I’m so disappointed that I didn’t love this book. I had such high hopes for it.

I honestly don’t know. This book felt so rushed to me and very insta-lovey. I couldn’t get into it even though I tried so hard. I’ve come to realize that insta-love just isn’t my thing and that’s okay.

I still love Tessa Bailey and will continue to read everything she writes but this one was just a no for me unfortunately. Still recommend picking it up for yourself tho! And it’s a pretty cover soooo…

I've read & loved so many of Tessa Bailey's books & this one just wasn't up to par with the rest. It felt like she was bored writing this one. Honestly everything about it was really cringy. The story, the characters, the relationship. Bummer bc I liked the first 2 books in the Big Shots series a lot

I thought the chemistry between Burgess and Tallulah was hot, but Sig and Chloe are on another stratosphere!!
It was hot 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 and the angst and anticipation leading up to it was even hotter!

But the way Sig took care of her was even hotter. The fact that he vowed to provide for her, protect her, and be there for her no matter what, even though he couldn’t have her in all the ways he really wanted just showed what kind of man he was. I mean… him buying all the strawberry pop tarts in her area so she would need him to bring some over was genius, diabolical and selfish in the sweetest way!

I can’t wait to read about the orgasm donors!

This is the third book in Tessa Bailey's Big Shots series. This is about Sig and Chloe. They meet one night and it is love at first sight. Shortly after meeting, they discover that their parents are engaged and they will become stepsiblings. This book is about their journey with each other, as Sig tries desperately to create a life that he feels is worthy of Chloe, and Chloe learns about to be independent and get out from under her mother's thumb.

Unfortunately, I just didn't love this book. The forbiddenness of their relationship was not believable to me. They met when they were adults and before they even knew their parents were together. The whole story revolved around the "we can't be together because we are stepsiblings" trope and I just don't think that was a thing worth taking up the whole book. Chloe read a little too naive and childish at times, not being able to pay rent because she spent it on face cream and eating pop tarts for breakfast all the time. Like isn't she an adult? I did love the way that Sig helped her gain her independence and figure things out for herself but I wish she could have done more that of for herself throughout the book instead of just towards the end.

Overall, the story was fun but not a new favorite. I think it might be a while before I pick up another Tessa Bailey book.

Thanks to Netgalley for my eARC. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

I am alway up for a Tessa Bailey book!! Dream Girl Drama did not disappoint! A great story line, great chemistry, spicy!! I actually did not see figure out how this one was going to work itself out so I was surprised in the ending. Loved that. I love when there is chemistry right away and it is not ignored and this was not!

Loved this story! Hooked on from the very beginning! Loved the banter between the main characters. The absolutely love and support between them is amazing.

5 Stars

I loved every moment of this story and the slow-burn “Will they won’t they” of it all was delicious (however, am I the only person who was like “just bang him…he isn’t your brother!!”?) The spice was spicing. The dirty talk was filthy. The pinning was strong and sturdy (that’s what she said). Probably my favorite Tessa Bailey yet.

I don’t know…this may even be a 2.5 stars for me. I did connect with either man character and I don’t even know why. It was just not a story that I bought into for whatever reason. I usually really enjoy this author too.

I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This was a cute quick read. Chloe’s character was a bit awkward .
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Finished this book in less than a day! Tessa Bailey is such a fun writer and her characters always have great chemistry. The chemistry between Sig and Chloe was on fire. I love a forbidden love story with so much tension when in a room together. Really loved her Bellinger sister series but this book is for sure top 3 for me. Would read this again and again

It's well established at this point that if Tessa Bailey writes it, I'm going to read it. I had been excited for Sig and Chloe's story since they started making cameos earlier in this series - and the wait was worth it. 
 
Any time a new Tessa Bailey book shows up to my place, it's a drop everything and start reading that book type of situation. Her books are just so addictive - between the tension, the spice, the interesting and flawed characters, the humor, and fast pace, they hit for me - and that was especially true for this book.  
 
I'll be honest, I've never read a book with (potential) step siblings before - and I was a bit skeptical. But Tessa Bailey delivered! Sig and Chloe's chemistry was insane straight from their meet cute - even when they became taboo / a forbidden romance, I was kicking my feet and shouting at them to just kiss already. Sig was such a simp for Chloe - in the most endearing and swoony way.  
 
The only part I struggled with in this book was Chloe's naivety. I understand that she was supposed to be sheltered, but it nearly crossed the line into the absurd. I think if she had had a few more basic life skills, it would have been less distracting. 
 
I am having SO much fun with this series - I'm so happy there's going be five books (and I'm gonna need Tessa Bailey to write more sports romances in the future). I can't wait to read Pitcher Perfect later this year!

