Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey is a fun, steamy, and emotional romance that delivers everything that I love in a romance story.
Sig and Chloe have an instant, electric connection, and their forbidden romance adds just the right amount of tension. Sig is the ultimate book boyfriend—thoughtful, smitten, and completely devoted. Chloe finds her independence with his support, making their love story even sweeter.
Bailey’s signature humor, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt moments shine in this book. Their relationship builds beautifully, with plenty of push-and-pull before things heat up.
The drama surrounding their families and careers keeps things interesting, but at its core, this is a soulmate story.
Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the Big Shots series, this book is a must-read. If you love swoon-worthy heroes and love-at-first-sight romances, Sig and Chloe’s story will not disappoint!

I thought I was ready for Sig and Chloe's story, but turns out I was not ready for this swoony boy beyond obsessed forbidden romance! This is the third book in Tessa's Big Shots series. This is more of an interconnected standalone series, but you do get some peaks at these two in the Au Pair Affair and I adored Fangirl Down, so I honestly recommend reading all of them! I knew these two were future step-siblings from the previous book, but getting to see their connection from their very first meeting brought everything into perspective. This is definitely an insta-love and chemistry read....it is so off the charts though and I loved every second! Sig is such an intense man and the way he adores Chloe and supports her independence had me falling for him from start to finish. Chloe has her moments and I wasn't sure how much I was going to like her, but she is really a product of her upbringing and I loved watching her journey from completely dependent to finding her own voice and place in the world...with Sig always close by of course. This book was full of the angst, mutual pining and the chemistry was palpable. The messy family dynamic added an extra layer of depth to this read as well. I eyeball read this, but I can only imagine how this would be on audio....I'd probably be melting all the way through!

Tessa Bailey’s novel “Dream Girl Drama,” part of the “Big Shots” series, explores a forbidden sports romance between Sig Gauthier, a professional hockey player, and Chloe Clifford, a child prodigy harpist.

Twenty-nine-year-old Sig Gauthier was drafted into the NHL three years ago in the third round, due to an injury that sidelined another player. Although highly respected and one of the best in the league, his contract is modest. With the legendary Burgess “Sir Savage” Abraham retiring at the end of the season, Sig’s contract with the Boston Bearcats is up for renewal, and his chances of being promoted to team captain, with a lucrative eight-figure salary, are highly likely.

Twenty-five-year-old Chloe Clifford has lived a sheltered life in the affluent neighborhood of Darien, three hours away from Boston. A harp prodigy, Chloe spends her days practicing and her nights indulging in mischief with her friends, stealing champagne from the country club. One evening, she overhears a man asking for a phone charger and swoops in to offer her help. The man turns out to be Sig, and the chemistry between them is instant.

Their connection quickly intensifies, culminating in a passionate kiss on a golf course. But Chloe, who must meet her mother’s new boyfriend at home, remembers her responsibilities and the two part ways, exchanging numbers. However, fate brings them back together when Chloe discovers that Sig’s estranged father, Harvey Lerner, is set to marry her mother, Sofia, making Chloe and Sig future step-siblings.

Desperate for a change and a shot at attending Berklee College, Chloe leaves her home to move to Boston with Sig. In a controlling move, Sofia cuts Chloe off financially, hoping to force her daughter to return home. Meanwhile, Sig, still earning a modest income, begins selling signed memorabilia to make ends meet and cover Chloe’s living expenses.

When Chloe receives an offer to be tutored for the first-chair position in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she is overjoyed. Sig’s promotion to captain and his pay raise are just around the corner. But their growing relationship becomes the subject of gossip, putting both of their careers at risk. To protect their professional futures, they must end their romance.

Bailey’s third novel in the Big Shots series takes a slower, more deliberate approach than its predecessors, with the first sexual scene occurring around the 69% mark (chapter17). While the step-sibling dynamic is central to the plot, the characters' relationship isn’t as forbidden as the narrative suggests. They are only related through their parents’ upcoming marriage and are both adults in their mid-twenties, which makes the “forbidden” aspect feel less impactful.

