I wish after reading the book, some of the ick factor of a brother/sister forbidden romance would have went away but I just kinda found their relationship cringey. I was really hoping for more character development for the FMC but I just found her to be clueless and spoiled. It really bothered me how she just went from letting her mother take care of her to letting the MMC take care of her. And the fact that he was struggling just to give her the lavish lifestyle she was used to…it came off irritating instead of endearing. We all knew what the obstacle these two would have to overcome was and I felt like it was just overdone. We get it…their parents are getting married but there is a connection there. SPOILER ALERT: They aren’t actually related at all and the fact that all these adults chose to just never let this information come to light just made me mad. His mom already walked away from her family so why keep it from him?! Too much unneeded drama.

I LOVE a Tessa Bailey book, and this was so interesting! I really loved the main characters, especially Sig!! The premise of this book is usually not my cup of tea - with the step-siblings thing going on. (Though I *know* they just met, and didn’t grow up together, so maybe that helped a bit??)

Even so, it was a really interesting plot twist, and it kept me intrigued to see just how the issue was going to get resolved.

I will be adding it to my list of recommendations!

Thank you for allowing me to read the ARC of this book!

loved loved loved, more than excepted even! I basically like anything Tessa Bailey writes, and I’ve enjoyed this series a lot, but this was the best one in the series for sure. Sweet, funny, spicy, and with an emotional edge to it, this is a slow burn, forbidden (almost step-siblings), best friends to lovers romance between a life-clueless cellist and a pro hockey player. Bonus points that it’s set it Boston.

I was so excited to find out Sig and Chloe would get their own book after previously being introduced to these characters. Bailey did a great job at approaching the step sibiling taboo relationship situation. Sig and Chloe have great chemistry and make this one book you’ll want to add to your never-ending TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sig and Chloe finally get their own story!!!

Imagine the one you want to be with, your soulmate, is the only person you can’t be with.

This borderline taboo rom-com follows the relationship between Sig and Chloe, two soon to be step-siblings, as they battle their feelings for one another while their parents fall deeper and deeper in love. This novel is the third book in the Big Shots series by Tessa Bailey and is a hockey romance featuring tropes like insta love, slow burn, forbidden love, and secrets.

I really enjoyed knowing the inner monologue of the main characters as they yearn for each other. I adore how protective Sig is over Chloe and that he gives her princess treatment. Most of the drama happens in the last quarter of the book, so tension really built throughout the story as I wanted Sig and Chloe to finally get together.

I've loved everything I've read from Tessa Bailey, so I was super excited to read this one. It's an insta-love type thing with Chole and Sig, who learn they are about to become step-siblings. I loved the meet-cute and opening chapters, plus HOCKEY.

After the first few chapters I lost interest. I feel like the conflict of them being step=siblings could have been easily fixed with a good press release. They are adults and NOT related. That made things feel a like far-fetched from my perspective. That being said, I did finish the book and did like the way the author mitigated the situation.

I'm also personally not a fan of the over-protective man/helpless-woman situation.

Overall, this book wasn't a personal fav but I'm still a TB fan!

“Always my dream girl. Always Mine”
“Always Sig.”

After meeting Sig and Chloe in The Au Pair Affair, I knew that I wanted to read their story.

Normally, I’m not a fan of insta-love, but they had sparks when they first met… so I don’t blame them for immediately falling for each other.

If you looked up “If he wanted to, then he would,” then you would find Sig Gauthier’s face. From the moment he met her, he’s been intuitive of what Chloe needs and her feelings.
He always went above and beyond to make her comfortable and happy. Even if he had to sell his memorabilia or make the long drive to get her lucky blouse, he will make it happen all for her. Sig is kind, selfless, a bit possessive, but a genuine good man.

Chloe, although naïve and clueless about the real world initially, grew on me. It’s clear that she’s sheltered and has dependency issues. She has courage to leave her mother and be on her own…with Sig’s help. I wish that Chloe could’ve taken the initiative to be an adult, I felt that she depended way too much on Sig. When she spent the rent money on cream blushes, like really?
However, her redeeming quality is that she’s fiercely loyal and genuinely wants to be better.

Mailer and Corrigan had me hollering with their shenanigans. They’re even more annoying and funny than they were in the last book.
I suspect that the new GM of the Bearcats, Reese, might be the next FMC.
Who Knows? Maybe Reese and Mailer will get their own story.

Overall, I enjoyed Sig’s and Chloe’s relationship. At times it felt like a soap opera; it was dramatic but comical with an added touch of charm.

Thank You to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, Avon, and Tessa Bailey for a digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I feel like this is probably the most tame book Tessa Bailey has written but I wasn't opposed! Very angsty and full of pining. I've personally been waiting for Sig and Chloe's book ever since The Au Pair Affair!

Thanks to Avon for the arc!

I've been a fan of Tessa Bailey's writing since the first book I read from her, and this one was no exception. I loved getting to see Sig and Chloe's story, especially after getting to meet them in The Au Pair Affair. Personally, I've never enjoyed the "Insta-Love" trope before, but this book changed my mind about that very quickly. Bailey did a great job with Sig and Chloe's dynamic. It never felt forced and I was rooting for them the entire time. If anyone can write an obsessed and love-sick MMC that I instantly fall in love with myself, it's Tessa Bailey.
My favorite thing about Bailey's writing is her ability to create such fun and lively scenes. She does a great job developing her characters (even the side characters) so that their interactions are engaging and cinematic. The romance is always amazing, but so is the humor, and that's why I loved this one so much. The combination of romance, spice, and humor was perfect for me.
I really enjoyed this one, and am already sad I read it so fast because now it's over. I'm looking forward to the audiobook!

