Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the digital arc. I also bought the physical book because I loved it. Suspend belief for a little and join me in the Tessa-verse. I have read almost every book she has written and this one is up there. The Tessa-verse is hilarious, raunchy, and requires a lot of suspension of belief. So what that NHL hockey and college baseball seasons do not align as it does in this book. So what that the minute Robbie sees Skylar for the first time he realizes she is something special and begins to pursue her with a passion he only reserved for breakfast sandwiches. You don’t need to worry about things like that. Just enjoy and have fun. There are some family drama, an Irish man on the side being brooding, a wilderness challenge, whipped cream bikinis, a burlesque show gone wrong, High School Musical appreciation, romance lessons, and it all happens over the course of about a week. It’s a wild ride and I loved every minute of it. The spice is spicy as always with Tessa. The read is quick and easy. I suggest this for readers needing a modern story of a reformed rake and a woman who is appropriately mean to men that can also throw a perfect fastball.

I've liked the Big Shots series a lot so far. While this was a cute read, it was my least favorite in the series. It was a bit repetitive and lacked some of the tension that was present in the previous books. However, it was still very fun, the dirty talk was excellent, and "Rocket" and "Redbeard" were fun characters to read about. I'd still recommend reading this one as well.

Another great Big Shots novel from Tessa Bailey! I love a good redemption arc, and so was endeared to Robbie from the start. His affection for his “Rocket” was so earnest and sincere from the start, and it never let up — I rooted for him the whole story!

Here’s hoping Tess’s next spinoff is about Eve and Madden’s story

5⭐️ 3🌶️

Who knew jokes about cannibalism and a neatly organized spicy calendar would make for a 5⭐️ romance?

Pitcher Perfect is exactly the book I needed in my life right now. It was everything I love most about Tessa’s writing. A strong but awkward FMC and the reformed himbo who is obsessed with her. And I do mean obsessed because that man fell HARD and FAST.

I’m not usually a fan of baseball (sorry Page family) but this book knocked it out of the park (pun intended) by combining three of my favorite tropes - fake dating, he falls first and hard, and reformed rake.

It’s been a hot minute since I reread It Happened One Summer but this might just overtake it as my favorite Tessa book ever. I loved Skylar and Robbie so much! Their banter and chemistry was off the charts and their adorably awkward but incredibly sweet interactions has me kicking my feet with joy.

I am going to be thinking about the way that Robbie truly saw Skylar and not only accepted her quirks but embraced them for weeks! The way he stood up for her to her family and made them see how they had been unintentionally hurting her had me swooning!

I’m already planning my reread of this book via audiobook as soon as it is available!

Thank you to Tessa and Avon books for this ARC.

This is the Tessa Bailey book you’ve been waiting for! Ever since he walked into The Au Pair Affair with an “Orgasm Donor” sweatshirt on with bestie Mailer, I knew I needed to read more from Robbie Corrigan. And this big personality did not disappoint. Nothing is better than reading about a wild about town hero (think rake) being struck dumb by a heroine (wallflower) he would immediately give it all up for. That’s Robbie the moment he meet Skyler in the baseball field and she mouths “F You” to him. Both athletes (Skyler is a softballl pitcher and Robbie plays pro hockey), this is a bit of an extrovert/introvert opposites attract romance but where they share in the same competitive nature.
Willing to do just about anything for a date or to be near Skylar, Robbie agrees to fake date Skylar and attend the Page games, a ridiculous family sports challenge, in order to help her win over her childhood crush Madden. And there just might be a cute little organized planner of Skylar’s that involves flirting lesson dates and MORE on her weekly agenda.

I absolutely loved Skylar and Robbie. We all know fake dating never goes as planned and these two end up so love drunk they can’t see straight. Robbie is the hero Bailey excels in writing—the guy that will do anything for the girl and that sees the value in her and pushes others to see it too (in this case, Skylar’s family). This book is as swoony as it is fiercely hot and a total page turner. If some of Bailey’s books have been hit or miss for you, I promise this is one you’ll love for the way the MCs cherish each other and convince the world that when you’ve found someone remarkable, it changes you. You’ll laugh, you’ll 🥵, and you might even tear up at this go big or go home romance. Thank you to Avon for my early copy. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely a Tessa Bailey home run! I was cackling from the first whispered insult! Robbie and Skylar’s journey had me in a chokehold until the very last page. I fell in love with how their story unfolded and how much their characters grew! The chemistry was so hot and Tessa knows how to write a good buildup to the “maybe main event” 😂🥵
If you love a dominant golden retriever boyfriend and a FMC who won’t back down from her dreams, I highly recommend this one. This book was perfection!

Okay, I’m just going to say it, I loved this book. While I enjoyed Dream Girl Drama, neither of the last two books in this series have compared to Fangirl Down for me. Pitcher Perfect is up there with Fangirl Down now.

I loved Skylar. She is a badass college softball pitcher and she can play baseball with the guys. She’s smart and she isn’t afraid to defend herself. I love how she didn’t let Robbie off the hook for his playboy ways. She held him accountable for his comments about women in general and the comments he made towards her in the beginning. Her family was A LOT and I did feel bad for their lack of support for her. She did make some mistakes in this book and I just loved how relatable she was with her reactions.

