Quick Summary: A once upon a dream, sports romance

My Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey is book #3 in the Big Shots series.

About the Book: "A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged..."

In My Own Words: When it rains, it pours, however, sometimes you can find a rainbow with your very own dream girl serving as your very special pot of gold.

After his vehicle unexpectedly broke down, Sig Gauthier was saved and charmed by an enchanting "pixie dream girl."Her name was Chloe Clifford. He never expected to find that she was also his soon to be step-sibling. Yikes!

My Final Say: From the moment Sig and Chloe met, they had a connection. It was inevitable that their story of coming together would be unforgettable, fiery, and fun. I loved it!

Reasons I enjoyed this book:

Wonderful characters
Entertaining
Witty
Easy-to-read
Happily Ever After
Romantic
Steamy

Other: This will be fantastic as an audiobook. Can you imagine?! Sign me up!!!

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title. It was an absolute pleasure to review. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity.

This story follows Sig and Chloe who instantly fell in love until all things went downhill when there parents said they are engaged. I love Tessa Bailey but for some reasoning I was getting a bit of the ick for the whole step sibling romance. It would mostly happen when the characters remembered they can’t do anything because they are about to become step siblings. The story was great but I do wish there were more intimate scnes. The pacing was after 70% of the book which picks up from where book 2 kind of leaves of. This book is told from Chloe and Sig’s pov.

Chloe is rich and has always been under her mother’s rules. She wants to leave but can’t afford anything until she meets Sig. I really enjoyed seeing her be brave and going out into the world to do good for herself. Then we have Sig who is such a sweetheart and would do anything for Chloe. I loved seeing his love for her. There are many side characters, some old and some new. I’m excited to see where the baseball story goes from her. The tropes in this book are future step-siblings, insta love, and forbidden love. The book isn’t steamy like the others in the series but there is chemistry between the couple.

I won’t spoil the book but everything works out in the end. There is a cute epilogue in the story that takes place 5 years after. I’m excited to see where this series goes next. Compared to the first two books, I loved those more than this one. However, I’m super excited for book 4 and can’t wait for release day.

*this book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

3/5 ⭐
1.5/5 🌶

I'd been waiting on book 3 of the Big Shots series and man could we cut this tension! I was skeptical of the step sibling trope at first but it worked! Although I could anticipate what would make everything come together, it was still a fun ride.
I would have like to see some of Chloe's maturity a little sooner. I also feel Sig waited til the end to start getting childish/miscommunication-y.
I overall liked this one!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyage and #Netgalley for this ARC!

Chloe and Sig meet unexpectedly at a country club when his truck breaks down. There is an instant connection before they even lay eyes on each other but it's a connection they cannot avoid. When they wind up at the same place for dinner and realize their parents are getting married they don't know what to do. Will Sig be able to continue his hockey career and get the contract he wants? Will Chloe get first chair for harp playing with BSO? Or will their ill advised romance ruin everything?

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC !

This was so cute! Love a hockey romance and this was so interesting since when they met their parents weren’t engaged. They seemed like they might elope they fell hard then all of a sudden they were off limits. You can imagine the pining, the longing glances, the pink bedazzled hockey jersey.
Chloe has never lived on her own without her mothers money and Sig is helping her with her apartment and expenses. Though there’s a story there too. He also has a lot of baggage with his father who wasn’t around when he was little.
They had such powerful chemistry and they were such stans of each other. Does it count being a step sibling if it happens in your late 20s? I feel like there is a gray area cause you don’t live together, didn’t grow up together and just met really. Idk.
Loved that Burgess and Tallulah were in this one! Love Tessa’s books!

y'all - in classic Tessa Bailey fashion, we have a man down BAD and great spice! I loved fangirl down (the audio is incredible!) so no shock that I loved this as well!

read it if you like:
- forbidden romance
-dive fmc x down bad mmc
- tension and incredible spice

thank you Avon for the ARC copy!!

