Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. A classic Tessa Bailey, little love, little spice and a whole lotta cute! I loved the MMC Sig and his “quiet love” in all the little acts he showed up for the woman he loves.

I enjoy Tessa's books. They fall into my "palate cleanser" category. Books that are easy and fun to read especially after reading something that is super complicated and emotional or full of world building. Now, don't take that as a bad thing. I absolutely love my palate cleansers. They are enjoyable to read and leave me feeling all happy. I need them!!!

However, Dream Girl Drama missed the mark for me. Chloe, our MFC, and Sig, our MMC, meet and have an instant intense connection that is beyond just physical only to find out their parents have been dating and are now engaged. A decision is made and Chloe and Sig end up living near each other and spending tons of time together but refusing to give in sexually because they will be step siblings one day.

What I enjoyed: I love a good slow burn and building of the sexual tension and this book definitely had it.

Why didn't it hit the mark for me? First, I am a sucker for character development but I felt like there was very little even though there was opportunity for a lot. Second, the whole concept just didn't vibe with me. They were grown adults (mid 20's) that just met and fell hard for each other. They resisted the chemistry because they found out their parents are getting married. Who cares? Yes they would be step-siblings at some point but they literally have no family connection at all so I found it a bit stupid to stay apart and honestly I had a really hard time reading it. I would have enjoyed the story more if they met for the first time when they learned their parents were getting married and fought the attraction from that point. The issues that arose from their possible relationship getting into the world just didn't strike me as genuine.

Overall it is not my cup of tea but I have no doubt others will love it.

Thank you to the publisher, author & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey is third in its series. It follows Sig, a professional hockey player and his soon to be step sister, Chloe, a harpist. I enjoyed the first 2 in this series far more than this one. The insta love was too much for me. I wasn’t a fan of the FMC. And the big conflict the couple had seemed minor and dragged on for too long.
I enjoy Tessa Baileys writing and will happily read any more books she writes in this series.

Ouch my heart

Loved this book but I felt heartbroken the whole time LOL. Wow Sig & Chloe were soul. Mates. Chloe had amazing character growth. I loved this book and have thoroughly enjoyed this series so far!

I was SO excited to be approved for a Tessa Bailey arc, and, per usual, she never disappoints! I always love her characters, the wit, the chemistry, etc.

This book was no different! At first I was worried it was going to be too insta-lovey (and even predictable), but she drew it out better than I thought she could, and I was actually sort of surprised by how everything wrapped up (in a good way). Will always read whatever Tessa writes (and am loving this sports romance kick she’s been on)!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this e-book.
Tessa Bailey has been very hit or miss for me. Fan Girl Down was my favorite of all her works, but this book really let me down. I felt like the premise was all a little too ridiculous and I felt like I didn’t really know the characters. I feel like I learned more about Chloe from her cameo in book 2 than in this book.

3.5+/5 ⭐️, 2.5/5 🌶️, 0/5 💧

🎼 Instalove
🎼 Forbidden Love
🎼 Grumpy vs Sunshine

So Tessa has a very specific style/voice in writing that really makes me laugh out loud; it’s a very dead pan ridiculous humor that I eat up and look forward to. The little cameos that Sig and Chloe had in Au Pair Affair really made super excited about this book. However, although it put smiles in my face often, it didn’t gave me kicking my feet and rolling around in laughter as I usually am.

The first third of the book sort of felt like a montage to set up the love story between the two characters, but because so many moments were thrown in to set the scene, I guess it felt like I was told a story more than experiencing it with the characters if that makes sense.

If you’re not a fan of instalove, then you probably won’t like this one. It’s a pretty big foundation of the story. I typically prefer instalove to acknowledge that it is more like an instalust that turns into love, but this is as true to instalove as it will get, I think.

There was a nice personal journey for Chloe that arced in this story, but I do think the characters could have had a little bit more personality. It was there, but I thought their cameos in Au Pair Affair was just so much more funny! There were loose reminiscent themes to It Happened One Summer, but it felt a bit like a watered down version.

