Thank you to Avon Books, Tessa Bailey, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fangirl Down was one of my top reads last month. In fact, I think it has officially taken my spot for my favorite Tessa Bailey book ever. As soon as I finished it, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Au-Pair Affair. It had some of my favorite tropes in it: single dad, age gap, hockey player, grumpyxsunshine. Unfortunately, this book did not work for me at all. First, the actually “nanny” part of the book was almost non-existent. Tallulah was literally seen being Lissa’s nanny in basically 4 scenes in the entire book, which feels really weird when even the title of the book is based around her being the nanny. Also I found it so weird that she kept being described as wearing short skirts and stockings and low cut tops in front of Lissa the few times she was “nannying” or helping her out with homework. That was just weird and unprofessional to me and I was not a fan. Tessa really thrives in the goofy, funny, and silly. Here, she tried to add the emotional and raw element with Tallulah’s past and it just didn’t work for me. If there are going to be heavy topics that are clearly still impacting a character, they need to be properly explored and explained, nuanced in their development, and curated throughout the story. Instead, we got a jumbled mess of trying to maintain the balance between serious moments and silly moments and it just didn’t mesh well to me. Tallulah and Burgess’ relationship was basically sex the entire book. We barely got to see them as anything else. Also, when the big “conflict” happened of Lissa finding out about Tallulah and Burgess, we didn’t even get to see his interaction with his daughter/how he dealt with the aftermath. A big part of a single dad story is how they interact with their child, and that was overall missing here, but especially in this crucial moment when all hell breaks lose and we don’t see any of how he deals with his daughters emotions. Finally, the third act break up happens and I hated it. Burgess gets hurt, pushes Tallulah away by saying something awful and mean while he is in pain and devastated. But then Tallulah is going to compare that to the man who literally kidnapped her, locked her in a closet, and was going to kill her? I just couldn’t. Also, there is no way that a man who just had back surgery would be able to cliff dive and zip line across the jungle barely two months after his surgery. I also thought it was so weird we kept hinting at Sig and Chloe’s relationship and building them up to be the next couple, only to then mention a different standalone at the end of the book and nothing about Sig/Chloe getting book. Why did we spend so much time on them and secrecy? No matter how much rehab he had. Overall, there were still moments of the classic Tessa Bailey humor I love. However, this book was overwhelmingly not a hit for me.

This is firmly 4.5 stars for me. Great book, although I didn't enjoy it as much as Fangirl Down. Burgess was very swoon-worthy and I thought he was a great hero. I liked Tallulah, however, she got exhausting by the time we reached the end of the book. I don't know if it was reading her through Burgess' POV but she gave a lot of manic pixie dream girl vibes and her indecision over her relationship with Burgess got frustrating. I think the explanation of what happened to her and the resolution of her villain being gone was good. I think her growth was good, but again, she seemed too ready to drop Burgess so fast when he was clearly going through something difficult that was bringing out the worst part in him. That just frustrated me. If it hadn't been for that exhausting amount of indecision towards the end, this would've been a 5 star book. Overall, I enjoyed this and am really hoping we get a Chloe and Sig book next!

The premise I'm on board for, but the insta-love sunk the ship for me! There was no build-up for the relationship, he was obsessed with her from the start. While I have previously enjoyed other books from this author, I couldn't get into this one!

Tessa Bailey will forever be a must-read for me, no doubt about it. I cannot stress this enough: ALWAYS read her books. If you're into age gaps, a classic DILF, or the current trend of hockey-themed romance novels, you'll love this one for sure. Personally, I adored every aspect of it. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book featuring two special characters, and I swear, if they don't get their own book, I'll riot. Yes, riot! I received an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley, and I extend my gratitude to them. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.

I love Tessa Bailey and while I enjoyed this book it wasn’t one of my favorites. It felt like we were joining the story right in the middle, but also like it took way too long for the real story to start. You could see all the conflicts coming but I did enjoy it overall

It has been awhile since a book has made me tear up but this one got me. The patience and care Burgess took with Tallulah as she learned to trust him was so well written it felt like I was there experiencing it first hand. The conflict never felt forced and was rooted in real life circumstances that weren't superficial. The cameos from Josephine and Wells were a delight and the foreshadowing of the next couple has me longing for whatever will be coming next. So grateful to have been able to read this as an ARC and can't wait to get my copy when it releases.

