Dream Girl Drama is the third installment of Tessa Bailey's Big Shots series and it was a very.. interesting read. The premise is a pretty good one, however, I'm not sure if I loved the execution. Chloe and Sig, two strangers, meet one day, and it's extreme insta-love.. like I'm talking swooning and begging to smash within a couple of minutes. Fast forward a couple hours later, they're both at their parents' dinner and find out they're going to be step-siblings. Things became a little over the top after that. It felt very soap opera-like, and I wasn't too fond of the main characters. Both Chloe and Sig came across way younger than they were because they were so immature. Chloe grew up with money and all of its luxuries, and as a result, she is absolutely clueless about everything. She has no idea how to cook, clean, work.. nothing. And Sig, although he grew up the exact opposite of Chloe and actually had to work for what he wanted, whenever he's around Chloe, it's like all of that goes out the window. He is completely content with paying for her rent, giving her money to blow at Sephora, buying her ridiculous stuff, all with no intention of teaching her how to earn a dollar. Not to mention, he is very overprotective and controlling. This book just wasn't my cup of tea. 2.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Tessa Bailey for this read.

3.5 ⭐️
First off, I’m still sort of in disbelief that I got this ARC??? Thank you so much NetGalley & Tessa Bailey!
Your two main characters meet and fall for each other before discovering they’re gonna be step siblings and the storyline focuses on around how they can’t be together because of that.
The chemistry between Sig and Chloe is def my favorite part of this story. I did find Chloe hard to connect with personally but I absolutely loved Sig (most of the time lol he had his moments).
Usually not a fan of the step siblings trope but the two main characters are adults and not related at all so it was done well and was a good read. It is a standalone that is part of a series so if you haven’t read anything else in the series you can still read this one.
Overall, it was a fun, quick, steamy, and dramatic read and would be perfect for anyone who loves forbidden love, sports romance, opposites attract, and 3rd person POV.

ARC Review
Dream Girl Drama ~ Releasing on February 4, 2025
Big Shots Book #3
Tessa Bailey
My Rating 4/5

First of all I would like to thank Tessa Bailey, Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
@tessabaileyisanauthor @netgalley @avonbooks

My Review ~
I have thoroughly enjoyed Tessa Bailey's Big Shots Series, which includes Fangirl Down, Au Pair Affair, and now Dream Girl Down. Each book stands alone, featuring witty dialogue, engaging characters, and the delightful spice typical of Tessa Bailey's writing. While I appreciate the series, my rating for this particular installment is lower, as it wasn't my favorite. The instant love and the reasons for the characters not being together as adults felt somewhat overdone. Moreover, it was difficult to believe that the FMC was completely unaware of any financial issues. I genuinely admire Tessa Bailey's work, but regrettably, this one did not meet the five-star mark for me.
I would like to extend my gratitude to Tessa Bailey, Avon, and NetGalley for providing an advanced digital copy of this book.

Happy Pub Day @tessabaileyisanauthor!!

Dream Girl Drama is out today and oooooh what a delight it is! Big thank you to @netgalley @avonbooks & @librofm for the advanced copies in exchange for my honest review!

Dream Girl Drama is the third book in Tessa’s Big Shots series and it is honestly such a fun series. I love her humor so much!

This is a quick and easy read that could absolutely be binged, but I found myself slowing it down so I could spend more time with these characters.

I was wary of the tropes and FMC in this book but I fell in love with Chloe almost instantly (as did our love interest Sig 😉) and leave it to Tessa to write a step sibling romance I’m here for!

This one has equal amounts spice and sweetness with a wonderfully protective hockey player love interest! The audio was fantastic and I highly recommend investing in that format for some Teddy Hamilton love!

4.25 ⭐️

I was so excited for Sig & Chloe when I read book 2, and these two delivered! They both just cared for each other so much and were willing to sacrifice and fight to be together.
This book was definitely a more fast burn in the sense that they knew from the start they liked each other. But it was still so good, because even though they developed those feelings early they didn’t act on them which created such good tension and slow burn!
I loved how Sig was so protective and quick to help take care of her. Sig definitely has an acts of service love language 🥹 he took care of literally everything she needed and never complained. And when she mentioned she wish she had her lucky shirt he drove 6 hours to get it for her 🥹 he was just the sweetest man ever!

