this book was so fun! I'd been excited for this pairing ever since the were introduced in Dream Girl Drama :) between the banter and chemistry between the two leads, I was kicking my feet and giggling most of the time.

Like the others in the Big Shots series, I loved this! Skylar and Robbie had insane chemistry and really understood each other. The new side characters were really enjoyable to meet. I loved the plot. I’m giving this book 4 stars because I felt the third act conflict was a bit silly.

Pitcher Perfect - ARC Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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PUB DATE: September 9th
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FEATURES:
-Adult Contemporary Romance
-Fake Dating
-Hockey Player and Softball Player
-He Falls First
-Oops, I caught feelings for my fake boyfriend
-Dating Lessons
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Why:
While this book had Tessa Bailey's signature spice and dirty talk, it was also incredibly endearing and sweet. Both the character and relationship development were very well done, offering lots of scenes of these 2 getting to know each other and getting to know themselves. They had lots of deep discussions and trusted each other with big things. This had me believing and rooting for their love.
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This book is full of gestures - not just grand ones, that demonstrated how much these two cared, but also how they noticed and remembered the little things about each other.
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I was grinning and kicking my feet the whole way through this book.
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Thank you @avon and @netgalley for my eARC copy. I was given this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Okay this was so fun.

Professional hockey player and certified manwh*re Robbie Corrigan crosses paths with D1 collegiate softball player Skylar Paige. Skylar, ever in love with her brothers best friend, decides to recruit Robbie for a little fake-dating escapade in order to catch her unrequited loves attention and hopefully make him finally see her as someone 'dateable'. While Skylar never expects to catch feelings for Robbie, Robbie hopes she'll start to see him as more than just a fake boyfriend.

I had a great time reading this and couldn't put it down. I LOVE a fake-dating situation but it's made even better with a 'teach me' trope. Robbie and Skylar had such amazing chemistry and while I was a little unsure about Robbie in the beginning, he totally won me over by the end. That man is the definition of a down-bad, himbo who falls first and harder. I loved the way Robbie consistently showed up for Skylar physically and emotionally.

I know some readers are completely turned off by a third act breakup but think it was done really well here and it's pretty brief, lasting maybe 2 chapters. I loved that Robbie's hurt was taken seriously and not brushed over. "His hurt was valid. He wasn't going to disregard it." - YES! and throughout his hurt he STILL shows up for her. This was important for their relationship to progress and no one can change my mind.

It's worth noting that I have not read the previous books in the Big Shots series. And while I obviously missed some context for the side characters, it did not impact my enjoyment of this book. While the side characters make appearances and their stories are briefly mentioned, I was still able to be fully immersed in Robbie and Skylar's story.

This was such a fun addition to the Tessa Bailey sportsy romance family! I really loved the banter and slow burn romance of the two main characters. Also a He Falls First trope- the best! Way to go Tessa!

This is the 4th book in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series, and while I wasn’t a fan of Fangirl Down or Dream Girl Drama (I was ok with Au Pair Affair), I actually liked Pitcher Perfect. I mean I know what I’m getting with a Tessa Bailey book. But this had enemies to lovers and fake dating and I didn’t hate Robbie or Skylar; I thought they were cute together. I absolutely hated Sig and Chloe’s relationship in the previous book (and they make appearances in this book and I’m still annoyed with them) but Robbie and Skylar’s relationship seemed more believable to me. This is a quick, lighthearted read and I enjoyed it! Don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the HEA.

I have never met a man DOWN. SO. BAD. I ate this up. there's just something about watching a resident bachelor enjoying his playboy lifestyle just do a complete 180 and fall SO HARD for a girl 🥲 Robbie aka Orgasm Donor of the Bearcats hockey team meets Skylar (a pitcher) and that's IT for him this man is never the same. Skylar on the other hand is into her brother's best friend, so she and Robbie decide to fake date to make him jealous. banter ensues *cue giggling and kicking feet for the entirety of the plot. anyway this book was a home run for me! 😌 I cannot thank the publisher enough for the eARC of this book. I am beyond excited I got to read this early and I can't wait to read it again when it's released!!!

What you can expect to find in Big Shots
-insta love
-he falls first
-complicated family dynamics
-reformed playboy
-golden retreiver hero
-hockey player x softball player
-fake dating

Pitcher Perfect started off really strong for me. I loved the dynamic that Robbie and Skylar had going right from the get-go. Their banter was cute! And the fact that Skylar was pining away for her brothers best friend made it messy which I LOVE. So when the trope *fake dating to get another man to notice you* was dropped into the story I was immediately sold. Not to mention the *teach me your ways* - I'm a sucker for these tropes every single time.

Where the book lost me was the last quarter or so of it. There was A LOT going on kind of lost me on the story. The conflict kind of came out of nowhere and felt forced.

Overall, Pitcher Perfect was a fast paced read!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was fun, sports romances aren't super my jam but this was well written and done.

