A thoroughly enjoyable lighthearted read. I would have enjoyed a little more character development in the story but overall really enjoyed it. I have a soft spot for hockey romances and will always pick on up, especially when written by an author I enjoy.

Look, there is not another author I love that is so hit or miss for me. When I love Tessa’s books I LOVE them with my whole heart, such as Fangirl Down, but some just don’t hit the mark for me and the Au Pair Affair was unfortunately one that didn’t work as well for me.

It wasn’t terrible, there were some definite good parts. I loved how into Tallulah Burgess was. Tessa’s ‘dumbstruck by their feelings’ heroes are just the best. This wasn’t a nanny/single dad romance where the dad fights his urges, he was basically like “you’re hired, and there’s my bedroom if you want more” (it is worth noting Tallulah is a 26 year old grad student and their best friend’s are dating - this wasn’t a naive 18 year old nanny with no support system so the power imbalance wasn’t really a factor for me). There are tons of laugh out loud moments and when the spice hits it hits hard.

Tallulah had a bad (very bad, check TWs) experience with a man in the past so she’s convinced herself it’s time to be young and free and live life again which is understandable but she keeps pushing Burgess away and I just never felt like she liked him that much. Found him hot? Yes. Loved him? No.

In the end, it had more vibes than plot or romance but if you’re into that maybe you’ll love it! I just wanted more romance.

Honestly this book is 4.5 stars in my opinion so I round up. This book had me kicking my feet and grinning like a crazy person. Burgess and Tallulah’s story is so sweet and cute. This book had me giggling and blushing all at the same time while reading it. I swear I am such a sucker for a single dad, age gap, he falls first type of situation because I truly enjoyed this Tessa Bailey book.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the complimentary copy. Opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC! Tessa Bailey is one of my favorite authors, and she did not disappoint. I loved watching this grumpy/sunshine romance blossom. I’m a sucker for age gap romances, and I was glad it didn’t become the main issue. I loved seeing the character growth in both main characters. Only reason it’s not a 5 star are a few specific things I don’t care for in a romance (nothing triggering-just tropes I find annoying). Overall, I loved this book and have already pre-ordered my “trophy” copy!

The Au Pair Affair is the second book in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series and I am having SO.MUCH.FUN with the sport romances from her!!

Tallulah and Burgess’s love story is one for the books-literally! It’s a swoon worthy, sweep you off your feet, want to read again and again kind of romance.

For anyone that loves the single dad trope, nanny and boss, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, hockey, he falls first, opposites attract, forced proximity and an overall well written, sucks you in kind of love story…this one’s for you!

I devoured this book and can’t wait to relive it all again on my instant reread. Word of advice though, start with Fangirl Down, which is equally just as great as this one!

Tessa has an amazing ability to paint a story that hooks you from the first page and I can’t wait to read her next installment! The Au Pair Affair releases July 16th and I can’t wait to own a physical copy of this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc. All opinions are my own.

If you like all things Tessa Bailey, you’re in luck – it’s got a little bit of everything! This is brimmed with age gap romance, insta love but slow burn, he falls first, opposites attract, grumpy meets sunshine, boss/employee and forced proximity with a touch of sports. There are also deeper aspects like finding oneself and inner healing. Perfect for the summer – but could be considered even more ideal in wintertime because of Tallulah and Burgess’ love of the cold!

Tessa took all her works from before (really, all the elements that made them good), combined them and made something stupendous here! The single parent element is something she has not covered often so again this is a fresh approach. Slowburns for Tessa is exceptionally rare to see and I really adore when she does it! This was nicely done, made the wait worth it. And goodness, the steam was so good ahh! Her books are either hit or miss depending, but this was definitely a hit this time for me.

This has so much humour and heart that this had such an impact on me. I would argue it is even better than "Fangirl Down", though I loved of course that we got to see dear Wells and Josephine again. He should be named Wells the wingman after this ordeal.

There was so, so much depth to Burgess and Tallulah which was so great to see! I loved both their similarities and differences. It was cute that they both like and feel comfortable in the cold (Tallulah spent her time in the quiet Arctic studying wildlife, and Burgess does his ice hockey). The amount of green flags Burgess has, I think his team should have been this colour instead of blue! He instils so much confidence into Tallulah, and is so protective of her, never wants to take advantage of her, that it is so heartwarming to see.