The way the problem was solved surprised me a bit, but it was good. I just wish like once it was revealed like it showed or talked more about that. Because it just resolved quickly at the end, and I get why since the problem has been since the beginning and it needed to be solved.
I was able to receive an arc and am happy others may now read and love Sig & Chloe too! ✨

Tessa Bailey knows how to write a fun, light hearted (even though there are some tough situations and feelings happening) and spicy romance!

From chapter one this book sucked me in and I had to know what happened between the main characters and if they were going to be able to figure out the new step sibling relationship between them. Oh, and hockey players? Sign me up!

Overall, such a fun story with some banter, spice and funny supporting characters. I would recommend to lovers of Tessa Bailey of course, but also Meghan Quinn and Elle Kennedy.

Another fantastic sports romance! This one had a quirky meet cute. Meet awkward? Loved how Chloe and Sig met. Loved how immediately they were drawn to each other. Loved how Chloe and Sig helped each other out along the way. Loved how Sig was there to teach Chloe how to be independent. Loved how he took care of her above and beyond. Loved seeing some of the hockey players. Loved how everything worked out in the end.

⭐️: 3
🌶️: 4

❣️ step siblings
❣️ class disparity
❣️ hockey player x harpist
❣️ 3rd person POV

This third book in the Big Shots series was unfortunately a flop for me. It started out strong with an instant attraction between the FMC Chloe and MMC Sig, which honestly was an insta-lust done very well. I was also intrigued by the Step Sibling trope as it was done in a kind of hilarious manner that I was not expecting. Where this book lost me was in the character development. I simply didn’t care about Chloe and Sig and had no real interest in whether or not their parents followed through with their wedding. This book was fine… just fine.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️= open door, multiple scenes, descriptive

♥︎ Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Tessa Bailey for the ARC of Dream Girl Drama.

Pining thy name is Sig and Chloe.
This book was a good time and you could feel the longing in the pages. I love how much Sig wanted to give Chloe the opportunity to find herself.
Honestly my favorite parts was the Banter in the locker room
I didn’t love this as much as The Au pair Affair but it was a great continuation in this series and I really enjoy Sig.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Tessa Bailey brings us ‘Dream Girl Drama’ as the 3rd offering in her Big Shots series. We were first introduced to Sig and Chloe in ‘The Au Pair Affair’ where they were clearly being set up for their own story. We get opposites attract, forbidden romance, and forced proximity, all with a healthy dose of comedy.

Sig and Chloe have an incendiary meet cute, and they are both eager to explore their relationship before disaster strikes when they find out that their parents are newly engaged to each other. Oops.

Both main characters are likable but at times I had to stretch my imagination to accept the level of incompetence that Chloe displays. I understand that she’s a sheltered, rich girl, but it was just straight-up unbelievable to watch her struggle with the absolute basics of independent living. Sig, on the other hand, was an absolute saint and it was nice to see such a selfless character get his happy ending.

Although I preferred the first 2 books in the series, I had a fun time with this and highly recommend it if you’re looking for a light romance. There is yearning aplenty and many 🥵 moments. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me.

Thank you to @avonbooks and @netgalley for the ARC.

‘Dream Girl Drama’ is out wherever books are sold, on February 4th, 2025.

#dreamgirldrama #tessabailey

WHEW! SIG! My new favorite Tessa Bailey book and leading man. Love the spice and relationship Sig and Chloe have. The leading and supportive characters feel like family. Totally recommend!

This book is so fun and very bingeable! Every time I think I know who my favorite couple characters of Bailey’s is, she comes up with a new one for me to fall in love with!

