Whenever Tessa Bailey puts out a new book, I read it. I always like her books and this was no different. The only reason I didn’t rate this higher was because I felt the beginning was confusing with all the time jumps and there wasn’t enough build up. I also thought the step sibling conflict was a bit silly and then too easily fixed.

I want sexual tension so thick that I can cut it with a knife to be required for every single romance book. Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books and Tessa Bailey for an ARC of Dream Girl Drama! Definitely my favorite of the series, I sped through this one over the course of a cross-country flight. Bailey’s humor shines in Dream Girl Drama, with multiple lines that had me giggling. And Grace Shen is an icon.

While I was hesitant to read about this relationship, I was excited to learn more about the characters Tessa Bailey had created for this series. Sig and Chloe’s relationship was often alluded to in the previous book but it often made me uncomfortable knowing they were viewed as “family”. Tessa Bailey provided a clear introduction to how these characters began their relationship and perfectly explained why it was complicated for them to be a couple. Overall, there were aspects of this book I enjoyed and a few I was disappointed by.

In this book, I particularly appreciated that both characters had passions beyond their love interests and neither lost sight of their individual dreams. I feel this helped with character development, moving the plot forward, and made me root for them as a couple. An aspect of the story I was disappointed by was the limited incorporation of the couples from the previous books. At this point in the series it would have been fun to have more overlap in their stories.

This book was a fun sports romance! It was not your typical you can guess the ending from the first page!
I loved this book and would definitely recommend.

Imagine meeting a hot NHL hockey player one night and you exchange a passionate kiss, one you won’t be able to forget about. Only to shortly after find out he is about to be your stepbrother. Chloe Clifford is bored of her sheltered and easy life as a wealthy harp prodigy. So, when Sig Gauthier, hockey player and her future stepbrother, urges her to step out of her bubble and come back to Boston with him to chase her dreams of playing the harp on stage, she enthusiastically follows. But their close quarters make it difficult for them to stay away from each other, something they are adamant must happen with their parents’ upcoming nuptials. As Chloe learns to live on her own and Sig prepares for the biggest year of his NHL career, their ability to stay away from each other becomes nonexistent, and people start to notice.

Tessa Bailey is the queen of spicy rom coms and this one hit the mark for me. I love this sports romance series and this one is a close second to Fangirl Down. It also included some of my favorite tropes, forbidden romance, he falls first, grumpy x sunshine. Chloe was an adorable character who you couldn’t help but love and I really enjoyed the aspect of her being on her own for the first time. Sig was your typical MMC, obsessed with his woman and ready to burn the world down for her. The romance was definitely the main aspect of this story which I enjoy as a romance lover but if you are looking for something plot driven it may not be for you.

Sooooooo I don’t think I loved this one which really sucks cause I was excited to read it!!! I just unfortunately found the main female character AND the main male character to be veryyyyy annoying. I also felt this book was moving very quickly that it didn’t give the characters a chance for a better character development. I still love my girly Tess Bailey though.
* Thank you Net Galley, Avon Books and Harper Voyager for this Arc copy!!!

First, I want ti thank Net Galley, Avonbooks and Harper Voyager for allowing me to do my very first ARC!
This was my first Tessa Bailey book and I really enjoyed it. This book kept my attention from the beginning to the end. It had spice, comedy and just kept me laughing through it all.
I enjoyed the banter between both of the MC‘s!
I look forward to reading more of Tessa Bailey’s books !