The YEARNING. 😩
The lead up for this couple has been building for multiple books now and it did not disappoint. I was interested to see how Tessa was going to spin the taboo step-sibling relationship and within a few chapters I was rooting for them. When your MMC says things like,
"I haven't been a bachelor since I heard your voice for the first time. I was yours before I even turned around and you know it"
it's hard not to! Sig and Chloe were each other's person from their first meeting and it was so obvious to everyone (except their selfish parents - don't even get me started) and them having to love each other from a distance was painful at times but made their relationship so much deeper. If you're an avid Tessa Bailey reader, you know she is notorious for her spice. With Sig and Chloe's relationship being "impossible" for most of the book, the physical aspect of their relationship develops much later than her usual books so be prepared for lots of tension and pining!
Read this if you're looking for: hockey romance, mutual pining, a down bad MMC, a spoiled turned independent FMC, family drama, and of course a happily ever after.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC read! Pick up Dream Girl Drama in February 2025!

This is the book I have been waiting for after meeting Sig and Chloe in previous books. Its a kinda forbidden romance but not really. As always the spice was great and the tension in this book is amazing.

I wanted to like this book because I am a Tessa Bailey fan. I did not find Sig and Chloe likeable in any way and found myself wanting to yell at them while reading this book. This is about forbidden love, which in all reality is not and if they had handled things correctly from the beginning they could have been together without all the drama. While this book was not for me, I will still read Tessa Bailey books!

I always love how sweet, silly, and hot this author’s books are! I enjoyed the other two books in this series and I couldn't’ wait for Dream Girl Drama! This book was such a light and fun read! I really enjoyed it!

Sparks fly immediately when Sig and Chloe meet for the first time. They are head over heels for each other and already making plans before everything comes to a screeching halt. Turns out, their parents are together and they are months away from becoming stepsiblings.

These characters were really fun. I loved Chloe’s character development and how she went from sweet, flighty and spoiled to strong and selfless. Sig was so gone for her. He worked so hard to always make sure she had everything she needed and wanted.

The spice was spicing in this book! These two built up so much forbidden tension! When they finally gave into their feelings, they went from 0 to 60. It was so hot! I especially enjoyed the peach play on him.

I loved this series and can’t wait to see what this author decides to write next!

TESSA BAILEY… YOU DIDNL IT AGAIN! It was steamy, it was.. perfect. The men that Tessa writes are insanely good. And the romance. YES.

This book had me smiling after chapter 1—Tessa Bailey can sure write a pining romance! Sig was such a smitten kitten, but at times it felt like it might have just been lust. I was nervous at the start because there were quite a few time jumps, so I thought we wouldn't get a good sense of build-up but I was wrong. She wrote the will they/won't they trope wonderfully, sprinkling in some great debates in the character's heads. There were so many small moments (doing laundry, Sig comforting Chloe on her period while watching a movie, etc) that showed their bond in a way that expressed how they cared for each other.

Possible spoilers ahead!

I will say that I was a bit frustrated that the PI wasn't finding anything and that Sig wasn't doing a whole lot to investigate himself. A lot of MMCs would have torn through the internet and any resource to get to the bottom of it to be with the girl. It was clear that the PI would find something at the last possible moment, though and I knew his mom was hiding something but I was not expecting that ending!

Also, I thought the whole side quest with Elton/the baseball team was a bit out of place. It seems like it was only added as an intro for Tessa's next book (possibly?). I wouldn't mind a Skylar/Corrigan book next!

I don’t think anyone is surprised i’m rating a Tessa Bailey book 5 stars, but honestly this one is so close to 6 stars I’m a little shooketh. The absolute YEARNING + PINING these two go through is unmatched. I had my jaw on the floor at the end. WOW. Guys, this book is SO FKIN GOOD. I was a little worried about Chloe’s character but quickly into the book I realized her internal dialogue is very easy to lean into and understand where she’s coming from. the big reveal at the end? WOWZA. So excited for the next book in the series already!! Keep them comin’ Tessa Bailey!!

Also, on the note of them being soon to be step siblings and those who are worried about it, there’s no real taboo involved, there is a HEA as expected with Bailey’s books, so don’t worry and power through! You’ll be glad you did!

I love books where the characters paths coincidentally cross multiple times and this was that! The first meeting between the two main characters was great and their chemistry was amazing. They were so different but it worked so well for them. Tessa Bailey does it again and I am thoroughly obsessed!

In the best way, this book is like a car crash you can’t tear your eyes away from. There is NO ONE funnier and more unhinged than Miss Tessa Bailey, and for that I am so grateful.

This was so chaotic, messy and the best version of a hot mess and i couldn’t have been happier to read this as an ARC. Tessa’s dry humor, paired with a truly ridiculous plot line as identified in the previous book of this series, makes this absolute chaotic perfection!

This is the second book I have read by this author. This was thoroughly entertaining and kept my attention. The sparks from the first meet. I felt this book was well written and enjoyable. I would recommend.

Tessa Bailey does it again. It is hard not to be intoxicated by Sig and his protective tendencies. This book is a super cute love story and so hard to put down. You will root for Sig and Chloe’s love story, hoping they can make it through.