Super grateful to have been able to read this early! Thank you to Avon for the opportunity to read this ARC and put this series on my radar!

There's so much that I genuinely loved about this book from Robbie's overall character to the plot and more. I feel like Tessa Bailey really nails the diversity of women and their fields of interest, and I really enjoyed seeing a girl in sports! Skylar is such a fun character and very relatable to me because of her love for planning and organization, yet she was totally different in her competitive streak and love for sports. It was cute watching Robbie slowly unravel and come apart for her, and I loved watching Skylar gain a man who was willing to be the safe space she needed. She truly fulfilled a space I wasn't even aware I needed to see filled! I have never read about a girl like her, and it was the breath of fresh air that I personally needed.

I really really enjoyed the glimpses of side characters that we were given, and it really hit a soft spot in my heart with the way Robbie loves his grandfather. I think his character to begin with is so funny and exactly what I love in a male lead with humor and thoughtfulness. The way that he stood up to Skylar's family but also loved them was beautiful! His enemies to begrudging friends with Skylar's brother was silly, and it truly pleases me to read about a man who knows how and when to apologize.

The complex family dynamic and side characters made the story fun, but it makes the rest of the series immediately fall onto my radar.

I recommend this read to anyone looking for a quick, fast-paced read for the beach or just a nice and cozy read for a rainy day! It was perfect to consume right when I was craving a cute romance with characters that were relatable to me and my world. As someone who isn't a big sports-watcher, this was easy for me to understand and didn't revolve around sports so much that I was disinterested either.

Loved this one! This series by Tessa Bailey has been a bit hit or miss, but I really enjoyed this one. I loved the main characters, and the MMC specifically was wonderful.

I knew I was going to enjoy this from the first chapter. Women in sports and a cocky hockey player!? I’m sold. It was so fun to watch Skylar and Robbie transition from fake dating to a real relationship. I really liked that we got to see glimpses of Skylar’s family and hear conversations between Robbie and his teammates.

Did this involve unrealistic sports time commitments? Yes

Was it instalove? Yes

Did I read it in a single day because I couldn’t put it down? Yes

I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC

The dirty talking and sexy time you expect from Tessa Bailey.
This time it’s a collegiate softball pitcher and a rookie hockey player.
Insta love - but I guess when you know, you know.

A fun, sexy sports romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who hasn’t read Tessa Bailey before, this book felt like the perfect introduction to her work. From the first few pages, the writing had a breezy, easy-to-fall-into quality that made it feel like the kind of story you can pick up and get lost in. It had a lightness and humor to it that I really appreciated, especially for a sports romance, which sometimes leans heavier on angst—but this one kept things fun and flirty, which is exactly what I was in the mood for.

One of my favorite things about this book was the setup: both main characters are athletes, which instantly made their connection feel more grounded and believable. I loved seeing two driven, competitive people try to navigate feelings while also balancing ambition and personal goals. That added a layer of depth I wasn’t expecting, and it gave their chemistry a bit more spark. Plus, the banter? So cute. It felt quick, genuine, and just fun to read.

The romance itself had a really satisfying smut-to-plot ratio—nothing too over-the-top, but enough heat to keep things interesting and balanced. I liked that the steamy moments didn’t overpower the story, and the emotional beats still landed. It’s the kind of romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still gives you characters you can root for.

Overall, this was a charming and fast-paced read that made me excited to check out more from Tessa Bailey. If you’re into sports romances with strong chemistry, playful energy, and a solid mix of spice and heart, I think you’ll really enjoy this one.


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Had you told me two books ago that I would be so invested in one of the dudebros with an Orgasm Donor shirt, I would have thought you were out to lunch. And yet... this book is great. It is awesome to watch a total f boy reform himself in the span of 200+ pages and have it feel so right and natural and believable. Tessa Bailey, you got me again.

I was so excited to receive an ARC for this book - I love Tessa Bailey and have read many of her books, including a handful from this series (though not all of them, and I love that they are a series but also can be read as stand alones). This book was full of fun tropes (sports romance, only one bed, fake dating, etc.) and I ate it up! The romance was steamy, the side characters were a great addition and it was great to see characters from the previous books and where they fit into this story. I was a bit worried this book would have my least favorite trope (since honestly, there all in here) and was happy to find that wasn't the case. Solid 4 starts for this one!

