I love a fake dating story - Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey did not disappoint!

NHL rookie Robbie Corrigan is living his best life - he is dating ALLLL the women and having a blast. Enter Skylar Paige - a D1 softball pitcher who is less than excited about Robbie's lifestyle.

He agrees to be a fake boyfriend to help her get the attention of her brother's best friend... and we know how the fake dating trope goes!

There was a fun cabin escape with Skylar's family including silly competitions. I really loved how fast Robbie fell for Skylar and Skylar is a fantastic FMC - super cute and super sexy... like suuuuuper sexy, Robbie is serious about his love lessons!

Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for the chance to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

There were several times this book was very cringe. I don’t love how she writes her spicy scenes, some word choices I did not love. Also her pet name for him es so weird and forced. Some of it was just too unbelievable.

I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

Fangirl Down is one of my most favorite books. I fell pretty hard for Wells Whitaker. I honestly didn't think I could like a Tessa Bailey book more. Robbie Corrigan said "hold my beer."

The chemistry and emotional tension between Skylar and Robbie was a game changer (Oh look, a sports reference!). But honestly, Robbie growing up and Skylar defrosting to romance really hit all the right notes. I'm always a huge fan of a reformed playboy, so I was happy with Robbie's character evolution.

This book is full of humor, heart, spice and character growth. Tessa Bailey really knows how to balance heat with emotion. I don't want to post too many spoilers because this book is still a ways from being released - but if you are a fan of the other books in the Big Shots series, you'll love this one!

I was super excited to see an instagram post about being able to ARC read this title by Tessa Bailey since I had read the others in the series, Fan Girl Down, Au Pair Affair, and Dream Girl Drama. I loved those and was waiting on this one since it’s on my TBR. This story is super fast paced and fun, a little unhinged at times, but you’ll get that with a story written by Tessa Bailey. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a fun light rom com that kept me entertained. I enjoyed the characters and think this will be a great summer read.

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

I love the fake dating trope, so I did go into this book expecting to like it. And I did, this was a fun sports romance.
Our main character Skylar was fun and a bit stubborn in certain situations and I liked that she was headstrong when it came to her pitching. Her planning tendencies was also very cute and quirky.
Robbie, was a perfect match for her. Although he was meant to teach her in this fake dating, it was almost too obvious he didn't want it to be fake from the start. My only issue with this book, was I felt the stakes weren't high enough for their fake dating. I just wish there was more to it. I mean it was obvious the other guy didn't like her so there wasn't really much at stake if it didn't "work". And although it did eventually hit love, at first everything felt a bit lustful.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun read that had the right amount of spice and emotion. I would recommend to anyone who loves a sports romance.

If you've read all the other books in Bailey's sports romance series, then you've already been introduced to Robbie Corrigan and Skylar Paige. This is an enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating romance between the Boston Bearcats hockey rookie and a collegiate softball player. Told in dual points of views, this is chock full of witty language, banter in spades, and Bailey's now-signature levels of spice. It's a fun summer beach read (even though it comes out in fall but summer beach read is more of a state of mind if you ask me) and the ending was so damn cute. I didn't want to put this book down. It's fun, sweeping, steamy, vulnerable and romantic; and hell, might I saw one of Bailey's best in her full athlete series.

This one just did not do it for me. Bailey’s books are either a hit or miss and I felt like I did not believe this romance. Everything happened way too fast and truly did not make sense. I would appreciate more build up so I can invest in the characters and their relationship before it’s an instant obsession.

Surprisingly a great time! It's been a hot minute since reading a Tessa Bailey book and I haven't read any other books in the Big Shots series. I went in to the book with few expectations besides a light hearted and tropey contemporary romance. I had SO much more fun with this book then I thought I would. The romance between Skylar and Robbie was a perfect mix of lightheartedness and tenderness. I expected it to be surface level and silly and was pleasantly surprised by the depth of their relationship and how it felt realistic for them to be good fits for each other.

The book ended up delivering more then just romance. It was also a story about family and how they can love you but unintentionally hurt you and how love can help you have the strength to step out of your comfort zone.

Biggest Negative - this book happening in pretty much the span of a week. There seems little chance that all of these emotions could grow and change in such a short time. It felt like a convenient plot tool but made it less realistic.

I would still recommend this if you haven't read the other books in the series. It was clear I was missing some of the backstory of the side characters - especially at the beginning, but I didn't find it confusing or impacted my enjoyment of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read the ebook early in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this wonderful read from Tessa Bailey. Robbie and Skylar were funny from the beginning. I mean the fact that Skylar gave Robbie hell from the moment they meant, gold! The banter was so on point, and was just enjoyable from the first page! Skylar has been pining for her brother's best first, Madden since they were younger. Robbie is smitten with Skylar from the beginning and proposes to be her partner for her family's annual competition, when her normal partner isn't available. Maybe this will help get Madden to notice her as more than her brother's little sister, and getting some spicy lessons wouldn't hurt right? I saw a bit of myself in Skylar, because there are insecurities that I have as well and they tend to hold me back a bit. But Robbie helps her feel seen and heard. These two were just so fun and I enjoyed myself so much! I can't wait for the world to get to know these two! Thank you for this ARC! I loved it!!!

