Dream girl drama is my new favorite Tessa Bailey book.

After getting a glimpse of Sig and Chloe’s mysterious relationship in The Au Pair Affair, I was intrigued to read more about their story. To say this book hit the spot, would be an understatement.

The love they have for each other is truly refreshing. I loved seeing how much of an impact Sig and Chloe had on each other.

3.5 spicy hockey stars

This is my fourth book by Tessa Bailey. I always know I’m in for a steamy story with interesting characters! In this round, we have a professional hockey player, a musician, and forbidden love. Much of it is set in Boston, which I love as a book setting.

The two main characters, Sig and Chloe, meet at a country club and hit it off immediately. They don’t realize that their parents (Sig’s Dad and Chloe’s Mom) just got engaged. So when they marry, Sig and Chloe will become step-siblings. There’s the forbidden love piece! Although both were adults, so not sure where that measures on the forbidden scale?

Of course, the two have trouble keeping it just friends, and the temperature just keeps rising!

Chloe has always lived at home but heads to Boston to study music, and Sig helps her gain independence. As their careers heat up, it becomes clear that they can’t be together.

I haven’t read the first book in this series (Big Shots), but I think I’ll go back and read them. If you want a book to warm you up this cold winter, this one should do the trick!

This book is so good and once again proves that pretty much everything Tessa Bailey touches is gold. Normally, I would steer clear of any trope remotely close to this (Stepsiblings getting it on is a hard pass for me and the thought of it instantly gives me the icks) but since I know her work so well, and she’s an author I’ve always enjoyed, I had faith she wouldn’t take it to a bad place. I’m so glad I trusted her because she delivered!!

I knew I would love this couple based on their appearances in The Au Pair Affair. They are classic opposites attract from different worlds who balance each other. On paper, Sig and Chloe shouldn’t work. Sig is the kind of gorgeous, strong, silent, overbearing and worshipful book boyfriend whose behavior could sometimes be seen as red flag territory if you list out what he does without context but is made so attractive when we can be in his head and learn his motivations (I.e. the Pop Tarts). Similarly, Chloe, the rich, beautiful, sheltered socialite, could have came across as annoyingly unaware and naive but somehow we end up loving and rooting for her to grow and become independent.

Overall, this was more of a slow burn than some of Bailey’s other titles but I loved it more for it. If they had just given in to their feelings the entire story, it wouldn’t have made sense and could have made a turn for the worse. But don’t worry, when she delivers the spice, be prepared to sweat!

’m so glad she gave us Sig and Chloe’s story and cannot wait for the next in this series, Pitcher Perfect, with Orgasm Donor Robbie taking the lead!

I've enjoyed this author in the past but this isn't one of my favorites. The book had a lot of potential but felt rushed.

Sig and Chloe have a great meet cute and sparks fly immediately. They share a hot kiss and then run off to their seperate obligations. Except it turns out they were both going to the same place and their parents are planning to marry! This was a great premise but it wasn't delivered as well as it could be.

The tension between Sig and Chloe is hot all the way through. When they finally give in, it's steamy! Everything works out way to easily in the end, which was a disappointment. I hung on through the whole book wondering how in the world this was going to end up happily and then it was just too easy of a fix. Plus, teh whole book takes place over the course of 6 months and it would have been better if it was slower paced.

Still, I recommend this one for fans of the author and those who like a taboo romance.

I’ve been WAAAAITING for this one for like ever. I’m obsessed w how Tessa did this trope and the chemistry
Between the MC’s? Yes please! I adored so much about this book and I cannot wait for more from
Her

Overall: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Plotline: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Tropes: MF; Hockey; Billionaire; Taboo

Themes: 3/5
Romance: 3/5
Spice Factor: 2
Enjoyment Factor: 3/5

Review: I really loved the other two books in this series, but I hated this. The romance was too fast-paced, so there was no build-up to the romance. I don't think that the manic pixie dream girl is a personality trope I enjoy because she was so annoying I wanted to go through the book multiple times. While Chloe was super irritating, Sig felt like a carbon copy of Burgess, which was just sad and made him just so flat.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think this lands on one of my favorite Tessa Bailey books.

Chloe and Sig had a chance meeting when Sig’s truck breaks down. They have an instant connection until they find out their about to become step siblings.

I never felt bored with this book. I loved the way Sig and Chloe’s chemistry built through out the book. This is a slow burn. Sig is the sweetest and text book Golden Retriever.

I had some laugh out loud moments and made me just love this book more. The pop tart thing was the absolute cutest thing.

I also want to say I want a Corrigan and Skylar story.

Genre: Hockey Romance
POV: Third Person
APK: Ebook
Pages: 384
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book 3 in the Big Shots Series

Not my favorite Tessa Bailey book. While the spice was there, I’m not sure I truly believe sleep the love was. Thank you for this arc I really do appreciate it,

Tessa Bailey delivers another signature romance with Dream Girl Drama, blending her trademark spice, compelling characters, and a dash of drama to keep readers engaged. While the plot unfolds predictably, it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the story—sometimes, knowing what’s coming makes rooting for love all the more satisfying.

