tried quite a few times to trudge through and just couldn’t do it folks. I hate to DNF. A book—especially and ARC—but I really struggled with the dynamic between the characters. It felt like a teenager relationship and I wanted them to just grow up a bit.

Overall, this was a very cute read. I loved the characters together and anticipated this story after reading the first two books in the Big Shots series.
I felt that the FMC was very immature and I know that was the point at first but I did not feel that she learned enough to make me love her individually by the end. The MMC was a complete pushover. He was cute and great as an NHL player but every time he was doing things for the FMC he dropped down a couple of pegs for me.

I love Tessa, and this is no different! I was a little skeptical going into this trope because of how different it is, but she handled it so well! I love this series.

I understand the FMC was supposed to be an inexperienced, sheltered adult and those qualities are meant to make her perhaps a quirky foil to the MC, but it went a little too far for me. I could not enjoy this book because of how clueless and immature she was.

That being said, this series is harmless. If you want to shut off your brain, escape to delulu island for a bit, go at it.

This book opens with the professional hockey play, Sig Gauthier, trying to get to a dinner with his social lite father and his next girlfriend. Sig is adamant that he will make it on time even though his beat up pick up truck has another plan in mind. It breaks down right before the country club and his phone is dead so there is no way he can get rescued. He walks into the country club to call for a tow truck and is being denied entry until Chloe Clifford overhears his plight and makes up an elaborate story that he is her date and they need to sit down and have a drink. Little does Sig know that Chloe has a penchant for stealing champagne from the bar and tries not to get caught even though her mother can afford to pay for it.

Sig and Chloe share more than a bottle of stolen champagne when they have a steamy kiss that leads them to wanting to see each other again but both of them need to get to other appointments they have. Imagine their surprise when they both show up to the same dinner – seems that dear ol dad is dating Chloe’s mom and they are engaged.. Well, that’s awkward! Seems that Sig has fallen for his soon to be step sister.

They are very nervous to be seen together romantically because of the implications it could have on Sig’s career but Chloe is desperate to get out from underneath her mother’s controlling grasp and prove that she can stand on her own as the harp prodigy she is. She really wants to attend a school in Boston and learn who she is as a person, not just her mother’s daughter. They form a friendship that helps support Chloe transition to an independent woman including paying bills and getting her own groceries. Sig is very much in tune with Chloe and her sheltered ways. While he knows that she would (maybe) be able to take care of herself, he sets up secret
communications with her landlord to make sure that her rent is paid each and every month along with groceries delivered. Also, he buys up all the strawberry poptarts in her neighborhood so she has to rely upon Sig to bring them to her.

Sig realize that he has fallen HARD for Chloe but doesn’t know a way to work around the step-sister disaster that is about to happen. He sees his father as the gold digger he believes him to be. He tries to talk to his mother about what happened between her and him so many years ago and why his father walked away from them.

As Sig and Chloe go on their personal journeys separately and support each other through them, they realize they have fallen hard for each other and need to figure out how to be a couple despite the step sibling stigma.

The book is sweet, spice, and has your cheering for this couple the entire way. Tessa Bailey does a great job of showing how much growth each of the characters go through as well as trying to be a couple in secret and the anxiety they have if they are found out. Also, Tessa writes some very good spicy scenes in this book. Sig is a growly man and knows how to please Chloe!

Enjoy reading - Peace ☮️ and Love ❤️ my friends!

Thank you #NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC. #DreamGirlDrama is a must read this summer.

If you could see me right now, you would see the hearts in my eyes.

Tessa Bailey is back and better than ever, in Dream Girl Drama (Book 3 in the Big Shots series)

What happens when you find the girl of your dreams, and then find out she is about to be your stepsister?

Dream Girl Drama, delivers a delicious blend of forbidden romance, humor, and the signature steaminess that Bailey is known for. While the premise of a wild romance turned step-sibling situation is inherently dramatic, Bailey navigates it with her signature characteristic wit and charm.

The "stepsibling" trope, while potentially controversial, is handled with a lighthearted and engaging approach. The initial spark between Sig and Chloe is undeniable, making their subsequent predicament all the more compelling while also cultivating some tension and drama.

Sig, the tough yet secretly soft hearted hockey player, is a classic hero, equal parts vulnerable as he is charming. Chloe's journey from sheltered young damsel to independent woman is both entertaining and heartwarming. Her "manic pixie dream girl" qualities are balanced with a genuine desire for autonomy. The chemistry is electrifying . Bailey doesn't shy away from the sensual tension between Sig and Chloe. The forbidden nature of their attraction only made my heart race that much more.

