When professional hockey player Sig and society darling and harpist Chloe meet in a chance encounter at a country club after Sig's car breaks down, their connection is instant. After sharing a steamy kiss, the two agree to meet later that evening to take things further. But when the two separate to head to their dinner plans, they discover that their obligations are one and the same: Chloe's mom is marrying Sig's dad, and this was the dinner where they were all supposed to meet. With Sig's life in the spotlight and Chloe's family's reputation, there's no ignoring the inappropriateness of continuing anything romantic. But Sig still wants to help Chloe live the life she's dreamed of and get out from under her mother's thumb, so he invites her to Boston where she can perfect her already prodigal harp skills. Having her close is better than nothing, right?

I'm obsessed with this book. Fangirl Down was such a delight that I wasn't sure another book in the series could reach such heights, but this one came pretty close. It's a quintessential taboo romance but done in the best way possible. You just feel so bad for Sig and Chloe because they're so obviously meant to be together but can't because their parents happened to meet first. You might be wondering how this situation works itself out, but I'm not going to spoil it for you! The book is worth reading yourself...

Thanks to Avon for my eARC (and to Goodreads for my giveaway winner copy)! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

I read Tessa Bailey’s Bellinger Sisters duology last year and adored those books, so I was excited to read this one. I didn’t know this was the third book in a different series, but I had no trouble following along. There were moments in this book that I genuinely enjoyed, especially the scenes with the hockey team. They literally made me laugh out loud! However, at other times, this book just fell flat.

I am very picky when it comes to insta-love, and I struggled with that storyline. It seemed more like insta-lust than insta-love to me. There wasn’t enough buildup or early interactions between the main characters to make their emotional connection feel believable. That said, I do think the author improves that aspect of the book as the story progresses.

Overall, I liked this book. If you are looking for a low-stakes, fluffy hockey romance with spice. I think you’d enjoy it. For me, it was a three-star read.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Talk about awe-inspiring!
Chloe is a prodigy child who has been sheltered her whole life in a small town when she has a chance encounter with Sig. Sig was on his way to dinner with his father when his truck broke down and he walked to the country club that was close to making a phone call to try to get his truck working so he could attend the dinner. When he is met with roadblocks by the front desk Chloe saves him saying he is her friend and is allowed entry. They spend time together and while things start to get steamy they stop because they BOTH had previous engagements.
When Sig arrives at the house of his father's fiancee he makes a terrible discovery. Chloe will be his step-sister soon and that makes everything more complicated. At the dinner, Sig offers to help Chloe move to Boston and then on top of that Chloe's mother says that if she moves to Boston she will cut her off financially. Sig knowingly aids her, helps her get an apartment, and incorporates her into his life with his team while trying to keep her at arm's length because they will soon be step-siblings. However, everyone on the outside can see the chemistry between the two and the rumor mill starts running and threatens to ruin everything they have both worked towards!
Chloe's mentor has threatened to drop her because of the step-brother scandal and eventually does when an article comes out. Sig's new team manager offers him everything he has ever wanted on a silver platter but tells him that he has to drop everything with Chloe because they cannot be connected to a scandal.
However, the two try to separate, and it hurts both of them. Can they stay away from each other to make their dreams happen, or will their love cause them to lose it all?
Check out Dream Girl Drama to find out! It will be published on February 4, 2025. Mark your calendars for this one—you won't want to miss out! Thank you, Netgalley and Avon & Harper Voyager Books, for the exciting opportunity to read and review this one!

Dream Girl Drama had me hooked, the first chapter did a great job of hooking me into the story of Chloe & Sig. The entire story Tessa Bailey wrote was spectacular, the slow burn, the yearning, the grumpy x sunshine, the hockey players, the spice....all of it was perfection.

Sig is definitely high up on the book boyfriends list.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey delivers a sizzling romance between Sig, a pro hockey player, and Chloe, a sheltered music prodigy. Their relationship begins with intense chemistry but becomes complicated when they learn that their parents are engaged, making them potential step-siblings. While the forbidden nature of their attraction adds tension, some readers may struggle with the dynamics, especially Chloe’s dependency and Sig’s possessive tendencies. Despite this, their slow-burn romance, filled with yearning and intimate moments, is engaging, and their chemistry is undeniably strong.