This is my favorite book in the series so far! I did not expect to fall in love with both main characters. Their story was funny and heartfelt. Bonus points that we get appearances from other characters in the series. Thank you Tessa this was truly a joy to read!

This book was really cute. I definitely wish we got more ice time, but overall it was exactly what you would want if you’re looking for a quick spicy, sweet enemies to lovers romance.

This may be my favorite from the Big Shots series so far. Robbie falls fast and hard and it is such a treat to watch. The overall storyline of the book is short- it can’t possibly be more than a couple of weeks so that may feel rushed to some but I think overall it worked well. I appreciate that you see Robbie’s mindset shift from “oh I’m gonna nail this girl bc she hates me” to “she is fascinating and I need to be near her.” I think Skylar is the most fleshed out female character of this series as well- Chloe unfortunately came off a little one-note in the last book but I enjoyed Skylar’s complexity AND the fact that Robbie sees her for everything that she is and appreciates those qualities about her. I was sure I was going to be annoyed with the “make the other guy jealous” storyline but loved that Skylar almost immediately is doubting her feelings for that guy. I’m excited to see where this series heads next (we do seem to have a new couple teed up ,) but I can also see a few other possibilities teased out.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from Net Galley in return for an honest review of this book. Thank you for sending it my way!

Lately, Tessa Bailey's books have been hitting an average of three stars for me. The Big Shots series specifically has been falling where I would call a book completely average; nothing wowed me but nothing pissed me off either. I am rating this installment in the series four stars and I'd like to tell you why.

This book does fall into that average category (this is more of a 3.5 rounded up), however it did a few things better than the other books in the series. I found the characters much more enjoyable in this book. It was something about the golden retriever energy paired with a girl that, despite not having a background in sports, I found very easy to identify with. The FMC is a badass who still has flaws and doubts just like any of us. Given what the publisher describes as "enemies-to-lovers" you get to enjoy a whole slew of banter between the MMC and FMC. Additionally, the book was fast paced and I didn't have any moments when I felt the story bog down.

Other determining factors in a higher review include characters who actually talk their problems out and a lack of the dreaded third act break up.

One pet peeve I have with the advertisement of this books is that it is marketed as "enemies-to-lovers" and I really would classify it as such. It's maybe more of a rivalry with a little tiff at the beginning of the story.

Overall, I'll continue to recommend this series to the lovers of a good sports romance <3

3.5 stars - Pitcher Perfect is the 4th in Bailey's series of interconnected stand-alones, and might be my favorite since Fangirl Down. The family competition that brings the couple together had a lot of laughs and great moments of growth for both characters. Despite starting as a ruse and pretty much being insta-love, the characters' relationship did feel genuine, and I was definitely rooting for them. The side characters could have used more development, but overall this is your classic Tessa Bailey rom com. Grab a copy of this one for some laughs and a good time! Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

Tessa Bailey does it again! I am a huge fan and I was so excited to get an advanced copy of Pitcher Perfect! I love this sports series. Each character is well developed and a lot of fun. I love how all of the stories are woven together with familiar characters from past books. This story begins with our mfc a college pitcher called in to help her brother and his best friend compete against the local ice hockey team. Enter redheaded Robbie. Sparks fly, a bet is made, and the rest unfolds in this fun and romantic story. Can Robbie help Skylar get the attention of another man? Or can Robbie convince Skylar that he is the man for her?

Okay but Pitcher Perfect?? LITERALLY had me kicking my feet and giggling like a teen with a crush. Robbie Corrigan is the cocky, hot NHL rookie I should have rolled my eyes at—but instead I fell HARD. And Skylar? D1 softball pitcher with a clipboard, zero tolerance for nonsense, and main character energy. We love a tough girl with a soft center!!

The fake dating setup? Chef’s kiss. The tension?? IMMACULATE. And don’t even get me started on Robbie going from whipped cream parties to “I will protect this woman with my life.” He was down bad and I ate. it. up.

