I was so excited to see Sig and Chloe get a story after reading the Au Pair Affair. I thought the characters were both lovable and came from very different backgrounds. I enjoyed the attraction/tension between them throughout the book. I do feel like it got annoying that Sig, who’s her “stepbrother” was paying for everything with little in return. I mean, who blows their rent money on eye cream! I also felt like the “forbidden love” was too much at times. They were grown adults who never met before, so why is it that big of a deal for them to be in a relationship. Overall, the book was a quick read but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the Au Pair Affair. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

If you like Tessa Bailey, you’ll love this book. She was in her element with a ridiculous premise, main characters pinning for each other, some steamy sections, and a happily ever after.

While insta-love isn’t normally my thing, I was able to buy into it more than normal since they become best friends over the span of months, allowing me to believe there is more depth to the feelings. That said, the story does skim over a lot of that time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Avon for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it every single time I decide to try Tessa Bailey again… she’s hit or miss for me.

Truly did not enjoy this book. The beginning was promising. A forbidden relationship, forced proximity, looooots of tension, yes please. But I got annoyed extremely quickly with the drama and the immediate “omg I’m in love”.

I didn’t appreciate the stupidity of the main female character. Chloe was raised extremely sheltered and wealthy and it showed. Chloe didn’t know how to do her own laundry, or to buy “kibble” for the dog, and she was quite literally splurging all of her money and letting her “step brother” pay her rent. It was stupid.

The main male character, Sig, was head over heels for Chloe like immediately. This story had ZERO character building. Why did Sig love Chloe? We don’t know.
I found myself skimming a lot of this towards the end.

The vibes were immaculate. An unhinged MMC? Sig might be Tessa’s most unhinged yet. The obsession comes fast and quick and gets bolder the further the book goes on. The best part? We’ve got an unhinged, obsessed FMC like Tessa’s never produced before.

Nothing can stand in Sig and Chloe’s way. Not even their parent’s wedding.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and Goodreads for the advance reader copy of Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey.

Sig and Chloe experience instalove at the beginning of this next segment in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series. We get to start off the story with more background as to what led up to the moment we met them in The Au Pair Affair, how they met and the moment they found out that they were to become step-siblings. After talking with Chloe’s mother, Sig becomes concerned over what Chloe could lose by pursuing continuing to pursue a relationship when they are becoming step siblings. Sig continues to pursue a plan for how he and Chloe can be together, while taking more of a role of looking after her when he helps her move to Boston.

I was very drawn to these two characters in The Au Pair Affair and after reading the bonus content that was part of the Target Special Edition. Forbidden romance is a favorite trope of mine and I really love dynamics where the MCs mutually know how they feel about the other and remain near each other despite whatever is keeping them apart. I enjoyed aspects these moments of the story and am so excited to finally get an opportunity to see how things end up for Sig and Chloe. If you’re an avid reader of Tessa Bailey’s books, then I think you'll enjoy Dream Girl Drama.

I received this eARC at the perfect time.

Thank you, Tessa Bailey, for writing something that gave me a reason smile and laugh, and allowed me to cry while trying to process what has happened in the real world.

I love these two together sooo much and this was such a cute read! I can't wait for the next one!

actual rating: 3.25. i’m guilty!!! fine!!! come and arrest me!!! i’ll go freely!!! Tessa Bailey isn’t for everyone, but she is for me. i will defend her to the end of the earth. there is barely any plot to her books which i absolutely love. i don’t need to think! i can just turn my brain off and read a romance book! Sig and Chloe are people i would never want to interact with in real life but they were fun to read about. i will be seated for the next one too.

Not my favorite of Tessa’s sports books (who knew id be a golf fangirl?) but it’s definitely a winner. The instalove trope was done exceptionally well why the chemistry was off the charts. As always, the banter was top notch.

