Tessa Bailey can do no wrong. I devour all of her books quickly and sometimes in a day.
This book was a bit slower burn than I'm used to with her books, but it made sense with the storyline. I liked The Au Pair Affair better than the first one in the series, which surprised me because I don't usually enjoy a grumpy-to-sunshine pairing. It isn't my favorite trope. But I liked this book; I thought it had some sweet and enduring notes. Even though I'm not a sports fan, Tessa made me enjoy a sports love story.
I recommend all of Tessa Bailey's books; she is one of my favorite authors.

Single (grumpy) dad and hockey star Burgess hires broke aspiring marine biologist Tallulah to be the live-in nanny for his tweenager. While vivacious Tallulah is a slightly older, non-traditional college student, there is a still an age gap and the ick factor of an employer not being able to have the self-control or morals to resist the person he pays to take care of his daughter. The lovers are in very different spots in their lives, and Tallulah is still recovering from past trauma; good thing they had incredibly, off-the-charts chemistry to make it all work!

The novel was a roller-coaster of drama and emotion, mostly based on the characters being stuck in their ways, and having baggage to work through, and while they do change and grow to be a better partner for each other, there was a lot of miscommunication, cringe, and stereotypical behavior.

Bailey excels at hot men who like to talk in bed, and The Au Pair Affair is no exception; It Happened One Summer and Hook Line & Sinker were better reads for me.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #TheAuPairAffair via #NetGalley courtesy of #Harper.

I am a Tessa Bailey superfan.I loved the first book on this series,but I couldn't connect with the female protagonist at all.

However,I think it's a solid book. I enjoyed how the city was another character and we got to know a bit more friends on this world.

I can't tell which of Tessa Bailey's books I like most, which makes that choice so much, especially since this girl loves hockey romance. Absolutely loved the single dad grumpy/sunshine. Could not get enough of Burgess and Tallulah. The way this book had me giggling, kicking my feet, and smiling I could have read 100 more chapters of them!

I pick up every Tessa Bailey book that’s released. However, this one was a let down..
The spice was just so cringy, and that’s not the norm for TB.

This book was made for me i love a hockey, single dad and Tessa Bailey romance books and to get all in one YES PLEASE! ABSOLUTELY enjoyed this book if you enjoy Tessa's other books you'll enjoy this one.

I LOVED Fangirl Down but this one was just OK for me. It was s a slow start to get into, I didn't connect to the characters as much, and the trope just wasn't my thing.

Tessa Bailey never disappoints in this book is no exception! Loved it so much. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy all opinions are my own.

Another TB banger, I loved this. Tessa said “you want a big boy?!?! I got you” I want Tessa to write more single dads because I had a blast with this. I think this series is super entertaining and sexy as hell of course and I’m so ready to see what’s next!!!

I enjoyed Fangirl Down more than this one but this was still such an easy read! It started off a little slow in the beginning but then started to pick up. I’m a sucker for a hockey romance too. I feel like there aren’t enough books about age gap dating so I enjoyed that aspect of the book and it was written beautifully. Plus you can’t go wrong with the spicy scenes in this book either! Overall it was an enjoyable read, I was just expecting to like it a little more after reading Fangirl Down.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.

this is the first time i’ve ever noticed the tessa bailey cringe moments but tbh didn’t change my enjoyment of this AT ALL.

(though my possible hot take is that i don’t actually enjoy when the groveling goes on too long?)

agggghgh anyway this was so much fucking fun i looooved it

I can't decide if I enjoyed this book more than the first because of the story or because I find hockey players to be much hotter than golfers. Burgess is a single, kurmugen, hockey dad who hires Tallulah a grad student, who he fell in love with at first sight, to be the au pair for his daughter. Tallulah has some personal issues to overcome while Burgess has to work on his urge to just fix all of her problems. Will they overcome their issues or will this cause a strain with their best friends Wells and Josephine (from previous book)? If you are looking for a weekend read with some spice, this is your book.

I simply cannot do it. I feel awful rating this so low. I'm sure that for Tessa Bailey fans, it's great. Unfortunately the first person POV comes off as cringe, and the adults act like children.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey is a charming addition to her romance book era, though I must say, I might still prefer her golf story a little more. In this sports-themed rom-com, we follow Tallulah, a vivacious and broke marine biology student who jumps at the chance to become a live-in nanny for Burgess, a gruff hockey veteran and newly single dad. Tallulah’s quirky personality and determination to fit in with Burgess’s introverted tween daughter, Lissa, add a delightful layer to the story.

