Sometimes, parents really seemingly like to prevent you from being exceptionally happy.

Chloe and Sig's paths cross unexpectedly when Sig's car breaks down. As Sig tries to gain entrance at the tennis club, to charge up his phone, Chloe witnesses Sig being denied entry to the exclusive club. Chloe, pretends Sig is her guest, helps Sig get his phone charged from an exclusive tennis club. Impressed by Sig's kindness toward a parking attendant, it was then that Chloe stepped in to help Sig. As Sig's phone is being charged, Chloe snags a bottle of champagne, showing off her playful side. As they chat, sparks fly, and they agree to meet up later that evening.

Sig is surprised to find Chloe at his father's mansion, where his father announces his engagement to Sofia Clifford, Chloe's mother. Sig's father had previously abandoned Sig and his mother to marry into wealth.

Chloe decides to pursue her dream of becoming a harpist in Boston and Sig becomes her protector. Despite their strong attraction, they remain forbidden to each other due to their potential step-sibling relationship and the potential impact on Chloe's and Sig’s careers.

Chloe’s mentor, Grace, warns Chloe about the negative consequences of any association with Sig, especially after a news article questions Sig's motives for helping her. The situation could be resolved if Chloe's mother doesn't marry Sig's father, eliminating concerns about their relationship. As Chloe and Sig both plea to their parent NOT to marry, sometimes, parents really seemingly like to prevent you from being exceptionally happy.

I loved this book. Tessa Bailey knows how to create the perfect rom-com with laughs and spice. I loved both Sig and Chloe in the au pair affair so I was super excited to see them get their own story. I was not expecting chole to date Sig’s dad but I love how the story came out.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey was an enjoyable read, but not the strongest in the Big Shots series. Sig and Chloe’s chemistry was undeniable, and their connection kept me hooked. However, the main conflict didn’t feel like a big enough issue to justify all the concern surrounding it, which left me a little underwhelmed. While I still had fun reading it, this one just didn’t hit as hard as the others in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, & Tessa Bailey for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Listen- the Au Pair Affair set this one up beautifully!! Going in, I was like out what in the taboo hell am I going to learn I'm okay with now, Tessa? And she set these pins up and knocked em all down! Also worth noting- I think the overlapping timelines of The Au Pair Affair and Dream Girl Drama were really well done. Sometimes that can be handled in a way that feels repetitive to those that read the prior book- and this was not that.

The tension in this book. The air around me was CHARGED because of the tension-- in a book! But I think that's the magic of using a taboo like this. The HEA/resolution did not leave me questioning anything.

Tessa set up for the next book perfectly-- Can't wait to see where Skylar & Robbie "Orgasm Donor" Corrigan go on their journey!

How does Tessa write such good books? I freaking love this series and feel extra thankful to have gotten an ARC of this.

Sig was so down bad I loved it so much, their relationship had so much tension you could physically feel it while reading, I swear. I love them so much

Read if you love
🤍step siblings to be
🤍slow burn
🤍so. much. tension.
🤍friends to lovers
🤍he’s down bad but so is she

Okay, this was so good and exceeded my expectations. Very challenging circumstances for hero and heroine, but Tessa was able to do what I thought impossible and make me absolutely fall in love with the love between Sid and Chloe.


Dual POV
Hockey romance
Romantic comedy
Insta love
Forbidden love
Future step-siblings 😬
Harpist
The rookies
Burgess and Tallulah cameos
Pierre the bulldog

DREAM GIRL DRAMA by Tessa Bailey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
(3.5 rounded up to 4⭐️)

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I went into this one with pretty high expectations after reading Fan Girl Down last year and really enjoying it, but I didn’t end up loving this one as much as I’d hoped. It had its moments, but some parts just didn’t work for me.

Let’s start with Sig—the ultimate protective book boyfriend. He takes Chloe under his wing, determined to help her break free from her mom’s control and find some independence. The man is all in—paying her rent, stocking her fridge, and handling everything so she doesn’t have to lift a finger. At first, it’s sweet. But after a while? A little too much. I love a devoted MMC, but at some point, Chloe needed to stand on her own a little more.

