This was a different read for me. I have not read many of Tessa Bailey's books but overall, I enjoyed this one. While there were times I found the FMC to be annoying and helpless, (and the MMC didn't help the case) the chemistry between the two was off the charts. Sometimes I felt like it was more lust than love but what books aren't nowadays? Right off the bat, there is the most charming meet cute that sets up the entire book. I don't know that I will ever be a fan of the "we meet as adults yet our parents are getting married so we can't date - step-siblings" plot but I don't think it was done poorly in this book. There was a LOT of drama in this book.

Overall the book was full of cute romantic moments, for the most part, endearing characters, and a fast-paced read. I would definitely recommend it to people who love Tessa Bailey and authors like her.

Many thanks to Avon and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC copy of Dream Girl Drama! First off, if you aren’t a fan of instalove- though I think I would refer to it more as love at first sight- don’t give up on this book. I don’t typically like that style of book. But there was something about Chloe’s pixie personality and Sig’s gruff cinnamon roll vibe that drew me in.

I caught myself rooting for this couple. The chemistry was fantastic and I loved Sig so much. Who doesn’t love a hockey player? The wrong side of the tracks feel gave me Pretty in Pink vibes and I loved that. Sig’s good guy mixed with the grump in him appealed to me. Watching Chloe grow and become independent while also very much giving Legally Blonde vibes kept me giggling through it all. I didn’t love the pacing of the book at first. Jumping months apart was frustrating to me but I understood why it was done.

I wanted to punch Harvey and Rosie when we learn of Sig’s paternity but you can’t help but also wanting to jump for joy. Also, screw Sofie and cheers for Chloe finally setting boundaries. Seeing their HEA at the end was worth it all. I wanted more of Bobby Prince and that side of Sig’s family too. He deserved that relationship so much. I definitely want to see Corrigan and Skylar’s love story now! And maybe Mailer getting Reese to fall for him. I wont lie, I haven’t read either of the previous books in this series and now I’m dying to go back and read Tahlullah and Burgess’ story!

Was it my favorite romance? No. But I enjoyed reading it and was surprised by finding myself actually enjoying the love at first sight trope.

I have loved several Tessa Bailey books- this was not my favorite. Chloe and Sig meet by chance at a country club her family is a member of- his truck breaks down and he needs a phone charger. It’s insta-love between this hockey player and pampered princess. Later that night, at dinner, they learn their parents are engaged and they will be step siblings. Sig becomes determined to find a way for them to be together- including moving her to Boston, setting her up in an apartment and paying her expenses while she trains as a harpist…. After one kiss and a dinner. The biggest issue I have is that Chloe is child like- has no idea how to do laundry, cook, pay bills- anything. Sig just steps in and handles it all for her… It feels like the characters have no growth and the whole story is rushed. The pros? The story is entertaining, the supporting characters are fun and I love the banter between the hockey teammates. I’d love to see Tessa dive into the new female general manager Reese at some point. The spice is spicy. Overall, it’s not my favorite TB book, but I didn’t hate it. It’s entertaining enough.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

How could I possibly love yet another hockey book boyfriend anymore than the last?! I don’t know how Tessa does it, but she has me hooked yet again!

This third book can be read on its own, but I was so so happy to get Sig and Chloe’s story after meeting them in AuPair Affair. They have such a beautiful connection that jumps off the pages. Finding out their meet cute, how they take care of each other in their own special ways, it all just felt like a giant warm hug. I was smiling from ear to ear the entire time reading this!

Chloe makes me want to be her friend and reminds me of Rachel in season 1 of Friends! Striking out on her own and excited to learn how to do laundry. I think we can all identify with her Sephora addiction. 😆 Sig, the big teddy bear that wants to take care of her and everyone around him.

The two of them have insane chemistry and clearly fell hard and fast for each other, but are future step-siblings! Eek. They have to navigate all of these feelings and being in the public eye on the cusp of Sig’s contract renewal with his NHL team, it gets dicey, but their connection is strong.

The rookies also get their time to shine here and there for comedic relief, do I sense a potential book for them coming?! I sure hope so!

I will be thinking of Sig and Chloe for a long time and the things that he says to her, swoooooonworthy.

“Until my last sunrise, dream girl.” 🥰

Forbidden Love | Hockey Romance | Insta Love

This book was interesting. It definitely captured my attention immediately and their meet-cute was seriously adorable.

I love everything I’ve read by Tessa Bailey before, but this one fell a little flat for me. Maybe it was the insta-love because there really wasn’t any reason for the two characters to fall for each other so quickly. The chemistry felt off. The future stepsiblings thing also didn’t make sense since they’re adults who just met. They could have been a book with so much tension and I felt it lacked that.

I did love Sig, however. He was a great MMC. Chloe, on the other hand, was alright. She was definitely portrayed as too “child like” despite being a grown woman.

