This not quite taboo, almost forbidden, but most definitely entertaining read from Tessa Bailey gets a YES from me. I really enjoyed it!

It has the TB signature spice all over, face-melting tension, but also surprisingly emotional at times?!

I’m ready for the next book.

This was a very fun and quick read! I give it about 3.5ish stars!! It definitely didn’t live up to how much I LOVE Tessa’s Ballinger girls series but still a fun one! The main characters had amazing chemistry

Sig is a pro hockey player who meets Chloe, a super wealthy but super sheltered harpist, by chance. They have insane chemistry until they find out that his dad is engaged to her mom. These future stepsiblings just can't seem to stay away from each other but have to fight their growing attraction. This was just fantastic. I loved Fan Girl Down but was lukewarm about The Au Pair Affair, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This one had me kicking my feet and giggling. The tension between Sig and Chloe was hot, but their friendship was truly wonderful. I reread passages multiple times because the love between the main characters was so sweet. The ending was predictable, but I loved every second on the way there.

This book, and the whole series, had me blushing and kicking my feet, they were so good!

I feel like this book did a good job at balancing both of their individual insecurities and how they helped each other make sure those insecurities didn’t stop them from pursuing their dreams.

There were times that the “manic pixie dream girl” aspect and the way kind of babied Chloe did bother me but then their chemistry more than made up for it. I do wish that we got to see their friendship developing a bit more, rather than bits and pieces with various time jumps. Or even just scenes with Chloe at school/practice because I feel like we were told about it and really shown it.

Overall, Tessa Bailey knows how to write her tropes and she never disappoints

Tessa Bailey has done it again, delivering a romance packed with charm, tension, and the kind of characters you can't help but root for!

I was entirely ready to dislike the FMC, who is described as an ultra-rich, manic pixie girl who’s never stepped outside her cozy country club bubble. But it did not take long before I wanted to hang out with her as much as the MMC! Just as she did in "It Happened One Summer", Tessa Baily takes a character who might seem insufferable at first glance and makes her absolutely charming!

Then there's the golden retriever MMC who will do anything to make her happy.... he’s not just flirtatious, he’s openly captivated by her in a way that's completely endearing. And while he’s on the cusp of becoming her stepbrother (there's the drama the title promises!), he can barely hide his feelings. The sparks are so intense, even the Reddit universe has picked up on his pining, especially when she’s caught watching him at his hockey games. Yes, we’ve got stepbrothers, hockey, and a golden retriever-type hero who falls hard and fast. The trope explosion here is real, and only Tessa Bailey could pull it off without overloading the story.

We can always trust Tessa to provide us with a HEA, but watching the characters stumble, swoon, and figure things out is what makes it so delicious. For fans of romance who love a little spice and characters who come alive on the page, you will adore "Dream Girl Drama".

I throughly love love when I get a ARC from one of my most favorite authors.
But to be completely honest I read this fully under the guise of covid and pneumonia, so things were blurry and hazy but I wanted to get my review in on time.
I of course love it.
I feel like all of tessas books have a flow, a love and banter and pinning that are so fantastic.
But because I was sick I missed it a bit.
I will 100% be going back and reading it again
4.5 only becausei was sick.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey really was not what I was expecting. This book had its moments for sure, not all good. However I gave it 4 starts. This book tells the story of Chloe and Sig. I took a liking to both the characters when they were introduced in the Au Pair Affair. I adore Sig. He’s a hockey players, so whats not to love. Sig is easily my favorite character. Chloe was a vibe and I enjoyed reading about her. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend reading it, for those who are on the fence.

A professional hockey player and an elite musician fall for each other during a chance encounter in Tessa Bailey’s new novel. The only problem- their parents are engaged to marry each other. How will these future step siblings navigate this complicated relationship?

