I have not enjoyed reading this one. I don’t know if it’s the subject matter, or the immaturity of the characters, but this book was just not for me. The premise was sweet, but the MMC felt incredibly overbearing and the FMC was immature and helpless, despite her trying. Thank you Netgalley and Tessa Bailey for the ARC, I think this book will do just fine in the right hands!

The book is a mix of my least favorite tropes, including the step-sibling trope and insta love, but it is still enjoyable due to the plot twist. The story contains a mix of longing, want, and angst, with the characters' parents getting married, making them step siblings. The story follows a hockey player named Sig and a harp protege named Chloe, who fall in love and discover they will be step siblings soon. They struggle to avoid their attraction, with Sig doing everything for his dream girl, even when he knows he cannot have her. However, the book has some flaws, such as Chloe's childlike behavior and the steamy scenes are filled with "we're doing this, we shouldn't be but we can't help it" vibes. Despite these issues, the book is a satisfying read due to the plot twist and the unexpected love story between the characters. The romance is cute, but there was a desire for more domestic bliss moments. The book also features other characters, found family moments, and the possibility of the next couple. Overall, the book is enjoyable and has a strong emotional impact.

Although this book was a 3 star read for me, I can see this being easily a 5 star read for many!

Read for:
- Forbidden romance
-Sports romance
-All the longing
-Hockey player and harpist
- Future step siblings

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

s was a good read! The chemistry between Sig and Chloe was off the charts throughout the book. LOTS of angsty longing between the two made it a slow burn but it was hot once they got there!

I really wanted them to just go for it - they met as adults, before they knew about their parents - I don’t see anything wrong with it despite it sounding “taboo”. But I liked how the author made you understand why it was a bigger deal to them because of their careers, and they couldn’t just blow off public perception.

Overall a good read, and I look forward to the next book!

I enjoyed how this story flowed and how it didn't focus on just the romance.

Most books focus on romance and how people give in to the taboo, but this book allowed the characters to explore their own lives and it showed how having each other improved them individually.

The book kept me on my toes and I was done reading before I expected. It kept me wanting more and I do hope I get to read more books by Tessa Bailey.

Only Tessa Bailey could get me to read a hockey romance mixed with an ‘almost’ step-sibling plot. Without giving too much away, we knew there would be a happily ever after so the ending was pretty predictable but still enjoyable.

Thank you Netgalley and Tessa Bailey.

4.25 stars! This one might be my favorite in the series. We first met Sig and Chloe in Au Pair Affair, where he is helping her as she moves to Boston. This story follows their back story of how they met and the hurdles they will cross. Throughout the beginning of the book, you can feel the tension as the two struggle to just be friends, knowing they can't be together. As the story goes on, everything Sig does for Chloe just shows how much he truly cares for her. I was nervous to start this, as I wasn't a big fan of Au Pair Affair, which is mostly in how Burgess's internal dialogue was written (not a fan of how his thoughts were written). I am so glad I gave it a chance because I really loved Sig's characters and the friendship, turned relationship, he developed with Chloe. I am so happy they got their happy ever after!

This is the Third book in the Big Shots series and I was looking forward to this one as you get part of the relationship and a preview of the characters in the second book, The Au Pair Affair. It is a quick, very steamy fun read, and I love the sports elements to this series. however there was something missing for me. It might be that as sweet as Sig and Chloe are, there is something weird about their relationship. It was a bit off in the previous book, but now that we get the whole story, its more understandable but not fully clear. There is something off in their dynamic. Also, Chloe is a tad too clueless for my taste.

Loved this book in the series. So much chemistry between Chloe & Sig. can’t wait to read the next book. Such fun, quick reads.

Twists and turns, some predictable but overall it’s the Sig and Chlo story we have been waiting for! Loved it! Thanks for the advance copy. #DreamGirlDrama #NetGalley

Thank you so much for the advanced copy read! This one looked so fun and I've been hearing a lot about this author. Unfortunately I couldn't get into this one and it was a Do Not Finish for me. I do appreciate the advanced copy and opportunity to read it!

Obsessed with anything Tessa Bailey writes and this latest book just proves her talent as a writer. I’ve yet to find a book by her that hasn’t been a complete smash hit. I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with Chloe and Sig and their incredible love story… or is it?!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. Overall I would give this one a 3.5. Not my favorite in this current series but still a cute read! Some parts of it felt dragged out. Still it had some funnier parts and an overall cute but predictably story line.

