Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

Sadly, this one fell short for me. Sig and Chloe find out their parents are getting married to each other which then leads into the entirety of the book's plot of Sig and Chloe wanting to be with each other but can't because of their parents. Why was this a big deal? They are adults who met as adults. They didn't grow up together as step-siblings. Instant lust at first meet, no character building, unrelatable characters, I never got hooked and struggled to keep going. The little twist at the end I had figured out long before and just kept thinking when will it happen? I wanted to love it, but just didn't.

4.25 ⭐️!

❣️“You love her?” “I exist for her.”❣️

Dream Girl Drama is the highly anticipated story of Sig and Chloe, who were first mentioned in the Au Pair Affair. Ever since I got a whiff of these two I’ve been dying to read their story, and I’m pleased to say this was a hit for me. I was a little worried because these tropes are hard to do right (step-siblings in particular), but I actually did enjoy this one.

Chloe is a child music prodigy who was sheltered and spoiled, but her character really comes into her own throughout the book. The spoiled princess character is usually hard for me to connect to, but Chloe somehow made it charming instead of infuriating for the most part. There were definitely times when I wanted her to stand on her own, but that just isn’t how these tropes work. 😅 I personally would never let a man I just met control my finances, but I also didn’t grow up with her lifestyle. 🤷‍♀️

Sig is a pro hockey player who grew up poor but works hard to support his mom. I have a lot of feelings about Sig. He absolutely spoils Chloe and treats her like a princess and works so hard to be there for her in every way. I loved that! On the other hand, a few times he went over the border of ‘possessive’ and veered into ‘controlling’ land. But in classic Tessa Bailey fashion it somehow still ended up being okay with me.

Sig and Chloe meet in a whirlwind of attraction and moonlit kisses, only to find out hours later that their parents are engaged. I honestly wasn’t expecting the level of angst that Tessa gave us in this one, but I LOVED it. The forbidden aspect of the relationship really worked for me, especially when it wasn’t explicitly talked about, just kind of danced around. There are lots of yearning looks and casual intimacies that really add to the overall relationship. It starts very insta-lovey, but since they are soon-to-be-kinda-related the slow burn is tension filled and delightful. The buildup of their relationship minded me a lot of the 2015 movie ‘Sleeping With Other People’ (which is criminally underrated and everyone should go watch it).

Overall this was a very enjoyable read. I know Tessa Bailey can be hit or miss for a lot of people, but I always have fun with her stuff. ❤️

Well, you can officially knock me over with a feather.

The unbridled YEARNING. As soon as I saw them in the Au Pair Affair I knew. I knew I was going to get the mutual pining novel of my dreams. And I did! Because there is yearning and mutual pining and then there is the worshipping of the earth that they both walk on with this one. And the best part was that it didn't drag at any point, it didn't feel repetitive, and I loved it with my whole heart.

Now, I fear, that people are going to read this one and suspect that our lovely Tessa Bailey is trying to duplicate her success from It Happened One Summer. Not the people who read a lot of her catalogue, but once it gets into the booktok sphere, I fear, that it may become polarizing. However, it's not the same, and I really hope that those folks can jump on the bandwagon and just enjoy the chemistry of these two, that are totally off the charts.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for an e-copy.

4 stars - This was a big step up from The Au Pair Affair! I really liked Sig and Chloe, and The Au Pair Affair got me really excited to read their story! Tessa Bailey did not disappoint. Admittedly, the soon-to-be step-siblings thing was a bit weird, but I thought she handled it well. Very steamy (and no butt stuff this time, thank heavens!) and cute!

I have a confession to make. Tessa Bailey books are one of my guilty pleasures.

I have read quite a few of Bailey's romance novels in the last few years, and despite them being predictable and formulaic, I still enjoy them immensely. I was thrilled when I was selected to receive this advanced reader copy of Dream Girl Drama, as the first two novels in the Big Shots series were some of my favorites by this author. Which, considering how little I really truly have anything sports related in my life, is quite hilarious.