The characters are a standout, with chemistry that leaps off the page and dynamics that feel authentic despite the intriguing, if unusual, family connections woven into the narrative. Their emotional arcs kept me invested from start to finish, and I was cheering for their happy ending all along.

As with most of Bailey’s works, the “spice factor” is just right—steamy enough to satisfy her loyal readers but never overshadowing the heart of the story. The romance is sweet and steamy, balanced with humor and heartfelt moments that make this book an enjoyable escape.

If you’re a fan of Tessa Bailey or romance with a blend of drama and charm, Dream Girl Drama is worth adding to your bookshelf. It might not surprise you with twists, but it’ll win you over with its characters and their journey to love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book in exchange for a honest, unbiased review!

dream girl drama: first off, this is my first Tessa Bailey book and this is the third installment of a series. after reading the description, i was intrigued but wary. step siblings that fall in love?

chloe and sig meet at country club where they really hit it off. an hour later, they meet again, but this time it’s at the dinner their parents are announcing their engagement. from there the two try to resist their urges and decide they should stay friends because they can’t imagine not being in eachother lives. long story short, they tease eachother for 8 months until their is a “solution” to their problem.

I really wanted to like this book but here were my issues:

-they meet. One hour later, he loves her and would give his whole life up for her?
-chloe has childlike behavior and sig enables it. it gave me the ick towards both of them.
-90% book is whining about not being able to be together. they are in their twenties when they meant. they didn’t grow up together. they are not related by blood. just do it if it’s “killing” them?

what tessa proved she can do oh so well is write some spice. when they do have moments, it is so clearly described.

overall, I was disappointed with this read. i have only heard good things about tessa’s book and i look forward to giving another one a shot.

thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Here’s to many more!

Missed Potential in a Steamy but Implausible Romance
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tessa Bailey is known for her ability to write steamy, tension-filled romances, and Dream Girl Drama certainly delivers on that front. The chemistry between Sig, a brooding hockey player, and Chloe, a manic pixie rich-girl rebel, is electric. Their forbidden romance has all the hallmarks of a will-they-won’t-they dynamic, but unfortunately, the story falters under the weight of its own premise.

The plot leans heavily on the "taboo" aspect of their relationship—Chloe’s controlling mother is engaged to Sig’s estranged father, making them soon-to-be stepsiblings. However, the scandalous setup feels contrived. The pair didn’t grow up together, their parents aren’t married yet, and the stakes tied to their relationship are vague at best. It’s hard to believe this would cause any real drama in a modern setting, especially since both characters start out rejecting their parents’ judgment entirely.

Character development is another stumbling block. Chloe’s initial presentation as a jaded rebel quickly gives way to a laughably sheltered persona. She doesn’t know how to drive, doesn’t understand basic adult responsibilities like paying bills, and makes bafflingly poor decisions, like spilling personal secrets to a reporter. These inconsistencies make it difficult to connect with her or root for her growth.

Despite these shortcomings, the book isn’t without its merits. Bailey’s talent for writing sizzling scenes and palpable tension shines through, making this a fun, escapist read for those who can suspend disbelief. But for readers seeking depth or a more plausible setup, Dream Girl Drama may fall short of expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book in exchange for a honest, unbiased review!

Adored this!

First of all, thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy. The opinions expressed here are my own honest review.

I thought all the other Tessa Bailey Books were steamy. Not like this. Just wow. The combination of slow burn and longing that these two characters have from jump just creates the most spice I’ve seen in her work so far. And that is saying volumes. I love being in the Big Shots universe, and the reintroduction to some of the other characters again.

This was such a fun read—I love hockey, so that helps. But beyond that I could not put this down— I needed to see where it all would go. And maybe it’s because I am reading 4 books at once but I could not see the ending the way it played out—so all the claps for that.
I really connected to Chloe’s messiness and both of the MC’s imperfections, which play into the entire storyline so perfectly.
The appearance of pain the the butt but precious pet was a bonus.

I will be reading this one again and very much recommend this book for any one that likes spice, laughing out loud and a sports rom com. It was spot on.

Tessa Bailey knows how to write a good romance. I have loved the Big Shots series, so I was very excited to get the ARC for Dream Girl Drama. Tessa knocked it out of the park again.

Our MMC is an over protective self assured Hockey Player who falls for a sheltered rich girl harp playing prodigy, however, she is his future stepsister. While this story is connected to Au Pair Affair, you don’t need to read it to understand and enjoy this story.

I think the characters were well written and I enjoyed reading their different POVs. The story had great progress and flow with a satisfying ending. Of course, like with other Tessa books, the smut was exceptional. I loved the side characters, especially the donor twins 😂 I am hoping there is another addition to this series following one of them.

