Tessa Bailey seriously never disappoints me. I am always awed by her ability to just suck me in from the first few sentences and to keep me for the entire book. This book was no different. Also her author's note about side characters had me giggling because seeing Eva and Madden's interactions had me feral for them. I cannot wait to read about them.

Robbie and Skylar blew it out of the water. This entire series has been amazing. I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of their characters but I love the direction Tessa took for both of them. I will always love a fake-dating, and include a hot redhead who just is so genuine and unapologetically himself, I am always eating it up. I loved how he came to Skylar's defense in front of her family, and I loved how their arc progressed over the novel, too. I was really hating them for a hot sec there but Tessa redeemed them and I'm so happy for Skylar that she got that.

We always love a pathetic man who is so far gone and down bad for his woman and Robbie was the epitome of "he falls first & harder". Trying to get Skylar to seem attractive to her childhood crush was a tough situation to be in, but he handled it like a champ. And Jesus............ the mouth on that man. I'm sorry but the bedroom scene and him showing her how he pleases himself... Thank you, Tessa, for always delivering on the hottest stuff. I just LOVE how she manages to make the characters feel like they will die if they don't have each other. And Robbie telling Skylar "My chest hurts so bad, baby" or something similar had me on my kneeessss.....

I love a character like Robbie. The ladies man, bachelor, a little bit of sleeping around, some partying, etc... Idk he just felt so open. So charismatic. ANd just a big baby. If I was skylar I would not have had the same restraint. Especially after he saved her in the water... LISTEN the way he was so quick to get her meanwhile the family was not even paying attention had my heart in a chokehold. He was SO ATTENTIVE TO HER NEEDS!!!!

The third act breakup I saw coming, and I'm not mad at it; she is 22 after all. Immature decisions are bound to be made. I'm glad it didn't drag out too long, and I always like when the girl messes up in the third act breakup because I support women's rights & wrongs.

I always live for Tessa's cameos. Seeing Chloe and Sig was so nice. And I freaking LOVE Daddy Sir Savage.

Thank you Avon for the arc. I am forever grateful!

Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey
Book 4 of the Big Shots series
Pub date: Sept. 9, 2025

She has eyes for someone else and he’s helping her build her confidence in dating while also helping make her crush notice her… but when they go to her family’s house for a week of competitive games where a Pepsi can trophy is involved and also where her crush is teammates with her brother, the games get even more interesting. Will fake dating the player really turn out to be real?

What’s not to love in this enemies to lovers, sports romcom, fake dating, opposites attract, golden retriever MMC, he falls first, forced proximity full of heart romance? (Psst, the answer is all of it! I loved it all!) And the spice? Whew. I had to fan myself off more than a few times. 🥵 When Robbie stood up for Skylar when no one else in her family would, I was swooning.

I loved the sarcasm, banter, tension, bluntness and attraction between the two MCs. I also enjoyed the brother-sister arguing and constant jabs at each other. They had me literally LOLing!

Read this if you enjoy…
⚾️ Sports romance
🥎 She plays softball, he plays hockey
🏒 He falls first and falls hard
⚾️ Family competition
🥎 Fake dating
🏒 She has eyes for her brother’s bff, he ⚾️ only has eyes for her
🥎 Tension and pining
🏒 Delayed gratification
⚾️ Slow burn
🥎 Steamy scenes
🏒 He wants to change for her
⚾️ Playboy turned one-girl-kind-of-guy
🥎 Cinnamon roll MMC
🏒 Protective MMC
⚾️ Headstrong FMC
🥎 Soulmates
🏒 HEA

Now I cannot wait for Madden & Eve’s story!

Thank you NetGalley, Avon, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Tessa Bailey for the eARC!

Pitcher Perfect is the fourth book in the Big Shots series, which is a super fun read! Sports, competition, banter, and a steamy romance. We get plenty of appearances from the Bearcat boys, and Bailey seems to have potentially set up not one, not two, but three future books in this series (IYKYK).

While this book is definitely the "fake-dating sports romance about a playboy hockey rookie and the disciplined pitcher", I would not categorize it as enemies-to-lovers. It's more like strangers to reluctant allies to lovers, where she briefly hates him at first. Publishers, stop slapping on the "enemies to lovers" tag when marketing books. I get people like the trope, but label things as they are. Please and thank you.

Overall, it's another classic Tessa Bailey romance her fans will love!
Thank you NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

This book really hit it out of the park (no pun intended) 🥎 My first time reading a book by Tessa Bailey was a short story over Christmas with @tandemcollectiveglobal and @amazonpublishing and I wasn't completely sold; however, THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE - OH MY GOSH - I need a physical copy for my shelve when it comes out as a trophy book. It had the right amount of romance, flirt, and spice. Well done, Tessa Bailey, well done!