This book was a good next installment in the Big Shots series. Robbie was likable and experienced character growth throughout the book that was fun to watch. Skylar was a character you wanted to cheer for to succeed. Parts of this book felt cheesy and cornier than needed, but I've come to expect that from Tessa's books. Overall, this was a fun and easy summer read for me!

The 4th book in Bailey's Big Shots series. This can be read as a stand alone but reading the other three books gives good backstory to both Robbie and some of the side characters in this story.

Skylar is an All-American pitcher for the Boston University softball team when her brother Elton, a minor league baseball player, recruits her to play in a baseball game against the NHL's Boston Bearcats. When Bearcat rookie Robbie Corrigan (a.k.a. Orgasm Donor #1) sees Skylar on the mound, he is love-struck and bets her that if he can get on base against her then she has to go out with him. But Skylar is well aware of Robbie's reputation with women and wants nothing to do with him. Besides, she has been secretly in love with her brother's best friend Madden for years.

When her best friend has to bow out, Skylar finds herself without a partner for her family's upcoming vacation where they participate in the Page Games, a series of competitive events with one team being crowned the ultimate champions. She decides to invite Robbie to pretend to her boyfriend for the week, give her tips to help get Madden to notice her, and help her emerge victorious over her uber-competitive family members. But what will happen when the pretending starts to feel a little too real? Can Robbie the playboy prove to Skylar that he can change his ways?

This was a cute story with some serious spice (although shockingly not as spicy as the other titles in this series, at least in my opinion). I always love a story where the guy falls first and falls hard which Robbie does here, but it borders on insta-love which I don't always like. I really enjoyed how Robbie helped defend Skylar to her family (but seriously what parent doesn't support their child's sports career?!?). All in all, this is a solid addition to the Big Shots series and I really enjoyed getting to see Robbie grow up and find love.

Overall: 4.5/5
Spice: 2.5/3

Always appreciate Tessa Bailey’s ability to write a fun novel with really entertaining banter!
It just did not work for me that this story was set over the course of maybe two weeks - that aspect felt so unrealistic. I liked the cameos of former book characters in this series and curious who would be featured next.
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This might be my favorite from the Big Shots series!!
It was so good!! The competitiveness. The fake dating. The growth and maturing that Robbie goes through is so good! I love seeing our old friends and them being part of the story.
I loved it all!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the early access!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, as well as Net Galley for the advanced readers copy!

I had been WAITING for this one ever since we got the baseball game scene in Dream Girl Drama. "Can't wait to tell the grandkids how we met" is a quote that sticks with you. Especially since it comes after she curses him out! A man obsessed from the start? Sign me upppp. I thought Sig and Chloe would be hard to beat for best Big Shots couple, but Skylar and Robbie take the cake for me. While just a tad bit insta-lovey, I didn't mind completely because we got a lot of boy obsessed moments. I liked how Robbie grew throughout this book and we got to see him more as an individual with depth and feelings, beyond the cocky womanizer we've seen so far. Skylar was an interesting fmc with a lot of strength but was also genuine and emotional, showing a lot of range as a character and I enjoyed getting to see someone take care of her while also allowing her to be her own person. Of course you'll find all your favorite Tessa Bailey tropes here and you know the spice is going to hit every time. I'm excited to see what's coming next for the Big Shot gang!

Thank you Avon & NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. This one wasn’t for me and I’m afraid this is the last Tessa Bailey book I’ll ever read. The romance is rushed and unconvincing, and Robbie’s early sexist remarks are never addressed (and we’re supposed to believe he’s instantly reformed because… love?). Skylar and Robbie have no chemistry, and the story feels like a pile of tropes with no real heart.

Book Review: Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

Tessa Bailey’s Pitcher Perfect is pure rom-com gold, mixing banter, heat, and heart into one unforgettable sports romance. I finished this book in a single sitting with a stupid smile on my face the entire time. Bailey delivers exactly what I want in a romance: two fiercely lovable leads, one fake dating scheme, and a reformed playboy who turns out to be one of the most emotionally available men in recent memory. This is the fourth installment in her Big Shots series, and hands down, my favorite one yet.

From the jump, Robbie Corrigan is exactly what you expect from a 22-year-old NHL rookie who parties like it’s a competitive sport. The man’s cocky, charming, and shamelessly rides the high of being the guy every woman wants—until he meets Skylar Paige, a D1 softball pitcher with zero tolerance for his nonsense. She sizes him up in seconds and drops a brutal but iconic “fuck you” as her first words to him. And he’s hooked. Instantly. Like a golden retriever who’s just spotted the only human who won’t throw the tennis ball. It’s enemies-to-lovers done right: antagonistic, hilarious, and rooted in mutual respect that grows in the cracks of their teasing and trash talk.

