The Au Pair Affair is the second sports romance in the Big Shots series. Tallulah is studying to be a marine biologist and needs a job and somewhere to stay while she’s going to school in Boston. Enter Burgess, a single dad who also happens to be the veteran defenseman and captain of Boston’s hockey team, who is looking for an au pair for his daughter. Both Talluah and Burgess have baggage, including the big age gap, but the chemistry between them is off the charts. Will they be able to keep their relationship professional or will lines get crossed?

I really, really wanted to love this book and thought I would from the cover and description, but I couldn’t stand it half the time. The first thing that got me were the character names. I just didn’t like them and that added to my dislike of everything else once I got into the story and couldn’t connect. The story was well laid out and if you connect with this book I think you would enjoy it, but I couldn’t get into it at all. The overprotectiveness of Burgess got to me, Tallulah’s had no depth to her and was boring and unlikeable to me. Burgess was too worried about his career ending soon and not wanting to be attracted to his daughter’s au pair to even pay attention to said daughter. There was so much unnecessary spice and a lack of real romance that it drove me crazy. There was so much potential in this book, but it never hit the mark. The age gap didn’t do it, the single dad trope didn’t do it, even the sports romance didn’t hit for me this time and it always does. This book was definitely not for me, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be for you. I’ve seen enough good reviews of it to know there are many people out there who loved it. Just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean you will, if this seems like it will be your type of book go for it, it just wasn’t for me.

Sometimes Tessa is queen, and sometimes her books fall a little flat for me, and this one fell flat. I couldn't get over some qualms with the relationship between the characters, there was something just a little icky about it for me and I DNF'ed. I loved the hockey dad idea, and I adored the book prior to this in the series, but this one just made me uncomfortable and bored.

🤷🏻‍♀️
I LOVED the first book in this series, Fangirl Down. It was the first book of Bailey's that I'd truly loved in a long time. I had very high hopes for this one, I loved the tropes and was looking forward to reading.
Fast forward to actually reading it. I'm not sure what happened with this one but it just did not hit like the other one.
Look, I love TB and her alphas and high level of spice but this one just missed the mark for me. That's not to say that I hated it, I didn't. I still laughed and swooned and I am glad I read it.
Looking at the next book, I still want to read it and am hopeful that I'll enjoy it a bit more.

I loved this story - Tessa Bailey does it again! Another great story with spice, banter, and real characters. I loved reading about Burgess and Tallullah.

"The Au Pair Affair" by Tessa Bailey is a steamy and heartfelt romance that explores the chemistry between unlikely lovers. Bailey’s knack for writing sizzling, tension-filled scenes shines as the characters navigate their complicated emotions and undeniable attraction. The book’s blend of heat, humor, and genuine emotion makes it a delightful and satisfying read.

I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one in the series. The energy between Tallulah and Burgess was fantastic. The tropes of age gap, nanny, grumpy/sunshine are all there while still giving a fresh take. This is the Tessa Bailey I want to see.

I was excited to receive this arc back in June because lately I have been getting into reading about sports through romance novels. However, I wasn't a big fan of this one. It was more spice than cuteness when it came to the connection between our main characters, Tallulah and Burgess, which in my opinion comes down to preference. I wanted more emotional connection woven into the story, but everything felt added in as a means to intercourse between the two. What I did like about this book was the individual storylines Tallulah and Burgess were coming together with. I think career-wise their stories progressed wonderfully, which seems odd to say for a romance novel.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an arc!

The Au Pair Affair is another great story by Tessa Bailey. It is the second book in the Big Shots series. We meet Tallulah and Burgess in the previous book and the chemistry is obvious so it was great to see it play out in this book.

Thanks, Avon, for the advanced review copy via NetGalley.

This was a fun and wildly spicy romp of a story. I enjoyed the couple's sweet romance and affection for each other. My only critique was that several times, their dirty talk was cringe-worthy.

I was excited to read this book because of the reviews but fell short for me. It was too long and drug on and I felt like it was missing some of the spice I was expecting. The relationship was also very awkward and that made it not sit well. I’d pass on this one

Tessa Bailey is a romance novel queen! I loved the characters, the relationship between the two, as well as the relationship of dad and daughter. Looking forward to Bailey's next novel!

