Pitcher Perfect by @tessabaileyisanauthor

5⭐️
3.5🌶️

I was SO excited to get this ARC! I’ve absolutely loved The Bug Shots series so far and this one might be my favorite yet!

In Pitcher Perfect, we follow Robbie and Skylar, who we meet in Dream Girl Drama! And of course, we’ve seen Robbie since he showed up in his orgasm donor hoodie back in The Au Pair Affair and he’s so much better than I ever expected.

In this one, we have a little brother’s best friend, fake relationship, reformed playboy, hockey, and our FMC is a D1 softball pitcher!

I loved everything about them and wish I had more!

“Abruptly, he stopped walking, looking at her like he was seeing her all over again for the first time. “Hey, you. Skylar Page.”His fingers delved into her hair and tilted her face up. “Just where the hell have you been all my life?””

“This is my person. He’d known it the minute she’d mouthed fuck you at him at the baseball field... and shit, why was thinking about that making him emotional?”


“Emotions were happening. Every last one of them. All for this girl. He loved her, that was all there was to it, and he was never, ever going back.”


ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW


THEY'RE SO POOKIES OMG I LOVED IT SO MUCH

If you're like me and were immediately interested in robbie and skylar when they met in sigchloe's book, and anticipated this arc so much, you just enjoyed the heck out of this book.

they're so meant to be it's insane. absolutely perfect together, soulmates for real. their banter, their connection, they way they understood each other without words and before knowing each other's backstories.

they're hilarious too, and their humor was matched with the other so well. I adore them both individually and as a couple. the book was so so so much more than I imagined, o had no expectations set but I had high hopes because I'm obsessed with this series and Tessa didn't let me down.

robbie is a sweetheart, a ginger angel himbo who fell so fast and so bad for skylar that it was fantastic to read him.

and skylar is my girl, so smart and confident but shy and sensible, she deserved to be treated like a princess and she got it in robbie.

side characters excellence with my bearcats family, with elton (whom I hope gets a book with certain fmc iykyk) and also madden and eve (who I hope I get to know more soon)

I'm so so so grateful for this arc, I wish I could express it with more words.


now, some of my favorite quotes so beware of spoilers below

“The pain was well worth it when he tore off his blindfold to find Skylar running in his direction, laughing, her braid bouncing side to side on her shoulders. “You were amazing! We won!” Time moved in slow motion as she jumped into his arms, her warm laugh bubbling in his ear. And eventually sighing into his neck when he banded both arms around her and held, locking her curves tight to his frame, his eyes rolling blissfully into the back of his head over the way she fit him, absorbing the perfect feeling of the girl who was going to get away.”


“Before Robbie walked into the house, she’d been exposed and unsteady and lonely, ready to reveal a weakness to people who didn’t tolerate them, already at her usual deficit of Didn’t get into Brown. Half a minute later, there she sat in the sun, her entire body surrounded in warmth and support, reassured.”

I have read all of the other books in this series and Tessa did not disappoint with this 4th book.
Excellent spice scenes which is to be expected.

An absolute joy of a ride. Feisty female and a player turned golden retriever? I ate up every second of this one.

Haven’t read much Tessa Bailey but will be back.

Loved the way she developed this insta lust into a real, meaningful relationship with its own complexities. The characters were real and had their flaws but were willing to get vulnerable together.

Such a cute romantic comedy!!! Just in time for hockey season as well.

This story brings you on a trip with a sassy pitcher and a cocky hockey player and what happens when their small worlds connect. It made me laugh out loud and smile a lot.

Tessa has a fantastic ability to write a cute story with spice and everything nice!

Thank you netgalley and author for an early release!

For a fourth book in a series, this was really strong and stood on its own. It might be up for my favorite of the series?

Robbie and Skylar felt so real. Even though they fall in love super fast, it was believable. They both had flaws but were willing to change when presented with how their actions impacted others. I loved Robbie so much. His immediate response of embarrassment when he realizes how he is being perceived was very mature and I loved how he immediately wanted to change. I also loved how romantic he was. Very swoony. He saw how Skylar’s family was unknowingly hurting her and immediately stood up for her. I also appreciated Skylar’s willingness to admit when she screwed up. They both owned their mistakes easily and were very communicative about their feelings.

My only complaint really, is that the Madden of it all felt unfulfilled. I would have liked him to have found out Skylar had a crush on him or seen Robbie find out or something. Or even seen one or two scenes with him and Eve. He felt like he had unfinished business in their story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well this might not have been perfect, but I did read it in a day so…

I read Fangirl Down and then this without reading any of the books in between. Was I wrong in being upset that Madden wasn’t the love interest? Because I hadn’t read the synopsis or the other books, so I had no idea someone else was going to come in. And a huge playboy at that.

Anyway, once I got over being upset about this turn of events, I did end up enjoying it. I liked that there was fake dating, and that Robbie handled Skylar’s insane family well. I would’ve liked more out of Madden and Eve because I felt like they were important characters, but overall I really did have a good time reading this.

3.5 stars

Tessa Bailey and her form to create such fun ROMCOM is truly ONE OF A KIND! Loved getting the chance to meet Skylar and Robbie and see them fall in love, in such a fun way. This was TOP TIER FAKE DATING, especially because he FELL so hard for her, it was 100% insta-love for him and we love when Tessa gives us those moments! Robbie was the best book and most adorable book boyfriend ! The boy was down bad from the begining, but still so respectful of Skylar and her wants and needs!! Oh and the SPICE Tessa gave us, was so HOT!!!!!!!! Ugh, Tessa we love love you and we thank you and we can not wait for what is to come in this series!

