Tessa Bailey's novels have historically been very hit or miss for me (softball pun intended hehe). I absolutely adored "Fangirl Down." It was one of my favorite romances of last year. Meanwhile, I could barely get through "Dream Girl Drama". I liked "Pitcher Perfect," it was definitely another hit for me. However, maybe not a home run.

For me, Skylar was the best part of this book. I thought she was incredibly relatable and I really enjoyed the arc about her relationship with her family. I also really appreciated the representation of a female athlete in what's branded as a sports romance. Her incessant pining for her brother's friend bordered on cringey, but damn if her insistence of holding a candle for a guy who clearly isn't into her wasn't so so real.

Generally, I liked Robbie. I know some people won't like this, but I actually appreciated how quickly he realized the wrong of his earlier rakish ways and amended. While he went through a lot of character development in the book, I did think there was a lot of telling rather than showing this development. As certain points he felt more like an accessory to Skylar's story rather than a character in his own right, but I think it's ok for the book to primarily be about Skylar. Also I hate to say this but Tessa Bailey's MMCs are all a little indistinguishable.

As a former softball player, I was especially excited to read "Pitcher Perfect". Something I would have liked to see a little more of in the book was sports moments. One of the reasons I loved "Fangirl Down" so much was the big moments of sports triumph mixed in with the romance (in golf, of all things). "Pitcher Perfect" primarily takes place before the softball season begins and during a break in the hockey season, so there was no real sports happening. Especially with a female athlete at the helm of the novel, I would have loved to have seen more of her experience. I wasn't a pitcher, so I can't speak to the accuracy of Skylar's experience of feeling isolated from the rest of her teammates. However, this almost felt like a bit of a cop out to me. Softball pitchers are still an important member of the infield and she may still bat. Catchers and pitchers have a special relationship. given that her brother's friend that she was into was a catcher, I would have LOVED to have met a catcher from her team (or literally a single person on her softball team). FMCs are allowed to have more than one friend!

Also, and this is super nitpicky, but in softball pitchers do not pitch from a mound.

3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

4.5 ⭐️the fact that Tessa Bailey wrote a romance book between a softball pitcher and a hockey player is literally everything to me 🫶🏼🫶🏼 as someone who pitched for 9 years, I think this is the first romance book I’ve read about a fellow pitcher (and by fellow I mean one who is much better than I ever was okay? I peaked in high school)

He falls first (HARD), fake dating to make another man jealous, a womanizer changing his ways— this book was so fun!! I have been loving Tessa’s dive into the sports romance world, and I ate this one up! The growth of not only our main characters, but also Skylar’s family, was simply beautiful.

Thank you to Avon and netgalley for the arc!!

A dating scheme goes all wrong when pro hockey player and known "womanizer" Robbie meets the tough, all-star pitcher Skylar and agrees to be her “love coach” to gain the attention of her brother's best friend. But as their plan plays out according to Skylar's carefully crafted “schedule,” the steamy line between real and fake begins to blur. Entertaining with some really fun quippy lines. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Was I waiting for this book as soon as Tessa Bailey announced it on her Instagram account? Yes, I was. Waiting very patiently for the early digital copy because I needed to read Robbie's story. I literally needed to know who was going to make Robbie fall to his knees because he is the literal definition of a playboy.

If you haven’t already read the previous books in the series, you need to. You get a bit of a glimpse of Robbie as he is one of the hockey players on the team. Robbie is so well known for his immaturity and playboy ways that people don’t really take him seriously. Hell, Robbie doesn’t take himself seriously either until he meets Skylar.

It’s not a match made in heaven between Robbie and Skylar when they first meet. Heck, Skylar doesn’t even care for him since she only has eyes for her childhood crush, aka her brother’s best friend. And Skylar is still having trouble getting her childhood crush's attention. Thankfully, Robbie is willing to help her as part of forgiving his terrible behavior.

You already know that faking dating between Robbie and Skylar isn’t going to work, as they plan to. One of them is going to fall deep, and thankfully, it’s Robbie. We always love a playboy falling hard and learning how to fall deeper in love. It’s literally the best romance story to read.