And speaking of Chloe…she was a lot. The “spoiled rich girl” trope isn’t my favorite, and she definitely leaned into it pretty hard. I understand that she grew up sheltered and that her journey was about stepping out on her own and spreading her wings, but did she really? Because even when she left the safety net of her mom, she was still living in a penthouse, courtesy of Sig. It didn’t exactly scream independence.

That being said, their chemistry was definitely there. Their country club meet-cute? Adorable. Their deep, desperate longing for each other? Loved it. The whole we can’t be together because our parents got married tension? Delectable. But their overall immaturity especially Chloe’s was hard to ignore at times.

What I did love was how much they cared for each other. When romance wasn’t an option, they became good friends, constantly supporting and showing up for each other in ways no one else ever had. Sig’s devotion, in particular, had me melting.

Read if you like ⬇️:
•Hockey-ish romance
•Instalove
•Forbidden romance-future step siblings
•Dogs named Pierre
•Spicy
•Dirty talk

This was definitely a fun read aside from some cringey moments. And while it’s labeled as taboo, the ick factor wasn't too high since Sig and Chloe meet as full-grown adults before their parents marry, making the step-sibling dynamic feel more like a technicality than a true issue.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

🏷️: #romancebooks #bookreview #bookstagram #contemporaryromance #bookishthoughts #readersofinstagram #booklove #forbiddenromance #bookrec #romancereads #allbookedwithbri

“You love her?”
“I exist for her.”
I’ve been so excited to read Chloe and Sig’s story since they made a cameo in The Au Pair Affair.
Sig and Chloe’s meet cute is adorable when the pro hockey players beat up truck breaks down by the private country club. He and Chloe met and its sparks from the start.
Cue THE DRAMA of Chloe’s mom and Sig’s Dad getting married and they are becoming StepSiblings. The Horror!
Throughout the whole book it’s sweet to watch Sig help Chloe learn how to become more independent and less needy and dependent on others.
The relationship and connection between Sig and Chloe is explosive and burns hot as can be. I typically am not an instalove fan but this one was so sweet.

Anything Tessa Bailey I instantly pick up, this book was no different. Chloe and Sig were such a fun read. Dream Girl Drama is definitely one of my favorite Tessa books so far. They had instant chemistry and were so easy to love. Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC! Can't wait for more books in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Tessa Bailey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 rounded up.

Book #3 in the series. Can be standalone but recommend reading the first 2 (especially book 2).

Chloe and Sig meet and instantly have an attraction to each other. Both have plans they need to get to so they plan to meet up later that night. Fate has other plans and they see each other at their dinner - where they find out their parents are engaged.

Unfortunately they cannot pursue a relationship if their parents are getting married. The importance of maintaining image and reputation is too important in Chloe’s family and since Sig is a famous athlete it would be a press nightmare.

Chloe and Sig are first introduced in book #2. I was intrigued by their relationship but to be honest not that into Chloe as a character since she’s portrayed as an incompetent ditz (albeit a good friend). Luckily, we learn more about her in this book and I was happy to see her pushing back against her mom and that suffocating control.

There is so much angst and longing. Like, painfully. I just kept thinking…but they aren’t related. Didn’t grow up together. Is it really that bad?? Lucy Score made this look so simple in her Blue Moon book #2 (Fall into Temptation).

I was very confused how the book was going to end as we were running out of pages and no resolution was in sight. Then I was embarrassed the twist hadn’t even crossed my mind.

I’m not sure if it was just me but the timeline with this book and the others didn’t match up.

I think I’m sucked in enough to come back for more to see how Corrigan and Mailer (who seem like absolute lovable idiots) win over Skylar and Reece.

Tropes:
Forbidden love
Angst
Slow burn
Professional athlete - hockey
Dysfunctional family

I am shocked that I liked this book but I really did. I have not loved Bailey's work in the past so I'm in no way a fan but this just hit the spot for me.

