I was blessed and got the arc of this book and I loved it. I’m obsessed. Sig and Chloe were everything. I’m not coherent right now but it’s fine. Cause I loved this book.

Ok more coherent…29 highlights yall…I could have highlighted way more but I was trying to control myself lol this book….the angst and the pining…my god. It was perfection. I’m a sucker for it every time and no one does it like Tessa! This book was everything I could have wanted and even though I was a little stressed towards the end…it’s all ok. 😂

As much as he guarded her like the crown jewels, he supported her independence. It was only occasionally she wanted to be pinned down and told she belonged to him. Okay, fine. She wanted that constantly.

SAME CHLOE. Me and Chloe were like this *does two fingers at my eyes and then points them at her fictional eyes* we got each other in our love for all things Sig related.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey is the third book in the Big Shots series. This has been a highly anticipated installment, especially after the introduction of Sig and Chloe in The Au Pair Affair.

In this novel, we follow Boston Bearcats player, Sig Gauthier, and his soon-to-be stepsister, Chloe Clifford, in a whirlwind of "will they or won't they" in a labeled taboo romance (due to their familial connection). The book begins with how they met, and if you are a fan of insta-love (or not, because Tessa Bailey writes it so well you won't know what hit you), this one is for you! We get to know Sig and what makes him the classic example of a M&M. Hard candy shell and soft, gooey inside (but only for Chloe). Chloe is what you would expect her to be as an upper crust, privileged woman who doesn't know why you shouldn't spend all of your future stepbrother's money on eye creams instead of rent. She is a prodigy of epic proportions when it comes to playing the harp, but has a lot of growing up to do as she's been completely sheltered and provided for her entire life. One of the elements of the story that I enjoyed the most was how independent she grew to be, and how lovely it was to form a wholly different perception of someone who I saw as vapid in book two. The one thing keeping these two apart is the nature of their relationship and how it would appear to other people. Being that they are both in the public eye, what will it take for them to be together, or will they swear off each other romantically for good?

The ending was as expected for me, but how they got there was a little too easy and convenient for my taste. However, not enough for me to not love this book, because I absolutely did. The pacing was quick, as most Tessa Bailey reads are, because it is very easy to get caught up and have zero patience for what comes next. This author can make most plotlines and stories readable for me, and one thing she does consistently in almost every book of hers that I've read is make my stomach do a loop-dee-loop at one point or another. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the equivalent of a swoon for me, and that alone makes this book worth reading.

I gave this one four out of five stars, very enthusiastically.

Thank you so much to Avon, Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and Tessa Bailey herself for the opportunity to read and review Dream Girl Drama with my honest thoughts and opinions.

This was a huge thumbs-down for me. I've been eagerly awaiting this one since first being introduced to these characters in The Au-Pair Affair, but this wasn't it.

Sig and Chloe fall in love mostly off screen. We see their meet cute where it's lust at first sight at the beginning. And then, the book basically skips to the present time where they've been falling in love already. But we don't get to see it! From there it was just a "we love each other, but we can't be together" situation and it got really annoying really fast.

Also, I feel like Sig didn't have much of a personality. Chloe's was there and she was the best. But Sig just kinda lived for Chloe (which go off, we love a simp), but he didn't have a personality to go with it.

This is a bit of a spoiler. You've been warned. When Sig finds out the man he thought was his dad is not, he doesn't even go through a normal grieving process or anything. He's just relieved he can be with Chloe and mad no one told him sooner. I feel like he should have been shocked, upset, sad, or any of the above before he landed on happy to be with Chloe in point two seconds. It was very weird.

Overall, I'm so disappointed by this one! But I'm hoping the next two hockey players won't be so disappointing to read about.

2.75! Okay, this one was something… I was REALLY curious about this book because of the whole step-sibling thing but in the end I found the whole story kinda boring. I didn’t like the FMC much and I thought their romance was extremely rushed, to me it felt way more like lust than love. At first I was okay with it but I never really felt the love developing (not even by the end of the book). It’s undeniable that the characters have insane chemistry but is that enough to carry a book? Idk, for me it wasn’t :(

4.5-Star Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

*Tessa Bailey delivers another hit with Dream Girl Drama! The tension and slow burn nearly did me in, but it was absolutely worth the wait. Chloe grew on me throughout the story—she starts as a very cute and sweet FMC but shows a bold, fiery side that matches Sig’s energy perfectly. I was here for every filthy moment.

Sig is such a sweetheart, and his unwavering dedication to Chloe made him completely irresistible. I loved how he was willing to do anything to make her happy, even when the stakes were high.

