REVIEW: Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

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I know this is my first Tessa Bailey review on this blog, but if you look at my previous reviews posted on Goodreads for other books of hers that I’ve read, you’ll notice one thing: I really believe in the depths of my heart that Tessa writes for me.

As I write this she is my current favorite romance author of all time, and a large part of that is due to how she conveys the lighthearted, whimsical feelings of love. While there are many other writers who can (and do) portray love in a wistful way, Tessa does it in a way that pulls non-stop giggles out of me in every book she writes.

Of course, Fangirl Down was no different. Both Josephine and Wells were whimsical in a way that was endearing and not cringey, so their relationship ended up feeling the same. Their scenes together and both separate were cute and engaging and always left me wanting to see more of them.

I picked this up after I had spent 30 minutes trying to find a cowboy romance to read and falling short. In annoyance I literally said to myself “Screw this, I just want to have a good time, I’m grabbing a Tessa Bailey book.”

Just like every other Tessa Bailey novel I’ve ever read – this would be my ninth – a good time was had indeed.

Can I Understand the Main Character(s)?

Abso freaking lutely. I never doubted that Tessa would convince me of these characters and their arcs but this one felt exponentially special. I was so unbelievably connected to Wells from his opening chapter because the emotions he had were portrayed so well.

I also really understood Josephine and how she felt in regards to her diabetes and proving her own independence. Their actions towards each other always lined up with how I perceived them and I really enjoyed how seamlessly they seemed to bounce off of each other’s personalities.

Is It Written Well?

This will never be a question for me when it comes to Tessa Bailey. She so perfectly teeters between capturing romance effectively and not taking herself too seriously that I think her humorous way of writing a love story is unmatched.

Even if her dialogue or prose is silly at times, it always works. I really can’t explain it, but there’s something in the way that she writes and communicates her stories that just makes them so fun. High spirited. Cheerful. I really love reading everything she writes.

Is It Special?

A troubled golfer romance with his bubbly and cute fangirl? It doesn’t get much more special than Fangirl Down. Aside from the original premise, I also think that Josephine and Wells are unique in their backstories and the way that they handle their lives.

They easily shine on their own and even more so when they’re paired together. Having this golf romance backdrop just accentuates their already entertaining and distinctive characters.

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Listen, I’m going to be honest, this is a Tessa Bailey fan account. I think all the accolades she has earned over the years have been well-deserved and she’s been my favorite author since I discovered her in 2022.

I can’t say I always give her books five stars (because I am truly honest with my reviews and occasionally I find some things I don’t love) but it will be a cold day in hell when I read a Tessa book I don’t thoroughly enjoy.

I think this is my second favorite Tessa Bailey book I’ve ever read, only bested by It Happened One Summer, which is my all-time favorite contemporary romance as of May 2024. Considering Fangirl Down has already filled in big shoes, I think it’s safe to say that I’m giving this a glowing 5 stars.

★★★★★