I honestly am on the verge of tears having just finished this. Thank you so much to harpercollins and netgalley for this advanced copy.

I have been in the funkiest book funk lately. Life's got me down. Nothing has really inspired me to pick it up...until I saw Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey. TB is a go to author for me. I always know what to expect. Her writing always lifts my spirits, keeps me engaged and entertained, and delivers romances that I can't help but eat up. This book was absolutely what I needed (hence me being a little emotional right now).

I don't know if this book is 1st or tied for 1st as my favorite in the Big Shots series. I can literally think of almost NOTHING I took issue with in this book. This was, like, my dream fake dating story. The only thing I will say, is TB's spice is sometimes an acquired taste (in my honest opinion), but I love her for it. I have been MANIFESTING more red headed MMC's in my books and boy howdy what a MAN he was. I also loved how open and honest the MMC and FMC communicated with one another!!!! It isn't illegal to NOT miscommunicate, people!

I'm honestly so proud of myself for making it to the end of this review without using any expletives because this book effin' ROCKED.

This was my fave of the three hockey player books in this series. I liked that Robbie was redeemed quickly--I wanted to cheer for him. Some of the strengths: it was a fast-paced read that didn't get too bogged down in the third act conflict. I'd give this 3.5 stars if I could.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC of Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey.

I think this one is my favorite so far in Bailey's Big Shots Series (Fangirl is #2), which I'm a little shocked about because normally I don't go for the fake dating trope, but, as usual, Bailey can make me love anything. In Pitcher Perfect we follow Robbie, one of the Bearcats' "orgasm donor" twins as he falls in love with Skylar, the pitcher from the brawl in Dream Girl Drama.

I think a new reader could hop into this book without reading the previous 3. Chloe and Sig and Burgess and Tallulah make brief appearances, but Skylar and Robbie's meet-cute is repeated as the opening here so a new reader could start fresh.

I really like how both Skylar and Robbie were written as characters. Skylar's damage is easy to relate to for so many women who never feel like enough or who come from overly competitive families. Robbie is instantly redeemable when Skylar calls him out from the get-go on his treatment of women and he genuinely reminds me of so many guys from college who wanted to be one way in front of their friends and regretted that in private conversation or in the reflection of being post-grad/out of their mid-twenties. I just found both of them to be real and relatable - their struggles were one that I think many others will be able to identify with as they read. I also appreciated that the fake dating was never put in a place where Skylar was using Robbie -- it's very obvious in the story to everyone but Skylar why this was never going to work -- but she also makes the realization herself without threatening what she and Robbie are building, which I really appreciate.

So excited to see Catcher If You Can is next given what we learn in Pitcher Perfect (don't want to name the characters because you need Pitcher Perfect first)! It'll be great to have Bailey back in her NYC atmosphere that she's cultivated in so many other series.

I do also want to note: The books in the Big Shots series are listed as sports romances, but the sport side is very light - I think it might be better suited to say either one of the main characters has a sports-oriented career and the romances are more based around their regular lives. I'm completely down for it, but I think it's just something that's fair to note for those looking for something more in-depth in a sport itself or for those who don't want too much sports in their novel.

Book Title: Pitcher Perfect
Author: Tessa Bailey
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating, Love Coach, Forced Proximity, Sports Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🤩The Vibe:
This is classic Tessa Bailey at her best—sharp banter, sizzling chemistry, and just the right blend of emotional growth and laugh-out-loud moments. After a couple of misses in this series, Pitcher Perfect delivers the kind of fast-paced, high-heat romcom that reminds you why Tessa is a queen of the genre. It’s a fun, flirty ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still manages to hit those emotional beats when it counts.

👩‍❤️‍👨Main Characters:
Robbie Corrigan:
Boston Bearcats rookie and resident “orgasm donor” (his words, not ours). He’s charming, cheeky, and more emotionally self-aware than he initially lets on. While his early playboy antics are a little much, he becomes surprisingly grounded as the story develops. His growth—and his slow-burn pining—make him the standout of the book.

