Future step siblings fall in love. He’s a hunky hockey player and she’s a rich harpist. I loved the MMC in this book but the FMC fell flat and I didn’t feel a connection to her. This is definitely worth a read if you’re a Tessa Bailey fan of if you’ve read the first two (standalone but interconnected) books in the Hot Shots series. I enjoyed this book very much! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this book. I’ve been reading a lot of Tessa bailey lately and I love how each book feels completely different. Even the interconnected books. I loved that this one went a little taboo. I feel like that is something new for Tessa (at least what I’ve read) and I think it will open up a whole new group of readers for her. I also think she could dabble in dark romance and make it work (similar to butcher and blackbird)

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for an early copy of this fun book!

Dream Girl Drama (Big Shots 3) by Tessa Bailey
Pub Date: Feb 4, 2025
General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sports

Love at first sight between a forbidden pair. Best player in the NHL meets a young harpist with lots of potential in her career and her confidence. Such a cute story of striving toward your goals and wanting to do so with someone you love. As with most Bailey books, it’s super steamy! Definitely worth checking out if this sounds up your alley!

This was my first time reading Tessa Bailey, and wow—what an introduction! The story kicks off when Sig’s truck breaks down on his way to dinner at his father’s house to meet his dad’s girlfriend, leading him to an unexpected encounter with Chloe. From the moment they meet, the chemistry and sexual tension between them are electric, intensifying as they navigate the shocking possibility that they might become step-siblings.

Sig dreams of climbing the ranks in hockey, while Chloe is a harp prodigy aspiring to join an orchestra. As they juggle their growing friendship and undeniable connection, the tension and steamy moments keep the pages flying. With plenty of dirty talk and heart-racing moments, this book had me swooning and blushing! It was a quick, captivating read, and I couldn’t wait to see how things unfolded for these two.

Thank you, #netgalley and #HarperCollins, for my ARC!

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
3.5 stars ⭐️
Thank you, Netgalley and Avon, for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Chloe and Sig meet in a whirlwind night at a country club and are immediately smitten. They plan to meet up later after their plans. Little do they know that they're both about to meet again, this time as future step siblings.
If you're into insta-love, then I think you'll definitely like this book. They met, and 1 minute later, they're ready to combine finances and go house hunting. I'm exaggerating, but not really 😂. I liked this one much better than The Au Pair Affair, but it didn't hold a candle to Fangirl Down. It was a fun read overall with a lot of drama and heartache. I think it was a little repetitive in the middle, and the big suprise at the end wasn't surprising at all, but I loved Chloe and Pierre.

I love classic Tessa Bailey books, and many of her novels are on my favorites list. I love how she can write a hero and how he will steal my heart. I overlook sanity and reason for some of her male leads because I just connect with them so easily and fall for them before the female leads even know whats happening. She is magic for me on so many levels, and I did fall hard for Sig. I did. I promise. But I did not love this book.

The beginning was so great. The build up was great, the cringe factors were set in place and they made the whole parents getting married thing elicit some real emotions. I was fighting for reason and battling reality for the first act just waiting for the fireworks and excitement to take off. Then the book just kind of fell flat for me. The time jumps kind of glazed the story over for me and I lost the connection to the characters. Sig's 'princess treatment' for Chloe became overbearing to the story line and I just wanted the pace to step up a bit. With the timing getting a little funky but the slow burn making me crazy, it lost the flow I love of Bailey's books and just became something I was reading.

While I adore a possessive MMC and a **** it moment, I wish Chloe was a bit stronger in wanting control of her own life verses letting Sig take it over for her. I loved the chemistry between them and just wanted more of it and less of the over-the-top crazy. I do feel like the title of the book fits the tone, I. mean, he calls her dream girl consistently throughout the book. And there is definitely no shortage of drama.

TY to Avon and NetGalley for the early copy!

I love nothing more than a messy romance. And this one had plenty of mess to go around! Boy obsessed, soon-to-be step siblings, forbidden, hockey player x prodigy musician? This is the best kind of chaos, truly.

Chloe and Sig are the kind of characters that immediately click as soon as they meet. Their chemistry jumped off the page, with so much delicious angst and tension. Tessa Bailey has truly redeemed herself and the Big Shot series with their story after I really disliked book 2, and she has me excited for the future of the series as well. Her humor and wit always slips seamlessly into her romances, with a consistent voice that readers truly love. She got Chloe and Sig's story so right, and I loved every moment so much!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I couldn't believe it when I got approved for a Tessa Bailey book.

