I will say this is by far my favorite Tessa Bailey book and my favorite book in this series! I had my doubts when the book began whether I was really going to be able to get to the point where I believed that Robbie had really changed, and I will say it is just a tad too quick for a believable standard, BUT I was completely on board with it. Robbie was one of the most genuinely funny characters that I have read in a long time. I was always laughing out loud when I read his comments or internal thoughts. I loved Skylar as a character and her family especially, I really related to her and felt like she was one of the best characters I’ve read in a long time. I’m very excited for the next book in the series, though I feel it won’t top this one. Loving Rocket and Redbeard. Again, if I had any compliant about this book, it was that the events happened rather quickly, I would’ve preferred them a little stretched out but at the end of the day it doesn’t bother me when I read this book.

TB books always require you to suspend belief a bit. Case in point: there is NO WAY EVER that a professional athlete would be taking off for a vacation during the season, much less during the PLAYOFFS. That point aside, does it really matter? Nope!

As per usual, the banter is bantering & the MC is falling all over himself for the FMC. It’s the same pattern as every other TB book & yet I can’t get enough of it.

Also, the hockey bro moments? I was dying. Gasping for air. Laughing so hard I was crying. It’s always so fun watching a Tessa Bailey written MC try to figure out how the heck a woman has wrecked him & just how he’s going to convince her to give him a shot.

Overall this is another fun book in this series, & the next one is set up to look like a marriage of convenience which has me READY.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
🏒enemies to lovers
⚾️Pitcher FMC x Hockey MMC
🏒fake dating
⚾️former playboy MC
🏒he falls first & HARD
⚾️supportive & funny hockey teammates

Another absolute banger!! If there’s one thing you can count on Tessa Bailey and Big Shots for, it’s a fun time, a quick light read, and a hot athlete - but for this book we get two athletes!

I love having the FMC also be an athlete, at the top of her field, and the shoutout to women athletes in general in the book. As a former college softball player, a couple of things were a little unrealistic, but overall, it was fun and believable!

Just like the others in this series, you immediately fall in love with the main character, the side characters, and see the likely set up for the next book (a marriage of convenience??). If you’re looking for a fun romance, this is definitely the book for you!

I love me some Tessa Bailey! This was pretty good and made you feel all the feels. A cozy romance with the stereotypical baseball guy.

I am a huge Tessa Bailey fan devouring every book of hers as soon as it comes out so I was very excited to get a ARC of her newest book. As a baseball fan - I absolute adore the cover and sprayed edges of this book. Can't wait to get a copy when it comes out to display. While the Big Shot Series has not been my favorite of Tessa's series (Bellinger Sisters and Vine Mess all the way), I liked this book overall. I thought that throughout the book, Robbie became a more complex and developed character from the glimses we've gotten of him in other books, which was great. I also really liked Skylar and her ability, from the very first meeting, to challenge Robbie and not back down. That being said, the ending felt rushed - not giving away any spoilers, from the point where a maybe becomes a yes, it felt rushed without enough of the scenes that followed fully fleshed out. That being said, if you've been a fan of Robbie in the other books, this is a must read! And there are so many possibilities for further books in this one - every new character introduced, my thought was "Oh maybe they'll get their own book" - especially Madden, he must get his own book!

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the eARC! I always appreciate the opportunity to read and review before release day.

I have to preface my review with a confession - I tried and failed to pick up books by this author in the past, so I haven't read the other two in this interconnected hockey series. With that said!!! I picked this up because I will drop everything for a sports romance where the FMC is an athlete, and I believe we need more of them as women's sports across the board gain support, investments, and respect. I'm so glad I did pick this up, because in the end I was up til 3 am reading like a person possessed.

Pitcher Perfect was perfectly paced with endearing and funny cast of characters, high stakes in the form of a slightly unhinged and hyper-competitive family competition, and so much more heart-aching romance than I expected. It's certainly a rom-com, the banter and humor were 10/10, but our main characters' sheer desperation and need to be seen, understood, and considered nearly knocked me over. This is the first time I haven't rolled my eyes at a contemporary romance duo claiming to be soulmates (usually just instant attraction/lust) - these two needed each other in a way that had me wishing this book was twice the length so we could see a slower development and see them more settled.

