Oh, Tessa Bailey, you’ve done it again! Pitcher Perfect, the fourth book in the Big Shots series, is an absolute home run and hands-down one of my favorite books in this series so far! ⚾️🏒 This enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating sports romance had me swooning, laughing, and fanning myself from start to finish. If you’re a fan of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and heart-melting moments, this book is a must-read!

🌟 Why I Loved It
Tessa Bailey is the undisputed queen of spicy rom-coms, and Pitcher Perfect delivers everything I adore about her writing:
• The Tropes: Fake dating, enemies-to-lovers, reformed playboy, and “he falls first”? Yes, please! The way Robbie falls head over heels for Skylar is so endearing, and their banter is next-level hilarious.
• The Chemistry: Skylar and Robbie’s dynamic is electric. From their snarky meet-cute to the steamy “bedroom coaching” scenes (IYKYK 😉), Tessa’s signature spicy dialogue shines, balancing heat with humor and consent in a way that never feels overdone.
• The Characters: Skylar is a badass heroine—driven, confident, and unapologetically herself. Robbie, despite his playboy rep, is a loyal, golden-retriever hero who’s all in for Skylar, and watching him grow from a “man child” to her biggest supporter melted my heart.
• The Setting: The family wilderness competition was such a fun backdrop! It brought summer camp vibes, forced proximity, and plenty of moments for Robbie to show Skylar (and her family) just how incredible she is.
• The Feels: Beyond the spice, this book is about self-discovery, redemption, and building strong bonds. Robbie’s efforts to help Skylar shine in her family’s eyes and Skylar’s journey to see herself as the star she is were so moving.

While I’ve loved every Big Shots book, Pitcher Perfect stands out for its perfect blend of humour, heart, and heat. The sports romance angle, with both characters as athletes, adds such a great dynamic, and the way Tessa weaves in emotional depth with playful, spicy moments makes this one unforgettable. I also loved the cameos from past Big Shots characters, bringing that familiar team energy I adore.

This book is a breezy, feel-good rom-com that’s perfect for fans of sports romance, fake dating, and Tessa Bailey’s signature spice. It’s the ultimate summer escape, and I’m already counting down to the next Big Shots book!

Thank you Avon publishing for the E-ARC of this book!

If you are looking for a lesson on love, step right up. Skylar and Robbie turn fake dating into a literal sport. Skylar comes from an ultra-competitive family that host an intense battle of the wills every summer. When Skylar needs a partner, a cocky ginger hockey player comes out of nowhere to save the day.
Skylar is inexperienced and lacks confidence, but aforementioned ginger jock is here to serve as partner in her family games by day and sex tutor by night.

As cheeky as Robbie is, he falls hard for Skylar. He's borderline a lost puppy without her. I loved the way the author drew up Robbie's character from untrustworthy playboy to faithful and steadfast companion.

Skylar was the character that was a bit dull for me. She's a badass pitcher and knows it but fades into the shadows in every other aspect of her life. She definitely needed a Robbie to add some exclamation points to her life.

A fun, spicy rom com with a zany family.

NHL rookie Robbie Corrigan is living his dream life of hockey and women. Then he meets Skylar Page, D1 softball pitcher and perfectly willing to call Robbie on his BS. He discovers she has a huge crush on her brother's best friend, so he offers to spend time with her to redeem himself and help her in her quest to get Madden to see her as more than a kid. As they deal with the shenanigans of her family's wilderness competition, things start to feel a lot less fake.

First off, I love the vibes. This story definitely has the feeling of those 90s/early 2000s rom com movies and I am here for it. Skylar's family is crazy, but their challenges give her and Robbie a chance to learn to trust one another. It's also so heartwarming to read about the two of them discovering how they can best support one another.

To me, the biggest thing that really harmed my ability to rate the book higher was the pacing. Robbie has a complete turn-around in his behavior in the first 10% of the book, so the pacing of them getting to know one another feels a bit weird. Then the third-act conflict feels more annoying than authentic. I was a bit surprised by this, since I usually find the pacing of Tessa Bailey's books to be quite good. I wish we got to see more of their banter for more of the book.