Thank you @netgalley for the #arc

⭐️ Rating: 5

I devoured this book! Tessa did it again with Pitcher Perfect! I loved the premise, I loved their banter, I love how Tessa writes obsessed, smitten MMCS, I loved the spice! I read this book in a little over 1 day and wish I could read it again for the first time. I can’t wait to own it on paperback! This Big Shots series has been such a joy, and this one ranks toward the top!

This is my first ever Tessa Bailey book and I loved it! I love how the fmc and the mmc started their story it was so sweet. Playboy turned husband yes please! I thought it was well written. The banter the love everything was just so good to me. I will definitely be reading more of Tessas books soon. The spice is this was to die for especially the shower scene 😉 I also love them in the rain as well. The growing love between them was so cute and I absolutely love that he called her Rocket. There wasn't a single thing about this book that I personally would change. I can't wait for the pretty deluxe copy to hit the shelf I'm definitely grabbing that. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book.

4🌟

This was a refreshing read after finishing an epic fantasy trilogy!

I can't remember if I have read any of Tessa Bailey's previous books, but this was pretty fun.

I don't agree that it's enemies to lovers, more like dislike from one side and insta-lust/love from the other.

I enjoyed the FMC, and the MMC grew on me. His insant behavioral turnaround gave me a bit of whiplash and will embolden the women who look at a guy and believe they can fix him.

This book lightly touched on some deeper topics dealing with acceptance and insecurities - which is where some of the drama comes from.

However, it's all wrapped up in a fun little "fake dating because she's in love with her brother's best friend" gift box.

Anyway, if you want to read for the vibes, I had fun with this one and will recommend it.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this gifted e-arc! All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! I didn’t think I needed a story about Robbie, but I was completely wrong—this book was perfect. I felt fully immersed in the playful yet emotional journey between Robbie and Skylar, and I loved how their dynamic evolved throughout the story.
I found myself laughing at their banter, swooning at their chemistry, and completely invested in their slow-burning connection. The fake dating trope was executed so well, and I felt like every challenge they faced brought out new layers to their characters. Robbie surprised me in the best way—his charm, his vulnerability, and the way he showed up for Skylar made me love him even more. By the end, I felt like I had gone on the emotional ride right alongside them. The romance, the tension, and the growth between these two were everything I could have hoped for.

This series continues to be a favorite of mine, and I will read anything this author writes!

thanks to avon and netgalley for the arc… however, i did not enjoy this book at all.




aside from robbie being down bad, this book was cringey and half-assed. what the hell are you writing tessa?? “penis power” “juicy cheeks” AND rocket as a nickname?? and the weird usage of AAVE/slang like “bet” “cooked” “facts” WHAT THE HELL?? also i skimmed the book so i could be misremembering but robbie not respecting women in the slightest and suddenly falls in love instantly with skylar and being like omg… im a changed man…. like what the fuck? and we don’t even see a change in him he just says she changed him. and skylar with some superficial sob story like omg my parents don’t care about me I DIDNT GET INTO BROWN!!! and she moved on from madden so quick for someone “in love” with him for years. OH AND WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT DUMB HO THINKING TRYING TO GET A KITE STUCK IN A TREE FROM LIKE A DECADE AGO???

formulaic writing, weird dialogue, and half-assed attempts at writing characters’ emotional baggage. dirty talk/smut was okay but i checked out when they said some stupid shit.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️.5
The Michelangelo of dirty talk has returned. This was a silly, fun rom-com of a reformed playboy getting taken to his knees for a girl, which I loved. Robbie was such a golden retriever all along and I liked his and Skylar’s story. The games were a fun concept that I haven’t seen before. I read this in one sitting because it was easy to gobble up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for giving me an ARC of Pitcher Perfect.

Tessa Bailey really knows how to write and extremely sexy book but i remain unconvinced she writes the kind of love story or characters i enjoy reading! It’s a good book for an extremely light, not particularly emotional time but i can’t say i cared deeply for these characters.

The fourth book in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series is a fast-paced, spicy sports romance that blends humor, emotion, and entertainment. While the cover hints at a typical sports-themed story, it surprises readers with steamy scenes and a compelling fake dating trope. Featuring an enemies-to-lovers dynamic, the novel shines through its character-driven plot, showcasing the personal growth, self-discovery, and deepening bond between two lovable protagonists. Themes of confidence, redemption, and the transformative power of love make this a standout entry in the series and a favorite for fans of romantic tropes.

My fave of the series! I love both characters so much. My only critique is the super short timeline. Literally loved everything else.

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when a joke character from a sports romance unexpectedly makes his debut as a romance MMC? In Pitcher Perfect, he rises to the occasion and makes an excellent reformed boyfriend, that's what.