Oh, Robbie. He was down bad from the moment he laid eyes on Skylar. He didn’t stand a chance and I ate it up. Now, usually I don’t like the “reformed playboy” trope, however, I loved how Tessa wrote Robbie. After being set straight by Skylar, Robbie actually showed remorse for his past actions and it wasn’t just surface level. I loved when he came out and told her his feelings and laid it all out there for her. After the conflict in the book, I did like the way he handled it.

I loved the banter these two had. This book has some spicy, but I don’t think it’s anywhere close to some of her other books, which I didn’t mind. I liked how they supported one another and were a team. I absolutely loved when Robbie stuck up for her in front of her family. Their relationship does progress really quickly, but I liked how it was done.

Overall, I loved this book. It was an easy five star read for me. I would recommend this if you don’t mind a love at first sight (for him), fake dating, forced proximity, sports romance!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Tessa Bailey for the ARC for an honest review!

The entire Big Shots series by Tessa Bailey has been so much fun. Sports romance is not my preferred genre but Tessa Bailey’s banter is so funny. I love her sports hero's and how nuts they go when they fall in love. Fangirl Down is still my favorite of the series, but the whole series is really fun. Pitcher Perfect took a little bit for me to get into only because the set up was specific to a baseball game. Once I understood the characters better it was a perfect rom-com to escape into. Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Tessa’s books are always a fun time. This book was no different. I loved the premise of not only a hockey player mmc, but also -a dedicated and talented softball playing fmc. Skylar was such a fun fmc. While her mind was very rigid and logical and straight to the point, It was really fun to see her let her guard down and let Robbie in. I always love when the fake dating fails and two MC’s realize their feelings but what I loved the most was that Tessa did it in a way that was very well thought out. There was still questions and conversations that needed to be had and she allowed room for the relationship to grow very organically.

Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey
Book 4 in the Big Shots series
Interconnected standalones

Thank you to Avon and Tessa for entrusting me with an early copy!

Fake dating sports romance
Dual POV, hockey player MMC, softball player FMC, rivals to lovers, spicy, banter, opposites attract, fake dating, planner nerd, one of the guys, he falls first and hard, family expectations, family wilderness games, class clown hiding deep emotions, one room 👀

Skylar's crush sees her as just one of the guys and his friend's little sister. Robbie is a player who Skylar overhears talking about his latest conquest. She calls him out on it and suddenly he is desperate to spend more time with her. Desperate enough to help her out with being her fake boyfriend/love coach to make the guy she is has secret feelings for notice her. Robbie ends up coming to her competitive family's summer wilderness games that her crush will also be at. Ever the planner, Skylar makes them a schedule of lessons for her to learn to flirt and more👀. As Robbie tortures himself with getting closer to Skylar, he witnesses the stress Skylar puts on herself to make her family happy. Can Robbie help her family see what they are doing to her and convince Skylar he is more than a class clown player?

I'm always a fan of fake dating and this book did not disappoint! I adored the way Robbie stuck up for Skylar to her family! Perfection! It was fun that they were both athletes and the back and forth between the hockey and baseball players was cute. I'm also a sucker for seeing behind the happy go lucky/player façade to deep feelings and enjoyed getting to know Robbie! And the spicy lessons!! This book was a lot of fun, hoping for more in the series!

I absolutely loved Pitcher Perfect! The storyline had me hooked right from the start, and I fell head over heels for the characters. Even though baseball and hockey play a role in the book, they never distracted from what I enjoyed most—the amazing fake dating romance at the heart of the story.

Tessa Bailey balances everything so well: there’s the perfect mix of witty banter, swoony moments, and just the right amount of spice to keep things exciting. But what I appreciated most is that the romance never overshadows the plot—the characters and their journeys feel layered and real.

I already know this is one I’ll be reaching for again, and I cannot wait to have a physical copy sitting proudly on my shelf. This story is heartfelt, fun, and such a joy to read.

This was a fun and engaging read, and as always, I loved diving back into this series. Bailey’s humor, banter, and chemistry between the characters really pulled me in, though the romance did feel a little too quick to fully believe at times. I could sense that the characters cared deeply for each other, but the speed of it made it feel slightly rushed. Similarly, the fast forgiveness and self-awareness from her family felt unrealistic, which took me out of the story a bit. Still, Tessa’s signature charm made it an enjoyable addition to the series, and I’m glad I picked it up. Maybe Mailer will be next??

If there’s one author I can always count on, it’s Tessa Bailey. Her books have a way of pulling you in instantly, and the Big Shots series has been no exception. Pitcher Perfect ended up being a delightful surprise—I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite as much as Fan Girl Down, but Robbie completely won me over.

In this installment, Bearcats rookie Robbie and softball all-star Skylar cross paths during an unexpected game of baseball. While Skylar may not have experienced love at first sight, Robbie certainly did. What begins as a fake date to spark a bit of jealousy quickly evolves into something much deeper.