Dream Girl Drama features the lovable, manic pixie dream girl, Chloe and her future stepbrother, Sig.
Chloe and Sig randomly meet in what feels like a “love at first sight” type of way…and it would be if they didn’t discover their parents were about to get married.
This forbidden romance features Bailey’s slow burn spice and swoon worthy MMC who is down bad for their girl.
I loved getting to see more of Chloe and Sig’s personalities after meeting them in Au Pair Affair. Their friendship bloomed into something so special ❤️❤️

I am never sure what kind of story I am going to have with Tessa Bailey, but this one was enjoyable. It starts as a step sibling trope in that Sig and Chloe have a meet cute but then quickly find out that their parents are going to marry. Chloe also realizes that her mother has kept her swaddled under mom’s wing and decides she need to learn to live on her own. Sig, a hockey player for a team in Boston says he will look after her. The story takes off from there as they realize they can’t be together and thus begins the main part of the story. I thought their trying not to be together ran a bit long for me, but we finally get the HEA we wanted. A good read, a cute story.

Okay, stop this was so cute 🥰

This book was filled with so much sexual tension 🥵 it was like the world’s longest foreplay 😂 I am totally here for it.

I kept trying to figure out how Sig and Chloe were gonna make it work and I didn’t see how it ended up happening coming!!! 😱

I love a good hockey romance book and this is definitely one I’ll be recommending to everyone!!!

✨ Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey ✨

Tessa's books are always so much fun! She has the best banter and her characters are always so much fun to read. Sig falls fast and hard for Chloe and I just loved how much he wanted to be with her. Chloe was a little immature and needy but they meshed well together. It was so fun to read about them navigating all the obstacles thrown their way (aka their parents planning to get married!) and when they finally gave in it was the dirty talking spice you love and know from Ms. Bailey.

You'd enjoy this one if you like:

✨ Hockey Romance
✨ Forbidden Love
✨ Future Stepsiblings
✨ Dirty Talk
✨ Insta-Love
✨ Man Obsessed
✨ Slow Burn
🔥Spice Rating: ❤️

Thank you so much to Harper Collins and Avon for this advanced reader copy!

Spice Rating
🤍 clean romance
💗 closed door/ fade to black
❤️ spicy content (a few detailed scenes)
❤️‍🔥 explicit, play-by-play (major part of the plot)
🖤 graphic, more than vanilla

Sig and Chloe have a very flirty meet cute where there is instant attraction. They talk with each other so freely and Chloe tells him she wants to go to Boston to study her music and get out from under her mothers control. Unfortunately, they both have places to be and decide that after a steamy goodbye kiss, they will meet up again because they both feel this magnetic pull. Ironically, when they part ways they end up at the same dinner and that's when fate throws them through a major loop de loop because they find out they are about to step siblings because their parents are getting married!

With Chloe being a harp prodigy and Sig wanting to land a new deal in the NHL, they can’t start a relationship because the press will be awful and sink both their chances of success and reputations. Chloe's mother has no hesitation in reminding both of them of this fact. #controlling

Sig decides even though he can’t pursue things with Chloe, he wants to get her out of her sheltered bubble so he brings her to Boston with him where he shows her around and tries to get her to be more independent. The more time they spend together the harder it is to fight the attraction between them but can they find a way to be together without ruining their reputation and careers?

When I first met these characters in The Au Pair affair, I really thought Chloe was an airhead and Sig was an overprotective enabler who wanted to get in her pants. When I started reading this book I realized I was not that far off from my first impression, BUT I also liked the characters much more when I understood them better and got their backstory.

While Sig wants to help her to be more independent, he ends up overprotecting and enabling her too much and not allowing her to fail. Chloe wants to learn and be on her own but is too shallow to understand that she needs to pay her rent and not blow it on $700 of eye cream. Like isn’t that learning to be on your own 101? Pay rent? While I liked the characters, I also found them to be a bit over the top at times.

Their relationship is weird because they are in love but can’t be together because of the public perception of them being step siblings. This part did make me pause but I feel like if they were just open and honest with how they met, it wouldn't have been a big deal.

I also think it would have worked better with a prologue of how they met and then start in the present day. Instead, the first chapters are from when they met and then the next ones skipped ahead to random time periods until they get to the present day. It seemed unnecessary and choppy.