Though I found the storyline a bit difficult to grasp, especially the "step-sibling" element, the character development of Chloe and Sig adds depth to the plot. Chloe, usually hard to connect with due to her spoiled princess persona, becomes more likable as the story progresses. Sig’s devotion to Chloe is endearing, even if it sometimes crosses into controlling behavior. The book successfully mixes angst, forbidden attraction, and romantic tension, making it an enjoyable read for those who love a steamy, emotional romance.

Thanks to NetGalley & Avon & Harper Voyager for providing me an e-ARC!

**1 star** This was such a disappointing read! I only read a couple of Tessa Bailey’s works, specifically the Bellinger Sisters duology and enjoyed them. I was super excited to receive an ARC for one of Bailey’s interconnected standalone series, “Big Shots” but was incredibly let down.

The story follows Chloe Clifford, a trust-fund heiress aspiring to be a professional harpist, and Sig Gauthier, a professional hockey player, who find themselves unexpectedly thrown together when their parents become engaged. Chloe is presented an opportunity to live in Boston to further her harp playing skills with Sig basically being her guarantor for everything. While trying to navigate her new life in Boston, Chloe and Sig fight to keep their attraction at bay.

This was very cringy. A lot of the living situation with Sig paying for everything makes absolute no sense. As a 27 year old individual, living in a major city, I can tell you this is incredibly unrealistic. These characters are in their mid 20s but they act like teenagers. Going as far as Chloe having a Sephora shopping addiction–something that teens today have a problem with. Having Sid pay for basically her whole well being after she was using her mom’s wealth like no tomorrow, was a missed opportunity for Chloe to actually face life struggles and essentially grow up.

Now onto the romance. It was horrendous. Their initial attraction brought me in as a reader but as I read more on their “friendship”, the more I hated it. It was a very lusty kind of connection, not to mention VERY instalovey. Absolutely ZERO emotional connection. The alpha-disguised-as-misogyny act gets old real fast and honestly, I should have dnf’d this. If the target audience for this series are young single women, this book presents unrealistic, toxic relationship standards. If you enjoyed Hannah Grace’s, “Icebreakers”, you MIGHT enjoy this. The writing is not much better and honestly is worse than “Icebreakers”. Don’t even get me started on the way Chloe treated her new puppy.

If you’re thinking of reading this one, maybe skip it. Read her Bellinger sisters duology instead because that has more emotional substance.

Another fantastic addition to this series by Tessa Bailey! I loved the slow burn quality of this romance. I’m not usually into the forbidden romance trope, but she tied it all up in a neat little bow by the end.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. I found this to read to be predictable and average. I’ve read quite a few of Bailey’s books before, but had not read Books 1 and 2 in the ‘Big Shots’ series. This book could work well as a stand-alone as well. I did not enjoy how Chloe was portrayed as someone who needed to be taken care of, otherwise, I think she could have been a stronger character. Their love story was messy from the beginning and stayed consistently like that through the end. I do wish we could have learned more about each character to really envision their connection. I do think others will enjoy this read, but was an okay read on my end.

I don’t care what they say, I know the truth. Tessa Bailey all my friends say is the epitome of toxic masculinity and awkward dirty talk.

If I can be honest she has a humor and witt that is unmatched. I almost always love her novels, and this was no exception. She toes the line with step siblings, or soon to be. This may be one of my favorites yet (my others include ones in this series, maybe they keep getting better??), as it kept me fighting for the main characters, and I never got bored or gave up.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the arc! Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed the arc of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own).

I didn't read the other 2 books in the "Big Shots" series and have only read 3 other books from Tessa Bailey.
This book was very much what I was expecting and, in other ways, not what I was expecting.

Sig and Chloe have their meet cute and fall in love at first sight - which is not a trope I enjoy. But their love mostly happens off-screen. We don't see all the little things that make them fall in love... we only know the angst and the sexual frustration.

