I unfortunately had a hard time following this plot. The step-sibling trope can either go good or it can go badly, and this one didn't do it for me. It's basically future step siblings that meet and fall for each other but can't be together because of how "weird" it might look. The two definitely had extreme chemistry and lots of intense moments. The whole story ended up being so-so for me. I think if you like a lust filled relationship story, you will enjoy this one.

Absolutely loved this one by Tessa Bailey! Sig is my Dream Guy, but I loved him with Chloe. Perfect amount of chemistry, angst, and family drama – so good

YES YES YES! Thank you Tessa for bringing the Big Shots series into existence. I have loved the first books in this series and the third book is no exception. Great characters and an engaging storyline.

This was one of my most anticipated upcoming reads and it did not disappoint. Technically this is book 3 in the series but it can be read as a standalone. Tessa Bailey took this couple we saw bits off during the other books in the series and made us fall even more in love. The taboo topic didn't feel taboo at all and I couldn't help but root for Chloe and Sig. Sig had me swooning over his love for Chloe. I also loved the snippets we saw of other couples from the series.

I was given an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley for an honest review.

I have never read a Tessa Bailey book before and it was not a book that was written for me.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager as well as NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

There are so many things I love about all Tessa Bailey’s books and this one is no exception. Our hero, Sig Gauthier, yes let’s call him our hero. Nothing better than a main character who loves their one completely, fiercely, patiently and unconditionally. Yeah 🙌 I’m here for that. His heroine, Chloe Clifford grows on you as her backbone does. They are both loyal, know that there is lots they don’t know but work on themselves. Chloe helps Sig see positivity in places he normally wouldn’t and Sig helps Chloe learn her own her strengths. They realize people can come from broken places but build their own character and goodness. I love how deeply they believed in their love and each other. Thank you from NetGalley,Harper Collins and Tessa Bailey for an advanced e-book copy so I could give my honest review. Read it and fall for Sig and Chloe.

I really enjoyed this book for the most part. It was just the right amount of taboo for me - no actual blood relation so I’m rooting for them no matter what, and then ultimately there’s not even a relation by marriage, so it’s believable that the obstacles they were facing suddenly just all disappeared.

I will say that while I understand why Sig’s career as an athlete/public figure could have been somewhat jeopardized by his relationship with Chloe, I don’t fully understand why one small column of unsubstantiated rumor would have cost Chloe a music internship. I feel like just the potential damage to Sig’s career would have been enough of a conflict without adding Chloe’s career in the mix as well.

I’m not usually a fan of “love at first sight” but I liked how it was done here, with the two of them feeling an attraction and having a good conversation together as they realized there was more. I loved how much Sig cared for Chloe, and how Chloe tried to support Sig as much as possible in her own way, especially the scenes of her at his games.

I have mixed feelings about Chloe’s characterization in general though. I like that she acknowledges how sheltered she is and is trying to become more independent, but it made her very unrelatable at parts. I also hated that her reason for paying the rent late was that she spent $700 of the money specifically given to her for rent on eye cream. That crossed a line for me. She was given that money for a sole purpose, and instead she used it for something else that was ridiculously frivolous. If she was given the money specifically for rent and agreed to use it just for rent, it seems deceptive to then go and spend it on something else. Even someone sheltered who’s never had to think about money should at least know to keep their word to someone they love. It’s hard for me to believe that someone with Sig’s working-class background would find that endearing instead of horrifying. I’m glad Chloe did at least eventually realize how badly she was behaving (and her shame and acknowledgment that she was wrong is what kept this book at a 4-star instead of a 3 like I was considering), but it shouldn’t have needed to come to that point.

I also felt like the parents all just got off way too easily. I wanted to see an example of Chloe setting healthy boundaries with her mom, not just be told in the epilogue that it was happening. And this is super unrealistic, but it would have been so satisfying to see her mom properly acknowledge how shitty it was that she purposely married Sig’s not-dad quickly to prevent Chloe’s relationship from having a chance. What a horrible mom to put her own happiness before her daughter’s. I would have cut her off entirely in Chloe’s place. I also think Sig should have been way more angry with both his mom and his not-dad. His not-dad especially, since he KNEW from the start there was no real reason Sig couldn’t be with Chloe. Hearing that they’re all still in touch with each other in the epilogue was kind of disappointing. But I guess that’s more realistic - it’s hard to cut off family, even shitty family.

