3.5☆ If you want a spicy, fun, turn-your-brain-off read, this series is great. I basically read Pitcher Perfect in a day. While this looks like a baseball romance, it isn't very sports forward.

I will admit, Robbie wasn't my favorite MMC, but he and Skylar were entertaining! I enjoyed the "make your crush jealous" plot point. But at times found myself more interested in Madden lol. Like most Tessa Bailey books, you can't think too hard about logistics, but overall I had a great time.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for this advanced copy of Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey!

Overall:
3.75 stars out of 5 rounded up

Fair warning; I’m a sucker for a womanizing man realizing the girl who doesn’t want him is the girl of his dreams.

This book was all I wanted. Robbie was instantly smitten, Skylar wanted nothing to do with him and it made for the best banter.

My only critique is the whole intrigue between Skylar and Madden felt forced. Skylar honestly didn’t seem that into him beyond wanting to show up her family and I wish she had realized that earlier, rather than realizing she wanted Robbie more.

I’m super excited for Madden’s book though. Glad it’s coming next!

Did this book start out, once again, with insta-lust?
Yes.
Was the timeline on this absolutely, completely bonkers?
Yes.
Was this practically no plot and many, many vibes?
Absolutely yes.
Did I actually Tessa Bailey actually make me root for the totally ridiculous himbo that is Robbie Corrigan enough that I ate this up in practically one sitting?
Yes. Yep. Yes!

Y’all! I'm devastated to admit that I didn't enjoy this book 😭

Starting with the main characters, Skylar Page (a “badass” softball pitcher with perfectionism issues) and Robbie Corrigan (a “playboy” hockey player who falls instantly for Skylar). They both felt so unfinished as characters. Skylar's behavior during their fake dating arrangement often seemed less like playful teasing into more mean-spirited quips. Meanwhile, Robbie's dialogue was so immature, reading more like a 14-year-old boy than an adult man, which made him so unattractive.

The storyline felt constructed around a checklist of popular tropes rather than developing organically. Their first meeting was so contrived it made me laugh in a bad way. Also, maybe I’ve outgrown it, but the third act breaks up because of miscommunication is so annoying. JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!

I really do not like giving bad reviews because it makes me feel AWFUL, but I also really enjoyed Tessa Bailey’s early novels more than her past few releases. It feels like her style has changed and while that is perfectly fine, it is not for me.

Thank you to Avon Books for allowing me to review an early copy

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy! You can pick up Pitcher Perfect on September 9, 2025.

This book took me by surprise in the best way. I wanted something fun and flirty to read (which this book has in spades), but I ended up really loving Skylar and Robbie and their dynamic. The goof-around, class-clown type falling for the strait-laced, all-A's, perfectionist eldest daughter speaks to me on a level I didn't fully comprehend until this book.

The chemistry was sizzling, yes, but honestly, this might be some of Tessa's best/wittiest banter to date. Skylar clocked Robbie so many times that I was literally laughing out loud, and the way he worships her when she's (respectfully) mean to him is GOALS. Walk him like a dog, sis.

My only issue with this book was the timeline. It takes place during Dream Girl Drama (and starts off with the iconic baseball game in that book), meaning our protagonists are 21-23 years old and very much still growing into themselves as adults. Which there's nothing wrong with!! But it took me by surprise and made it a bit harder to believe Robbie's transformation from serial womanizer to doting and in love within a WEEK. I'm sorry, but no man shows that kinda growth overnight, babes. Had to suspend my disbelief a bit, and I think this would've been INSANELY good if it opened up with the baseball game, then jumped five years into the future or something.

But overall, if you love Tessa Bailey's hot and steamy style, you will EAT THIS UP. Fake dating, romance tutoring sessions, competitive athletes with sizzling chemistry -- this book has it all.

This book was a blast to read! Tessa Bailey really knows how to turn up the heat. Pitcher Perfect hits all the marks with its witty banter and slow burn chemistry. I loved the enemies to lovers angle and the fake dating twist. It made things so fun! Their chemistry is seriously off the charts, but what really got me was how tender and vulnerable things became once the lines between pretending and real feelings started to blur. The perfect steamy sports rom com!

i was so excited to get my hands on an ARC from the one of my favorite authors, and it did not disappoint. this book was so much fun, exactly what i expect when i pick up one of tessa’s books. totally unrealistic yet extremely entertaining. fan girl down is still my favorite in the series, but i had so much fun with this one after not enjoying the last two as much. a true tessa bailey classic