One thing I did love was how much Sig cares for Chloe throughout the book. Even though I didn’t understand why he was so down bad, I still love me an obsessed man.

This was a cute book! And I loved Mailer and Corrigan! Look forward to more of them!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc!

I always love Tessa Bailey’s writing style and characters! However, this book was one of my least favorite I’ve read from her. I think Sig’s masculine energy was just a bit too much for me.
I CANNOT WAIT to read Corrigan and Skyler’s book though! The rookies were my favorite part of this book!

This was a fun, somewhat farfetched read. Overall I enjoyed it; I could've done without some of the sex scenes but that's just me.

I have to start by saying how feral my man's Sig was for Chloe. From the day they met to all the tension throughout the whole book, I was here for it. Also, the future step-sibling trope was wild! It was kind of like forbidden romance, and I was rooting for them regardless. I loved how the hockey team rallied for Sig in this one, too. Tessa Bailey does hockey romance well, and I enjoyed this one immensely. The spice in this one was so good that I only wanted more. I wished the reveal would have happened a bit sooner, but I understand why it didn't. The chemistry was amazing, but I would have loved to see a smidge more character development for Chloe. I liked her journey with Pierre and the harp, and her growth was cool. As always, I'm a big fan of Tessa Bailey, and I'm excited to see what she does next. Thank you to Avon for the ARC to read and review!

I was impressed with how Tessa Bailey walked the line on what would be considered a taboo romance. Without spoilers she managed to develop tension and respect between the characters while toeing the line of comfort. The Big Shots series has been one of my favorite series of hers and this one was an excellent installment. I really appreciated seeing how much Sig cared for Chloe's overall well being without becoming completely overbearing (there were a few close calls). I think most readers familiar with Tessa's work can expect an over protective alpha male which she yet again delivers. I do think Sig was more flushed out than previous MCs This felt like more of a slow burn spicy romance than what she normally writes. . Great foreshadowing for future books!


YouTube video scheduled for Jan5

First of all the overall concept of the storyline is weird. The future step siblings thing eh. I didn't mind Sigs character and I like how Chloe is becoming more independent but this type of "forbidden love" felt weird. They also started off so strong so fast, there wasn't a lot of build up and so the plot fell flat for me.

WOW. There was an undeniable chemistry between Sig and Chloe in this forbidden romance. I have been dying to read this story since their introduction in Au Pair Affair, and, much like the rest of the Big Shots series, this did not disappoint!

Sig, a professional hockey player in Boston, receives a message from his absentee father (Harvey) that he’s getting remarried and wants him to come to Connecticut for a family dinner to meet Sophie his new fiancé. Just a few miles away from the house near a country club, his truck breaks down. Unfortunately his phone is also dead after the three hour car ride, so he heads into the country club to borrow a charger and call AAA. Imagine his surprise when he looks up and standing in front of him is his dream girl. Chloe ends up keeping him company while his phone charges and after chatting there is an undeniable chemistry and instalove between them. Both with places to be, they exchange numbers and part ways, promising to try and see each other again soon.

Well soon happened quicker than either anticipated when it turns out they both had the same place to be since Harvey’s new fiancé is in fact Chloe’s mom. This causes both Sig and Chloe to decide that it would be too weird to let anything romantic happen between them. Instead they become “best friends” but harbor obvious and strong feelings for each other. Chloe ends up moving to Boston to pursue music at Berklee and Sig jumps into protector mode.

Watching them navigate undeniable bond was sweet as there is no doubting that the characters genuinely care for each other. This spicy romance was less steamy than the typical Tessa Bailey novel, but I like that it left more room for us to see the longing and connection between the characters. Bailey also does a good job of navigating the weird forbidden step siblings dynamic and kept the book from becoming uncomfy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did a little jump for joy when I was approved for an arc of this book and I devoured it in one day!
I’ve been waiting for Sig and Chloe’s story since their very first scene in The AuPair Affair 💕❤️ their tension leapt off the page and that book wasn’t even focused on them as a couple. I knew their book would be fantastic, and it was!
Sig and Chloe are now my favorite couple by this author. Their meet cute was steamy, as are many scenes in this one. (Be warned-This book has quite a high spice level). I loved the slow burn and the way these two love each other and put the other’s best interests ahead of their own.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Great book.loved it. Was hooked from the start. Have to look up more from this author. Was she really a dream girl?

I love Tessa Bailey, and will always read her books.

Sig and Chloe have the most amazing "meet cute" and then time sneaks up on them and they must go to their planned obligations. They meet again shortly and discover they will soon be stepsiblings. Both Sig and Chloe still very much want each other as they establish boundaries and navigate their situation. I really wanted to love this story but Chloe fell flat as a FMC and Sigs MMC carried a lot of the story.