The tension of the forbidden love was there, and I did like the ending enough to round up to a 4 star. I think it was good, but it didn’t dazzle me like some of her others. You still have to read it though if you’ve read Au Pair Affair - how can you not?

Note: This may have been impacted by mood as this was the first book read after the election.

Not to start this lamest thing ever but honestly….if loving this is wrong I don’t want to be right. Sig was down bad from page 1 and never wavered. I LOVED IT. Yes, technically it was insta love but it was done in such a comical and satisfying way I didn’t really even notice. It was as if we opened the book in the middle of their love story, kind of in the way that Sig felt he had loved and known Chloe all his life.

Their commitment to each other from the get go was much appreciated. I loved how reassuring they were with their words to each other. Chloe was a little ditzy but it added to the storyline in a good way. Sig was not afraid to speak his feelings and was a proud simp for Chloe. They were inevitable. Did I mention I loved it already?

This would definitely fall into a forbidden romance category but I think I am in the small minority of people who didn’t really even have a problem with the step sibling concept because who even cares if they are not blood related (I am sorry to those I know in real life reading this review).

I did predict the ending once I got past the 50% mark but I am happy with how it played out and what is most important is that they got their happily ever after.

I will end this with the exact review I gave Fangirl Down:

This isn’t an oh-my-god-this-book-is-monumentally-life-changing 5 stars, this is an oh-my-god-I-had-a-damn-good-time-reading-this-book 5 stars.

Thank you Tessa and Avon for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tessa Bailey, you beautiful writer, you have done it again! Book 3 of The Big Shots series might be the best one yet! I must say I was skeptical about a step-siblings plot line but I was pleasantly surprised. From the first chapter it hooked me! Sig’s work hard attitude compliments Chloe’s go with the flow attitude.

I loved how Chloe gained her independence and grew her confidence throughout the book. I could really relate to her as someone leaving the home and moving to a big city at 25 years old, not knowing how to navigate the world. And Sig…what can I say? When he wants to get spicy…he sure has a way with words and will paint you a very vivid picture with those words!! I am happy to say this is one of my favorites from Tessa thus far!!

This not quite taboo, almost forbidden, but most definitely entertaining read from Tessa Bailey gets a YES from me. I really enjoyed it!

It has the TB signature spice all over, face-melting tension, but also surprisingly emotional at times?!

I’m ready for the next book.

This was a very fun and quick read! I give it about 3.5ish stars!! It definitely didn’t live up to how much I LOVE Tessa’s Ballinger girls series but still a fun one! The main characters had amazing chemistry

Sig is a pro hockey player who meets Chloe, a super wealthy but super sheltered harpist, by chance. They have insane chemistry until they find out that his dad is engaged to her mom. These future stepsiblings just can't seem to stay away from each other but have to fight their growing attraction. This was just fantastic. I loved Fan Girl Down but was lukewarm about The Au Pair Affair, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This one had me kicking my feet and giggling. The tension between Sig and Chloe was hot, but their friendship was truly wonderful. I reread passages multiple times because the love between the main characters was so sweet. The ending was predictable, but I loved every second on the way there.

This book, and the whole series, had me blushing and kicking my feet, they were so good!

I feel like this book did a good job at balancing both of their individual insecurities and how they helped each other make sure those insecurities didn’t stop them from pursuing their dreams.

There were times that the “manic pixie dream girl” aspect and the way kind of babied Chloe did bother me but then their chemistry more than made up for it. I do wish that we got to see their friendship developing a bit more, rather than bits and pieces with various time jumps. Or even just scenes with Chloe at school/practice because I feel like we were told about it and really shown it.

Overall, Tessa Bailey knows how to write her tropes and she never disappoints

Tessa Bailey has done it again, delivering a romance packed with charm, tension, and the kind of characters you can't help but root for!

I was entirely ready to dislike the FMC, who is described as an ultra-rich, manic pixie girl who’s never stepped outside her cozy country club bubble. But it did not take long before I wanted to hang out with her as much as the MMC! Just as she did in "It Happened One Summer", Tessa Baily takes a character who might seem insufferable at first glance and makes her absolutely charming!