Overall a cute romance book with good spice and an interesting hurdle to overcome but I felt the plot was a little weak and the ending was a little too convenient.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book through a digital ARC from NetGalley
Author: Tessa Bailey
Genre: Romance
Troupe: step-siblings

Everyone say thank you Tessa Bailey for bringing back yearning in 2025 😭

No but really, this was fantastic and definitely my new favorite of her books. Sig and Chloe had an instant connection that captivated me from the first page. The only problem is that hours after they fall in love at first sight, they find out they are set to become step-siblings and no further romantic relationship between them is possible. They can’t stay away from each other though, and it leads to a situation that could risk their highly public careers.

I was so intrigued by the Sig and Chloe crumbs in the last book, and their story was everything I wanted and more. Chloe wants to be more independent as she leaves her mother’s home for the first time, and Sig is there to help. He is supportive but protective, and believes in her the way no one ever has. Sig is truly an acts of service king, taking care of everyone around him without needing any acknowledgement. This man is down SO BAD, always finding ways to make her smile like driving hours to get a lucky shirt or keeping a stash of her favorite pop tarts. He has some internal self esteem issues to work through, but Chloe always makes him feel loved and worthy. I appreciated all the ways they helped each other with their internal struggles and the ways they made each other better. Their chemistry was so palpable and every scene with them is filled with sexual tension and longing. I usually don’t like insta love, but this felt different since they couldn’t act on their attraction. They let their actions say the words they couldn’t, and it made their connection much more genuine. The longing looks and lingering touches truly had me giggling and kicking my feet, and when they finally decided they can’t take it anymore it was SO EXPLOSIVE.

In my opinion, this was truly top tier forbidden romance. It had everything you could want with the intense mutual pining and yearning and stolen moments, I read this in one sitting and had such a fun time with it. Also, the set ups for future books have me so excited!! I just love the rookies so much and all the hijinks they get into, so I can’t wait for their books!

The book was amazing! Sig and Chloe had so much chemistry and tension built up between them throughout the entire book, so when the spice finally hit, IT HIT! I normally do not like insta love, but this one was done very well!

There was so much character development with both characters. Sig grew through some childhood trauma, while Chloe learned how to be her own person outside of her mom and small town.

I really loved the future step siblings/fordden-ness aspect of their relationship. it seriously just added to the tension between them.

The ending plot twist was a bit predictable to me. I seen part of it coming, but not the whole plot twist (if that makes sense?😅)

There were a few times that Chloe felt a bit too childish, imo, but at the same time it made sense to her character? She’s a sheltered rich girl, so like of course she’s going to be bubbly and childish at times, ya know? it was still a bit much sometimes.

Thank you so much, @NetGalley and @AvonBooks, for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tessa Bailey has done it again! I didn’t want to put this book down. Sig, a professional hockey player and Chloe, a music prodigy navigate the inevitable. If you have read the first two in this series, then you already know they are future step siblings. After an epic meet cute these two find out their lives are about to change. I was at the edge of my seat rooting it would all work out.

I love this series and Dream Girl Drama didn't disappoint! I enjoyed Sig and Chloe in 'The Au Pair Affair' and was so excited to receive this ARC!

Sig's truck breaks down in front of a Country Club and he tries to call a tow truck inside, but gets shut down at the front desk. Chloe comes to his rescue, claiming him as her guest and they get to know each other while they wait for his phone to charge. They have a memorable time together and plan to meet up later, but things take a turn when Chloe ends up being his father's fiancée's daughter. Sig's dream girl is his soon to be stepsister. They try to keep their relationship platonic but cant get over their kiss at the country club. Between their careers and the upcoming nuptials of their parents, they fight their attraction to each other as much as they can.

I love the characters! Chloe, growing up rich, pampered and sheltered, is learning to be an independent adult. She’s captivating and lovable. She starts to fall harder for Sig each day, as he helps her navigate Boston. Sig is such a golden retriever, falling fast and hard, with touch her and die vibes. I love how encouraging and protective he is over her.

This was such an angsty slow burn!!! The forbidden love of becoming step siblings keep them apart, but the dirty talk and little stolen moments were everything. I admired Sig’s self control over the situation. Personally I don’t see anything wrong with step siblings falling in love, as long as there’s no blood relation, but I know others view it differently.

This was a great rom-com & I can’t wait for the next book of the series!