I did enjoy Chlole's figuring out the world and her pink-coloured lenses made things a little unrealistic, but fun. I did not like Sig as much, which is a bummer.

The main thing that made this book a bit of a surprise was the level of smut from the beginning. The way they expressed themselves, especially Sig, was not something I was expecting from a book of this genre.

Thank you Avon/Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the eARC. Unfortunately this was a mess for me. I felt like the first chapter started off strong with a chance encounter between the two main characters Sig and Chloe. The connection was instant, and I did choose to overlook the insta love/lust.

The FMC Chloe is insufferable. She doesn't know how to do anything and is written in a very infantile way. The MMC has to do everything for her including pay her bills, teach her how to do laundry, and how to drive. I know she is supposed to be from a rich affluent background and not used to doing this stuff but it just seemed so strange to me.

The mystery element behind Sig's dad was the only thing keeping me invested until the end. I really thought I was going to like this more, unfortunately it just wasn't for me, but I think the book will find it's fan base.

Sig and Chloe where do I even begin? When I first read the summary and how they interacted in The Au Pair Affair I was like something isn’t adding up.

How can they be step siblings and in love? Tessa sure does know how to draw you in and keep you right at the edge of your seat to see how this relationship dynamic will play out. Of course you know I don’t write spoilers in my reviews, so you will have to find out what happens yourself. 🤗

Now let’s get into how Sig and Chloe thought and spoke about each other – their words held no bounds on how they loved each other through thick and thin. Love can be beautiful when both parties are in it together for the long haul.


Tessa never ceases to amaze me when it comes to her writing and the spice level in this one :5/5 😏

I'm usually a fan of Tessa Bailey, but this is my second book in a year from her that I did not enjoy. I'm not a fan of the insta love trope, that's on me. But I thoroughly did not enjoy either of these characters, they were both annoying in their own ways and I just did not enjoy the romance. Tessa Bailey has some really great books, this was not one of them.

Being a huge Tessa fan this one was big time disappointing. The tropes I don’t mind at all. The characters, plot, and writing were unbearable.

The FMC might easily be one of the most insufferable characters I’ve ever read. I try to give the benefit of the doubt when it comes to being a product of your environment but she’s so astronomically irresponsible and airheaded, I couldn’t get past it. Her decision and spend OTHER peoples money irresponsibly instead of paying rent, hardly having a lick of common sense. Ugh. It was too much.

The MMC was also so unenjoyable. I’m fine with insta-love if I expect it going in but his was just so illogical and all he ever talked about loving was her looks and being drawn to her physically. Bleh. Going above and beyond with absolutely zero in return. Which yes, we shouldn’t expect things in return but she barely even treated him with respect. Especially financially.

There were soooooo many time jumps in the first 30%. They had “8 months” until their parents were supposed to get married and then all of a sudden, a literal year’s worth of time jumps had taken place. They talked about cute moments that happened but we never ever got to witness any of them.

The ending was an okkkkkk solution but just meh.


Would I recommend this? Sadly no. And I was so excited about it.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for providing me a digital and physical ARC for this book.

When hot hockey player Sig’s truck breaks down outside of a swanky country club and he gets rescued by his Dream Girl, he is shocked to find out later that night that his father is engaged to her mother. Sig can’t resist Chloe’s spunky, bubbly personality, and neither of them can deny the connection, but they keep it strictly in the “friend zone.” Until they don’t… 🔥💥‼️ Obviously a romance between step-siblings would be taboo, but the stakes are raised with both of their high-profile careers, pro hockey player and orchestral harpist… once their unorthodox relationship is speculated about in the tabloids, does it mean it’s over before it even starts?

The PINING, ANGST, and Sig’s unwavering devotion to Chloe MADE this book. I always love a book where the FMC finds her own way in the world, and Chloe definitely sparkled. This book gave me ‘It Happened One Summer’ vibes in the best way, but even though Sig is protective and would do anything for his love, he’s definitely not grumpy. Also, the spice was spicing. 😏

FIVE ⭐️ and 3.5 🌶️

This is my first Tessa Bailey novel & I really enjoyed it! Sig & Chloe's story was an endearing tearjerker with the right amount of slow burn & spice. My heart broke so many times for them!