Sig was a provider and protector and it felt so natural for him! Chloe felt a little too ditzy to me. She was really sweet and I felt like she had good intentions with Sig but she just was not relatable for me. We got a lot of Sigs past life and I wish we got more of Chloe’s maybe to understand her a little better. I didn’t see the twist coming at the end but it felt like a let down. The step sibling aspect of the book was angsty and made it more of a slow burn but, I’m not sure if it sits with me okay.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher was for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning of this book is rough. Our main characters meet and basically fall in love (I would argue it's more lust) within the first few pages, only to find out that their parents are getting married, thus making their romance forbidden.

The tropes are strong right from the start. It's very much as the summary describes, to the point where the female main character sometimes feels almost stupid when it comes to doing basic day-to-day things, like washing clothes or paying rent. This element bothered me the most because it began to feel as if the FMC was using the MMC. I just wanted both characters to grow up and realize they weren’t helping each other—they were enabling each other.

That was the turning point when the book started to get better. Once the characters began to feel the consequences of their actions and grow, I enjoyed the story much more. The second half of the book was far stronger than the first. I particularly liked how the third act wrapped up and was pleased with the little twist toward the end.

If you're a fan of the manic pixie dream girl and insta-love tropes, I think this book will be a big hit for you!

As a long-time fan of Tessa Bailey’s books, I was over the moon to receive an ARC of this one. Although it didn’t rank among my favorites from this author, Dream Girl Drama still had all the fun, spice, and swoon that readers have come to expect from Tessa Bailey.

Personally, I really enjoyed the insta-love vibes between Sig and Chloe. The emphasis on how Sig fell for Chloe the first time he heard her voice, before he even turned around and caught sight of her gave me all kinds of warm-fuzzies. Sig’s constant care for and devotion to Chloe made him a top-notch MMC, while I absolutely adored Chloe’s bravery, determination, and growth. The fact that her sense of humor shines and her confidence continues to grow even as she feels increasingly uncertain in some aspects of her life felt so real and made me so proud of her. The trust she puts in Sig never feels misplaced, but neither does the self-reliance and confidence she develops as their story evolves. I absolutely adored the continual honesty between Sig and Chloe—especially when it felt like neither of them had ever really had that from their parents. Their ability to be honest with each other, even about hard things, even when their inclination is to protect the other with a lie, was honestly romantic as hell.

For all its good, I will say that this book felt like a bit of a departure from many of Bailey’s other books. The concept felt wholly in line with what I expect from her—fresh, a little off-kilter, unexpectedly fun and sexy for the circumstances—but this work in particular felt much more expository than her novels often do One of my favorite things about a Tessa Bailey romance is that she’s so unparalleled in her ability to show the progress, the evolution, of both the individual characters and their relationships. I think having so many time jumps took away from that somewhat, especially since the timeline laid out by those jumps didn’t actually make sense with the impending “deadline” Sig and Chloe are up against, nor did align with the amount of time readers are told has passed. Between the issues with the timeline and some pretty obvious flaws with the premise—especially the complications between Sig and each of his parents—I found myself occasionally frustrated as the plot unfolded.

Nevertheless, Sig and Chloe’s story is swoony and sexy and a little bit silly—all the things I want from a Tessa Bailey romance. I already can’t wait to see these two crop up again in Skylar and Corrigan’s book.

4 lust filled stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for these future step siblings!

Reading Chloe and Sigs story felt like riding a roller coaster that derailed on a barrel roll for 95% of this book… (my stress levels were high) if you think you know how it ends. No…. No you don’t…

I expected nothing less from a Tessa Bailey novel 😅 absolutely loved this!

Tropes
- Forbidden love
- Taboo romance
- Slow burn
- Insta love
- Sports romance

Thank you Avon, Tessa Bailey, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First and foremost, thank you net galley for the ARC!!

I wanted this book from the moment I finished the 2nd book in the series. I liked it enough, it was a fun read for sure! The mmc, if I met his personality in real life I would run away 😂 but I will never run away from a Tessa Bailey book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. The story of Chloe and Sig is that of a forbidden heartwarming romance. Characters are well developed yet the book remains lighthearted a fun. The 🌶️ level is 5/5. It was a fun quick read that can stand alone in the series written by Tessa Bailey.

Sig meets Chloe when his truck breaks down at a country club and he immediately knows she's his dream girl. The problem is - as he later finds out - she's about to be his stepsister. He still helps her move to Boston and break free from her narcissistic and overbearing mother and finally start her journey as a professional harpist (he's a professional hockey player playing on a weak contract). Chloe has lived a life of luxury and doesn't know how to do much of anything - very Paris and Nicole "Simple Life". Sig feels the need to protect and provide for her, even though he doesn't make much money (he decides to sell memorabilia online to supplement his salary). They both cannot deny the draw they have towards each other, regardless of the fact they're going to be stepsiblings. Sig hires a PI to find a way to break up the wedding - anything will do. Will these two manage to find a way to be together, against all odds?

Tessa Bailey is always a great choice and I can't wait to read the next in the series! I loved the chemistry between Sig and Chloe!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!