I've read many a Tessa Bailey book, so I already knew what I was getting into: lots of spice, laugh out loud moments, and characters that fall for each other incredibly quickly. Tessa gets straight to the point! I love the little worlds she creates and the multiple couples that each get their own stories. Sports romances are not my favorite, though, as I find reading about sports a bit tedious. This one didn't grab me instantly the way some others have, and I struggled to like Chloe. This author's books are either a hit or a miss for me, and I found myself skimming through a few sections. I'd still recommended it if you like Tessa.

This book just fell flat. There were moments where it heated up and a lot of unnecessary drama. Overall, I enjoyed the themes of the book and love the sports aspect.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity! As always Tessa Bailey has done it once again. Also can I just say how much I love the step sibling trope, this one was top tier although there were some minor set backs that could had been improved the story still delivered. The way Tessa writes the chemistry between characters is like no other this book was no exception.

I absolutely loved this book. You get a glimpse of their story in the Au Pair Affair and I couldn't wait for this book to come out. I loved the long build and sexual tension she brings to this story. The way this man believes in this girls dreams is a breath of fresh air.

This book was very cute. I enjoy her books in general and went into this one blind - I was not disappointed. While the story line was a little drawn out and the scenario not very believable, it was a nice, quick read.

Tessa Bailey does it an again. I could not wait for Sig and Chloe’s story. It was a but of an emotional roller coaster but in Tessa fashion. Wrapped up with the a HEA bow! Can’t wait for the next book in this series.

((reviewed this under a different account before getting it here... whoops ))

Book Name: Dream Girl Drama
Author: Tessa Bailey

ARC
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley

Stars: 5
Spice: 4

Anthology Series/Standalone
Fast Paced
Dual POV
Contemporary Sport Romance

- Thoughts.
- OMG I was dying for this book
- Lives up to the HYPE
- SLOW BURN
- Secrets and Miscommunication
- Insta Love
- Forbidden romance
- Sigs Moral Compass (swoon)
- Panic Pixie Dream Girl
- Musician and Athlete
- Lots of emotional moments and pinning
- relationship/non-relationship

LOVE LOVE LOVE
This book was so funny and great
Plus it wins the 3am award for having me stay up WAY too late to finish it!
Did I mention I LOVE it


EXTRA THOUGHTS
I love this series and have been buying it and the other books for all my buddies Tessa is brilliant and these sports romances are for the girlies who arent into sports I love it so much...

Thanks to Netgalley & Avon/Harper Voyager for the E-ARC! Loved so much! My fav in the series so far. Tessa does it again!

Dream Girl Drama, written by Tessa Bailey, is set to be released on February 4, 2025. It's a steamy sports rom-com that promises to be a whirlwind of emotions. The story kicks off with professional hockey player Sig Gauthier experiencing car troubles and ending up at a fancy country club, where he meets the enchanting Chloe Clifford. Their chemistry is instant, but things take an unexpected turn when they discover their parents are engaged, making Chloe his future stepsister. Chloe, a harp prodigy with a sheltered upbringing, craves independence from her controlling mother. Sig, ever the hero, steps in to help her navigate her newfound freedom. The book is bound to be filled with drama, romance, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. It’s one of those stories that makes you want to curl up with a cozy blanket and get lost in the pages.

Tessa Bailey is the reigning queen of Romantic Comedies. Her humor and wit is unparalleled by any other author. Like most of her works she is able to find a perfect balance and correlation between plot and sexual tension, as well as (spicy) scenes. I absolutely loved this book, and cannot wait to read her next release. Bailey's works are always a delectable treat to read.

ARC review

Dream Girl Drama
By Tessa Bailey

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ( 4 out of 5)

Publishing date: 2/4/25

Starting off the year strong with this one! 😍😍

When Sig and Chloe meet, they have an instant spark- a once in a lifetime explosion of attraction that they can't explain . But when they learn their parents are ENGAGED TO EACH OTHER, they decide their only option is to remain friends.