I will explore more of Tessa Bailey's work and recommend Dream Girl Drama to others.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey is a very spicy romance with a forbidden love angle. Some plot points felt predictable, and the pacing was uneven in parts. I definitely loved the other two books more. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read for fans of Tessa Bailey or lighthearted rom-coms. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Dream Girl Drama. 3.5 stars

When hockey star Sig Gauthier’s chance encounter with sheltered and free-spirited Chloe Clifford sets off a whirlwind of sparks, it seems like the start of an epic love story—until the shocking revelation that Chloe is about to become his stepsister. What follows is a bittersweet tango of restraint and longing, as the pair navigates their parents’ engagement, Chloe’s struggle for independence, and the undeniable pull between them.

Chloe’s vibrant personality and Sig’s steadfast support make them a captivating duo, even as they try to keep their relationship strictly friendly. The tension is palpable, the emotional stakes are high, and the journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about love.

I love Tessa Bailey, but I am not the biggest fan of the insta-love trope. I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, and this book was still very enjoyable!

Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

Thank you Net Galley and Tessa Bailey for allowing me the pleasure of reading a free copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own honest opinions.

Sig Gauthier is a pro hockey player on his way to meet his estranged (and conman) Dad’s new rich fiance when his beloved old truck breaks down by a country club. When attempting to use a phone to call a tow, he meets the beautiful and bubbly Chloe- a child prodigy harpist whose personality and beauty have him immediately obsessed. They agree to see each other again, but that happens much sooner than they both anticipated when upon arrival at dinner with his soon-to-be stepmom, there is Chloe…. His soon to be stepsister! Will Sig and Chloe be able to be friends or will the chemistry between them win out?

Character development: I feel that the author did a good job of giving us back stories and personalities of each main character, and did very well at keeping a certain dynamic between the two that was consistent throughout the book. I also love how she didn’t just make Chloe a spoiled rich girl, and was able to give her an arc that showed her develop in emotional maturity and responsibility. The chemistry between the characters was also *chefs kiss*, and their treatment of each other and dynamic made it easy to root for them. The side characters were also entertaining and easy to remember.

Plot: I loved the idea behind this story, with the difference in social status between the two (that didn’t end up being cliche), the future sibling trope mixed with the secrets/forbidden love, and also loved that the story wasn’t just about the two of them and the relationship, but also kept the reader wanting to hope and dream for each character individually. The pacing was perfect, giving a perfectly written slow burn.

This book was different than my usual romance choices, as I don’t usually reach for sports romance, but I really loved it. I grew attached to both FMC and MMC, and was continuously hopefully that they would make it work. The slow burn 🔥 was incredible, and the character development was superb.

5⭐️

This has been the first Tessa book that I’ve really loved in a while. I wasn’t super into Fan Girl Down and The Au Pair Affair was just ok. When we met Sig and Chloe in that book I was instantly hooked and had to know more. The forbidden love premise really drew me in.

I didn’t have very high expectations for Chloe’s character TBH. She seemed like your typical spoiled rich girl in the previous book. I enjoyed diving deeper into her story and finding out she has a lot of substance and drive. Sig is basically a dream MMC. It was such a mystery not knowing exactly why Sig was taking such care of Chloe, letting her go on Sephora shopping sprees and dropping everything for her when they were first introduced. His protective nature turned out to be so heartwarming. Their relationship, as complicated as it was, was so enjoyable to read. The slow burn as annoying as it can tend to be really worked for me here. Tessa really does know how to write amazing characters with banter, humor and chemistry. And it’s not a Tessa book without the steamy moments (I had to take a break a couple times!). I was really curious as to how they were going to end up together - there were only a couple options that would still make the book realistic. I do wish that the ending wasn’t so rushed and that we could have gotten a further glimpse into their future. I really did love this book and wish I could say the whole series so far has been a hat trick but sadly not the case. Onto Skylar and Robbie’s story!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.