Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
Thank you Avon Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
When I read the Au Pair Affair last year, I was so enamored with Chloe and Sig. I couldn’t wait for their book! And I was excited that Chloe was from Darien, CT which is near where I grew up. It was fun to be in on the joke regarding the region and the Country club. Sadly, this book didn’t work for me. I am struggling to pinpoint the specific reasons, because I loved The Au Pair Affair, but I think sometimes Tessa’s books just don’t hit for me! When I love them, I love them and when they don’t work, it’s usually something I can tell pretty immediately.
Synopsis:
“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…” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Tension—I mean, this is the forbidden romance trope. Plenty of tension! The characters are future step-siblings but don’t know that until after they’ve met.
The Fun—One thing you are guaranteed with a Tessa Bailey romance is pure FUN. And I do think this book still had those fun elements.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Pacing—You jump right in with the characters and witness their attraction.
The Vibes—They were just off for me! It was the trope or situation, just something didn’t click.
Chloe and Sig’s Dynamic—And I think it was this dynamic that didn’t click for me. I am a huge feminist but it doesn’t bother me when male main characters like to take care of the female main character. I like to be cared for, after all. But something about their dynamic and Sig’s need to protect Chloe just didn’t vibe with me.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 3.5/5 Overall Rating: 3/5
Content Warnings:
classism, abandonment