Skylar is everything I want in a heroine: driven, disciplined, deeply self-aware, and unapologetically type-A. She lives out of her planner, thrives on routine, and secretly holds a torch for her brother’s best friend—who’s barely aware she exists as anything more than a tomboy tagalong. Her plan? Enlist Robbie to fake date her during her family’s wilderness competition to make her longtime crush finally notice her. His plan? Use the opportunity to prove he’s not the one-night stand she thinks he is—and maybe, just maybe, show her she doesn’t need anyone else. Not Madden. Not a checklist. Just him.

What follows is a hilarious, sweet, and wildly sexy rollercoaster of a week, as these two opposites are forced to not only tolerate each other, but rely on each other to win a series of wild outdoor challenges. It’s peak forced proximity: shared tents, single beds, and high-stakes family drama wrapped in High School Musical karaoke and lakeside lust. Their chemistry is off the charts, but what really pulls you in is how they begin to emotionally sync. It’s not just that Robbie can’t stop staring at Skylar—it’s that he listens to her. He supports her. He lets her be exactly who she is, planner and all.

And that’s what makes this book work so well. Underneath the tropes—fake dating, enemies-to-lovers, “teach me how to flirt”—is a love story rooted in seeing and being seen. Skylar’s used to being underestimated, even by her own family. Robbie’s used to being dismissed as shallow. And they each, slowly and genuinely, learn to trust each other with the parts no one else gets to see. It’s vulnerable in the best way. Bailey peels back the layers of both characters until you’re not just cheering for them—you feel invested in them.

The emotional climax hit me harder than expected. When Robbie realizes he’s fallen too hard, too fast, and fears he’s blown it, his pain is so real it took me by surprise. The way he breaks down in the apartment—eating lasagna alone, absolutely gutted—felt more raw than I thought this book would go. And when he delivers the line, “You taught me to trust what I’m feeling and stop laughing everything off. So I can’t laugh at this,” I was toast. Melted. Done. There’s just something so satisfying about watching a man who used to live for the party now show up with complete sincerity and emotional clarity.

Is the timeline fast? Yes. Does it require a little suspension of disbelief? Of course. But that’s what Tessa Bailey’s best at—delivering whirlwind love stories that still manage to feel emotionally grounded. By the end, I didn’t just believe in Robbie and Skylar’s love story—I felt it. Deep in my chest.

Also, side note: shoutout to Bailey for including a female athlete as the main character and treating her sport with respect. Skylar’s pitching isn’t a background quirk—it’s core to her identity, and watching her carry herself with that quiet athletic confidence was such a win.

Bottom line: Pitcher Perfect is romantic comedy at its best—funny, sexy, sweet, and completely addictive. If you’re a fan of fake dating, banter that crackles, and a male lead who falls hard and fights for the girl, this one’s for you.

PITCHER PERFECT is a light and fun romance that is done in typical Tessa Bailey style. It was funny, has great banter, and was an enjoyable read.

Part of what Bailey does so well is the character growth and make it believable. She pairs and playboy with a terrible reputation with a determined female athlete who doesn’t take his crap. And, on top of it, she makes the MMC human and showcases significant growth without him being really gross. That’s not an easy balance and the author does it well.

My only issue with the book is I didn’t love the third act break up. It felt a little bit underwhelming. It wasn’t horrible, but there could have been so much angst and build up to it that, to me, just felt lackluster or glossed over.

Overall, this is a great read from a great romance author. You should read this if you like:

✅ Fake Dating
✅ College Softball Player FMC
✅ Golden Retriever, Former Playboy NHL MMC
✅ Forced Proximity
✅ Enemies to Lovers
✅ He Falls First

Thank you to Avon Harper and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

oh skylar..... her entire personality is basically: hyper-organized, obsessed with planners & constantly trying to prove herself to her overachieving Ivy League family (everyone went to Brown except her, and they never let her forget it). when her competitive family signs up for a weeklong wilderness survival tournament—because, sure, that’s a thing—Skylar sees it as her one chance to finally get noticed.

only issue? her best friend (who, weirdly, is barely in the book) bails, and she ends up paired with robbie: a professional hockey player trying to fix his PR image. He's charming, conveniently available the week right before the Stanley Cup playoffs (because apparently NHL teams now encourage players to run around the woods right before the most important games of the season?), and immediately taken with Skylar. they team up, fake flirt to make her long-time crush jealous, and of course, real feelings start to bubble up.

sounds fun, right? (·•᷄‎ࡇ•᷅ )

the “enemies to lovers” label feels wildly inaccurate—robbie is never even slightly antagonistic toward her... in fact, he’s basically ready to wife her up on sight & skylar? still holding onto a crush on another guy for half the book. the emotional whiplash was real 🚩

the romance? I just didn’t buy it. There was no real tension, no chemistry, and not enough build-up.

All in all, this one wasn’t for me. Flat characters, low-stakes drama, and some major missed opportunities when it came to handling certain topics. I wish I had better things to say, but this felt more like a mess in hiking boots than a romance (ᵕ—_—)

thank you to Avon and netgalley for the arc