I was really looking forward to this book since I liked the others so far in the series and the characters intrigued me based on their introduction in earlier books. Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me because I just did not buy into the conflict of the book. It felt manufactured and overdone. I just didn't see it really being a source of conflict in the real world, and that made the story feel really unbelievable. It was such a trivial conflict that could have been clarified so easily with just a little communication; the fact that it wasn't made the main characters look really unintelligent and the parents like truly horrible people. It also wrapped up far too quickly and neatly. The author is still a favorite and I will continue reading all her work, this one was just a bit of a bummer.

Sig is a professional hockey player with an inferiority complex and Chloe is a carefree, socialite, prodigy harp player. During a chance encounter at Chloe's country club sparks fly. Sig and Chloe have immediate off the chart chemistry that is electric. Once Chloe and Sig realize they are due to become step siblings their relationship becomes complicated. The step sibling trope was done in a clever way. I felt for both Chloe and Sig dealing with their own family issues and lack of the support they crave. It is the lack of this support that pushes them to come to support each other on every day things and not just a fling. This foundation helps to give Sig and Chloe a steady foundation. Although they go through their struggles I appreciate how they show up for each other.

“Thank you Avon and Harp Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice🌶️🌶️
Tropes
✨ forbidden relationship
✨ mutual pining
✨ rom com
✨ chance encounter
✨ hockey player mmc
✨ harpist prodigy
✨ insta love

With an unexpected curveball after Sig and Chloe meet she goes back with him to Boston to learn how to live an independent life. He vows to show her all the ropes, take care of her during her training and show her the city. They spend all their free time together, she goes to all his games, everyone thinks they’re together but they’re about to be step siblings. Sig is doing everything in his power to stop that from happening while uncovering his estranged father’s skeletons. Sig also has to make some hard decisions involving his team that can change everything. Can he figure out how to solve all these problems before the wedding day?

What a cute read!! This one started out nice and spicy! There was a bit of a burn in the middle which was nice! I enjoyed Chloe’s development throughout the book and Sig is just a sweetie! I think his foul mouth was my favorite though😮‍💨😆 Honestly I think the Orgasm Donors were my favorite characters in this book! They CRACK me up!! I cannot wait to continue the series!

Thank you netgalley and Avon Pub for the opportunity to read this as an ARC in exchange for my honest review! This review is entirely my own.

With each Tessa Bailey book I read, I become even more of a fan. In her newest book, Dream Girl Drama, Bailey delivers a steamy forbidden romance between Sig, a professional hockey player and Chloe. From the moment they meet, there are sparks flying everywhere. That is, until they realize they are on the path to becoming step-siblings. Taking on a more platonic relationship will only last for so long - as the heat still seems to rise between them.

Tessa Bailey has done a great job bringing her characters to life and giving her readers a delectable read. Whether you are a fan of Tessa Bailey or reading one of her books for the first time, you will not be disappointed. A great read!

When Sig and Chloe meet there are obvious fireworks, but as luck would have it, their parents are to be wed. Can Sig and Chloe maintain a platonic relationship even with all of the obvious chemistry and fireworks going off between them?
I absolutely love this series and this book did not disappoint! Plenty of heat and a quick read!

Tessa Bailey strikes again in Dream Girl Drama! I absolutely ATE this one up - sports romance + a "down bad" MMC + slight-almost-maybe taboo? I was absolutely sold, and Tessa delivered every bit of expectation I held. This novel holds all the spice of her previous installment, Fangirl Down, while having some solid character building, plot lines, and banter!

I adored both of these characters. The way that Tessa Bailey writes "opposites attract" is so well done, as many have seen in her previous novels (see: It Happened One Summer). Dream Girl Drama holds up this standard, and experiencing the growth of these characters, both together and separately was beautiful.

I have nothing but amazing things to say about this book, and have no notes! Tears of laughter, sweetness, and sadness were all shed during reading.

Thank you to HarperCollins/Avon and NetGalley for this ARC!

FULLY expected to hate this. I almost ALWAYS hate a ditsy blonde trope. I was worried the whole "almost" step-sibling thing would be too much weirdness. NORMALLY I would say I find the simp man trope to be counterproductive and unrealistic and undermining.

Maybe it's because I'm ovulating, or maybe it's because Tessa is just so good at what she does, I finished this fully convinced on their romance. You get resolution in the end (thank goodness), but the fact that I was rooting for Sig and Chloe from page one because OBVIOUSLY they are soulmates is a testament to the fact that Tessa knows how to write a perfect swoony meetcute that sweeps you up and carries you through the romance.