When I first heard the premise of this novel, I was worried that it would be awkward to read about a sibling love story. Additionally, I was skeptical about whether I would like Chloe as a character, because she came across as vapid in the previous Au Pair Affair. I’m happy to say my predictions were wrong! Chloe proved to be a hilarious and complex character. Additionally, Sig is a swoon-worthy book boyfriend. This novel is my favorite so far within the series. Fans of Tessa Bailey will love this book.

Also, this book centers around a Boston professional hockey team, and this Bruins fan approves!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

"Come take care of me dream girl. Come get taken care of."
Tessa I can't believe they let you publish this and I can't believe I got to read it 3 months early. ((Thank you Net Galley! Thank you Avon Publishers! THANK YOU TESSA))

Sig's dream girl is his future stepsister. She's also a prodigy harpist looking to escape her controlling mother and the confines of Darien, Connecticut. The two escape an awkward family dinner and Sig vows to show his new step sister, Chloe, how to live independently, all while avoiding the steaming chemistry between the two (because it would be very undignified. right??) . Oh and he's a professional hockey player for the Boston Bearcats.

As a New England girly this was everything to me. As a hopeless romantic who believes in love at first sight... (or voice?) I have a new maladaptive dream plot to consider. The yearning the two felt for each other but morally (according to who) could not act on was palpable. I wanted to rip my own heart out for Sig. Bring back male yearning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tessa do more sports romance. Please.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

This book is really a 2-3 star read. I am struggling with how I feel about it. I like both Chloe and Sig but I am not sure how I feel about all the events and how they interact. A lot of the characters in this book felt really selfish and/or self absorbed to me but I did feel like Chloe showed good growth. I did not like how much everyone babied her though.

All in all it’s a Tessa Bailey book that reads like a Tessa Bailey book. Do with that information what you will. As far as the in series rankings go I would put this book second after book one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to review!

This was such a fun, quick read. Definitely had some good giggles as a long time hockey fan. I’m new to actually reading this author, but plenty of her books are on my TBR. I loved her writing and the MMC was so lovable (who needs realistic book BFs, not me!!!!).

I felt like the pace was so good, and there was a good balance of the sports aspect not being too forced.

Can’t wait to continue this series!

This is a great story with a well planned plot fantastic chemistry between Chloe and Sig. As someone who loves Forbidden romance trope, it was very well written and incorporated into the story. Both characters grow together to become better people and their story is both funny and meaningful. Their first meeting scene is so so cute. All their interactions are my favorite. I highly recommend this book.

3.5 stars for this one.
I think the second and third book in this series suffer from how much I absolutely adored Wells and Josephine in Fangirl Down. The main characters in the latter books haven't stood up to their relationships in comparison.
I appreciated getting to know Sig and getting a more fleshed out view of Chloe. I enjoyed the book, but struggled to suspend disbelief around the primary conflict. While I can understand the initial reaction people might have to the framing that step-siblings are together, I think anyone would have a different reaction with a second piece of information that these two met in their twenties prior to their parents marrying each other after several other marriages each. Because of this, I found the conflict/angst/breakup to be irritating.
I'm very much looking forward to the relationships that were hinted at in this book, and am so grateful to Avon and NetGalley for this ARC.

hey so i need more tessa bailey taboo romances IMMEDIANTLY.

like how am i not supposed to give this 5 stars when she takes hockey and (somewhat) step-siblings tropes and merges them into one book. as long as this woman keeps writing, i will be reading!

many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

i liked this, less than the other 2 in the series, starting during the other 2 books it just made the first 100 pages hard to get into. I still think Tessa’s is the queen of writing men, and this was hot hot hot, so over all i really enjoyed this, just not my fav.

Tessa Bailey delivers yet again!

Dream Girl Drama is a contemporary romance featuring two main characters that have an adorable meet cute (and undeniable attraction) before discovering they are about to become step siblings. They know they cannot be together but have a very difficult time staying away from each other.