Book Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey’s Dream Girl Drama delivers a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that is as heartwarming as it is steamy. The story centers around the enchanting, if somewhat unpredictable, journey of two people navigating the fine line between friendship, ambition, and undeniable chemistry.

The novel follows the life of 24-year-old actress Hallie O’Callaghan, who lands the role of a lifetime in a rom-com series. Hallie is a bit of a hot mess — a relatable and endearing character with big dreams and the occasional misstep. Enter her co-star, the aloof but undeniably attractive actor, Max Steele, who seems like the ultimate bad boy with a soft side just waiting to be discovered.

Bailey’s signature humor shines throughout the novel, filled with witty dialogue and playful banter that keeps the pace engaging. Hallie’s snarky sense of humor and Max’s dry wit create a dynamic that is both charming and entertaining. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and while the tension between them builds slowly, it’s totally worth the wait.

One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of vulnerability and self-acceptance. Both Hallie and Max have their own emotional baggage and insecurities, and Bailey skillfully weaves their growth arcs throughout the narrative. This adds depth to what could have been a purely lighthearted rom-com and brings an emotional layer that will resonate with many readers.

While Dream Girl Drama is undoubtedly a romance at heart, it also doesn’t shy away from exploring themes of career pressures, self-doubt, and the complexities of navigating a relationship in the public eye. The setting of the Hollywood entertainment world provides a fun, glamorous backdrop, but Bailey ensures the story doesn’t get lost in the glitz and glamour, focusing instead on the authenticity of the characters’ experiences.

If there’s one flaw in the book, it’s that some readers might find the slow-burn romance a tad predictable. However, Bailey’s ability to balance emotional depth with humor and passion makes it a thoroughly enjoyable read, even if the plot hits familiar beats.

In conclusion, Dream Girl Drama is a delightful romantic comedy that will appeal to fans of Tessa Bailey’s previous work and anyone in the mood for a fun, heartwarming escape. With strong characters, sizzling chemistry, and a perfect blend of humor and heart, it’s a book that proves once again that Tessa Bailey knows exactly how to write a love story that is impossible to put down.

Another fun Tessa Bailey book. She turned two pretty vapid characters into something more interesting. The twist was well-placed and unexpected. Looking forward to the next stories in the series, assuming the rookies get their stories.

This book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t understand the problem with them being together. Two people who meet as adults that aren’t related and met before they found out their parents were getting married doesn’t seem like a problem to me but the whole conflict revolves around this. The FMC is infantilized and that was very cringe to me and the instalove was too much.

I’ve been very excited to get to Sig’s and Chloe’s story since meeting them in Tessa’s previous book.

Tessa’s books seem to be hit or miss for me, I loved fangirl Down and strongly disliked The Au Pair Affair. But still I really wanted to continue the Big Shots series.

The beginning of the book is really interesting finally getting to see how Sig and Chloe got to the point of being future step siblings in love. But about 50 percent in I started to dislike the way Chloe took advantage of Sigs generosity towards her, she was spending rent money on eye cream of all things. And just being overall ungrateful to how much Sig did for her. That rubbed me the wrong way. I get she’s an over protected, over privileged rich girl but damn she really acted like a child sometimes. A whole step up from Tallulah tho, I actually did like Chloe she just annoyed me sometimes.

The whole step siblings thing just felt a little blown out of proportion, I mean they met as adults. There was no blood relation or really any closeness with either of their parents. So I didn’t get how that would be the scandal everyone seem to think it would be. Maybe I’ve read too many books where step siblings fall in love, and I’ve only read like 3 sooo… maybe is a rich people thing, I don’t know.

It did get a little soap opery at some points like over dramatic, but I loved it either way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!

Dream Girl Drama is book three in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots sports series. It’s best enjoyed after at least book two since the characters from that one feature in this one prominently.

This was fun but not my favorite Tessa Bailey. Sig was down bad from the very start and I do love a man that knows what he wants. Chloe grew on me but I found her grating at first. The pacing was a little off for me too.

I’m usually not a fan of “insta love” because it always seems extremely unrealistic to me, but Tessa Bailey did it RIGHT and I’m now sold on giving the trope a fair chance. Sig and Chloe had the cuuuutest meet cute I’ve read so far. Sparks fly and their heated chemistry is instantaneous. So what are they supposed to do when only hours later they find out their parents are . . . engaged?! Cue the drama llama!! I was so nervous trying to figure out how in the world Tessa would pull off this happily ever after, but I know never to doubt the queen. I don’t know how she makes me fall in love with every couple in her books, she just does. Probably because she makes her MMCs super possessive protectors, and that’s hot as hell in my book.

THANK YOU, NetGalley and Tessa Bailey for this amazing opportunity. I totally freaked out when I was approved for the ARC. This made my month!!