The Au Pair Affair!
Tessa Bailey delivers on the smut and a good time - she makes readers devour those dirty lines and want more.
4 ⭐️
- He Falls First
- Grumpy (alpha)/ Sunshine
- Age Gap
- Hockey Girls Era
- Single Dad
- Who Did this to you vibes
- Groveling
- Character Cameos (Fan Girl Down)

Tessa delivers on the smut and a good time - she makes readers devour those dirty lines and want more.

Thanks Nalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC - Opinions are my own.

title: The Au Pair Affair

author: Tessa Bailey

publisher: Avon

publication date: July 16, 2024

pages: 384

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: broken nose and other hockey violence; traumatic past/stalker

summary: Tallulah is moving to Boston to work on her MA in Marine Biology. To be able to afford to live there, she takes a job as the Au Pair to Lissa, the twelve-year-old daughter of Burgess, better known as the rough defensemen of the Boston Bearcats (*Yes, I love that the team's mascot is the same as my school's!) pro hockey team. Despite her rough past and desire for fearlessness and adventure and his gruff exterior and homebody lifestyle, their chemistry and compatibility is undeniable. 

tropes:

professional sports hero
age-gap
she works for him
traumatic past
grumpy-sunshine
moody tween
destination wedding (not theirs)
doesn't care about anything except hockey
might not be able to come back from his injury

what I liked: 

he's alpha-protective of her
she's got more going on in her life than just pining for him
she gives good advice about communication
Bailey made the age-gap work

what I didn’t like: NA

overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC for an honest review!
Total Rating: 4.5/5
I read The Au Pair Affair straight after finishing Fangirl Down and I was ecstatic we get to now follow Josephine's best friend Tallulah who now becomes the Au Pair for Wells' best friend and hockey player Burgess. Burgess is as fierce off the ice as he is on, and he is still adjusting to find a relationship with his daughter, Lissa. He hires Tallulah to come live with him and assist with helping out Lissa while she continues working towards her degree as a Marine Biologist.

I loved both of our main characters and how they brought out the best in each other. Tallulah warming up Burgess and showing him all those who look up to him and him giving her the confidence and protection to let go of her past inflictions.

This book does have a third-act break-up but it is still an HEA (though I am knocking .5 off the total because I was hoping for a longer resolvement and more closure in the end). I hope we do get to see more of Burgess and Tallulah in the future but I am also hoping for more light on Sig and Chloe!

Another sweet and sexy story by Tessa Bailey!

I LOVED Fangirl Down and was excited to explore Talulah and Burgess ( I adore grumpy men). The spice as usual was great! I wish we had some more Talula and Lissa bonding moments but the ones we had were lovely. I thought Lissa was a sweet and relatable kid. Burgess seemed like such a loving dad and he felt relatable. ( I too cannot braid hair). I struggled to relate to Talulah, not because of her trauma, but because of her personality. I just felt other than her trauma she lacked a little depth. However, she grew throughout the book regarding trusting herself and gaining confidence which made her a little more interesting.

I am a Tessa Bailey stan. She has a knack for writing wonderfully diverse characters and storylines. This is a book worth picking up!

Thank you, NetGalley for this e-arc!

Omfg
Love love. Burned thru this as soon as I started.
Talulah & Burgess are end goal vibes
I didn’t know I was into mean daddy either. But Tessa girl you have taught me so much and kept me on the hook
This was fantastic
I can’t wait to have a physical copy of this one & to tell my book group. Ahhh I was so sad to see that percentage go higher with their story. Thank you for this arc on NetGalley

I really liked this book! This is my second hockey romance (first being Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey also) and I do think I enjoyed this one more.

It has an age gap, single dad, grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, and all the “touch her and die” you could ask for. It was hot and steamy, but also heartfelt and made me cry a couple times.

I loved the mmc’s struggle with his self-image and his willingness to grow and learn to be a better teammate/father. I wish there was a little more father/daughter bonding moments. His outburst that was the whole conflict setup for the second half of the book seemed a little dramatic and out of character.

I did not love how many times the mmc was described as ‘making a gruff sound’ or how often ‘orange and basil’ was used. The sequencing/timing of things also seemed a little off to me? At one point the season opener game was the next day and then it was two weeks later and we were at the season opener. Or a steamy scene happened and the next chapter was said to be a week and a half later but then the steamy scene was later referred to as happening ‘last night’.