Trust me, Robbie falls so hard that he immediately knows she is the one. He isn’t meant for the playboy ways anymore. Robbie just wants to be with Skylar.

This book went from insta hate to insta love and was somehow still perfect. Cannibalism jokes/threats, fake dating, ‘teach me’ and so much more. A quick and fun read and a perfect addition to the series.

I always devour Tessa Bailey’s books! I was so invested in Pitcher Perfect right from the start. It’s very insta-love, but it honestly works. I really enjoyed both Robbie and Skylar, and I’m super excited for more books in this series (keeping my fingers crossed that it goes on forever!). If you enjoy sports romance with plenty of spice and heart, Tessa’s Big Shots series is for you. 4.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Pitcher Perfect is the kind of cozy, feel-good romance that hooks you from the first chapter and doesn’t let go. Skylar is an ambitious and successful baseball pitcher who’s had her heart set on her brother’s best friend, Madden, but she is also very shy and self-conscious. So obviously she is too nervous to open up about her feelings to Madden. Will he reciprocate? Or does he only see her as her brother’s little sister?
That is why Skylar enlists the help of a flirty redhead hockey player to fake a relationship and spark some jealousy. I loved the plot, adored the MMC, and couldn’t get enough of the banter. The only thing is that Skylar came off a little cold and distant at times, making it harder to fully connect with her emotionally. Still, this book is fantastic and cozy - a perfect binge read!

Tessa does it again! A down bad MMC from Tessa always hits!! This ARC was the perfect early summer/baseball season read!

This book was a lot of fun! First of all, we love an MMC who is completely gone for his lady, and poor Robbie is beyond gone for our girl. I'm not usually a fan of nicknames, but "Rocket" and "Redbeard" were absolutely adorable. We get spicy lessons, an ultra-competitive family, and lots of witty banter.

There were a few areas where I felt the side characters’ stories started to overshadow the central plot, which can sometimes happen with interconnected standalones. The third-act breakup also felt a bit forced and unnecessary.

Overall, though, this was a light, fun, and spicy read that I really enjoyed.

This one is probably my least favorite of this series. It's not bad at all, but if I were to rank them that's how it would go. I really liked Skylar, her love for organization, and the way she could put Robbie in his place. I struggled to really like Robbie, but I did enjoy seeing his growth from playboy to no longer. The banter was fun and had me giggling a few times. Definitely an easy, quick read for me. This book makes me intrigued to see if Madden and Eve will get a book next now and it kinda seemed that way, so excited for that possibility!

✨Book Review – Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey (ARC)✨
Tessa Bailey hits it out of the park with Pitcher Perfect! This sizzling, swoon-worthy romance delivers everything you’d expect from her—witty banter, steamy tension, and characters you can’t help but root for. The chemistry between the leads is off the charts, and the small-town baseball backdrop adds the perfect charm to this fun, flirty read.
Bailey brings her signature heat and heart to the page, but also weaves in just enough emotional depth to make the story linger long after the last pitch. If you're a fan of sports romances with big feelings and bigger swoons, this one’s a home run. ⚾❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Skylar Paige is a star softball pitcher and highly competitive. She’s been lusting after her brother’s best friend for years, but has never caught his eye. She’s heading home for her family’s annual wilderness competition, and enlists the help of NHL star Robbie Corrigan to help her win the competition and make her crush jealous enough to notice her. Except as Robbie helps Skylar gain confidence, she finds herself falling for him instead.

This book was a quick and steamy read. It may have been full of a ton of tropes, and not much substance, but it was a fun time and I didn’t want to put it down. It was an absolutely unrealistic storyline and Robbie was a walking red flag at the beginning of the book. However, he fell hard and fast for Skylar and I adored seeing him stand up to Skylar’s family for her. Skylar was a strong FMC, and the romance moved pretty quickly. I also enjoyed Skylar’s family dynamics.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy!