The ending was just as shocking as the plot twist—I truly didn’t see it coming. Bailey’s ability to surprise and satisfy never fails. Fans of slow-burn romance with sizzling chemistry will love this one.

Look out for its U.S. release on February 4, 2025!*

Tessa Bailey can be depended on for visceral and intense chemistry and this book is no different. You can physically feel the love and longing between the main characters. I enjoyed this book, but could not get over how silly the conflict was. I honestly don't think anyone would care that these two twenty-something adults got together and their parents happen to be getting married too! The amount of pain and suffering they endure over it reached comical levels for me. I still adore Tessa, but this was not a favorite for me.

I love forbidden romances and their chemistry was so great. Wish they realized it wasn’t as crazy as it may seem.

Loved this book! Such a good read. Funny and whitty. Also very interesting story! Loved plot as well.

I am a huge Tessa Bailey fan! Fangirl Down was my favorite until I read Dream Girl Drama. I loved the back and forth with the characters. I also loved that the conflict didn't really have to do with their feelings for each other, They weren't trying to deny or avoid how they felt, they were just trying to avoid the backlash. I also appreciated that the resolution wasn't just the parents not getting married. I loved that EVERYONE got their happily ever after. I can't wait for the Orgasm Donors stories!

My main critique about this book is that their relationship was insta-love and we missed a lot of the development on page. The first chunk of the book is actually told in past tense and it isn't until like 20% that things are in present tense and I think that impacted the way I felt about their connection.

Was this super hot? yes. Was the pining there? yes. Did I like both characters? yes. Did it feel like there was no way their relationship could work out? yes.

So it had all the tension and steam, but I just wanted to understand their emotional connection a little more. It felt like they just wanted to bang and she was dependent on him, but I needed to know more about why they liked to hang out, ya know?


Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've read pretty much all of Tessa's books at this point and this series is 100% my favorite. The characters, the stories, the spice - everything is top notch! So glad I got to read an early copy and I know people will love this new story.

Dream Girl Drama is the third installment in the Hot Shots series, following the lives of Sig, a famous hockey player, and Chloe, a talented music prodigy who unexpectedly becomes his soon-to-be stepsister. Their chance meeting at a country club after Sig’s truck breaks down sets the stage for an undeniable connection. But as fate would have it, Chloe’s mother is engaged to Sig’s father, complicating their budding relationship.

As Sig and Chloe navigate their growing feelings for each other, they both recognize the challenges they face. Not only are they about to become family, but Sig’s public status and Chloe’s desire for independence add layers of tension to their relationship. Chloe dreams of escaping her controlling mother and pursuing a career at an elite school in Boston, and Sig wants to support her, but the pull between them is hard to resist. This creates a forbidden romance that readers will root for, despite the obstacles.

While Dream Girl Drama is a sweet and heartwarming story, it doesn’t quite measure up to the excitement of the first two books in the series. The romance is endearing, but some of the plot elements felt predictable. Still, for fans of sports romance and forbidden love, the book delivers the expected chemistry and emotional moments. The inclusion of familiar characters from earlier books adds to the charm, so I’d recommend reading The Au Pair Affair before diving into this one to fully appreciate the interconnected storylines.

Overall, this book is a great pick for readers who enjoy lighthearted romance with a bit of family drama. It’s not as gripping as the previous books, but the heartwarming connection between Sig and Chloe will keep fans of the series entertained. I would recommend it to friends who love sports romance and forbidden relationships.

Goodness.
Loved our two grumps from the first two books of the series, but I mean Sig. SIG🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The angst and anticipation in this book is absolutely intoxicating. Like I couldn’t stop reading and my stomach just was butterflying all over the place.
Sig is a DREAM MAN!!! Mummy wants an Sig to take care of her and keep her safe. Cause MEEEEEOOOOOOWWWW🐈🐈🐈🐈

I would say 4 stars for sure. The aching was tangible!

I really enjoyed the plot of this book and the loving and caring nature of our mmc. I wasn't expecting the twist that happened AT ALl.. However, I was very happy that it happened. Super excited for everyone to be able to read this come February.

Tessa Bailey proves yet again why she's the master of bedroom talk and intense chemistry in a hockey romance that finely treads the line of taboo between two future stepsiblings. Sig and Chloe's initial meeting is filled with fireworks of feelings and the shock that follows has them trying to fight those feelings for each other while not being able to stay away either. I loved the way the way the story built and seeing Chloe's growth from sheltered to confident and secure and seeing Sig get some answers. It was hard to put down and the perfect escape. It's sure to bring the heat in a jam packed month with amazing romance. I am loving this series and looking forward to reading more stories set in it!