Overall, it was a fun romance that I’m happy with and glad I got the chance to read! I HAVE to read Sig and Chloe’s book!!

Tessa Bailey can do no wrong. I loved these two. There was a moment there where I thought it was going to be just another boring romance. She had me riding the waves of Burgess and Tallulah’s love story and I am so glad I didn’t give up because it ended on the best kind of high. I wish men like this existed in real life. What a great addition to Wells and Josie’s world.

Definitely not my favorite by Tessa Bailey. I didn't feel like the characters or their actions made a ton of sense, the com of rom-com was missing, and there were too many ick-factor moments for me. That said, I will absolutely be reading the next book in this series because I think the setup (at least I hope it's the setup! I mean... it HAS to be) laid out in this book sounds like it'll be wild and probably very funny!

Oh, ouch. Burgess is a lot. He’s a contradiction. He’s utterly in love with Tallulah. He’s determined to have her and keep her…or is he? Because sometimes the pain of something totally unrelated leads to the meanest of words. Even if they’re not meant and the pain is running the mouth. But they’re said and they shatter what is. Have no fear, though. This man knows how to grovel. And love. And do whatever it takes.

Tallulah is a conundrum herself. She’s scared but trying to live. Sure she’s lacking but feels so safe and secure with Burgess. And she doesn’t want to admit she’s in love until she’s ready. Too bad there are other hearts at stake, because once the secret is out, things get painful. And then the tough work starts.

These two are meant for each other, even if they try to fight it at first. One more than the other, because Mr Walking Contradiction is so worried about safety for the woman who is now afraid that he will do anything to help her. Even if it means being a little underhanded about how he helps. But it’s all done in love, so I had to adore him. Even the pain they both go through is worth the love they finally admit to. I can promise you that.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It was cute and I liked the characters it was fun! I love Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey's books are really hit or miss for me. This one was a miss. I don't mind an age gap romance, but I did get sick of being constantly reminded of it. Also, the MMC in this book *really* has weird self-esteem issues. And I didn't particularly care for the ex plotline. IDK - I always read her books, but this one just wasn't my favorite.

What I love bout The Au Pair Affair is how Bailey builds out her characters. They are so relatable. You find yourself rooting for the couple and invested in their ending to a higher degree than normal. Filled with laugh our loud moments and witty banter- it's a light hearted read for the summer!

The single dad trope added another dimension to the story. The relationship between Tullulqh and Burgess’ daughter added to my level of investment in the story. The family dynamic was fun to watch unfold.

To be honest it’s a little too steamy for me, but that says more about my preferences than the author. Be aware if you prefer closed door romance you’re going to be flipping a lot of pages, but I felt it was worth skipping some sections for the story itself!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tallulah is trying to find herself in grad school after a traumatic event that occurred in undergrad. She has been burying herself in research studies in isolated places where she has felt safe. She meets Burgess, one of her best friends' fiancé's best friends and agrees to be an au pair for his 12 year old daughter Lissa. Burgess is a professional gruff hockey player who is trying to find his confidence and swagger since his divorce. He is also worried about losing hockey, the one thing he feels like he is successful at.

Burgess is immediately drawn to Tallulah and wants to help her be brave and feel safe in the world again. Tallulah is trying to be brave, but is also finding it hard to resist this giant man and the tenderness he shows for her. Will Tallulah be able to set aside her past and open her heart to Burgess? Will Burgess be able to be the stable, safe partner Tallulah is falling in love with?

This book was sweet and a heartwarming read! I really enjoyed Tallulah and Burgess' character and romance development. I felt like the conflict seemed mild for the consequences, but overall would definitely recommend this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I seemed to enjoy this book more than Fangirl Down. I can only hope that the next book in the Hot Shots series is about Sig and Chloe! Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Tessa Bailey's latest sports rom-com features Burgess, a gruff single dad and hockey veteran, and Tallulah, his vivacious, broke, live-in nanny studying marine biology. As Tallulah helps Burgess re-enter the dating scene, their chemistry grows, causing tension with his daughter, Lissa, who hopes for her parents' reunion. When Tallulah steps away to do the "right" thing, Burgess must overcome his baggage to win her back. This novel is a charming, heartfelt blend of humor and romance, perfect for fans of contemporary love stories.

