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Quintessential Tessa Bailey! All the steam, chemistry, humor, sports, and swoon-worthy tension you could ask for. When free-spirited Chloe and rugged hockey pro Sig share an unforgettable kiss as strangers, neither expects to find out they’re about to become family. Their connection is undeniable, and despite becoming the best of friends, resisting each other becomes their biggest challenge. With their parents’ impending wedding and their careers on the line, they’re forced to ask themselves—will they choose their dreams or love?

Tessa Bailey once again delivers the perfect balance of heart and spice. While Fangirl Down remains my favorite, and I did find the "soon-to-be family" comments a little hard to overlook while they were making out, the banter and humor kept me hooked. Tessa Bailey is always an auto-buy for me, and this book was no exception!

Bailey masterfully combines humor and romance, creating a narrative that is both heartwarming and hilarious. Sig and Chloe's dynamic is electric, and their journey from a chance encounter to navigating complicated family ties is both engaging and entertaining. Chloe's character, a sheltered harp prodigy seeking independence, adds depth to the story as she yearns to break free from her controlling mother. Sig's promise to teach Chloe about independence in Boston is endearing, yet their struggle to keep their relationship platonic amid growing family drama adds a layer of tension that keeps readers hooked.

Imagine meeting someone, feeling that instant spark, sharing a steamy moment… and then finding out your parents are engaged. Talk about a plot twist! That’s exactly what happens to Sig and Chloe, and let’s just say—it makes things complicated.

I had fun with this one, but I didn’t love it. Chloe was just a little too needy for me, and Sig? That man was out here ready to hand her the moon on a silver platter before she even asked. Sweet? Yes. Maybe a little too much? Also yes. But I won’t lie—the guy had me swooning a little.

The story itself was decent, but the MMC really carried this book. Sig’s golden retriever energy was kind of adorable, and while Chloe wasn’t my favorite, their connection kept me turning the pages. Was it over the top? Oh, absolutely. But was I entertained? Also yes. And that setup for the next book? Consider me intrigued.

We got to meet Sig and Chloe in The Au Pair Affair, and I knew right off the bat that I'd want to read their story, but also that it probably wouldn't be my cup of tea. I don't yuck anyone's yum and I don't judge someone's taste in books. But I was not a fan of the insta-love that only seemed to get worse when the two find out their parents are getting married and they'll be step-siblings. Again... there's no blood relation between the two, but it was the fact that they made it out to be such a huge deal (and then the people deciding both of their careers making them chose their career or the love of their life??). Too much drama for me and I hated how it got resolved with barely any pages left in the book. Also, I despise epilogues that take place several years later with the (seemingly) sole purpose of introducing a pregnancy to the book.

Let me first start off with this is my first Tessa Bailey read. I went in blind and I didn’t read the other two books in the series. I will read anything hockey. The book mentions the characters from book 2 in the series, so ill go back and read that as that’s a hockey player.

Now, the story was good and funny. It was written well. The plot twist cracked me up because it just made sense that’s how it would all work out. However, the main plot just didn’t impress me. If I had read the description of the book fully maybe I would have picked on this. However, she based it all on the fact that the male character’s dad was marrying the female character’s mom and if the two main characters get together it would be a huge scandal since the female comes from a wealthy family. They essential were “siblings” and they couldn’t be together.

However, there was no blood relation between the two. They were both in their 20s, everyone is adults and can understand you love who you love. Like it was not as big of a deal as she wrote it. I was just annoyed the whole time when someone mention them as sibling. I wanted to threw the book and I almost DNF it. Honestly if she didn’t make it as big a deal as it was, id probably like it better.

I thought Sig was a little overbearing in his brief moments of The Au Pair Affair. He clearly cared but maybe a little overprotective. In Dream Girl Drama I think it’s too far. Yes Chloe was very sheltered but she should be capable of learning a few things on her own. Chloe herself is a mixed bag for me. One moment she spends $600 on eye cream but when she sees what Sig has been doing she at least feels shame and tries to do better.

I liked the ending. I wasn’t sure how it was going to get sorted but it had a good ending.

3.5 stars.