Dream Girl Drama is filled to the brim with sass, wit and laugh out loud moments.

Five Stars, anything less would be criminal, check out this teaser :

When professional hockey player Sig Gauthier’s car breaks down and his phone dies, he treks into a posh private country club to call a tow truck, where he encounters the alluring Chloe Clifford, the manic pixie dream girl who captivates him immediately with her sense of adventure and penchant for stealing champagne.

Sparks fly during a moonlight kiss and the enamored pair can’t wait to see each other again, but when Sig finally arrives to meet his dad’s new girlfriend over dinner, Chloe is confusingly also there. Turns out the girlfriend is Chloe’s mother. Oh, and they’re engaged.

Sig’s dream girl is his future stepsister.

Though the pair is now wary of being involved romantically, Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy, yearns to escape her controlling mother. Sig promises to teach her the ins and outs of independence in Boston—but not inside his bedroom. They both know there can never be more than friendship between a famous hockey player and his high-society, soon-to-be stepsister. But keeping their relationship platonic grows harder amid the developing family drama, especially knowing they were meant for so much more…

This was a bit of a miss for me due to insta lust but I do love Tessa Baileys romances and will for sure pick up the next one to see if it fits more of my style.

The Romance: I immediately think of insta-lust, so I was somewhat prepared for it. However, insta-lust rarely works for me, and in this case, it was a bit frustrating. That said, I enjoyed the attraction and tension—the chemistry was definitely there. I also appreciated how the forbidden aspect was handled; it wasn’t overly taboo but had just the right level of forbidden angst to make it compelling. The spicy scenes were definitely very spicy, and honestly, I have no idea why Tessa is getting so creative with them—like, what do you mean she fingered his ass? 😭 The banter between the characters was great, but at some point, the step-sibling drama started feeling excessive. I would have preferred more character development and soft, heartfelt moments between them.

The Plot: I was genuinely surprised to find a plot beyond the romance! I really liked how it was woven into the story and how it complemented the romantic arc. Who knew Tessa Bailey could pull off a solid plot twist? I was shook. Honestly, she should lean into that more because I was completely invested. My only gripe is that, like in her other books, the sporty elements seem to fade away. I actually want to read about them, so it’s a bit disappointing when they disappear.

read it if you like:
-Dysfunctional family
-Forbidden romance
-Dive fmc X downbad mmc
-Angst, tension and spice
-Sports drama (contract stuff, very less sports stuff)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

“They were a messy pair. Everything about what they were doing was messy but stopping seemed impossible.”

‼️ POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD‼️

Guys. This BOOK!! I’ve been loving spicy, contemporary romance lately but as fun as those are, I missed the yearning, the desire, the desperation for the other person but having to hold back. Boy did this deliver. Sig delivered. Capital T TENSION - ok, capital everything.

I was so intrigued by how Tessa was going to handle the “step sibling” trope, and she did it with a lot of respect for both her characters in mind. Their meeting, the development of their relationship, and the end all addressed very real and legitimate concerns about that dynamic but made them real people who struggled with what they should do versus what their hearts said.

It would’ve been easy for Chloe’s character, as essentially a Connecticut heiress, to be shallow and out of touch. And at times, yeah, she was out of touch. But her character always seemed authentic and aware of her personal shortcomings and made it a point to both grow and develop as a person while staying herself in a way I found admirable. And Sig learning to trust her and let her grow and challenge herself and not “baby” her also felt very genuine to her character.

Sig has the absolute best heart and I don’t know how someone could not love him. He’s so kind and such a good man, and it was so nice to read a book where the MMC didn’t have to grovel for a fuck up and instead just yearned for her because he LOVES her. Fair warning, this book is insta love but the characters had chemistry from the start, and it didn’t bother me at all.

I want to thank Tessa and her HarperCollins publishing team for the opportunity to read and review this book before its release. Dream Girl Drama is officially available on February 4, 2025🏒

As a big Tessa Bailey fan, I enjoyed this book overall! The concept of it was fresh, yet had the elements that one expects in a rom-com book. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters and see how they developed throughout the book. It was a great read!

Dream Girl Drama
by Tessa Bailey

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A steamy book with a step sister/brother love trope.

I’m not the greatest fan of this but some parts were pretty cute and cheesy. Not very original but still an easy, entertaining read.

