This book was full of things that usually make me crazy.

Step-siblings? No, thank you.

Slow burn? I'd rather die.

BUT IN WALKS TESSA BAILEY WITH HER PERFECT CHARACTERS

No seriously - I loved this book. I also read it in one sitting, because I quite literally could not put it down. I barely stopped to go to the bathroom let alone function like a person in any meaningful way.

Please read this immediately upon its release - you will not regret it!

eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a bit of a slow burn with the chemistry building a little bit of a taboo romance that I just couldn’t stop reading. I was living for the passion between Sig and Chlo. I was about to explode as I waited for it to build, and build and build…. And that final twist that I just wasn’t expecting!! I loved how Sig cheered her on the whole way through. I mean, step-brother, lover, bestie, whatever he was she was so lucky and blessed to have a man like that in her life. Where exactly do I find one? Could someone point me in the right direction. I would be seriously grateful. And Chlo brought the fun and adventure to Sig’s life to keep things interesting. All the things he did for her just made my heart turn to mush. I found myself laughing out loud at this book and I also shed some tears… like more than some. It was such a good story. I enjoyed it immensely. I cannot wait for the next Tessa Bailey book!

Thank you so much Tessa Bailey, NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

I am really enjoying this series! I am excited for the next ones already. I actually loved the ending on this one!

For a Tessa book, this one started off as a flop for me, but I persevered and ended up loving it. I think that was mostly up to personal preference though, as I like more of a slow burn and this was an instant fall in love, crash out type of love. Definitely give it a “big shot.”

✨Dream Girl Drama✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I was so excited when I received this book. The Hot Shot series are some of the only TB books I’ve actually enjoyed. However, something about this one just felt…weird to me.

When Sig and Chloe meet for the first time, neither of them know that they are about to become step-siblings. Even though they want to be together, they know they can’t be. The tension and angst is a sloowww burn, but it’s so good. Sig is just a little too protective for my liking. More controlling..but that really might just be personal experience speaking there. He really just gave me the ick.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the book. It was an easy read and there are a lot of really cute parts of this book! Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book!

While this is not my favorite TB book, it was still okay. I really didn’t understand what the issue was with them saying as step siblings…? Sig and Chloe are both grown ass adults in their mid-twenties so I really didn’t see the issue there but I must be missing something. Chloe really was not my favorite. She was so helpless and clueless and very manic pixie dream girl and it was kind of annoying by the time i got halfway through the book. And while i loved Sig he was such an enabler of Chloe that it was kind of ick. The spice was 🔥🔥 so that kind of saved it for me. And I will definitely be reading the next book.

Thank you again NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early!

Unfortunately for me Tessa Bailey's books are usually a hit or miss and this one is definitely a miss.

I did not read the premise before requesting this book (just the author) and boy I should have!

The first chapter of the book started out strong for me but once the plot started unfolding I had a difficult time maintaining interest. It took me forever to finish this book and I really was trying to give it a shot. I did not find the main characters as endearing as some of Tessa Bailey's others and so it was difficult for me to root for them.

Dream Girl Drama is probably the most sexually frustrating and tension filled Tessa Bailey I have ever read. Sig and Chloe deserve an award for holding out as long as they did cause my goodness I was frustrated for them. They had a connection from their very first meeting only to have it derailed by their parents but they didn’t let it stop them from being in each other’s lives even if it wasn’t how they wanted to be.

Sig had it BAD for Chloe and he moved heaven and earth to be there for her and couldn’t stand the thought of them not being together even when they weren’t together. I loved how Chloe was able to spread her wings and gain some independence and really pushed herself to be the best harpist and not just rely on her natural ability once she met Sig.

Huge fan of the set up for the next book in this series Pitcher Perfect!! A hockey and baseball romance story? Sign. Me. Up. I missed seeing Josephine and Wells (Fangirl Down) but we did see Tallulah and Burgess (The Au Pair Affair) since Sig and Burgess play together on the Bearcats.


Thank you @avonbooks @tessabaileyisanauthor and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

I’m usually a fan of Bailey’s romances but I just did not get this one. Why was he so obsessed with her after 5 minutes and willing to pay for everything? Plus she was so spoiled and naive that it was not attractive at all. I feel like there could have been something there if the build up made more sense but overall just not for me.

