Review: Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
Thank you Avon Books for my copy of Fangirl Down! All thoughts are my own.
If you’ve been reading my reviews for a while, you’ll know I’ve been reading and loving Tessa Bailey for awhile. But the last few books she’s come out with haven’t quite hit the mark for me. So, I was nervous for Fangirl Down but I am pleased to report I really enjoyed it! It felt like a return to the Tessa Bailey I fell in love with. It still has an aspect of “suspend your disbelief” element, where you just need to fully commit to swooning over a romance hero, but it had a bit more grounded reality that I prefer in my romances. I also really liked that it took place in the golf world! It was a fun change for a lot of sports romances.
Synopsis:
“Wells Whitaker was once golf’s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his “promising” career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. He curses, she cheers. He scowls, she smiles. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life.
Josephine Doyle believed in the gorgeous, grumpy golfer, even when he didn’t believe in himself. Yet after he throws in the towel, she begins to wonder if her faith was misplaced. Then a determined Wells shows up at her door with a wild proposal: be his new caddy, help him turn his game around, and split the prize money. And considering Josephine’s professional and personal life is in shambles, she could really use the cash…
As they travel together, spending days on the green and nights in neighboring hotel rooms, sparks fly. Before long, they’re inseparable, Wells starts winning again, and Josephine is surprised to find a sweet, thoughtful guy underneath his gruff, growly exterior. This hot man wants to brush her hair, feed her snacks, and take bubble baths together? Is this real life? But Wells is technically her boss and an athlete falling for his fangirl would be ridiculous… right?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Premise—I learned to golf in 2020 and while I don’t watch golf super regularly, I am always fascinated by golfer interviews. It’s a harder sport than I realized so I liked being in that world!
The Characters—I loved Wells and Josephine. I thought they complemented each other really well and I liked how they overcame their situations together.
The Chronic Illness Rep—My favorite part of romance is that it takes real world problems and allows people to work through them while also experiencing love and relationships. This book features a character living with Diabetes, which helped me learn more about what it looks like day to day.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
A Little Cheesy—As always, when you pick up a book by this author, there will be some moments that can feel over the top for some readers. I still really enjoyed it though!
Character Authenticity: 3.5/5 Spice Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
chronic illness, medical event (diabetes), abandonment