Tessa Bailey is one of my favorite authors, so I was beyond excited to read Pitcher Perfect! I’ve loved every book in the Big Shots series, and this one was just as fun, flirty, and full of heart.

This story follows Robbie Corrigan, a rookie NHL hockey player with a playboy reputation, and Skylar Paige, a disciplined Division 1 softball pitcher who wants nothing to do with him. Their first meeting is full of tension and snark, but when Skylar needs help getting her longtime crush’s attention, she and Robbie agree to fake date.

As they team up for Skylar’s family’s wilderness competition, sparks fly, and real feelings start to grow. Robbie is determined to prove he’s more than his reputation, and Skylar begins to see a softer side of him.

During the family competition, Robbie risks injury to help Skylar win a challenge, showing just how far he’s willing to go for her.

This book has everything I love about Tessa Bailey’s writing: hilarious banter, steamy romance, and characters who grow emotionally. Seeing familiar faces from earlier books, such as Burgess, Sig, Chloe, and Tallulah, made it even better.

Another solid addition to this series.
Classic Bailey MC, he falls first, hard and fast.
I really loved Robbie, he had big time Golden Retriever energy and good lord, he's crazy about Skylar.
She's driven, regimented, a list maker (I love lists too!) and an overachiever trying to always please her family. Robbie comes along and accepts her for all of her wonderful quirks, and that aspect of Pitch Perfect really charmed me.
Overall, Pitch Perfect is a super spicy sweet and funny read that I really loved!!

Tessa Bailey continues to shine! I enjoyed the fake dating trope with Skylar and Robbie. I usually really hate when the romance leads fall for each other too quickly, but Bailey handles it well with these two characters.

so. much. fun. tessa bailey does it again. her books don’t always hit for me but oh my god when they do?? incredible.

fake-dating sports romance with a golden retriever, obsessed-with-the-girl-and-not-afraid-for-everyone-to-know-it mmc and a competitive, blunt, will-not-put-up-with-your-shit fmc as they compete together in her family’s annual games week (kinda). i just loved this. the spice, the chemistry, the character development, all of it! these two had me giggling and smiling throughout the whole time reading. pitcher perfect and fangirl down have got to be my favourite books in this series for sure.

robbie calling skylar ‘rocket’ may also be one of my favourite romance book nicknames. it just hit different for me idk what else to say about it.

i mean i literally started this book yesterday on my flight (which was only an hour) and still somehow found time to finish it today during my city-break holiday. i’ll definitely be getting a finished copy when this is out in september, and am going to cross all my fingers for book 5 to bring me the same level of joy!

this book is freaking good plain & simple. my new favorite Tessa Bailey book.

A playboy hockey star. A college softball player. Fake dating. “Teach me”. Close proximity. He’s down bad.

I read this in two sittings and it would’ve been one of I didn’t have to work for a living.

DNF at 40%
unfortunately, I do not this this author's writing style is for me. It just felt too quirky for me and I could NOT relate to any of the characters for some reason. I know this author is very popular and well loved so I know this book will find its audience, it just isn't me lol

Read This Book If…your family is a liiiiiiittle competitive!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey

Genre: sports romance
Series: Big Shots # 4
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 explicit scenes
Setting: Boston and Rhode Island
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense
Tropes: reformed playboy, fake dating, dating lessons, one bed, “good girl”

My Thoughts:
This was such a fun read that I binged in one day! I loved how both main characters are at the top of their respective sports and their competitive nature made for some really entertain situations.

I will always enjoy a fake-dating-to-make-someone-else-jealous trope because the moment they realize they actually care for each other is always swoon-worthy!

Overall, I think I have a new favorite in this series. There was the right balance of spice, sports, and tender moments. And of course, the signature Tessa dirty talk.

Memorable Quote: “What it ever a maybe, Skylar?” “No, you were never a maybe.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

I enjoyed this sports romance - I feel like with every book I read from Tessa Bailey, she gets better and better. This was beautifully written and I cannot wait to pick up more of her books in the future

Okay I loved this. Robbie’s growth in this book was great but I really liked Skyler’s story with the support of Robbie! And Tessa baileys spice always hits!

I'm not a sports romance person, but I keep reading this series because these books are so fun!! Pitcher Perfect opens with a hilarious rehashing of the baseball scene from book 3, and it was perfect. I read the whole book in one day, and then went back and reread the baseball game in Dream Girl Drama because I wasn't ready to be done with the characters.

Tessa Bailey delivers another swoon-worthy romance in Pitcher Perfect, this time pairing emotional depth with playful banter in a story that explores far more than just love.

Skylar and Robbie’s journey begins with a classic enemies-to-lovers setup. Their initial clash stems from a single awkward encounter, not deep seated animosity, which makes their transition into romance feel more like an emotional unraveling than a fiery feud. While the premise leans into familiar tropes, Bailey adds layers of vulnerability and growth that elevate the story beyond surface level chemistry.

What truly shines is the emotional connection between the characters. Their relationship is a vehicle for exploring themes of self-discovery, self-worth, and personal healing. Skylar’s journey toward embracing her own value and Robbie’s support make for a romance that feels tender and affirming.

That said, the plot does seem a bit unrealistic. Particularly Robbie’s sudden involvement in Skylar’s family competition after just one meeting.

Overall, Pitcher Perfect is a heartfelt read that balances emotional resonance with romantic tension. If you’re in the mood for a story that blends personal growth with a touch of whimsy, this one might just hit the spot.

Thank you NetGalley and Tessa’s team for allowing me the pleasure of reading and reviewing this ARC.

Another amazing book in the Big Shots series!! I was so excited for Robbie and Skylar's story after their meet cute in Dream Girl Drama. Two athletes, he falls first, fake dating, the best spice!! I devoured this book and am sad it's over!