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.

I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope and a good sports romance and this book was FUN. The spice was spicyyyy and I was invested in Skylar and Robbie - both their journey as a couple and their individual stories. The instalove didn’t bother me… in fact, I like how quickly she started falling for Robbie and realized her crush on Madden was over. The third act “break up” was weak and okay, I know there was some cringe parts but overall I was thoroughly entertained and happy while reading this and it was just what I needed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read an early copy!

This was a really quick read. I love baseball, I’ve been a fan my whole life, so when I saw that that/softball was the next sport up Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series, I was so excited to read it, and even more excited to get the opportunity to read it months before publication!

That being said, I was a little disappointed as this one was just okay. There was a lot more that could have been done and it just fell a bit short for me. I’ve read most of Tessa Bailey’s books at this point and this isn’t her best by a long shot. I do think that the second half of the book is better than the first half.

Robbie was one of the main problems. He makes sexual jokes about women and doesn’t seem to care about their feelings whatsoever until he meets Skylar and IMMEDIATELY changes his tune just for her. If there’s something quicker than insta-attraction, that’s what this is. It gets better in the second half of the book but it just didn’t seem believable at all.

I also hate the trope in books when a main character’s family treats them like crap and in comes the love interest to stand up for her making the family realize what a treasure she really is and then everything is magically okay. Just no.

The next book is very clearly going to be Eve and Madden’s story, and I will happily read it, I just hope its better than this one.

My favorite out of the series! I loved the banter and the chemistry. I felt like the character development was great.

First, huge thanks to NetGalley and Harper’s for the advance copy of this one!!!!

Read this in one couch rot, very easy and enjoyable. My second fave of her books next to It Happened One Summer (and I haven’t always loved her ones since then so this is saying something).
Great for:
- Banter aficionados (it’s some of her best)
- Fake Dating trope lovers
- He’s more experienced/teaching fans

This book was exactly what I needed and I enjoyed so much about it!! The author did a great job at juggling fun banter, romance, character development and a fake dating plot without anything feeling out of place. Was able to truly just enjoy the ride.

Side note, I have read other Tessa Bailey books but not any in this series and now I am all in to read the forst three books! Genuinely!

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book!

My first experience with Tessa Bailey left me uncertain if she was an author I would enjoy but this book totally restored my faith in her. The banter and tension between the MMCs was phenomenal and she somehow turned a playboy, talking crudely about women, into this golden retriever with a filthy mouth that I was rooting for. Both Robbie and Skyler were enjoyable characters with their own growth and arcs that played out nicely in the story.

Overall, I had a really enjoyable time and would recommend.

I’m so grateful for the privilege to read this as an ARC—huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity!

Fake dating ✔️
College-aged romance ✔️
Softball player FMC x Hockey player MMC ✔️
He falls first ✔️

Tessa Bailey is one of my auto-buy, always-read authors, and for good reason. Her writing is consistently addictive, her dialogue razor-sharp, and her spicy scenes never disappoint. I've thoroughly enjoyed every book in the Big Shots series, and book #4 was no exception—it delivered the same swoony charm, fast-paced banter, and heat that fans have come to expect.

"Pitcher Perfect" follows a classic fake-dating trope between a D1 softball player Skylar Paige and rookie hockey player Robbie Corrigan. The chemistry between these two was palpable from the beginning, and the banter—Tessa's specialty—was even sharper and more flirtatious than usual. The dirty talk and steam were top-tier, though I will say it felt like there was less smut than what we usually get in this series, and the scenes that were there felt a bit abbreviated.

What really stood out to me was Robbie's character arc. Readers of the series will recognize him as the lovable but immature side character who’s often played comic relief in earlier books. It was incredibly satisfying to see him get his own redemption story and show real growth. That said, the progression felt a little too fast. I love a whirlwind romance, but even in the world of hyper-fictional romance, it was a bit of a leap.

The college setting brought a younger vibe to the story that didn’t entirely click with me. Maybe it’s just me aging out of the genre a bit, but the scenes that took place under her parents' roof, especially the steamy ones, pulled me out of the fantasy and made things feel a bit juvenile or awkward at times. I think I would have appreciated a little more emotional buildup and pacing.

Overall, while this wasn’t my favorite in the Big Shots series, I still enjoyed the ride. The romance was sweet, the banter top-notch, and it was so satisfying to see Robbie finally step into the spotlight. I’d rate this one 3.5 stars, and I’m still absolutely looking forward to whatever Tessa Bailey writes next.

another ~hit~ from queen tessa bailey literally can’t wait for the next one hopefully madden and eve hehehe

Another homerun by Tessa Bailey!!

I LOVED that we got a FMC athlete and she plays softball - it couldn’t get any better!

We did get a teeny tiny mention of Skylar and Robbie in Chloe and Sig’s book when it came down to the hockey vs baseball pickup game and their story is finally here! And it may have been my favorite of the Big Shots series thus far, but it’s tough competition!

Skylar was such a fun character. Her need to compete and win, her baseball background and her college softball, her crazy family - she was a great FMC.

And Robbie is just the sweetest, goofiest, Golden Retriever MMC of them all. The way he loved Skylar from the first minute they met was so stinkin cute to read about.

I thoroughly enjoyed the crazy Page Stakes, too!

This is a book you don’t want to miss. I’m so curious to know if we will get a Mailer book next or if we get more time with Madden, his pro career beginnings and Eve! Both if were lucky!