NOW. With all those accolades, why not 5 stars? Pretty simple. I think the characters carry this one, and the writing could be improved. The time jumps are weird. So much of their relationship isn't shown in the story, it's told in brief summary after the fact. I also think that while, yes, this is a Tessa novel and it's going to be spicy, we're already leaning into the taboo and probably could have reordered the events and had the resolution and THEN the spicy scenes, yeah? Or like, there's ways to have a spice that work around the whole problem situation. I dunno. That part of it still felt icky to me, and that lingers enough to be a negative.

I am a huge fan of Tessa Bailey and this book does not disappoint. It's quick and fun and of course has Tessa's trademark steaminess, brooding MMCs and dirty talk.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, these characters burrowed deep in my heart! There was SO much tension, so much build up, and I felt that longing and hopelessness/hopefulness right along with them! Tessa's writing is stronger than ever here.

What really impressed me was that even though there's no denying this is insta-love, it's not lusty. Of course there's attraction, but really, it's a soul tie. There's so much growth and sacrifice and adoration between the characters. While reading, I was (im)patiently waiting for the spice to hit, but holding off for as long as it did was absolutely the right choice for the narrative!

This is the most romantic, but least comedic story of the series. Which only bothered me when I arrived at the poorly-timed forced humor of the baseball game, which made me realize how little levity the rest of the book had. But I guess we had to introduce Skylar somehow!

Dream Girl Drama takes taboo romance, hockey romance, and the signature helping of Tessa Bailey's infamous charm and flirting to the next level. While I enjoy the spice and the slow burn tension, there was a lot about this book that sat weirdly with me. The will-they-won't-they of maybe becoming step-siblings felt really really dramatic. Like end of the world dramatic. This coupled with the insta-love and the frankly less than stellar lack of communication between our MMC and his parents made it really hard to enjoy the end of the book. Our FMC was bubbly, kind, and leaned heavily on her airhead qualities to make her feel believable.

❤️Dream Girl Drama❤️

I have never been more excited in my life to receive an Arc! Thank you Net Galley & HarperCollins for allowing me to receive an Arc in exchange for my honest review! I DEVOURED this book. The tension in this book is INSANE. I fell in love with Sig, and Chloe and especially with their drama of becoming step-siblings. I did think at times that the pacing was off, but other than that I really enjoyed reading this book!!!❤️

I really enjoyed this book! It’s been a while since I’ve read a forbidden romance, and boy was it 🔥GIVING🔥! The tension, the yearning, the pining, a man completely and utterly obsessed??? Tessa really knows how to write a down bad man!

Sig was so steady and patient with Chloe! He would give her the moon if he could🥹 It took me a while, but I ended up liking Chloe by the end! I would say for the first half of the book or so I wasn’t getting a lot of personality from her, even with her inner monologue, which kind of made her “dream girl” label fall flat. It’s when she started to stand up for herself more and actually be independent instead of relying on Sig that we really got to see her shine!

I would say that this book is more trope driven than plot or character driven. Although the spice was spicing and I ultimately enjoyed the book, I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I was while reading the previous Big Shots books. I did enjoy the sneak peaks of Mailer and Corrigan’s books, and can’t wait to read them!

Dream Girl Drama is available 2/4/25!💖

*Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

4/5⭐️
2.5/5🌶️

On the way to meet his dad’s new girlfriend, Sig Gauthier’s truck breaks down in front of a country club. Clearly out of place, he’s being turned away when he’s rescued by Chloe Clifford, who Sig sees and immediately falls in love. The feelings from Chloe are mutual… the only kicker? They soon that Chloe’s mom is Sig’s dad’s new fiancé, meaning Chloe and Sig are soon to be step siblings. How will these two insta-lust-ers navigate the treacherous waters of their impending relations via marriage?

Goooood golly I love Tessa Bailey’s writing. This story was all yearnin’ and burnin’, tension and insta-love… all of which I’m on board with. I loved Chloe as our leading lady—she was so lovable and innocent. Sig was another grumpy grump in this series who was obsessed with our lady but kept keeping his desires at bay. Their chemistry was teased and edged for so long… and that explosion! So yum. I think I picked up on the hint for the next entry into this series, and let’s just say I cannot WAIT! Eep! This is such a fun and sexy series.

Tropes in this story:
✨Hockey romance
✨Taboo; soon to be step siblings
✨Grumpy and extremely bright sunshine
✨All the yearnin’ and burnin’ and resistin’
✨”Just get it out of our systems”
✨Mutual dirty talking 😈

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via Avon Books and NetGalley, but my review is all my own.

*Rated 4.5/5 rated up to 5 for GR
Thank you to NetGalley for a free e-ARC, this is my honest review.

