I am a Tessa Bailey fan! It Happened One Summer is one of my all time favorite 5⭐️ reads, and I really enjoyed book one of this sports series (Fangirl Down). So I was thrilled when I got the ARC for Dream Girl Drama. Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books! Also this cover is gorgeous!! 😍

What I loved about this book was the magnetism between Sig and Chloe. Tessa Bailey knows how to write that chemistry! And the inner turmoil they were each struggling with to keep the lines in their relationship felt so raw and real.

I’ll say it over and over, but I am someone who is not bothered by similar plot lines / tropes in books if it’s done well! While this was reminiscent of the FMC in It Happened One Summer (wealthy woman trying to make it on her own), it just slightly missed the mark for me. Sig’s enabling of her naivety really made Chloe seem immature, and I didn’t find the growth as well-rounded.

Ultimately, the “drama” of Sig and Chloe being potential step-siblings really overpowered everything. Like was this a sports book? I almost couldn’t tell you from how little we heard about hockey. Sig could have played for any professional sports team. What I loved so much about Fangirl Down was the combination of golf details with the romance. And maybe that’s a me problem since we watch more golf than hockey in our house?

I loved the side characters, especially the rookie hockey bros. Would love to see a plot line play out for one (or both) of them! And while I haven’t read the Au Pair Affair, I’m adding it to my TBR after the little taste of Tallulah and Burgess we got in this novel.

Tessa never fails to bring the heat!! Dream Girl Drama is witty, hilarious and downright naughty and I loved every second of it. Chloe and Sig will have you turning pages at an ungodly speed because their story is that addicting!

“Dream Girl Drama” by Tessa Bailey delivers playful banter and steamy romance, making it an enjoyable read. While the story felt a bit predictable, it’s still a great addition to her lineup.

Amazing! I loved this book so much! Tessa Baily knows how to write a fun, steamy and banter-filled romance. If you are looking for a valentines day read, pick this up!

I really wanted to like this book and while I didn't hate it there wasn't much I enjoyed. I'll just come right out and say that insta-love isn't for me. Sig was lovesick over Chloe literally two seconds after meeting her and just wasn't really engaging for me. I think that's why it took me so long to get into this book. I will say once I got about 40ish percent into it, I was on a roll so it was quite easy to read. I also feel like I genuinely liked the FMC, Chloe up until she had to function as human on her own and she couldn't. Like can we please have a competent, driven woman who wants to pay for her own things???? That stressed me out. I'm aware this is a book, but Sig having to front everyone's bills was just too much while Chloe was blowing everything on EYE CREAM. Also STEP SIBLINGS AREN'T RELATED. Why are we freaking out so much!? Like I get it but at the same time....do we have to mention it every five seconds? I feel like I just couldn't connect to Chloe and honestly the most unbelievable thing about her is that she has access to an ungodly amount of money and she hasn't stepped into a Sephora........and I know for a fact that there is a Sephora 10 minutes away in South Norwalk. I just wish she came across more adult like and driven since she wanted to show her mom she could be on her own. I will say that it did take me a while to figure out the plot twist..I did figure it out before it happened but it was literally the page before and that did redeem this book a little bit. At the end of the day, I was hoping for a little more banter and tension. And last, but not least.......what is with the obsession with butt stuff????? Overall, I'd say 2.75 stars. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager as well as NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars

This is book three in the Big Shots series and I really enjoyed it. Our main characters, Sig and Chloe, were present in the first two books and I was very excited to read their story. While this book was entertaining and fun, something about it felt different than the first two. Maybe a little too fast?

Sig and Chloe meet by chance one day, and their chemistry is instantaneous. They part ways with promises to see each other again, only to find themselves unexpectedly meeting up at Chloe's mother's house as their parents are getting married.

Tessa managed to make this a slow burn and insta-love story at the same time. Sig and Chloe's chemistry was great, and I could really sense their love for each other. Sig was all in right from the get go, and I love seeing a man be a simp. Chloe was sheltered and overindulged, but she was a good person. While she did make progress towards becoming a more self-sufficient person, I was hoping to see a little more progress in that area.

I was really unsure how this book was going to end and how they'd manage to be together, and I was really happy with the result. The spice was excellent as usual. My only complaint is that the storylines with the parents didn't wrap up the way I thought they would. I was looking for a more explosive showdown between Sig and his mother & Chloe and her mother, but they way things were handled did make sense.

This is a great entry in the series. I wonder if Reese's story will be next?

The most tension slow burn build up ever! The clear understanding of why they shouldn’t combined with me screaming and pleading for them to “DO IT!”

As always Tessa writes with such a witty banter and hilarious moments between characters you can’t help but fall in love. Highly recommend this read as it falls into one of my top Tessa Bailey books.

I loooooved this one! This is the third book in the big shots series and while I have enjoyed both book one & book two this one has been my favorite! As soon as we got glimpses in the prior books of Sig and Chloe I knew without a doubt that I needed their full story and Tessa delivered it! It has a forbidden storyline, which I loved, it created an angst and a tension between Sig and Chloe that had no business being so dang good! I loved the characters, I loved their chemistry, I loved this whole story. Probably one of my favorite Tessa books yet! Thank you to Tessa & Netgalley for the arc!!