Maybe it's because I don't usually read forbidden Love/step brother or hockey romance but I enjoyed the characters. The FMC, albeit sheltered, wasn't obnoxious. And I loved the possessiveness of the MMC, he somehow managed to not come across as an asshole so that's something. I particularly enjoyed her growth as a character and the support the MMC provided. It all just worked for me.

Thank you to Tessa Bailey, Avon/Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the eARC. I attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

unfortunately at this time, i am unable to finish this book… i have no reason to give you other than that i haven’t been vibing with it. i have picked it up a few times with now luck of getting invested so until further notice, it is a DNF for me :( for the sake of the author and the release of this book, i’m marking the rating as a three stars so that it isn’t too heavily impacted either way. it would be unfair for me judge, as i did not finish the book!

3.25 🌟 Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing House for the ARC of this book!

I think I liked this one a bit better than book 2 of the series, but the whole forbidden love of it all seemed a bit…dare I say, dramatic? I understood that the two main characters falling in love and potentially becoming step-siblings was a bit scandalous, but did we not all grow up watching Cher and Josh fall in love in Clueless?

I was happy with the ending and thought Tessa Bailey resolved the conflict of the plot well. Excited for the next one!

Here’s a quick content warning for Dream Girl Drama:

- Abuse
- Blood
- Divorce
- Sexually explicit scenes

This is the first time I’ve DNF’ed a book I was planning to review, so I’m just going to provide a quick summary of the first third of the book, which is about as far as I made it.

Sig Gauthier is a professional hockey player, on the way to have dinner with his flaky dad and his new wealthy girlfriend. This is something his dad does—finding wealthy women and conning them out of their money. Because Sig is in the rich part of town, when he breaks down, it’s at a country club.

The staff at the country club aren’t that interested in letting him to make a phone call or charge his phone, but Chloe Clifford comes to his rescue, pretending to know him and helping him into the club.

Sig falls in love with Chloe the moment that he first sees her, taking note of her thighs and skirt. The two of them hit it off, and when we switch to Chloe’s perspective, we see that she’s just as enamored with him, even when he insists on holding the champagne to her lips instead of letting her drink it herself.

Chloe admits that she’s been wanting to go to Boston to study music. She’s a harpist and a prodigy, and we see that her mother keeps her pretty under lock and key.

The two of them head out into the grass and start making out, getting handsy pretty fast. Then Chloe remembers she has somewhere to be—and she has to go. But not before giving Sig her number and promising to continue their kiss (and more) later.

But, of course, when Sig arrives at the lavish estate to meet his father and his new girlfriend, who does he find but Chloe and her mother. Sig and Chloe are both shocked, and even more so when Chloe’s mother announces that she and Sig’s father are getting married.

This would make them step-siblings, and they find that weird. Chloe announces that she’s going to Boston with Sig then, at the table. When the dinner is over—and Sig’s father has warned him to stay away from Chloe—they take off for Boston.

Sig pays for everything, putting Chloe up in a hotel and paying the rent for her apartment. The two of them spend all their time together, and since they’ll legally be step-siblings when their parents marry, they do their best to ignore their physical attraction, but there are still plenty of intense moments between the two.

Chloe goes to Sig’s hockey games, and he teaches her how to do her laundry. This is just about where I stopped reading the book—when Sig comes into Chloe’s apartment to find that she’s made him a birthday cake, but left some of the egg shells in because baking is hard.

Before I give you my review for Dream Girl Drama, let’s do a quick run through of my rating system.

- One star means that I could not finish the book.
- Two stars means that I struggled to finish, but I did.
- Three stars means I enjoyed it, it was okay.
- Four stars means I really liked it and I would recommend it to a friend.
- And five stars, which is my highest honor, means I would read the book again.

Dream Girl Drama gets a one-star from me because I just couldn’t get myself to finish the book. I’ve really enjoyed Tessa Bailey books in the past, including It Happened One Summer and Secretly Yours. This one just was not for me.

If you read Dream Girl Drama and enjoyed it, these are some other titles you may enjoy:

- It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
- Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
- Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

I’ve included the two Tessa Bailey books I really did enjoy in this list, as well as Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. If you enjoyed just how smitten Sig was with Chloe, you may also enjoy how enamored Xander is with Gwen.

