Oy, this one was not for me.

Dream Girl Drama follows pro hockey player Sig and his relationship/non-relationship with his soon to be step-sister Chloe. The book lives up to its title and is full of drama, some of which seemed repetitive and unnecessary.

This is the first Tessa Bailey book I've read, which may have been a mistake since this is the third book in a series. Hockey teammates and other minor characters' names were thrown around like I was expected to already know who they were. Again, that may have been partially my fault, but a bit of an introduction for these characters would have been nice.

I think I would have enjoyed the book more if we got to see some of the behind-the-scenes events of Sig and Chloe. A lot of cute moments were mentioned but never shown, and all of these moments were the ones I would have rather gotten to see flushed out. The moments we got were less endearing and more cringe-worthy. So, so many cringe-worthy moments that pulled me from the story and made me want to stop reading. I was more interested in minor characters' budding relationships than the relationship between Sig and Chloe.

You may enjoy this book more than me if you have read the previous books and you also like:

-instalove
-forbidden romance

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this novel.

While this book is another hockey romance, it is one of the best hockey romances out there! It is a forbidden romance with lots of spice and great banter in Tessa Bailey's signature style we've all come to love. Sig was just the sweetest!

Tessa Bailey can do no wrong. This was stunning. I love the instant attraction, the complications, the palpable angst, and a spectacular surprise twist. I loved these characters and hope to read more from this world!

I absolutely adored "Dream Girl Drama"! I couldn't put it down and finished it in just one day. This was my first hockey romance novel, and now I understand why it's such a popular genre. The book was so funny that I found myself laughing out loud, and it also brought tears to my eyes multiple times. I highly recommend this amazing book by Tessa Bailey.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

netgalley I might owe you my life for this arc
I had the time of my life with this — I’m a simple girl give me a man who is obsessed and I’m seated —needless to say Sig met my criteria
I just know people are gonna hate on Chloe but they have no right because let’s be so fr we all wanna be her
overall yes highly recommend

I give a book 5 stars when the vibes are immaculate. If I finish the book and I'm emotionally spent, happy, and just reliving moments, the book gets 5 stars. This book did it and it was a roller coaster of a ride. ROLLER COASTER. I was gasping. I had to take pauses. I had to stare at the wall and yell. The love story of Stig and Chloe was wild. Stig is a hockey player for a team in Boston. Chloe is a rich socialite from Connecticut. They ended up meeting one day due to a dead pickup truck at a country club and it was INSTANT. Maybe insta-lust. Maybe insta-love. Maybe, this is Tessa entering the fantasy realm and creating mating bonds. I don't know; frankly, I didn't care as I ate it up. It all fell apart when he found out his sort of estranged father and Chloe's mom were marrying, meaning they would become stepsiblings. This leads to them having a moral crisis about continuing their relationship. Ok, let me pause here. I don't think I'm crazy when I say, I don't feel them being together is weird. They are not biologically related. They didn't grow up together. They are in their late 20s. Their parents can do what they want. Stig and Chloe should have been able to do what they want. (Am I wrong?!?)

However, the story must have a crisis and both of their careers and futures are on the line because step-sibling love is a no-no in the eyes of the media even with all the facts. Chloe had me on edge quite a bit with annoyance as she was a clueless rich girl but she was truly a product of her mother's raising. I ended up liking her a lot. Oh, there is a cute bulldog named Pierre. He's a very good boy. Stig is a fabulous MMC and I love him. He is LOYAL and devoted with possessive energy but willing to give his life for her. (*dreamy sigh*)

I hated how Tessa would end a chapter with a foreboding line. My anxiety was on edge and it was getting worse as the story got sadder and more frustrating. I hated so many people in this book and wanted to jump inside and smack a few around. (When I get emotionally invested that is the sign I am enjoying the book.) But friends, I read this book in a day. I couldn't stop and can't wait for the next book in this series. The epilogue did give a hint of who that couple will be so I hope Tessa continues with this sports series.

I was provided this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publishers. These opinions are my own and I can't wait for you all to enjoy the journey of Stig and Chloe as well.

I was so sucked into this book that I finished it in hours, Sig has my heart with how hard he loved Chloe and how he showed her, he is truly boyfriend goals. Chloe was a great female lead and an interesting one, sunshine personified almost and she had such a wonderful heart; it was interesting that she was a talented harpist too which made her unique. I loved how they were both honest with each other even when they'd made the hard decision they did, there wasn't any intentional cruelty to force them to stick to that decision, they both knew what they had to do even while they were still in love with each other. The slow burn was so good too, normally I'd get frustrated but we got breadcrumbs to tide us other that were oh so sweet and when we finally got there it was well worth it and hot. The slight twists in the book were also done really well and left you wondering how was this all going to end for our couple, how were they going to get their HEA?

Dream Girl Drama is book 2 in the Big Shots series by Tessa Bailey. It is about Sig Gauthier, a pro hockey player, and Chloe Clifford, his dream girl. On the way to meet his father’s new girlfriend, Sig’s truck breaks down at a fancy country club. This is where he randomly meets Chloe and the attraction is instant! But they both have somewhere to be so they vow to meet up again later that evening. Until, Sig arrives at his father’s new girlfriend’s house to find out that his father is engaged and that Chloe is his father’s fiancé’s daughter. And with their parents getting married……his future step sister!

This book has all the humor and chemistry you could want in a rom-com! It’s insta-love when they meet and record stopping when they realize they can never be more than friends. Chloe is a harp prodigy just trying to escape her controlling mother and Sig will bend over backwards and do anything to make her happy. The mix of heart and chemistry and sweet moments will overcome the frustration of the forbidden romance. The slow burn in this one is HOT! After meeting Sig and Chloe in book 2 of this series, I was excited about reading their story and it did not disappoint! You will root for their happily ever after from the start!