Tessa Bailey took me for a ride with this book! This was my first Tessa Bailey book and while I cannot say I loved it - it did not deter me away from saying I will try other books by her. Sig and Chloe meet and it is instant chemistry - they both know right away that this is their person. They make plans to meet later that night because they are both late for dinner. Little do they know - they are going to the same dinner...to find out their parents are marrying each other. Nothing says a co*k block like becoming siblings LOL. What did I like/love about this book? Sig was all for Chloe - he would pay her rent, buy her groceries, and be her best friend. Chloe, my queen, I was so in love with how she spread her wings from her mother. She bit the bullet and took a huge chance. She had cute romcom moments of not realizing her previous rich girl life was going to be a lot harder without her mother, but she never gave off snobby or ungrateful. Loved that about her. I think Sig and Chloe are true soulmates and their slow-burn, tension-filled romance was great. What did I not love? There were a lot of time jumps. Whether it was two days or two weeks, there were jumps a lot. I felt like we never got to see the heartfelt moments in their blooming friendship in the first 6 months because Sig and Chloe just referred to them in the past tense (during those time jumps). I wish we got to experience those more. Later into the book, you do get a few heartwarming moments but I think we could of gotten a lot closer to the characters. Overall, fun read, loved the main characters, would I read it again? Probably not but that is a personal preference. Thanks so much for letting me read this NetGalley!

This book brought me so much more joy than I ever thought it would, especially since the first two books in the series didn’t hook me in the same way. Tessa Bailey really nailed it with Sig and Chloe’s story—it was pure swoony goodness from start to finish! 💕

First off, the instant love vibes were actually adorable here, and I was totally onboard. It wasn’t rushed or forced; instead, it felt like Sig and Chloe were two halves of the same whole finally finding each other. And let’s talk about the communication goals—these two knew what they wanted (hello, marriage and commitment!) and weren’t afraid to own it. No silly misunderstandings, no running away from their feelings—just pure, open-hearted honesty. Seriously, swoon. 🥰

What really made this book hit different was how both Sig and Chloe were willing to make tough choices for the other’s happiness. They understood that sometimes love means putting the other person first, even if that means taking a step back. It wasn’t some angsty separation for drama’s sake; it was all about mutual respect and wanting to see each other succeed. You could feel the love and admiration they had for each other in every single decision, and it just made that final reunion even sweeter. When they got back together? Literal happy tears.

Long story short, if you’re into swoon-worthy romance with characters who communicate like adults and a love story that feels as warm and fuzzy as your favorite blanket, Dream Girl Drama is going to be your jam. Tessa Bailey’s best yet? Maybe!

Sig Gauthier and Chloe Clifford met by chance, and it was love at first sight. When they meet again an hour later, it’s heartbreak at first sight. How does one set aside this burning desire for another person when learning their parents are about to get married making them step siblings? For Sig and Chloe, those desires never go away.

Over the next year, the pair try and quell those feelings, calling themselves best friends (spoiler alert: it’s always more than friends). Sig’s need to protect and provide for Chloe and Chloe’s need to learn how to be independent mingle together to build a relationship far more than future step siblings. When Sig’s hockey contract and harp prodigy Chloe’s first chair spot are in jeopardy because of their feelings, the two must decide what’s more important: true love or the career’s the world expects of them.

I have never wanted to chuck my kindle across the room in frustration than I have with this story… but in a good way? I think I felt the same need and desperation as Sig and Chloe because I would have been absolutely heartbroken if their relationship wasn’t meant to be. In the hundreds of books I’ve read for this genre, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a love at first sight quite like this, and no other story will match. It’s like the theory that soulmates are split in two, wandering the earth looking for each other. Sig and Chloe the strongest type of magnet, needing to be pulled to the other to survive. They have the kind of love any hopeless romantic hopes to find. Everyone say thank you Tessa Bailey setting the standards of men high above the rest.

3.5 ⭐️
This was considerably less weird than I was afraid it was going to be, which was a concern due to the plot itself and the fact that some of the dialogue in this series thus far can get questionable. However, I thought that the story worked pretty well, and I thought the conversations and solutions between the two MCs were more mature and realistic than the other two in this series. My main concern was that this was total insta-love (which it had to be, I get it), but I think I would've liked to see a little more development on that front.