Series Note:
Dream Girl Drama is book three of the Big Shots series. While each story is a stand-alone, if you would like more background of Sig's teams (and also to know of Burgess' love story) I would suggest reading at least The Au Pair Affair before-hand.

About:
Dream Girl Drama follows hockey player Sig who, on the way to visit his father meets his dream girl. However, when finally showing up to his father's new place, that's when he learns his dream girl is about to become his step-sister. Can they stay away from each other? Or can they find a work-around?

Review:
I was excited to pick-up this book because of all the hints we got in The Au Pair Affair and I NEEDED to know their story. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! These two are pagnets for each other and they have some of the most beautiful moments together! Sig is such a golden retriever but in the best way!

*HE BUYS ALL THE POPTARTS SO HE HAS AN EXCUSE TO SEE HER CAUSE HE KNOWS SHE LOVES THEM AND "CAN'T" FIND THEM IN THE STORES!*

I was hesitant if I was going to connect with Chloe in any way but she is a doll! At first you are worried she's going to be a part of the richy/stuck-up club but the way she is willing to find her own self and acknowledge she has faults and needs help to find herself is formidable.

I absolutely loved the story and I already cannot wait for the next installment in the Big Shots series!!!

🏒𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
♥️𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚-𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞
🏒𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 Love
♥️𝐇𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐌𝐂
🏒𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐲 𝐅𝐌𝐂

✨Thoughts✨
𝐖𝐨𝐰, this book was packed with steamy tension and incredible chemistry. Sig Gauthier and Chloe Clifford had a memorable meet-cute that quickly turned into a spontaneous date filled with sparks and perfection. But their joy was short-lived when they discovered that their parents were getting married, making them soon-to-be step-siblings.

𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 in a strange situation of being best friends but something else and soon-to-be family members, but not really, Sig and Chloe had to navigate their relationship carefully. Chloe reminded me of Rapunzel. At 25, she was very sheltered, and soon after Sig entered her life, she started to enjoy her newfound freedom. Sig was supportive and kind, and in return, Chloe made him feel like he could conquer the world. Their love for each other was palpable, and I felt their pain as they pined for each other. I also loved how silly they were. They had the funniest, most random conversations that oddly enough made so much sense, I loved it!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 supporting characters also added their own little touch of humor to the story, making me hope for spin-off stories for each of them.

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, this book perfectly blends sweetness, spice, and romance, making it a must-read for romance lovers!

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 thanks to Tessa Bailey, Avon, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for this fantastic ARC. My opinions are entirely my own.

★★★★★
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 𝟑.𝟓/𝟓🔥

3.5⭐️ Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for this arc! I’m the first to admit that I love a Tessa Bailey novel, and I really did enjoy this one.
My one complaint with this book is that it feels that it leaned too heavily on the “forbiddenness” of their romance, when they met as adults before they even knew their parents were engaged.
Overall this was a cute and quick read, and I loved Chloe and Sigs relationship, but at times I struggled to get past that one obstacle.
If you love Tessa Bailey, Sports Romances, or Forbidden Romances consider picking this up!

I love the big shot series. Each book has been such a delight and this was no different. I swooned, I laughed, I cried. I don’t normally love instant love however the chemistry between these two MCs was incredible and I loved how down bad they were. The tension nearly killed me and I was rooting for them hard. Loved this one!

I love Tessa Bailey and her books but i found that instant love trope is not for me and that's the big one for this book. however, i still enjoyed it and if insta love is for you, this is your book! i think you will eat Sig and Chloe up! They breathe for each other 🫠 the main characters were cute but the rookies were hilarious 😂 also, it's tessa bailey. expect dirty talking and smut 😌

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC 🫶🏼

🏒 instant love
♥️ sports romance
🏒 slow burn
♥️ forbidden love
🏒 future step siblings 👀

Thank you Harpercollins Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC read!
This was a sweet, short hockey romance following Sig & Chloe. It was an interesting take on almost forbidden love. While I personally didn't enjoy all the tropes in this book, I can definitely appreciate the writing style and the way it was written gave me an even bigger appreciation for it. I loved that Bailey spelled out exactly what was foreshadowing for the readers which made the book a really nice brain break from some other heavy books. This would be a perfect palette cleanser type of book!
I would recommend this book in the future!!
I would give this book 3.5 stars.

Oooh this was HOT. I loved the tension. I loved the insta connection. I loved him calling her dream girl. I loved it. I shouted YES! when (spoiler) - we found out about Harvey! SUCH a good little twist and my babies can be happy together. Tessa Bailey, never stop talking dirty.