Thank you so much to Tessa Bailey & Avon for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
Love love love this book!! Sig and Chloe... I was so excited about reading this book after Au Pair Affair (and of course Fan Girl Down) and when I found out I was chosen to get an ARC I was excited beyond belief!
So, the book! I love this story and it reminds me so much of Piper and Brendan, the instant chemistry and just love you can feel coming off the page is amazing! I don't know how Tessa does this time after time!! The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife and when it finally snaps... it was worth the wait! The only thing I wanted in the end was a little more story of their HEA, but part of me felt like we could see and feel it throughout the book.
5 out of 5 and 10 out of 10 in spiciness!

OH HELL NO

i hated this:
(1) the romance sucked. there was no reasoning behind WHY these characters liked each other. they're hot i guess?
(2) the "manic pixie dream girl" was actually for real. like for REAL. why tessa? the characters needed more grounding.
(3) more of a nuanced point, but I think that sig's "protection" of chloe was somewhat problematic. I get that she's never had to think about money before, but hiding the truth about the consequences of her actions from her is NOT okay. he infantilizes her SO MUCH and treats her more like the idea of a lover rather than a real person. ***
(4) the alpha maleness was CRAZY. like fellas, women CAN have platonic relationships with men. and ladies, men CAN have platonic relationships with women. I'm so sick of tessa and her alpha male nonsense. like please, chloe can choose her own friends. you don't own her, sig.
(5) and the "twist" to fix the relationship was STUPID. like duh of course it would come out that chloe and sig were not related. but like... there's no tangible difference since sig grew up thinking harold was his father? so for all intents and purposes, they are step-siblings?? but also, THEY'RE GROWN UPS??? WHY DO PEOPLE CARE SO MUCH?? like it's a tad strange (i wouldn't do it), but my perspective on the relationship doesn't change just because of a paternity test.

thank you avon for the arc!


*** expanding on this point a bit because I think it's key in critiquing this book fairly. emotional ab*se functions in many different ways. one way it can manifest is not teaching someone life skills (so they can never escape the ab*ser). obviously, ab*se is a strong claim to make, and it shows up more in the chloe/her mom dynamic. however, sig's refusal to treat chloe like an adult and to teach her real life skills like budgeting is still problematic. it's not sexy. it's wrong.

3.5 Stars
I like Sig and Chloe together as a couple. Sig is a professional hockey player while Chloe is a Harp prodigy.
I loved how they met at a Country Club. What I didn’t like or really understand is why it would look so weird for them to be together. They met as adults. They met before they realized their parents were getting married.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dream Girl Drama: A Scorching Hot Read

Tessa Bailey strikes again with Dream Girl Drama, a sizzling romance that blends family drama, forbidden love, and undeniable chemistry. This third installment in the Big Shots series is a captivating tale of a hockey player and a harp prodigy who find themselves caught in a whirlwind of passion and complications.

Chloe is a sheltered, classical musician, while Sig is a rugged, charismatic hockey star. Despite their vastly different worlds, their connection is instant and intense. The forbidden nature of their relationship adds a thrilling layer of tension, as they navigate the complexities of their families and societal expectations.

Bailey's signature witty banter and steamy encounters keep the pages turning. The characters are well-developed, with relatable struggles and heartwarming moments. The slow-burn romance is both frustrating and exhilarating, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the inevitable explosion of passion.

While the plot may be somewhat predictable, the author's talent for creating believable and endearing characters elevates the story. Dream Girl Drama is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies and sports romance.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Absolutely! If you're looking for a fun, flirty, and steamy read, Dream Girl Drama is a perfect choice.

This latest from Tessa Bailey hits the mark if you're looking for a romance that balances sweetness with heat.
What stands out is how easy it is to get behind these characters. They're genuinely decent people making realistic choices, which isn't always a given in romance novels. Their story unfolds naturally, and the best part is that the conflicts actually track with who these people are – no manufactured drama for drama's sake.
The slow burn between our leads works because the pining feels earned. When things do heat up (and they definitely do), Bailey delivers her trademark steam. If you've read her other books, you know what to expect in terms of temperature – and yes, the dirty talk is there in full force.
The book mixes its spicier moments with humor and heart, creating a well-rounded story that keeps you invested. It's the kind of romance that makes for a satisfying read when you want something that delivers both emotional payoff and heat.
If you're in the mood for a romance that doesn't require huge suspensions of disbelief but still brings the entertainment value, "Dream Girl Drama" is worth picking up.