In the follow-up to the absolutely stellar Fangirl Down, hockey player Burgess regrets hiring marine biology grad student Tallulah as the au pair for his daughter. Not because she's not fantastic with his offspring, but because he's way too attracted to the woman--who is almost ten years his junior. But when the feelings seem mutual, it's hard not to resist in the face of proximity, despite a tween who hopes her long-divorced parents would reunite.

I love a good sports romance, but it was tough to follow up the totally unique golf romance with a a saturated sports pick. Throw in a nanny romance, and there wasn't really anything new or fresh about this one. But, BUT, it's still Bailey and she still knows how to write a romance--particularly a steamy one--so it's still a marvelous read. Burgess and Tallulah are a fun pair and I'll never say no to hockey.

Thanks to Avon for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

Au Pair Affair
Genre - sports romance
Rating - 3.75⭐

Full review to come on Bookstagram, closer to publication.

In the novel, we follow Tallulah, grad student (and Josephine’s best friend) and professional hockey player and single dad Burgess (and Wells’s best friend). Burgess hires Tallulah as a live in nanny despite his attraction to her and the tension starts to build.

This wasn’t quite as magical for me as Fangirl Down, the first of the series, but I still really enjoyed this follow-up. A few things didn’t quite stick for me - I didn’t quite understand Tallulah’s lack of relationship with her family. This book also had one of my least favorite troupes of “I’m making this decision because I know what’s best for you.” In the final quarter of the book though, I appreciate the work the couple did to become stronger, rather than just the typical fight, breakup, and quick makeup. Still, while dealing with some heavier topics, including working through major trauma, the story still absolutely had fun moments. Overall, this book hooked me right from the beginning, was sweet, and had plenty of spice that we come to expect from Tessa Bailey.

This was a PERFECT book 2 to the already perfect book 1!!!!!! (can be read as a standalone but you'll miss their first encounter from the first book)

I am LOVING this sports romance series by Tessa Bailey. This age-gap romance was steamy, charming and full of Tessa's signature heat + swoon. Thank you Avon and Netgalley for my copy!

I read this as a palate cleanser after a run of romantasy books and what a cleanser 😍😍😍 Tessa Bailey has really grown on me, and this was such a cute read. I enjoyed Tallulah & Burgess’ growth throughout the novel, both together and their individual growth, and also resonated with parts of Tallulah’s self discovery. The complications were somewhat predictable but I didn’t care, still loved the vibes.


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review!

The Au Pair Affair
This book was so so cute. The banter and characters was amazing and I instantly fell in love with Burgess and his personality. I love the witty humor and how the story is laid out. Definitely would recommend this to my friends and followers.

I was shocked to love this even more than Fangirl Down (which I also loved)! Perfect amount of angst and slow burn with your typical Tessa Bailey spice. In some ways it's a little formulaic, but Tallulah was a well formed character with her own mind and goals. Also, I think it's important to show women in the aftermath of trauma and the ways they find to process it. It's, unfortunately, a very relatable storyline. I also enjoy when the man falls first, which Burgess did...I only wish he handled it a little better...but, we all have our own demons. Overall, a very enjoyable addition to the Tessa Bailey repertoire.

In Tessa Bailey's exhilarating novel, "The Au Pair Affair," the lives of Tallulah, a vivacious and intelligent marine biology student, and Burgess, a seasoned hockey veteran and single father, intertwine in an unexpected and passionate journey. Tallulah, driven by financial constraints, accepts a job as a live-in nanny for Burgess's introverted tween daughter, Lissa, while Burgess struggles to navigate his newfound singlehood. As Tallulah settles into her new role, she not only connects with Lissa, but also finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Burgess. However, their growing connection is complicated by Burgess's past and his hesitance to enter the dating scene again. Determined to help Burgess move forward, Tallulah embarks on a mission to revive his social life, leading to crossed boundaries and an undeniable chemistry between them. Despite the intense attraction, Tallulah, aware of Burgess's emotional baggage and his daughter's desire for her parents' reunion, makes the difficult decision to distance herself from him. However, fate intervenes when a chance encounter and Lissa's persistent efforts to reunite her family bring Tallulah and Burgess face-to-face once more. Burgess, realizing the depth of his feelings for Tallulah, must overcome his fears and insecurities to prove his worthiness of a happy ending with her. With newfound determination, he sets out to win back Tallulah's heart, promising to learn from his past mistakes and embrace a future filled with love and commitment. Tessa Bailey skillfully weaves a tale of love, redemption, and second chances in "The Au Pair Affair." With her signature wit and emotional depth, she captivates readers as Tallulah and Burgess navigate the complexities of their relationship, ultimately finding healing, happiness, and a love that defies expectations. This heartwarming and entertaining novel is a must-read for contemporary romance enthusiasts seeking a story that celebrates the transformative power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.