Big thanks to Avon for providing me with an early copy of this book. Sadly, it ended up being a massive letdown for me.
We’re introduced to Skylar, who’s spent years pining after her brother’s best friend. Her character revolves heavily around her love for organization and her hyper-planned lifestyle. She’s also the only one in her high-achieving family not to attend Brown, which makes her feel invisible. So when a high-stakes wilderness competition rolls around, she sees it as her big chance to prove herself. But when her original partner drops out, she’s paired with Robbie — a pro hockey player for the Boston Bearcats (yes, that’s the stand-in for the Bruins) who wants to rehab his image and just so happens to be free right before the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Already, that setup was tough to buy into. It’s nearly impossible to imagine any professional athlete risking injury or fatigue by trekking through the wilderness days before the most important games of the season. But realism aside, there were deeper issues that really soured the story for me.
The supposed "enemies to lovers" arc never really gets off the ground. Robbie is smitten from the jump, and the conflict between them is sparked by Skylar overhearing him say some misogynistic things — which are never truly addressed or unpacked. The narrative just glosses over it in favor of a rapid redemption arc where Robbie declares he’s reformed because he’s found “the one.” No introspection, no consequences, just a magical personality transplant.
There’s also a subplot involving another player hitting on a newly appointed female GM — something that’s brushed off in a tone-deaf way, especially given the ongoing real-life issues in the NHL surrounding misconduct and accountability. It felt not only out of touch but irresponsibly handled.
On top of that, Skylar and Robbie’s chemistry left a lot to be desired. Their relationship escalates absurdly fast — going from awkward teammates to steamy hookups to soulmates in just a few days, all while Skylar still has feelings for someone else. It felt less like a romance and more like a rushed checklist of tropes.
In the end, the book didn’t work for me on any level — emotionally, narratively, or logically. It felt like a disjointed bundle of clichés with little depth behind any of them.

Thank you for the surprise of an ARC, couldn't put it down! This was a fun one, all the characters are loveable. Fake dating was on point! Glad Corrigan redeemed himself because was worried about his story line based on the other books. Loved the "Page Games"... Also secretly hoping for a Madden story 😉

Another great book in Tessa Bailey's Big Shots series! Not my favorite so far, but following Robbie "Redbeard" and Skylar "Rocket" on their not-quite enemies to lovers journey was fun to read. Everything in this story unfolds pretty quickly and it feels like there are a few too many tropes squeezed into how short of a timeline this covers but I really enjoyed the characters and storyline.

I enjoyed the first half of this book - I’m always down for a fake dating trope and the whole family games aspect was kind of fun!

And then…they fell in love after like three days and I was off it. Plus, the sex scenes made me physically cringe, I truly do not understand what goes through this author’s head when she’s writing these scenes??? I felt like both characters had a personality transplant for these scenes and some of their dialogue was just ridiculous🫠🫠🫠 the conflict was annoying and I hated the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Read this book for:
⚾ Fake dating
⛸️ Enemies to lovers
⚾ Sports romance
⛸️ Opposites attract
⚾ He falls first
⛸️ Hockey playboy MMC x Softball badass FMC

Synopsis
NHL rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the bachelor life—until he meets Skylar Page. She’s tough, focused, and completely unimpressed by his fame or flirty smile. When Robbie discovers Skylar's heart belongs to someone else, he offers to help win him over… by pretending to be her boyfriend. But as they compete together in a family wilderness challenge, their connection deepens, and pretend starts to feel dangerously real. Now Robbie must prove he’s more than a player, and that their unexpected bond might just be the love they were never looking for.

My Thoughts
This is the fourth book in the Big Shots series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. The characters from the previous books make brief appearances, but they don’t play significant roles in the storyline, so you won’t feel lost if you haven’t read the earlier installments.

I have to admit—this is by far my favorite Tessa Bailey book to date. I absolutely adored the characters. The banter between Robbie and Skylar is sharp, witty, and endlessly entertaining. Skylar is such a fierce, unapologetic heroine. Her strength, combined with her deeply human insecurities, makes her incredibly relatable. You can’t help but root for her.

And Robbie? He’s an absolute delight. He’s fun, charismatic, and completely devoted to Skylar. The way he defends her—even against her own family—and becomes her biggest supporter is genuinely swoon-worthy. His charm, paired with his protectiveness, made him one of the most endearing heroes I’ve read in a while.

I’m already looking forward to the fifth book in the series. If I’m reading the clues correctly, it looks like we’re in for a marriage-of-convenience trope—and I cannot wait to dive into that one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this arc. Pitcher Perfect is book four in the Big Shots series. I love this series. This book focused on Robbie the Bearcats rookie and Skyler. This books starts at the Bearcats playing baseball against some local players. If this sounds familiar it is. This is the baseball game that is in book three of the series Dream Girl drama. This book does have some familiar characters from earlier books in the series. You can read this book as a stand alone.
I loved this book and highly recommend it, once I started it I did not want to put in down.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing an eARC!

