I always have so much fun reading Tessa Bailey's work. Her writing is engaging, and her characters are usually such a joy to follow. That said, this particular book didn’t quite work for me. I think insta-love tends to make a romance feel a bit more shallow, and I found myself wanting something deeper that I could really root for. While I can always appreciate her humor and charm, this one just wasn’t my favorite. Still, I’ll absolutely keep reading her books because I know how much I’ve enjoyed her other stories in the past.

Imagine you have the best meet cute, meet the person of your dreams and come to find out you can’t have her?

Sid and Chloe meet each other unexpectedly outside a country club and immediately have a “love at first sight” connections between one another. They both come to find out they are at the country club for the same reason…to meet up with their parents. They both sit down at the same table and come to find out that Sid’s dad and Chloe’s mom are engaged to be married in a few short months. Sid and Chloe are both devastated by the new because they both were beginning to see each other in each other’s lives, but not for that reason.

Will Sid and Chloe continue with the “taboo” relationship and risk both of their careers over it, or will they realize that this connection is not worth it for both of them?

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

**Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐**

I really enjoyed *Dream Girl Drama* by Tessa Bailey! The chemistry between the main couple was electric, and I loved the depth of the MMC's character—he was swoon-worthy, protective, and full of heart. The relationships, both romantic and platonic, felt genuine and well-developed. I appreciated how all the characters brought something to the table, and the dynamics were rich and engaging.

The only reason I couldn’t give it a full 5 stars is because I found the FMC’s portrayal a little frustrating at times. She was often written as somewhat helpless, and while I understand that was part of her arc, I personally would have loved to see a bit more strength and independence from her. That said, it didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment of the story. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun, emotional read with great characters!

Dream Girl Drama is the third book in the Big Shots series by Tessa Bailey. While I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, I did not connect with this one as much. While it's listed as a "forbidden romance" I would argue that it only borders on taboo as the two main characters meet and form a bond before they are ever introduced to each other by their parents. There is certainly a lot of drama in the book, as the two main characters make the situation weirder than it could have been and also create problems for themselves every step of the way. If you can suspend some of your disbelief, however, this book has excellent pining, insta-love, and classic Tessa Bailey spice! Overall it was a good addition to the series and I will certainly read anything Bailey writes!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for access to an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow..just wow. This book lived up to the hype and more. If there’s one thing Tessa Bailey knows, it’s tension. And the tension between Chloe and Sig has been building since “The Au Pair Affair”. I’m usually not an “insta love” kind of girl. But. The PINING had be kicking my feet and giggling it was so good. I was aching for Sig and Chloe to finally get together. The most perfect depiction of grumpy x sunshine there ever was. My only criticism is I wish this book was in first person POV so I could really get an up close look into the minds of both main characters. I love pining in a first person POV. I also wish the conflict would’ve resolved just a tad bit quicker so we could’ve gotten more time of them having the freedom to actually be together rather than just one chapter of it. Overall, 4 stars. Tessa Bailey sure knows how to write a book that makes me happy. I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just when I didn’t think I could love a couple more, Sig and Chole enter the chat! The things they endure, work towards, and make possible…GAH IM WEAK! Cannot wait for the next book in this series! I think this may be my favorite Tessa Bailey series YET!

The chemistry between the FMC and MMC and the beginning was 🔥 but it did come off a little “insta-lovey”. I loved the protectiveness of Sig! As the story progressed, Chloe started to come of as child-like. It’s hard to believe a grown woman would act like that. That being said, I loved that Sig treated her so well and did feel Chloe grew as a character. As always, Tessa Bailey delivered.

4-Star Review of Dream Girl by Tessa Bailey

If you're looking for a romance that will leave you breathless, Dream Girl by Tessa Bailey is a must-read! I was utterly obsessed with Sig's unwavering obsession with Chloe—who wouldn’t want a love so intense and all-consuming? The connection between them was magnetic, pulling them together even when every circumstance seemed to keep them apart.

This forbidden romance is a rollercoaster of emotions. I felt every ounce of frustration and desperation right alongside Sig and Chloe, and there were moments when the tension was so palpable it almost felt like too much (in the best way!). By the time the barriers between them finally lifted, I found myself audibly sighing in relief—it was that satisfying.

Tessa Bailey has crafted a story that’s equal parts anguish and ecstasy. If you’re in the mood to torture yourself with an angsty, passionate love story, this book will deliver exactly that!