I rated Pitcher Perfect 5 stars - I highly recommend this book to anyone that reads sports romance, particularly if you love sports romance where both the MMC and FMC are athletes. You don't need to read the other books in this series to pick up this one, but I'm sure knowing all the little references and easter eggs can only increase enjoyment of the story, since Robbie leans on his team for advice.

The initial excessive use of color-based adjectives and repetitive sentece structure eventually faded away in favor of investment in likable characters' romance. The initial meeting was fun and humorous, and the fake-dating trope did not feel forced or too dominant because it fit the characters well.

Definitely and enjoyable read. Too spicy for a high school libraries, but appropriate for more mature readers.

Review posted on Good Reads and Fable.

Ate this up with a spoon! So much pining and longing - and basically a “reformed rake” in the modern world.

This series in particular is one of my favorite from Tessa!

This is definitely my favorite in the series!!!! Robbie is a man down bad!!!!! I love a reformed playboy. I love when a man does everything for his woman and I love the sports aspect of this. I love how Skylar is so organized w her planner (real) and how Robbie loves every little quirk about her!

Overall just had the best time and cannot wait for the next book in the series!!!

Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey

4 out of 5 stars for the writing, storyline and characters.
4 out of 5 stars for the spice.

This sports romance was absolutely fantastic! It's so nice to see a sports romance where both main characters are involved in sports! She plays D-1 college softball, he is in his rookie year in the NHL.

Tessa Bailey does an amazing job of drawing the reader in from the first page. The story is fast paced and flows nicely, keeping the reader interested in the characters, and allowing for character development. She also writes the spice in a way that feels believable and relatable.

If you enjoy any of the following tropes, I recommend you give Pitcher Perfect a try:
-Enemies to Lovers
-Fake Dating
-Sports Romance
-Dating Lessons
-He falls first

Thank you to Net Galley, Tessa Bailey & Harper Collins / Avon and Harper Voyager Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC!

3.5 🌟

This was a fun & quick sports rom-com! There were parts of the storyline that I felt were rushed a little, but overall, an easy read.

*received a copy of this as an ARC

Cute and I have to say I loved Robbie ❤️

But this whole thing with Madden was really a NO -THING! That kind of felt like a whole waste of a plot point.

This was a whiplash romance! In true Tessa Bailey fashion, Pitcher Perfect has hilarious set of characters, steam enough to leave you panting and a hooking plot. It was a fun one, Robbie and I found it very, fast paced and at times I felt it took away from the romance. I really liked Robbie and Skylar together. In a world where Skylar felt an outsider, Robbie saw her and folded her back in. I loved how much they understood each other. However, I really couldn’t shake off the fact that it all felt so rushed. I’m a believer that fast pace romance can be so good, and this is a good candidate but there were a few things that still bothered me. All that said I still enjoyed it!

It’s a fun one, it continues a very fun sport romance series with a beloved character that I think people will absolutely love!

Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey was going to be immediately a 5 star read for me; I've loved Tessa Bailey since the first minute I picked up my very first Tessa Bailey novel. I was ecstatic to be approved to read Pitcher Perfect well before publication and was surprised when I wasn't immediately swept off my feet. Though, by about 15% in I was absolutely in love with Robbie and Skylar.

To begin with, we are dropped in the midst of the middle bit of Dream Girl Drama, when our beloved Bearcats are going to battle with the baseball boys, and Skylar of course. This is the moment that Skylar overhears Robbie bragging about his latest conquest, and he falls head over heels for her. Making a bet to get himself closer to her, this quickly turns into enemies to friends (albeit with Robbie pining real hard) to lovers. Skylar doesn't believe she is feminine or that anyone could see her as a woman, while Robbie is meant to help her attract the attention of her elder brother's best friend. Making their way from Boston to her family home in Rhode Island for her family's annual summer games. Armed with a list and itinerary for Robbie to teach her how to be more feminine and to enjoy herself, hijinks ensue.

The conversations in Pitcher Perfect feel quite natural, I don't feel as if I'm reading a book but more as if a transciption of an actual conversation. It's quite refreshing to be going into my 10th or 11th book to still feel the sense of love and wonder for a book, especially at the 4th of a series.

Without a doubt this is going down as one of my favorite Tessa Bailey books

An absolute home run! I adored this story. Skylar was such a relatable character and shows how doubt from everyone around you can really cause doubt in yourself. And ROBBIE!!! Oh, Robbie. A reformed playboy who is absolutely SMITTEN? Yes, please! The banter was perfect, the tension was incredible, and I just loved the experience of reading this book. This healed the part of me that has always been expected to be more, while never being congratulated and seen for what I did accomplish.