Tessa Bailey and Sports Romance are a match made in Heaven. We meet Tallulah and Burgess in Fangirl Down where she sets up their love story.

Tallulah is a grad student getting her masters in Marine Biology. Burgess aka Sir Savage, a professional hockey player is a beast on the ice and Tallulah’s new boss. She is his daughters new live in au pair. Burgess has been pretty much obsessed with her since the moment they met and falls in love with her fast. Tallulah is much more guarded and doesn’t want to put a label on their relationship. Things go sideways when they are caught kissing by his daughter and ex wife and then he gets injured during a hockey game. It’s a romance so of course they work it out.

For people who love hockey romance, age gap, nanny/single dad, grumpy/sunshine, touch her and die vibes and a lot of spice, you will definitely want to give this one a read. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

This was a letdown after the high of Fangirl Down. The Au Pair Affair had a lot of elements that I usually enjoy, and they should have worked, but they didn’t. The insta love that Burgess has for Tallulah means there’s not a lot of time spent developing the relationship between the two. In an au pair situation, I feel like forced proximity is the trope that works better. I didn't see them as pining and in love -- in lust for sure, it was spice-laden, but I didn't see the emotional connection.

Then, there’s the fact that there are just too many things for them to overcome as a couple in the space allotted to the plot of book:

-Tallulah has PTSD from a survived kidnapping by a crazy ex-boyfriend
-There’s the 11-year age-gap between the FMC and MMC
-The unequal boss and employee relationship
-The father/daughter relationship issues (plus some mean girls stuff added in for the daughter)
-The daughter under the impression that her parents will be getting back together until she catches Burgess and Tallulah – her nanny – making out on the sidewalk and throws a fit.
-Burgess getting injured and being phenomenally mean to Tallulah to chase her off. Not enough groveling in the world -- especially given he uses Tallulah's trauma against her.

Unfortunately, the elements and pacing were just off. IMHO, the plot could have done with some tightening. Too many plot points, not enough time to do each justice ruins this book for me.

Fangirl Down was the first Tessa Bailey I ever read, and when I finished, I immediately picked up this one because I absolutely loved it. When it comes to sequels/series, I'm always nervous when I love the first one because...what if the next one doesn't have that same magic?
This one had the same magic.
Absolutely loved it and absolutely loved seeing Josephine and Wells again in this one! I also absolutely adored Tallulah and Burgess! One of my biggest things when it comes to romance authors is if they are able to distinguish between protagonists and make stories feel fresh and exciting beyond one book (so many fall into a pattern of having what is essentially the same main characters but with different names in all their books). This couple (together and as individuals) felt very unique and different from Josephine and Wells, which solidified that Tessa Bailey will quickly become a new fave!

This was another hot and spicy book from Tessa Bailey (the second in this sports-based series). I enjoyed the story of Tallulah and Burgess, but I didn't connect as much with them as I did with the characters in the first book in the series. Overall though, I liked grumpy Burgess and his love story with Tallulah. A solid 4-star book.

Tessa Bailey's latest novel, The Au Pair Affair, had me hooked from the very first page. This sweet rom-com had me thoroughly entertained and laughing out loud throughout the entire story. The plot revolves around Tallulah and Burgess, who meet when the he is searching for a live-in nanny. From the moment they meet, the story takes off on a rollercoaster ride of laughter and heartwarming moments that kept me hooked until the very last page.

One of the things that struck me the most about the novel was the perfect balance of humor and depth. Although the story is light-hearted and fun, it also has some poignant moments that gave the characters depth and made them relatable. The writing is witty, clever, and full of heart, and I found myself rooting for Tallulah and Burgess from the very beginning. I highly recommend The Au Pair Affair to anyone looking for a sweet, funny, and heartwarming romance novel that is sure to leave you with a smile on your face.

TB fans will love this one!! All the hockey mixed with the single dad x nanny, forced proximity and age gap tropes made for a fun read. Plus, this took place in my favorite area of Boston, Beacon Hill, and TB did a great job transporting me to the quaint and charming streets. For those who read Fangirl Down, be ready for all the Josephine and Wells cameos with a fabulous trip to Costa Rica at the end for their wedding.