A review by megnicgeo
The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My rating scale is adopted from Elyse Myers. Each criterion is rated out of 1 point.

1 Plot
This plot is heavily driven by the fact that Burgess is down bad for his au pair before he even offers her the job. Tallulah's past gives her hesitance which makes sense, given Sir Savage's on-ice personality. But she just can't deny herself a piece of that Mean Daddy. 😈
1 Characters
I like both of our main characters, but Lissa was obv a favorite. 💅🏻 Even when she sees them together and is rightfully upset by the surprise of it all, she's 12. She's allowed to have big feelings. And the not-so-subtle setup between Chloe and Sig for Book #3 will bring me back for the next Big Shot.
1 Setting
Mostly set in Boston during the second half of the year, with a destination wedding in Cancun in the third act.
1 Writing Style
I just love Tessa's ability to get me all flustered for a grumpy man.
.5 Pacing
A personal gripe over skipping the training montage in rehab. I get the need to keep the page length at a certain level, but maybe some insight to Tallulah's adventures in Getting-Over-Him Land. We kinda just brush over her side of it all. (Not that she sticks to it 24 hours into seeing him again, but whatever)
1 Themes
"Don't let your past traumas ruin your future joy" or something like that.
1 Originality
.5 Emotional Impact
Again, if I could've seen Tallulah's true college effort to get over her heartache, maybe my own heartstrings could've been pulled. Or if we had witnessed a real conversation (not just in the middle of the intervention from Sig and Wells) between Burgess and Lissa. 
1 Ending
It's pretty hot in Cancun... 🥵
1 Overall Enjoyment
If you like Tessa Bailey's other works, this will be for you. I adored Fangirl Down and I'll be looking forward to Dream Girl Drama in February.