Skylar Paige:
A focused, sharp-tongued softball star who’s immune to Robbie’s charm and locked in on her long-standing crush (her brother’s best friend). Skylar doesn’t hold back and isn’t here for BS. Watching her slowly soften to Robbie without ever compromising who she is was a real treat.

💕What We Loved:
• The fake dating/love coach dynamic was hilarious, flirty, and full of tension.
• Robbie’s character arc was well done—he’s more than just the cocky player we first meet.
• Their banter was snappy and fun, especially once Skylar stopped resisting the attraction.
• The forced proximity wilderness competition added just enough chaos to heighten the tension.
• We love a cinnamon roll hero disguised as a bad boy—and Robbie nails it.
- The spice was well done—hot without being overwhelming or too over-the-top (a welcome change from some of the earlier books in the series).

🚫What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The love story unfolds over just a few days, which made the emotional shift feel a little rushed. Robbie switching from playboy to golden retriever in an instant after meeting Skylar is pushing it a bit.
• The subplot involving Skylar’s friends owning a strip club and her taking on her sister’s kids felt like unnecessary filler and distracted from the romance.

🤔 Final Thoughts:
Pitcher Perfect is a spicy, swoony, and surprisingly sweet sports romcom that hits a lot of the right notes. Though the romance develops a little too quickly and the side plots wander, the sizzling chemistry, emotional payoff, and lovable leads bring it all home. If you’re a fan of flirty banter, redemption arcs, and the softest playboy in the NHL, add this one to your lineup.

I love Tessa Bailey. I’ve read a ton of her books. She writes great sports romances. I liked this story. However it did seem like she played a little too much with a thesaurus. There were SO many words that normal people do not use. I’m all about upping vocabulary by reading but from 2 athletes…. Didn’t seem realistic.

"Pitcher Perfect" is the fourth book in Tessa Bailey's "Big Shots" series and has the same wit, banter, and romance that Bailey is known for. This particular book centers around talented softball pitcher Skylar, who is desperate to have her brother's best friend (Madden) finally notice her as a woman and not just an annoying little sister. While choosing her enemy, known ladies' man Robbie, to be her partner in getting Madden's attention may seem inconceivable to some, they quickly realize that they have more in common than they ever realize. And what will Skylar do when she realize the man she's constantly thinking about is Robbie, not Madden?

This was a fun, enjoyable romance that I was able to read through quickly. I enjoyed the familial elements to this book, as well as reading about characters from previous books. I will definitely read the next book in this series! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an ARC of this ebook. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Skylar and Robbie’s love story. I have not read any of the other interconnected stories in this series but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I loved the fake dating and “teach me how to ___” tropes in this book. This was a fun, quick read over the weekend and definitely recommend!

Tessa can do no wrong and she hit this one out of the park 😘 such a fun read! I binged it in 24 hours!

The best book yet in this series! This sports romance can be read as a standalone and is both spicy and funny. I could not put this down and read it in one day. Thanks to Tessa Bailey, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review.

I had so much fun with this one! We follow Skylar, a collegiate softball pitcher, and Robbie, a playboy pro hockey player. In true Tessa Bailey fashion, Robbie is down bad for Skylar as soon as they meet and spends the rest of the book proving it. Skylar has always crushed on her brother’s best friend, and uses Robbie as a fake boyfriend to get noticed. Naturally, after spending so much time together, Skylar realizes her crush is misplaced. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud funny and steamy sports romance with fake dating, relationship coaching, reformed rake, and forced proximity tropes.

2.5 stars. It was charming at parts, I guess. But I’m sorry the characters meet with her overhearing him brag about last nights conquest… and if my math is correct, just 13 days later they say I love you?? And that includes four days of not speaking due to the third act break up. Sadly I could not suspend disbelief. Fan Girl Down is one of my favorite of Tessa Bailey’s, I am sad that the rest of the series hasn’t lived up to it.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Net Galley for this complimentary eArc i. exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Tessa Bailey book and im now going back to read her other books. If you are into tropes with sports,fake dating, and HEA you will love this. I enjoy that the 3rd act conflict not being too dramatic as some make them to be. I would recommend this!