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

3.5🌟 rounded up

Add this third installment in the Big Shots series to your TBR! Sig and Chloe’s meet-cute and explosive chemistry had me hooked from the very first chapter! A forbidden romance blooms when unbeknownst to them, their parents have been dating each other and announce that they plan to get married which will make them… stepsiblings. I thought Tessa Bailey did a great job of addressing this topic that some people could find very taboo. Even though they met as adults and didn’t grow up with one another to have any sort of “sibling” relationship, others could very easily frown upon any type of romantic relationship between step-siblings. Sig and Chloe must tread cautiously as everyone’s reputations and careers are on the line: Sig’s as the next in line to be the captain of the Boston Bearcats Hockey Team and Chloe’s as the future chair of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, not to mention their parents worrying about potential gossip and how their friends might view them if their children were in a relationship.

I really enjoyed the story and found it to be a nice, easy palate cleanser sports romance. I loved Chloe attending Sig’s hockey games and the way Sig would do anything for his dream girl. The two of them had incredibly great banter and chemistry so their romance was really fun to read. I didn’t really like that Chloe had never once thought to advocate for herself and become a fully independent, capable woman without Sig encouraging her to do so. Until meeting him, she had lived in a bubble and never learned to be on her own. Even when she took the leap to move to Boston, she still had Sig financially supporting her every step of the way. I wish Sig didn’t feel like he wasn’t good enough for her just because he wasn’t wealthy enough to provide her the lavish lifestyle she grew up with. I think that insecurity of his popped up in the story but was not fully addressed or resolved. There’s an opportunity to develop that plot point further which would make the story richer.

Nevertheless, Dream Girl Drama was amusing and entertaining. I loved being back in the hockey realm and seeing Burgess and Tallulah as well. I will definitely recommend this to my friends and plan to continue the series. I’m rooting for the next one to be a baseball book starring Elton from the dog park but also wouldn’t mind staying in the hockey world with Corrigan, one of the rookie orgasm donors, and Skyler, the strong, fierce, badass pitcher sister of Elton. A hockey/baseball mashup book would be really fun! I love seeing sports romances with strong females who dominate their field. Whatever it ends up being, I’ll be picking it up.

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

★★★◆☆ (3.5/5)
🌶🌶🔺️ (2.5/5)

i think the author perfectly managed to create the tension and attraction between the main characters, you could feel it as you read and it felt real and raw, nevertheless i had a problem with the plotline because there wasnt really one, it was more of a lets see what the day brings to the characters kind of book instead of having an actual plot goal to achieve and follow throughout the story.

I liked the characters they had very original personalities and i like that they were recognizable in their own way.

The spice in the book was really good and it fit well with the storyline i must say the author really knows what shes doing in that aspect.

The story is something original and interesting which i highly appreciate and i think the relationship dynamic of the love interests was absolutely adorable.

I would like to continue reading this series.

I love this series by Tessa Bailey and hope she continues to dabble in sports romance. That being said, I found the characters in the second book more believable than this one. Love the universe but not this book! Their parents were so selfish and it was tough to feel invested in this couple.

I was so so so hooked by the first moments of this book. The tension, the dialogue, the twists, I was entranced. I didn’t love the moment the book ended in, though. I wish we had gotten just a touch more after the resolution and I wish the epilogue got into their careers and futures more than her being pregnant. Not everyone’s dream is to have children, so I wish that was less common in epilogues or at least less emphasis was placed on it. That said though, with Sig’s way with words I’m not surprised that’s what it came to. Holy moly. I found I was also frustrated that the entire conflict could’ve been avoided by a single sentence by either of two people but maybe I need to not think too hard on it because then the book would’ve lasted 3 pages. This was such a fun and pretty quick read. Easy and enjoyable. It could have been even better with a couple small changes.

This was a fun read for me. I tend to like forbidden romances but for me I never felt like this was that taboo?! Because of that I was hoping for more tension beyond just being frustrated with selfish parents. But true to Tessa Bailey style it was easy and fun to read, and the spice hits just right.

Arc Review
Dream girl drama By Tessa Bailey
Available February 4
3.75 ⭐

First off i would like to thank Avon & Netgalley for the opportunity to read & review this book. Thank you for this gifted E-Arc.

Chole & Sig
I absolutely adore chole for just being her true self in her manic pixie way. I absolutely love sig for never being anything other then his grumpy self. These two together is very well done and they way the build this random friendship that they seem to fight for and make it hard to keep it as friends is well done. But it just seem to drag a little for me and i usually love a tessa book. This one just wasn't my favorite sadly, but i did enjoy it.

4/5 recommend this book. Tessa is one of my favorite rom com authors and her ability to write such goofy but relatable characters is so well done. This book just wasn't my favorite even though i enjoyed the plot.