Listen... at this point, you know what you're getting into when you pick up a Tessa Bailey novel, so expect A LOT of that, plus copious amounts of, you guessed it, *~drama.~* Overall, I found this to be an extremely fast-paced read that was fine as a whole but had an annoying ending. I got into the book from the start, despite its insta-lovey premise, but the longer it went on, the more annoying and grating it became to me. Sig is down bad simp for Chloe from the very first chapter. Their chemistry with one another is good, but the main conflict is laughable and only exists to keep them apart for.... reasons?????.... but if you can get over that, you'll probably enjoy this book. Lots of hockey shenanigans, lots of banter between Chloe and Sig, the secondary characters provide a lot of humor, and the spice, of course. It's not Tessa's best spice, but it's still pretty satisfying. There is a bit of tension during the laughable premise that keeps them apart, but not enough that I would keep going back to this book over and over. And the ending.... I should have seen it coming, but I didn't, and that's on me for being a dummy. It was way too convenient! Still, I just know the Booktok girlies are going to devour this one. It's fine.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged.

I know, in my brain, that it shouldn’t matter because they are adults and they meet before they know they’re going to be step-siblings. BUT STILL!! The author does an incredible job - with the angst and the build up and the slow burn - of making you FEEL that it’s wrong. And I didn’t like that... but... I kind of also did?

A lot of my confused feelings definitely stem from the fact that I expect WattPad and some Kindle Unlimited books to make me feel this way... but NOT Tessa Bailey!! And, again, I didn’t like it - but I also did like it...

- Dual POV
- Forbidden Romance
- Sports Romance
- Hockey Player
- Harp Prodigy
- Future Step-Siblings
- Insta-Love/Lust
- Incredible Chemistry
- “Good Girl”

Oh this one was an interesting one for me. I think out of the three in this series, it was my least favorite. And the main reason is that we've seen this couple so much in the other books, I already felt like I knew the outcome and didn't care as much about their story. I did read this in two days time, so I will say that Tessa's writing is that bingy perfect style that makes for a great escape. This one just wasn't a favorite of mine by her.

I'm not sure how to rate this book. The sex scenes were 6 out of 5 stars. The characters and plot were a 3.5 stars? I was a little frustrated with how Chloe seemed really powerless. There were some moments were Sig infantalizes her and doesn't treat her like an adult woman who has her own agency (but Chloe seems to think it's super attractive?). I liked hearing about Chloe's gift as a harp prodigy. It felt a bit unrealistic that Chloe could be so naive and clueless about life. I know she is supposed to be super wealthy, but still. Also, the final "twist" at the end was so obvious. Die hard romance readers and fans of the grumpy/sunshine trope will love this new book from Tessa Bailey.

Content: super explicit sex, dirty talk, swearing, 🍑 foreplay/heavy petting scenes (to both of them--this is rarely seen in contemporary romance books, in my opinion)

Dream Girl Drama is book #3 in the Big Shots series, but I think it’s my favorite!

Tessa Bailey’s Dream Girl Drama is everything I love about her books—electric chemistry and swoon-worthy romance. But what truly stole my heart was how deeply and sweetly Sig adores Chloe. From the moment he realizes his feelings, his devotion is so pure and steadfast that it makes every interaction between them feel like a love letter. His protective nature, his vulnerability around her, and the way he sees Chloe as his everything—it’s the kind of romance that makes your heart sing in the best way. Bailey once again delivers a MMC who loves with his whole soul, and I just love it! ❤️

Thank you NetGalley , Tessa Bailey, and Avon and Harper Voyager Books for the ARC!

4/5 Stars

I thought this book was a fun and light escape, that I liked even better than The Au pair Affair. Sig and Chloe were both charming in their own ways. You would think that a FMC that is so rich that she hasn't seen the inside of a Sephora or has no concept of why rent is due on time each month would be insufferable, but I found Chloe to be a delilght. Sig was very overprotective, but always coming from a good place. If you do not want to deal with the constant references to how these two adults who will become legal stepsiblings would ruin their lives if together (professional hockey and socialite/professional musician), then maybe skip this one. I understand Tessa needed to make it "forbidden" but I think it was a bit of a stretch that this was so taboo. Most unbelievable about this was 1) the insta-love in just a few hours of meeting and 2) FMC's favorite flavor of pop tart is Strawberry (Brown Sugar Cinnamon is universally the best). Overall I had a good time with this one and I liked that the setup for the next book is looped in - count me in for the next in the series!