Additionally, the subplot involving Sig’s efforts to uncover his father’s secrets, while intriguing, lacks clarity. The secrecy surrounding Harvey and his mother’s past seems unnecessary, as revealing the truth would likely benefit everyone involved. This element of the story feels forced, as it complicates the plot without offering significant payoff.

Bailey’s writing has evolved since her earlier works, with her approach to intimate scenes less cringeworthy. Still, she maintains her trademark humor, including her signature “butt scenes,” which fans of her previous novels will appreciate.

I usually love a Tessa Bailey book and I have really enjoyed her sports romance series so I was thrilled to get a peek at this one, which we saw glimpses of in the previous book.

I did have a little bit of an issue with the pacing starting out in this book. It did show the relationship between Sig and Chloe developing, but it was really disjointed and jarring with several time jumps after the very long first scene, jumping again and again until we get to present day.

I really liked the characters of Chloe and Sig. Chloe very much had Elle Woods vibes, in the very rich and you should hate her but she’s just so bubbly and likable way. Sig had an interesting back story that informed his actions.

This was an insta-lust, which I can find annoying, but the immediate chemistry between Chloe and Sig helped ease that dislike for me.

This is the kind of sports romance for people who don’t really like sports. The sports parts were VERY thin (and I actually would have liked a little more). There was a very fun plot about a rivalry between the hockey team and a baseball team that had me rolling. This rates one of five sportsballs as far as actual sports content.

I really enjoyed the secondary plot about what the deal is with Sig’s father and I was pleasantly surprised to see how that turned out (and I didn’t predict the twist!). I really enjoyed the side plot and I hope Tessa Bailey continues to write them because she did a great job weaving that in.

Tessa Bailey has really been exploring new avenues in her writing the last few years and I am HERE for it. I know a Tessa Bailey book will have witty banter, a hero who worships the heroine, and more spice than I am expecting. This one lives up to the promise and despite the flaws, I still flew through it. Very fun and I am pleased to see there are at least 2 more planned in this series!

Thank you @netgalley for this advanced copy!

Sig and Chloe meet by complete chance- call it fate. The attraction is instant, but the moment is ruined when Chloe must return to her billion dollar mansion to meet her moms new fiance. Turns out, said fiancé is Sigs pops, so major conundrum.

I loved the premise of this story, but it just didn’t work for me. Chloe was very sheltered in her rich town, and Sig talks her into moving to Boston and branching out on her own. He’s a professional hockey player, and doesn’t know if he’ll be signed, but he pays for literally everything for Chloe. I’m talking apartment, food, clothes, over the top Sephora trips, etc. So she went from being sheltered by her mom to being sheltered by Sig.

In addition to that, they can’t be together as they are soon to be step-siblings, but the jealousy and over protective attitude from Sig was truly just too much. It was a little (a lot) infuriating. I did enjoy how the ending tied everything together, but as a whole this one was just not for me.

I have to admit that I was so nervous about the main female character in this one because in my opinion, Chloe didn’t make a great impression on me in The Au Pair Affair, though she did ultimately redeem herself and was great in Dream Girl Drama. Chloe is a sheltered harp prodigy who has a Sephora addiction and a slight case of kleptomania, but she has a good heart, a strong will, and the desire to make it in the world on her own terms. Sig is a hard-working, talented hockey player with an addiction to helping Chloe figure out how to live in the “real world” for the first time. The tension and the feelings between these two characters in this book is palpable, and the fact that they can’t be together because their parents are marrying each other only adds on to that tension. As a reader you feel what these characters are going through and all you want is for them to be able to be together, but it’s not just a matter of them getting out of their own way or fixing a miscommunication, they literally are being told from 500 different angles that they can’t be together - it won’t look good in their society circles, it could hinder her place in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, it could risk his spot on his hockey team. It made for such a great story, and kept me locked in the entire time. The twist at the end actually made me angry considering all the hoops these characters went through. All in all, another great Tessa Bailey book, who remains the queen of spice and rom-coms - this one has definitely landed as one of my top faves from her.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Ever since we met Sig and Chloe in The Au Pair Affair, I have been excited to read their story. This is book three in the Big Shots sports romance series, but they are interconnected stand-alone, and readers can jump in here. And this one delivers a spicy and sweet forbidden romance!