Dream Girl Drama follows Sig Gauthier, featured in the Au Pair Affair and Fan Girl Down, and his soon to be stepsister, Chloe Clifford as they try to navigate their obvious feelings for each other, despite learning immediately after their first meeting that their parents will be marrying in just eight short months. Knowing how a relationship between "siblings" will be received by the adoring public of the hugely popular hockey playing Sig and the crowd that the socialite mother of Chloe belongs to, the two choose to be friends. When Chloe gets an opportunity to study in Boston despite her mother's objections (and cutting her off) Sig, in his most friendly way, jumps to help. Yet, how long can these two fight of the feelings that are very clearly still there? Featuring cameos from some of the characters from the previous two novels, Bailey's novel will hit you in your feels....and then some!

While this is no way literary genius, and definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea, I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a pick me up and a cute romance. It is 100% worth your time, and you wont be disappointed!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon for the e-arc copy of this book!

A steamy, slow burn from Tessa Bailey.

Overall: 4
Spice: 3.5

Chloe and Sig had a perfect meet-cute and a perfect first kiss, but that comes to a screeching halt when they learn later that night that Chloe's mom is engaged to Sig's Dad. Sig still offers to help Chloe leave her sheltered life in Connecticut for independence in Boston, but how can they fight their growing attraction when they're spending all their time together? Would public perception of their relationship damage their growing careers?

I am greatly enjoying the Big Shots series by Tessa Bailey, so was very excited to get to read this early. As usual, this was a very fun and funny book with excellent banter and dirty talk. Unfortunately, I spent the whole book hung up on the premise. I kept asking friends if they would think Sig & Chloe's relationship was "inappropriate" and all said no. Once I suspended my disbelief, I enjoyed how the spice is provided in a slow drip just as the clues to the mystery of Sig's past are provided. Bailey is the queen of swoon-y one-liners, I highlighted many that made me stop in my tracks. I thought Chloe was on her way to taking better responsibility for her actions and spending, but would have liked to see more of that before Sig sweeps in to take care of everything. With a baseball fan husband, the beef with the rec league was hilarious and I hope there will be a Corrigan & Skylar book to explore a 2 sport couple. Highly recommend to Tessa Bailey fans.

Another fun novel from Tessa Bailey! Lots of laughs, improbably hilarious mishaps and plenty of spice.

Dream Girl Drama was cute. I was intrigued by Sig and Chloe in The Au Pair Affair, so it was nice to learn their story and see them get their happily ever after. I think we can all relate to Chloe’s feelings of being suffocated and wanting to make her own choices and Sig’s need to fix things for the people we love. I will keep reading the series.

Dream Girl Drama gives readers of the Au-Pair Affair the story we want--"step-siblings" Sig and Chloe--who's banter and tension in the previous "Big Shots" book stole the show! What happens when your car breaks down on your way to a family dinner and you meet your dream girl? A girl who is fun, adventurous, and maybe a little sheltered (or spoiled depending on how you look at it). Well you make out with them on a golf course after stealing some champagne obviously. Vowing to see each other soon--Sig and Chloe don't expect to see each other so soon--as in that family dinner. Turns out Sig's dad is engaged to Chloe's mom. Sig's dream girl is now his soon-to-be step-sibling. Not only that he's somehow promised to help her move to the city and take care of her--that's what a good step-sibling would do right? But what happens as that tension from their first meeting doesn't exactly go away?

I've never read a step-sibling forbidden romance as it usually gives me the ick. But after the previous Big Shots book I just HAD to read Dream Girl Drama. And IT DID NOT DISAPOINT! The insta love at the country club in the opening sequence was so believable. Tessa really made me believe these two had immediate chemistry. Beyond that, this book was just classically Tessa Bailey. It was fun! It was beautifully optimistic! The spice was *chefs kiss.* I LOVED Chloe. I think it would be easy to write off Chloe as flighty or just a spoiled rich girl but Tessa does not play into stereotypes and brings such a complexity to this character. Women like her exist and they shouldn't be shamed, but loved for who they are. This is a must read!

First let me say Thank You NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager Publishing for the ARC. Dream Girl is book three in the Big Shot Series.about Sig and Chloe. He’s a professional hockey player and his dream girl that gave again a once in a lifetime kiss! The story goes from zero to 100 when they find out his fathers finance is dream girls mother and they were about to be step siblings! There is drama, some mystery and of course Spice!