Then there's the golden retriever MMC who will do anything to make her happy.... he’s not just flirtatious, he’s openly captivated by her in a way that's completely endearing. And while he’s on the cusp of becoming her stepbrother (there's the drama the title promises!), he can barely hide his feelings. The sparks are so intense, even the Reddit universe has picked up on his pining, especially when she’s caught watching him at his hockey games. Yes, we’ve got stepbrothers, hockey, and a golden retriever-type hero who falls hard and fast. The trope explosion here is real, and only Tessa Bailey could pull it off without overloading the story.

We can always trust Tessa to provide us with a HEA, but watching the characters stumble, swoon, and figure things out is what makes it so delicious. For fans of romance who love a little spice and characters who come alive on the page, you will adore "Dream Girl Drama".

I throughly love love when I get a ARC from one of my most favorite authors.
But to be completely honest I read this fully under the guise of covid and pneumonia, so things were blurry and hazy but I wanted to get my review in on time.
I of course love it.
I feel like all of tessas books have a flow, a love and banter and pinning that are so fantastic.
But because I was sick I missed it a bit.
I will 100% be going back and reading it again
4.5 only becausei was sick.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey really was not what I was expecting. This book had its moments for sure, not all good. However I gave it 4 starts. This book tells the story of Chloe and Sig. I took a liking to both the characters when they were introduced in the Au Pair Affair. I adore Sig. He’s a hockey players, so whats not to love. Sig is easily my favorite character. Chloe was a vibe and I enjoyed reading about her. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend reading it, for those who are on the fence.

A professional hockey player and an elite musician fall for each other during a chance encounter in Tessa Bailey’s new novel. The only problem- their parents are engaged to marry each other. How will these future step siblings navigate this complicated relationship?

When I first heard the premise of this novel, I was worried that it would be awkward to read about a sibling love story. Additionally, I was skeptical about whether I would like Chloe as a character, because she came across as vapid in the previous Au Pair Affair. I’m happy to say my predictions were wrong! Chloe proved to be a hilarious and complex character. Additionally, Sig is a swoon-worthy book boyfriend. This novel is my favorite so far within the series. Fans of Tessa Bailey will love this book.

Also, this book centers around a Boston professional hockey team, and this Bruins fan approves!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

"Come take care of me dream girl. Come get taken care of."
Tessa I can't believe they let you publish this and I can't believe I got to read it 3 months early. ((Thank you Net Galley! Thank you Avon Publishers! THANK YOU TESSA))

Sig's dream girl is his future stepsister. She's also a prodigy harpist looking to escape her controlling mother and the confines of Darien, Connecticut. The two escape an awkward family dinner and Sig vows to show his new step sister, Chloe, how to live independently, all while avoiding the steaming chemistry between the two (because it would be very undignified. right??) . Oh and he's a professional hockey player for the Boston Bearcats.

As a New England girly this was everything to me. As a hopeless romantic who believes in love at first sight... (or voice?) I have a new maladaptive dream plot to consider. The yearning the two felt for each other but morally (according to who) could not act on was palpable. I wanted to rip my own heart out for Sig. Bring back male yearning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tessa do more sports romance. Please.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

This book is really a 2-3 star read. I am struggling with how I feel about it. I like both Chloe and Sig but I am not sure how I feel about all the events and how they interact. A lot of the characters in this book felt really selfish and/or self absorbed to me but I did feel like Chloe showed good growth. I did not like how much everyone babied her though.

All in all it’s a Tessa Bailey book that reads like a Tessa Bailey book. Do with that information what you will. As far as the in series rankings go I would put this book second after book one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to review!

This was such a fun, quick read. Definitely had some good giggles as a long time hockey fan. I’m new to actually reading this author, but plenty of her books are on my TBR. I loved her writing and the MMC was so lovable (who needs realistic book BFs, not me!!!!).

I felt like the pace was so good, and there was a good balance of the sports aspect not being too forced.

Can’t wait to continue this series!