Professional hockey player Sig has a chance encounter with the girl of his dreams, only to find out she's about to be his step-sister. His father is engaged to her mother. Sig and Chloe must remain friends, but they cannot deny the sparks between them.

I'm not usually a fan of instalove, but it worked for this story because of Bailey's pivot to an angsty, forbidden romance. Told in a dual POV, we learn both Sig and Chloe feel an instant connection when they meet. It's like a lightning bolt and impossible to ignore. He falls first, and he falls hard. Sig is gruff but swoony and evolves into a golden retriever type for Chloe. He helps her settle into a new city, even as he tries to keep his feelings for her in check. Chloe, who has lived a sheltered and pampered life and is a bit immature, discovers independence with Sig's support while pursuing her dream of earning a chair with the Boston Symphony as a harpist. Their chemistry is sizzling, and the intensity of their feelings, combined with the constraints of their situation, adds to the tension and their flirty banter.

Bailey's writing is sharp, fun, and easy to read. She makes you laugh one moment and swoon the next. The dialogue is snappy, and the story is fast-paced and entertaining. It includes humorous moments, sweet scenes, and significant family drama. If you're a fan of Tessa Bailey's other books, you'll likely enjoy this one too. It's lighthearted and feels like a delightful guilty pleasure, filled with humor, heat, and heart.

Thank you to Avon Books and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the gifted review copy.

Ever since reading Fangirl Down I’ve been obsessed with this series and Tessa Bailey continues the goodness with Dream Girl Drama.

A forbidden romance with a hot hero who will do anything for the woman he fell in love with at first sight who is also happens to be one dirty talker? Yes please!

I swear this book has everything I love about Tessa Bailey’s writing – she never disappoints.

Dream Girl Drama has the best meet cute because you could immediately sense (like them) Sig and Chloe’s instant/forever attraction. I wanted them to just runaway with each other and not have to deal with the blow you knew was coming.

But that’s what Tessa Bailey does. She hooks you right into her stories making you feel instantly invested in her characters, flaws and all.

He truly was an amazing book boyfriend because he was just so smitten in a way that made you so happy for him that you had to make sure he’d get his happily ever after. At one point I thought they for sure were moving to Sweden because I didn’t see any other way for them (well I did but the parents took my idea!).

The best part of this book besides Sig and his thoughtfulness was their intense chemistry. I just loved how they fought against it every time they were together which was daily since they couldn’t bear to be away from each other even for a day. That’s true love I tell you.

I LOVE this series and am so happy it’s going to continue. This one hit the mark when it comes to soulmates. Even though it’s book three, I think it can easily be read as a standalone because none of the main characters from book one are mentioned and the main characters from book two only make very brief appearances.

If you’re looking for a fun romance where the characters are just meant for one another and love each other from the start for who they are then you’ll love Sig and Chloe.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I love Tessa Bailey books but this one took me a while to really get into. I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it. Still, I will loyally read anything Tessa writes!

3.5/5 stars.

After reading about Sig and Chloe in book 2, this is 100% not where I thought this story would take us. I loved the little snippets we got of them throughout the AuPair Affair and then felt like they fell flat in their own storyline. I think them being future step siblings was made way more taboo than it needed to be.

I do think Sig was so sweet in the way he took care of Chloe. That was the one swoon-worthy part of the book. He was so good to her.

Overall, I think I let myself hype up the book because I really loved book 2 and this didn’t live up to that hype.

Having read the previous book where Sig and Chloe appear for the first time, I was so curious to read about how they first met and ended up being almost step-siblings while you could see a mile away they were into each other.

Needless to say, their meeting was so cute that by the end of the second chapter my heart was already hurting for them. They had no idea their parents were going to get married when they first met and lusted after each other.

But, the way the story progressed made me lose focus of the book. Maybe my expectations where too high, or maybe in this book I wasn't sold on the forbidden trope. Sig had claimed the entire length of the book he wanted nothing more than a better contract because of his past life, and when he got the chance he didn't take it because of Chloe, while he already knew he couldn't go on with her. I get it that it was for the sake of the novel, but still.