Besides these points though, overall it was a really enjoyable story. We saw just enough mentions of other characters without it getting obnoxious, and I enjoyed the glimpses at potential future couples. Worth a read for sure.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I was so happy to receive an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager! This is the third book in the Big Shots series and I was so ready for Chloe and Sigs story. But I definitely was not prepared for how hard and fast I would fall in love with this couple. No slow burn in this book! I think Sig might be the perfect book boyfriend - even if he's not really considered a boyfriend? And Chloe is funny and endearing and I loved her even though I couldn't really relate to her. By far my favorite book in this series so far!

such a fun read! The banter, the chemistry, and all the feels were spot on. A little predictable at times, but honestly, I didn’t even care because it was so good. I love all things Tessa Bailey!

When professional hockey player Sig Gauthier’s car breaks down and his phone dies, he treks into a posh private country club to call a tow truck, where he encounters the alluring Chloe Clifford, the manic pixie dream girl who captivates him immediately with her sense of adventure and penchant for stealing champagne. Sparks fly during a moonlight kiss and the enamored pair can’t wait to see each other again, but when Sig finally arrives to meet his dad’s new girlfriend over dinner, Chloe is confusingly also there. Turns out the girlfriend is Chloe’s mother. Oh, and they’re engaged.

Sig’s dream girl is his future stepsister. Though the pair is now wary of being involved romantically, Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy, yearns to escape her controlling mother. Sig promises to teach her the ins and outs of independence in Boston—but not inside his bedroom. They both know there can never be more than friendship between a famous hockey player and his high-society, soon-to-be stepsister. But keeping their relationship platonic grows harder amid the developing family drama, especially knowing they were meant for so much more

This spicy sports romance is so much fun. I love Sig's tender softer side and his protectiveness. Chloe's internal strength is inspiring to read. The heat between these two is undeniable, and they play off each other in the best way. Definitely pick this one up! 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book so much. Sig will forever be my book boyfriend. Chloe did get on my nerves a tad but I think it was probably the spoiled, oblivious, rich girl who had no idea how the real world works. I hadn't read the previous books in this series so this could definitely be read as a standalone. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc!

Unfortunately, I found myself disappointed with both the romance and the characters. The immediate attraction between Chloe and Sig felt incredibly rushed. By chapter two, after spending just an hour together, Sig is already begging to sleep with her, planning to take her to Boston, offering to pay for everything, and even contemplating marriage. It felt unrealistic and borderline absurd.

Then, they discover they’re about to become step-siblings, which supposedly complicates their plans for an instant happily-ever-after. But honestly, am I the only one who doesn’t see why they couldn’t be together? They’re both adults, they don’t live in the same house, and they’re not related by blood. They didn’t grow up together or even know each other before this. Sig doesn’t have a healthy relationship with his father anyway, so what exactly is the problem here?

I couldn’t believe in their connection beyond surface-level sexual chemistry. And speaking of that—the sex scenes? Cringe-worthy and uncomfortable. I don’t know what’s been going on with Tessa’s recent books, but I’ve been struggling to enjoy them. This one is definitely the worst of the trilogy.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The angst… the longing… the YEARNING.

This was a difficult one to rate because I did love the tension and overall relationship in this story but I had a few qualms.

I enjoyed that our FMC was quite unlikable at times because of the habits she grew up with. It made her realistic and the reward of her character arc felt earned.

The insta-love had me rolling my eyes and screaming at my phone. If I had a fun few hours with a man and found out he was going to be my step brother you bet your bottom dollar I would be disgusted and keep my distance but that may just be me.

Overall I enjoyed this fast paced story and recommend for anyone looking for a romance full of small touches and longing glances.

I really liked this book, it’s probably my favorite in this series. Sig and Chloe were every bit the tortured angsty couple unable to be together due to circumstances that I was expecting. However, I was not expecting to love it so much.