All the teasers in "The Au Pair Affair" had me immediately put this on my TBR list. The sparks flew between Sig and his "Dream Girl" right from the start and there is a nice build up between the two given the untenable circumstances they found themselves in. This just gave the author to build their relationship beyond physical attraction. Did Sig woo Chloe with just his good looks ? Nope. Examples of his thoughtfulness are sprinkled throughout the novel which will make the reader fall just as hard for him. All of this is balanced with the hilarity of the 'twins' antics which made for a good read.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager , via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #DreamGirlDrama #NetGalley.

4.5 stars. This was a fun and quick read! It definitely delivered on the bits and pieces we got of Sig and Chloe in The Au Pair Affair. The mutual pining and angst was 10/10 and the conflict keeping them apart was, for once, legitimate. Their dynamic reminded me a lot of Piper and Brendan from It Happened One Summer. Tessa consistently introduces fun characters in this series and now I was spinoffs for Mailer and Corrigan too.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey is the latest installment (#3) in her Big Shots series.

For those unfamiliar, Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series is all about sports romances. The first book, Fangirl Down, followed Wells, a professional golfer and his #1 fan-turned-caddy, Josephine. The second book, The Au Pair Affair, was an age-gap hockey romance about Burgess and Tallulah. And this book, Dream Girl Drama, stays within the hockey realm to follow Sig and his soon-to-be-stepsister, Chloe. We met both of these characters briefly in the previous book.

Bailey commented herself how this was an “almost” taboo story given the nearly-step-siblings aspect, but you can judge for yourself how taboo it almost is or isn’t if you pick this up for yourself.

Sig meets Chloe on his way to have dinner with his father and his new fiancée in Connecticut. After a brief but memorable encounter, Sig continues his journey and arrives at dinner to find that Chloe is the daughter of his dad’s fiancée.

Chloe has been seriously sheltered her entire life and is ready for a change. When during the same aforementioned dinner, her mother says Chloe is basically incapable of surviving on her own, Chloe takes off with Sig towards Boston to start her new independent life.

Sig and Chloe have to work really hard to not cross the boundary between them as almost-step-siblings. And that’s made more difficult when Sig essentially offers to care for Chloe while she gets on her feet.

So… will they or won’t they? You can probably figure it out.

I was really enjoying this series when it kicked off. I liked the golf angle of the first book specifically because it *wasn’t* hockey. I think I’m just over hockey romances, even ones done well like both The Au Pair Affair and Dream Girl Drama.

I will say that I found the relationship between Sig and Chloe to be a bit more believable than the one between Burgess and Tallulah, but I’m not sure if that’s saying much.

Also, Chloe attends Berklee College of Music in the book, and as someone who went to Berklee, we definitely don’t call it “conservatory”. Yes, Berklee acquired the Boston Conservatory, but that’s classical performance lingo that Berklee never really had, especially not while I attended. And I say that as someone who went to Berklee with an extensive classical background as Chloe’s character supposedly has.

I’m also a jerk in books when it comes to people talking about or referencing music. So it’s not Tessa Bailey’s fault necessarily — I’m just a snob.

Anyway, I think I’m just ready for a new series from Tessa Bailey that isn’t in this world. So, for me, Dream Girl Drama gets 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC. Dream Girl Drama comes out on February 4, 2025.

2.5-3 Stars! I just couldn’t get into this book. Why all the shame and secrecy about a relationship between the main characters Sig & Chloe? They aren’t related so what was the issue? It was all so redundant & made to be an issue when it wasn’t. I nearly stopped reading a few times but pushed on bc other than that, it was still an interesting and enjoyable to read. I really liked the main characters & wanted to see them get their heads out of their behinds. Unnecessary drama with hot sexy times, lovable characters, funny moments with Sig’s teammates, and an HEA ending.
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

This was definitely a different vibe than most TB books. I felt anxious and stressed and a little grossed out, but mostly I felt so sad for these people.

Sig and Chloe meet randomly at a country club when his car breaks down, have a whirlwind of a few hours, and then both realize they have a prior obligation they need to get to.

The prior obligation? Sig’s dad and Chloe’s mom announcing they’re getting married.

