A chance encounter between pro hockey player Sig Gauthier and free-spirited harpist Chloe Clifford sparks instant chemistry—until they discover their parents are engaged. Bound by budding family ties and undeniable attraction, Sig helps Chloe escape her controlling mother while navigating their forbidden feelings. But can they really keep their connection strictly platonic amidst the chaos of love, family, and longing?
No one writes love interests who worship at the altar of a woman quite like Tessa Bailey does. The woman knows how to make you fall for a guy in a page or less and this book is no different.
As with any Bailey novel, you can count on a titillating mix of sweetness and steam with characters that just feel like they live in a Netflix rom-com you want to watch on repeat.
While some descriptions of our protagonist Chloe left me a bit worried in the beginning (Chloe gets increasingly more often described as something akin to child-like which did toe the line of turning creepy a few times), it does fit with her characterisation of someone who was brought up very sheltered and spoiled because of her musical abilities. I applaud Bailey for somehow making it charming instead of frustrating when Chloe would actually act like a child not getting what she wants or handing over everything to someone else to deal with.
Then again, that characterisation fit perfectly with what Sig was after. Sig, as we know from his initial pop-ups in The Au Pair Affair, is a pro hockey player who didn’t have an easy start to life. Growing up poor, his biggest goal in life was to make sure his mother got the support she needed and that has driven much of his choices. There’s something so sweet and tender about this protectiveness that is intrinsic to his character which made me one of his biggest fans. That translates very well to how he treats Chloe like a princess from the get-go and just wants to make sure she gets everything she wants in life. This sometimes means that he takes possessiveness and pushiness to a bit of an uncomfortable level but somehow, it still works out.
One thing that struck me as quite funny was the way the “forbidden” nature of their relationship was portrayed. They kind of toe around it for a lot of the book which—depending on how many step-siblings relationships you’ve read in your time—will either annoy you because a) it’s not like they grew up together or even knew each other before they found out their parents were getting hitched and b) it’s something you do want to be addressed directly in a book that highlights the forbidden nature of said relationship so much, frankly because of the emotional turmoil it can and will have on the characters. Again, that comes down to personal preference, though.
Alas, overall this was a wholesome romance between endearing characters with “I want you but I can’t have you” vibes and trying to figure out how to move forward when situational circumstances are just not going your way.
Is this novel over the top? Absolutely, no doubt about it. For most of the story, Sig’s only discerning character trait (besides being a hockey player and a decent guy) is being a simp for Chloe. But honestly, in the world we currently live in, we could all do with some more over-the-top-will-love-you-loud-and-proud-and-take-care-of-you-whirlwind-romance shenanigans, right? As always, Bailey makes the premise work and invites you to take a breather from reality and just let yourself be filled with giddy feelings.
Looking for a fast-paced romantic comedy with a guy that will move mountains for his one true love? Then dive into Dream Girl Drama, Bailey’s latest compelling romance featuring hilariously complicated family relationships and two people who are a perfect match.
Dream Girl Drama is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 4th 2025.
Will you be picking up Dream Girl Drama? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
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…