Overall, if you enjoy fun, insta-lust romances and/or are hunting for that feeling of a rom com movie, definitely give this book a try. It has beach read vibes perfect for a vacation or when you want a fast-paced story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Steamy, funny, and full of heart—classic Tessa Bailey. ⚾🔥 The chemistry leaps off the page, the banter is sharp, and the romance balances spice with real emotional depth. A fast, fun read that had me grinning and swooning in equal measure

A fun spicy trope-y rom com about Robbie and Skylar, both athletes and both very good at banter.. I'd not read the earlier books in this series but that didn't matter because this stood on its own. I liked how this couple worked together and their friends and family. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. No surprises but it's a romp.

A Home Run of Heat, Heart, and Banter ⚾🔥

This is book four in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series, and though I missed book three where Robbie Corrigan was introduced (unusual for me—I rarely miss a Bailey!), this one still knocked it out of the park.

Robbie, a pro hockey player and self-proclaimed “orgasm donor,” has a reputation as a shameless player. But when he meets Skylar Page, a driven Division 1 softball pitcher, everything changes. Skylar has always believed her brother’s best friend, Madden, is her endgame—until Robbie’s affable charm, unwavering focus, and unexpected kindness begin to dismantle all her carefully laid plans.

Skylar is talented, disciplined, and completely unaware of her own allure, and I loved watching Robbie’s mix of surprise and determination as he set out to show her just how extraordinary she is. Their banter sparkles, their vulnerabilities feel real, and their chemistry is scorching. (Seriously—no one does dirty talk like Tessa Bailey. She deserves an award for it. 🏆🔥)

I also appreciated that Skylar holds Robbie accountable when he crosses a line, and that his character growth is tied directly to their relationship. It makes the romance feel even more satisfying.

With lovable characters, emotional depth, and an ending that hit all the right notes, this was a five-star read for me. A perfect addition to the series, and I can’t wait to see what Bailey delivers next.

Pitcher, Skylar, meets ice hockey player, Robbie, at a chance sports-crossover, friendly baseball game. However, things are far from friendly between them. Whilst Robbie is taken with Skylar, Skylar is repulsed by his attitude towards women. Caught up on her brother’s best friend Madden, Skylar proposes a plan to Robbie, asking him to use his skills to teach her how to finally attract her crush’s attention once and for all.

Pitcher Perfect is a sporty romance with plenty of spice for good measure. I like Skylar and Robbie’s chemistry, and beyond the gratuitous sex, you can see their love for each other develop. I found the character of Madden got a bit lost, to the point he was pretty pointless as the story develops. Same for best friend Eve who the story could have done without completely. I found Skylar pretty annoying and didn’t quite buy Robbie’s almost instantaneous one-eighty character change but I enjoyed the story. I think fans of spicy romance will like this one.

Another winner from Tessa Bailey! I really enjoyed this steamy enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance between a star softball pitcher and a pro hockey player with a womanizing reputation.
The romance is totally believable and it’s so much fun to read. Honestly I was sorry when the book ended!
If you haven’t read this romance yet, I highly recommend it. 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received at a complimentary Dr copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In this series, I've only read the second one (don't ask me why), but that one was already so good. Of course this one should follow it with the exact same energy. I loved the storyline, even if it wasn't as high stakes.

Skylar's need to prove herself was so relatable. I would also feel like a failure in a family who all got into a very fancy college. It was so cute to see her have someone on her side, who would support her for who she is.

It had been a long time since I read a book with the love lessons trope, because most of the time it feels a little cringe-y. This didn't have that feeling, because I could feel how Skylar felt about it, she genuinely thought she was super bad at it, not just inexperienced.

Robbie having humor as his coping mechanism is something I totally understand. Seeing him dealing with his emotions in a different way was a cool journey to follow. It's not easy to write down, because most of the time these characters keep their humor even if they learn how to deal with them better. I especially liked the way he handled Skylar's family. He didn't just let their actions and words happen and actually defended Skylar.