NHL rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the good life. He's got a spot on a major hockey team, plays and parties with his best friend, and generally enjoys every favor Boston's single ladies have to offer. He has no plans to settle down, until he's drafted for a baseball game (hockey players vs baseball players) and pitcher Paige Skyler mouths at him, "F*** you."

That's it. He is head over heels.

Skylar Paige is a starting softball pitcher for Boston University. She's fierce, feisty, talented, and totally overlooked by both her family (all Brown alums and super weird about it) and her long-time crush, her brother's best friend. She is DEFINITELY (probably?) not interested in Robbie, except that the handsome hockey player wins himself a coffee date. During their date, she tells him about her family's yearly week of competitions, designed by her hyper competitive parents. She's down a partner and so, desperate for opportunities to win her over, Robbie volunteers to be her teammate. While he's at it, he'll also teach her how to finally win the attention of her crush.

They just have to fake date during the competition week. Because of course they do.

What follows is a wild ride of semi-toxic family dynamics and the legit redemption of a playboy athlete. Robbie brings not just classic Tessa Bailey style sexy times, but also a delightful transformation from immature womanizer to a committed romantic lead. Maybe the speed of his transformation is fast (i.e. instantaneous), but the reason for it makes sense; he got lost in the excess of being a successful athlete but Skylar has reminded him of his real core values. As a couple, they will still have to navigate the ways his former bacchanalian lifestyle haunts their relationship, but otherwise, he's all in and proves it in a number of concrete ways (apart from being excellent in bed.)

Skylar is a great character too, though she has less to prove and more learn, in terms of learning to trust in a relationship. Her family, though, have very little to recommend them. Her brother was kind of a jerk in the previous book, Dream Girl Drama, and only begrudgingly improves now. Their parents are lunatics, as Robbie affectionately points out.

One of the more implausible parts of the story is how he balances the competition with his professional obligations: he's running off to participate in potentially injurious competitions not long before the NHL playoffs start. Maybe we can assume Robbie beliefs the risk is worth it in the name of winning Skylar but it just doesn't ring true, even if he IS a big, tough hockey player dude. It would not be a good look for a rookie like Robbie to get an off-ice injury. Still, if you're willing to suspend your disbelief on that front, it's a good read. Hard not to cheer for Robbie, even if he's being kind of an idiot.

Recommended for fans of sports romances mixed with screwball comedies, and for anyone who enjoys the MMC falling fast and hard. The answer to that question is yes. Although not without some eyerolling bits, Pitcher Perfect is a fast, fun read.

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers (kind of?), Fake Dating

Loved:
The banter between the MCs.
Strong female lead.
The relationship between the two MCs.

Hated:
The number of times the MCs went over their internal struggles with their feelings. Each time it was brought up it was the same thing, over and over.
The MFC's inability to see she had moved past her infatuation with her brother's best friend and that the brother’s best friend is obviously in love with her best friend.
While I enjoy dirty talk in the bedroom, some of the comments the MMC made almost felt degrading and were a turn off, though reflected his manwhore ways.

Unrealistic:
A pro hockey player taking part in amateur competition, risking getting injured, the week before playoffs.
An inexperienced, meek in the bedroom female, planning out sexual “lessons” with a stranger.

If you can suspend reality while you are reading this one, it's a super cute story.

Another classic Tessa Bailey book! Robbie and Skylar are first introduced in Dream Girl Drama and Pitcher Perfect is their story. This book was textbook fake dating, and I really enjoyed how they fell for each other. The spark was there from the beginning, but seeing the two of them come together in their own way was cute. This book was fun, fast-paced, and cute.

I enjoyed how Tessa Bailey highlighted a female athlete in this book and touched on the struggles of living up to the pressure family can put on you. This plot point was well done and felt realistic, like I could perfectly envision Skylar’s situation. Robbie was a himbo at times, but it balanced out Skylar’s type A personality well.

I thought Pitcher Perfect was easy to read and great for when you want something quick and cozy. This was a great addition to the Big Shots series!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This started out cute. I love an enemies to lovers and a fake dating and a coaching situation. Him loving her so fast wasn’t believable to me and it just got a little too cheesy at the end.

While I really did have a great time reading this, as I always do with Tessa Bailey, I couldn’t help but feel like her previous works in this series had better pacing. There was basically no will they, wont they. I still plan on reading the rest of this series as it comes out though.

This is my first ever Tessa Bailey book and I absolutely loved this book! I love an enemies to lovers trope, especially with fake dating?!?! The banter was good! Robbie is a reformed playboy who falls absolutely head over heels with Skylar. He’s obsessed and he was such a good guy to her! I really related to Skylar and her insecurities, it made me really connect with her. The third act breakup wasn’t my fave but the epilogue and ending made up for this! I cannot wait to read more Tessa Bailey now! My review is posted on my insta, @paigetopagereads

This is a fantastic romance. I've already read the rest of this series so I was very excited and it did not disappoint!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!