2.5 stars rounded up :-/
While this book did have a few moments where I enjoyed the supporting characters like the parents and Chloe’s friend, who oddly felt more grounded than the main characters, the main characters needed more depth, that being said, it wasn’t enough to save this book for me.

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

Sig and Chloe are the perfect almost taboo couple. This is a romance with a pending step sibling situation, and it is done so well. This is the third book in the series and each book can be read as a stand alone, as the characters reappear but do not matter much to the overall plot. I gave this book 5 stars, it is full of funny banter and spicy scenes. I can't recommend this book enough.

(3/5 stars) Not my favorite Tessa book, maybe because it's too love-at-first-sight, but I did enjoy the pining and forbidden love (albeit taboo). The tension was high and the spice was spicy. I do love Tessa's dual POV stories and that always brings them up a star for me.

I have enjoyed the Tessa Bailey books I have read so I was excited for this arc. But I was quickly disappointed the story line felt taboo, and I had trouble continuing because it just felt wrong. There was also a LOT of spice which felt wrong as well. But I enjoyed the characters so I kept on. Not my top Tessa book.

I also felt like it was hard to figure out who was talking when. I wish Sig and Chloes pieces were easier to tell apart.

I really enjoyed books one and two in this series (Fangirl Down and the Au Pair Affair), so I was jumping up and down with excitement when this approval hit my inbox. I knew that I was going to struggle with the step-siblings aspect because it gives me the ick, so my review is maybe a bit biased. Overall, I was not a huge fan of this one. I felt weird 90% of the book and it was a bit too insta lovey for me. I struggled to feel an actual, real connection between Chloe and Sig.

3 1/2 stars. I thought this book was good. It was not my favorite but the tension within the book was great. I enjoyed how they twisted the ending for them to be together but I do think it would have been better if they actually were together more during the time leading up to their parent's wedding.

I truly think Big Shots is Tessa's best series yet! I have been loving the interconnected sports romance more than I ever thought I would. Dream Girl Drama fits right in and had me on the edge of my seat for the entirety. Chloe and Sig's "will they, won't they" as they try to navigate their future of becoming step siblings is way more fun than it has any right to be! Sig is SMITTEN and would do anything for Chloe as she learns how to live independent of her mother. Chloe learns there is more to life and love and they both try to figure out what to do when that love might destroy them both....

Hmmm I wasn’t a huge fan of this book until the last 25% of it. 😅

This book is a love at first sight, forbidden love and slow burn. And quite spicy once our couple finally gets to the point. 😂 I give it a 4 🌶️ out of 5.

I really enjoyed the banter of the teammates which kept me very entertained. Also Pierre the bulldog? My favorite character. I even enjoyed the plot line because it added some depth that lacked in character development.

I really could not stand either one of the main characters. Sig annoyed me with how he was doing everything for Chloe. The fact he had just met her and was moving her to Boston and paying for everything? WTF. And Chloe I feel never learned to be on her own, EVER. The fact she never took anything seriously was so annoying.

Overall, it kept me entertained but I wouldn’t read it again. Thank you NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!

"Dream Girl Drama" had me hooked from the first page to the last. Hockey player, Sig, is in for a life altering journey when he meets Chloe. An emotional rollercoaster for Sig, Chloe, and the reader from start to finish.

I am loving this series and DREAM GIRL was a great edition to it! Rarely have I felt such instant connection and chemistry between two leads during their Meet Cute. Like, INSANE chemistry. I'm not one for Insta-Love, but I am all in with Sig and Chloe.

And their story takes a super-sweet turn when, after that Meet Cute, they cannot be in a romantic relationship and instead become best friends. I was dying at the best friend cuteness with the constant undercurrent of sexual chemistry.

Even their kisses are just insanely hot.

The reason I removed a star from my rating of DREAM GIRL is because the thing keeping these two apart seemed really, really, insignificant. The entire issue could have been resolved with a three sentence explanation to the press. I just didn't buy that this thing was so unfixable that it was set to destroy everyone's lives and careers.

Despite that pretty weak conflict devise (which is the center of the entire story) this book is still a fantastic steamy, sweet, and feelsy read that you will fall in love with. And Tessa Bailey retains her title of Queen Of Dirty Talk because HOLY HELLLLLL the dirty talk in this book is insane.

SPICE LEVEL: Rated NC-17 / 5+ sex scenes, harsh language. *MIGHT* include props/kink.
CONTENT WARNING: childhood poverty, controlling parent, past parent abandonment
FEELS: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.
POV: Dual - M/F - 1st Person

Tessa Bailey’s Dream Girl Drama has all the makings of a fun rom-com, but it didn’t fully deliver for me. While the premise was promising, and Bailey’s trademark wit and steamy scenes are present, the story felt uneven at times.

The chemistry between the main characters started strong, with some delightful banter and a few swoon-worthy moments. However, the relationship progression felt rushed, and the emotional connection wasn’t as developed as I’d hoped. The drama, while entertaining, occasionally veered into over-the-top territory, making it hard to stay invested in the characters’ journey.

That said, there were some standout moments. Bailey’s humor shines in certain scenes, and her ability to craft tension-filled, spicy interactions remains unmatched. The supporting cast also added some charm, even if they didn’t get much depth.

Overall, Dream Girl Drama is a decent read for fans of Tessa Bailey’s style, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. If you’re looking for light escapism with plenty of steam, this might still be worth picking up.

