Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey.

I’m a big fan of Tessa Bailey and was stoked to get an ARC of this book. Especially as the Big Shots series have been my favorites by her thus far. However, I didn’t feel that Dream Girl Drama quite hit the mark like the first two did. I felt like as a reader we already knew a good deal about Sig and Chloe’s story from Au Pair Affair and the first part if the book was just restating a lot of that with some gap filling. The other piece I think for me, is I just did find these two characters quite as likable. Overall, it’s a Tessa Bailey book and if you like her work I’m sure you will find this enjoyable to some degree.

Tessa Bailey delivers another captivating romantic comedy with Dream Girl Drama, blending steamy chemistry, forbidden love, and family chaos into an irresistibly fun read. This latest installment in the Big Shots series focuses on professional hockey player Sig Gauthier and harp prodigy Chloe Clifford, whose undeniable connection is complicated by a shocking revelation—their parents are engaged, making them soon-to-be stepsiblings.


Engaging Characters: Sig and Chloe are compelling opposites. Sig's rugged charm and Chloe's quirky, sheltered personality create a dynamic that sparks both humor and heartfelt moments. Their journey of personal growth and mutual support makes their relationship feel authentic and deeply satisfying.
Tension and Chemistry: From their moonlit kiss to the tension of keeping their relationship platonic, Bailey masterfully builds a slow-burn romance packed with sizzling moments. The push-pull dynamic of forbidden love keeps the pages turning.
Humor and Banter: Bailey’s trademark wit shines through. The dialogue is sharp and entertaining, balancing the story’s emotional depth with laugh-out-loud moments.
Themes of Independence: Chloe’s quest to break free from her controlling mother adds depth to the story. Sig’s encouragement and guidance show their bond extending beyond romance, showcasing a strong emotional connection.

Overall:
Dream Girl Drama is a delightful addition to the Big Shots series, combining Bailey’s signature humor, spice, and heartfelt storytelling. While the central conflict may not feel entirely convincing to all readers, the emotional depth and magnetic chemistry between Sig and Chloe more than make up for it. Fans of rom-coms with a dash of taboo romance will adore this book, and Bailey proves once again why she’s a powerhouse in the genre.

Recommended for: Lovers of opposites-attract, forced proximity, and forbidden love tropes, and fans of Bailey’s previous works. This one is a must for your TBR!

With the third installment of the Big Shots series, I was thrilled to see how Tessa developed the characters of Sig and Chloe, whom I adored in The Au Pair Affair. This book is packed with forbidden love, family chaos, and intense tension! My only complaint is that I wish we had more of their domestic bliss at the end, as we waited two books to finally see it. Nevertheless, Tessa struck gold again with this one.

This was a quick, fun read in Tessa's signature style, and we think it's the best one so far!
We couldn't wait to see her take on the stepsibling trope and she did not disappoint! It gave us a forbidden, angsty romance full of wit, banter, and CHEMISTRY! We are already fans for life of Tessa and this was just another hit for us!

Ever since their names were mentioned in book 2, I've been yearning (perhaps that's an understatement) for Sig and Chloe's book.

Unfortunately, their story didn't quite live up to my expectations. I found no fault with the characters; Sig and Chloe were both likeable, and their gruff/sunshine personalities paired nicely. What was lacking, however, was the plot.

The whole concept of forbidden love fell flat for me. I just didn't find it all that believable that Sig and Chloe shouldn't be together because their parents were dating - it's not like they were related or grew up together. If it had been their respective parents who had gotten together after their kids were engaged, I doubt anyone would have batted an eye.

My dislike of the plot certainly colored my view of the book, and by the end all I could think was "meh". I certainly won't give up reading Tessa Bailey's books any time soon, but I find I'm not all that excited for the rest of the books in this series.

Book Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to take a moment to give a huge shout-out and warm hug to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and HarperCollins Publishers for providing me with an advance ebook copy of Dream Girl Drama in exchange for my honest review. Let me tell you, saying I was eagerly anticipating this book feels like an understatement of epic proportions. Tessa Bailey DELIVERED, and I couldn't wait to share my excitement!

A Complicated Love Story
Readers of Bailey's previous works will be familiar with Chloe from The Au Pair Affair, where we were first introduced to her quirky charm. However, it was only a mere teaser of what was to come. The intricacies of her relationship with Sig, which initially felt so enigmatic, unfurl beautifully in Dream Girl Drama. The thrill of discovering their complicated love story was like unwrapping a carefully wrapped gift, and oh, what a treasure it turned out to be!

A Tale of Forbidden Love
The forbidden love trope has always had a special place in my reader's heart, and Bailey executed it with finesse. The plot delivers love at first sight and a tantalizing possible step-sibling dynamic that had me turning the "pages" at a breakneck speed. The stakes are high, and you can practically feel the chemistry sizzle between Chloe and Sig. It was impossible to put the book down!