Very fast paced spicy read. Very on par for Tessa’s reads.

I loved the connection between Chloe and Sig but the story was a little too messy for me. The final twist was good but getting there was a little on the annoying side. Too much back and forth between the love interests.

The way Sig was described made him instantly likable and the way he described Chloe made me smile and kick my feet. The way he treated her was amazing and fun to read, but, that being said, I found their whole relationship annoying (as I mentioned before). Chloe’s story was good but her character didn’t hit as well as Sig’s did.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC.

ARC REVIEW

This book got me back into Tessa Bailey and that is a great feeling. I felt like a few books i read of hers last year didn't do it for me, but have no fear this one did it.

I don't know if its the taboo aspect or that I just love Sig but I am obsessed. I read this in one sitting. It's cute, it's flirty and steamy.

Did I get a little annoyed just by Chloe's huge lack of communication in the "3rd act"? Oh 100% that was childish and frustrating.

Did I like the rest? Yes :)

3.5⭐️

I may round the rating up after I sit on it a bit as I’ve been trying to rate books according to the genre and the type of book it is. This is a fluffy romance so I may be demanding too much from it.

I’ll mention that I did not read the other books in this series as I wanted to see if it mattered or not in picking this book up. The positive is that you don’t have to have read them. It seems to be an interconnected standalone. Any info potentially needed was given to you in this book.

I think the part that was challenging for me is this “insta love” trope as it’s just so unrealistic. To simply look at a person and have your world turn upside down without knowing a thing about them just seems silly and wrong. But on the other hand folks seem to enjoy it so to each their own.

Overall it was fairly predictable and didn’t have anything but fluff throughout. So if that is what you’re looking for then this book is for you!

It comes out February 4,2025. I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Avon Books and imprint of Harper Collins through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I have read several of Tessa Bailey’s books (The Bellinger Sisters is my favorite) and was excited to get the Advanced Reader copy of Dream Girl Drama. I haven’t read the Au Pari Affair but as there are characters intertwined- I’m adding it to my list to read! I enjoyed the plot and romance. I loved Sig but Chloe fell a little flat for me – her character started out strong but then just fell flat. I did like her growth at the end. Despite how I felt about Chloe – I still really enjoyed this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the Advanced Reader Copy!

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyage for allowing me to read an early copy of Dream Girl Drama!

I'm so glad I got to read Sig and Chloe's story! The TENSION!! Oh my god I was dying!! I absolutely adore the two of them and their journeys. Both separately and together. This may be my favorite in the series so far! Can't wait to pick up a finished copy to add to my shelves!

I really enjoyed reading dream girl, I was very excited because I’ve always heard so many people love Tessa Bailey books. I can see why, Sig and Chloe were very cute because they just took care of each other throughout the book. If a reader loves spice this book definitely has some of that, I personally skipped those parts but even then it didn’t affect my ability to read the story which I really enjoyed. Both of the main characters hit bumps in the story which I feel like they both took in stride, I really liked Chloe’s character development throughout the story she’s very different at the end than she was at the beginning.

Sig and Chloe have chemistry from the second that they meet. Their plans to be together are quickly dashed when they realize that their parents (her mom and his dad) are engaged, which means that they are about to be step-siblings. Because of this, they agree to put their romantic feelings aside, and they become best friends.

Chloe has led a sheltered life because of her controlling mother. Chloe decides to go with Sig to study at a prestigious music school in Boston. She is a harp virtuoso, and she wants a chance to be on her own. However, Chloe doesn't know how to do anything for herself, and Sig helps her. He really takes care of her, and it is so sweet how much he supports her.

Even though it starts at as an insta love situation, it becomes a slow burn. They fight their feelings for a long time, as they become best friends. The slow burn turns spicy and there is lots of dirty talk.

This is the 3rd book in the series, and it sets up for book 4. I'm really looking forward to that book!

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for an arc of this book.

DNF. I am rarely this uncomfortable this early into a book. The romance seems very forced, it’s more of a sexual attraction than an emotional one. The mmc seems very obsessive and borderline a stalker to the fmc, and as someone who has had a stalker that manipulated me into dating them it is not something that I want to romanticize.