I received an advanced reader's copy of Pitcher Perfect, and it was amazing! Tessa Bailey never fails to make me giggle with her sharp dialogue and swoony, chaotic characters. This book was the perfect mix of flirty, heartfelt, and fun. The chemistry between the leads was on point, and I loved every minute of their banter. I can't wait for the next Tessa Bailey book she always delivers!

This is a quintessential Tessa Bailey book. It's cheesy, dirty, predictable and you absolutely won't be able to out it down. Seriously, I have enjoyed her books for many years and find it fitting that every new book has the same level of cheese and smut as before. Can't wait for the next one.. and they next 10!

Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey is perfection and dare I say, my favorite thus far? It's addictive and fun!

I loved her sport romance series so when I saw she would be adding another book to the series I was thrilled and it did not disappoint. I love a good sport romances and I liked how she mixed hockey and softball and made them both athlete and then we throw in spicy lessons and a playboy that gets brought to his knees and he's down bad obsessed? Oh I love him. It was so fun, flirty and full of banter. Their dynamic was so tension filled and playful that keeps you giddy the entire time and the mouth on that man? Oh Tessa Bailey knows how to write spice that will have you blushing. I love how they made each other better and balance each other and how they want to be better, especially the way he knows she's it for him and doesn't just say it but proves it to her and I also loved seeing familiar faces again. its such a fun swoony book and a must read!

I swore I wasn’t going to read the follow up to dream girl drama because that book was one of the worst I’ve read in a while. HOWEVER. As a former college softball player, i HAD to read this. HAD TO. Books are never written about female softball players. And this was perfect. Totally worth it. Softball player, fake dating and a hot as sin professional hockey player? Yes, yes and more yes. Skylar and Robbie were legit perfection and their chemistry was 🔥🔥🔥 seriously, such and easy read. I flew through this and loved every second.

Man I love Tessa Bailey books. They’re just so feel good and spicy and this one was no exception.
I loved the banter and the build up in this book and I definitely think it holds up in this series of books. I think sometimes as the series goes on with some romances that the books get weaker but this one was great and very entertaining.
Definitely liked the fact that the 3rd act break up really wasn’t a break up at all. It was resolved pretty quickly and without a lot of fuss which I appreciate.
The reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the characters I felt kind of lost their personalities after they started dating which isn’t a huge problem I just found myself being pulled out of book because they became somewhat generic.
I would still absolutely recommend this book and really enjoyed reading it!

Okay so I was able to get the uncorrected E-proof early. While I did throughly enjoy this book and thought it was another great book in the Big Shots series. There were a few things I feel could use some workshopping. For instance, I could kind of pick up the vibe that Madden liked Eve but I didn’t get enough back story or Eve and it felt like I was jumping halfway through a story. I also feel like we need more detail on the friendship between the Orgasm Donors. I am aware this book was setup to tell Mailer and Reese’s story next book but it almost felt like Eve and Madden are set up to get their own book? I don’t know. Also I would just love more back story on smaller details like Robbie’s Grandfather, Skylar and Elton’s relationship amongst other things. Overall it was a cute story and I enjoyed the character development.

3.5! As always, Tessa Bailey writes a man fully obsessed with a woman he just met, and I had to eat it up. This one was a cute continuation of the sports romance series she had been writing, and I’m glad we got to see some depth from the rookies! My only complaint is that it felt too short, which led to not a lot of time to develop their relationship as much, but I still enjoyed myself!

This was not my favorite in the series. There's some sweet moments, but I wasn't all that invested in either of the characters or tropes in this one. I like that they were both sporty and had that in common. I also like that we see returning characters from prior books in the series!