ARC Review:

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey is the third book in the Hot Shots series. I have never rooted for a couple so hard then Sig and Chloe! I am absolutely obsessed with this series. I have been excited to read Sig and Chloe’s story after they were introduced in book 2. This book had romance and a boat load of tension. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for these two to be together. The storyline was exciting and i truly enjoyed reading this story.

Chloe was such a sweetheart! She may have been sheltered and naïve but she never let that get her down. Her and Sig were literally made for each other. Their chemistry was instant and I loved it. Sig would give the shirt off his back to Chloe. God to have a man love you like Sig loves Chloe. These two were so cute and I just needed them to be together. Their parents both irritated me the whole book. I wanted to throttle them, especially at the end. This book had romance, spice, and tension. I am so excited to see what will be next for the Hot Shots series! I highly recommend this book and the entire series!

📚 Dream Girl Drama is available now for pre-order!

🗓️ This book will be released on February 4th, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

HAPPY READING

Tessa Bailey is back again with another hilariously fun and sexy romance. After really enjoying Fangirl Down and the Au Pair Affair, I was beyond excited to get my hands on this ARC and it did not let me down. I devoured this book! After meeting Chloe and Sig in Au Pair Affair, I was very curious to unpack their chemistry and learn more about their relationship.

Chloe (prodigy harpist) and Sig (professional hockey player) share a passionate kiss after meeting for the first time, approximately 2 hours before they find out their parents are getting married. Even though it’s a bad idea, they cannot stay away from each other. Sig helps Chloe move out of her mother’s home to Boston to continue training as a harpist, and in the process, she becomes a part of his everyday routine (read: he is obsessed and possessive, as all Tessa Bailey men are. If you don’t like men being in love in the first chapter, this may not be for you).

These two have all the chemistry, and their relationship truly brings out the best in each other. The conversations they had melted my heart and made me swoon. I loved how much both characters grew over the course of the novel, and how Tessa didn’t just let them be together. I was on the edge of my seat in the last 1/3 trying to figure out how they were going to end up together with the impending marriage of their parents. No spoilers, but I loved the ending.

Tessa bailey fans and sports romance fans, y’all are going to love this one. It isn’t as deeply emotional and heart-wrenching as other romances I’ve read, but it was so much fun. I’d recommend reading the hot shot series in order, because you meet the characters progressively through the books. Solid 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed going back and seeing how Sig and Chole met after already being introduced to them in previous books. Sig meets his dream girl, who unfortunately turns out to be his future step sister. Even though they are not related and met as adults, its is looked at negatively by their parents, and for the future of both their career goals. The characters has good chemistry, but I dislike how helpless the FMC was with a lot of things.

Thank you Net Galley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the early Arc of this!

I do love a Tessa Bailey book for a good quick reset. Dream Girl Drama features Chloe (manic pixie dream girl) who is a prodigy and so sheltered she can barely function in the real world and Sig, professional hockey player, who falls in instant lust/love with Chloe and makes it his job to care for her. Due to some strange family dynamics, they cannot be together romantically but also cannot stand to be apart from eachother. Sig is a dream man. Chloe has some character growth but I was so disconnected from their relationship due to her immaturity and his codependency. This sadly was just not for me. I loved Fangirl Down but this didn’t have the same magic. Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted arc.

I love a soap-opera style book. Seriously, this book was giving all of the General Hospital vibes a girl could want. A forbidden romance where they are about to be step-siblings? Sign me UP.

Except...it feels like the publishers are just forcing Tessa Bailey to write hockey romance? Like it feels like she doesn't care about it at all? I get that this isn't her first time writing hockey, and this is the second hockey player in this series. But any part that has hockey feels like lazy writing on her part. One thing that stands out is the new GM saying "I want to add a Stanley Cup to the trophy case." Maybe that's just a turn of phrase, but anyone with an iota of NHL knowledge knows that is a blatantly wrong thing to say. Any hockey element of this book could have easily been turned into another sport or another job, but of course the powers that be had to make it hockey. Ugh.

Other notes about this book: the time jumps in the first third feel really bizarre and unnecessary; the book would have been stronger if we could fully see the development of Chloe's independence, rather than just random snippets. Although it seems like Sig didn't really want her to be independent, or he would have taught her that you don't need to spend hundreds at Sephora when rent is due. (Side note: is anyone truly that naive?) I would have rather seen a slower timeline with character growth than another spice scene.

It's still Tessa Bailey, so the writing itself is good. But there was a lot to be desired with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.