This book is so heartwarming & filled with sweet romance, plus some very steamy parts thrown in as well! Bailey continues to weave in characters from past books & her classic witty humor. It all adds up for a great combination!

Burgess - the big, strong & protective hockey player & a loving single father - is just the most adorable when he falls hard & fast for his au pair & a graduate student, Tallulah. The age gap seems overwhelming but actually work perfectly for them. Both fight with demons from the past & within the present but it is clear they have a very difficult time not revolving within the other’s sphere.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot - the easiness of the story, the romance & some of the best tropes makes it a perfect

Being a huge fan of Fangirl Down and Tessa Bailey, I was excited to read this book! It was a quick read that I finished in a day, told as a dual POV between Burgess a pro-hockey player and Tallulah the new nanny hired to care for Burgess’ 12-year-old daughter. I enjoyed that the male lead was the one who fell head over heels becoming smitten and slightly obsessed with Tallulah.

Tallulahs heavy traumatic storyline was told genuinely and I found myself really feeling for her. The tension between B & T is a steamy slow burn with some major spice at times. Back-tones of humor also had me rolling at times!

The story is set in Beacon Hill, Boston which Tessa does a really good job of transporting the reader to the quaint and charming area. This was one of the things that truly sucked me into the storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Man, Burgess is down bad and crying at the gym.

Single hockey dad, nanny, age gap, and who did this to you?? SAY LESS. This book was trope candy for me and I ate it up. This book has plenty of spice, humor, and quick wit. Tallulah has a hard time trusting men and struggles with being as free and adventurous as she used too. Burgess is a burley single hockey dad who falls HARD for Tallulah the second he sees her. He does everything he can to make sure she feels safe and to let her know she can do things on her own again. There is a third act break up and lasts a little long however, the character development you see during their time apart and reconciling makes it worth it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for the ARC!

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC copy!
I love a good sports rom-com and Tessa Bailey did not disappoint with this one. Burgess and Tallulah had me from the beginning. Burgess was a burly manly man with a heart that was falling fast for Tallulah and she was a fun outgoing girl who was broken and nervous to be around any man because of her past. Their love story was one I would read again! Tessa Bailey has made me laugh, cry and blush in just about all of the books I’ve read of hers!
#netgalley #TheAuPairAffair

After reading Fangirl Down I was looking forward to reading this book since it was a continuation of characters from the first book. I liked this book but I feel like it fell a little bit short. You’ve got Sir Savage who is a single dad and hockey player. He hires Tallulah as a au pair for his 12 year old daughter Lissa. Tallulah is going to graduate school for Marine Biology and needs a job/place to stay in Boston. I like the characters but I wish there was a little bit more character depth to both of them. Overall it was a great read, I’d give it 4 stars. Thank You to NetGalley, Avon, or Harper Voyager for this early copy in exchange for my honest review. Publishing date of July 16, 2024.

While I knew this going in, the spice level off the bat wasn’t for me. We are a few pages in, we barely know anything about the characters, how they know each other, what the relationship is to one another (if any) and then all of a sudden it’s Smut level 5. I try so hard to dig in to these and try to see the greater picture but is still such a sticking point for me. I know now maybe I’m more of a Julia Quinn or Meghan Quinn slow burn smut gal. I just truly want that depth, that building of the character and the chance to get to know them. I know that some relationships are passionate out the gate. That the tension can naturally build automatically. It’s the best part of dating. However, as a reader I just want more development of who these characters are, what’s their journey, where are they headed or struggling with. Anything honestly.

That said I was interested in how quickly the main character begins to trust a man she doesn’t know & it seems we learn of abuse in a past relationship. I find this quickness of trust to be illogical. Sure over the course of a whole novel, absolutely, but a woman once involved in an abusive relationship, I wouldn’t be caught by chapter 6 alone on a rooftop with another man having recently started healing. Then actually moving in with someone she doesn’t know but then by chapter 16/17 she’s sexually teasing eventually leading to a car scene that just left me feeling icky.

Again maybe it’s just me but this one just wasn’t for me. I’m glad they end up together & it all works out in the end. However more development with anticipation build up that feels less grimy would have been preferred.

That said I am ALWAYS grateful to NetGalley & Avon for the eARC.