Sig and Chloe fight their desire as long as they can...but when articles are published outting them as step siblings with an odd relationship they decide this has to stop. But can they stay away from each other?

I really really liked this! It was super relatable because my husband and I also had that "insta love" but I don't play the harp and he isn't a professional hockey player 😆 so there's that..

I enjoyed both characters. Their banter was entertaining and the spice was good! However I wish there was more. It took a while to get to the spice. So much of the book was spent trying to resist each other.

This is book #3 of the big shot series but can totally be read as a standalone. I have not ready the previous 2.

If you are a Tessa Bailey lover, I recommend this one!

Thank you @netgalley and @avonbooks ! So thankful for the chance to read this early!!

Let me start off by saying I LOVE TESSA BAILEY. I’ve even met her in person this last summer. She is an amazing woman and I love her books.

But unfortunately I just didn’t click with this one. I love this series as a whole, but this book was lacking and felt rushed.

The beginning chapters felt promising but with the massive time jumps and lack of information of what happened between those time jumps, I just kinda got lost in feeling more for the characters.

I couldn’t relate to Chloe, a rich harpist who never really did anything on her own. She came off as childish but she did have a big heart. She wanted to be independent but she moved from having her mother take care of her on to Sig.

Sig, a broody hockey player who lives his life not showing off his wealth, falls for Chloe but can’t have her because their parents announce they are marrying each other. He ends up taking care of Chloe and paying for her rent and her lifestyle because she’s his “dream girl.”

The plot was set up for something great, but it fell short. I will say Tessa kills it with the intimate scenes and building up the tension. It’s one of the reasons I love her writing because she shocks me every time.

I will read more of Tessa Bailey, but sometimes authors have hit or misses. And this one was a miss. Although I didn’t mess with this one, I will look forward to her other releases.

Tessa Bailey writes deliciously spicy romance! The ending totally made this book worth it. I love HEA epilogues.

I really enjoyed the other two Big Shots books, but this one fell short for me.
Chloe and Sig have immediate chemistry, but then the slow burn drags on for six months, and it sure felt like as long when I was reading! The resolution to the hurdle between them and a relationship is resolved satisfactorily, but not until the very end of the book, and then the story speeds up too fast.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey releasing 2/4 is the third installment in the Big Shots series and the best so far. This story focuses on Sig and Chloe’s forbidden romance. Sig is a hockey player and Chloe is a harpist. It was lust at first sight until their parents announced they were getting married, forcing Sig and Chloe to become siblings! Can they bury their feelings so they don’t ruin their careers? This was a fast paced and to the point book. It was a lot less spicy than previous Tessa Bailey books. The forbidden romance forced a slow burn so the spice is minimal and toward the end of the book. I loved Sig in the previous book and he does not disappoint as the MMC! Of course, the secondary characters are hilarious! I cannot wait until the fourth book comes out.

Of all of the books in this series so far, Dream Girl Drama is BY FAR no question my favorite! It was so fun and funny. I loved Chloe and Sig's relationship and it held my attention until the end because I had zero idea how in the world Tessa Bailey was going to resolve the issue of them being stepsiblings. I am SO glad there are more books to come!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy!

When professional hockey player Sig and society darling and harpist Chloe meet in a chance encounter at a country club after Sig's car breaks down, their connection is instant. After sharing a steamy kiss, the two agree to meet later that evening to take things further. But when the two separate to head to their dinner plans, they discover that their obligations are one and the same: Chloe's mom is marrying Sig's dad, and this was the dinner where they were all supposed to meet. With Sig's life in the spotlight and Chloe's family's reputation, there's no ignoring the inappropriateness of continuing anything romantic. But Sig still wants to help Chloe live the life she's dreamed of and get out from under her mother's thumb, so he invites her to Boston where she can perfect her already prodigal harp skills. Having her close is better than nothing, right?

