While I remain a Tessa Bailey fan, this one didn't quite resonate with me. I am looking forward to what's next in the series.

I wanted to read this love story so much ever since they first appeared in The Au Pair Affair. I just love how much these characters care for each other. Sig is the boyfriend of anyone's dreams. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great love story with lots of fun characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for providing me with an egalley of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Do I love insta-love? No, not really. Does Tessa Bailey write it so I just cannot help but love her characters, their story, and where they are going to end up? You betcha! Every time I think I'll hate when characters are immediately attracted to each other, Bailey does their story justice and makes me love insta-love love just a little bit more. Throw in there me enjoying the other books in this series, and I know I'm jumping into something I won't be able to put down.
Sig Gauthier is a hockey player with no plans to be romantically involved with anyone, until his chance encounter with Chloe Clifford. Their connection is instant and he can't get enough of her. When he's faced with the reality that his father is marrying Chloe's mother, he knows he has to stay away. But he just can't. Chloe wants more than her sheltered life and Sig give her to opportunity to take it. I love how much of a care taker Sig is. He is oath bound to keep Chloe safe and help her fulfill her dreams in any way he can. He knows he cannot have her, but he craves her and if being her supporter is what he must do to be in her life, then he takes it. Of course he cannot seem to stay way from her, from wanting to touch her and be with her in more than a brotherly way. Sig is probably one of my most favorite MMC's that Bailey has written. He's sweet and undemanding. He loves with his whole heart.
Chloe Clifford is the most sheltered character I've ever read. She has had her whole life handed to her being the daughter of a wealthy mother and not having had to want for anything her entire life. But Chloe feels stunted and her need to become her own person overwhelms her need to remain in the cushy life her mother has built. Her growth in this book is really great. She learns so many life lessons about being on your own. taking care of yourself, standing up for yourself, and most of being loved for yourself.
Bailey has a very particular writing style. I enjoy how she writes in third person. And I especially likes that she does a dual POV. I really feel like this helps her characters grow and develop. Her pacing is pretty fast paced and she always gets to the heart of the story immediately. I love when this happens and then you can spend the rest of the book watching the characters work out their story,
This was a great addition to the Big Shots series. Spice, drama, tension, and so much banter kept me turning the pages to see what happened. I cannot wait for Robbie's story!

I loved every minute of this book. The title says drama but I was NOT prepared for the level this hit! The supporting characters were well written and I’d live to read books about so many of them!

I adored Sig and Chloe so much. Highly recommend this book!

Dream Girl Drama was another incredibly fun read by one of my favorite authors, Tessa Bailey! I was so excited to read Sig and Chloe’s story after their cameo in The Au Pair Affair. And let me tell you… Tessa delivered!!! The characters were so cute Sig was an amazing “let me handle it” man and Chloe was the classic manic pixie girlie lol. Despite it being a slow burn (not my favorite) it still had so much spice!… yall the pinning!!! *chef’s kiss*!! My only down side of this book was the slow build up into what seemed like a very quick ending. I would have loved more of their sweet moments at the end or scene with Sig having her at a game as his actual girlfriend… something. But overall still a great book!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves. Sports romance, family drama, forbidden romance, and opposites attract!

Lastly I want to thank NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for granting me this ARC. When I say I was so excited to receive this book, it’s an understatement!! Thank you immensely!

This book was a great addition to the Big Shot series. I love Tessa Bailey, and this book did not disappoint. It was funny, romantic, and had a surprise that I did not see coming. Loved it! I’ll definitely be recommending to customers at the bookstore!!

Anyone else find a new book boyfriend after reading “Dream Girl Drama”? As someone who read the previous books in the Big Shots series, this was PERFECT. I always had a lot of questions about Sig and Chloe’s relationship and when Tessa Bailey wrote this, she served! I particularly enjoyed the character growth of Chloe and of course the chemistry between her and Sig was *fans myself with my hand* HOT. I felt like this book covered so many tropes all in one and it was the perfect first read of 2025. I will absolutely be recommending this book and the entire series.

I was able to read an early copy of this book from Avon/Harper Voyager available from Net Galley.
I'll start by saying I've read a ton of Tessa Bailey's books from before she seemed to become giant with "It Happened One Summer." Her books, while a great source of entertainment, are not necessarily realistic. This one, in particular, reads a bit on the cartoony side. That said, I enjoyed it enough to keep reading and finished it within 24 hours so it clearly kept my interest. Tessa Bailey has a lane for sure and she stays in it.
Many thanks to Avon/Harper Voyager and Net Galley for the early copy.

