I went back and forth on this review because this is the perfect example of a book that I think most people will love but wasn’t for me. I didn’t realize this had the insta-love trope and that is a trope I’m not a huge fan of. I also struggled with Chloe because oh no she spent too much money at Sephora? I think this is a situation where I am far to practical and anxious to be able to do something like that. So I really struggled to connect with her and because of that I didn’t love her. I also struggled with why it had to be so forbidden? Like they aren’t step-siblings yet and they won’t be until they are both very adults. Like I guess it could be scandalous but I just can’t fathom it going as far as it was portrayed.

I will say that the pining in this book was off the charts so that is one thing it had going for it. I definitely felt the longing they had for each other and when the spice did happen it was SPICY. So that is what kept me going until the end. The twist would have had more payoff for me if I had thought the forbidden aspect of their relationship was valid. So all that to say that I really think this is just a book that isn’t for me. It is will well-written and I do still like Tessa Bailey’s writing. I would recommend it for fans of insta-love, hockey, and forbidden romance.

I received this book as part of the Endlessly Well Read book club so thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for sending us a copy!

This was just okay. I really liked the MMC but the FMC seemed really childish (I get it, she's sheltered) but other times she also seemed pretty street smart? I don't know that I understood her all that much. I also wasn't a huge fan of the insta-love. BUT it's a quick romance and easily binge-able!

I think Tessa Bailey is a one hit wonder for me. I loved It Happened One Summer but every book I’ve read after has felt copy and pasted and not memorable at all. There’s a few of hers that I’ve marked as read and honestly could not tell you what they’re about, not even the trope.

Pro Hockey player Sig meets Chloe at a country club and falls fast. They soon find out they're parents are engaged and they are soon to be step siblings. They try to be friends, but still have storng attraction toward each other.

This was not my favorite Tessa Bailey book. I think my main issue was I just didn't see the reason for the main conflict of the book. Chloe's mom was marrying Sig's dad, but they met as grown adults and aren't blood related, so would it really have been that taboo for them to get together? I also found their relationship to be a bit grating for me. Chloe was very naive and Sig overprotective to an extreme that I just didn't jive with.

Tropes:
* Forbidden Love
* Insta-Love
* Hockey Romance
* Family Drama
* Slow Burn

2.5 stars

Sig Gauthier, professional hockey player and certified swoon-worthy man, has his world turned upside down when his car breaks down and he meets Chloe Clifford—the ultimate manic pixie dream girl. Cue an unexpected kiss, a major family twist (her mom is ENGAGED to his dad??), and an impossible attraction that neither can deny.
Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy, is totally stuck between her controlling mom and this intense connection with Sig. But the real drama? They’re about to become step-siblings. Talk about a forbidden romance! They can’t act on their feelings, but the chemistry between them? OFF. THE. CHARTS.
Sig is an absolute simp in the best way possible—like, he's totally whipped for Chloe and I’m HERE for it. He’s all about treating her like a princess while still keeping things spicy and complicated. And Tessa Bailey? She knows how to bring the heat.
This book is seriously binge-worthy—instantly sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down. If you’re into family drama, step-sibling tension, and a romance that’s impossible to resist, this one’s a must-read.
4.5⭐️

I found the opening few chapters of this story rather promising, as the lovers' evident magnetism drew them together during their delightful first meeting. However, the plot took an unexpected turn when they realized they were about to become step-siblings, prompting soap opera-like happenings. Initially, I like how the male character treated the female heroine with 'royal treatment' and took such delicate care of her.

However, as the story went on, I started to lose interest in it. Chloe was frequently portrayed as a child, which made her difficult to interact with at times. Nevertheless, I was truly taken aback by the book's major turn, and I valued the author's skillful handling of the difficulties of their illicit love.
All in all, it was a quick read with lovable characters and adorable romance scenes.

Terrible book. Tessa Bailey has been on thin ice for awhile but I can’t do it anymore. This relationship was lust based and shallow with no growth and the characters just enabled one another to be codependent in the worst way.

I had high hopes for this because I loved the other books in the series. I have enjoyed many books by Tessa Bailey but this one didn’t live up to the hype for me. I didn’t like the step sibling romance I thought I would be fine with it but they would keep talking about it and it made me uncomfortable. I didn’t like how fast they fell in love with each other. I didn’t like how the book was mostly told in the MMC pov.

Tessa Bailey is always a good idea, she's really funny and the spice is OMG 😳
I'M happy to read it
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for my copy

Forbidden romance with great tension! Sig thinks he found his dream girl after a chance encounter has them spending the day together. Only then to find later that night that she is completely off limits. The tension between the two is absolutely fire as they once again find themselves in forced proximity.