Tessa Bailey delivers another swoon-worthy hit with Dream Girl Drama, the third standalone in her Big Shots sports romance series. This time, the spotlight is on Sig, the hockey-playing cinnamon roll, and Chloe, the harp-prodigy-turned-independent-woman. Their connection is electric, complicated by the fact that they’re about to become step-siblings—a forbidden-ish twist that adds delicious tension to their love story.

Bailey masterfully balances humor, heart, and heat, taking readers on a rollercoaster of emotions. Sig’s steadfast devotion and Chloe’s journey of self-discovery create a dynamic pairing that’s equal parts sweet and steamy. Their chemistry leaps off the page, and the built-up tension keeps you hooked until the very end.

If you’re a fan of Bailey’s signature spice (and who isn’t?), Dream Girl Drama delivers in spades, while also packing plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments. Though this book stands alone, those familiar with Au Pair Affair will find extra payoff in finally getting Sig’s story.

For anyone craving a sports romance with heart, humor, and forbidden love vibes, Dream Girl Drama is an irresistible pick.

🏒 Hockey romance
🎼 Harpist heroine
💕 Forbidden(ish) love
🌟 Love at first sight
🌶️ Classic Tessa Bailey spice

Bailey’s Big Shots series just keeps getting better—and Dream Girl Drama might just be her best yet!

First, I want to thank NetGalley for the e-ARC!
A continuation of a couple we caught a glimpse of in second Big Shots book, Au Pair Affair, Chloe and Sig’s unconventional relationship was something I never thought I’d be gravitated towards. My initial thoughts; there was a lot of built up tension between the two characters that kept me wanting to read more. Their chemistry was undeniable, despite the barrier that was keeping them apart - they’re about to be step-siblings. I overall enjoyed the book as it took me on a journey of many twists, comedy, and of course romance. It’s an easy read that you won’t want to put down.

Truthfully I liked this way more than I thought I would. I don’t usually go for blonde manic pixie dream girl FMCs, but Chloe was so endearing. Bailey wrote her journey from naive, sheltered rich girl to pursuing her own path as a professional musician in a way that felt natural and relatable, helped by her big, genuine heart. Her naiveté was never vapid; she is funny, self aware, and clever. The way Sig supported her by teaching her the life skills needed to survive was so sweet, and frankly I wanted more. While I love Bailey’s brand of “completely smitten MMC”, for Sig that was pretty much all that defined him. While Chloe’s personal journey was to become her own woman and Sig helped with that, Sig’s mission was essentially just to find a way to be with Chloe. The other thing that fell short for me was the romance timeline. I’m not inherently opposed to insta-love (though if you are you will struggle) but I struggled with it in this context. And because they’re extremely into each other from the jump it felt like Bailey had to abbreviate 6+ months to avoid feeling repetitive, using some strange time jumps in the first third of the book. I so wish we had gotten to see them fall for each other! The pieces were all there! And when they fully realize how much they care for each other it’s truly Bailey’s writing at its finest - the love, the yearning, the spice - all great! By the end I really loved them as a couple and was thrilled for their HEA.

Thank you so much to Tessa Bailey and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the eARC of this book. I was so excited to get this ARC and it definitely lived up to the hype I was expecting for this series! Sig and Chloe are some of my favorite characters out of this universe. But to be honest I love every character in this universe and no one can tell me any different. I highly highly recommend this book and any of Tessa's others. I can't say enough good things!! I can't wait to see what Tessa has in store for us next!!

What do you do when you fall in love with your future step sister?

Sig Gauthier finds himself in this predicament when he is swept off his feet by the high brow Chloe (last name). When Sig stumbles into the Country Club of Darien after his 1998 Chevy craps out 3 minutes away from his location and his phone dies, Chloe saves him from the snobby front desk who won’t let him charge his phone. Little do they know, they’re both late for the same dinner to meet their parents' new significant other. The bomb is dropped when they find out they will be related by marriage. Chloe decides to upend her life to reach her dreams of playing cello for a symphony orchestra and move to Boston with Sig. Convinced his father is trying to swindle Chloe’s mother, Sig is determined to find some dirt to allow him to be with Chloe. But will they be able to make it work or will they always be the one that got away?

Tessa Bailey created such loveable characters who fight to be with each other. The spice is on point but the insta love just didn’t do it for me. Chloe’s character felt unrealistic and far too fake. I recognize that in her world she probably did have some inauthentic qualities but her character did not feel fully fleshed out to me which made it hard to like her or their story. Sig’s protective nature was not attractive and more of a turn off. Even in the previous books, it felt like too much and not even in a “she’s mine” way. This one missed the bar with me 3.5/5.

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

The love story between Chloe and Sig is definitely an unconventional one. They meet for the first time at a country club and it’s love at first sight. Later on, they discover that Sig’s father is marrying Chloe’s mother, making them soon to be stepsiblings. We follow as Chloe and Sig try to stay away from each other, but their chemistry pulls them back together. The only critics I have of the book are that the ending felt very fast paced and I feel like everything happened so fast in the last chapter that could’ve been spaced out a little more. Overall I really enjoyed this and am excited to read the other books in the series!