This was…not my favorite TB book. With their intro in the previous novel I thought I would love it but I found both MCs pretty insufferable throughout the whole book. 🤷🏻‍♀️ With the cameo we got from them in Fangirl Down, I was expecting something a bit different. But I couldn’t get past the FMC’s utter helplessness and the MMC’s very awkward obsession. I wanted to like this book but it just fell flat for me in a lot of areas.

Thank you so much to Negalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for an early arc of Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey! Dream Girl Drama follows Sig and Chloe who meet at a Country Club because Sig's truck breaks down while he is headed to his dad's to meet his fathers new girlfriend and daughter. Chloe and Sig have a moment that blossoms to so much more and plan to meet again at a later date but come to find out their parents are dating and soon to be married, meaning they are now going to be step siblings. Chloe's mother is very overbearing and Chloe would love freedom so when Sig gives her that she takes it and moves to Boston with him while he helps her get her dreams but also just staying
"best friends" even though the tension between them is through the rough!! Dream Girl Drama is a fast paced, swoon worthy, romantic and so much tension that it will keep you wanting to come back. I loved Sig's and Chloe relationship and the tension between them and the spice literally had my jaw on the floor. I wasn't expecting that plot twist, but I'm so glad they were able to get their happy ending! This lovely books comes out Feb. 4th 2025 so go and pre-order it!

I am all about a forbidden and possessive romantic narrative but I found myself trudging through this book. Chloe's child-like ways were endearing and then just felt off for the rest of the story. I also did not find their "love" to be love, more lust. The lust put together with just plain confusion on why they couldn't just tell their families they met before and were attracted to each other. It seems like it was trying to be too many different types of romance novels all at once and just missed the mark on them all.

I always love everything Tessa Bailey writes. So it's no surprise that I loved Dream Girl Drama! Relatable characters, easy to read, and perfect amount of spice make for a book that I can't put down!

Sig’s car breaks down at a fancy country club and is rescued by Chloe, a beautiful vivacious country club member. After spending a small amount of time with Chloe, Sig is smitten. He was on his way to meet his father and his father’s new girlfriend, but makes plans to see Chloe after. Unfortunately, and much to his surprise, Chloe is his father’s girlfriend’s daughter… and to make matters worse, their parents are now engaged. While it is made very clear that Sig and Chloe are no longer allowed to be interested in each other romantically, Sig can’t help but volunteer to show Chloe the ropes and take care of her while she moves from her mother’s house to out on her own in Boston.

So… is it horrible that I don’t understand why their relationship was so taboo…? They’re both adults, they didn’t grow up together as siblings, they were attracted to each other before they found out about their parents being involved… Idk. I guess I don’t think it was that big of an issue. Regardless, it made for an intense instalove that couldn’t be acted upon and therefore crazy sexual tension. Some of Sig’s possessiveness was a bit much, but overall it was a sexy and addicting read.

If Tessa writes it, I will read it! If you are a hockey romance girlie, this is for you!

Dream Girl Drama follows Sig, a Boston professional hockey player and Chloe, a harp prodigy.

When Sig’s car breaks down and his phone dies, he treks to a private country club to call a tow truck and meets Chloe in a chance encounter. She captivates him immediately and sparks fly during a moonlight kiss. They can't wait to see each other again but when Sig visits his dad to meet his new girlfriend, Chloe is also there. Turns out, his girlfriend is Chloe's mother. And they're engaged. Sig's heart reels as he realizes Chloe is going to be his stepsister.

Chloe yearns to escape her controlling mother as she’s been sheltered her whole life. And when she suddenly declares that she is moving to Boston to learn to live on her own and study music, Sig immediately volunteers to help her be an adult. They both know they can never be more than friends but their chemistry gets harder and harder to ignore as they continue to hang out. Do they ignore the consequences and give in to their attraction? Or do they stay as friends so they don’t ruin their image/ reputation? Read to find out!

I love Sig and Chloe, especially the best friend relationship they developed. And def cackled between Sig and his teammates convos as they were hilarious together. But lord, the frustration I felt for them to figure out a way to be together hurt! Really felt the slow burn and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see if they would get their HEA without giving up their professional dreams. You can read this as a standalone but you do see some reoccurring characters from The Au Pair Affair so to appreciate the full experience, I’d read that first!

