So thrilled to get an early copy of this one. While I was a little unsure about the taboo relationship, I still found myself really enjoying this as I read through. So much tension!!

Tessa Bailey did it again. She somehow topped Burgess' story and I LOVE my goalie. Honestly, I don't find the whole step sibling thing that taboo when the "kids" are in their mid- late 20s and didn't grow up together in any capacity. The angst was all there. It was heartbreaking at times and you could feel how hurt they were. The spice was on point, as usual and the epilogue was very satisfying. It also set us up for Corrigan's story. I didn't realize that we'd want his story, but BRING IT ON.

i am such a sucker for a man who is just so down bad from the SECOND he meets the woman he wants to be with

Sig is a gruff, big, hockey player with a soft heart who’s been hurt too many times by the people who are supposed to love him most. He thinks fate is finally playing nice the night he meets Chloe, his dream girl. But what happens when his dream girl turns out to be his future step-sister…

Chloe is a harp prodigy only just leaving her safety net of Connecticut to busy, beautiful Boston. She is navigating this new world with the help of her future step-brother who just so happens to be the one person she has ever met that feels like home 🥹

this book is chalk full of heart, spice, and a couple who are so drawn together that nothing could keep them apart


** Trigger warning **
the only problem I have which really did affect what was going to be a five star read is that there was no discussion of protection at all. he did not ask if it was okay to not use a condom or if she was on birth control, or have any prior knowledge about that information. I HATE that, with him talking constantly about how much he wants her to be pregnant it felt purposeful and manipulative

that really dulled the flow of a beautiful book for me, but i also know that’s just my opinion! and some people don’t want/don’t care about the protection discussion BUT if you are like me and that would set you off- i wanted to give a warning

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy. You can pick up Dream Girl Drama on February 4, 2025.

If there's one thing Tessa Bailey's gonna do, it's write a ridiculously fun and over-the-top smutty romance. When the mood is right, these are the best books to gobble up, and I decided to pick this one up in the hopes that it would put me in that silly goofy mood.

But perhaps I wasn't 100% ready for it, because all of the pieces I normally love in a Tessa book fell a bit flat for me. The insta-love connection happened too soon and was too intense for my liking. Sig's entire obsession with Chloe (and vice versa, but really, he gave me the ick) didn't sell their romance to me. It was a bit harder to suspend disbelief and become invested in their relationship because it felt like it went 0-100 with too little prompting/interaction.

I did enjoy Chloe's quest for independence from her mother, but again, I feel like Sig stepping in to the level that he did was a bit too overbearing for me . He was overprotective in a way that gave me the ick instead of butterflies, but that's 100% personal preference and you might enjoy that in an MMC.

Plus, I find it hilarious that this was the one romance book where the third-act breakup felt JUSTIFIED. Like, I was here for the forbidden romance vibes with them ALMOST being stepsiblings, but when it came down to it, I was more invested in their individual dreams/careers than the romance, and I was ROOTING for them to break up for their own interests! It should be the opposite!

All in all, it was still a quick and easy read, and Tessa Bailey can write the hell out of a sex scene. I just wish I'd liked the couple better.

Tessa Bailey has a special kind of power when it comes to romances with the way her characters and their stories are always so lovable and engrossing. She gives insta-love more substance and depth to carry it across an entire novel. Adding on all the banter and humor, I'm never disappointed by her tropes and stories. Big Shots has been a series I've loved as a fun, light-hearted sequence of books and I'm so so grateful to have gotten the chance to read this one early.

As someone who has read many of her books, I think Chloe's character is a really different take (maybe slightly reminiscent of Piper Bellinger). Even though she seemed so different to me, I found myself appreciating her quirks and uniqueness, and even finding ways to relate and empathize with her.

Adding on to her great skills are how she can write male character POVs in the first person with that dexterity. Sig never felt like a douche or unrealistic (just hopelessly and terrifyingly in love), just a fun, lovable guy.

And one of my favorite parts of these books are always the side characters, storylines, and random sub-plots gearing up for future books. I loved the ensemble and the feature for Big Shots #4 and I'm super excited for that. I haven't even mentioned the Clueless and Culpa Mia-esque micro trope this book features because it honestly went exactly how I was expecting (funny yet tame) and for that I am glad.