I have read a few of Tessa Bailey's books now and have enjoyed them all! This was no exception. My one complaint is that i didn't see the conflict as being much of a conflict. They were adults when their parents married, they were not legaly adopted by the other parent and they didn't grow up together or even know each other before their parents got engaged. I appreciated that the author brought the media in as the biggest opstical as I can see how that would be the case, esp for those who are in the lime light. Overall I loved the chemestry and banter between the main characters ad can't wait to read more from this author.

Dream Girl Drama was a pleasant read. We have gotten glimpses of Sig and Chloe's relationship in the last book, Au Pair Affair. There was always a story there and I was excited to dive more into it. Their first meet was interesting and it was fascinating to see how these two were navigate their connection. Sig and Chloe just couldn't stay away from each other. They just needed one another, and it was intriguing to see what would happen as the story progressed. A lot of the discourse was about their future relations as step-siblings. There was a lot of tension of "will they" or "won't they." I wanted more depth of their bond-like why they were just destined for one another. That should have been explored more. I did like the friendship between the hockey players. It was fun and full of brotherly love. Those moments were some of my favorites. Overall, a fine story. Tessa Bailey's books have a good premise, good writing, and nice characters but sometimes I am itching for more. I am still interested in the next book and what will happen there.

This is the newest book in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series and I have really enjoyed each of them! I especially loved listening to this one with the enormously talented Callie Dalton and Teddy Hamilton voicing our MCs.

Every time I open a Tessa Bailey book, I know I’m in for an extremely fun and steamy time. This one piled on the angst and yearning too, which is just my favorite. Dream Girl Drama has:

- Pro Hockey MMC
- Prodigy Harpist FMC
- Future step siblings
- Forbidden Love
- Steamy slow burn
- Touch her and die MMC
- Steamy times with his hockey jersey
- Set in Boston

Tessa Bailey’s FMCs always have the most unique careers and it’s one of my favorite things about her books. Dream Girl Drama had Bailey’s signature dirty talk and off the charts sexual chemistry too. While Sig and Chloe are forbidden to be together due to the optics of their situation, they never truly have a taboo relationship so don’t let that put you off if you’ve got reservations.

I’m very excited about the next couple that was teased towards the end and cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

This just wasn’t my cup or tea. I can see why others would love it however I just couldn’t relate to the characters. I am a sucker for a hockey romance but I feel like this just feel a little flat.

Thank you Avon and Netgalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed Dream Girl Drama - forbidden romance is one of my favorite tropes to read (IRL? Maybe not so much…). Sig and Chloe had such electric chemistry, and following along as they tried to deny their feelings for the sake of their parents made me sympathetic for their experience. Sig was so protective of Chloe which was charming AF, and Chloe was brave in trying to move to a big city and pursue a career outside of the country club lifestyle she was used to. I alternated between ebook & audiobook, narrated by Callie Dalton & Teddy Hamilton, because I wanted to see how the story would unfold. While not my favorite of the series (Not much can top Fangirl Down), I found this to be a really enjoyable and quick read.

“Despite its promising premise, this book failed to deliver. The plot felt predictable, the characters lacked depth, and the pacing dragged in too many places. While there were moments of intrigue, they were overshadowed by weak writing and underdeveloped ideas. Overall, it was a disappointing read that didn’t live up to expectations.”

2/5 Hot take - I don't think Tessa Bailey is for me.

This book was written well, it has a plot, it has spicy scenes, its a hockey romance - I get why people like it. Tessa Bailey is known for her spice. But I don't think her books are for me. I have only read a few, but they have never stood out. I think her characters could be a little bit more developed into flawed, individual beings. This book specifically had a slight downside as I went into it, I hate the Insta Love trope, and this one was literally chapter one insta love. While her smut is spicy, it just doesn't do it for me. It almost seems like it is trying to hard to me. i simply could not get into this book the entire way through.

Finally, and this could be a huge reason as to why I struggled, I ended up switching to audio about half way through, and it was a mistake. The female narrator was not a strong narrator for this character, which is a shame because I loved her for "The Love Hypothesis." If she changed styles, I hope she goes back, because it felt dry and a bit forced and slow.

Book Tropes: Forbidden Romance, Hockey/Sports, Insta Love, Mutual Pinning, Future Step-Siblings
Spice Level: 4/5
Trigger Warnings: Abandonment, Manipulative Parent

Love anything from Tessa Bailey. The tension between Sig and Chloe is top tier. Great steamy romance that is definitely a page turner!

Ugh. I should know better than to read something that starts by describing a character as manic pixie dream girl. I hate that concept. But this book was really annoying. I didn't like any of the characters.