I thought that this story was a captivating and heartwarming novel that brilliantly explores the complexities of family dynamics, love, and personal growth. One of the most compelling aspects of the story is the evolving relationship between Tellulah, Burgess, and his daughter.

Tellulah, the new au pair, brings a breath of fresh air into Burgess's household. Her genuine care and affection for his daughter quickly turn what could have been a professional arrangement into something much deeper. The bond between Tellulah and the little girl is beautifully depicted, filled with tender moments that tug at the heartstrings. Their connection feels natural and authentic, showcasing Tellulah's nurturing spirit and ability to bring joy into the child's life.

Burgess's relationship with Tellulah is equally well-crafted. What starts as a tentative and cautious interaction blossoms into a profound connection as they both navigate the challenges of parenting, healing, and learning to trust again. Their growing affection is portrayed with subtlety and grace, making their journey from strangers to something more incredibly satisfying.

Overall, *The Au Pair Affair* is a delightful read, particularly for those who appreciate stories centered on the power of love and the importance of family. The relationships between Tellulah, Burgess, and his daughter are the heart of this novel, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

I mostly liked this story, but found the beginning and end to drag a little bit. I'm giving it a 3.5 rounding out to 4 because there were some really great moments. The ending could have used so much more groveling, and she took him back too easily. This dude was straight up cruel when he got injured, like bro STFU you're gonna live. It kinda felt like bad behavior was being rewarded just because he had a major ouchie. Big whoop bro that's life! I understand that your career is done but you made it into your 30s and that is good for the sports industry. I did however, enjoy all the smut throughout, so that was a positive. Overall I had a good time and I do love a hockey romance and it was an auto read because it was a Tessa Bailey book.

this was such a fun read! tessa never fails to disappoint -- both with her storytelling and the men she writes. i adore this series so much and i cannot recommend it enough!

My favorite of Tessa Bailey’s works to date. I really enjoyed the relationship between the main characters. This is an age gap but they are both adults here and it’s very good!

The way the author handled the fmc’s trauma was relatable and powerful. It is hard to let someone in when you’ve been hurt so badly.

I liked the way the characters tied into the previous story, Fangirl Down. The sports references were fun and the struggle of an older athlete was thought provoking. Something I hadn’t considered in this way before.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and I recommend it. I’m excited for the third couple’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was so pleasantly surprised with Bailey's Fangirl Down that I couldn't wait to read this second book. It was such a disappointment. Character development was lacking and inconsistent. I wanted to fall in love with them, but found them just annoying. I'm still anticipating the release of #3 and hope it comes back around to the writing I've enjoyed in Bailey's other books, 2 stars

Tessa Bailey is very hit or miss for me and unfortunately this one was a miss. I so badly wanted to like it but the characters weren't very likable.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this ARC of The Au Pair Affair. The pacing of this book felt like a hurricane, sweeping us into the chaos right off the bat. At points, I wished for their relationship to slow down, but I did like seeing Burgess and Tallulah together. Her traumas were well represented, and Burgess’s struggles with family life and career things were well done as well. I wish there were more of her being an au pair, as I feel like that part of their relationship blew by very fast. Lissa’s turnaround also seemed very fast, but this book was nevertheless enjoyable. Can’t wait for more from Tessa Bailey!

I do fear that the longer I sit with this book, the more things I find to dislike about it! I picked it up because I loved the premise and I wanted a fun, contemporary romance read, and I know Tessa Bailey always delivers on that! And honestly, as I was reading it I had a blast, it was the perfect summer read!

However, the really deep trauma that Tallulah experienced wasn't handled well and didn't fit in with the romcom vibes of the book. I fully support Tessa Bailey exploring these darker themes, but I feel like they need to be handed more carefully than they were done here. And then ending felt so forced and rushed, and dear god I needed a full books worth of grovel and growth from Burgess. He was such an asshole and then we didn't really see any of that recovery and development from him? I loved the glimpse we got with the magazine article, but it wasn't enough.

So it's hard to really rate this because did I have fun? Yes. Is it a good book? Not really. And that's ok, it just needs to be said!

Who doesn’t love a grumpy to sunshine kinda book?! I thought the story line was good, I just wish there was a little more drama between the two main characters towards the end of the book. But overall love hockey romance and grumpy guys who turn soft!