I screamed when I got accepted for this arc. Thank you thank you thank you. 💕

Step bro, what are you doing? That’s basically the premise of this book. 2 adults meet and fall in insta love, then they find out their parents are getting married and they’re forbidden from being together. But they can’t help it.

Book 3 in the series. And I think you’ll like it more if you’ve read the first two. I’ve had them on my tbr forever, and they’re moving up the list now. I definitely want to read Tallulah’s story! She’s so cute.

Idk it’s weird, the focus on step siblings was weird, they’re adults and he barely has a relationship with his dad, who left when he was born. But at no point in this book did I even want the main characters together. Sig is controlling, and not in a hot possessive way, and he’s immaturely jealous. Chloe is just immature and so dumb. She’s 25ish and she doesn’t understand money doesn’t grow on trees. She goes on Sephora shopping sprees with her rent money, that’s from Sig because he’s paying for everything for her. The shaving kink was weird af.
It’s weird but I also didn’t hate it. Tessa is a great writer, her ideas are out there sometimes 😂, but she keeps things fast paced and entertaining. The spice is spicy and good.

Lost my mind a little bit when I got accepted for this ARC I've been reading Tessa Bailey since before she was a traditionally published author and to this day I'm still sat for every new release. I will say this little series she has going on has been a hit or a miss or me (The Au Pair Affair = hit, Fangirl Down = miss) and this one lands solidly in the middle. This follows Sig and Chloe who meet and are instantly attracted to each other, but then shortly find out their parents are set to be married in a couple months. The forbidden tension in this went crazy!!! The lingering touches, the hidden meaning in their words and just plain love shining in sig's actions towards Chloe. His love language is very clearly acts of service and in true Tessa Bailey fashion, the MMC is just so down bad for the FMC. Their relationship was paced very well and I really loved it. Also was a big fan of this little hockey found family; the orgasm donors bring such a fun energy and I hope we get love stories for them as well! (I feel like they were set up in this book!!!) overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I cant wait to see what Tessa Bailey does next! Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

I was excited to get my hands on this ARC from Net Galley because I usually have a lot of fun with Tessa Bailey’s books.
This one just fell flat, unfortunately. The characters weren’t even remotely likable or relatable. Chloe is spoiled and vapid whose redeeming qualities are that she’s a harp prodigy at 25 years old and likes to shit talk hockey refs. She is incapable of laundry, buying her own pop tarts, and paying her rent. That Sig is willing to sacrifice anything, let alone everything for this girl is wild.
I feel like I deserve a prize or something for sticking this out.
The stars are because there was a dog.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the eARC of “Dream Girl Drama” by Tessa Bailey in exchange for my honest review.

We were first introduced to these characters in book 2 of the Big Shot series. Sig is a professional hockey player and Chloe is a professional harpist they have an unexpected meet cute at a Country Club. They formed an instant connection but unfortunately a few hours later Sig finds out Chloe will soon be his stepsister! Sig helps Chloe move to Boston to further- her musical education/career. She’s been cut off financially from her mother, so Sig sets her up in an apartment and takes care of all her wants and needs. They ultimately fall in love and become best friends while fighting the urge to cross the line until their pull to one another becomes too much to handle!

I was looking forward to reading their forbidden love story. I really enjoy when a book captures my attention from start to finish. So far I’ve read all three books in this series and I’ve throughly enjoyed each one. Tessa Bailey books never disappoint. I didn’t care too much for how Chloe came off as a dependent, naive, child like airhead. However, overall as a couple they made it work. With that being said, I’d still highly recommend reading the entire series.

***Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read this e-ARC for an honest review***

Going into this book, I was very excited! The premise seemed different than usual and the potential for drama was high! Unfortunately, the insta-love, angsty, mutual pining was a bit much for me personally. I get the FMC was very sheltered but my goodness! The damsel in distress trope for the majority of the book didn't work for me this time.
I have enjoyed books by this author previously, I just couldn't get into this one. I believe this book will be really be enjoyed by those into the forbidden love trope.

This has all of Tessa Bailey’s standard elements: witty banter, super steamy spice level, and at least one scene of humorous ridiculousness. It’s complete with a grumpy sportsman with solid ethics and unfailing goodness, who lives for one girl only.