This book just didn’t work for me, and honestly, the only reason I finished it was because I didn’t want a DNF on my record. I couldn’t connect with either main character—the step-siblings trope felt weird, and the story just never quite came together. I kept hoping it would redeem itself, but it kept letting me down, and by the end, I was just frustrated with both the book and myself for sticking with it.

Sig feels like an overgrown child who has no clue how to have an adult relationship, and Chloe is written in such an over-the-top way that she comes across like a poorly done fever dream of a young Emily Gilmore. She’s supposed to be a "manic pixie dream girl," but her only defining personality trait is… that she likes Sephora eye creams? WHAT?!?

I usually love hockey romances, and I’m a fan of Tessa Bailey, but this one? Yeah… not for me.

Dream Girl Drama is typical Tessa Bailey: an overbearing MMC, a flighty FMC, and a slightly outrageous plot. Tessa Bailey books are always fun and fly by for me, however the same formula does get a bit tiresome and, consequently, this book just didn't stand out. I didn't love the characterization of Sig or Chloe, and I found the pacing a bit odd. We started off with their first introduction then quickly skip months ahead, so the reader does not see the progression of the two characters catching feelings for one another, only the initial attraction. While, yes, there is subtext in the previous books in the series, this felt unfulfilling in a romance novel. I also did not care for the forbidden love trope, but I decided to give it a shot for Tessa. I hope the next book in the series strays a bit more from Tessa's previous character work, and that we see a different dynamic with our main characters. This one was fine, but it's not a new favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy to review, all opinions are my own.

𝓓𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓶 𝓖𝓲𝓻𝓵 𝓓𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓪 by @tessabaileyisanauthor

💖 Insta-love
🏒 Hockey Romance
🕵🏻‍♂️ Secret Lovers
🌲 Lots of Pining

This book was seriously so pucking good. It’s been a while since I’ve read a solid hockey romance, and believe me when I say that Tessa really went for the power play with this one. ✨

The chemistry between Sid & Chloe was absolute perfection, and the tension was EVERYTHING.

My new hobby this week is going to every store that carries the special editions to see which one is my fav. So far, I’m a sucker for the sticks. 🏒

Thank you so much to Tessa Bailey & @avonbooks for providing me with this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. 🤍

Thank you @avonbooks for the gifted copy!

4.5⭐️

🏒❤️ 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 ❤️🏒
This story! This premise! It’s kind of out of left field huh? Well whatever crazy story it seems like it’s going to be, Tessa knows how to mix it all together and make some fun magic with it!

Sig and Chloe meet unexpectedly when Sig’s car breaks down, and they immediately hit it off. A couple of hours later they both show up to a meeting with their respective parents, who announce they are getting married to each other.. which makes Sig and Chloe future step-siblings!

This story has a lot of Insta-Love and steamy tension in it but also friendship building. Chloe is naive and sheltered and you do feel for her even if she seems spoiled. Sig is going above and beyond for her, as a protector and someone who adores her.

I love the hockey boys in this story, they make things lively with the baseball match and always teasing each other. I am looking forward to some more softball 🥎 in the future!!! 🏒🩵

The ending of this book has a major twist!! I guessed it only after a certain plot point in the book, but it was definitely an interesting way for this story to go! I was happy with how everything wrapped up!


🎧 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🏒 Hockey Romance
❤️ Insta Love
🏒 Forbidden Romance
❤️ Harp Prodigy

3.5 stars rounded up

Sig Gauthier lives a pretty quiet life. Though he's a professional hockey player (and damn good one at that), he lives modestly, having bought a house for the single mother who raised him on her own while working two jobs. He drives an old pick-up truck, and lives in a sparse apartment, but it doesn't matter much to him as long as he's living his dream. That is, until he has a chance encounter with the beautiful harpist Chloe Clifford and falls head over heels at first sight while on a trip to upper-crust Darien, CT to visit his semi-estranged father. After sparks fly and Chloe and Sig agree to meet up later after their respective evening obligations, they're both horrified when they turn up at the same dinner and find out their parents are engaged. While their hopes of romance seem dashed, Sig is determined to do right by Chloe and help her to gain the independence she's been lacking under her mother's thumb. As Sig supports Chloe's dreams of pursuing her music career in Boston and they spend more time together, the chemistry and tension between the two only deepens, and Sig will do anything to have the girl of his dreams.