I see a lot of myself in Tallulah. I love that she touches every aspect of Burgess’ life and changes it for the better. Reminds me of Piper from "It Happened One Summer", but a much much better and more relatable version of her. Burgess is the Best Bailey Boy! Loved him from the start.

I WAS OBSESSED! Single dad x nanny is a new favorite trope of mine thanks to this book! I was super excited going in just because I love hockey romance books and this did not disappoint. This is the second book in the Big Shot series but I don’t think you necessarily need to read the first (Fangirl Down) to read this one. I finished this a couple days ago and Burgess and Tallulah have been living in my head rent free ever since. The surly single dad being in love with his grad student au pair had me in my feels. Although there was a time where I was mad at Burgess, he came out on the other end with my love. 😂

This was a 4.5 stars in my book!

I've been reading any of Tessa's books that I can get my hands on! Unfortunately Yours and The Au Pair Affair have been top tier! I really feel that her writing has grown in these past two books. Can't wait for the next Tessa Bailey book!

This felt a bit different from other Tessa books, but especially in coming from Fangirl Down.

There are some serious topics in Tallulah's background that aren't even hinted at in the synopsis (cutesy illustrated cover hiding serious business strikes again) and her decisions and actions from that history play out in the entire book.

On the upside, Burgess is GONE for her and it's delightful reading him try to figure things out. I really enjoyed how these two talked and worked on their foundation before giving into the instant chemistry they had. Of course, daughter Lissa is fun and the set up for the next book is great, but seeing Wells and Josephine again was the best.

Plot wise, it's mostly good. There were some sections that felt disjointed and JFC, the push and pull at the end was annoying. They did so well with the communication until they didn't. I wish they would have stopped assuming facial expressions were actual words.

Overall, this was fun, but (for me) not as lighthearted as I've come to expect from Tessa.

FYI: stalking, drugging, kidnapping, and being restrained all talked about from the FMC's history

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

Tallulah and Burgess’ story is so special as it shows what some of the modern day anxieties women experience, even if you’re an au pair for an insanely hot hockey player. The twists and turns that Tessa Bailey takes us on is a wild ride, but unlike anything she has written in the past. I was able to feel the weight of the emotions that Tallulah and Burgess felt throughout the novel, which led to some tears being shed for me. Bailey’s Au Pair Affair is a heartfelt, steamy rom-com that will have you both laughing and crying.

Tessa Bailey is a star and her books are always a yes for me! My favorite is It happened last summer ( i even bought it in russian cuz i loved it so much)!

This book was just as fun and sexy. Loved the chemistry between the main characters and the friendships with the side characters were equally interesting!

Tessa please please please write Sig and Chloe’s love story next!

The Big Shots series is seriously Big Fun. I really liked this hockey romance of a woman trying to find her footing in life and in romance again. This one is another winner from Bailey!

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were lovable on their own, and together! Tallulah is such a sweetheart and I loved her character development. Burgess is a grump, but has a soft spot for her. He’s a grump but he’s not so grumpy that it makes it not enjoyable to read. He cares so deeply for his daughter who was also an amazing character. All the characters were unique.

The plot was really good and I didn’t feel like I was just reading another single dad nanny book. The whole book felt complete with no plot holes. Highly recommend!

“The Au Pair Affair" is the second book in Tessa Bailey's Big Shots series, and it picks up the steam right where "Fangirl Down" left off. (You can check out my review for the first book on Instagram, Goodreads, and WordPress.)

I've always been open about my thoughts on Tessa’s writing. Her storytelling skills are fine, but her detailed explicit scenes can be a bit much for me. That said, if you’re into steamy romances with a heat level of about 4 out of 5, then you’re in for a treat. The premise and plot of this book are a step above her usual fare.

The Big Shots series offers something a little different and intriguing. The characters are so likable that I found myself rooting for them on their quest to find true love. Just like in "Fangirl Down," "The Au Pair Affair" features fun, witty banter between the main characters, Tallulah and Burgess. Burgess is a dreamboat—I'm a sucker for the "he falls first and hard" trope, and the single dad finding a second chance at love adds an emotional punch. Plus, who doesn’t love a smart marine biologist female lead paired with a hockey player male character? This dynamic was new to me and quite refreshing.