I'm obsessed with this book. Fangirl Down was such a delight that I wasn't sure another book in the series could reach such heights, but this one came pretty close. It's a quintessential taboo romance but done in the best way possible. You just feel so bad for Sig and Chloe because they're so obviously meant to be together but can't because their parents happened to meet first. You might be wondering how this situation works itself out, but I'm not going to spoil it for you! The book is worth reading yourself...

Thanks to Avon for my eARC (and to Goodreads for my giveaway winner copy)! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

I read Tessa Bailey’s Bellinger Sisters duology last year and adored those books, so I was excited to read this one. I didn’t know this was the third book in a different series, but I had no trouble following along. There were moments in this book that I genuinely enjoyed, especially the scenes with the hockey team. They literally made me laugh out loud! However, at other times, this book just fell flat.

I am very picky when it comes to insta-love, and I struggled with that storyline. It seemed more like insta-lust than insta-love to me. There wasn’t enough buildup or early interactions between the main characters to make their emotional connection feel believable. That said, I do think the author improves that aspect of the book as the story progresses.

Overall, I liked this book. If you are looking for a low-stakes, fluffy hockey romance with spice. I think you’d enjoy it. For me, it was a three-star read.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Talk about awe-inspiring!
Chloe is a prodigy child who has been sheltered her whole life in a small town when she has a chance encounter with Sig. Sig was on his way to dinner with his father when his truck broke down and he walked to the country club that was close to making a phone call to try to get his truck working so he could attend the dinner. When he is met with roadblocks by the front desk Chloe saves him saying he is her friend and is allowed entry. They spend time together and while things start to get steamy they stop because they BOTH had previous engagements.
When Sig arrives at the house of his father's fiancee he makes a terrible discovery. Chloe will be his step-sister soon and that makes everything more complicated. At the dinner, Sig offers to help Chloe move to Boston and then on top of that Chloe's mother says that if she moves to Boston she will cut her off financially. Sig knowingly aids her, helps her get an apartment, and incorporates her into his life with his team while trying to keep her at arm's length because they will soon be step-siblings. However, everyone on the outside can see the chemistry between the two and the rumor mill starts running and threatens to ruin everything they have both worked towards!
Chloe's mentor has threatened to drop her because of the step-brother scandal and eventually does when an article comes out. Sig's new team manager offers him everything he has ever wanted on a silver platter but tells him that he has to drop everything with Chloe because they cannot be connected to a scandal.
However, the two try to separate, and it hurts both of them. Can they stay away from each other to make their dreams happen, or will their love cause them to lose it all?
Check out Dream Girl Drama to find out! It will be published on February 4, 2025. Mark your calendars for this one—you won't want to miss out! Thank you, Netgalley and Avon & Harper Voyager Books, for the exciting opportunity to read and review this one!

Dream Girl Drama had me hooked, the first chapter did a great job of hooking me into the story of Chloe & Sig. The entire story Tessa Bailey wrote was spectacular, the slow burn, the yearning, the grumpy x sunshine, the hockey players, the spice....all of it was perfection.

Sig is definitely high up on the book boyfriends list.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey delivers a sizzling romance between Sig, a pro hockey player, and Chloe, a sheltered music prodigy. Their relationship begins with intense chemistry but becomes complicated when they learn that their parents are engaged, making them potential step-siblings. While the forbidden nature of their attraction adds tension, some readers may struggle with the dynamics, especially Chloe’s dependency and Sig’s possessive tendencies. Despite this, their slow-burn romance, filled with yearning and intimate moments, is engaging, and their chemistry is undeniably strong.

Though I found the storyline a bit difficult to grasp, especially the "step-sibling" element, the character development of Chloe and Sig adds depth to the plot. Chloe, usually hard to connect with due to her spoiled princess persona, becomes more likable as the story progresses. Sig’s devotion to Chloe is endearing, even if it sometimes crosses into controlling behavior. The book successfully mixes angst, forbidden attraction, and romantic tension, making it an enjoyable read for those who love a steamy, emotional romance.