FANGIRL DOWN

First book in brand new series

If you read my most anticipated reads for 2024 list, you’ll notice that this book was on it. I started reading this one at the end of December because I couldn’t wait to dive into it. As such, I started reading it before bed one night (the night I got my approval on NetGalley, incidentally) and I immediately fell in love with it, only to have to force myself to go to sleep so I wouldn’t be a zombie on my back-to-back 12 hour work shifts the following few days.

So, instead of devouring Fangirl Down as I wanted to do in one night, I chose to savor it instead. Taking my time, letting the words really sink in.

I am so glad that I did!

This book deserves its time to shine, ya’ll. Wells and Josephine are absolutely electric. They are so much fun, right from the start and I love how well they fit together. They’re just magic, and every word of this book draws the reader in–like a magnet. 

For my first official review of 2024, this one wasn’t a bad one to cover, ya’ll. Not at all.

Now, let’s get into the details, shall we?

 

BOOK INFORMATION

 

I received an advanced reading copy (ARC) of this book from the author, publisher, or publicist. The receipt of this ARC did not influence my choice to review the book on this site. It also did not influence how I felt about the book or its characters, storyline, and overall feel. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. As such, they only deal with what is written on the pages of the book and how what is written and otherwise presented made me feel during and after my reading of the book.

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
Series: Big Shots #1
Published by Avon Books on February 13, 2024
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Rom-Com, Romance, Sports Romance
Pages: 384
Format: E-Arc
Source: Netgalley
Buy: Amazon | B & N | Kobo | Goodreads | Publisher
RATING:

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?

Read this book if you like:

• Sports Romance
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Witty banter
• Steamy Romance
• Dirty Talk
• Protective hero
• Strong, sassy heroine

ARC BOOK REVIEW

What I love about Tessa Bailey is she doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. She puts her characters through the emotional ringer and then she helps them find their way to the other side. It’s usually complicated and messy, with a whole lot of fun and steam mixed in.

Fangirl Down is a prime example of this.

Wells Whitaker is a big shot golfer who, instead of leaning into his sport, has been seriously self-destructing, so much so his fanbase is almost non-existent. And then he runs off the one fan who has stayed with him, Josephine Doyle, and for the first time, he feels guilt. True guilt. The kind of guilt that has him acting instead of reacting to things.

Wells comes across as an angry grump to most, but readers will quickly learn there is more to this guy than he lets on. Underneath that gruff exterior is a heart that beats and a soul that yearns for more. Not just for hope, but for connection, real connection, and acceptance, too.

Josephine is a strong, proud woman. She’s tired of people always counting her out because of her chronic illness. She doesn’t want people to think she isn’t capable of doing things on her own, big things, because she is. She’s stronger than people think and she’s tired of feeling like no one takes her seriously.

Well and Josephine are pure magic. Their chemistry is off the charts, and they challenge each other in all the best of ways. They just fit, and the way they interact with each other, and how they learn from each other, is what I love about reading romance. It’s simple, but it has so much depth and meaning to it that the reader is left with this sense of awe and rightness.

I read this book over several days, taking my time to enjoy the chapters as the story unfolded, but in all honesty, this is a one-sitting read. It’s addictive. It’s fun and entertaining, the banter is witty and amazing, and it flows so well it’s easy to get lost within the pages.

Fangirl Down was absolutely a five-star read for me. It was exactly what I was looking for, and then some. Brilliantly addictive, with incredible characters, and a love story that unfolds so naturally it feels like a favored friend. Without doubt, this is a not-to-miss romance read, especially for those, like me, who already love this author’s work.

RATING: 

 

Fangirl Down releases on February 13, 2024 from Avon Books. The next book in the Big Shots series, The Au Pair Affair, releases on July 16, 2024. 

 

 

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BOOK RATING