A Small Wish for More
If I had to mention one tiny complaint, it would be the epilogue. While I appreciate a good "happily ever after," the glimpse into Chloe and Sig's life five years later felt just a tad too short for my longing heart. I mean, who wouldn’t want more of that naked harp-playing goodness? Tessa, if you’re listening, I was ready for a full symphony!

And oh, Sig! My admiration for him only grew as he maintained a relationship with Harvey—a character as charmingly untrustworthy as a "lying sack of potatoes." I can’t help but root for the fascinating dynamics Bailey creates within her stories.

Excitement for What's Next
But wait! There’s more! I hear whispers of another book on the horizon: Pitcher Perfect. I can almost guarantee that we’ll see some crossover with the love story of Corrigan (aka O Donor) and Skylar—sign me up for that swoon-fest!

Conclusion
In conclusion, I devoured this ebook in just two sittings (yes, it was that good!) and will be recommending it to absolutely everyone I know. Tessa Bailey's Dream Girl Drama is top-notch in every sense—writing, plot, and execution. If you crave an emotional rollercoaster wrapped in a deliciously forbidden love story, look no further. Grab this book, and prepare for a wild ride!

Happy reading! 📚✨

I sadly did not enjoy this book and had to DNF it before the end. The insta-love was EXTREME, but to the point where Sig was acting like a psychopath. Spending all of his money at SEPHORA? I would bet $100 Sig would lick the floor and clean it that way if Chloe told him she didn’t have a mop. Not allowing Chloe to date or talk to other men? It felt so very unrealistic that it was hard to enjoy the chemistry between the two. Also these two were acting like 13 year olds in their first relationship. This was a very hard read for me and 60% of the way in I still felt like there was truly zero plot. The parents are barely involved in the storyline and I honestly thought it was missing a few chapters when I started the book.

Thank you very much for the arc, I’m bummed I didn’t like this more.

I was SO excited for this book - and I was definitely disappointed.

The main issue I have with this story is that so. much. emphasis was put on the fact that they were going to be step-siblings, and how utterly weird and dramatic that would be. Honestly - it's a little weird, but also, this is 2024. It's also not like they grew up together and THEN decided to be in a relationship. Additionally, I couldn't get over how "woe is me" the FMC was, and how utterly incapable she was of doing literally anything on her own. I understand that she was supposedly very sheltered, but...seriously? I also think it's weird that even with all of the performances she had done, she wasn't paid...for any of them?

There is a "plot twist" at the end of the story, but honestly, I saw it coming almost right away.

I wish I had enjoyed this more. The best part was how down bad the MMC was for the FMC - amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Tessa Bailey for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is my first Tessa Bailey book and it was so much fun! I definitely want to read the rest of her books after checking this one out. Thank you so much for the early read!

Once again Tessa Bailey has written a man who is SO DOWN BAD and as always it was SUCH A GOOD TIME. And she knows how to write characters that have a lot going on under the surface but is able to balance it so well with humor and SPICE and a little bit of cringe (mostly complimentary). Sig and Chloe were honestly kind of perfect?? I liked the build up in The Au Pair Affair, seeing the tension between them before we really know about their relationship really helped set the scene! And seeing where they really started!! And how quickly they fell for each other!! This is another classic Tessa Bailey book and I think everyone is really going to love it!

I really liked Sig and Chloe’s relationship. They were very much IN LOVE with each other and they were actually such good friends. He made sure she was supported and listened too, and he was teaching her how to be properly independent while still supporting her. And she was someone he could be vulnerable with, even though he was doing so much for her and didn’t want her to see him as weak, he was eventually able to let his guard down for her.

The drama was…a lot. But that just means it was perfectly named!! Yes they were step siblings to be so it’s a little odd to be in a relationship, and they both had a lot on the line and didn’t want any bad press…but also if you love each other just BE together and people will get over it. I just wanted someone to make a choice…but they kept going back and forth and back and forth… and it was BECAUSE they loved each other so much, and that was OBVIOUS. But it was a little painful.

Thank you so much for the arc in exchange for a honest review! I am SO GRATEFUL!!

3.5 🌟 rounded up!!

4.25 ⭐

I have been obsessed with the Big Shots series so I was thrilled for the next in the installment. I love everything Tessa Bailey writes so I knew it would be good, but I honestly thought it may be my least favorite of the series, because I wasn't a huge fan of Chloe and Sig as side characters in the previous book.

I. Was. Wrong.

I loved the depth of these characters. I erroneously assumed that Chloe was just a ditzy, slightly annoying character, but I loved her storyline. And Sig just melted my heart. They are perfect together!