Super super grateful to have read this as someone who's followed her books for so long and always had a 10/10 experience in fun, romance, and overall vibes. She never misses!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

Couple was introduced in book 2 and Sig is a total simp for brain dead Chloe.

Book is just basically them being so totally hot for eachother but they can’t act on it because their parents are engaged. Maybe I’ve read too many taboo books but like, what’s the big deal?? They weren’t related and everyone was acting like if they got together it would be the end of the world. There is basically no plot besides Sig bending over backwards for Chloe to the point where he wouldn’t let her do things in case she got hurt or something bad happened to her. He was like stifling her and she was so stupid/sheltered she let it happen. Some of the banter was funny, spice was kinda mid. Why’s every Tessa Bailey hero getting a finger in the butt every book now? I thought this would’ve been the end of the series but I can see at least 2 more coming.

Thank you Avon books for giving me the opportunity to ARC read Dream Girl Drama! This book is classic Tessa Bailey vibes; Sig is a dreamy possessive bulky alpha male hockey player and he won my whole heart.

Sig and Chloe meet unexpectedly at a country club after Sig’s car breaks down. The instant chemistry is off the charts, but what happens when they learn their parents are engaged, and they’re going to be future step siblings?

If you’re looking for an angsty forbidden slow burn with a MMC with a filthy mouth, as is Tessa Bailey’s normal style, look no further 🥹😍🥵

This couple ripped my heart out and made me believe in souls mates again.

Fave Quotes:

“I’m coming on too strong. I know I am. But I’m begging you to take me home and say that again while I’m fu***** you, Chloe.”

“If you’re not ready for that, we can keep this little skirt on while you ride my face. I’ll be blessed either way.”

“He didn’t know any other way to f*** and something told him she wouldn’t mind being thrown into positions those country club boys could only dream about.”

“What was the correct way to greet a woman you loved with every fiber of your fuc**** soul, but couldn’t have?”

“Bottom line, she’s a hockey girl. She’s our hockey girl.”

“You’re going to trust me to find a way for us, even though it’s getting harder. You delete everyone else, but you don’t ever delete me. Ever.”

I was so excited to see Sig and Chloe get a story after reading the Au Pair Affair. I thought the characters were both lovable and came from very different backgrounds. I enjoyed the attraction/tension between them throughout the book. I do feel like it got annoying that Sig, who’s her “stepbrother” was paying for everything with little in return. I mean, who blows their rent money on eye cream! I also felt like the “forbidden love” was too much at times. They were grown adults who never met before, so why is it that big of a deal for them to be in a relationship. Overall, the book was a quick read but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the Au Pair Affair. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

If you like Tessa Bailey, you’ll love this book. She was in her element with a ridiculous premise, main characters pinning for each other, some steamy sections, and a happily ever after.

While insta-love isn’t normally my thing, I was able to buy into it more than normal since they become best friends over the span of months, allowing me to believe there is more depth to the feelings. That said, the story does skim over a lot of that time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Avon for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it every single time I decide to try Tessa Bailey again… she’s hit or miss for me.

Truly did not enjoy this book. The beginning was promising. A forbidden relationship, forced proximity, looooots of tension, yes please. But I got annoyed extremely quickly with the drama and the immediate “omg I’m in love”.

I didn’t appreciate the stupidity of the main female character. Chloe was raised extremely sheltered and wealthy and it showed. Chloe didn’t know how to do her own laundry, or to buy “kibble” for the dog, and she was quite literally splurging all of her money and letting her “step brother” pay her rent. It was stupid.

The main male character, Sig, was head over heels for Chloe like immediately. This story had ZERO character building. Why did Sig love Chloe? We don’t know.
I found myself skimming a lot of this towards the end.

The vibes were immaculate. An unhinged MMC? Sig might be Tessa’s most unhinged yet. The obsession comes fast and quick and gets bolder the further the book goes on. The best part? We’ve got an unhinged, obsessed FMC like Tessa’s never produced before.

Nothing can stand in Sig and Chloe’s way. Not even their parent’s wedding.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and Goodreads for the advance reader copy of Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey.

