This is a great story with a well planned plot fantastic chemistry between Chloe and Sig. As someone who loves Forbidden romance trope, it was very well written and incorporated into the story. Both characters grow together to become better people and their story is both funny and meaningful. Their first meeting scene is so so cute. All their interactions are my favorite. I highly recommend this book.

3.5 stars for this one.
I think the second and third book in this series suffer from how much I absolutely adored Wells and Josephine in Fangirl Down. The main characters in the latter books haven't stood up to their relationships in comparison.
I appreciated getting to know Sig and getting a more fleshed out view of Chloe. I enjoyed the book, but struggled to suspend disbelief around the primary conflict. While I can understand the initial reaction people might have to the framing that step-siblings are together, I think anyone would have a different reaction with a second piece of information that these two met in their twenties prior to their parents marrying each other after several other marriages each. Because of this, I found the conflict/angst/breakup to be irritating.
I'm very much looking forward to the relationships that were hinted at in this book, and am so grateful to Avon and NetGalley for this ARC.

hey so i need more tessa bailey taboo romances IMMEDIANTLY.

like how am i not supposed to give this 5 stars when she takes hockey and (somewhat) step-siblings tropes and merges them into one book. as long as this woman keeps writing, i will be reading!

many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

i liked this, less than the other 2 in the series, starting during the other 2 books it just made the first 100 pages hard to get into. I still think Tessa’s is the queen of writing men, and this was hot hot hot, so over all i really enjoyed this, just not my fav.

Tessa Bailey delivers yet again!

Dream Girl Drama is a contemporary romance featuring two main characters that have an adorable meet cute (and undeniable attraction) before discovering they are about to become step siblings. They know they cannot be together but have a very difficult time staying away from each other.

The MMC (Sig) and FMC (Chloe) made appearances in The Au Pair Affair and I was super excited to get to read their story. Something about Tessa Bailey's characters always put them at the very top of my list and Sig and Chloe are no exception (also, shoutout to Grace, she is a queen). Sig will do anything to protect and care for Chloe even if he can't be with her, and Chloe is an absolute sweetheart who wants the best for Sig. Their chemistry is also off the charts and the tension and build up is crazy.

Highly recommend this one!! Tessa Bailey has such a knack for writing books that are so so cute but also so so spicy! No one does romance like her.

Towards the end there are hints of romance for more Bearcats members and I cannot say how much I hope the series continues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

I want to thank NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Avon for allowing me an Advanced Readers Copy of this book, Dream Girl Drama.

Where do I start? I have never read a “insta-love” trope before; so it was definitely different for me. At first I was a little adamant about how fast their feelings were for eachother, but as I kept reading, i started to think ‘dang, I need someone down bad as Sig is for Chloe.’ 🤩
Then of course there is something that is keeping them from being together, which I will not spoil but, will that stop Sig & Chloe?

Their love is inevitable, and it’s clear from the very start. I’m a type of person who likes to theorize on how the book is going to end, and about 60-70% of the time I’m right. Well, not this time. The plot twist hits big, and i definitely wasn’t expecting it!

The spice level in this is definitely SPPPICY, milk is needed.
Their need for eachother is astounding in all of the best ways. It is good to see a MMC that is obsessed with the girl, and is willing to give ANYTHING to be near her.

Also, Corrigan and Mailer? They had me cracking up throughout the whole book - definitely a plus to the “friend group.”

Overall, this book was definitely cute, keeps you on your toes, has you laughing, somewhat questioning wtf, he’s extra!, and also has you theorizing on how the heck it’s going to turn out, SO worth it! 5/5 read.

Favorite quote: “Bottom line, she’s a hockey girl. She’s our hockey girl.”

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon for an ARC!!

Whew, where do I start? Sig and Chloe are perfect together. Tessa Bailey teases every emotion throughout their story. So much love, laughter, and light yet so much pain and brokenness. The spice was so good! You feel the chemistry and heat the moment they meet.

