Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey is the third book in the Big Shots Series. This is Chloe and Sig‘s story.
 
Chloe comes from a very rich family, and she has everything and is surrounded by wealth. She is a child prodigy and plays the harp and that was very cool to see. Chloe was a bit ungainly and naive in the beginning and lacked a bit of personality and I was quite taken aback with her. But luckily that changed overtime and she tried to be more independent in her own way.
 
Sig is one of the best hockey players in the league and his career gave him the opportunity to care for the people he loves. He’s such a sweetheart and loves fiercely with everything he has, and Sig was my favorite part of this book.
 
Chloe and Sig’s first meeting was just iconic and they meet in a country club where both are out of place, and they don’t belong there and bond over it. They become friends and they have an amazing chemistry, and it could be so much more. But it can’t be easy, especially when they’re parents are marrying each other, and they become step-siblings. While this would usually be quite forbidden and angsty, in this story it rather created unnecessary drama and created an image problem for both of them and I’m still torn about how I feel about this aspect. The romance itself was very sweet and the longing they had for each other was so real. And while Sig was giving his all, it sometimes felt like Chloe took things for granted. But they supported each other beautifully and the friend basis was working well for them.
 
I always really like Tessa Bailey romcoms and this one was a good story, but I feel like it could have been even more. 4 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

The angst… the longing… the YEARNING.

This was a difficult one to rate because I did love the tension and overall relationship in this story but I had a few qualms.

I enjoyed that our FMC was quite unlikable at times because of the habits she grew up with. It made her realistic and the reward of her character arc felt earned.

The insta-love had me rolling my eyes and screaming at my phone. If I had a fun few hours with a man and found out he was going to be my step brother you bet your bottom dollar I would be disgusted and keep my distance but that may just be me.

Overall I enjoyed this fast paced story and recommend for anyone looking for a romance full of small touches and longing glances.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc through NetGalley! All opinions are my own honest opinions.

i’ve read the other two books in this series, so i was really intrigued when they first introduced sig/chloe in the second book. i liked the concept, but the characters weren’t my favorite. i felt as though their connection was purely lust and chloe just seemed very childish to me. it was a weird dynamic, like she wasn’t okay with her having her mom’s money or help but she’s okay using sig’s money to buy expensive eye cream and to let him pay her rent or go on these sephora hauls?

the plot was interesting at least, we were deep into the book and i was still wondering how they were going to resolve the whole “the girl i have the hots for is actually my stepsister but i still want to have the hots for her if it wouldn’t ruin my career because i’d be dating my stepsister” problem.

overall, i enjoyed it even though i’ve enjoyed other characters more in the big shots series

Dream Girl Drama follows two future step-siblings who meet and develop intense feelings for each other, but the looming "it would look weird" factor keeps them from being together. While the tension and chemistry between them were undeniable, the central conflict felt frustrating—especially since they met as adults before knowing their parents were involved. The idea that their relationship would be taboo didn’t fully make sense to me, which made it hard to connect with the story.

The chemistry was the strongest aspect of the book, but it felt more like lust than love. The female lead often seemed overly dependent, while the male lead gave everything without much in return. Ultimately, while some readers might enjoy the angst and tension, this one just wasn’t for me.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

✨𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲✨

After a mishap with his car on the way to meet his father’s girlfriend, Sig Gauthier—a famous hockey player—finds himself without a way to communicate. Seeking help, he enters a private country club to ask for a phone, where he meets the stunning Chloe Clifford. Sparks fly immediately, and Sig quickly becomes captivated by what he believes is his dream girl.

However, his vision for the future shatters when he finally arrives at his father's dinner, only to discover that his father’s girlfriend—now his fiancée—is none other than Chloe's mother.

With his dream girl now his future stepsister, Sig resolves to keep their relationship strictly platonic while helping Chloe adjust to her new life in Boston. But maintaining that distance proves increasingly difficult as they navigate the constant temptation brought on by their proximity and the growing family drama.

Dream Girl Drama is the third installment in the Big Shots series by Tessa Bailey, though it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. It’s an adorable story that I really enjoyed, especially the male main character—he’s definitely swoon-worthy! While I think the story could have been developed differently in some ways, I understand that the plot took the direction it did for the sake of the ✨drama✨.

Strangers ➡️ Lovers ➡️ Friends ➡️ Lovers
Sports Romance (Hockey)
Forbidden Romance
Forced proximity
Angst, tension and spice

I rate this book 4/5.

Dream Girl Drama is out NOW!

Huge thanks to netgalley and the author for the ARC.💖

4/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️

“I want to watch you . . . be you. In the quiet moments, too.”

🔥 Insta love
🔥 Hockey romance
🔥 Touch her and 💀 vibes
🔥 Forbidden love

Things I loved:
✨ The sexual tension
✨ Chlo’s Pink Jersey
✨ He got her shirt!!
✨ Pop tart stash
✨ Pierre
✨ Orgasm Donors
✨ Baseball hot takes + a brawl “Bottom line, she’s a hockey girl. She’s our hockey girl.”
✨ Grace - “I’m pretty sure the last time I got chills, I was at the Magic Mike show in Vegas. But I digress.”
✨ Tessa Bailey is a total Swiftie

After reading a lot of 1st person books lately, this was hard to get into at first. But let’s be honest, Tessa Bailey can do no wrong.

A huge thank you to Tessa Bailey and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If this book were a song, it would absolutely without a doubt be Down Bad by Taylor Swift. I have never read a MMC that was more in love and obsessed with the FMC than reading Sig Gauthier. Dream Girl Drama... more like Dream Man Drama because why isn't he real???

Unpopular opinion in the romance world, but insta-love when done correctly is WAAAAAAY better than a slow burn. There was still plenty of tension and angst and Tessa killed this one!

Also... THE BACKDOOR ACTION?? TESSA?! I mean I'm certainly not complaining by any means... but i was absolutely no expecting that, now give me more please.

This entire book was just two characters trying to keep their hands to themselves. It was pure comedic romcom torture watching Sig and Chole try to resist each other. Add in a touch of forbidden future step siblings, so good.

Tessa Bailey’s newest rom-com is full of spice & steaminess, intense attraction and two completely opposite personalities. The story of Sig and Chloe is so sweet and adorable. They are so different from each other – Sig, the up & coming professional hockey player & Chloe, a prodigy on the harp, so impulsive and a little naïve– yet their differences make them fit so well together.

Sig is protective and possessive of Chloe in so many ways from keeping her safe, making sure she has whatever she needs plus with his intense love & affection for her. Boyfriend material? Absolutely! It is all easy smiles and warm feelings for all he does for her. Chloe has led a privileged life, she is impulsive & naïve about much outside her world. Sig makes it his mission to help her learn everything she needs to know when she makes an impulsive decision to move to the city to achieve her dream playing the harp as a first chair. Still, while they both feel the sparks between them, they can only be friends. Friends only because of their parents who are engaged. No matter how hard they look for a solution, the problem appears to have none. Luckily, Bailey never leaves the reader without a HEA!

The book is a quick read with intensity woven throughout the book. There are very spicy scenes and so many smiles for Sig and Chloe with the intensity of their love. The book is simply a nice read.

We first meet Sig and Chloe in book 2 of the Big Shots series (Burgess and Tallulah's book) but this book is their story. Sig is a hockey player for the Boston Bearcats and Burgess' teammate. Sig and Chloe and Chloe chance encounter one night at a country club when his truck breaks down and his phone dies and he needs to call a tow truck. He is saved by Chloe with a phone charger and is instantly smitten with her. The attraction is mutual and the two share a kiss and sparks fly, they make plans to see each other again and go on their way. Sig arrives at his dad's and finds Chloe there and they find out their parents are getting married - TO EACH OTHER!!! Which will make them STEP-SIBLINGS!! This leaves Sig heartbroken but he encourages Chloe to move to Boston since she has been wanting to get out from under her mother's thumb and become independent. With Sig's help and protection she attends the Boston conservatory and applies for a position with the Boston Symphony.

Sig's contract is up and he is also up for the Captain's position except his new boss forbids him from having any relationship with Chloe but they can no longer deny their attraction and make the choice that could ruin both their careers for one night together before their parents get married.

Nobody writes taboo romance quite like Ms. Tessa Bailey! If you know Tessa's books you know it's going to be spicy! She writes mostly 3rd person but it never bothers me I just love her writing. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

Tropes:
🏒Step siblings
🏒Hockey romance
🏒forbidden love/taboo
🏒strangers to friends to lovers

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for a complimentary E-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book to review.
I really enjoy Tessa Bailey's books, but this one got annoying to me. I was annoyed how much Sig took care of Chloe, every need or want. Not in a cute, romantic way, but in a babying her way. And Chloe, it seemed unbelievable to me that a 25 year old woman was that clueless. She didn't understand money, how to take care of herself, time management, basic things. I read FanGirl Down, the The Au Pair Affair which was leading to this book and enjoyed those. This one just missed the mark for me. I can already see the set up for more books with the other team mates so be on the lookout for more books.

5 ⭐️
Why you’ll love this book!!
Future Stepsiblings
Hockey Romance
Forbidden Love
Insta Love
Dirty Talk
Spicy

I loved Sig and Chloe!! I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book after seeing them in the last book and these two did not disappoint at all!! I am a sucker for insta love and Chloe’s fun bubbly personality and just a dang good rom com.. The way Sig takes care of Chloe had me in love with and 🫠 .. Tessa Bailey writing is amazing in this book it did not disappoint at all the books I is nothing short of five stars!!!!

This is the third book in Bailey’s sports romance series but can definitely be read as a standalone. Both MCs were likeable and kindhearted. I would have liked to see more individual growth from Chloe as she learned how to do laundry and basically nothing else. There is some instalove but Bailey uses time jumps so it doesn’t all happen in the span of two weeks.

FINALLY!! Sig & Chloe’s Story! 😍

Okay, this might be the least steamy in the Big Shots series (which, let’s be honest, is saying something 🤭), but the slow burn?? Chef’s kiss! The tension, the denial, and that sizzling buildup? So worth the wait when they finally cave! 🔥

My only tiny nitpick? I wish they’d known each other for more than a few hours. Not the biggest fan of insta-love, but honestly, the chemistry more than makes up for it! 💕

Tessa Bailey is forever on my auto-buy list, so I'm DEFINITELY getting this a physical copy for my shelf! 📚✨

Big thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager & NetGalley for the ARC of Dream Girl Drama! 💕

The slow burn, forbidden love makes this an engaging and quick read. The ending caught me by surprise! A perfect release for February and Valentine's Day. My favorite book in Tessa's Big Shots series.

3.5⭐️
Another light hearted, quirky And fun book by Tessa Bailey. I was a big fan of Sig in the Au Pair Affair and I was happy to get to know his character throughout this book! Chloe was a bit clueless and naïve through the book, so not my favorite FMC that Tessa has written but she got better. As to expect form TB- banter, swoony men & fun.

Dream Girl Drama was a fun read. I liked Chloe and Sig meeting and the instant attraction they had, I was excited for what was to come. They experience a lot of ups and downs, sometimes it's entertaining, sometimes it's drawn out, but I hung in there until the end because I wanted them to get their HEA. Overall, I thought it was good but I didn't love it.

Sig and Chloe had a lot of entertaining scenes and interactions together. They're in a situation where they instantly like each other but then find out they're soon-to-be step-siblings and start fighting their attraction and feelings. There is humor mixed with mild drama and angst right off the bat. I liked Sig and Chloe for the most part but sometimes his instant love for Chloe seemed over the top and Chloe and her sheltered self could come off as juvenile and not smart at times. That being said, there was a lot of fun mixed in that kept me smiling and reading. Those moments when you could feel their pull to one another were awesome. I was filled with anticipation for these two to get together. At first, I liked the slow burn back-and-forth between them. Then it felt too slow, to the point it was dragging, and by the time they actually got together, it felt slightly anticlimactic for me.

My main issue was how the step-sibling situation was set up. I didn’t see it as an issue since she’s 25 and he’s 29. Therefore, all the drama created with family or possible career paths felt forced and not fully believable to me. Because this situation was the premise of the story, I accepted it. However, for me, it felt like telling not showing when it came to this element.

There is goodness involved. Chloe and Sig are sweet together and there are some great moments involved. I loved the interactions with Sig’s teammates and that they injected a nice amount of humor as well. It’s not my favorite book by this author but it did make for a cute, easy read.

Dream Girl Drama is the third book in the Big Shots series by Tessa Bailey and follows Bearcat Hockey star Sig Gauthier and musical prodigy Chloe Clifford.

I was really excited to get this arc, not only because of the author, but, for me, hockey romances rarely miss. However, this one hit the goalpost. In the end, I DNF'd. One reason is the premise/drama set for the romance was a little much and would have worked had the characters not continuously mentioned the awkwardness. All I could see in the future with how they talked were awkward Thanksgivings with their parental units. I also could not relate *at all* to the FMC.

My rating for this book is simply for Sig. Sig, although perhaps a little overprotective and obsessed, was amazing. Since I've enjoyed it in other of Tessa's books, and given Sig himself, I also am assuming the smut is on point.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this arc.

I love the whimsical fun time I have when reading a Tessa Baily book. Her books are always funny and light hearted and this was no different. The “step siblings” aspect was different but created a great story for these 2. I don’t understand the controversy between the main characters dating personally since they meet as adults separate from their parents, but too each their own. I’ve loved every story with this grind group but this was my favorite.

Our girl, Tessa Bailey, came out with her new release “Dream Girl Drama” and we could not wait to get our hands on the ARC! As our first book club read of the year this book did not disappoint–”psssh ”like a Tessa Bailey book ever could!

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…

After reading “The Au Pair Affair” we could not wait for Chloe and Sig’s story, you could cut their tension with a knife! We loved the witty banter, the character growth and the relationship between our FMC and MMC.

Run and add this book to your TBR!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Avon Publishing for the advanced E-Arc!!