Chloe, while still being depicted as vain and shallow, was more reasonable than him. Maybe, the fact that she was still portrayed like a rich spoiled kid also was disappointing to me.

Sig, I liked him a lot in The Au Pair Affair, and I liked him a lot here too, except for a few decisions he's made that didn't sit well with me.

Again, maybe I had too high expectation that set me up for disappointment. I'm curous about the Os donor's next book though.

Thank you NetGalley and Tessa for the opportunity to read this ARC, all opinions are my own.

4.5⭐
There's just something about the way Tessa Bailey writes a man that really works for me. Sig Gauthier could give lessons in yearning, and scorching dirty talk - a TOP TIER combo. Dream Girl Drama is book 3 of the Big Shots series and features star hockey player Sig and sheltered country club princess Chloe Clifford. After a blisteringly hot meet cute for Sig and Chloe at her country club, it's all over for him. He's down so bad he'll never get up, and that's the way he wants it. The big reveal that his dad and her mom are not only dating, but engaged, throws his plans for Chloe and their future (my man works fast!) into chaos. Maybe it's a sign of my own desensitization to "forbidden" relationships because of what I read, but I wouldn't have hesitated for a second to get down with a step-brother I didn't grow up with and met as an adult. Then again my life is far far away from the rarified air of Darien, Connecticut and the NHL.
This group of Boston Bearcats players have such a fun dynamic all the way from Burgess (MMC of The Au Pair Affair), the elder statesman of the bunch down to the rookies Mailer and Corrigan (MMC of the upcoming Pitcher Perfect). I'm thrilled to see that book 4 of this series sticks with a Bearcats player because I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters quite yet!
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Tessa Bailey for the ARC review opportunity!

First, I’m not a fan of 3rd person pov and for that reason alone is why it’s not a 5 star read for me.
This was my first Tessa Bailey book and I was fawning over Sig. I loved their initial meet and the witty banter had me laughing. Chloe is a spoiled, yet sheltered, harp playing prodigy and her mother definitely pulls the strings in her life. Meeting Sig sets off a series of quick decisions and soon she’s moving to Boston with him BUT they are soon to be step siblings and try their best to ignore their growing desire. The tension between them made for a good slow burn. I really liked the side characters, especially when they roll up to the dog park IYKYK 🤭 This book had me completely engaged, desperately wanting to know how they’d navigate their feelings and also keep their professional lives intact.

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 3/5

Plot: 4/5

Primary Genre: Sports Romance

Blurb: 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 an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey. 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…

The Good:

* The MMC is perfection. Manly, possessive, obsessive, and caring to a fault. His red flags all changed to green for me. If I could draw up a perfect man (other than my husband of course) it would probably be Sig. I would probably hate his behavior in real life but I love the idea of it.

* The bond between the main characters is beautifully written, teeming with angst and forbidden love. I love that they’re both extremely talented people but it ups the stakes.

The Meh:

* I get that the FMC is a “poor little rich girl” so to speak, I just don’t like that her character appears to be so empty headed. I wish she came off as a bit more intelligent, that’s all.

Bottom Line:

This isn’t the first Tessa Bailey book that I’ve read but it’s definitely the best that I’ve read so far. This is definitely more angsty and emotional than I’m used to reading from her but I really liked it. The more serious and emotional tone speaks to the forbidden love aspect of the storyline. I absolutely adore the MMC, the FMC comes across as a little ditzy but she is redeemable. They’re both extremely talented at what they do, so they have a lot to lose. I enjoyed watching the evolution of the FMC, she grows up and matures a lot over the course of the storyline. There is a plot twist that so out of left field in this storyline, I was shocked when I read it. I did not see it happening it at all. I know it’s only February as I’m writing this but this is my favorite book of the year so far. It wasn’t a super lighthearted read and it had a more serious tone but the romance is incredible. If you like Tessa Bailey, read it. If you’ve read a Tessa Bailey book and you didn’t like it, you should still read this because this story is incredible.