I’ve been a big Tessa Bailey fan for a while now, and know that anytime I pick up one of her romances, I’ll enjoy it! The Au Pair Affair was no exception. I was so excited to read this because I loved the first book in this series, Fangirl Down. I was excited to see the characters from that book (Wells and Josephine) make multiple appearances.
This story followed Burgess, a very grumpy hockey played nicknamed “Sir Savage,” and Tallulah, a marine biologist grad student, who he just hired to nanny for his 12-year old daughter. There’s chemistry between them from the start (and by start, I mean in the last book when they met!) and I enjoyed watching their story unfold. They have to overcome hurdles such as Tallulah’s past trauma and their significant 11-year age gap. I really enjoyed the other characters as well, specifically Chloe (which felt like it was setting her up to be the FMC of book #3, so fingers crossed!).
There’s plenty of tension and spice!
This is a Hockey, single-dad/nanny, age-gap romance.

4.5 rounded up!

THE AU PAIR AFFAIR was a great follow up to Fangirl Down and continues to show why Tessa Bailey is an incredible romance author. This story had a lot of heart, incredible side characters, and the banter that this author is known for and makes you laugh out loud. While I struggled with Tallulah’s, the FMC, handling of her relationship with and Burgess, the MMC, towards the end, I think this book is worth the read.

The Au Pair Affair was one of my most anticipated reads for the summer and the story showcases that I was right to want to read this book. While an emotional read in some parts, the vulnerability Tallulah shows and how Burgess constantly respects and honors Tallulah makes him my new book boyfriend. The side characters are interesting and engaging in their own right and add levity to the story. I am so curious about if Bailey will continue writing in this world, as some of the side characters feel like they need their own story! And the banter, per usual, is superb and make the story funny and enjoyable to read.

I would say that the only thing I struggled with in this story was how hot and cold Tallullah was throughout in her relationship with Burgess. Her hesitancy is completely understandable when given the backstory (I won’t ruin it here in the review), but that hesitancy, in some ways, began to feel unfair to Burgess and their relationship. And when he would respect her wishes, she would want to be with him again. It felt disingenuous in some aspects, especially toward the end and took me out of the story a bit.

Overall, this book is a great edition to Bailey’s already impressive list of titles and is perfect for a summer vacation read.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set to be published on my birthday, so getting to read this early felt like an actual birthday present from HarperCollins.

I definitely enjoyed this more than the first book in the series and I think this is because the hero is TB's more common type of hero - the quiet, in his head, protective and horny guy with a heart of gold - which happens to be my fav.

I was constantly surprised at the numerous plot points and how many fun moments we got to experience in this. It had way more going on than the first book in terms of plot and I really enjoyed some of their interactions and had a genuinely good time reading this. The Au Pair-ness of it all isn't my favorite trope, but it also wasn't a gross age gap to me, which I appreciate so much. I did like that the hero's daughter was a pre-teen which we don't always see in romance and her relationship with Tallulah was so sweet.

Tallulah's background was also something I have never read before in romance and I loved how he was protective of her while also wanting her to be able to do things and feel safe by herself. I think that whole conflict added so much to their development which I loved.

But my favorite part of this whole book may have been all of the interactions between Chloe and Sig. I cannot wait for their story because I know it is going to be so angsty. Their chemistry was off the charts.

Sir Savage is actually the worst nickname ever. I can't even read it with a straight face lol.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a fun (and spicy) book! I knew while reading Fangirl Down that I would love Tallulah’s story, and sure enough, I did!

The Au Pair Affair follows Tallulah (Josephine’s best friend from Fangirl Down), an aspiring marine biologist who recently moved to Boston to start graduate school, and Burgess Abraham, star of the Boston Bearcats hockey team. Burgess hires Tallulah as his live-in au pair to help him take care of his daughter, Lissa. With tensions (and attraction) already high, will the two be able to live alongside each other professionally? Or will they become something more?

I’m not going to lie, I enjoyed the Au Pair Affair more than Fangirl Down! The tension and chemistry were off the charts good. I really loved Tallulah’s character and growth throughout the novel, especially when it came to her family (found and otherwise). I also loved Lissa and would have loved to see more of Lissa and Tallulah’s evolved relationship towards the end. But what I will say is that I NEED Chloe’s story!!!

Sometimes in life, you just need a good Tessa Bailey novel to life your spirits. If so, I suggest preordering the Au Pair Affair or requesting it from your library!

Many, many thanks to Netgalley and Avon/HarperCollins Publishing for the ARC!