I FLEW through the first 40% of this book, and then it slowed down a bit for me. I really loved the tension between Chloe and Sig, but they took a little too long to act on it for my liking! Insta-love isn't usually my favorite trope, so I did have to suspend belief a bit when it came to their initial meeting. I also started to get a little tired of how clueless Chloe was - I get that she was sheltered, but she didn't seem to try at all to provide for herself or learn how to adult, she just let Sig do it for her. The spending of her rent money on eye creams was a bridge too far for me LOL. I did enjoy the forbidden-ness of it all, but wish they had acted on it more as the story played out. Overall, I did enjoy this book, but it wasn't my favorite of the series - Fangirl Down will forever be top tier for me!

Read if you like:
❤️ grumpy sunshine
❤️ forbidden romance
❤️ sports romance
❤️ angsty!

Queue the song Whatta Man by En Vogue ft Salt-N-Pepa - in walks Sig, a dreamy, hunky hockey player. Okay, maybe he doesn't so much as walk in, but his truck breaks down and then he walks in. But man. Whatta man.

Then turn on the song Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli and in barrels "Dream Girl" aka Chloe. For real, in Sigs eyes, this has to be the song for him.

Not sure why these are my picks for this book, but when you read this, you'll understand.

Anywho - away from the music.

Holy spice.

Forbidden romance. Marriage that seems to be a sham. All the drama Chris Harrison could ever have. Hockey. Baseball. DOGS. Boston city life. Romance. Music. Did I mention spice?

This book had it alllllll.

Absolutely loved it and wish I could have devoured it in one sitting (stupid work).

Go grab a copy and just indulge yourself this weekend. Get lost between the pages, in fact, spread those pages and enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Publishing for my ARC!

Tessa Bailey never misses! I have been looking forward to Dream Girl Drama since meeting Sig and Chloe in The Au Pair Affair! This book gave the best amount of love and spice to help get through the winter blues. The chemistry between Sig and Chloe is undeniable in every scene. The way Sig has always been Team Chloe from the day he met her is heartwarming. Loved this book and can't wait for the next one!

Another amazing TB book - this one with forbidden/taboo romance tropes. It started a little rocky for my because of very quickly jumping timelines and no other characters beyond Sig and Chloe even though we know characters from the other books. Once I got past 30% and we settled in to the Now timeline, I really go into it. Excellent spice and chemistry! Loved the epilogue and cannot wait for another book in this series!!! I was hoping Colligan or Mullins would get a book and sounds like they might!!!

Tessa Bailey’s Dream Girl Drama had a fun cast of characters and plenty of signature banter, but overall, it left me feeling like something was missing. Chloe and Sig had great moments together, and I enjoyed watching them navigate their dynamic, but the main source of conflict between them felt overdone—like it was stretched out longer than necessary. Instead of deepening the emotional tension, it sometimes made the story feel repetitive.

That being said, I did appreciate the theme of becoming your own person and stepping outside of expectations. Chloe’s journey of figuring out who she is and what she truly wants was a strong point in the book. And the side characters? Absolutely entertaining! They brought energy and humor that kept things moving.

Unfortunately, the story itself felt a little incomplete—like there were threads that could have been developed more or moments that needed a bit more resolution. I wanted a deeper dive into the relationship dynamics and personal growth rather than just surface-level drama.

While it wasn’t my favorite Tessa Bailey book, it still had her signature charm, fun characters, and steamy moments. If you’re a fan of her writing, you might still enjoy it, but for me, it just didn’t fully hit the mark.

2.5 ⭐️

I had a feeling I wouldn’t like this one after reading the second book in the series, and unfortunately, I was right. I’ve enjoyed Tessa’s books before, but this one just wasn’t for me.

At the beginning, the chemistry between the characters is strong, to the point of insta love. I’m not a fan of that, especially when the relationship feels purely based on lust. That said, I did enjoy the forbidden aspect of their relationship and how it played out. The constant tension, the angst, and their struggle not to give in was exciting.