Chloe seemed sweet but flighty, helpless, and manic in book two so I wasn’t thinking I would love her. She was dramatic and naive-sure; but she was also strong and sensible where it counted and I loved how she grew through it the book- with herself, her mother, and with Sig.

Sig was such a sweetheart and I loved how much he loved Chloe. From their epically adorable meet-cute he was all in and was so determined to make it work.

My only complaint was that until about 60%, I didn’t really understand the drama. I didn’t think it was *that* weird that they would be together and found myself just wanting to shake them and say “Who cares? Just be in love!” But finally some real stakes were introduced and the tension and angst was top tier! I wish the issues with their respective careers had been introduced earlier. I was not anticipating the reveal at the end and was pleasantly surprised how it all worked out.

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

I’ll start off by saying I have read several Tessa Bailey books including the first two of this series. I loved tons of her books with only 1 or 2 kind of falling flat for me.

Unfortunately I didn’t love this book as much as I thought I would coming off the others in this specific series. It’s not the twist of step siblings that turned me off, as I felt like this could be a rollercoaster read. Instead I just kind of felt like the build up in Au Pair Affair was so good and interesting, the beginning of the book to figure out how the two come to be is also pretty good, but after that it just feels a little choppy. There are random bits of the story that I don’t feel like add much (example; the baseball game, the female coach intro, and Sig’s dad.. which could totally have been a longer part of this story!!)

What Tessa Bailey did in this book with the spice though… she is really continuing to kick up the heat which I love of course! I think what I need is a return to a slower evolving love story.

Regardless, I will continue to read every book she puts out. I think I just prefer the slower build up like Just For The Summer, Hook Line and Sinker, Unfortunately Yours, etc

I can never go wrong with a Tessa Bailey book. It is everything I expected and had me giggling and kicking my feet. A quick and easy read and was excited to see where the story went. I will read every Tessa Bailey book

I will say this one hooked me in the beginning but then I lost interest as the story progressed. I couldn’t get over the weird about-to-be step sibling fact and their relationship/obsession with each other became too much. I feel like the book redeemed itself in the end with a little bit of a twist but it was very clear through the entire book how it would end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

4.5. I was beyond excited to receive this ARC especially after having Fangirl Down in my bookshelf for awhile. I ended up reading all three in the Big Shots series back to back.

One major thing that irked me was the timeline. It was WAY OFF. the beginning of the book says they meet the same night they find out they will be further step-siblings in 8 months. Then the book does time jumps and those time jumps add up to over a year. Then they mention Burgess and Talulah are engaged however they don’t get engaged until 17 months after the ending of The Aupair Affair. But in the beginning of The Aupair Affair Chloe has already met Sig and living in her apartment. But then the book goes back to saying the parents get married in 8 months. I had to put this out of my mind and just forget it makes zero sense.

As far as the characters I did fine Chloe to be quintessential spoiled rich girl for the majority of the book. And she was a little unlikable for me. Sig seems like a decent guy but at times his possessive macho man thing was off putting.

Overall I was on the edge of my seat with their chemistry. I could literally feel it through the page. I was so curious how this book would end and how they would tackle the step-sibling situation. I did think the Sophia and Harvey would just not get married and when they eloped my heart sank for them. For a second I thought the book was going to end without them together. Was I shocked when Harvey wasn’t Sig’s son? Not really, it felt like that was really their only out. Sig & Chloe definitely love each other and this gave me fated mates vibes.

I definitely picked up on Skylar and Corrigan being next up in the series. Can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen with them!

Spicy, raunchy, and a lil cheesy. Tessa Bailey you dirty girl. I really enjoyed this. I got through it fairly quickly. This could have had a little more touch here and die/ big hockey men beating on each other, but I still had a great time.

In the Au Pair Affair, Chloe seemed a lot more air heady. She was still a little airy in this, but I liked her more than I thought I would. It felt like these characters had more dimension than usual.

18+ multiple scenes. Could have been longer scenes. The TENSION in this. Oh my gosh so good.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the digital ARC.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC!
This series is everything you need if you are a sports, romance, and book lover! All three are rolled into a steamy, fast paced, meet cute type of love story.
Great story, steamy love, fast paced read