I couldn't believe when I got approved for Tessa Bailey's ARC of Dream Girl Drama. I ate up the first two books in this series (and let's be honest, any Tessa Bailey book) and finished this book in one day. We love a man who knows what he wants, and will do anything to protect the girl of his dreams. Sig and Chloe's relationship had sparks flying from the first time they met, and even while they couldn't be together they still did everything they could to show each other how much they loved each other. Tessa had me guessing throughout the book on how we were going to get Sig and Chloe together at the end. I would've loved the book to be a little longer, so we could see how Chloe and Sig's relationship grew since finally getting the green light.

Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for ARC of this book!

On the way to his dad’s girlfriend’s house Sig, a professional hockey player, meets his dream girl, Chloe, and the chemistry is intense but the pair soon learn they will be step siblings. They decide to be strictly friends and Sig begins taking care of Chloe when she moves to Boston to advance her harp playing career. The tension between the two continues but they don’t want to cross that line but they reach a breaking point and then must figure how to navigate their somewhat taboo relationship as public perception is affecting both of their professional lives.

I was intrigued by Sig and Chloe when we were first introduced to them in The Au Pair Affair so I was excited to read their story. I loved Chloe. Yes, she is the stereotypical manic-pixie-dream-girl, but she is just fun and I liked the small ways her depth was revealed. I struggled with Sig. His possessiveness definitely crossed the line into toxic-masculinity and his constant babying of Chloe really irked me. NGL if Chloe was my friend this would be a relationship I would actively trying to get her out of but it’s a book and i’m sure this is someone’s fantasy. I also don’t know that I fully buy that future step siblings dating would be that big of an issue, but there had to be some sort of external conflict. Overall I had a good time and I am interested to see who is the next couple to feature in the series (I have my guess but I’m not putting it out there in case I’m wrong).

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chlo and Sig aren't supposed to be together because their parents are getting married, which would make them step siblings. She really built on the forbidden romance aspect of this book. The suspense for them to finally hook up was way too long. You knew it was coming, I set the book down because the lead up bored me a bit. Oh, but when they finally got together, it was beautiful. I loved their story and the ending. Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC of this book.

Tessa Bailey does it again! She knows just how to right a sweet romance with a protective man. I feel the theme of her books are ‘If he wanted to, he would’ and I love that. Sig would go through anything to get the girl of her dreams even through all the hardships. It was a well written book while also being a good quick romance.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!

Was so excited to get my hands on this ARC! Thank you NetGalley!

Tessa Bailey never disappoints. I loved that Sig and Chloe got to know each other as platonically as possible before they jumped in with both feet. I was sorely disappointed with Sig’s family! Parents choosing their happiness over their kids when they can do something about it just makes me see red!

I never knew I loved hockey before! I also loved the dynamics among Sig and his teammates and how protective they are of their own! Can’t wait for the next book!

despite the taboo relationship that magically turned into a not taboo relationship, the relationship btw the couple felt too intense. it felt more like lust and obsession more than a genuine connection between the two. the way that MMC unrealistically tried to give FMC everything she wanted while he didnt have that much. the way that FMC spontaneously upped and moved to boston without having a way to support herself. i didnt feel the deeper connection other than love at first sight.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review <3

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: In Dream Girl Drama, professional hockey player Sig Gauthier and his enchanting, free-spirited dream girl Chloe Clifford discover their unexpected familial connection as soon-to-be stepsiblings, leading to a tumultuous blend of romance, family drama, and the struggle to keep their growing attraction platonic.

My review: Dream Girl Drama is the third book in Tessa Bailey's Big Shots series, and it delivers yet another captivating romance that combines spice, sweetness, and plenty of heart. Bailey has once again crafted unforgettable characters with distinct personalities that make it impossible not to root for them. Sig Gauthier, the professional hockey player with a magnetic charm, and Chloe Clifford, the whimsical, adventurous dream girl, share an undeniable chemistry that immediately pulls them together - but wait? They are about to be step-siblings??? What I particularly enjoyed was the unexpected twist at the end—even with only 10% left to read, I honestly wasn’t sure how things would resolve! Dream Girl Drama strikes the perfect balance between steamy romance and emotional depth, making it an immensely satisfying read. Tessa Bailey has solidified her place as a must-read author for me, and I’m eager to see where the series goes next—here’s hoping there’s more to come—like maybe a certain rookie and a feisty baseball pitcher???