Now listen when I say I couldnt put this book down, I physically could not set my kindle down. I was hooked from start to finish on Sig & Chloes relationship and I adore them so much. I didnt think I would be a fan of the instantly in love attraction but honestly for this book it really was perfect. I loved the dynamic of chloes character and I loved that no matter what Sig just wanted her to be happy & his (of course). The only thing I wasn’t super crazy about was the random plotlines from all over while reading it (Grace & Easton). But I am excited to see who is next in the series. Thank you so much for the ARC I throughly enjoyed this book!

One thing that Tessa Bailey does really well is delivering a funny, movie-like story that moves quickly and is easy to read!

I loved Chloe and Sig's story - and their run-in, and the twist of how they were soon-to-be step-siblings. It felt like a twist on the step-sibling trope, and it was very tongue-in-cheek. It was a really funny story, and I could totally see this adapted into a film at some point.

It was so fun to root for them with an off-limits trope and a spin on what we usually see, wrapped up in a rich girl/hockey player romance that kind of hit all the necessary things for a cute, funny romance novel!

Thank you so much to Netgalley/Avon for an ARC! Will post more once it's published.

Tessa Bailey successfully delivers Book 3 of her Big Shot series with ‘Dream Girl Drama’ which blends her trademark spice, a mildly irritating heroine, and drama worthy of reality TV into a quick entertaining read! I was so surprised and honored to have received this as an ARC, THANK YOU NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager!

The Dreamy Bits…
✨ A HEA Twist: While the story leaned heavily into melodrama, I did not see the twist coming that allowed our main characters to have their happily ever after, so that was fun!
✨ Music & Sports: I liked how both main characters had a clear path forward for their passions and careers. They didn’t flounder with deciding who they were or what they needed to accomplish. Chloe had her harp, and Sig had his hockey, and their careers added a sense of grit to their otherwise glamorous backdrop.

The Drama Bits…
💔 Chloe’s Characterization: Chloe was, quite frankly, exhausting. Her pride over small wins (like buying laundry detergent at age 25) felt cringeworthy rather than endearing. I like it when entitled characters fall from grace and need to develop, but Chloe’s complete reliance on Sig for everything instead of pulling up YouTube made her seem vapid and incompetent.
💔 Overall Tone: Don’t get me wrong, the tension and steamy scenes deliver; however, some of Tessa's phrasings simply aren’t my favorite. I prefer romance where the characters fall in love, and the lust follows… this is more instalove and narrated through the lens of a hormone-raging boy.

My favorite Tessa Bailey remains 'Hook, Line, and Sinker'. If you appreciate Tessa Bailey's style, you’ll enjoy the continuation of this series!

⭐⭐⭐ 3 STARS!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The timeline of this book straddles The Au Pair Affair, the previous book in the series, but can be read as a standalone. I have been looking forward to this installment and was happy to get an ARC. Finding out the backstory gave important context to what the major conflict was. Sig and Chloe were a sweet couple that were really invested in the wellbeing and interests of the other. The tension and build up was great. I would say that my biggest problem with the plot was the supposed taboo nature of their relationship as adult step siblings. It just didn’t ring very controversial to me, especially since they were fully grown adults when their parents got together.

3.5 Stars

I didn’t connect with this story or the characters. The first 30% felt like a weird montage that didn’t give us much substance. The “conflict” was so bizarre to me and was pretty annoying to read about. It seemed like a non issue and I couldn’t understand why it was made such a big deal. I did like Sig and Chloe but I don’t think we got to learn enough about them.
After the 50% mark, I rolled with the story more and was having a good time. It was much more enjoyable when thinking about it as a fun, silly, and lighthearted story.

If Tessa Bailey is publishing a book, you can bet I’ll be reading it. Dream Girl Drama was one of my most anticipated releases for 2025, so getting my hands on an ARC was nothing short of exciting. I first encountered Chloe in Bailey’s previous book, The Au Pair Affair, and I was eager to see where her story would take her. When she locks eyes with Sig Gautheir, a professional hockey player at her country club, things seem almost too good to be true. She falls head over heels for him—until she finds out that Sig is about to become her future stepbrother.

Sig and Chloe quickly became my favorite couple in this series, and I was fully invested in their journey. There were moments, though, when Chloe’s “spoiled princess” mindset had me shaking my head with frustration. But Sig’s infatuation with her is undeniable from the first page, and made it easier to bear. His protectiveness feels genuine, and, as always, Tessa Bailey knows how to write a swoon-worthy hero. I wasn’t at all surprised to fall for Sig as quickly as Chloe did.

Overall, this was a fun, spicy read, and the “off-limits” dynamic added an extra layer of tension that made it all the more exciting.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager, NetGalley and the author for sending me this ARC.

I loved the first two of this series, and already love Tessa Bailey's writing style, so I knew that this would not miss for me. It was a treat to finally get to read Sig and Choe's story. Forbidden love is my absolute favorite trope, and this story was filled with all the yearning and tension you would hope for and expect. I highly recommend this installment, as well as the rest of the series!

I received this as an ARC. It contains slight spoilers.

I absolutely ate this up, Sig and Chloe were just SO kind and thoughtful to one another.

Truthfully, Tessa Bailey delivers her well-known spice but how incredible that these two characters fall in love with no physical intimacy beforehand (besides a kiss).

The way out of the drama was not what I was expecting and so for me, it tracked in surprise and also because he never told his mom about Chloe, she never helped with the truth.

I am so excited to read Dream Girl Drama. I am a big fan of Tesa Bailey. I have read the other two in this sports series and am happy I got an early copy. Thank you again.