Dream Girl Drama

* NetGalley ALC Review *

Tessa Bailey’s Dream Girl Drama had a fun cast of characters and plenty of signature banter, but overall, it left me feeling like something was missing. Chloe and Sig had great moments together, and I enjoyed watching them navigate their dynamic, but the main source of conflict between them felt overdone—like it was stretched out longer than necessary. Instead of deepening the emotional tension, it sometimes made the story feel repetitive.

That being said, I did appreciate the theme of becoming your own person and stepping outside of expectations. Chloe’s journey of figuring out who she is and what she truly wants was a strong point in the book. And the side characters? Absolutely entertaining! They brought energy and humor that kept things moving.

Unfortunately, the story itself felt a little incomplete—like there were threads that could have been developed more or moments that needed a bit more resolution. I wanted a deeper dive into the relationship dynamics and personal growth rather than just surface-level drama.

While it wasn’t my favorite Tessa Bailey book, it still had her signature charm, fun characters, and steamy moments. If you’re a fan of her writing, you might still enjoy it, but for me, it just didn’t fully hit the mark.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Blurb:

A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget about 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…

XOXO, Courtney