Tessa Bailey never disappoints. I can't pass up a hockey novel. I didn't realize there were previous novels in this series, so I will have to backtrack and read those. This was a quick and fun read!

Tessa Bailey does it again. I loved the dynamic of the characters. I adored that once again we have captured the best of what are imperfect characters in a perfect manner.

I loved the theme of giving up what you really want to "Keep the peace". This book although part of an incredible series can be read alone without issue.

Quick read, great story, unforgettable characters.

I should have read the first 2 in this interconnected series. I think I would have been more connected to the characters but I wasn’t.

✨Book Review✨

Dream Girl Drama - Tessa Bailey

📖 Sig, a professional hockey player, is on the way to meet his Dad’s new girlfriend when his truck breaks down and he finds himself needing to use the phone at a swanky country club. Enter Chloe, a harp prodigy and country club member, who captivates Sig’s attention as soon as she enters the scene. Sparks fly and a magical kiss is shared on the moonlight course. Sig promises to call Chloe after his dinner…. A dinner that Chloe ends up being at? It turns out that Chloe’s mother is engaged to Sig’s dad. At dinner Sig invites Chloe to Boston, agreeing to show her the ropes much to the dismay of their parents. Will they be able to keep their relationship platonic or will there be even more family drama to come?

Special shoutout to @NetGalley and @TessaBaileyIsAnAuthor for the advanced reader copy of this book! It is set to publish February 4th, 2025.

📚 This is my first hockey romance and it was a good one! I enjoyed this new setup for a forbidden romance of sorts, and found myself wondering how we would solve the issue! While I was invested from the start and hooked to the ending, the middle of the story dragged a bit for me. It feels strange to say, but there were a lot more words than my typical romance read! It took me a while to get through this book compared to others in this genre and even by Tessa Bailey. That said, Sig and Chloe have fire chemistry and it is palpable to anyone around them, which was very fun to read about!

🌟 If you enjoy spicy, hockey, romance novels then this is one you should pick up! It is technically Book 3 in the Big Shots series - but I didn’t realize that until about halfway through and it worked well as a stand alone.

Has anyone else read Book 1 or 2 in the Big Shot series? I’m trying to decide if I should pick them up!


#BookReview #BigShotsSeries #SigAndChloe #HockeyRomance #Bookish

I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review and oooooo mylanta….. this is my number 1 book of the year! Tessa has outdone herself with this story. You felt every emotion and if you don’t tear up some something is wrong with you! Sig and Chloe are amazing characters and I loooved the growth and devotion Sig has in the book. The poptarts…. Iykyk…. 5 stars all across the board

2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers of this book for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t know, I honestly wanted to loved this book and the first quarter seemed promising. Sig being very protective and the way he cared for Chloe was very sincere and cute at first but quickly turned very weird to me. Maybe the step-siblings trope just isn’t for me, who knows. Chloe also seemed to regress in age as the book went on and was continuously portrayed as childish which doesn’t help in romance books, in my opinion. I am sure some people will really love this book, it just wasn’t for it. I did love the other Big Shots books so I don’t know why this one missed the mark so much for me! It was a short and easy read, although I did have to force myself to finish chapters, but there were cute moments and the end was pretty satisfying.

I really enjoyed the first two books in the Big Shots series, but this one felt really weird. Chloe was too childish and Sig was too much of a golden retriever. I didn’t really find their relationship believable, and it actually made me kind of uncomfortable at times. I will still read the next book because I liked the first two, but this one was not for me.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.

I loved this book, another amazing addition to the series! The epilogue had me tearing up. Anytime a new book comes out in this series I am grabbing it as soon as possible.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶

What I loved:
🏒The Orgasm Donors vs. Sig and Burgess
🎶The baseball vs. hockey rivalry

I absolutely love Tessa Bailey and was so thrilled to get this ARC. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Sig and Chloe's book after they were teased in Au Pair Affair. This book gave me all the spice and laughs i expect from a Bailey romance, but I feel like something was missing.

Firstly, I wasn't a fan of how the story was told. The beginning felt very jumpy to me. It starts when Sig and Chloe first meet, and then it keeps jumping in time until the book reached the present. It made the story feel disjointed. Once the story reached the present, it flowed much better. But the beginning was rough. I wish the past was told in flashbacks.

Another thing I didn't like was Chloe. She was way too privileged, and I couldn't relate to her. Spending half her rent on eye creams?! How old is she supposed to be that she needs eye cream at all? The immaturity and financial abuse of Sig, it was too much for me. I enjoyed it when she figured out she was being an asshole, but nothing really came of it. She stated she was going to be independent and start contributing and being more responsible, but I never saw it happen.