When Tessa Bailey revealed her next book would not only be another sports romance (a sub-genre I believe she's Very Good at writing for those who want just a hint of sport in their novel), but a sports romance featuring step-siblings, I said shut up and take my money please. Something about a Tessa Bailey novel always hits for me whether I absolutely loved the story or thought it was just alright. I am pretty much a satisfied customer every single time which makes it a little difficult for me to rate what I am reading as a woman rating books (and living life) based on vibes and vibes alone.

Dream Girl Drama was no different. The reader is edged within an inch of their life, so naturally I devoured this book in one sitting. The sexual tension and longing? Immaculate! The characters? Well...I needed to come up with some way to translate my feelings into *stars*, so I considered the following:

Likeability of FMC: 2/5
Chloe's character was emitting some...major childlike wonder?? She came from a world where everything was done for her and didn't really have a sense of how ANYTHING worked. Once she flew the coop for her Independent Women Pt. 1 adventure...well she continued to have a very slippery grasp on reality because Sig was the CEO, CFO, and Regional Manager of her person. Where is the money for rent and $700 worth of face creams coming from when she has no active income? There's no way for her to know but it probably came from a tree. However that brings me to...

Likability of MMC: 5/5
I fully believe men should do everything for women, especially purchasing and personally storing 100 boxes of Pop Tarts, for all that we have historically endured at their hands. If you know what I mean (and I think you do). No, I will not be elaborating at this time.

This is how I landed on a 3.5/5 star rating for the book overall which just feels about right… but I'm rounding down to 3/5 however because my original calculation excluded the egregious use of the word "buns". I won't go any lower than 3 though because I still had a very good time reading this and am already looking forward to the next installment.

Tessa Tessa you do it every time. You make me love all the characters Sig & Chloe are currently my favorite in the series! Especially hockey romance it’s my absolute favorite 🥺

5 ⭐️ / 3 🌶️

Tessa Bailey does it again!
Dream Girl Drama is the story of Sig & Chloe - a forbidden-ish love story between a doting hockey player, a harp prodigy, and oh they just found out they’re about to be step siblings.

Sig is the responsible, hockey-playing, cinnamon roll “friend.” Chloe is a rich, country club regular, harp prodigy who has seemingly never had to work for anything. She’s on a journey to discover her independence, with a little encouragement from Sig. Meanwhile Sig is trying not to fall for his soon to be step sister/ best friend/ dream girl as they sort through public lives, soulmates status, and chasing after the life together they really want.

This standalone hockey romance is the 3rd of Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots sports series - her best series thus far in my biased opinion (sports romance is my fave). It has an extra payoff if you’ve read book 2 - Au Pair Affair - and spent a fair amount of time wondering WTF is happening with Sig like I did.

🏒 hockey romance
🎼 harpist
💕 forbidden-ish romance
🌟 love at first sight
🌶️ spice (it’s Tessa Bailey IYKYK)

Thank you NetGalley and @Avonbooks for the ARC!

I love this series, and so I was very excited to read the third installment. Chloe and Sig were very interesting to see with an outside perspective in the other two books, and so diving in with this one was really good. I think the premise was something I’d never really read about before, but I think it worked out well. Book 2 is still my favorite but this one was also good. The chemistry was off the charts, and you could feel it, so palpable. I’m excited to see if there are other characters that will get books, like Corrigan and the pitcher.

Rating : 3.5/5⭐️


I loved meeting Sig and Chloe in book 2 The Au Pair Affair. It seemed like an interesting concept…future step-siblings liking each other. But this book fell a bit flat for me.

This was definitely a slow burn and it took almost half the book until something spicy happened. I enjoyed the chemistry and intensity between Sig and Chloe and the way Sig treated her with such attention and care. I had a really hard time connecting with the spoiled princess character of Chloe. She was really child-like and annoying most of the time. Her interactions with Pierre honestly saved her likability for me. Pierre was a hoot! 😂
The ending caught me off guard. I did not see it ending that way but I liked it. It tied everything up in a bow quickly.
Overall I did not enjoy this book as much as the other two books but it was ok for me.

Check this out if you enjoy:
-Sports Romance
-Touch her and 💀vibes
-Forced proximity
-Forbidden Love
-Insta love

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Voyager and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

This book has that magic that made me unable to put it down, despite it containing my least favorite tropes- touch her and die, and instalove. Tessa Bailey nailed both. The intensity was there and the chemistry was palpable. The only thing I didn’t buy was their reason for holding back, which felt contrived. I also wanted a deeper dive into the life of a harpist, and a hockey player. Ultimately, I feel mixed about this because their relationship seemed largely toxic, supposed taboo aside, and somehow also very nurturing. It made me think and I loved how it was written. Queer rep: side character is a lesbian.

Short summary: Sig meets the love of his life an hour before learning she’s set to be his step-sister. Drama ensues…

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.