Burgess, on the other hand, is a complex character juggling his role as a father and his unexpected attraction to Tallulah. The chemistry between them is sizzling, creating an engaging tension as they navigate their growing feelings amidst family dynamics and personal struggles. While the story takes some familiar turns, it’s the heartfelt moments and Burgess’s journey to prove he’s worthy of a happily ever after that make this book enjoyable. Thanks to Avon for the book—I’m definitely here for Tessa Bailey’s romance books!

thank you avon and harper voyage for the advanced readers copy!
the au pair affair is tessa bailey’s most recent book and the first sports romance of hers that i’ve personally read. the story centers around tallulah, a college student, who to make extra money becomes the live-in nanny for hockey superstar, burgess’, daughter lissa.

a couple years ago, i was reading tessa bailey non-stop so i was excited to jump at the chance to read this one. overall, i enjoyed tallulah as a main character and enjoyed her back story. she seemed complex and i liked that she was in her late twenties unlike a lot of the college romances i read where the fmc younger and less relatable.

what i didn’t enjoy quite as much was the relationship between burgess and tallulah, while it was cute in places, i had a hard time seeing past how they were at such different places in their lives, but i’m not the biggest fan of age gap romances so take this with a pinch of salt.

i would give this a 3/5 stars, which is a usual rating for me with tessa bailey! her books are always a spicy, fun time!

This was such a sweet story that sucked me in immediately. It was a full five pepper hot spicy! I’m excited to read book three.

I completely devoured this book and am so grateful to NetGalley, Avon & Harper Voyager, and Tessa Bailey for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Burgess and Tallulah have to be one of the sweetest couples I've read in a long time. Tallulah is a grad student who needs a job and a place to live, but comes with trauma she hasn't been able to overcome. Burgess is a brute of a player on the ice, but the most sensitive and considerate of men in life. He's a single dad struggling to connect with his teenage daughter and she's trying to find her old adventurous self. As Tallulah starts to slowly break out of her self-isolation, Burgess is right there protecting her as she embarks on all the adventures she's denied herself. He listens to Tallulah's advice and starts to strengthen his relationship with his daughter and the rookies on the team.

"I'm starting to think this au pair affair is going to be fun to watch."

I think my favorite quote of the book was near the end at Wells' and Josie's wedding when the wedding guest relates love to a snowflake to Tallulah.

Tropes/Tags: Sports romance, hockey romance, single dad, nanny, age gap, cinnamon roll MMC, forced proximity (boss/roommate), third act breakup.

This book was...fine. Enjoyable, even, if you come to it in the right frame of mind. To be clear, that mind-frame should not be "I'm looking for substance over style" or "I need a new favorite book boyfriend." No, indeed. But come at it with an "I'm here for a good time, not for a long time" or a one-and-done mindset, and you could have a really good time reading The Au Pair Affair.

As always, Bailey delivers on the steam, and quickly. But the characters in this one felt pretty cardboardy and some of the more serious themes and scenarios were poorly executed. Still, this might make a great vacation read, even if it's just a small vacation at the end of the day before getting back to the grindstone in the morning.

Love Tessa Bailey and loved The Au Pair Affair! I love the way Tessa writes. I always feel like I’m in the story. I enjoyed the chemistry between Tallulah and Burgess. Also love an older man trope.

Tessa Bailey’s The Au Pair Affair delivers everything you could want in a contemporary romance—off-the-charts chemistry, heartwarming moments, and a touching story about love, family, and second chances.

Tallulah is a fantastic heroine. As a smart and lively marine biology student, she’s relatable in her struggles—broke but full of life, willing to take on a nanny job to make ends meet. The dynamic between her and Burgess, the rugged, emotionally scarred hockey player and single dad, is magnetic from the start. Their sizzling chemistry builds at a deliciously slow burn, but what makes the story so engaging is how Tessa Bailey layers humor, heart, and real-world complications into their evolving relationship.

Burgess is a complex character. He’s not just the gruff athlete with emotional baggage; he’s a father caught between wanting the best for his daughter, Lissa, and grappling with his feelings for Tallulah. The dynamic between him and his tween daughter is heartwarming and authentic, showing his softer side and his vulnerability. Lissa herself is a lovely addition, and the bond she forms with Tallulah adds a rich, family-centered aspect to the story. Tallulah's willingness to be both a mentor and a friend to Lissa makes her even more lovable as a character.

Bailey does an excellent job of creating tension—not just romantic, but emotional tension as well. Burgess is torn between his loyalty to his daughter’s desire for her parents to reunite and his undeniable feelings for Tallulah. It’s a delicate balance, and watching him struggle to do what’s right by everyone—while Tallulah tries to keep her own emotions in check—is both heart-wrenching and incredibly satisfying to read.

The chemistry between Tallulah and Burgess is hot enough to melt ice, but the emotional stakes are just as intense. Their flirtations and moments of passion are as explosive as you’d expect from a Tessa Bailey novel, but what sets this book apart is how it handles the more tender aspects of love and healing. Tallulah's decision to walk away, even though it breaks her own heart, shows her strength and depth as a character, while Burgess’s eventual realization that he’s ready to fight for her makes for a deeply satisfying conclusion.

The Au Pair Affair is the perfect blend of romance, humor, and heartfelt moments. Bailey expertly weaves a story about finding love when you least expect it, healing from the past, and taking risks to claim your happily ever after. It’s a must-read for fans of steamy, character-driven romance that hits all the right emotional notes. If you love a good "forbidden romance" between a grumpy single dad and an adventurous nanny, this one’s for you!