

Dream Girl Drama
Books | Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
3.5
Tessa Bailey
A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can't seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged--in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey. When professional hockey player Sig Gauthier's car breaks down and his phone dies, he treks into a posh private country club to call a tow truck, where he encounters the alluring Chloe Clifford, the manic pixie dream girl who captivates him immediately with her sense of adventure and penchant for stealing champagne. Sparks fly during a moonlight kiss and the enamored pair can't wait to see each other again, but when Sig finally arrives to meet his dad's new girlfriend over dinner, Chloe is confusingly also there. Turns out the girlfriend is Chloe's mother. Oh, and they're engaged. Sig's dream girl is his future stepsister. Though the pair is now wary of being involved romantically, Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy, yearns to escape her controlling mother. Sig promises to teach her the ins and outs of independence in Boston--but not inside his bedroom. They both know there can never be more than friendship between a famous hockey player and his high-society, soon-to-be stepsister. But keeping their relationship platonic grows harder amid the developing family drama, especially knowing they were meant for so much more...
Romance
Sports
AD
More Details:
Author
Tessa Bailey
Pages
320
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Published Date
2025-02-04
ISBN
0063380781 9780063380783
Community ReviewsSee all
"I know that Tessa Bailey isn't the author for everyone, and I certainly don't love ALL of her books, but I absolutely adored this one! It was so freaking sweet! Sig and Chloe were an incredible couple, and I loved literally every one of their interactions! I cannot even express how freaking sweet they were together!😍The fluff?! Hello, cuteness overload! And the spice?!🥵 Sig and Chloe are hands down my favorite couple of this series! Hockey romance, forbidden romance, future step siblings, insta love, diva FMC x protective MMC, spicy, and dual POV! I am soooo glad that I decided to check this book out! 10/10 would recommend! "
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Madison C
"For starters, I always love a Tessa Bailey book. She is an auto-buy for me. So with this book, it is no different and especially since it is part of the Big Shot Series. But, with that being said, this story was probably not my favorite of the Big Shot Series. I definitely enjoyed the swooning, yearning, the care, and the love the main characters had for each other and I always love a signature pet, but they were just not my favorite couple. But, I really did enjoy reading this story as I always love a hockey romance and found a harp playing female main character to be so interesting. Also, a forbidden lovers trope usually proves intriguing especially when the men typically fall first and very hard aka Sig (he basically couldn’t functionally and fully live without Chloe). Overall, this story was fun and spicy and even kind of dramatic with the family lore. Also, given that it’s Tessa Bailey’s writing, it has to be at least 4 stars, so although it didn’t get 5 and I may not reread its epilogue as much as the others, I still loved it and would recommend it to romance readers. "
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Nicky Ewers
"Hard to relate to a character with so much money and entitlement & still enjoyed it "
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Cara Grant
"horniness isnt enough to save this"
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Carolyn V
"Tessa Bailey always delivers on the steaminess and this book was no different. The sex scenes, the moments where their chemistry was sparking while they tried to avoid acting on it, and the dirty talk was all next level.<br/><br/>I also appreciated the way that we saw Chloe grow into her self, her independence and her power over the course of the book.<br/><br/>I found myself struggling, though, with the dynamic between Chloe and Sig. His obsession with giving her WHATEVER she needed, even to the extent of endangering his own finances, felt like a really problematic dynamic rather than intense love. Chloe even said something to that effect early in the book about how he was giving off all of the red flags she'd read about and been told to avoid. But then things just kept going. My discomfort with that dynamic kept me from being able to fully get into the story and enjoy it."
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Suzanne Feinspan
"If a book makes me want to find a man and be in a relationship...it deserves 5 stars. I love Sig. I might even believe in love and loyalty for a couple of days. ❤️"
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Amber Griffith
"<br/>Tessa Bailey does it again with another fun, fast-paced, smutty romance. <br/><br/>I didn’t realize that step-sibling romance was such a taboo? They met as adults, it’s not like they grew up together as actual siblings. I personally didn’t find it weird at all, but my husband disagrees with me, so maybe I’m the weird one? I grew up obsessed with Clueless and Life With Derek, so maybe that skews my opinion. <br/><br/>The will-they-won’t-they tension build-up was phenomenal. And the forbidden aspect combined with the insta-love vibe made everything feel even headier. <br/><br/>However, I wouldn’t really consider this a sports romance. Sure, Sig plays professional hockey, and Chloe goes to his games, but I feel like something was missing for this to be a true sports romance. There weren’t any locker room scenes or moments from Sig’s POV during games or practice. <br/><br/>I did love all the moments with Sig and his teammates; they could get up to MQ’s Alligators bromance caliber if Tessa Bailey keeps this up. <br/><br/>Chloe was kind of over the top for me. Do people who are actually this clueless to the world actually exist in real life? I understand she was sheltered and privileged, but to not know dogs eat kibble? Wild.<br/><br/>Overall, this book had its ups and downs, but the humor and tension building make it a four-star read for me.<br/><br/>What you get:<br/>❤️ Insta-Love<br/>"
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Kaylee Fenby
"Bailey has had me hooked for Sig and Chloe's story since the first glimpse of them in [b:The Au Pair Affair|199531938|The Au Pair Affair (Big Shots, #2)|Tessa Bailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1701188359l/199531938._SY75_.jpg|204000877]. This book delivered on both the drama and the romance. Full of forbidden love, family chaos, secret stolen moments, and so much angst! Bailey sure knows how to hit you with absolutely electric chemistry and then make you suffer in the best way.<br/><br/><u>Tropes & What to Expect:</u><br/>Forbidden Romance<br/>Instalust but Angsty AF<br/>Sports Romance<br/>Broody Hockey Player meets Dream Girl Harpist<br/>Steamy Slow Burn (but spicy when it gets going)<br/>Messy Family Drama<br/>Opposites Attract<br/><br/>The forbidden tension in the book was so well done. Sig was down bad for Chloe the moment he saw her and I'm here for it. The way it shifted from instalust to the slow burn angst was everything. I love the banter between these two and TB just does it so well. <br/><br/>I did have to turn my brain off for this book because ultimately I never saw a problem with their relationship. They met as adults and didn't even know their parents were dating. Ultimately if that was explained, I don't think it wouldn't be a problem. Maybe that's just me compartmentalizing because I shipped these two from the start. This was such a fun read and now I immediately need to get my hands on Pitcher Perfect.<br/><br/>Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review."
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CaitGreens