Sig and Chloe first meet at a country club, mere hours before learning their parents will marry. Their connection is strong and Chloe decides to follow him to Boston, to learn to adult. In 8 months is their parents wedding, where any kind of romantic feelings or relationship has to end. Their relationship teeters in the balance of step siblings and soulmate. But there has to be some way to make sure the wedding doesn't happen so Sig and Chloe can have a HEA. In their line of work, they're told to end anything so it doesn't give off the wrong impression. So much is going against them that they have to fight in order to have a chance. What will it cost to have what you want?

I just love Tessa Bailey. This is peak "will they won’t they", not-quite-taboo in such a fun way. I loved Sig and Chloe in the last book and this absolutely did them justice. I'm not typically a insta-love fan, but Bailey makes their chemistry so palpable it's entirely believable. And he's so so down bad for Chloe in the best of ways. A very fun read!

I want to thank NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Avon for allowing me to have this opportunity to read the ARC of Dream Girl Drama. This book was highly anticipated for me so the fact I got to read it 4 months before the release day made me so happy.

I loved this entire book per usual like all the other books I’ve read by Tessa Bailey. I really wish her books got more hype because I’ve yet to read a single book by her that I didn’t love. The trope of this book was so much fun. Sig met his dream girl but the unimaginable happened and then they had to try and figure out how to be friends despite the undeniable connection with each other.

This was a slow burn but the wait was worth it. I love the men in this series. Sig is such a teddy bear and I just want to squeeze him. The ending was perfection and filled my cup. I can’t wait to be able to get the physical copy of this book and add it to my book trophy shelves.

I really loved Chloe’s growth in this book. Her being controlled and in the grasps of her mother and breaking through and being on her own was inspirational. Love love love. Can’t recommend Tessa Bailey and this series enough!

“Dream Girl Drama” is another 5 star favorite form the series that never seems to disappoint. When I was approved for this ARC I actually squealed. I love this series so much. Fangirl Down is one of my favorite books of the year so I couldn’t wait to jump in.

When we were introduced to Sig & Chloe in the previous book of the series I was so intrigued to find out what their story was about. I mean future step siblings? How scandalous! Admittedly I am not a fan of insta love trope (like at all) so I was a bit nervous that I would like it. But Tessa did it so so well, probably because they weren’t able to give into those insta love impulses being future siblings and all. All I can say is this one tore me up in the best way possible.

The tension and chemistry between them was palpable. They have a natural connection that is so undeniable, and it was clear to me from the beginning that they were meant to be together. Soul mates! I believed in them so much, at one point I pretty much was just screaming at them to say screw it, who cares if she’s your sister?!

Overall, I think “Dream Girl Drama” is a amazing addition to an already great Big Shots series. I can't wait to see what Tessa comes up with next!

This was not it for me. I know Tessa Bailey’s whole schtick is to write over the top circumstances but I feel like this one kinda didn’t have any redeeming qualities. It was just so superficial and surface level it actually kinda gave me the ick. They went from zero to “this is my soulmate I’m in love” in precisely 3 seconds and that’s just not right. The whole “taboo” part of this was kinda unimportant to me, like yes your parents are engaged but you’re both adults and you met before you knew that you aren’t actually related at all this feels like not that big of a deal. Weird to explain to people? Sure but not the end of everyone’s careers. Sig was also SO overbearing it was honestly bad. They shouldn’t be together just because of who they are not because of their parents

ARC Review-

I love Tessa Bailey. I will always love Tessa Bailey. I was in the mood for a swoony rom com and she absolutely delivered. I was, admittedly, a little nervous going into this book because of the tropes. I was worried the “spoiled heiress” would be an annoying character to follow and would be too self centered to root for as a FMC. Then, I was worried that the MMC would be too brooding and self deprecating to find attractive. But I am so happy to say that I was pleasantly wrong about it all! I absolutely loved Sig. The fact that he was all in from the very first moment he met Chloe was the sweetest storyline. I really loved how vocal he was about his feelings for Chloe and the level of pure support and pride he had for her was absolutely swoon worthy. Chloe was equally as supportive and attentive for Sig, but she definitely had more learning to do than he did, which is where most of the conflict came in. She surprised me though. I thought she would be truly clueless and spoiled, and while that was true to an extent, the way she cared for Sig and the way she truly did want to learn and become independent of her mother was a delightful storyline to read.

Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book with tropes I don’t typically care for. I can’t wait to see where Tessa Bailey takes us next!

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

This. Book. Wow. First off I love me some Tessa Bailey books, I read every one I can and she one of my first authors to recommend to my spicy rom com friends! Sig and Chloe’s chemistry from moment one had me hooked! I was rooting for them the whole time and was getting so worked up that the pi wasn’t finding anything that we knew there was?! I lost faith and was grieving for their lost love but Hail Mary coming in hot at the last possible second before the plane doors close?!! Jeez. Her writing, amazing. The spicy, amazing. Banter and sarcasm, amazing. I loved the other two in this series and am so honored to get my first advance read of Tessa’s! So thank you to net galley and the publishers for the honor of reading a wonderful book in turn for my honest opinion. READ IT! Read them all! 5 stars and all the recommendations to anyone who will list from me!

So thrilled to get an early copy of this one. While I was a little unsure about the taboo relationship, I still found myself really enjoying this as I read through. So much tension!!

Tessa Bailey did it again. She somehow topped Burgess' story and I LOVE my goalie. Honestly, I don't find the whole step sibling thing that taboo when the "kids" are in their mid- late 20s and didn't grow up together in any capacity. The angst was all there. It was heartbreaking at times and you could feel how hurt they were. The spice was on point, as usual and the epilogue was very satisfying. It also set us up for Corrigan's story. I didn't realize that we'd want his story, but BRING IT ON.

i am such a sucker for a man who is just so down bad from the SECOND he meets the woman he wants to be with

Sig is a gruff, big, hockey player with a soft heart who’s been hurt too many times by the people who are supposed to love him most. He thinks fate is finally playing nice the night he meets Chloe, his dream girl. But what happens when his dream girl turns out to be his future step-sister…

Chloe is a harp prodigy only just leaving her safety net of Connecticut to busy, beautiful Boston. She is navigating this new world with the help of her future step-brother who just so happens to be the one person she has ever met that feels like home 🥹

this book is chalk full of heart, spice, and a couple who are so drawn together that nothing could keep them apart


** Trigger warning **
the only problem I have which really did affect what was going to be a five star read is that there was no discussion of protection at all. he did not ask if it was okay to not use a condom or if she was on birth control, or have any prior knowledge about that information. I HATE that, with him talking constantly about how much he wants her to be pregnant it felt purposeful and manipulative

that really dulled the flow of a beautiful book for me, but i also know that’s just my opinion! and some people don’t want/don’t care about the protection discussion BUT if you are like me and that would set you off- i wanted to give a warning

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy. You can pick up Dream Girl Drama on February 4, 2025.

If there's one thing Tessa Bailey's gonna do, it's write a ridiculously fun and over-the-top smutty romance. When the mood is right, these are the best books to gobble up, and I decided to pick this one up in the hopes that it would put me in that silly goofy mood.

But perhaps I wasn't 100% ready for it, because all of the pieces I normally love in a Tessa book fell a bit flat for me. The insta-love connection happened too soon and was too intense for my liking. Sig's entire obsession with Chloe (and vice versa, but really, he gave me the ick) didn't sell their romance to me. It was a bit harder to suspend disbelief and become invested in their relationship because it felt like it went 0-100 with too little prompting/interaction.

