stayed up way too late reading this book and have zero regrets. flirty, spicy and AMAZING TENSION.

—

“𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘦.”

𝘏𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺, 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬. “𝘐 𝘥𝘰. 𝘐 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Thank you to Netgalley and Tessa and her team for an ARC of this book!

OH. MY. GOD. this book was absolutely incredible. i loved every second. there are no words to describe how amazing this was.

i swooned, i went through heartbreak, i laughed, i felt all the feels, and im still utterly in love.

sorry Wells, Sig is the new guy in my heart. ❤️😝

incredible book. no words.

♾️⭐️

Unfortunately, this was not it for me. I can’t get over the “we’re almost going to be related my marriage” thing. Also, the insta-love? EUGH. This would have been so much better if there was some actual tension vs everything out in the open right from the start. The timing of the first 30% also felt weird to me, since it covers all the overlap from Au Pair Affair into this book. It felt kinda rushed but was definitely needed to get the full scope of Sig and Chloe.

I enjoyed the last 15% of it, and everything with the PI and how everything ended was enjoyable imo. Overall, a miss for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the advanced copy!

“𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍?”

Tessa Bailey took one look at us and said, "let's have some fun," and wrote us a book that had me screaming at the pages while kicking my feet (2-in-1 combo) with this sports romance 🏒❤️

𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆.”

Sig and Chloe meet, and the attraction is INSANE when they are in the same room, it's instantly obvious they have the hots for each other 🔥🔥🔥 One problem? Her mom is about to marry his dad 🙂 isn't that grand? Making it impossible for them to be together because not only would it ruin Sig's hockey image, but it might also mess up Chloe's future as a harpist 🎵

“𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰’𝒎 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚?” “𝑵𝒐, 𝑰’𝒎 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍.”

Two people forbidden to be together due to career aspirations and, well... their parents 😅 But their attraction is just too much, and temptation? WAY too strong BUAHAHAHA what do you think happens?! *cough* romance. book *cough*

“𝑰𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕?” 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅, 𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅𝒍𝒚.
“𝒀𝒆𝒔.”
“𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅. 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

Anywayyyy, this book was so fun! The chapters were short, it is 3rd person but you can kind of see what POV it is at the beginning of the book and it is fast space! No dragging thank god! The flirting between them was perfection, and the banter had me giggling so hard 🤭 I loved both characters and how they were like "no we can't" to the ultimate "i want you"🔥

Sig is totally the "I can fix it" type and honestly, he would do anything to make Chloe smile. The way he takes everything on his shoulders so that Chloe has it easier? MELT MY HEART 🥺 🥺 Meanwhile, Chloe might come off as spoiled (not the bad kind, though I hope I’m making sense 😂), but she fights for Sig and herself to grow and learn to be in the real world outside her bubble.

As with any good romance, this has a HEA, so don't worry, readers just keep swimming ! I swear it's worth it. SO SO FUN TO READ!!!!! And the way Tessa sprinkled hints for the next book? AGH, I CAN'T WAIT 😭👏.

Tropes
❤️ sports romance
❤️ forbidden romance
❤️ future stepsiblings
❤️ strangers to friends to lovers
❤️ 3rd person
❤️ insta love & spicy

Thank you Avon Books & Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! :D

"It's like I've loved her since I took my first breath." "I exist for her."

Chloe, a prodigy harpist, met Sig, a hockey player, in a country club and they had this instant connection. However, it turned out they were gonna be future step-siblings.

I love the angst, the tension, the yearning, the pining, and how they were both down bad for each other right from the start. Like SO DOWN BAD. I cannot emphasized this enough. Especially with Sig.

Chloe ang Sig got sparks flying, I can feel it through the book and the tension was so palpable all throughout the book. I really love it and I flew through this book.

Overall, not the best one in the series (the best is book 2) but I am looking forward to the next one especially with Tessa teasing it in IG, and we also saw glimpses of the next one in the book.

Tessa Bailey is an auto buy for me! The perfect mix of sweet and spicy. If you are looking for a great sports romance, look no further!