The premise (they can’t be together bc their parents are going to marry) seemed silly to me; why not?? It was a non-problem problem from the start.

I also didn’t love the heroine, as I found her too ditzy, needy, and innocent to be realistic (though Bailey does a fair job of making her likable anyway). And the picture of wealth Bailey paints in Darien is too stereotypical. I grew up in this neck of the woods - I would know. I would always prefer real, and flawed, over an exaggerated caricature.

Minor but perhaps related: I found the premise, of her being an innately talented harpist without any effort, also unrealistic.

Tessa is SO good at creating stories - SO good. She just has to remember to keep them believable.

Thank you, Avon and NetGalley, for the arc.

3.75 stars!

Tropes: hockey romance, forbidden/ future step siblings, best friends to lovers, opposites attract

Arc review|

Sig & Chloe were a super fun read- definitely not my favorite of Tessa’s books but the spice brought it and I had an overall good time!
I will say, I was disappointed after being really excited going into it but I’m not so disappointed that I didn’t enjoy myself.
Some overall notes that don’t really swing one way or the other: the plot’s wrap up was kind of wild, some of the scenes had abrupt shifts of scenery where I was super confused but honestly, I didn’t really mind. Like I said, the spice was awesome and that was what kept me going through it all.
Not that it was bad, though. it was super funny and lighthearted!!! I appreciated that.
Not much else to say- I think I’d recommend this series so far in general but not DGD specifically (as a standalone).

To put it simply - I loved this book.

I loved how down bad the MMC was from the second he saw the FMC. I loved their banter. I loved their chemistry. I loved.

I love everything Tessa writes! This book was no different. Perfect pacing and the storyline was soooo good! Thanks for the ARC!

While I did not read the other three book in this series, I still really enjoyed this read as the others were not necessary to understand the flow of this book. I loved the plotline in this book: Sig, a professional hockey player, meets Chloe, when his car band phone die at once - so terrible, until he meets the girl who does him in. They hit it off and agree they must meet again; and they do! Only, not as they anticipated. As it turns out, his dad and her mom were dating and now have become engaged! How can Sig and Chloe be together if they are destined to be step-siblings?

Like with other books by this author, there is more than adequate steam, but characters that truly resonate with a typical person. Sig is strong in more than one way, and Chloe is bursting to be a different person, but is stuck in supporting her mother's vision. The two characters not only support each other, but also balance one another.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so good! The spice was off the charts! I was happy to finally hear Sig's story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book! I was hooked from the first few paragraphs, which might be my favorite of any romance novel I've read this year. Tessa is the queen of insta-love, boy-obsessed, fast-paced love stories, and I ate this up. Sig and Chloe are both flawed but relatable characters, each on their own journey, and it was lovely to see such character growth in both of them. I'm someone who lives for angst in romance books, and this book has it in spades: the push-and-pull, the will-they-or-won't-they tension, the quiet and loud gestures. Their happily ever after was hard fought and at times I wasn't sure how it would come about, but I was pleasantly surprised with how it all turned out. The epilogue is honey-sweet and exactly what you want for a rom-com; definitely my favorite of the Hot Shots series.

Dream Girl Drama
By Tessa Bailey

Dream Girl Drama picks up where the Au Pair Affair left off, following Sig and Chloe. Sig is supposed to be meeting his Father's Girlfriend and Daughter before his car breaks down.Sig is a professional hockey player and meets a beautiful girl when his truck breaks down in a country club parking lot. Sig supports Chloe by helping her reach her dream without her Mothers' money and control over her life.

The pace of the book is fantastic, and it was great to jump back in the Big Shots world. I loved the balance of knowing that they loved each other, but couldn't do anything about. I also loved the care that each had for the other, that it was never just one sided.

I would give this book a 4.5/5 stars.

Dream Girl Drama is defiantly an adult book with spice.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read Dream Girl Drama.

Tessa Bailey did not disappoint with the saucy little number. For those of you who enjoyed The Au Pair Affair, you will love Dream Girl Drama. The inquiring minds finally find out what is really going on with Sig and Chloe (who were introduced in the first book). The ending was a bit predictable but in a good way!