Thank you to Avon, Tessa Bailey, and Netgalley for an eARC in exhange for an honest review.

Not all books are everyone's cup of tea and Dream Girl Drama was not mine. I'm sure this will be an unpopular opinion as I know many people love Tessa Bailey.

This is the first sports romance and Tessa Bailey book I have read and I just don't think they are for me, and that's okay. Let me tell you the things I was not fond of and hopefully, you can figure out if Dream Girl Drama is the book for you:
- While there is some plot outside of the romance, it is still fully engulfed in it. I would not recommend it if you need an independent plot (other than the romance).
- Sig drove me nuts. Don't get me wrong I love the occasional overprotective love interest but Sig takes it to another level I just cannot handle.
- Instalust... that is all I still believe this is. I don't believe Chloe and Sig love each other for a SECOND. While I liked Bailey's dialogue overall it did nothing to convince me of Chloe and Sig's relationship.
- The resolution to the inevitable 3rd act break up was so dumb and as my fiance put it... "the farthest reach ever".

Read if you like:
morally questionable relationships
overprotective male leads
hockey romances
smutty banter
insta lust

Don't read if you don't like:
all the things I wrote in the last list... lol

I do think this book will be a hit for many, just not me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Dream Girl Drama. All thoughts above are my own.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Tessa Bailey is big time hit or miss! And Dream Girl Drama was absolutely a miss. I mean the sheer obnoxious romance and dialogue was just mind boggling. I get insta-lust but I do not get insta-love and the amount of obsession these two MCs had for each other after meeting once. The whole premise of their push and pull is that they are future step siblings, but I never understood the big hold up. They met as adults and had absolutely no clue about each other before, I just feel like the romance and story had no backbone. For a couple so obsessed and in love you would think they would've just thought to explain the situation to people and ask for understanding instead of forgiveness, but no. Not to mention the sex scenes were so cringey and straight up embarrassing. I would pass on this one, I have not enjoyed any of her books since Fan Girl Down and I am about ready to put this series down for good. What a major disservice to taboo and forbidden romance fans!

Alright, Tessa Bailey fans, get ready to indulge in some serious guilty pleasure goodness with Chloe and Sig's ridiculously complicated, totally swoon-worthy story. I'm raising my hands in surrender, and my Kindle is probably judging me hardcore for diving headfirst into this steamy tale without even bothering to read the book description. Who needs details when you've got a couple as hot as Chloe and Sig? Imagine meeting your perfect match in a passionate meeting, and then discovering she's about to become your stepsister - yeah, that's the kind of crazy, heart-wrenching drama Sig finds himself in, thanks to his estranged, grifter father deciding to marry Chloe's wealthy mother, Sofia. What starts as a picture-perfect romantic connection quickly spirals into a forbidden love that seems impossible to pursue. Yet, the chemistry between Sig and Chloe is undeniable, and no matter how much they try to resist, the sparks between them only grow hotter. Sig can't just let his dream girl slip away, and Chloe, with her sheltered harp-playing background, finds herself falling deeper for him with every encounter. While they both hope their parents' whirlwind romance will somehow fall apart, it seems unlikely, leaving Sig and Chloe in a complicated emotional bind. Watching them navigate this tricky situation while still building an undeniable bond is equal parts sweet and sizzling. I already adored these characters from their previous appearances, and seeing their story come to fruition in Dream Girl Drama was so satisfying. Sig's protective nature and Chloe's quiet strength create a perfect match, and the way their relationship balances tenderness with tension kept me hooked. The playful banter, steamy moments, and heartfelt exchanges made me root for their happily-ever-after from page one. It's the perfect blend of spice and sweetness, and let's just say I didn't want to see them separated for even a second. This is the book! and Sig and Chloe deserve to get their love story.