I did not realize until I started reading that this is technically the second book in an interconnected series, but can be read as a stand alone. Burgess aka Sir Savage, and Tallulah meet in the first book of this series, and ever since their first encounter Burgess can't stop thinking about her. So much so he hires her to be his Au Pair and help out with his 1w year old daughter Lissa. Tallulah has trust issues with men in general and for good reason, but Burgess will do anything to get her to trust him, because he wants her to be more than just his Au Pair. Burgess is the captain of his Hockey team the Bears, I am really starting to enjoy these sports romances. I was not expecting the spice to be as spicy as it was, but it was written really well. Highly recommend this book, and excited to see if there will be a third book, based on things in this book, and if so I will definitely be picking that one up too!

In the second book of the Big Shots series, you get a single dad and nanny romance. Tallulah and Burgess are an opposites attract match made in heaven! He is a grumpy single dad who falls hard and fast for his new nanny. She is a grad student who is trying to rediscover herself while also fighting her feelings for her new employer.

This book has all of the charm, romance, banter, and spice that we’ve come to know and love from Tessa Bailey! A lovely follow up to Fangirl Down (with many cameos of Josephine and Wells) too!

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this!
I think I just need to accept that I am not a Tessa Bailey fan I know this is the second in a series but from reading this and looking at recommendations, you do not need to read the first to enjoy this.
I want to preface: this is steamy, hard pushing the line into just plain smut. This is not my style at all, but this has nothing to do with my rating. It's a warning, but if you like this: you'll probably love it.
My problem is there is no real plot to accompany the smut. Burgess, an older hockey player with a young daughter, brings in a nanny he met (maybe in the previous book?) to care for her. He falls first, which is very cute and genuine. I love his relationship with his coparent. I love that Tallulah, the nanny, is a marine biologist and college student. But all the problems start there: Tallulah really never does her job as a nanny, her past trauma (which is severe) is really not in line with how the relationship develops, and the 'inciting incident' that keeps them apart for a brief time in the book is just kinda...pointless? It doesn't really impact either person.
I need more substance in a romance and this just isn't it.

I loved Tallulah and Sir Savage! I liked her relationship with Lissa. I didn't really connect with her reasoning for locking her family out though. It felt like an add on after the book was written or I'd have given this one 5 stars! Getting a glimpse into Wells and Josephine's story was sweet...I can't wait for Chloe and Sig because she is going to drive that man insane!!

Keep writing Tessa!!

**Thanks Avon via NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tessa does it again! I fell in LOVE with Burgess, he and Tellulah together are amazing! If you are into hockey romances with a LOT of sexual tension and spice, this one is for you! 5 stars from me! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Witty, Flirty and Fun - This is the PERFECT Summer read!

This book has all the elements you would ever want for an engaging and funny novel. I could not put it down and never wanted it to end!!

Smart banter, swoon worthy spicy scenes and a magical plot, The Au Pair Affair is a one click must!

Thank you netgalley, the publisher and Author for the ARC copy

Thank you @Avon and NetGalley for the eARC! I have been anticipating Burgess and Tallulah’s story since they appeared in Fangirl Down and it did not disappoint!

I loved both Burgess and Tallulah as individuals and they had such insane chemistry together. This book is spiiioicy! It’s clear that their attraction and compatibility is there - but they both had some things to overcome together and apart. I felt like their individual struggles were handled well and Burgess’ putting his feelings out in the open from the start was so attractive.

I also enjoyed the side characters in this book. I’m hoping for more from the entire Bearcats hockey team, but I’m especially excited for the dynamic between Sig and Chloe and if they don’t get their own book I might cry. I am all in on this series - so good and absolutely divine for romance readers who appreciate interconnected novels and spice.

This was a pretty short and somewhat entertaining read. Definitely much better than Book 1 (fan girl down) as the characters were more endearing and actually somewhat interesting. While this is definitely not her best work, it's a solid read if you are looking for something to pass the time. It definitely resolved itself way too easily, but i guess this is a romance fiction, so I shouldn't have expected it to be more realistic? Anyways, if you are in between reads, and need something quick, that doesn't require much brainpower to analyze, this would do it.

Tessa Bailey always delivers when it comes to a good read! This was my very first hockey romance read and I was actually pleasantly surprised by my enjoyment of it! Chloe got on my ever loving nerves! But that isn’t anything against the author, it’s just my brain lol! Bailey did a wonderful job when it came to portraying the “he falls first” and romantic tension! Great job over all!!

I DNF’d this book around chapter 6. I just couldn’t get into the story & found the characters hard to root for. The age gap & how it was written was just a little too much for me - like it somehow felt wrong? I didn’t even realize going into it that I would be so averse to that.