The MMC (Sig) and FMC (Chloe) made appearances in The Au Pair Affair and I was super excited to get to read their story. Something about Tessa Bailey's characters always put them at the very top of my list and Sig and Chloe are no exception (also, shoutout to Grace, she is a queen). Sig will do anything to protect and care for Chloe even if he can't be with her, and Chloe is an absolute sweetheart who wants the best for Sig. Their chemistry is also off the charts and the tension and build up is crazy.

Highly recommend this one!! Tessa Bailey has such a knack for writing books that are so so cute but also so so spicy! No one does romance like her.

Towards the end there are hints of romance for more Bearcats members and I cannot say how much I hope the series continues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

I want to thank NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Avon for allowing me an Advanced Readers Copy of this book, Dream Girl Drama.

Where do I start? I have never read a “insta-love” trope before; so it was definitely different for me. At first I was a little adamant about how fast their feelings were for eachother, but as I kept reading, i started to think ‘dang, I need someone down bad as Sig is for Chloe.’ 🤩
Then of course there is something that is keeping them from being together, which I will not spoil but, will that stop Sig & Chloe?

Their love is inevitable, and it’s clear from the very start. I’m a type of person who likes to theorize on how the book is going to end, and about 60-70% of the time I’m right. Well, not this time. The plot twist hits big, and i definitely wasn’t expecting it!

The spice level in this is definitely SPPPICY, milk is needed.
Their need for eachother is astounding in all of the best ways. It is good to see a MMC that is obsessed with the girl, and is willing to give ANYTHING to be near her.

Also, Corrigan and Mailer? They had me cracking up throughout the whole book - definitely a plus to the “friend group.”

Overall, this book was definitely cute, keeps you on your toes, has you laughing, somewhat questioning wtf, he’s extra!, and also has you theorizing on how the heck it’s going to turn out, SO worth it! 5/5 read.

Favorite quote: “Bottom line, she’s a hockey girl. She’s our hockey girl.”

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon for an ARC!!

Whew, where do I start? Sig and Chloe are perfect together. Tessa Bailey teases every emotion throughout their story. So much love, laughter, and light yet so much pain and brokenness. The spice was so good! You feel the chemistry and heat the moment they meet.

Sig and Chloe first meet at a country club, mere hours before learning their parents will marry. Their connection is strong and Chloe decides to follow him to Boston, to learn to adult. In 8 months is their parents wedding, where any kind of romantic feelings or relationship has to end. Their relationship teeters in the balance of step siblings and soulmate. But there has to be some way to make sure the wedding doesn't happen so Sig and Chloe can have a HEA. In their line of work, they're told to end anything so it doesn't give off the wrong impression. So much is going against them that they have to fight in order to have a chance. What will it cost to have what you want?

I just love Tessa Bailey. This is peak "will they won’t they", not-quite-taboo in such a fun way. I loved Sig and Chloe in the last book and this absolutely did them justice. I'm not typically a insta-love fan, but Bailey makes their chemistry so palpable it's entirely believable. And he's so so down bad for Chloe in the best of ways. A very fun read!

I want to thank NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Avon for allowing me to have this opportunity to read the ARC of Dream Girl Drama. This book was highly anticipated for me so the fact I got to read it 4 months before the release day made me so happy.

I loved this entire book per usual like all the other books I’ve read by Tessa Bailey. I really wish her books got more hype because I’ve yet to read a single book by her that I didn’t love. The trope of this book was so much fun. Sig met his dream girl but the unimaginable happened and then they had to try and figure out how to be friends despite the undeniable connection with each other.

This was a slow burn but the wait was worth it. I love the men in this series. Sig is such a teddy bear and I just want to squeeze him. The ending was perfection and filled my cup. I can’t wait to be able to get the physical copy of this book and add it to my book trophy shelves.

I really loved Chloe’s growth in this book. Her being controlled and in the grasps of her mother and breaking through and being on her own was inspirational. Love love love. Can’t recommend Tessa Bailey and this series enough!