Book Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

If you're anything like me, when Tessa Bailey drops a new book, you clear your nights. So when Dream Girl Drama hit shelves, I dove in expecting all the flirt, banter, and bold heat we’ve come to love. And Bailey did not hold back. But what I didn’t expect was the emotional depth of Sig, and how this book would feel like both a love letter to his character and a bit of a departure from the tone of earlier stories in the series.

Here’s my honest (and spoiler-free) take on Dream Girl Drama, including what worked, what surprised me, and who I think this book is perfect for.

Slow Burn with a Smoky Finish

Bailey nails the pacing of the central romance. Sig and the heroine share an undeniable chemistry that builds with just the right amount of tension. Every interaction feels layered, every glance charged, and the spice is everything. This book is unapologetically steamy, but the steam is earned because it comes from a place of longing, denial, and emotional connection.

So if you’re into:

• Serious heat (think: bedroom doors flung wide open)

• Emotional foreplay that keeps you flipping pages

• That irresistible "we shouldn’t, but we will" energy

...this book delivers.

A Book Boyfriend Worth Obsessing Over

Sig surprised me in the best way. He’s tough, tender, and emotionally complex. His vulnerability, his protectiveness, and the moments where he lets his guard down were all swoon-worthy. He’s not just hot. He’s also a little haunted, and that gives him a depth that makes the payoff of the romance feel really satisfying.

And while I loved it, his Sig isn’t quite the Sig we met in previous books.

In earlier stories, he brought comic relief and swagger. Here, he’s more serious and introspective. It’s a shift, and while I appreciated seeing his emotional layers, I did pause a few times, wondering, Wait, is this the same Sig?

It was a departure that (mostly) worked. But fans of the original Sig might feel a little disoriented at first.

Rushed or Just Ready for More?

My only real critique is the resolution. I would’ve loved to see a bit more breathing room at the end. There was still so much story left to explore, especially after such a deeply emotional buildup. Some threads wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste, and I would have happily read another 50 pages.

Still, the epilogue was satisfying enough to close the loop, and I wouldn’t be mad if we get a novella or bonus content in the future (hint, hint, Tessa!).

My Recommendation

If you're a Tessa Bailey fan, you already know that you need to grab this book! But even if you're new to her work, Dream Girl Drama is a fun, fiery, emotionally rich romance with a hero that will stay on your mind (and maybe in your dreams).

Read it if you love:

• Protective, emotionally unavailable heroes who crack open like soft-boiled eggs

• Forced proximity + forbidden-ish dynamics

• Series characters getting their moment in the spotlight

• Romance that balances heat with heart

My Rating: ★★★★☆

A sizzling and soulful addition to the series, even if it left me wanting a little more time at the end.

Have you read Dream Girl Drama? Did Sig feel different to you, too? Drop your thoughts in the comments. I love comparing notes with fellow romance readers.

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