Sig and Chloe experience instalove at the beginning of this next segment in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series. We get to start off the story with more background as to what led up to the moment we met them in The Au Pair Affair, how they met and the moment they found out that they were to become step-siblings. After talking with Chloe’s mother, Sig becomes concerned over what Chloe could lose by pursuing continuing to pursue a relationship when they are becoming step siblings. Sig continues to pursue a plan for how he and Chloe can be together, while taking more of a role of looking after her when he helps her move to Boston.

I was very drawn to these two characters in The Au Pair Affair and after reading the bonus content that was part of the Target Special Edition. Forbidden romance is a favorite trope of mine and I really love dynamics where the MCs mutually know how they feel about the other and remain near each other despite whatever is keeping them apart. I enjoyed aspects these moments of the story and am so excited to finally get an opportunity to see how things end up for Sig and Chloe. If you’re an avid reader of Tessa Bailey’s books, then I think you'll enjoy Dream Girl Drama.

I received this eARC at the perfect time.

Thank you, Tessa Bailey, for writing something that gave me a reason smile and laugh, and allowed me to cry while trying to process what has happened in the real world.

I love these two together sooo much and this was such a cute read! I can't wait for the next one!

actual rating: 3.25. i’m guilty!!! fine!!! come and arrest me!!! i’ll go freely!!! Tessa Bailey isn’t for everyone, but she is for me. i will defend her to the end of the earth. there is barely any plot to her books which i absolutely love. i don’t need to think! i can just turn my brain off and read a romance book! Sig and Chloe are people i would never want to interact with in real life but they were fun to read about. i will be seated for the next one too.

Not my favorite of Tessa’s sports books (who knew id be a golf fangirl?) but it’s definitely a winner. The instalove trope was done exceptionally well why the chemistry was off the charts. As always, the banter was top notch.

When Sig’s car breaks down in front of an exclusive country club, Chloe comes to his rescue. After experiencing an immediate attraction to each other, they agree to meet up later. Unfortunately for them, they are surprised to find their parents are engaged and they are to become stepsiblings.

The best thing about this book is the attraction and tension between Sig and Chloe. It made this book a quick read that I didn’t want to put down. The characters are lovable, though I did not like Sig taking complete care of Chloe without really getting much in return. The stepsibling issue was pushed too far. They met as adults before they even knew about their parents and Sig is practically estranged from his father. I’m sure some people would gossip but mostly I think people would get over it. The ending revelation… I don’t want to spoil… but I have thoughts… Despite the things I didn’t like as much, this was a fun read filled with tension. I was itching for the main characters to be together and I enjoyed my time reading.

I love a Tessa Bailey book and this one just hit different in a good way. It borders on taboo but also helps you feel the heat and fear of potentially being in that situation. I loved everything about this book. It had the sexiness that I’ve come to expect from a Tessa Bailey book but it also had the humor and romance. I loved the scene where the Hockey players face off with the baseball players it was hilarious and now I actually want to see that happen in real life.

such a fun read!! i will always pick up any tessa bailey book because she never disappoints. i was looking forward to reading this one and it really lived up to what i expected!

Such a fun and cute romcom to escape reality!
Sig and Chloe randomly meet at a country club and it’s love at first sight. They are immediately obsessed with each other, but it’s soon derailed when they find out their parents are engaged. Now faced with the reality that they will be step-siblings, they are forced to shut down their feelings for each other. The harder they fight to deny their feelings, the stronger they become. Sig is determined to find a way for them to be together!
I wish the “step-sibling dilemma” hadn’t been the entire plot, but I still enjoyed the story! I loved how protective Sig was of Chloe. He always took care of her and remembered the small things about her. He set the bar HIGH for book boyfriends. The side characters were so good in this book too. The rookies had me laughing out loud! Definitely a great read for something light, fluffy and with that signature Tessa Bailey spice!

Another great book in this fun series!

If you love Tessa Bailey, than you already know what you're going to get - a cozy romance, with some angst, some spice, and a lot of love. If you don't know Tessa Bailey - then you need to dive right in!!

Fan Girl Down is still my favorite book from this series, but this was also fun! And I can't wait for the baseball one next - I never want this series to end!