Genres/Themes: Fiction / Romance - Romantic Comedy / Romance - Sports / Romance - Contemporary

"Dream Girl Drama" is scheduled for publication on February 04 2025, by Avon and Harper Voyager.

Not sure if I love this title, but how I love the taboo. We finally get the backstory of future step-siblings Sig and Chloe. Yes, step-siblings.

Sig is an absolute simp for Chloe and does anything and everything for her. I struggled with Chloe’s lack of independence and real world knowledge/experience outside of being a Harp prodigy, but this feeds her backstory of being born with a silver spoon in mouth and overly protected and sheltered by her mom. How Sig supports Chloe for about 40% of the book makes sense, but it got to be a bit much for me and I felt like he was treating her like a child and controlling her as well (hi the PopTarts?!)

The way these two dance around another and practice restraint after their initial meet cute turned meet disaster has you constantly wondering will they or won’t they. (Obviously, Tessa delivers). You really wonder where Tessa is going to take this and I appreciated the plot twist at the end.

Book 3 in the series, we get a bit of Burgess and a splash of Tallulah from Book 2, but zero Wells and Josephine (who are my favorites - but I get it, this is hockey related up in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and not down in Florida). It appears to be a wrap on the Big Shot series.

Forbidden romance
He fell first and harder
Overly protective MMC
Slow burn
Sports romance: hockey

3.25 ⭐️
2 🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Collins for this eARC!

I loved it and read it all in one sitting lol. This is my favorite Tessa Bailey book, and it follows a teammate of the MMC in the Au Pair Affair.

His car breaks down on the way to meet his fathers new Fiance & family, ending up at the local country club where he falls head over heels for a beautiful, charismatic, mystery girl, only to find out she’s his future step sister. They spend the next year in close proximity trying to deny their feelings for each other & trying to find out how to call off their parents wedding.

I love the witty banter between the MCs. Grumpy sunshine, he falls fast/first, close proximity, takes care of her, so much sexual tension, throw some hockey players in there and boom!

“And Chloe was happy for her, in a my-chest-is-hemorrhaging kind of way”

Synopsis
Professional hockey player Sig Gauthier’s life takes a complicated turn when he meets Chloe Clifford, a free-spirited harp prodigy, during a chance encounter at a country club after his car breaks down. Sparks fly instantly, but their budding romance is cut short when they discover their parents are engaged to be married, making them soon-to-be stepsiblings. Determined to keep things platonic, Sig supports Chloe’s quest for independence by helping her escape her controlling mother and move to Boston. However, their undeniable chemistry and the pressures of their new family dynamic make it increasingly difficult to ignore their feelings. As family drama unfolds and Sig’s hockey career hangs in the balance, they must navigate their forbidden attraction and decide if love is worth the risk.

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Book Review
Sometimes, you pick up a book knowing full well that reality is about to take a backseat, and that is exactly what you get. Dream Girl Drama is Tessa Bailey at her best—delivering a fast-paced, forbidden romance between a broody professional hockey player and his soon-to-be stepsister. If that sentence alone made you raise an eyebrow, welcome to the fun and maybe consider reading this one away from the family.

The Romance
Let’s be clear: the forbidden romance trope is a tricky one, but Bailey leans into it with full force. Sig and Chloe’s connection is immediate and electric—instalove on steroids. One moonlit kiss in a country club parking lot, and these two are all in, even if family drama threatens to keep them apart. Watching them navigate their “we can only be friends” dynamic is like watching a slow-burn romance unfold while the room is on fire. Spoiler: it’s hot.

The Plot & Pacing
Does the premise require a suspension of disbelief? Sure. But this is Tessa Bailey, and she knows how to sell the fantasy. The tension stems from a taboo setup—Sig’s dad is marrying Chloe’s mom—but it’s less about family politics and more about will they or won’t they give in to their undeniable attraction. Sig, ever the golden retriever in hockey pads, offers Chloe an escape from her controlling mother by bringing her to Boston. And while they’re just friends, the simmering chemistry between them builds until it can’t be ignored.

TLDR
Is this a deep, philosophical exploration of love and family dynamics? No. But does it deliver a steamy, fun, romance with just a bit of questioning of morals? Absolutely. If you’re into instalove, forbidden romance, and hockey players who fall first and fall hard, Dream Girl Drama is for you!