Two things I read that caught me up:
-When Eve asks if Skylar had googled Robby and she said no, but in the beginning she had and that was how she knew basic info on him
-When Robby is standing ‘30 yards’ away for her to throw the first pitch to him before her game - college softball pitching distance is only 43 ft, not about 90.

"That earned him his first laugh from Skylar Page - and it forever changed him."

I received an ARC of Pitcher Perfect from NetGalley, however all opinions are mine!

Just when I think Tessa writes my favorite book, she outdoes herself again and that is exactly what happened with Pitcher Perfect. If I could give it a million stars, I would.

Robbie Corrigan took me completely by surprise. From playboy "orgasm donor" to top tier book boyfriend in an absolute flash. His growth, character and story arc captured my heart and hasn't let it go!

Skylar Page is a high level collegiate athlete yet feels less than in so many ways. Her story is as much about coming into her own as it is falling in love. I connected with her in so many ways and her growth resonated with me deeply.

I love these two together so much! They balance, challenge and encourage each other so effortlessly. The banter. The spice! The humor. They have it all.

I will never be over Skylar and Robbie. Theirs is a love story for the ages and it is lodged deeply in my heart.

I have been enjoying this series from Tessa! Loving the different relationships that have formed. I definitely like Skylar and Robbie’s story the best. Rocket and Redbeard and their insecurities and maturing together.

I'm such a fan of this universe from Tessa Bailey.

"Pitcher Perfect" comes after Fangirl Down, The Au Pair Affair, and Dream Girl Drama.

Robbie Corrigan is a comic relief character in the latest two books; now, we see his softer side. He and Skyler meet as part of a subplot of Dream Girl Drama, so going into it, you will see a little bit about both characters already in your head.

It leads to a classic Tessa Bailey fake-dating, romance lesson of a romcom.

Skylar is sheltered and sports-focused, but hopelessly crushing on someone else, and Robbie is enraptured by the girl who resists him.

They have great banter, and it's great to see the leads from Au Pair and Dream Girl pop in to teach Robbie about emotions and women.

It's also a great look at how trying to fit in or keep up with others can keep you from feeling part of anything. And how it feels when you let someone have your back.

It's a really cute and fun read.

5/5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶

Playboy hockey rookie for the Boston Bearcats, Robbie Corrigan, meets his match with Skylar Page, D1 softball pitcher that takes no bull. When he finds out she’s harboring a crush for her brother’s best friend, he sees an in: help her catch Madden’s eye while also giving her lessons so she can dive right into the relationship — and maybe convince her Robbie is the one for her instead. Skylar has her life planned and organized down to the minute…and it’s all written down in her planner. Something she never thought she would have in there? A make out session with the guy she can’t stand but also can’t stop thinking about.

We all know I am feral for a Tessa Bailey novel, and Pitcher Perfect is no different. You get the SPICY spice, the HILARIOUS banter, and all the feel-good vibes you see in other Tessa Bailey stories.

I really loved how these two characters grew together and learned how to love each other the way they needed to be loved! Skylar learns to trust Robbie and also believe in herself. Robbie learned how to communicate even his most difficult to explain feelings. The way Robbie shows up for Skylar in front of her family (someone send the BU store a thank you note), I actually teared up. Both characters show growth and learn throughout the story.

TROPES:
- Fake Dating
- He Falls First
- Reformed Playboy
- Pro Hockey Rookie MMC x D1 Softball Pitcher FMC
- Family Games/Competition
- Outdoor *activities* 🌶
- SPICY
- He Shows Up for Her

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

5/5 ⭐
3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
Girl, you ate with this one. Obsessed. I was literally kicking my feet and giggling throughout this entire book. I've read MANY of Tessa's books, and this one easily makes my list of favorites.

Skylar is a perfectionist softball pitcher in love with her brother’s best friend. She struggles with self-esteem and feels lost when it comes to dating. Enter Robbie—a professional hockey player and certified player—who’s recently realized (thanks to Skylar) that he’s not proud of how he's treated women. So, he agrees to “coach” her on dating… to help her catch someone else's eye. You can guess where this is going. Fake dating with real feelings? I'm all in.

This book delivered some of my favorite tropes:
Fake dating
Reformed playboy
Reverse grumpy/sunshine
Golden retriever MMC
He falls first (and hard)
Tessa weaves these tropes in so naturally—they're not just boxes checked off, they feel earned and essential to the story.

Robbie’s character development? Chef’s kiss. We love a man who YEARNS, and y’all, he yearns. I also loved that Skylar didn’t just let him get away with his old behavior—she calls it out, and it leads to real growth.

As always, Tessa delivers on the spice. The physical tension was palpable. Skylar’s growing attraction to Robbie was so well written, I felt it right along with her. It wasn’t just sexy—it was intimate and emotionally charged.

I also loved the cameos from past characters. Even though I haven’t loved every book in this series, the friend group dynamic (especially Robbie and his teammates) had me laughing out loud.

I'm a total sucker for redemption arcs, and this one hit all the right emotional notes. Watching Skylar and Robbie become better people through vulnerability and connection was really moving. This story shows how love can challenge us and help us heal.

Favorite quotes:
“I’m in trouble, baby. I’m in so much trouble over you.”
“So yeah, I don’t know, Skylar, but I think I’m pretty messed up over you... I don’t know. I don’t know. My chest hurts, baby. Help me out.”