sig & chloe meet a few hours before they’re aware of the circumstances of their parents’ engagement — which creates a forbidden dynamic between them. sig & chloe are also fully consenting adults in their twenties with *very* distant relationships to these parents, so it barely toes the line of taboo. however, the book parallels soap opera levels of drama convincing you that the two of them are modern day romeo and juliet.

the story starts off by jumping forward in time several weeks and then months later, which already made it sort of jarring. but what was most jarring to me is the infantilism of our fmc, chloe. this is an incredibly toxic trait that her mother smothered her with for her entire life (which drove a massive wedge between them) so to then have her gain her “freedom” by making a fresh start for herself in a new city with a man who coddles her the very same way? not my cup of tea.

as always with tessa’s books, you do have to suspend reality quite a bit. and once you remember her particular brand of unhinged, drooling & overbearing mmcs (whose testosterone would level your local sperm bank) you’re in for a solid, easy-to-read, laugh out loud adventure.

despite this not being my personal favorite from tessa, it was a massive honor to be able to arc read for one of my favorite authors! thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to have received an e arc for one of my favorite authors! This was didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to but I overall still enjoyed this! I liked the step sibling vibe, but the fmc was the DRAMA for real. I struggled to connect to her at the beginning of the book, but she did have a very strong character development. I found the MMC to be very loveable, and really enjoyed every moment with him. The ending wrapped this story up perfectly.

I love that Sig calls Chloe his "dream girl" from the beginning. This story could have taken a few different turns. I did not see this one coming though. Made for quite the ending.

Tessa Bailey brings the heat with another Big Shot addition! Clearly, there is so much drama with the forbidden love between future step siblings! Another must read!

Wow- this author has blown my mind again with another 5 star read. She is another author that I will be putting on my must read list without reading the plot to the book.

This started like a fairy tale, very instalove but in a way that felt dreamy and meant to be - that is until later that night when they find out their parents are engaged to be married. Suddenly, their fledgling relationship turns out to be very forbidden in their circle.

I really liked Sig a lot - he’s a typical Tessa Bailey hero, totally, completely out of his mind, gone for his lady. He’s willing to do anything for Chloe, sacrificing everything to afford her the spoiled lifestyle in which she’s accustomed and ensure her safety and security.

Chloe was a lot of fun but I do wish she showed a little more growth during the book. She went from being spoiled and sheltered by her mother to being spoiled and sheltered by Sig. She never had to stand on her own, which I was hoping she would by the end but she really didn’t.

The pining and longing were great, but ultimately, the entire plot hinged on this “forbidden” relationship that just wasn’t really that forbidden or taboo. A little weird? Sure. But two non-related consenting adults who aren’t hurting anyone with their relationship just aren’t really forbidden in real life. I can’t believe his team or her mentor would really care THAT much that they’re willing to end their working relationships over it.

The hints for the next book do have me excited and I’m quite looking forward to their story, even if this one wasn’t a true winner for me.

super cute! super easy read and light hearted! I loved the reference to Sidney Crosby! Go Penguins! it was easy to fall for how they met and knew it was something. I am happy that it was a happy ended but also felt like bam that’s it! they found out and then were pregnant. I would still recommend this to anyone that likes hockey romance!

thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! I've read all the previous books in this series and...I have to say this is the hottest. does it sometimes have frustrating moments because he's very "I will give you all the money!!" - absolutely. but it's also the hottest in the series with that denied sexual tension!!!

5/5 stars

eARC provided by NetGalley

I really loved this story!! It was very well built up in the Au Pair Affair!! This is also very Tessa Bailey! This is my fav of the Big Shots books so far!! This story sometimes felt like it was going in a lot of different directions as we saw a lot of the side characters! But I personally loved that about this story. Getting to see more of the hockey team was interacting was really great! The rookies or "Orgasm Donors" as they call themselves have their stories set up so well!!! I loved the man obsessed trope and no one really does it any better then Tessa Bailey! Sig is such a simp for Chloe and I really liked Chloe! She grow so much in this story and I think showing her becoming independent was really done well. I also really liked how the conflict was resolved. Personally I really did not see it coming but while it was happening I was like OMG! She had me really worried there for a little bit it was not going to be a happy ending. But there was!! I do wish we got to see more of their happy ending! More of them happy together in generally! But the pinning at the beginning of the story was so good! The build up and tension was so well done in this book which is not a surprise with Tessa Bailey but aaaahhhhhhh!!! This sets up the next books in this series in the best way and makes me so excited for both of them!! I highly recommended this book if you are a fan of Tessa Bailey's writing or if you just want a fun sports read with a little bit of (massive bit of) will they wont they end up together!!

I liked the book but wasn't as engrossed as I was with the first two in the series, not sure why. Still worth the read. You can also read this as a standalone. There is very little cross over between the books in the series.

This is the 3rd book in the Big Shots series of sports romances:
Fangirl Down⛳️
Au Pair Affair 🏒
Dream Girl Drama 🏒

These can be read individually, but most of the characters are introduced in the previous books.
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Synopsis:
When Sig’s old truck breaks down in a posh country club, he just needs to use the phone, but ends up meeting his dream girl…only to find out that she is about to be his new stepsister.

And now she’s moving to Boston and he vows to protect her and take care of her until she gets on her own two feet. However, he doesn’t anticipate the NEED he has for her…to claim her.
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Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⚡️/🌶️🌶️
Holy smokes! The tension in this story 🥵

It’s basically a “taboo” story with step siblings, but I don’t see the issues personally. They met when they were 25/29 and never lived together, were not raised together. I guess the title and stipulation was just too much for their high profile careers.