When Sig’s car breaks down in front of an exclusive country club, Chloe comes to his rescue. After experiencing an immediate attraction to each other, they agree to meet up later. Unfortunately for them, they are surprised to find their parents are engaged and they are to become stepsiblings.

The best thing about this book is the attraction and tension between Sig and Chloe. It made this book a quick read that I didn’t want to put down. The characters are lovable, though I did not like Sig taking complete care of Chloe without really getting much in return. The stepsibling issue was pushed too far. They met as adults before they even knew about their parents and Sig is practically estranged from his father. I’m sure some people would gossip but mostly I think people would get over it. The ending revelation… I don’t want to spoil… but I have thoughts… Despite the things I didn’t like as much, this was a fun read filled with tension. I was itching for the main characters to be together and I enjoyed my time reading.

I love a Tessa Bailey book and this one just hit different in a good way. It borders on taboo but also helps you feel the heat and fear of potentially being in that situation. I loved everything about this book. It had the sexiness that I’ve come to expect from a Tessa Bailey book but it also had the humor and romance. I loved the scene where the Hockey players face off with the baseball players it was hilarious and now I actually want to see that happen in real life.

such a fun read!! i will always pick up any tessa bailey book because she never disappoints. i was looking forward to reading this one and it really lived up to what i expected!

Such a fun and cute romcom to escape reality!
Sig and Chloe randomly meet at a country club and it’s love at first sight. They are immediately obsessed with each other, but it’s soon derailed when they find out their parents are engaged. Now faced with the reality that they will be step-siblings, they are forced to shut down their feelings for each other. The harder they fight to deny their feelings, the stronger they become. Sig is determined to find a way for them to be together!
I wish the “step-sibling dilemma” hadn’t been the entire plot, but I still enjoyed the story! I loved how protective Sig was of Chloe. He always took care of her and remembered the small things about her. He set the bar HIGH for book boyfriends. The side characters were so good in this book too. The rookies had me laughing out loud! Definitely a great read for something light, fluffy and with that signature Tessa Bailey spice!

Another great book in this fun series!

If you love Tessa Bailey, than you already know what you're going to get - a cozy romance, with some angst, some spice, and a lot of love. If you don't know Tessa Bailey - then you need to dive right in!!

Fan Girl Down is still my favorite book from this series, but this was also fun! And I can't wait for the baseball one next - I never want this series to end!

Tessa Bailey is the queen of little rom-com books. I don’t know how she manages to release masterpiece after masterpiece… but she does.

Tropes
♡ Instant Love
♡ Forbidden Love (Step Siblings)
♡ Opposites Attract
♡ HEA
♡ Dual POV

I was so excited to get this ARC of Dream Girl Drama in my inbox! This story is an instalove, bringing all the fast-paced, whirlwind romance vibes. However, the first few chapters jump around a lot, covering almost six months of the characters knowing each other in just a few pages. While there were brief glimpses of that time, the rapid shifts made it a bit challenging to fully connect with their relationship and keep up with the timeline.

Once the story settled into the present day, though, it was smooth sailing! I loved the fun, flirty dynamic between the main characters, and their chemistry really came through. Now I'm super interested in a possible story for the two side characters, Skylar and Corrigan—fingers crossed for that one!

This was a great 3rd book in the series and I cant tell you how much I loved this book. It was so much more than I was hoping for. The pining yall, the step siblings. This book had me on the edge of seat waiting for the moment til they gave in. and the plot twist at the end will have you in shock!

I was really looking forward to this after getting a taste of the Sig/Chloe dynamics in The Au Pair Affair. And don't get me wrong, this was a fine book that I read in less than 24 hours. I just think maybe Tessa set my expectations too high with Fangirl Down.

Sig is a hockey player who grew up with a single mom and limited funds. Chloe plays tennis at her Connecticut country club when she isn't playing the harp (of which she is a prodigy). They meet-cute and IT IS ON. But then they (phew, almost immediately) find out her mother (whom she still lives with at 25) and his dad (whom he barely knows) have been dating and are now engaged (womp womp).