One of the delightful aspects of this book is how it sets the stage for the next story, focusing on Burgess’ teammate, Sig, and his future stepsister, Chloe. You get plenty of hints about their relationship, which is exciting for what's to come. It was also nice to catch up with Wells and Josephine, whose love story was told in "Fangirl Down."

While "The Au Pair Affair" shows promise, Tessa Bailey’s approach to explicit content might be a bit over the top for some readers. I understand that it's a romance novel, and many enjoy the steamy scenes, but a bit of subtlety could go a long way. However, if the synopsis intrigues you, feel free to skip the more explicit scenes—you won’t miss any crucial plot points.

"The Au Pair Affair" hits bookstores on July 16th. Many thanks to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, Avon, and Harper Voyager for giving me early access to this read in exchange for an honest review. If you’re looking for a fun, emotional rollercoaster with charming characters, this book is definitely worth checking out.

Loved it. Tessa Bailey slayed again and gave us a fun, quick, steamy contemporary story. I was hooked from the very first page and could not stop reading it.

3:75 stars

Usually Tessa’s books are an absolute hit for me but this one was a bit off.

The insta lust and level of protectiveness that Burgess felt for Tallulah didn’t feel genuine. Tallulah is rightfully distrustful of men but basically immediately felt comfortable with a very overbearing and controlling Burgess. Their relationship didn’t really make sense. She’s supposed to be the nanny but said kid was mentioned like 2x in the book.

Overall, I kept waiting to feel more connected to these two but then the third act was brutal and I just couldn’t reconcile that. Will definitely check out the rest of the series and try again!

Thank you NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy of The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey.

I’ really enjoy reading Tessa Bailey’s books and I especially liked the first in this series, so I was very happy to be allowed to preview this one. But unfortunately, this one was more miss than hit for me.

It’s sometimes funny and often steamy, exactly what a Tessa Bailey fan expects from her. This just wasn’t my favorite.

My primary issue with this book is that the characters are incredibly shallow. There isn’t much relationship development, and while there is an age gap, it’s not a shocking one (26 year old intelligent, well traveled grad student dating 37 year old athlete) but it’s written in a way that makes it purposefully uncomfortable. The characters are also overly dramatic and react in nothing but extremes - including a super wealthy, successful man with a daughter he loves deciding he has no reason to live because his girlfriend of a couple weeks broke up with him after he was a complete ass to her.

I’m definitely not breaking up with Tessa Bailey, but this isn’t one that I will revisit.

"The Au Pair Affair" by Tessa Bailey tells the story of a young woman who becomes the nanny for the teenage daughter of a famous (and single) hockey player. While the book is mostly entertaining, I found it difficult to believe in the relationship between the protagonists, which made it hard for me to connect with them. In particular, I didn't really like Burguess, and this affected my reading experience. If you're a fan of Tessa Bailey's works, you'll likely enjoy this book. However, if you're a casual reader, it might not captivate you as much.

If you like the "he falls first" trope, this is the book for you! Burgess is a man of few words with a scowl that terrifies most and a reputation in the rink of being savage. His tween daughter complicates things as well when it's made clear she has hopes of him reconciling with his ex wife.

Tallulah was not what I was expecting, honestly. She seemed a bit more flighty when she was introduced in Fan Girl Down, but has a lot more substance in this book. She's not my favorite Tessa Bailey FMC, but I do love the values she brings to Burgess and his daughter. Likewise, Burgess isn't one of my all time favorite TB MMCs either, but the man is definitely an alpha. He's kind and truly puts thought into his actions and one of my favorite things is the fact that he's mature and doesn't play ridiculous games..

There was great tension, amazing spice, and just enough angst to keep me sucked in. I'm excited for the next book in the series and would definitely recommend this to anyone!

Tessa Bailey never failssss i swear! Anytime I'm looking for a cutesy yet steamy romance I know just what to pick up.... one of her many books.
Book 2 in the Big Shots series, follows Tallulah as she is the live in nanny for Burgess a sexy hockey star/single dad to Lissa.
Tallulah and Burgess's chemistry is off the charts. I didn't know I liked single dad romances until now. It may have opened up a new obsession for me.
10000% will always recommend all of Tessa's books until my last breath!!!