Tessa Bailey has done it AGAIN! This book picks up in Boston on Sig and Chloe’s interesting relationship as upcoming step siblings. The burn is slow but oh so good, with a fun plot twist at the end! Tessa covers heartbreak, cute moments, a hilarious harp mentor, super spicy moments, and everything in between. Absolute must read!

Tessa Bailey has a knack for making you fall in love with characters, having the most amazing meet-cute, and then ripping your heart out, but it also makes her happy endings that much sweeter!
Sig and Chloe had such a heart wrenching story of strangers to lovers and being forced apart by their families. The pining and the hardships allowed a classic TB happily ever after (but I’m not saying more than that).

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

This one just didn’t hit like usual…

To preface love Tessa Bailey, and most of her books.

This book however just was too much too fast for me personally.

I still love the characters and the overarching plot 100%.

I just felt like the romance could’ve taken just a slight step back at the beginning & I would’ve been fine. I love a good tension build.

This might be the last Tessa Bailey book I pick up. It’s tough to say because she was one of my favorites when I first got back into reading, but lately, her books have been more misses than hits. Her female characters have become too insufferable, and her male characters feel excessively possessive. Not to mention, the plots keep getting more and more ridiculous. I feel like I’ve outgrown her style, and this book just didn’t have the depth I’m looking for anymore.

ARC Review

3 ⭐️

I’m SO torn with how I feel with this book, I LOVED Sig and Chloe, how much they love each other, their chemistry, the fact they are 100% SOULMATES!

BUT, the ‘forbidden’ aspect was incredibly blown up other nothing, for me there was absolutely nothing ‘taboo’ about their relationship, they were two grown adults who met before they even knew their parents were getting married and the twist at the end was very unnecessary.

So I did struggle a bit as soon as I was enjoying Sig and Chloe and everything they were I was slapped in the face with how ‘incredibly forbidden’ their relationship was.

I love a Tessa Bailey book, but feel this series peaked with Fangirl Down, still I will be continuing the series.

As always, Tessa Bailey balances a good story with just enough smut! Lol...
Her books tend to start slow, in my opinion. But the story picks up and captivates, ending in a satisfying manner. I highly recommend this title.

I was not looking forward to reading this book... I didn't love the second one and the basic premise of this one did not appeal to me. However, I ended up enjoying it more than I expected. It is not my favorite overall by Tessa, but I finished it quickly and am actually looking forward to book #4 based on the introduction of those characters in this book. I just have to go into Tessa books knowing they are going to be unhinged (lol) and enjoy them for what they are.

3.5 rounded up. This *almost* taboo romance was a little different for TB. Insta-chemistry to our parents are marrying each other so we can't act on our feelings, to a "screw it" moment, to a mini scandal, to an HEA. It was definitely a wild ride. I think the first book, Fan Girl Down is still my favorite of the series, but I still liked this one. I loved Chloe's growth as a person and her determination to get better and put in the work. Sig was down bad from day one. He literally did anything and everything to make her happy and keep her safe. All the parents in this book suck. Just saying. So many secrets and manipulations. Blech.

TB does spice really well. And the "screw it" moment is always a great moment. Throwing out your reasons for staying away and just giving in. Yum. Well paced and an overall good time! Thank you Avon & Tessa Bailey for this ARC!

Available in stores 2/4/2025 🩷

I always LOVE me a Tessa Bailey book, but this one just didn't quite hit for me the way they normally do. However, I will say that I think it's very much because of personal preference.

Lets start with the good: I loved both Sig and Chloe so much, and I liked them together as well. They're funny, their chemistry jumps off the page. and I really did believe their love (even though it was WAY too insta-love for me, but more on that later). I'm impressed that the relationship worked for me as much as it did all things considered, but I really was hurting for them whenever it seemed like things weren't going to go their way. I love the overall world of the Big Shots series, and it was nice seeing Burgess and Tallulah and getting a setup for the next book. The spice was delectable as EVERR (thats one place where TB never, ever disappoints for me).