Tessa has been in love with Madden for years but he hasn't noticed her and she doesn't know how to flirt so she invites Robbie a bit of a womaniser to her family gathering pretending they are a couple and to make Madden jealous but also so Robbie can teach her to flirt as well as other things on her list which is quiet unbelievable, of course he changes from fake boyfriend to very good friends which includes loads of porn.
Definitely not my cup of tea.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes, and I loved this one so much.
Robbie is made famous in the last book as one of the orgasm donors, I found him hilarious despite his behaviour, and I loved how he and Skylar met and rubbed each other up the wrong way.
This was kind of rivals to more x fake dating and I really thought the storyline was interesting, the added issues around Skylars family too.
I liked seeing the other characters make a come back too.

My favorite in the series so far. So much fun!
I love the characters and the spicy scenes.
Perfect for fans of sports romance and fake dating.

I found this book to be a super fun, easy romance read. I really warmed to Robbie's charm and it made me really gel with him as a character. Skylar was such a sweet soul and so over men and I loved it! It was so refreshing to meet a fmc who simply did not care. A*. Absolutely adored the fake dating vibes, genuinely chefs kiss. I just really liked the relationship between the two mc and I found that their dynamic actually MADE the narrative. INCREDIBLE.

Pitcher Perfect was such a fun, feel-good romcom! A breezy mix of fake dating, sports, and family chaos that had me smiling (and kicking my feet) the whole way through.

The setup is gold: Robbie Corrigan, an NHL rookie with shameless charm and golden-retriever energy, agrees to fake-date Skylar Paige, a focused D1 softball pitcher who is so over guys like him. She needs a boyfriend to catch her brother’s best friend’s attention during her family’s annual wilderness competition—Robbie volunteers, and the sparks fly.

This story delivers everything: witty banter, forced proximity, one-bed tension, and opposites attract done right. Robbie was adorable—flirty but never douchey, secretly soft, and fiercely supportive when Skylar needed it most. And Skylar? Strong, independent, and relatable, especially with her “outsider in her own family” struggles.

The family competition setting gave it major summer romcom movie vibes, and the chemistry between Robbie and Skylar was both sweet and very steamy (classic Tessa Bailey levels).

My only gripe? The “Redbeard” nickname—hard pass. It pulled me out of the swoon.

Overall, I devoured this. Charming, spicy, and heartfelt—I can’t wait for the next book (please let it be Madden + Eva!).

NHL player Robbie Corrigan is living the dream, at least until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher. Problem is, Skylar wants nothing to do with him, and she is also pining after her brother's best friend; so Robbie shouldn't agree to be Skylar’s fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition.

Such a fun, quick easy read, in true Tessa Bailey style. It was a pretty insane plot, and it felt very quick, which didn't really help, but it is good for what it is. I do have very conflicting thoughts about this one, it had me flipflopping between enjoying it and hating it a lot, but when it was good, it really was. I also really liked the characters overall, which made it easier to suspend my disbelief — at least most of the time.

I have been so excited to get the chance to pick this up as it is my first Tessa Bailey book in years, and it really did take me back in time. I can't seem to put my finger on it, but there is something so particular about her writing that always scratches a very specific itch. Also, I have not read any of the other books in the series, and while it didn't take away from my understanding of this one, I think I would have probably enjoyed it more, had I had done that.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Robbie and Skylar have my whole heart. This was such a cute and perfect story of their love. I absolutely devoured it!!

⚾️ Hockey X Softball
🏑 Hate to Lovers
⚾️ “Teach me”
🏑 Fake dating
⚾️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🏑 Dual POV
⚾️ He falls hard and fast
🏑 Black Cat X Golden retriever

I knew I’d love this book because I have absolutely loved every book so far in the Big Shots Series and this did not disappoint.
I absolutely devoured this book and it is definitely one of my favourites of this series 🥹💙

Robbie gives absolutely golden retriever energy. He is so unashamedly himself and has a filthy mouth and is not afraid to speak his mind. His character was so much fun throughout and his development from the playboy we knew in dream girl drama to this story really made me love him more.

Skylar was so determined to not fall for him but fall she did. She went from “teach me” to attract another man to you’re my everything and it made my heart so happy.