Read this one if you love:
-sports romance
-forbidden romance
-Lots of banter
-steamy chemistry
-dual POV
-spice

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read an ARC of Dream Girl Drama in exchange for my honest review.

Tessa Bailey is the ultimate fun beach read and her latest does not disappoint! I loved the emphasis on the friendship between the main characters in this one.!

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series…this one less so. I found the female MC to be rather one dimensional and the central conflict to be not as big of a deal as everyone made it out to be. I will say that I appreciated that both MCs focused on their dreams and put themselves first. I’m glad they got everything they wanted in the end! Despite its flaws, I still enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others…just not as enthusiastically as I would recommend the first two books in the series.

This book sucked me in from the beginning! I liked the other two books of this series but wasn’t a huge fan but this book changed my mind! Would definitely recommended even if you don’t read the others in the series

This wasn’t my favorite one out of the series, but it also wasn’t the worst. Might have a smidge more hope for Corrigan & Skylar’s story 😅

Probably because stepbrother/stepsister has never been a thing for me, I wasn’t super drawn into it. However, the romantic in me was DYING when they kept running into problems and couldn’t be together 😭😭

Will still finish out the series but not my absolute fave. Solid 3.5

I wanted to love.this. The first book in the series was perfection. 2nd was a swing and a miss. This one, tried so hard but had to walk. The two main characters had no chemistry. The whole harp instrument was a completely off thing to give Chloe. She was written as such a dumb blonde, it was grating. She spent how much on blush!? I couldn't get behind these two hooking up.

♾️⭐️

This. Book. Was. Everything.

From the moment I met Sig and Chloe in “The Au Pair Affair”, I knew I needed their romance. The instant connection? The pining? The SIMPING? The almost-step-siblings forbiddenness of it all? 😩❤️

The story picks up on an earlier timeline than we meet them in the previous book and continues through it. We get it all—the origin story, the details we were all craving in the previous book, the drama of it all. It’s so perfect and fun and bingable (I read it in one day so I can attest to this 🙂‍↕️).

I’m not going to go into too much detail, but I’m telling you all: this is the downest-baddest man that has ever been written. The blueprint. The book may be called “Dream Girl” Drama, but this man meets all the criteria of a dream *man*. I cannot even put into words how down bad this man in. That alone should be enough to convince you to preorder a copy and stalk your mailboxes on release day.

Also, it’s spiiiiicy. Steaming. You’ll love it. 🥵

I think it’s actually insane how much this series has taken over my life. I hadn’t read many Tessa Bailey books prior to this series, but now I’m foaming at the mouth for each release. If you’ve read them, you know what I mean.

ANYWAYS, please consider picking this one up because I will be your yapping partner before, during, and after your read 😇

Tessa, can we meet for coffee?!? I have to know how you write such darling books!!! I still can not get over how precious this story was. It was so honest, and true, and juicy! I loved every page. I am always in awe at how beautiful you write your books. Thank you for such a great story! -Kelsey Vogeney @little_blue_book_hutch

Lots of chemistry between Sig & Chloe. It was really sweet how much Sig cared about Chloe and the lengths he went to in order to make her happy and make sure she was safe. I always enjoy Tessa Bailey's books and this was no exception. It did not end up being my favorite in the series but still a fun read.

I was curious about Sig and Chloe's story after their introduction in Tessa Bailey's previous book, and I was so excited they got their own book! The story begins with how they met: at a country club after Sig's truck broke down. Sig and Chloe have instant chemistry, but things are quickly thrown into disarray when they are introduced formally by their parents, who are marrying each other. So the rest of the book revolves around them trying to navigate their feelings for each other while fighting against them because of becoming stepsiblings. They have such a sweet, supportive relationship and I loved them together!

⭐⭐⭐ 2.5/5

This one is definitely better than the last, but it's still not perfect. If you're into instalove, you may love this, but I was disappointed in just how little I felt like I knew about the characters. There wasn't much character building, just brief glimpses into their pasts to show you why they are the way they are, and relationship building? Forget about it. There's just a lot of cutesy stuff, but nothing makes me believe that these characters actually love each other.

There was some other stuff with the characters and ending, but it's all subjective anyway so whatever!

Please Tessa, I beg of you to write Mailer's story next. I already know that he'll have my favorite book of the series.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC copy!

I enjoyed this! Classic Tessa Bailey, I liked the story and escapism. However, I do feel that her writing can seem a bit superficial and not fully thought out. Overall fine book!

This was perfect. The only thing I would change is to make it longer because I need more Chloe and Sig!

I adored this with my whole heart. Sig and Chloe's love is palpable, it's a living thing. Bailey made these characters feel so real to the point that I ached for both of them. The situation they are in feels impossible and the yearning they both experience is visceral.

Something I really loved about this book is the way Sig describes and talks to Chloe. It’s as if she’s the creator of his universe, and he can’t help but worship her. His entire world seems to revolve around her every breath.

Chloe feels the same for Sig but I can tell that no matter what happens, Sig's torch will always burn brighter - he's completely enamored.

Despite the conflict in this book being considered taboo, their relationship always felt so pure. They tried so hard to fight it but nothing could dull that ever present ache.

I wish this book was 1,000 pages of just them living their happily ever after. I could read a series full of just descriptions on how much Sig loves Chloe. Their story is a 10/10. One in a lifetime.

My star rating is a strong 5/5