"Dream Girl Drama" by Tessa Bailey is the third book in her Big Shots series. If you are looking for a hockey book filled with angst and longing this book is for you.
Sig is a hockey player in Boston. Chloe is a harp prodigy that lives in the suburbs. Sig is on his way to meet with his dad when his car breaks down and he meets Chloe. The attraction was instant for both. When Sig shows up for dinner he gets an unwelcome surprise. Chloe and Sig need to stay away from each other but their attraction grows daily. As they try to navigate their relationship and their professional lives things come to a head.
Highly recommend this book and all the others in the series.

2.5⭐️3.5🌶️

Contemporary Romance
Hockey Romance
Forbidden Romance
Opposites attract



This book was messy… and not in a serves the plot way. I found the writing frantic and unteathered.

I feel like the magnetic attraction from this couple in previous books was a good starting point, but TB seemed to have decided that it wasn’t enough and that she had to up the ante and make the MMC obsessive, in a red flag way, while making the FMC childlike and overly naive. There was opportunity for growth for both as individuals… that was offered and opened as a possibility… and instead the characters regressed or were handed what they wanted. It was very anticlimactic.


A side note, when did the big shots series turn into just hockey romance? I think the golf book was my favorite of the three that are in the series, so far.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager For an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Dream Girl Drama
Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Net Galley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Okay, this was a very fast paced book! It was enjoyable and the first Tessa Bailey book I’ve read that didn’t pmo lol (but do take into consideration the fact that I’ve only read 2 other books prior to this—Fix Her Up and Hook, Line, and Sinker—and I know her writing has matured and changed over time).

Now back to my review on the book. Although it was a fast paced and easy read, I felt like there wasn’t much to it. Yes, they were going to be step-siblings and didn’t wanna cross that line but like I felt as if the character development and growth was very little. I know that Sig did everything he could for Chloe and Chloe did grow as an individual but I just didn’t care. I felt like there wasn’t enough pining, angst, tension and yearning and I get that they tried not to cross the line because they were going to be family soon. Oh and I’m not the biggest fan of the “insta-love” trope because I felt as if it contributed to the no pining, yearning, angst, etc.

(Spoiler)
Something that I did like was Sig’s confession. I think it was sweet and beautifully said and done! Oh and one thing I didn’t like was the fact that Sig’s biological mother kept the fact that Harvey was not his biological dad a damn secret all this time (and I know it was for plot reasons). OH and then Harvey not telling him????? Like come on, why cause both Sig and Chloe the damn stress???

And with that being said, I think this is my exit from the Tessa Bailey verse. Once again, thank you to net galley for the e-arc!

That’s it, the best book in the series, so far. They’re all so fantastic, but I absolutely love Sig and Chloe. I devoured this in one day. The build up was delicious and the delivery truly left my heart aching. I’m a sucker for main characters that love each other so much that it hurts and boy, did this one deliver. Even the spice was beautiful. Ugh, I love love!

I’m kind of at a loss for what to rate this book. I flew through the beginning and the end but the middle was a rough patch for me. I found both of them insufferable in the middle, her oblivion to finances and him just blindly enabling her. Overall, they were both much more likable when they were being strong. 3.5 stars.

MMC- Sig- 29yo Hockey player 6’2”
FMC- Chloe - 25yo harpist prodigy
Spice- 4/10


We got a glimpse of Chloe in the other book, and although she seemed nice, she also seemed very spoiled and ditzy. I’m so glad her character is much more flushed out and we got to see Sig and Chloe’s story.

They meet in this unexpected way of chemistry and banter and it’s very insta love (which I typically loathe), but then there’s lines like : “Her looks were the least of what stopped his breath” and he really falls in love with the kind of person Chloe is…which is very sheltered and a bit spoiled, but she is totally aware of her privilege without knowing how to get out from under her mother’s control, and a very sweet and kind person. She’s also a bit naive but also hilarious.

The story centers around finding out their parents are engaged to be married, which would ruin both of their career prospects if word got out they were in a relationship as step siblings, right after finding each other and knowing they never had and probably never will find magic like they have together again with anyone else.

You’d think there’d be not enough romance or it would be sort of dragged out since they initially decide they can’t be together and just be friends, but there is sooo much to their story.

Amazing banter from literally the first page, a good amount of spice, character development, totally swoon moments, and lots of tension…but the good kind, not the annoying kind. IYKYK. I laughed, I cried, I swooned.

I can’t recommend this book enough, and will most likely reread again someday.

Tessa Bailey has been hit or miss for me. She’s written some of my favorite books (Hook, Line & Sinker) and then others that I didn’t care for (It Happened one Summer)

I requested this ARC after reading Fangirl Down and absolutely loving it, but then totally procrastinated on reading it and wasn’t going to review, because The Au Pair Affair was a miss for me.

I’m sooooo glad I decided to honor the commitment to read and review because I (gasp) loved this even more than Fangirl Down- and I loved that book even though it was cheesy sometimes. This book may even be one of my favorites. Thank you NetGalley!