I appreciated how well Robbie and Skylar balanced and brought out the best in one another. Robbie, in particular, had a compelling character arc. I wasn’t fond of him in the previous book, but here he became a standout character I truly connected with. By the end, I found myself wishing the story wouldn’t end, and I hope he makes cameo appearances in future installments.

Overall, Pitcher Perfect is one of Bailey’s stronger recent releases. Even though I’m not especially looking forward to the couple featured in the next book, I know I’ll be picking it up the moment it’s available.

This series keeps getting better and better. I was a little hesitant about Robbie and his bachelor lifestyle, but it took minimal time being in his head to fall in love with him. Skylar was such a wonderful character too. I loved that this story started with the hockey versus baseball pickup game. The playfully antagonistic aspect of their relationship was a huge plus for me, and Skyler's first words to Robbie being "fuck you" was just icing on the cake.

I loved how open and honest and communicative they were with each other. Skyler immediately dressed Robbie down about his playboy ways and it was the wake up call that boy needed to turn a new leaf. And boy did he commit. He fell hard and he fell fast.

The camaraderie between the Bearcats was another highlight of the story for me, plus getting Chloe and Tallulah page time was wonderful.

I love this series so much and can't wait for the next story.

Honestly, this might be tied with Fan Girl Down for my favorite Tessa Bailey book. I loved Robbie and Skyler and their story. Read if you enjoy sports romances (baseball/softball), family competitions, fake dating, and men who are absolute simps.

*****
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice 🌶️🌶️

This book was so cute!! In typical Tess fashion it was a giggle fest of hilarity!!

Skylar meets Robbie as he is sharing his latest conquest with his teammates. His reputation of ladies man secure. But when Robbie meets Skylar he is hit by regret for being a man whore. She is worth so much more than what he has been.

This was such a cute sweet romance. Robbie agrees to fake date Skylar to make her brothers best friend jealous, but really Robbie hopes she falls for his. And Skylar is thinking less and less about madden and more and more about Robbie!!

#pitcherperfect #tessabaileyauthor #NetGalley #arcreader #bookboyfriendsdoitbetter #idratherbereading #hockeyromanceera #sportsromance #romcom

Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for this advance copy.

I swear that I swore off Tessa Bailey after the last book in this series, which basically defined cringe, but something had me requesting this ARC for whatever reason, and I'm glad I did. Pitcher Perfect wasn't a perfect romance, but it was SOOO much better than the last one. Robbie and Skylar are kinda great, and while Robbie was a complete womanizer (his own word) in previous books, and basically an idiot, Bailey redeems him here, the way most idiots get redeemed: they meet a woman who gives them a wakeup call. Skylar does just that, and while I think men should become adults for themselves, this wasn't horrible. She can hang with the boys and needs to get one in particular to notice her, so let's do a fake dating trope, which naturally fails.

This book has Bailey's signature filthy talk, but Robbie and Skylar are all in pretty fast, and it's nice to see them figure out how to be all in while not losing themselves. This also does a great job of setting up the next book, which I will absolutely read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC!

This was my first Tessa Bailey book and it did not disappoint. The set up of fake dating/enemies to lovers to make her long-time unrequited crush jealous? Chef's kiss. The way that Robbie fell first and fell hard had me kicking my feet and I loved reading as Skylar caught up to him. The spicy scenes were giving intimacy with absolutely no shame and they felt real. The only part I didn't like was, without spoiling anything, the conflict towards the end of the book. It felt kind of stupid and almost like it was just there because there needed to be a conflict of some sort. Overall, though, a beautiful read about finding love in unlikely, hockey-player-shaped places.

Robbie is the communicative king we all need! Tessa Bailey knocked it out one park with this one! Skylar is a D1 pitcher who is in love with her brother’s best friend and her family competed annually in a series of competitions and she needs a partner this year to compete against her parents team and her brother and his best friend’s team. She meets Robbie who is a NHL player who is the true definition of the word “player.” She convinces him to fake a relationship with her to compete in the competition and teach her how to flirt and do all the things to attract her brother’s best friend’s. You can see where this is headed. The banter is great, the spice is 3 out of 5. They communicate like adults! It’s quick, must read for fans of sports romance.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

So cute and fun, I read it nearly all in one day.

I can be picky when it comes to Tessa Bailey books, some are just totally misses for me and others are the perfect treat. Thankfully, this one was the later!

Skyler is such a fun MFC, independent and confident in herself and her baseball/softball skills…until she gets around her family where she always kind of feels like she doesn’t meet expectations.

She is no damsel in distress who needs saving though, and I love a strong female lead who is just waiting for some guy to complete her life.

Both characters show vulnerability and change, while really respecting the other and wanting to become better people because of them, not just for them.

I wish the side plot with Skyler’s friends was developed a little bit more. I saw it coming, but then we just never found out how it resolved?

And then after their 3rd act break (not even really a break up, just conflict) they never really talked through or solved anything? Just decided they loved each other too much.

The ending felt rushed for what they built up on a week which was most of the book.

But still super enjoyable and fun to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.