This book was surprisingly better than I expected. I liked the first book in the series, disliked the second one, so this was a real toss up. I was concerned when it was a potential step-sibling story, but how they met made me feel better about the situation. Their characters were more unique than others in this series, which was refreshing.

Tessa Baileys books are always quick and fun reads! This series has been full of fun and different tropes that have been interesting to read. I loved fangirl down! This one did fall a little short for me in comparison, but I enjoyed it none-the-less!

This series is by far my favorite Tessa Bailey series. They are all hitting them out of the park for me. I really enjoyed the Sig / Chloe dynamic in the Au Pair Affair so I was really looking forward to this story. It had all the angsty love story of a forbidden love story to the point it was almost painful to read at times. I kept yelling at the book "can you just kiss already". ( you know it is a good book when you are yelling at it).
I do have to say the "forbidden" part of the romance was a little far fetched for me. They met as adults and just because they were "legally going to be step siblings" doesn't mean a lot.. It was a little over the top that the world was going to come down - I always things situation where both the parents and the kids fall in love kinda of hilarious cute moments (as long as everyone is an adult) but I digress. For this story it worked.
I loved the introduction of Pierre, I love Chloe's growth at learning to live on her own and really embrace her independence (even if she is addicted to the Shopping Network).
I enjoyed the story..I wish they hadn't done the 3 act break up...I really think that they could have come to a resolution together instead of "breaking up". They kept saying they were going to stay apart but both were so much better together.
Overall still a great romance, fun, witty, angsty and spicy. I am looking forward the next books in the series.

This book was fun and I loved the dichotomy between the two main characters. I was a bit annoyed with everyone caring so much about them being step siblings… does that mean I read a little too much taboo romance and I’m just desensitized? Like they aren’t related. They didn’t grow up as siblings. They met as adults. Idk. I get why it might be kind of weird but not enough to have such a significant effect on careers. But maybe I’m being naive there. Idk. Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager in conjunction with NetGalley for the ARC of Dream Girl Drama in exchange for an honest review.

I must admit, this is my first Tessa Bailey read (shock and awe - I know)! This woman has an insane following and I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about her books. That being said, I really must admit that I had higher expectations for this book and I think that is for a number of reasons.

First off, the central themes are pretty taboo (a man falling in love with your soon to be step sister..immediate ick that I just couldn’t shake - and believe me, I understood what I signed up for when I accepted this ARC, it just somehow turned out to be so much more worse than I thought it would be). Secondly, it would be an understatement to say that I just didn’t enjoy the FMC and MMC. Chloe’s character annoyed me to no end. So many times I had to just stop reading because she was just an idiot and her stupidity made me angry . The fact that she was just allowing Sig to foot the bill for her entire life…the whole “whoops, I just don’t know any better because I’ve lived such a pampered life” act just drove me insane. I kept wondering what in the heck Sig’s character saw in her but eventually, I realized he was just obnoxious as she was. None of Sig’s emotions towards Chloe felt believable, especially considering she was about to become his step-sister AND he hardly even knew her before whisking her off to Boston to pseudo keep tabs on her in what was a very creepy way I might add.

Ugh, I just don’t know what to feel about this one. I just know I don’t feel great about it, but I’m going to dive into a couple other books of Tessa’s and see if I feel differently. I am aware that this book is part of a series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone with no issue. I had zero context from prior books going into this one but I honestly didn’t need it. This book does have some serious spice in the last third of the book so beware if you know that’s not your thing.

As a random side note, one thing this book does for me was make me was to research how to play the harp and look up relaxing music played by the harp. Let me tell you, life changing :)

2.5 stars

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey follows Sig and Chloe after they have an explosively romantic meeting but then realize they are to be future step-siblings so they have to back off from one another. Chloe is pretty clueless with everything she does. Sig is incredibly overprotective and is straining himself financially because he is incapable of allowing Chloe to learn anything by herself. Together they eventually become a couple when they <spoiler> realize that Sig's dad is not actually his dad </spoiler>.

I hate having to write this review because I LOVE Tessa Bailey but I just didn't like Chloe and Sig. I had to skim some of the book because I was so uncomfortable with the whole step-sibling dynamic. It is my fault because I should have read the back of the book but I hate reading the back of the book. I love being surprised by a book. There was still that Tessa Bailey signature magic so I thought it deserve more than one star but it was icky, it sure was. I unfortunately cannot recommend this book, it was too icky for me. I very much look forward to reading the next Tessa Bailey though!

Tropes: overprotective man, damsel in distress, sports

Triggers: sort of step-siblings

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, and Tessa Bailey for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.