Thank you Tessa and Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

Thank you to Avon for this ARC of Dream Girl Drama! I really enjoyed this book, even with its bordering-on-taboo subject matter. For those who loved Clueless, you will surely love this book. Sig is a swoonworthy MMC that truly is painfully in love, pretty much throughout the book. Chloe’s character development was great to see, and I loved how she grew on her own outside of Sig. Together, the couple is electric and truly dreamy. I recommend for anyone in looks for a quick, lovely read!

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

tessa bailey is pretty hit or miss with me, but i loved this one! it's the best i've read from her in a long time, i think chiefly because it focuses on the characters and plot rather than shanghaiing in smut or rushing it when it doesn't make sense. it actually has less smut than anything of hers i can remember reading in a hot minute, to the benefit of the material. i was looking forward to this one, and i was right in my prediction that it'd be my favorite of this series so far. lighthearted, enjoyable—an excellent romance novel for the winter months!

I enjoyed this book, most of it. What I couldn’t get over is the manner in which Chloe is portrayed. She has such a child like demeanor and utter disregard for any sense of responsibility. Her naivety was cute at some points, but eventually it made me feel disconnected from her. Love Sig though. He loves her big time, and that’s clear. If Chloe wasn’t so helpless this would have gotten a higher rating from me! Thanks so much to Net Galley for the ARC!

4.75 ⭐️
“Until my last sunrise, dream girl.” 😭🫶🏻

Ugh I love Chloe & Sig so much.

When the readers said, “Bring yearning back.”
Tessa Bailey said, “Hold my beer.”

When Chloe, a child prodigy harpist/“manic pixie dream girl” has a steamy country club meet-cute with pro hockey player, Sig IT. IS. LOVE. They quickly diverge due to prior engagements promising to meet again. Their night takes a turn when they realize their parents are engaged. Chloe moves to Boston with the promise that Sig will help her learn to be an independent adult outside of the posh country club life she’s been living. BUT keeping their relationship platonic gets insanely challenging the more they spend time together. Amid the family drama, life altering career opportunities, and unadulterated yearning Chloe and Sig KNOW they were written in the stars. How will they cope and move on?

Side note: I was at the STL tour stop where TB explained her idea for a hockey v baseball rivalry (which was comical because the excitement in her tone was palpable). It was even better to see the execution of said rivalry on page and I cannot WAIT to watch it continue through the next Big Shots book!

I also am not the biggest fan of insta-love, but Chloe & Sig’s meet cute made me BELIEVEEEEE 🫶🏻

The ONLY reason why this isn’t a solid 5 stars is because I felt some way about how the time elapsed starting at chapter 5. Otherwise it was a BANGER.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the amazing opportunity to read the digital ARC of Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey. This is honestly the best book I have read in a while! The story is captivating and gets you hooked! Once I started reading it, I could not stop!

Although the story touches on “verging-on-taboo” themes, as per the author’s own words at the end of the book, I was rooting for these two main characters who fell in love after a chance meeting, only to later find out the devastating news that their parents not only know each other but are getting married! Despite their love and attraction, they attempt to fight these feelings throughout the story, and I found it so romantic and touching how this professional hockey player, who lives comfortably but without much financially, attempts to give this country club girl and harp prodigy everything she needs and wants.

After she escapes her controlling mother, he steps up to teach her how to live on her own in the city and no longer in her golden cage. However, he ends up taking on much more responsibility in teaching her how to live independently than he might have initially anticipated. This led to so many comedic interactions as he showed her how to do simple things she was not accustomed to in her previous life living at home with her dominating mother.

I loved every minute of this book and could not recommend it enough. I will definitely be reading more books from this author in the future! The writing has such flow to it, making this the most enjoyable book I have devoured in a short amount of time in a long while.

After loving books 1 & 2 I knew I had to read book three! I really loved the two main characters. They had tons of chemistry and lots of depth. I also loved the hockey romance aspect of this book. I couldn’t give this book more than 3 stars because I just could not enjoy the future step sibling plot line. I also felt like their love was insta-love and didn’t feel realistic enough. The female main character was very rich naive girl which is not really my favorite type of character in a romance, so it was hard to connect with her at times. Had this not had the step siblings plot line this would have been a 4 star book. I think this book will be someone’s cup of tea…just not mine! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!