Professional ice hockey player, Sig, is on his way to a family dinner that he doesn't want to go to when his car breaks down outside a prestigious country club. Inside he is saved by the most beautiful woman he has ever met and they share an intense kiss before she rushes off. Sig eventually makes it to the dinner where he is shocked to find Chloe is already there and their parents announce they're to be married. Sig and Chloe decide they can never be together because of this but also can't stay away from each other.

I was really drawn in at the start of this book. The chemistry was insanely intense and I had high hopes that I'd found a new book boyfriend. But I just couldn't get into it after that. I found the storyline a bit ridiculous, honestly. I thought the step sibling relationship was going to add a layer of taboo to the book but it was the complete opposite. The characters were a bit meh too. Chloe is a privileged princess, which I normally like in a book but there was nothing more to her. And Sig just gave up his personality when he met Chloe. The ending didn't even save things for me. I felt like it was rushed so they could have their happy ending.

I’m truly at a loss on how to rate this. After I finished, I was unsure and almost a week later after sitting on it, I’m still unsure. Tessa is a hit or miss for me. I feel like this was on the closer side of the miss; however, I felt like I read this way faster than I expected to because I needed to get through it. I’m not sure if it was just because I needed to finish so it was over or if I just was invested in their story. I didn’t love the whole almost step-siblings thing. It honestly didn’t make sense to me. Also the big reveal at the end was predictable. I honestly kind of skim over the spicy scenes for TB books because sometimes they are just out of this world strange. But then again, I can confirm that no one writes quite like Tessa Bailey. Again, I’m conflicted about this one. I definitely didn’t love it but I’m not sure that I hated it either.

4/5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I love a Tessa Bailey book!

This book follows Chloe and Sig and I do have to say this has been my favorite in the series so far.

This book is a forbidden love, hockey romance with some spice.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

I want to first thank Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The longing, want, and angst in this book was top tier. I actually loved the lack of spice within this book, the tension made every second of it worth reading. The last thirty minutes of this book was anxiety-inducing but I felt it wrapped up the story perfectly. I was really nervous because I loved Fan-Girl Down but The Au Pair Affair ended up being a book I did not finish. I cannot wait for Pitcher Perfect. (Fingers crossed that I receive the arc!)

It’s always a good time with a Tessa Bailey novel and there’s comfort in knowing what to expect: over the top down bad for the FMC hero, dirty talk galore, and humorous side characters (I forgot I had missed the “Orgasm Donors”). I picked this up loving the awkward dynamic between Chloe and Sig from The Au Pair Affair, fully ready for their bizarre story. And the opening did not disappoint. This meet cute was so well written with the excitement and insta-lust Bailey is so good at writing. I loved the opening to their love story and felt that unpredictable sizzle between them that all takes place before the start of The Au Pair Affair. This was the best part of the book, when there’s all the promise for these characters before the plot threw them a curve ball.

As far as plot devices go, the narrative of Dream Girl Drama relies heavily on the reader accepting that a relationship between step-siblings (not long time live together, but adult step-siblings) would be taboo. I wanted it to be awkward and uncomfortable at worst, but personally I didn’t see a tremendous issue with their relationship. It was hard to imagine a whole city being invested in what didn’t feel like the juiciest of gossip. Regardless, I felt like a good time was delivered by Bailey, and if you can go along with the idea that step-siblings dating would be problematic, then the storytelling will work for you. This is escapism, pure and simple, with over the top characters who live big and have big personalities. Although not my favorite book in this series, I still think it fits in perfectly with the Big Shots series and would read again for that initial high of making a connection with someone at first sight. I received an early copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Another amazing read from Tessa Bailey! *Dream Girl Drama* delivers on all fronts with swoon-worthy moments and characters you can’t help but root for. Sig calling Chloe his "dream girl" and doing whatever it takes to be with her is just *chef’s kiss*. Chloe, a sheltered prodigy harp player, is mischievous and comes to Sig’s rescue when his car breaks down. Instant attraction is there, but fate has other plans, leading them both to a dinner where their parents are announcing their engagement.

The chemistry between them is undeniable, but they both know they have to keep their feelings in check—especially with their parents about to marry. Sig, a rugged hockey player with a tough background and a single mom, he helps Chloe find her independence, but the tabloids start to stir things up.

This book is such a fun ride and ties perfectly into *Fan Girl Down* and *The Au Pair Affair*. I hope we get more stories in this world because the side characters and the friendships/family dynamics are just fantastic. Of course, there’s top-tier spice (Tessa Bailey does not disappoint in that department!). If you love swoon-worthy romance with a side of drama and steam, this is a must-read!