If you've read the rest of this series, I know you'll pick this one up too. And I can't wait to see if my suspician is correct for a possible fourth book...? 😉

Thank you SO much to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Tessa Bailey is an auto-purchase author for me, so receiving this was a dream!

I liked the first two books in this series a lot and wa really looking forwad to this but it feels like the old Bailey that I didn't like, the lead characters were just annoyiung and no growth and also felt different from the how they showed up in previous novels.

Sig doesn't plan to meet the girl of his dreams on the way to dinner with his estranged father but when his truck breaks down that is exactly what happens. He can't wait to see her again but when he does, its to find out that her mother and his father are engaged. Though this throws a wrench in his plans he takes Tessa under his wing so she can follow her dreams.

Tessa Bailey is always a fun read, although some of her books are better than others. Sig and Chloe had an instalove connection and then discovered they were about to be step-siblings. This created some tension as to why they couldn’t or shouldn’t be together. They became friends and were each other’s biggest supporters and simply yearn for months. More conversations about finances would have been helpful since he spent way too much money on her to maintain an unnecessarily affluent lifestyle. Sig seems like a good guy though. Overall, cute read if you’re okay with a somewhat taboo step-sibling love story.

After The Au Pair Affair I was sweating waiting for Chloe and Sig’s book and thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will start off to say the immediate conflict of this book is very obvious to everyone, both main characters are step siblings. Now that that is out of the way the book was delightful! It felt like Tessa Bailey was trying to dabble into a little bit of a taboo romance with these two and I was here for it. I do struggling a wee bit with the main conflict, maybe i’ve read too many penelope douglas books but I honestly just didn’t get the big deal? Consenting adults who met before they even knew their parents were entangled? I see no issues there but I think it was still a good book with a whole lot of pining.

Tessa Bailey delivers another swoony, laugh-out-loud romance with Dream Girl Drama! This book is a trope lover’s paradise, blending the best of forced proximity, opposites attract, and he-falls-first. Add Bailey’s signature open-door spice, and you’ve got a story that’s equal parts sizzling and heartfelt.

The chemistry between Sig and Chloe is electric from the start, with plenty of tension and banter to keep you turning the pages. Chloe’s journey of self-discovery pairs beautifully with Sig’s unwavering support and charm, creating a dynamic that’s as emotional as it is steamy.

Bailey’s writing is always full of heart and heat, and Dream Girl Drama is no exception. If you’re in the mood for a spicy, trope-packed rom-com with characters you’ll fall in love with, this one deserves a spot on your TBR!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgally for the digital ARC!

Chloe, harp prodigy. Sig, pro hockey player. Not to mention fun side characters I hope we have future stories for!

Dream Girl Drama was a fun fast paced novel that is definitely worth a read with laughs and some angst that keeps you hooked til the end.

Another spicy romance from Tessa Bailey... I wondered how she was going to bring this one around and work out the "thing" keeping them apart and it was a great twist. The world of hockey and a classical harpist... a great opposites attract trope with forebiggen love throw in.

thank you avon and harpercollins for the arc!

tessa bailey never misses!!!! i have to admit this one was weird at the start with the pacing but it all smoothed out once the traction started going. i am biased because i love anything tessa bailey does and WILL ALWAYS BE DOWN FOR IT!!!!!!!!!

meet your new obsession sig!!! omg he is the most obsessed man i ever met. he was a DREAM and honestly i want to be as spoiled as chloe by him... please can i have one??? also the mouth on that man.. jesus! miss tessa knows how to write them hot and heavy, that's for sure.

chloe was a force to be reckoned with once she put her mind to it. i loved how equal they were to and with each other. tessa did a phenomenal job at building the tension and the desire between the two. it felt like if they wouldn't have each other, not only would they die, but i would die too, because what do you mean youre leaving ??? I loved the unwavering loyalty that they had towards each other. While Sir Savage is still my main man, this was such a perfect installment and exceeded my expectations.

The speculation surrounding their relationship added to the necessary secrecy and hidden desire. My veins were throbbinggg while reading this. I really never wanted two to-be-step-siblings to get together as badly as I needed them!!!

Tessa Bailey does it again with an another hilarious read that captivated me from the very beginning. The dynamic between Sig and Chloe was hilarious. From the very beginning these two have an undeniable connection and a wonderful banter that I found myself sucked into. It was definitely on brand for Tessa or equal parts spicy and funny. Sig was all in to Chloe from the very beginning and I found myself dying at all their antics. The tension between these two gave a delicious slow burn in the first half that had you wanting to fling your book across the room for something to happen then by the second half I couldn’t stop myself from putting it down. The characters were fun and different but also knowing they were a Tessa Bailey classic. I love how authentic and natural the romance felt in progression to the plot. A definite must read and stunning addition to the Big Shots series.