I was so excited to receive this ARC from one of my favorite authors. However, a family emergency made it impossible for me to review in time before the book was released better late than never, right?!

Tessa Bailey does it again! 🔥 Dream Girl Drama is the perfect mix of steamy romance, witty banter, and heartfelt moments. Sig and Chloe’s chemistry is off the charts, and their journey—from forbidden attraction to something deeper—is both entertaining and emotional. The added layer of family drama keeps the stakes high, making this a true page-turner. 🏒

I loved the dynamic between the characters, the plot twists that kept me hooked, and the overall feel-good vibe of the story. Plus, the author’s note at the end was such a fun, personal touch! Tessa Bailey’s signature spice is definitely here, and fans of contemporary romance won’t be disappointed.

⭐ 4.5/5 stars ⭐ Highly recommend for anyone who loves a sizzling, engaging read with a satisfying HEA!

#DreamGirlDrama #TessaBailey #Romance #HockeyRomance #MustRead #BookReview #SteamyReads #HEA #ForbiddenRomance

I was anxiously waiting for this book and boy was I not disappointed at all! Sig and Chloe's story has been intriguing to me ever since The Au Pair Affair so to finally see it come to life was incredible. Without giving too much away the twists and turns kept me reading so quickly I devoured this in one setting. Highly recommend for anyone who loves Tessa Bailey, is looking for a HEA, and loves a good sports romance.

🎶Dream Girl Drama 🏒 by Tessa Bailey
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC. This is my honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫🌶️🌶️🌶️
💭My thoughts: This book was pretty fast paced. I read the first half in under an hour. Although I loved Chloe’s outgoing personality, I found her a bit too oblivious and ignorant. She was very sheltered from real life because of her mom never letting her grow up properly. I liked that she stood up to her mom, but she was still being babied heavily by Sig. I like how Sig always knew what he wanted and goes right for it. He’s a huge SIMP and very possessive but in the way that was overdone, to the point I got the ick. Besides babying Chloe and doing way too much for her (in my opinion), he is a really sweet guy. I just think Chloe didn’t appreciate him enough. There was way too much puppy love/ insta love in this for me to enjoy. I liked how Sig saw Chloe and knew she was it for him, but finding all of that out before knowing anything real about her felt off for me. Their spicy scenes were steamy and written well. The dirty talk earned bonus points. The ending was a great plot twist, even I wasn’t expecting it. Great ending. Do I recommend this book? I didn’t love this book but I didn’t hate it either. I don’t regret reading this book because I enjoy this author and her humor and personality was present throughout the book which I enjoyed, but I just think the romance can be hit or miss for some. Read at your own discretion. 🤷🏻‍♀️ (tropes: future step siblings, taboo romance, instalove)

Dream Girl Drama
By Tessa Bailey

What if you met the one, your soul mate and circumstances were destined to keep your apart? Jump into the murky waters and let's navigate.

Chloe is a sheltered musical prodigy. She has big dreams. A chance meeting and one super hot kiss are about to change her entire life.

Sig has hockey, that's his focus, until fate steps in and hands him Chloe. Now making sure she's safe, looked after and has whatever needs met becomes his driving force. Does he go overboard at times? YES! Is the attraction apparent, also yes.

Sometimes the hard thing happens, the choices you think my stop your heart come to pass. It's what happens next that makes the story worthwhile.

Enjoy the roller coaster, you're going to laugh for sure and be annoyed and hopefully surprised.

I am going to preface this review with the knowledge that the whole point of these type books is for there to be a cheesy completely unimportant issue that the main characters turn into a HUGE deal that keeps them separate for far too long……only for them to finally find a way past said obstacle at the end.
So yeah that is this what I expect and that’s exactly what I got. I enjoyed the character of Chloe and even Sig. And their friendship was an enjoyable part. The only reason I don’t rank it higher is the fact that two completely unrelated adults who have parents who marry really shouldn’t have this much angst over starting a romantic relationship. Now had their parents married when they were 5 l….ok I can see it then.
Overall a solid 3.5/5 for me.
You will like this if you enjoy:
*he falls first
*touch her and die
*friends to lovers
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own