I think my biggest issue was the insta-love, and by extension, the pacing. The plot moved forward very quickly, but also sometimes the writing would flip tense to remind us that, seemingly, this story was (sometimes?) being told in past tense. This honestly could have worked just fine, but that in combination with how hard they both fall, and how fast, and it just felt like things were off from the very beginning.

Overall, this wasn't my favorite of TB's, but its not my least favorite either. Fangirl Down has not yet been unseated from the top of my list, but I look forward to the next book in the Big Shots series nonetheless! Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this eArc!

Bailey achieves a hat-trick for the Big Shots series with this latest installment!

“Dream Girl Drama” follows Sig Gauthier—a professional hockey player—and Chloe Clifford—a talented harpist— after a steamy encounter between them takes a turn when they discover that their parents are engaged.

Tessa Bailey ventures into taboo romance territory with this one! At the same time, the circumstances of how Sig and Chloe meet and a surprising plot twist near the end ultimately address any disconcertedness, which I appreciated.

The forbidden nature of Sig and Chloe’s relationship prevents them from acting on their “insta-love” right away. As a result, this book is chock-full of the most incredible romantic tension with lots of pining and banter! I absolutely loved their push/pull dynamic and the growth they underwent as the novel progressed.

I really enjoyed exploring a side of Chloe that we don’t get to see in “The Au Pair Affair.” She exhibits so much strength by leaving behind her sheltered life in pursuit of independence and a career in music. Sig champions her new start and encourages her to reach for the stars, which immediately endeared himself to me. I LOVE an mmc who is down bad and Sig is the very definition of that! He sacrifices a lot to help her realize her dreams without expecting anything in return, but the love and support he receives from Chloe—two things that he was lacking in his life—made my heart so full!

I practically devoured this one because it was such a joy to read! I cannot wait for the next book in the Big Shots universe—we meet the mc’s in this one and I’m obsessed with them already!

I adore an interconnected series and really enjoyed the first two of this series, so I was excited to read Dream Girl Drama! Unfortunately this one didn’t quite hit the spot the way the first two books did for me.

I think the taboo, forbidden romance aspect would have been pushing my limits already, but when combined with an over the top naive FMC, I just couldn’t get excited about reading this one. Sure, they aren’t siblings YET as they keep saying, but I was just skeeved out by that the entire time. If you enjoy slightly taboo romance, a male who is down freaking BAD, and a helpless FMC who needs help even buying PopTarts, maybe this will be the one for you!

I did love the scenes featuring Sig and his teammates, and look forward to book four! I just didn’t love this addition to the series.

Thank you to Avon for the ARC. All opinions are my own,

This was okay! Not my favorite read, but cute! It was quick and easy. I honestly just wasn’t really a fan of the whole step-sibling aspect of it. I’m sure it’s enjoyable to some, I just couldn’t get past it.

This book was such a spicy sporty dream. I loved every bit. Sig was one of my faves already, going in. He is confident, self assertive, dramatic, typical sporty boy. Chloe is a princess. On paper, they seem like a spicy good time, but not a long time. I never thought that these two would be the couple I was rooting for, but wow I am. The plot of this book was a roller coaster from one end to the next. As many of the details that had me saying "oh I know how this will go," just as many had me screaming, tapping my feet, cheering, and everything else. The family drama was everything. Dad's new girlfriend? Drama in paradise? Already stilted relationships? There is no way that this will go well..... Sig knew what he was looking for and was going to get it, no matter who's happiness stands in the way. This book was such a quick read but the romance had me swooning and the plot had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I love Tessa Bailey and cannot wait to have a physical copy of this in hand.

While I read fiction of all genres, this time of year I’m drawn to romances, and I especially love series with an interconnected universe. These main characters have been intriguing me since their cameos in Bailey’s last hockey-themed book, and their chemistry is sizzling. The adorable sprayed edges on the print version make this a perfect gift for Galentine’s Day.