Enemies to lovers? Check. Forced proximity? Check. Soft golden retriever MMC who’s also a little spicy? DOUBLE CHECK.

This book was pure serotonin with a side of steam (Tessa Bailey never misses). I smiled. I swooned. I screamed at the nickname Redbeard (weird, but I survived). If you want vibes like:

⚾️ Enemies-to-lovers
⚾️Fake dating + love coach
⚾️Sports romance
⚾️Reformed playboy
⚾️Strong, independent heroine
⚾️Fun family tournament
⚾️He Falls First
⚾️Pro Hockey Rookie MMC x D1 Softball Pitcher FMC
⚾️SPICE 🌶️

…then run, don’t walk.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the "Read Now" opportunity. I should’ve known better than to be greedy and request this one, I'm just not the right audience for this author or this series. No surprise here, this book wasn’t for me. I did kinda like book #1, but I didn’t vibe at all with book #2, so I probably should’ve passed on this one. That said, if you’re a Tessa Bailey fan, you’ll likely love it, it’s packed with all her signature elements.

This book is honestly perfect. This is one of Tessa Bailey's best. It was fresh and fun, and I loved both of the main characters. The only problem with this book was that when it was over I still wanted more of them and their crew. I highly recommend this book, and I sincerely hope that Tessa Bailey keeps writing more stories from this series, because I need them.

I’m so sorry but I hated this book. The men were mystic and selfish, and it feels like an old conservative man wrote it to show women what they ‘should’ want. It did not need to be this long and circular and the writing style icks me out.

The baseball and hockey stuff was fun ig. But I wanted so badly to yank Skylar away from that man. She had some sense in the beginning of the book I swear.

WE ARE SO BACK.

I loved fan girl down so much. It’s my favorite Tessa Bailey book ever written. It’s perfect. Book 2 and 3 lost me and I almost didn’t want to give this a try but I saw it featured a female athlete not just a male one and I thought okay I’ll give this series one more try.

Pitcher Perfect follows Robbie Corrigan from his playboy moments of the previous books into the love of his life. After overhearing Robbie talk about women at the hockey vs baseball showdown, Skylar hates Robbie. But she’s always been one of the guys and never really seen romantically before. Especially from her childhood crush. Asking Robbie to help her, turns in to a week long adventure at her parents house of fake dating, competition, and falling in love.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was so funny and cute and crazy (because it’s Tessa). Skylar and Robbie had great banter, had some super real issues to get past. Robbie showed up time and time again despite his reputation (I wouldn’t want to trust him either). The banter with the baseball vs hockey was so funny. And I absolutely LOVED the two family dynamics. I don’t know this book obviously was spicy and unhinged but it also was lovely.

Team Rocket and Redbeard forever!

There’s something about a Tessa Bailey book that always puts me in a good mood and I’ve been enjoying this series so much that I was so excited about this ARC and it did not disappoint. I haven’t really been able to read anything since finishing SoTR and this pulled me right out of that. I loved this book so much. I have loved Robbie and Mailer through the last two books of the series and I was so excited that he got his own book, especially after the set up in Dream Girl Drama and this book lived up to that.

Robbie was such a fun character, I loved how dynamic he was, and I really enjoyed a Tessa MMC that was just a sunshine golden retriever character. I also really enjoyed Skylar, I thought she was quite interesting and I was really invested in watching her grow through this book.

I loved them together, I loved the tension, the he falls first and falls hard, the chemistry, the reluctance on her part, the fake dating, the crazy circumstances pushing them closer together, the cameos from other characters. This was a perfect Tessa Bailey book and did what I needed it to do. It was so much fun to read, and honestly, I really didn’t mind how they handled conflict. I really did fall hard for Robbie, honestly, and I just want MORE. Cannot wait for the next one in the series (I have a strong inkling as to who’s up next!).

if you read this book for robbie and robbie only i think it would be worth it!! he was that perfect + I loved him.

the rest of this was also so fun though. i couldn't put it down and i read it in a day. insta-lovey which isn't my fav but also to be expected from tessa. the rest was so sweet + fun so i will and i really enjoyed it <3