Grumpy/sunshine, age gap, single dad – I love all of these tropes, and The Au Pair Affair provides a solid pairing in grad student Tallulah and professional hockey player Burgess. Boss/nanny is usually a little troublesome for me, but it’s clear from the beginning that they were interested in each other long before the work relationship was established.

This was a fun book that checked all the boxes. The road to happiness gets about as painful as a Stanley Cup playoff game, but in the end, you know that Burgess and Tallulah are going to come out winners.

Note: Although I personally didn’t find it bothersome, there should be a trigger warning about a previous relationship.

Tessa Bailey is always fantastic at crafting sweet yet steamy romances! "The Au Pair Affair" is the second book in Bailey's "Big Shots" series. Tallulah, a marine biology students, needs a break and some extra cash. So when the opportunity arises for her to become an au pair for Burgess, a hockey star and single dad, she is excited at the opportunity. It doesn't hurt that he's hot and sparks fly between them. However, Tallulah has some PTSD from some scary events that have happened in her past, and seeing Burgess beating others up on the ice doesn't help with her fears. Burgess has to convince her that his on-ice persona is only a small part of who he is, and Tallulah has to be willing to want more than just a physical relationship with him.

I wish more time had been spent on Tallulah's backstory. We were only given a page or two about it, and I wish it would have been delved into more. I really enjoyed Tallulah and Burgess together, and I enjoyed reading about Burgess' daughter as well. Some of the obstacles between them were a little overplayed and repetitive, but I enjoyed this book overall. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Burgess is a single parent and pro hockey player who is nearing the end of his career. Tallulah is the new nanny who moves in and has an immediate bond with Burgess' daughter, which is hard for him to see, since he has a less than perfect relationship with his daughter and wants more.  Burgess has been dreaming of a woman like Tallulah, but the two are so different from one another. With their 11 year age gap, they are in different paths in their lives. Will their attraction become more and will the age difference be one that they can set aside?  

I did not read Fangirl, but I enjoyed this just the same. It is a grumpy single dad/age gap hockey romance, but it is so much more. I would definitely recommend this one!I liked it so much that I am now reading Fangirl!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this delightful book!

I mean Burgess Abraham IS the swooniest book boyfriend! I absolutely couldn’t get enough of this story. Emotional and entertaining storytelling. I didn’t want to put it down.

Burgess loves hockey and his daughter. He decides he needs a little help with the new hockey season starting. So he offers an au pair job to Tallulah. But Tallulah has some walls up and Burgess wants to tear them down. We follow along as he falls first and will do anything to have Tallulah in his life.

I loved everything about this story. The perfect romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I went into this book with high expectation since I LOVED Fangirl Down. And let me tell you- it did not disappoint. The characters were witty and funny right from the start. These types of romances are a whirlwind and happen quick and the book goes by way too fast! Tallulah and Burgess CLEARLY have an instant connection, but both have serious denial. I mean- how could it ever work? He's older than her with a kid and ex-wife and she's scared to even show interest in a man because of a past experience. But the connection and clear chemistry is put to the ultimate test when Tallulah moves in to Burgess' home has his au pair. Quickly Burgess realizes it's not just chemistry, but something more. This book had me hooked from the start and I was absolutely cackling at their banter. There's a lot I'd like to highlight regarding tropes: hockey romance, there is an age gap, he falls first, and it is definitely grumpy/sunshine. If you liked any of Tessa Bailey's books you are sure to like this one. I also forgot the Tessa Bailey specialty- spice. I'd say it's similar to other books that I've read by Tessa, so if you're familiar, you won't be caught unaware. Happy reading! #NetGalley #NetGalleyARC #ARC #TheAuPairAffair #TessaBailey

I loved Fangirl Down! This is a follow up with Burgess and Tallaluh’s story. Burgess is Boston’s star hockey player and has been for years. Tallaluh is returning from multiple research trips and started her master’s program. She signs up to be Burgess’ aupair for his 12 year old daughter (all characters readers meet in Fangirl Down). There is quite an age gap, a grumpy/ sunshine dynamic, and some past trauma to work through.

They help each other, learn from each other, and fall in love. There’s bumps and obstacles to their story that comes to a head when Burgess is injured in a game.

There’s a fun return of Wes and Josephine. The final scenes take place at their destination wedding. Having read the epilogue to Fangirl Down it was fun getting a peek into their big day. However I really didn’t understand Burgess’ motivation and end game plan that wraps up the story.