This book does have an aspect of insta love which is not a trope I typically like; however, because their relationship couldn’t start right away you do get the aspect of building a friendship and emotional connection. I love the way that Sig supports Chloe as she finds herself. Chloe is a bit clueless at times which can be frustrating but that’s part of her personality so I can’t fault the writing for that. Plus I’m always a sucker or a hockey player with a soft spot for the girl.

This book was such a pleasure to read. I loved getting to see a continuation in this series.

Chloe is a bit of an unrelatable character in her lack of life experience, but Sig is perfect and amazing and can do NO wrong.

This book gets 5 stars just because of Sig and how he loves Chloe and supports everyone around him.

This was such a joy to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dream Girl Drama
By: Tessa Bailey
Publisher: Avon and Harper Voyager
Pub Date: 2/4/25

Tessa Bailey is back with the 3rd book in the Big Shots series. It’s Sigs turn, and boy is it messy!
When his truck breaks down for the millionth time on the way to his dads he stops in to a country club. There he meets Chloe, a harpist whom he’s immediately attracted to. Only to find out that their parents are a couple and are getting married. Like I said it’s for sure messy but Bailey’s ability to create characters that are not only funny but have depth always makes for a great read.

This was such an easy read but it was next-level with how unrealistic it was. The playfulness with the character was at least pretty fun to enjoy - and I did laugh more than once at just how ridiculous the spicy scenes were. I enjoyed how fast paced this book was as well but all in all it was not one of my favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The third book in the series was a ton of fun and I enjoyed that it was a slightly different trope. After reading the others, I knew this would be about sig and Chloe trying to deny their feelings for one another. The author did a great job building up their relationship while also letting the readers see Chloe grow in Boston and sig figure out his own parents.

I’m so disappointed that I didn’t love this book. I had such high hopes for it.

I honestly don’t know. This book felt so rushed to me and very insta-lovey. I couldn’t get into it even though I tried so hard. I’ve come to realize that insta-love just isn’t my thing and that’s okay.

I still love Tessa Bailey and will continue to read everything she writes but this one was just a no for me unfortunately. Still recommend picking it up for yourself tho! And it’s a pretty cover soooo…

I've read & loved so many of Tessa Bailey's books & this one just wasn't up to par with the rest. It felt like she was bored writing this one. Honestly everything about it was really cringy. The story, the characters, the relationship. Bummer bc I liked the first 2 books in the Big Shots series a lot

I thought the chemistry between Burgess and Tallulah was hot, but Sig and Chloe are on another stratosphere!!
It was hot 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 and the angst and anticipation leading up to it was even hotter!

But the way Sig took care of her was even hotter. The fact that he vowed to provide for her, protect her, and be there for her no matter what, even though he couldn’t have her in all the ways he really wanted just showed what kind of man he was. I mean… him buying all the strawberry pop tarts in her area so she would need him to bring some over was genius, diabolical and selfish in the sweetest way!

I can’t wait to read about the orgasm donors!

This is the third book in Tessa Bailey's Big Shots series. This is about Sig and Chloe. They meet one night and it is love at first sight. Shortly after meeting, they discover that their parents are engaged and they will become stepsiblings. This book is about their journey with each other, as Sig tries desperately to create a life that he feels is worthy of Chloe, and Chloe learns about to be independent and get out from under her mother's thumb.

Unfortunately, I just didn't love this book. The forbiddenness of their relationship was not believable to me. They met when they were adults and before they even knew their parents were together. The whole story revolved around the "we can't be together because we are stepsiblings" trope and I just don't think that was a thing worth taking up the whole book. Chloe read a little too naive and childish at times, not being able to pay rent because she spent it on face cream and eating pop tarts for breakfast all the time. Like isn't she an adult? I did love the way that Sig helped her gain her independence and figure things out for herself but I wish she could have done more that of for herself throughout the book instead of just towards the end.

Overall, the story was fun but not a new favorite. I think it might be a while before I pick up another Tessa Bailey book.

Thanks to Netgalley for my eARC. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

I am alway up for a Tessa Bailey book!! Dream Girl Drama did not disappoint! A great story line, great chemistry, spicy!! I actually did not see figure out how this one was going to work itself out so I was surprised in the ending. Loved that. I love when there is chemistry right away and it is not ignored and this was not!

Loved this story! Hooked on from the very beginning! Loved the banter between the main characters. The absolutely love and support between them is amazing.