It was ok, but not really my favorite of this author's. I found myself drifiting and skimming thru parts. Just never really grabbed me and I honestly stopped reading it part way. Myself and 2 other fellow employees chose to do this for book club review and it was a let down. They as well thought the same thing. It's a no for me

A cute hockey romance! All of the subplot of the family drama and secrets added to the overall tension.

This book was not a favorite of mine from Tessa but it was good nonetheless!! I wish it wasn’t as insta love as it was but it’s something I can tolerate!

This book drags a little and I am still readng it. Please this with a grain of salt because I am not sure if I am a Tessa Bailey fan yet:)

Such an entertaining book with a great plot twist at the beginning. There's definitely step sibling trope, but it still was entertaining and fun to read. The story was quite predictable, but I still enjoyed it.

What happens when your car breaks down and a dead phone, you get to the nearest location to call for help. Well Sig, the professional hockey player, had to do. He was just able to make it to a private country club, but the country club is not very apt to help him. Chloe, a harp prodigy, happens to walk out and help him, but not before stealing some champagne. They happen to hit it off right then and there. Sig finally makes it to dinner with his dad to meet his dad's new girlfriend, but the woman just so happens to be Chloe's mother. And what else could go wrong, not their parent announcing their engagement, no but yes. They can't hide their attraction to each other but their parent's relationship makes it super difficult to keep it out of the spotlight they are under. Will they be able to let this relationship go or will they give into their truest desires and ignore what the world thinks?

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.