On its face, this isn't that scandalous. They did not grow up together, nor they did they meet via their parents. But Sig is in the NHL and it looks like he may be team captain soon. And later on, Chloe has her eyes set on first chair (of harpists, I guess?) Long story short, these poor kids can't be together because it won't look good in the media.

So, naturally, Sig inspires Chloe to move to Boston where he sets her up in a luxury apartment and buy her all the Sephora she wants. They become best friends. Like, the bestest friends. Friends who want to bone and get married and have babies but can't. The pining is real, y'all.

In the previous book, Chloe was characterized as blissfully spoiled and ignorant. Fortunately, these qualities were toned down in this book. Or maybe they just weren't front and center because both she and Sig didn't really clock them as major flaws. We first met Sig as the long-suffering, over-protective teammate who is clearly enamored with his future stepsister. Unfortunately, when we get his perspective the long-suffering aspect gives way to yearning. What I'm trying to say is that their dynamic was much more fun to watch from afar.

The future step-sibling aspect is original and external conflicts are always nice changes of pace from the old "I can'y love because I've never been loved" chestnut. But it grew a bit tiresome and repetitive. Probably because it was literally all either of them could think about after finding out. And they find out in the first couple chapters, so...the 80% break-up takes up 80% of the book.

It sounds like I didn't enjoy this book, but I did. Just not as much as Fangirl Down. Although, FD doesn't feature the Orgasm Donors, who remain delightfully absurd.

Ohhh what a spicy romance. Sig is one of the hottest book boyfriends I’ve read in a while. His mouth is dirty and the way he speaks about Chloe is just down right yummy. His love for Chloe is felt in every chapter of this book. Two people who are meant to be together yet can’t be. The pull these two have for one another is felt, your heart beats wildly for them to be able to get their hea. And what a beautiful one it is. They just have to go through he!! first.

Highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

Yall to say this is one of my most anticipated books of 2025 is an understatement. I have been dying to know Chloe & Sigs story since they were introduced. So when the arc gods over at Avon graced me with this book. I have never moved so fast to read a book. I swear I felt like a toddler with grabby hands. Let me tell you Mrs Bailey did not disappoint. Seeing Chloe & Sigs story play out is honestly one of my favorite books by Tessa.

Now you’re probably wondering if it was one of your favorite books, why 4 stars?!?? So maybe it’s a me thing but the whole forbidden step sibling romance trope I honestly don’t see it as a relationship faux pas. Seeing it cause so much tension and anxiety for all parties honestly annoyed me. Because my brain says they aren’t related by blood. Plus in today’s day and age who cares?!? Love who you love. Now I understand others might not agree with me and it could be my dark romance brain talking. But I’m sticking with it.

Ok done with my mini rant, back to raving about this book. I loved watching Chloe come into her own and become more self sufficient and independent. I loved watching Sig be protective and supportive. The two together are a perfect blend of spice and sweetness. Plus I loved seeing characters from the previous books pop up with some cameos.

Overall, “Dream Girl Drama” is amazing addition to the series. It’s filled of witty banter and a heart felt love story. Definitely not one to miss. Lastly big thank you to NetGalley & Avon for providing me an arc to read and review.

2.5 rounded up to 3 ⭐️

Dream Girl Drama had its cute moments, but those were outweighed by the negatives and this was a frustrating read for me. Because of the instantaneous chapter 1 love, and the skipping over the first 6 months they knew each other, this book was severely lacking in any romantic tension. There was outside tension from the conflict surrounding their potential step-sibling relationship, but it didn’t hit for me because it did not feel true to life to how people would react to two people who met as fully grown adults falling in love whose parents happen to be together. Both Sig and Chloe felt severely underdeveloped to me as well. Fangirl Down was such a promising start to this series for me, but after this one I think I have to accept this series isn’t for me.