I loved this book!

Pitcher Perfect is the fourth books in the interconnected Big Shots series. I think you could read it as a standalone but the setup could potentially be confusing and it might me tricky to keep track of some side characters' names.

I gotta say, Robbie is the MMC I've been waiting for this entire series. He is down bad for Skyler right away, he eschews his playboy lifestyle and goes all in without being a suffocating, controlling alphahole. He sees Skyler's vulnerabilities and advocates for her. Plus, he's a little bit of a Jimbo and his love for frozen lasagna is endearing.

Skyler is a great FMC too, but I would have loved more from her personalit-wise. She's feisty (especially initially), super organized, and trying to be seen by her crush and her family.

I'm typical Tessa Bailey fashion, the dirty talk in this book is top-tier.

4.5 out of 5.stars!

Did I immediately go and order the audio version while reading this eARC? Why yes, yes I did. Why? Because I want to hear Robbie say he doesn't want to see girls in whipped cream bikinis and only wants to see Skylar in sweatpants. I don't think I've read enough romance books with the reformed player. The dynamic between our two characters and the realization that dawns on them is brilliant. I'm always going to want to read the latest Tessa Bailey releases because they are always enjoyable, she makes me laugh, and feel something.

Order your copy today. Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey is out September 9, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

once they got the ball rolling i couldn’t put it down! it banged. kind of love robbie, and this was HOT!

#netgalley

Out of all the books in the “Big Shots” series by Tessa Bailey “Pitcher Perfect” has been my least favorite. The “dating coach” is my least favorite trope and that put this book at the bottom for me. I just don’t like to read this trope. Like we couldn’t have used anything else to get the MMC and FMC together? Now this is still a Tessa Bailey book and there was plenty I liked about it as I love her books. When I saw the cover I couldn’t believe what Robbie’s shirt said. I had to do a double take to make sure I had read it right. Go Tessa. 😂😂😂 I did like the crazy family wilderness competition plot. That was fresh storyline and I loved the tension of Robbie and Skylar being competitive against the rest of Skylar’s family but competing as a team. I also loved how Robbie called Skylar ‘rocket’ for her nickname. Robbie is a cocky hockey playing golden retriever, we love that in a MMC. I did relate to Skylar on how much of a perfectionist is. As well as how competitive she is. Also if anyone cares my ranking is “Dream girl Drama” then “Fangirl Down” then “the Au pair affair” and then “Pitcher Perfect”
Thank you Tessa Bailey and Avon and Harper voyager publisher for gifting me with this ARC for my honest review.

This may be the fourth novel in the series, but it’s absolutely #1 in my heart.

This is a fantastic romance between a pro hockey player and a D1 baseball player. Two competitive souls that push each other’s buttons in all the best ways. He falls first and he falls harder, what more could you possibly want?

It can be read as a standalone, but you’ll miss context for the previous character sprinkled throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.

This book picks up with Robbie and Skylar meeting at the hockey vs. baseball game from Dream Girl Drama. A side bet date turned into a fake dating scheme for Skylar to get her long time crush to notice her. The catch? Robbie is already head over heels and soon brings Skylar with him.

Let me start with this. Tessa Bailey is my girl. I adore her writing. Unfortunately, this wasn’t my favorite (though still a great read!).

I loved Robbie. Although he presents as a walking red flag, I found him endearing and that the player side of him was kind of a front to that side of him. I really enjoyed Sig and Burgess making several appearances and seeing the intertwining of all of the books.

While I loved there being a strong female character, I didn’t find Skylar to be overly compelling (Josephine is still my favorite). I found her and Robbie’s relationship to be a bit weak compared to the other relationships in this series. Perhaps it was the insta-love theme, though.

Overall, I did love this! I wish there was more of the Robbie/Mailer bromance, but maybe I’ll just reread the series and appreciate them more!

Can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC copy, and Tessa Bailey for existing at the same time as me.

Oh my gosh. I love this hot mess of a man. Who knew he’d be such a golden retriever?! Only took a star away because I truly wish that Robbie’s friend group, that we already know and love, were more a part of this journey. I feel it would have made me laugh way more.
First off, while this is a sports romance (both are athletes), most of the book takes place at her childhood home where they’re competing against her family and love of her life (brothers bff) for a homemade trophy.
The theme of “no one takes either of them seriously” is well planned and secure throughout and leads to epic non-communication, feelings of self doubt on so many levels, and being blindsided by a revelation at the end. Never fear: Robbie’s going to swoop in a fix it all.

Tropes: sports romance; he falls first/instalove; reformed playboy; fake dating