As for the characters, Chloe felt childish and immature. Her mom constantly infantilized her, and she depended on her for everything. It was nice to see her take a chance, move out to pursue her dream, and try to make it on her own (with Sig’s help, of course).

Sig was broody and super protective. He did everything to take care of Chloe but constantly doubted in his ability to do so. He was so down bad for this girl that he was selling sports memorabilia just to spoil her.

Also, some of the descriptions were really cringy. Tush, buns, milking, breach… just why?

The plot of this book relies heavily on miscommunication, a trope I only enjoy when it adds to the story, not when it’s the driving force behind it. The twist at the end did surprise me. I had a feeling something sketchy was going on with his dad, but i’m glad everything worked out for them in the end.

Overall, a fast-paced read that might be enjoyable if you are on a reading slump.

Final Rating
Stars: 2.5 ⭐️⭐️✨
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
🏒 Forbidden romance
🏒 Insta love
🏒 Future stepsiblings drama

If I had to rank the books in this series:
📖 Fangirl Down- 4 ⭐️
📖 Dream Girl Drama- 2.5 ⭐️
📖 The Au Pair Affair- 2 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sig has met the girl of his dreams. He has an instant connection with her, the attraction is magnetic. Dream Girl Chloe is everything to him: fun, happy, and adventurous.

It all comes crashing down when his dad announces at dinner that he is engaged... to Chloe's mother! Now this romance has become forbidden as Chloe is about to become his step-sister.

The two grudgingly end their romance, but it isn't as easy as it seems and they quickly realize they were meant to be.

But are they willing to risk it all to be together?

I know it seems like a taboo romance, but I love how Chloe and Sig worked out despite all the hurdles. I guess they really didn't have that "sibling bond", so they really weren't step-siblings.

And I love that they work together to achieve each other's goals, it isn't just the thrill of a whirlwind romance.

It really just turns out beautifully.

🔥🏒🎵🐶

Quintessential Tessa Bailey! All the steam, chemistry, humor, sports, and swoon-worthy tension you could ask for. When free-spirited Chloe and rugged hockey pro Sig share an unforgettable kiss as strangers, neither expects to find out they’re about to become family. Their connection is undeniable, and despite becoming the best of friends, resisting each other becomes their biggest challenge. With their parents’ impending wedding and their careers on the line, they’re forced to ask themselves—will they choose their dreams or love?

Tessa Bailey once again delivers the perfect balance of heart and spice. While Fangirl Down remains my favorite, and I did find the "soon-to-be family" comments a little hard to overlook while they were making out, the banter and humor kept me hooked. Tessa Bailey is always an auto-buy for me, and this book was no exception!

Bailey masterfully combines humor and romance, creating a narrative that is both heartwarming and hilarious. Sig and Chloe's dynamic is electric, and their journey from a chance encounter to navigating complicated family ties is both engaging and entertaining. Chloe's character, a sheltered harp prodigy seeking independence, adds depth to the story as she yearns to break free from her controlling mother. Sig's promise to teach Chloe about independence in Boston is endearing, yet their struggle to keep their relationship platonic amid growing family drama adds a layer of tension that keeps readers hooked.

Imagine meeting someone, feeling that instant spark, sharing a steamy moment… and then finding out your parents are engaged. Talk about a plot twist! That’s exactly what happens to Sig and Chloe, and let’s just say—it makes things complicated.

I had fun with this one, but I didn’t love it. Chloe was just a little too needy for me, and Sig? That man was out here ready to hand her the moon on a silver platter before she even asked. Sweet? Yes. Maybe a little too much? Also yes. But I won’t lie—the guy had me swooning a little.

The story itself was decent, but the MMC really carried this book. Sig’s golden retriever energy was kind of adorable, and while Chloe wasn’t my favorite, their connection kept me turning the pages. Was it over the top? Oh, absolutely. But was I entertained? Also yes. And that setup for the next book? Consider me intrigued.