Dream Girl Drama is the third book in a sports romance series of interconnected standalone books. In this book, the couple includes Sig, our MMC, who is a hockey star, waiting on the renewal of his contract and promotion to captain, and Chloe, our FMC, who meets Sig at a country club, and sparks fly between the two. However, later that same day, the two discover that Sig's father, and Chloe's mother are together, and have plans to get married. Due to this, Sig and Chloe do their best to keep their relationship platonic

This book was a quick and fun read that kept me entertained all the way through. It was fast paced and there was always something going on with no dull parts that really made me want to close the book. I enjoyed the forbidden romance plot-line and I stayed locked in while reading, curious on how the situation would be resolved at the end of the book, and it actually was something that I didn't expect, which made it more enjoyable.

Tessa Bailey's MMCs always are so well written, and will always do EVERYTHING for their FMCs, and Sig was no different. He dropped everything so that Chloe could move in with him and live her dream and had his little side hustle to help pay for things for her. There was not a single second throughout this book that didn't have me rooting for the two of them.

Fair warning to people who do not like insta-love/lust in books, that is what happens in this book. I am also not usually a fan of it, but in this case, I didn't really mind it because of the way that it was done. Yes, the two meet and essentially become obsessed with each other before the end of the first chapter. However, there is a large portion of this book, where nothing actually happens except for the characters giving an insight to their thoughts and feelings about their situation. One drawback about this, though, was that after they found out about their parents, there were time jumps of several months, so we weren't really able to see too much of the start of their time of living together.

Is this the best book I've ever read? No. But, is it exactly what I thought that I would get from a Tessa Bailey book? Absolutely. And I enjoyed myself while reading it.

Now let me leave you with a quote from the book, which perfectly describes the kind of man Sig is.
<i> "You love her?" </i>
<i> "I exist for her." </i>

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Tessa Bailey, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review. Final rating was 3.5, rounded up.

DREAM GIRL DRAMA!!!! I was an ARC reader for this book and I just can’t say enough about it!! Forbidden romance? Hockey? “I would die for her” vibes? YES YES YES!! You can find ALL of that in this book!!! @tessabaileyisanauthor you are amazing and thank you again so so so much for this opportunity!! #bookstagram #tessabailey #netgalley #arcreader

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I knew I was going to love these two from the tension in Au Pair Affair, but OH MY GOSH!
There were moments I thought I needed to give them privacy. I was eating it up! Sig brought Chloe out of her shell in the most perfect way. Chloe is such a sweetie and seeing her grown from who she was forced to be made me so happy. I found myself laughing out loud at multiple scenes which is typically what happens when I read Tessa’s books. I’m so excited for the next one!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your next book boyfriend!

Dream Girl Drama gives all the hockey romance that I know and love!

What I loved about this book is that the story moved along at a great pace and it kept me very engaged with the story line. The sexual tension between Sig and Chloe was unmistakable hot and it carried on to a good little twisty ending

This was such a fun, fluffy romance read that I love And always leaves me pulling at my heartstrings.

5 stars!

Will I ever find myself a man like Sig. I'm actually feeling despair because I don't think a man like him exists!!!

Everything about this was perfect. I knew I would love Sig and Chloe from the way they were in the Au Pair Affair but this was beyond my expectations because the freaking TENSIONNNN. Sig was such a possessive simp. I've said this every single time I read a TB book and I will say it again, I am a Tessa Bailey stan because she delivers every single time. I love her quirky FMCs and her super devoted lovesick MMCs. There is just something about that combo that gets me reeling. Also, the humor and the side characters are just an added bonus.

This Big Shots series is sending me and I can't wait for the next one.

“My dream girl gets her way with me every time.”
Dream Girl Drama certainly had the family drama! Sig is a professional hockey player on his way to meet his father’s latest love interest but when his car breaks down it turns out to be the best case scenario. Chloe has lead a very privileged life and stumbling upon Sig was the game changer she never saw coming.

Sig and Chloe had everything working against them and their ability to be in a relationship. With their parents getting married and making them step siblings, the possibility of a relationship was very taboo. Especially for such public figures. But watching them navigate that was fun to see!
Thank you @tessabaileyisanauthor and @netgalley for the ARC!
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥: “Dream girl has a dream mouth, doesn’t she?”