Lets get into some of the reasons I DNF’ed this book and had to give it a one-star rating.

Love at first sight.

The first thing that threw me off was Sig’s instant infatuation with Chloe. I think there are times that insta-love can work for me, but this just wasn’t one of them. Their initial meeting felt far too bland to warrant this kind of instant connection, and it felt unsustainable through the rest of the book. In fact, just before I decided to stop reading, I started to wonder if this might be an anti-romance book, something meant to teach you a lesson about going all-in on a person you barely know. Maybe it is—I did not finish the book, and so I’ll never know. (Except I have read other reviews, so I actually do know that’s not the case.)

Child-like heroine.

One of my biggest pet-peeves when it comes to our lead woman is when she’s infantilized, or acts like a child. Chloe is a good example of this—she doesn’t know how to do anything herself, and is a frightened little bunny in the big city. It would have been interesting to see Chloe actually take control of her life when she leaves, but she essentially goes from being under her mother’s care, to being under Sig’s. This kind of power imbalance—Chloe not knowing how to cook, clean, or behave as an adult, and Sig paying for all her things—makes it really hard for me to fall for the romance.

Unrealistic situations.

There are just too many things in this book that don’t add up for me. I mentioned this in passing about their initial meeting, which I didn’t feel was impressive enough to warrant Sig’s sudden infatuation. This continues on to the entire situation around them being step-siblings and so not being able to pursue a romantic relationship.

Chloe climbs into Sig’s truck the *day* she meets him, moving out of her mother’s place and going back to Boston with him that night. It’s a huge leap of faith to put in another person (and especially a man) that you’ve just met. This is not something her mother brings up once, which just seems *so* unrealistic to me.

I think this is really contrasted with It Happened One Summer, in which our main character really does take her independence into her own hands, seeking help from the romantic interest rather than wholly relying on him.

All in all, Dream Girl Drama just was not for me. If you enjoy books about insta-love or love at first sight, you may find more enjoyment from this one than I did.

Sig and Chloe have a magical, world shifting meet-cute …and then discover that their parents are engaged to be married. They are both pursing career dreams in the public eye where their relationship could be perceived poorly. But that spark, and rightness, from the first moment can’t be shaken. So we see them become friends and grow as individuals all the while withstanding a tug-of-war with UST and the deep-dive into love BIG TIME. Oh, and there’s an adorable pup! Yay!

Tessa did such a great job setting up Sig and Chloe’s story in a fun way. I couldn’t wait to get to read their romance. And it didn’t disappoint. This book was so fun and so swoony. No one does book boyfriends quite like Tessa Bailey. It was a joy to see both MC’s achieve some personal growth while working toward their dreams. I loved how they each brought out the best in the other, providing a safe support system to be vulnerable in that growth. And what they found in each other that others have not provided in loving them well made it the sweetest of love stories! This one will make you laugh, and repeatedly bemoan you want your own Sig. Your cheeks will ache from smiling ridiculously while cheering these two on!

**Thank you, thank you to the publisher for the ARC!**

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

Tessa Bailey is back! I absolutely adored this third installment in the Big Shots series...and I heard a rumor that there will be a fourth book in the series. I certainly hope this is true! Chloe and Sig are my new favorite rom-com couple, and I just love how Tessa Bailey writes her characters....and I'm sure I will say that time and time again. If you are looking for a swoonworthy and sexy romance, I highly recommend this book. If only I could rate it more than 5 stars!

All I have to say is the TENSION, oh boy was it good. A slow burn forbidden relationship that you can't look away from. Sig and Chloe meet by happen stance thanks to a broken down truck and a bottle of stolen champagne. The instant attraction and something so much more is undeniable until they both must leave for prior commitments, like two cinderella's running away at the stroke of midnight. Only to come face to face with their parents...together....claiming plans for a marriage that puts a giant wall between Sig and Chloe's plans to meet for a rendezvous after their dinner. On impulse Chloe decides go to Boston with Sig and follow her dreams but just as friends but these two just can't stay away from each other. Tessa knows how to build a story that has your heart aching and belly flipping from one moment to the next. A great addition to this series that continues to be a joyride full of drama, spice and love!