Such an interesting and exciting storyline with so much going on that kept me devouring these pages with no concept of the time.

Tessa is a queen and the big shots series is my all time favourite romance series.

Thank you so so much to Tessa, harper 360 and Netgalley for the arc of this amazing book!!

I think at this point it's no secret that I love Tessa Bailey's book and especially her heroes, they are so gone for the heroine from the moment they met that adds something special to the romance.

Robbie is of course no exception, as a player on and off the field he has a bit of a way in frond of him to redeem himself especially in they eyes of Skylar since she dislike him at first sight.

Skylar has been pining for her brother's best friendmfor year's, and after years of him not noticing her she must change tactics for that to happen.

Her highly competitive family arranges an annual event full of games and other activities, this year her best friend and teamate can't participate she enlist the help of her fake boyfriend, Robbie to help with the games and to make her long time crush notice her.

But while they are faking the dating, the intimacy and closeness aren't fake and neither are feelings they develop.

This is how you redeem a player hero, Robbie was so thoughtful and genuinely taken by Skylar that he was prepared to do anything to make her give him a chance.

Through the time Skylar spends with Robbie she learns to revaluate her worth ans prioritize her needs which was trul wonderful to witness.

The romance was sexy, sweet and special, the perfect trifecta.



* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Pitcher Perfect was such a fun read! Even though it’s book 4 in the series, it was my first one and I didn’t feel lost at all. Robbie really stood out to me he’s goofy, charming, and you can see him working hard to prove he’s not just the guy from his past. Skylar was the perfect balance for him, sharp and no-nonsense, which made their fake dating scheme even more entertaining.

The chemistry between them was great, the banter kept me smiling, and there was just the right mix of humor and heat. Bailey’s writing pulled me in right away and now I actually want to go back and read the first three books. Definitely recommend this one if you like sports romance with heart. Its a 4.5 star read for me.

This was my first ever Tessa Bailey book and it didn’t disappoint the characters,the banter and the spice I can’t wait to dive back into Tessa Bailey’s world because I can’t get enough

Tessa Bailey is a fantastic writer. she is a go- to. every single book that reaches the top of my tbr pile i know will be super. and every time one of her books does reach the top of my pile im already smiling. and i also know i will be setting aside any and all time because she will keep me flipping those pages almost certainly every time until the end. i want to swallow her books whole.
this book was pitched perfect and landed exactly where i needed it to. i needed fun, light and smiley worthy and i got it.
this book follow Skylar a pitcher and Robbie another player in every sense. ugh. Robbie lives like a player and plays like a player. and its not good. there is one chink in his armour and that is Skylar. but she knows his game and she is having none of it. no way. never. hes everything gross in a man. right? Skylar does has her own chink and that is her crush who happens to be coming to a family get together just round the corner. so what can a guy do to spend more time with her. oh yes. hes does the very sensible cant go wrong or become complex idea of pretending to be in a relationship with each other for the gathering so she can finally catch the eye of her crush.
but what comes next is surprising to both of them. because the games become serious. and the feelings become real. and they start thinking how life could change with each other and definitely in Robbie's case life changing for her.
this is one of those blush and swing your feet kind of reads. its fun, light but somehow intense and true too.
`Robbie has no shame in how he lives his life. and some would say why should he( some of us def wouldn't though matie.)
Skylar does't give him a whisper of a chance. she knows me of him, like him and its not ok. ever.
but they both need something from this plan. and they might not come out the other side with those expectations they had going in.
the banter, the spice, the tension were all of course on point.
the way Skylar gets to know this kind, protective, kind of good guy? oh what a joy to be witness. Robbie respectful? ha yes. Robbie being her cheerleader and supporter when things got tough and also when things were great, a man there for her just because he wanted to be. because she was worth it to him? ha yes please!
the family fun moments was also brilliant. its giving me movies i used to watch when i was younger and i far to often wonder where they've gone in today's world kind of vibes. and im all for it.
another brilliant book that was a joy to read.
Tessa brings her usual pizzazz to this book. if you know you know.