OMG this story was adorable. I enjoyed the growth between Robbie and Skylar. Super fun read. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I can officially say that I now understand the fuss! Pitcher Perfect was my first Tessa Bailey read, and it won't be my last. I absolutely loved it! I'm not a big fan of smutty romance novels, but I'm a sucker for a good romcom...especially the ones that include the fake dating trope. And she added sports into the mix?! Oh yeah! I was definitely sold. But this book was so much more than that. It wasn't just love and laughter and silliness. There were moments that were so profoundly deep that I wanted to cry. One particular scene near the end had me choked up, it was so beautiful. The chemistry between Skylar and Robbie was adorable and I simply loved their antics. They made me feel young again and nostalgic for my days as a competitive athlete. There were choices and instances in this book that were a little far-fetched, but the story was so well written, and the characters were so likeable that I didn't even care. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. I would definitely recommend!

Side note: Skylar was right! Whitney Houston's National Anthem from 1991 was the best ever!!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

Yearning is so back!! I'm living for the whole silly fun Big Shots series and this is another absolute banger.

I loved this book! Having a strong mfc is always a plus for me. She calls the guys on their bullshit and doesn’t let them off easy. I also love this interpretation of acts of service. Robbie is so sweet to Skylar and shows he’s truly paying attention to her. I love their banter and competitiveness as well. As a former tomboy, I love that Skylar can silence a team of pro hockey players with one pitch. This is definitely a book I wish I could read again for the first time.

Ohmygod, I did not expect to love this as much as I did. I’m not usually a fan of third-person point of view, but after three pages, I. Was. In. Tessa Bailey managed to get deep inside the characters’ heads, making third POV feel surprisingly intimate and immersive.

The characters were so well-developed—from Robbie, the charming player turned one-woman-man (who could definitely eat you out of house and home), to Skylar, the by-the-book softball star who slowly realizes perfection isn’t everything.

Even the side characters earned their time in the spotlight. Elton gives classic protective older brother vibes, complete with banter that cracked me up. And Robbie’s hockey teammates? Total scene-stealers. The bro talk-turned-girly gab sessions made me skeptical (do men really get that in their feels?), but I absolutely adored imagining it. NFL players giving relationship advice? I could read a whole bonus chapter of just that.

The pacing was spot on—I was fully along for the ride. And the kite motif, tied from early in the book through to the end? Loved that little emotional payoff.

This one’s perfect for fans of sports romance and enemies-to-lovers (though let’s be honest—Robbie never really saw Skylar as an enemy), especially if you’re here for sharp banter and emotionally satisfying arcs.

What didn’t quite land for me? Robbie’s transformation from ultimate player to ready-for-forever was fast. Like, “under-a-week” fast. It stretched believability a bit—but hey, I suspended disbelief and still swooned right through to the end.

Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars

Robbie and Skylar are a breath of fresh air—a duo that’s funny, endearing, and relatable. This story drew me in from the start, and out of all the couples in the series, they are up there with Wells and Josie.

Robbie surprised me in the best way—so open, honest, and unexpectedly earnest. I was rooting for him the entire time. And Skylar? Watching her confidence in herself as an athlete ripple into the rest of her life was such a joy.

One of my favorite things: no miscommunication drama! The characters actually talk to each other—refreshingly well—and that extends beyond the main couple to Skylar’s family and the Bearcats too.

This was a lighthearted, feel-good read that had me laughing—sometimes out loud at the pure ridiculousness of it all. We need more of that. The perfect escape read.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

When a meet-cute includes her silently mouthing “fuck you” to him, you know you’ve got a winner. I loved this fake-dating, he falls first (hard) rom com. Tessa always gets many laughs out of me. I especially liked the term “bone down” that was used.

who doesn't love a good fake dating story? Skylar and Robbie don't get off to a great start. or even a good start. Skylar is tough as nails and in love with somebody else. Robbie is young and immature, but clever and snags a drink with Skylar. he's smitten, but realizes he doesn't have a chance, but agrees to fake date to get her the man she wants and he just wants to spend time with her. Feelings are caught, stupid things are done and happily ever afters are had. we get cameos from Sig, Chloe, Burgess and Tallulah , which makes everything okay.