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emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Sig and Chloe meet one night by chance before they find out her mom and his dad are engaged. They are not actually siblings and did not grow up together or ever live under the same roof, they met in their twenties. So I get that step siblings being together sounds gross but in all actuality there is nothing wrong with this relationship, it just seems taboo. I love that them trying to stay platonic and him trying to help her gain her independence really helped their friendship and connection grow.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Incest, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy, Gaslighting
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75 ⭐️s
3.75 🌶s
3.75 🌶s
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Classism
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This one was fine. The spice was spicing in that good Tessa Bailey way, but the story just didn't grab me the same as her stuff usually does. It was very yearn-y which I usually appreciate but IDK something just felt off? I also am not a huge fan of either narrator, so that probably didn't help.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Sexism, Blood, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can’t remember the last time I read a book with love at first sight, maybe never. But this one got to me, I could not put it down!! Sig & Chloe’s story of falling in love & being torn apart by their parents, & now knowing that one of the parents could have stopped all the heartbreak & chose not to, chose to force them apart over a lie, chose to choose them self over their kid. It’s despicable, & they don’t deserve to be a parent. I spent the whole book hoping for them to find a way to be together, & though it’s a romance & I always know there will be a HEA, there was a moment there that I thought it wouldn’t happen, & my heart was breaking! So I’m so glad they got their HEA!! Phew!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Incest, Gaslighting
Minor: Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dream Girl Drama, a novel by Tessa Bailey, available February 4, 2025!
The next book in the Big Shots series follows Sig Gauthier, Sir Savage’s best friend and Boston Bearcats wing, and his soon-to-be step-sister, harp prodigy Chloe Clifford, as they navigate the trials and tribulation of being in love but also being (almost) family. Sig is a golden retriever of a man who would literally do anything for Chloe and tries to make her dreams (ha!) come true no matter what it takes. Chloe escapes Darien, Connecticut (as one should), and her manipulative, selfish mother on a whim when Sig steps in to bring her to Boston so she learns how to adult on her own. Did I mention that Sig and Chloe’s parents are getting married to boot?
These two were down bad for each other. It was palpable. I really liked the writing in this book. We didn’t have the usual witty banter and dialogue that I usually expect from Tessa Bailey, but I loved how she expressed each character’s internal struggle. I also liked the comparisons to Sig’s mother and Chloe which were subtle, up until the very end. Also, we got hints into the Orgasm Donors’ books (one with a rival baseball team pitcher, the other with the team’s general manager, perhaps?).
Now, I’m sure a lot of people are going to comment on how you have to suspend disbelief about step-siblings falling in love with each other. I, however, don’t know why it was such a big deal! They were both consenting adults and I feel like had they just gotten over it, told their parents, and were open about their relationship, people would have looked the other way. I mean, I know so many people who marry siblings or distant cousins, which is even more taboo in my opinion! And this was their parents’ third or fourth marriage. I get this created instant tension and conflict, but it wasn’t necessary!
I loved the Au Pair Affair, and it still ranks at the top of my list in this series. But I appreciate that TB is trying new things and keeping it fresh. Definitely a fun, fast, spicy, heartfelt read!
Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced (e-)reader copy and a chance to rate and review this book!
3.5 ⭐️ 3 🌶
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Gaslighting
Minor: Blood
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well with any Tessa Bailey novel you know what you are in for! Open door romance. VERY open door. While I myself usually appreciate closed door I enjoyed the storyline. The MMC, a hockey player, Sig, and the FMC, harpist, Chloe, meet and it’s “insta love.” The same day they find out their parents are marrying and so they have to stay away from each other…..at least romantically. But Sig and Chloe are having difficulty hiding their connection in public and well in private too. Soon the media starts reporting how “inappropriate the step siblings are acting” and the agents in their respective careers pressure them “either them or out!” So Sig is on a mission to find any dirt on his estranged dad to break up the engagement so he can be with his dream girl.
It was really a unique read. For me anyway. Most romantic quick reads have the same kind of trope. This one had step siblings and a harpist. Part of the setting was in Connecticut. No drawn out “third act break up.” The MMC was always very supportive of the MFC.
Chloe was a very funny and likable character. Her character was developed so well throughout the novel. She displayed strength and determination while sometimes not being realistic but she certainly did try!
This is part of the Big Shots series but it certainly can be read alone.
3.5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you @netgalley @tessabailey and @avonbooks for an eARC on exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sig meets Chloe when his truck breaks down on his way to meet his father’s new girlfriend and they have an instant connection. The problem is that his new girlfriend is Chloe’s mother. Tension and forbidden feelings ensue.
Love Tessa Bailey’s books and I really enjoy this series. I’m not usually a taboo romance person so it was a bit stressful, but I made it through because I know they had to end up together somehow (not a spoiler because that’s just the type of book this is).
I liked the characters and how much they felt for each other. I also liked watching the development of Chloe’s character especially; she needed to grow up and it seems like she did.
I’m looking forward to the next books in the series. I like that each book sets up the next (and potentially the next two in this case).
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a chance to read and review this ARC!
Love Tessa Bailey’s books and I really enjoy this series. I’m not usually a taboo romance person so it was a bit stressful, but I made it through because I know they had to end up together somehow (not a spoiler because that’s just the type of book this is).
I liked the characters and how much they felt for each other. I also liked watching the development of Chloe’s character especially; she needed to grow up and it seems like she did.
I’m looking forward to the next books in the series. I like that each book sets up the next (and potentially the next two in this case).
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a chance to read and review this ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting