Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
Big Shots #1
Contemporary Romance
February 13, 2024- Avon
ARC

Review by Angela

Look- I love me some Tessa Bailey dirty talking heroes, AND I’m always up for a sports romance, but even I side eyed the premise that this book featured the bad boy of golf. If I’m being honest, golf and bad boys aren’t something that usually go together in my mind. Regardless, I hit that request button as soon as it became available for review.

Fangirl Down introduces Wells Whitaker, once the rising star of the golf world, and his number one fan, Josephine Doyle. When the book opens Wells has fallen hard in the golf world, not even making the cut anymore and acting out in destructive ways. His number one fan, only fan really, Josephine has stuck with him, always on the sidelines cheering him on, through all these recent troubles and bad behavior. But something happens that causes her to finally tell him off and leave. Josephine has her own dreams, and health issues, but renovating her family’s pro shop and being able to afford health insurance is right at the top of the list. After a bad storm, all of those dreams are threatened, and Wells offers her a deal that she can’t refuse. So, she accepts a job as his caddie for the next several tournaments,

This book was fun, and I ended up completely sold on the idea of bad boys in golf. Josephine is the only support system Wells has and he is determined to help her through her recent troubles. He is bad-tempered with everyone else but seems protective of her. Josephine is a take charge; anything is possible kind of woman and wants to be taken seriously. She has type 1 diabetes, and has always had to take extreme care, but she is tired of people not seeing her for her capabilities. Finally, out from under her parents at times overbearing protectiveness she is determined to make all her dreams come true.

As with any Tessa Bailey book, Wells and Josephine have a hot and heavy relationship. Lots and lots of sexy times and dirty talking. Their work relationship quickly turns to friendship and then to intimacy. I liked this couple, and I liked that Wells realized early on how indispensable she was to his improving his game. How smart she was about the game of golf and used that to help both of them. The last twenty percent or so lagged a bit, but I really liked the HEA.

The main protagonists in the next book in the series were introduced and I am pretty excited to see how this love story plays out. I remain a fan of this author and am looking forward to her next release.

Final grade- B