I am a Tessa Bailey fan and this one did not disappoint. I actually enjoyed that there was more to the plot than just romance in this one. I liked that some of my fav hockey players were back in supporting roles. The chemistry was there, the playful personalities and the character growth. I found that the main female character was a little too damsel in distress for my liking, but that did not stop me from enjoying the book. Lots of family dysfunction and drama, forbidden relationships, career challenges and some spice fill the pages of this book. A quick, predictable read that transports you into someone else's world and drama. I read this in one day, so I clearly enjoyed it! If you are a fan of Tessa Bailey's books, add this one to your tbr.
Sparks fly the second Sig and Chloe meet. Unfortunately, they find out later that Chloe's Mom and Sig's Dad are getting married, making a relationship between Sig and Chloe impossible. As friends, Sig helps Chloe move to Boston, escaping her controlling mother, to play the Harp, where he has a career as a professional hockey player. As time goes on, it becomes more and more difficult for them to ignore the sparks and their feelings towards one another.
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

The next book in the Big Shots series follows Sig Gauthier, Sir Savage’s best friend and Boston Bearcats wing, and his soon-to-be step-sister, harp prodigy Chloe Clifford, as they navigate the trials and tribulation of being in love but also being (almost) family. Sig is a golden retriever of a man who would literally do anything for Chloe and tries to make her dreams (ha!) come true no matter what it takes. Chloe escapes Darien, Connecticut (as one should), and her manipulative, selfish mother on a whim when Sig steps in to bring her to Boston so she learns how to adult on her own. Did I mention that Sig and Chloe’s parents are getting married to boot?

These two were down bad for each other. It was palpable. I really liked the writing in this book. We didn’t have the usual witty banter and dialogue that I usually expect from Tessa Bailey, but I loved how she expressed each character’s internal struggle. I also liked the comparisons to Sig’s mother and Chloe which were subtle, up until the very end. Also, we got hints into the Orgasm Donors’ books (one with a rival baseball team pitcher, the other with the team’s general manager, perhaps?).

Now, I’m sure a lot of people are going to comment on how you have to suspend disbelief about step-siblings falling in love with each other. I, however, don’t know why it was such a big deal! They were both consenting adults and I feel like had they just gotten over it, told their parents, and were open about their relationship, people would have looked the other way. I mean, I know so many people who marry siblings or distant cousins, which is even more taboo in my opinion! And this was their parents’ third or fourth marriage. I get this created instant tension and conflict, but it wasn’t necessary!

I loved the Au Pair Affair, and it still ranks at the top of my list in this series. But I appreciate that TB is trying new things and keeping it fresh. Definitely a fun, fast, spicy, heartfelt read!

Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced (e-)reader copy and a chance to rate and review this book!

3.5 ⭐️ 3 🌶

Well with any Tessa Bailey novel you know what you are in for! Open door romance. VERY open door. While I myself usually appreciate closed door I enjoyed the storyline. The MMC, a hockey player, Sig, and the FMC, harpist, Chloe, meet and it’s “insta love.” The same day they find out their parents are marrying and so they have to stay away from each other…..at least romantically. But Sig and Chloe are having difficulty hiding their connection in public and well in private too. Soon the media starts reporting how “inappropriate the step siblings are acting” and the agents in their respective careers pressure them “either them or out!” So Sig is on a mission to find any dirt on his estranged dad to break up the engagement so he can be with his dream girl.

It was really a unique read. For me anyway. Most romantic quick reads have the same kind of trope. This one had step siblings and a harpist. Part of the setting was in Connecticut. No drawn out “third act break up.” The MMC was always very supportive of the MFC.

Chloe was a very funny and likable character. Her character was developed so well throughout the novel. She displayed strength and determination while sometimes not being realistic but she certainly did try!

This is part of the Big Shots series but it certainly can be read alone.

3.5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you NetGalley, Tessa Bailey and Avon Books for an eARC on exchange for an honest review.