To be loved is to be known, and Robbie knows Skylar.

When I saw this arc was a read now on netgalley I’ve never clicked so fast. Tessa Bailey books always feel like coming home to a warm hug for me. Easy and fun to read. I loved the dynamic of these two and how they consistently made each other better people through listening and understanding.

This book came with the signature Tessa Bailey banter and steam that readers know and love. I know this one will put me in a slump for a while. Patiently waiting for her next one to come out.

Thank you Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. This was my first Tessa Bailey book.m and was excited to read one of her books. Big picture this is a romance novel, yes some of the details probably don’t make sense like a hockey player doing a competition right before playoffs and also saying the 3 words so soon after like 3 weeks of knowing each other. Anyway it was a cute story between a pitcher and a hockey player who stands up for her to her family too. I enjoyed it as a quick mindless read. Looking forward to reading her other books.

I genuinely can’t put Into words how much I loved this book. And proves exactly why she is one of my all time favorite authors!
I especially loved how it’s a stand alone book, but also in a series, where the characters from past books, like sig, Chloe, burgess all tie so neat and perfectly. How we get another POV of the baseball game. I love all the details! Only the real OGs know about the orgasm donor hoodies!
It was perfection on every page!

I am simply blown away with how much I loved Robbie and Skylar’s story. From the very first “fuck you” to the epilogue I was LIVING for these two idiots in love (mostly on Robbie’s end. A playboy finally meeting THE girl? Be still my heart, I cannot get over how down bad I am for Robbie being down bad for Skylar😭. I also loved that he wasn’t always a player and had some good in him, clearly resolved throughout the story and proven in actions rather than words which was so freaking perfect. I wish we had more time for developing the story as this mostly occurs over a few weeks? But I guess when love strikes, time doesn’t exist!

Skylar is someone I immediately connected with despite my lack of athleticism. I related to her wanting to be seen and feeling like she was on a team and when Robbie became her team, I almost cried. She is so strong and deserves everything and I just love that Robbie was able to show her and prove that to her.

I wouldn’t say this is entirely enemies to lovers, but definitely opposites attract. Robbie is much more laid back compared to Skylar’s daily-weekly-monthly planner but they clicked perfectly and their chemistry was off the charts. Tess for sure hit a home run with these two.

As much as I loved this story, I felt like it lacked a little more character dynamics for the rest of the cast. Robbie was heavily invested in Skylar’s family, but Skylar briefly met his parents and BARELY met his friends which was also unfortunately his first time meeting her. We see through Robbie’s chapters that they’re a good bunch, but I would have loved to see Skylar interact with his team and also Chloe and Tallulah. I also wish we had seen more of Madden and Elton beef with Robbie. Also is Madden’s story next??? I need to see him and Eve. I definitely saw that plot point coming from MILES away bc like Robbie, I saw how amazing Skylar is and literally unless you’re in love with someone else, how do you not see her????

Thank you Avon for putting this ARC up for grabs for 24 hours. I love that this book came to me unexpectedly and I had no clue what was in store other than the trust that Tessa would deliver.

Book 4 in the Big Shot series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Classic Tessa Bailey strikes (…. see what i did there) again.
This book centers around NHL Rookie, Robbie, aka Orgasm Donor #1 and D1 pitcher, Skylar. Typical story trope where girl has a crush on a guy that doesn’t give her the time of day and new guy comes in to help make the other guy jealous, while at the same time “teaching” her how to date. I liked Robbie and Skylar’s dynamic and how they were both are kind of goofy in their own way and played off each other.

I do have to say, my only slight gripe with the book is the relationship progressed very quickly, like almost less than a week quickly. I am a sucker for insta, but this was on the border for me on a little too fast. This also read a little bit younger than the rest of the other books in the series, probably b/c I think both characters were very early twenties compared to the other characters. But, regardless I still liked it and read it in one sitting.

I do love how Tessa continuously expands on this universe and leaves me wanting more. I now want to read about Madden, Elton, and Mailer.

Thank you Avon, NetGalley and Tessa Bailey for this ARC.
Pitcher Perfect comes out 9/9/25