I kept rooting for them trying to find a way that they could be together.
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They both needed to deal with some parent issues: he never had a father growing up and now he holds that against his father; she has a controlling/gate keeping mother who will do everything to keep her under her thumb.
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The sexual tension is so heavy and when the spice finally hits, the tension explodes 💥
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💥Dream Girl Drama releases on Feb 4th and will stenciled edges💥

This book is an absolute classic Tessa Bailey read. There is great banter, intense chemistry, and two incredibly likable yet flawed main characters.

When Sig needs some help with his broken down truck he is forced to walk into a country club he doesn’t belong in. But a spitfire society blonde helps him get in the club to get the help he needs.

Why would Chloe let the giant, clearly out of place, man in the country club? For the fun of course! But as the two interact, the connection they have is instant and powerful. But when they show up to dinner and learn they’re about to become step siblings, things take a turn.

The quick burn of feelings and slow burn of a relationship are handled so well throughout this book. You’ll be frustrated, elated, and everything in between for Sig and Chloe as you read this charming book!

Tessa Bailey does it again - I wasn’t sure about Dream Girl Drama because it’s different than anything she’s ever done but I devoured the book and can’t wait to recommend it to all my romance loving customers.

This was the best Tessa Bailey book she has written since the Bellinger Sisters (which are her best books) books. I am so proud of her. The past 5 books by her were not for me. I enjoyed this one. I don't think she is good at writing sports romance. But this was good enough.

ARC Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey is back with a sizzling, laugh-out-loud romance in Dream Girl Drama, a book that combines her signature steamy chemistry with sharp wit and unforgettable characters.

This was a light and enjoyable read! It follows Sig, a hockey player, and Chloe, a talented cello prodigy, who share undeniable chemistry the moment they meet. However, before anything can develop between them, they discover they’re going to become step-siblings. Will they still end up together? It’s worth the read to find out!!

Tessa Bailey has once again captivated readers with her latest offering, delivering a story that’s both tantalizing and unforgettable. Following the whirlwind night of romance of Sig and Chloe, this highly anticipated novel is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Imagine meeting the girl of your dreams, only to discover she’s destined to become your stepsister!
Bailey adeptly navigates the tricky waters of forbidden love, exploring the characters' internal struggles and moral dilemmas. You’ll find yourself rooting for Sig and Chloe as they confront societal expectations and embrace their undeniable chemistry. Their story is a testament to love’s resilience, proving that blood isn’t the only bond that matters.

With her signature humor and steamy scenes, Tessa Bailey delivers yet another must-read manuscript that you simply cannot put down. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her work, this novel will leave you both yearning for more and reeling from its emotional depth. Don’t miss the chance to dive into this captivating tale—it's definitely a book that deserves a spot on your shelf!

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Tessa Bailey is a hit or miss for me- but this one is a big hit for sure. Her Big Shots series started out with a bang (Fan Girl Down) and The Au Pair Affair was a letdown to me, EXCEPT for the appearances of our two MCs of “Dream Girl Drama,” Sig & Chloe. With every odd interaction & comment in Au Pair Affair I was eagerly awaiting their own story, and Dream Girl Drama does not disappoint.
Sig and Chloe meet by chance (it is major lust as first sight, dear reader,) and with promises of another meeting they each go off in what they think are separate directions- until they show up at the same dinner celebrating their parent’s engagement. They spend the next six months attempting to keep each-other at arms length for the sake of the other’s very public career (she a gifted musician about to audition for the Boston Symphony and he a hockey player on the verge of either a captaincy or being cut loose by his team.) Except they are absolutely terrible at resisting the other. I was not at all prepared for the unbridled lust and temptation they both felt- enough for me to not give any efs that they were to be step-siblings. At one point I asked my boyfriend if it was really a big deal, and he said it was totally weird and yet I still disagreed. “Have sex already!” I shouted. (Sorry, neighbors.) I absolutely wallowed in their interactions, because they are so absolutely unhinged for the other person that it felt like the pages were on fire. I also feel like we got some satisfying character arcs from both characters. The story has a bit of a deus ex machina ending but I am absolutely fine with it. I’m not sure this is the last of the Big Shots (we seem to get a new couple in the epilogue,) but if it is it sure goes out with a bang. Or several.

Tessa Bailey is one of those authors that I can always trust for a comfy romance book, and this book was just that! It was definitely a unique trope that was leaving me lots of questions in the begging, but she made it work. Also, Sig's protector/mother hen vibes were my favorite!

I wanted to love this book because I’m a big Tessa Bailey fan, but ended up feeling a little “meh” about it. This is the third book in a series, but could easily be read as a stand-alone. Sig and Chloe have an immediate spark when they meet by happenstance when his truck breaks down in front of a country club where she is a member. Their love story comes crashing down almost immediately when they realize that his father and her mother are engaged and they will soon be step-siblings. Sig and Chloe spend the next few months trying to figure out a way to be together despite their new relationship status, but when their obvious attraction threatens to affect both of their professional lives they realize they have no choice but to break off the relationship that never really was.

I was initially hesitant going into the story because of the whole “step sibling” thing, but after seeing how well they connected and how they finally got to be together made me happy. Chloe really gave Rachel vibes from friends in the beginning. It was great seeing her grow into herself in Boston. Sig is kinda great at loving her, it’s beautiful.