One of my favorites by Tessa Bailey! I was intrigued by Sig and Chloe when reading “The Au Pair Affair,” though the setup was a bit unconventional. Loved their pairing in this book and the humor and romance of it. Excited for the next related book in this series.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were funny and lovable and I really enjoyed reading their story. I would absolutely recommend!

This is one of Tessa Bailey’s best books to date!! I’ve been enjoying the Big Shots series but this one takes the cake. I loved getting a glimpse into Chloe and Sig’s budding relationship in The Au Pair Affair and finally we get to see their full story.

Both main characters grow and evolve together in this story. We see them make major life decisions and grow towards the same paths. The ending was unpredictable, I found myself trying to figure what would happen and my guesses were not even close. I believe there are hints to upcoming sequels between some of the side characters so I’m excited to see what’s next. My only complaint is that now I have to wait for the next book in the series!

I’m so grateful to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me the chance to have an advance reader copy in exchange for my review.

All in all a quick read. Not my favorite Tessa Bailey book. Not a fan of insta love and the forbidden aspect was hard to get on board with. Overall it was a cute story.

First, thank you so much NetGalley, Avon, & Harper Voyager for the ARC of Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey. I have read many of Bailey’s previous romance novels so I was over the moon when I got the email that I was approved!

I was very excited about this book because I love a sports romance but also because I’ve read the previous books in the Big Shots series. I was intrigued by Chloe and Sig’s “verging-on-taboo” relationship when they were introduced in The Au Pair Affair so I was really excited to learn they would be the main characters of the next book. I was dying to know how the future step siblings trope would play out 🙃

While introduced in the previous book, I felt like I really didn’t see much of Chloe’s personality besides the fact she seemed like a loyal friend, albeit kind of helpless. I loved that throughout this novel she went through immense growth and wasn’t just the spoiled rich girl she first appeared to be. Sig was by some accounts a stereotypical possessive hockey player but there were some unique aspects about him in terms of his upbringing and relationships with his parents.

Mostly, I really loved the humor and wit the two main characters brought to their interactions. For that reason this book may now rank as my favorite by Tessa Bailey. I felt their dialogue was similar to Wells and Josephine in Fangirl Down which I loved. That was an aspect I felt was missing in The Au Pair Affair and that’s probably why that was my least favorite of the series.

I also enjoyed the comedic relief provided by side characters such as the “orgasm donors”, Pierre, and Grace! It sounds like one of them might be the focus for the next book and I am totally on board with that!

I’m typically not a fan of the “insta love” trope but in this case I think it was done well. I think the fact that it was also a slow burn/forbidden romance made it a little more believable than your average insta love storyline. They really did become best friends along the way.

In terms of complaints I have very few, but I was disappointed that Talullah was barely in this book. After developing such a strong friendship with Chloe in The Au Pair Affair it seemed a little unrealistic that she would be virtually absent from this book. Especially since Sig and Burgess are best friends and Chloe really didn’t know anyone else in Boston. I think it was a loss to not have her be more involved.

I also think the whole future stepsiblings thing was blown a little out of proportion. Obviously the book needed a conflict point but I wasn’t fully behind this. Would it be weird to date your stepbrother in real life? Yeah… but it’s not like they grew up together and they met before they knew they were going to be related. Also Sig had virtually no relationship with his estranged father before this. In my opinion it wouldn’t be a great look but celebrities/athletes have done weirder things and not had their career ruined over it? Also it was super frustrating to get to the end and find out the parents had been withholding info that would have made this entire plot line moot!! I wish the epilogue had given us a little more on how that affected Chloe and Sig’s relationships with the parents. I think they got off too easy for what they put their kids through, especially Rosie.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am so grateful I got an advanced copy. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series!

I think every girl is gonna want a Sig Gauthier in their lives 🩷🩷
Let me begin by saying I’m not the biggest fan of third person books. But, this book and Tessa Bailey has really swayed my opinion.

Sig and Chloe meet and immediately you know you are going to love them. She seems a bit impulsive and he knows from the start that she’s the one.

I can’t put my finger on what exactly made me love this, but I did…from start to finish. I loved the characters, the friends, his care and concern for her (Pop Tarts 🥹🫶🏻) and just their unending friendship and love. 💗💗

I loved every single page and it just made me happy reading it.