I did enjoy Chloe's quest for independence from her mother, but again, I feel like Sig stepping in to the level that he did was a bit too overbearing for me . He was overprotective in a way that gave me the ick instead of butterflies, but that's 100% personal preference and you might enjoy that in an MMC.

Plus, I find it hilarious that this was the one romance book where the third-act breakup felt JUSTIFIED. Like, I was here for the forbidden romance vibes with them ALMOST being stepsiblings, but when it came down to it, I was more invested in their individual dreams/careers than the romance, and I was ROOTING for them to break up for their own interests! It should be the opposite!

All in all, it was still a quick and easy read, and Tessa Bailey can write the hell out of a sex scene. I just wish I'd liked the couple better.

Tessa Bailey has a special kind of power when it comes to romances with the way her characters and their stories are always so lovable and engrossing. She gives insta-love more substance and depth to carry it across an entire novel. Adding on all the banter and humor, I'm never disappointed by her tropes and stories. Big Shots has been a series I've loved as a fun, light-hearted sequence of books and I'm so so grateful to have gotten the chance to read this one early.

As someone who has read many of her books, I think Chloe's character is a really different take (maybe slightly reminiscent of Piper Bellinger). Even though she seemed so different to me, I found myself appreciating her quirks and uniqueness, and even finding ways to relate and empathize with her.

Adding on to her great skills are how she can write male character POVs in the first person with that dexterity. Sig never felt like a douche or unrealistic (just hopelessly and terrifyingly in love), just a fun, lovable guy.

And one of my favorite parts of these books are always the side characters, storylines, and random sub-plots gearing up for future books. I loved the ensemble and the feature for Big Shots #4 and I'm super excited for that. I haven't even mentioned the Clueless and Culpa Mia-esque micro trope this book features because it honestly went exactly how I was expecting (funny yet tame) and for that I am glad.

Super super grateful to have read this as someone who's followed her books for so long and always had a 10/10 experience in fun, romance, and overall vibes. She never misses!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

Couple was introduced in book 2 and Sig is a total simp for brain dead Chloe.

Book is just basically them being so totally hot for eachother but they can’t act on it because their parents are engaged. Maybe I’ve read too many taboo books but like, what’s the big deal?? They weren’t related and everyone was acting like if they got together it would be the end of the world. There is basically no plot besides Sig bending over backwards for Chloe to the point where he wouldn’t let her do things in case she got hurt or something bad happened to her. He was like stifling her and she was so stupid/sheltered she let it happen. Some of the banter was funny, spice was kinda mid. Why’s every Tessa Bailey hero getting a finger in the butt every book now? I thought this would’ve been the end of the series but I can see at least 2 more coming.

Thank you Avon books for giving me the opportunity to ARC read Dream Girl Drama! This book is classic Tessa Bailey vibes; Sig is a dreamy possessive bulky alpha male hockey player and he won my whole heart.

Sig and Chloe meet unexpectedly at a country club after Sig’s car breaks down. The instant chemistry is off the charts, but what happens when they learn their parents are engaged, and they’re going to be future step siblings?

If you’re looking for an angsty forbidden slow burn with a MMC with a filthy mouth, as is Tessa Bailey’s normal style, look no further 🥹😍🥵

This couple ripped my heart out and made me believe in souls mates again.

Fave Quotes:

“I’m coming on too strong. I know I am. But I’m begging you to take me home and say that again while I’m fu***** you, Chloe.”

“If you’re not ready for that, we can keep this little skirt on while you ride my face. I’ll be blessed either way.”

“He didn’t know any other way to f*** and something told him she wouldn’t mind being thrown into positions those country club boys could only dream about.”

“What was the correct way to greet a woman you loved with every fiber of your fuc**** soul, but couldn’t have?”

“Bottom line, she’s a hockey girl. She’s our hockey girl.”

“You’re going to trust me to find a way for us, even though it’s getting harder. You delete everyone else, but you don’t ever delete me. Ever.”