Chloe decides to move to Boston to pursue studying the harp, where Sig lives, and for 6 months, he supports her and is a loving, doting….stepbrother.

You can feel the love and care they have for each other, but for most of the book I really was convinced it wouldn’t be an HEA.

I do think it was a little slow around the middle, and the ending was rushed (but I always want to read more at the end), but it was good! A different book for Tessa Bailey for sure, but complete with a third act breakup, always. The random baseball scene didn’t really fit, but I will allow it due to needing to introduce the next MC.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC!

📚: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding up on #goodreads)

The gist: NHL player Sig has a chance run in with dream girl Chloe in Connecticut. It’s insta-love… only to find out a mere hours later that their parents are together, engaged to be married, and they’re soon-to-be step siblings. (Cringe.) Though the pair sets boundaries to keep their feelings at bay, when Chloe moves to Boston, Sig is the first one to take on the role of tour guide, errand runner, and protector. They both know they can’t *really* be together, but what do they do when their feelings are so obvious?

The good: After feeling let down by the Au Pair Affair, I was *so happy* to have this third installment in the Big Shots series have some serious chemistry between Sig and Chloe. This was a fun read, a VERY spicy read (the smutty scenes are smutty, people), and a quick read where a lot happens quickly.

The eh: This book jumped right into it, with little build up. While it recovered after I felt a bit of readers whiplash, it had the pace feel off in the first quarter. The other downside for me was the plot premise. There’s an ick factor that doesn’t *need* to be there with the almost-not-quite step siblingness of it all. (I mean, we’re all fine with Cher & Josh in Clueless, am I right?)

Thanks to @avonbooks via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Dream Girl Drama is out next February (2/4/2025) and can be preordered now!

✩ 3.75 stars ✩

Technically, "Dream Girl Drama" could be described as a forbidden step-sibling romance — not something I would usually pick up based on that description. But I looked forward to this one after reading the first two, and it's ultimately my favorite of the "Big Shots" series.

Chloe and Sig's relationship was so intriguing when it was teased in the "Au Pair Affair." Like most Tessa Bailey books, this is an instalove/instalust that comes to a halting stop and suddenly pivots to a slow burn. Sig and Chloe are realistic in the ways they're both likable and flawed, but you still want them to find a way to make things work. Their struggle to not cross that line adds a level of tension that's missing from the previous two.

However, it did become somewhat repetitive as the story progressed. Also, I don't understand why they were so hung up on this idea that they couldn't be together when they met as adults before they knew their parents were together??? Their relationship often bordered on being toxic at times with Sig's protectiveness and the control he ultimately wields over Chloe's life after she leaves her parent's house. It's not exactly there, but it butts right up to that line a few times.

I will always say "yes" to a Tessa Bailey book. They're always comforting and an enjoyable break after a few heavy reads or when you need something that lets you shut your brain off for a bit.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy in exchange for my review.

I received this ARC through NetGalley. This is my favorite book in the Big Shots series. Sig Gauthier may be number one book bf now. The dependability, loyalty, and love he has for the people in his life is unmatched. Chloe is your typical fly by the seat of your pants rich girl but the growth she experiences through the book is top notch. I think what I loved most about this book is the friendship that Chloe and Sig developed, their relationship felt realistic even with their crazy circumstances. I can’t wait to see what Tessa writes next especially because there was a little tease at the end.

Well I didn’t have forbidden step-sibling romance on my bingo card this year, but I was pleasantly surprised how well this was executed ❤️

Chloe and Sig have a chance encounter after Sig’s truck breaks down outside a country club. Instant sparks ignite and the two share a life altering kiss. Fast forward to a family dinner where they find out they are about to be step-siblings! No one knows their secret and they are forced to shut down any romantic feelings for each other for the sake of their families and careers 🥅🎼🐶

“You’re a f*cking star that fell out of the sky and I was lucky enough to be standing in the right place”

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Dream Girl Drama will be published February 4th.