The relationship between Sig and Chloe was great. I loved the sexual tension. Sig was such a great character. I don't know why he loved her, but I never doubted that he did love her. Their banter and relationship were so wholesome. I wish Chloe was less abrasive and more relatable because I wanted to love them together, but Sig deserved better.

The side characters really gave me life. The rookies stole every scene they were in and had me laughing frequently. I loved Burgess and Tallulah. Grace was a decent character that I wish had more time because she helped Chloe be less obnoxious.

The best scene was the baseball game. It was absurd and hilarious and sheer perfection. I think it's worth reading for that scene alone.

The last thing that pulled me out a bit was the reason Sig and Chloe couldn't be together. It was supposedly a taboo relationship and would cause issues in both their careers but... I never saw the problem? They aren't related by blood. They're adults. Their ADULT parents are getting married. Which makes them soon to be step siblings... except they are adults and didn't grow up with each other and aren't related? I don't know. I just didn't get it.

Overall, this isn't the best book I've read from Bailey. It's better than Au Pair Affair, but not by much. I think Fangirl Down has ruined me as nothing Bailey writes will love up to it. I did enjoy this, and I'll absolutely read it again. I just had higher expectations, and this didn't quite reach them. I recommend it for anyone who loves Bailey and contemporary romance!

Tessa Bailey has once again proven her ability to weave compelling characters and heart-wrenching relationships in Dream Girl Drama, a story that strikes the perfect balance between angst and tenderness. At its core, the novel revolves around the beautifully complex and unshakable bond between Sig and Chloe, two people who are as drawn to each other as they are capable of driving one another away.

Sig is a brooding, ambitious hockey player, haunted by his past failures and determined to find success at any cost. Chloe, on the other hand, is a fiercely independent dreamer, a romantic at heart who hides her vulnerabilities behind a veil of stubborn optimism. The push-and-pull dynamic between these two characters is magnetic. Bailey masterfully illustrates how Sig and Chloe’s flaws and fears both collide and complement each other, creating a relationship that feels deeply authentic.

What makes their connection so memorable is its layered nature. They challenge each other’s beliefs, protect each other in moments of vulnerability, and share moments of raw honesty that cut through the noise of their often tumultuous lives. The scenes where they slowly unpack their insecurities and confront their need for one another are both heartbreaking and uplifting. Chloe’s unwavering faith in Sig’s talent and potential is matched only by Sig’s fierce determination to prove himself not just as an hockey player, but as someone worthy of Chloe’s love.

Bailey’s writing shines particularly bright in dialogue—sharp, witty, and emotionally charged. The banter between Sig and Chloe often acts as a mask for their deeper feelings, while the quieter moments allow the true depth of their connection to take center stage. The secondary characters add charm and context without stealing focus, leaving the spotlight on the couple’s electrifying chemistry.

Ultimately, Dream Girl Drama is more than just a romance. It’s a story about two people learning to trust themselves and each other in a world that often feels like it’s pulling them apart. Sig and Chloe’s love is imperfect, messy, and entirely unforgettable—a testament to Bailey’s talent for capturing the rawness of human emotion.

For fans of emotionally charged romance with equal parts passion and heartache, this book is a must-read. Sig and Chloe’s story will linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. Probably my favorite of the 3 in this series!

Cute and my favorite Tessa Bailey in a while!! This is a very fun step siblings book that has such a fun, caring character that is Sig Gauthier. I loved the banter and witty writing and the forbidden romance this one offers while still being spicy and fun.

Yeah, I loved this one. Sure the reason they couldn't be other was silly but I loved the tension between Chloe and Sig. After reading the last book, I couldn't wait for their story and it didn't disappoint. He's a hockey player and she's a pampered harp prodigy but their parents are engaged which makes their relationship taboo.

Realistic? Hell naw. But did I love it? HELLLLL YEAH!!!!!

Chloe and Sig have the best chemistry between all of the Big Shots couples by farrrrr. When he said he exists for her? I’m sat. Seated. In fact, my butt is GLUED TO THE SEAT.

This couple is so sweet in the best ways. And I LOVED seeing how Chloe grew from existing for others to existing for herself. She broke the mold she was put into and I LOVE HERRRRR for it, Also, her love of pop-tarts? Relatable.

Anyway thank u NetGalley for the ARC. I’ll treasure it forever and ever ❤️💛 (less)