Tessa Bailey does it again, bringing her signature sexy storytelling to this latest book in the Big Shots series. Robbie Corrigan, one of the rookies for the Boston Bearcats hockey team. Often sporting his favorite Orgasm Donor hoodie, is known for being a ladies’ man - the more ladies the better.

But when the Bearcats are challenged to a baseball game by some local ball players, he meets Skyler Page, D1 starting pitcher at Boston University, who is unimpressed with how he talks about women. They make a bet - he gets on base, he gets to take her on a date. On that date, he learns about her long-time crush on her brother’s best friend, and volunteers to fake date her to teach her al she wants to know. But fake turns real faster than both of them expect…

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC! This book was fun. Loved the enemies to friends to lovers storyline. It was cheesy at times and I have to ignore some of the language at times, but I was really rooting for this couple to get their HEA. 🥎🏒

loved this romance that happens in week. There is fake dating involved and really falling in love. Robbie and skylar meet on the baseball field and bicker all the time. He wants to become a better man and she wants to loved by her family more. they both fall in love . I adore this series and I;m hoping for mailer or her brother in the series . Thanks netgalley

Another fun book by Tessa! Robbie and Skylar were an unexpected couple, but I loved how he supported her no matter what. We love a man who falls hard and fast, and Robbie did exactly that. As always, the banter was excellent and the spice was top-notch. I wouldn’t expect anything less!

The story is really sweet, I love the character development that we see in Robbie. The playful nature between the two lovers, as well as the fun setting of the Page Stakes competition kept me turning pages. I really didn’t want to put this book down. Honestly, I had a really hard time getting through how much spice was in this book. I don’t typically read romances that are this level of steamy. While I have seen criticism of Robbie’s Playboy personality, and critiques about the lack of realism. I feel like if you read this book in a really playful tone then it’s really a five star read. However, if you are reading it in a more realistic serious point of view, then it would probably lie as a three star!

Cute but not my favorite Tessa Bailey. Think it’s my own fault for growing out of college romances. Flirting was good but I just can’t do college age characters anymore

I liked this one so much more than her previous one in the series. Their relationship was cute and overall I always enjoy how gone the male leads get for their women.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I have been excited for this pairing since it was teased in the previous book, and it did not disappoint. In fact, to me it is the best book in the “Big Shots” series (thus far?) and probably tied for my favorite Tessa Bailey novel.

Robbie and Skylar were both such fun, likable characters who had tangible character development. Skylar is such a badass and I loved watching her confidence grow. And for the most part, they communicated like actual adults! The banter between these two was so top-notch, I was kicking my feet and giggling. Robbie and his food also had me cracking up.

I really enjoyed Madden as a side character and I’m hoping there is another book in the series about him. (Or Mailer!) I also didn’t feel the cringe I sometimes do with Tessa’s books. (I’m still gonna gobble all her books up but…IYKYK. Especially after Dream Girl Drama.)

Tessa Bailey always know how to do it! Her characters are so fun and she knows how to make you feel things along with them! I love getting ARCs and was so excited for this one. I can't wait for the next in the series!

I think I just found my new favorite Tessa Bailey’s book. "Pitcher Perfect" was...perfect. Robbie and Sky's relationship was funny, captivating, sexy and adorable…it that had it all. Totally recommended. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

I’ve had a few Tessa Bailey books on my “to read” list and saw that this was a “read now” book on NetGalley so I thought I’d give it a try since I have many friends who love her books.

What I learned is that Tessa Bailey may not be the romance author for me since I kind of hated every single character. First, we have our female lead character, Skylar who is a badass pitcher, who has been pining for her next door neighbor since they were kids. She makes a deal with the male lead, Robbie, whose main character trait seems to be that he sleeps around a lot & wears sweatshirts that read “orgasm donor” (I kid you not). The deal is that he will essentially be her sex tutor (again, not kidding) so she can win over the neighbor, who has no personality to speak of. Then there is Skylar’s family who spend most of the book belittling her. Sure, there are a few other characters, but they have so little to do with the plot that they aren’t really worth mentioning.

But let’s get to one of the weirder bits - Robbie is a pro hockey player whose team is getting ready for the Stanley Cup playoffs and the WEEK before the playoffs he goes out of town to spend the week pretending to be Skylar’s boyfriend during her family’s insane annual competition. I found it impossible to believe that any professional athlete would risk their health and, hence, career for such stupid shenanigans, especially right before the most important time of the season. Add to that the insta-love which, I know, is a major part of many of these books, but this one was particularly ridiculous., Combined with the obsessive, possessive relationship Robbie and Skylar jumped into, filled with over-the-top jealousy (for someone they’ve known for a week?!?!) and it just gave me the ick.

Having not read another Tessa Bailey book, I can’t say whether her fans will enjoy this outing, I can only say that I did not. 2 stars because I finished it.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Sorry it couldn’t be a more positive one.