{"id":99119,"date":"2025-08-28T17:24:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T17:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/99119\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T17:24:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T17:24:09","slug":"read-tessa-baileys-pitcher-perfect-excerpt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/99119\/","title":{"rendered":"Read Tessa Bailey’s \u2018Pitcher Perfect\u2019 Excerpt"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tessa Bailey<\/a> knew that we needed this! The author just announced the cast for the upcoming film adaptation of <\/a>It Happened One Summer<\/a> and just knew that we needed something to make the wait for it a bit easier. And when one of our favorite authors asks us to help her out with a big reveal, well, we just had to answer the call. Luckily for all of us, she’s got a fun, new sports romance that will absolutely make you ready to play ball with this enemies-to-lovers story that continues her iconic Big Shots series<\/a>. Tessa and her characters have already proven that they’re not afraid to get down and dirty on and off the field and this one is no exception. <\/p>\n

Cosmopolitan has an exclusive look at Pitcher Perfect<\/a> by Tessa Bailey<\/a>, which is set to be released on September 9, 2025. The book follows Skylar Paige, a D1 softball pitcher who has a major crush on her brother’s best friend. And the best way to get him interested? Obviously start a fake relationship with the hot new NHL rookie, Robbie Corrigan, to get him jealous. But, wait, are those sparks flying between her and Robbie real or is it just part of the game? Only time will tell! Here’s some more info from our friends at Avon<\/a>:<\/p>\n

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating sports romance about a playboy hockey rookie and the disciplined softball pitcher completely immune to his charms.Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He\u2019s made it to the NHL, his best friend\/teammate and fellow \u201corgasm donor\u201d is his roomie\u2014and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone\u2019s bull\u2026and the one member of the opposite sex immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants nothing to do with him.
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‘Pitcher Perfect’ by Tessa Bailey<\/p>\n

\"'Pitcher<\/a><\/p>\n

When he discovers she\u2019s carrying a serious torch for her brother\u2019s best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can\u2019t seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie knows it, he\u2019s agreed to be Skylar\u2019s fake boyfriend\/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong?<\/p>\n

Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they\u2019ve ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of control.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s all just pretend\u2026right?<\/p>\n

You don’t have to wait for game day to find out what happens to Skylar and Robbie! You can check out an exclusive excerpt below! Just make sure to pre-order <\/a>Pitcher Perfect<\/a> and maybe even pick up some of Tessa’s other reads<\/a> while you’re at it as well!<\/p>\n

An Excerpt From Pitcher Perfect
By Tessa Bailey<\/p>\n

Chapter One
<\/p>\n

Skylar Page sat cross-legged on her twin-sized bed enjoying the moments before sunrise. That stillness just before dawn when Boston would begin to stir outside of her window, sounds and scents penetrating the brick walls of her studio apartment. For now, it was just her and the quiet thoughts she needed to envision the day ahead, calculate travel times, and prioritize errands. <\/p>\n

After taking a medium gulp of coffee, she opened her white leather planner, her gaze bouncing between underlined reminders and to-do lists, releasing a satisfied sigh over the carefully blue-inked letters. There was nothing like knowing exactly what the day, week, and year had in store.<\/p>\n

Currently, it was Saturday morning and she planned on pampering Future Skylar by knocking out some tasks over the weekend\u2014in between practices, of course.<\/p>\n

First up\u2014<\/p>\n

Her phone rang.<\/p>\n

Brow creased, she transferred her attention to the lit-up iPhone where it sat beside her thigh on the raspberry-colored comforter.<\/p>\n

Elton, her brother, was calling? At 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday?<\/p>\n

Immediately, her heart kicked into a sprint. No one called this time of day with good news. Was something wrong with one of their parents?<\/p>\n

Skylar answered on speakerphone, then gripped her knees. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing. What\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t the tone of someone in the middle of an emergency. Her relieved exhale shifted the pages of her planner. \u201cWhy are you calling so early?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I\u2019m on my way to pick you up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Furiously, she flipped through a mental calendar, followed by the physical one in front of her, wondering if she\u2019d missed a significant date. Had they made breakfast plans and she\u2019d simply forgotten? That would be a massive rarity for Skylar, but maybe an email had gone to spam. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to visit Mom and Dad until next Sunday. Did you mix up the dates for spring break?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope. This is something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skylar waited for her older brother to elaborate, but there was nothing but the sound of his turn signal ticking in the background. \u201cExplain or I\u2019m hanging up!\u201d she shouted at Elton, the way only a sibling could do. Technically, they were only related by marriage, but they bickered like it was their birthright. \u201cI\u2019m in the middle of something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up. You\u2019re writing in your planner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t writing anything,\u201d she mumbled. \u201cI was admiring what\u2019s already there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever you do, don\u2019t put planner gazing in your dating profile.\u201d She heard a shift of clothing. \u201cI\u2019ve got some good and bad news, sister of mine. Which one do you want first?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bad news. Obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever you scribbled down in your planner for this morning? Canceled.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHanging up on you seems like a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait for the good news,\u201d Elton rushed to say. \u201cYou\u2019re pitching this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

A beat of silence passed. \u201cThat\u2019s it? I pitch every morning.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNot against the Boston Bearcats, you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slow blink. \u201cElton, when did you start taking edibles?\u201d<\/p>\n

A deep, husky laugh reached her ears from the other end of the call. One that didn\u2019t belong to her brother. No, she knew that laugh like she knew the raised seams of a softball. And her heart was back to pumping, her gaze boring into the phone like she could see the source of that laughter through her blank screen. That perfect sound belonged to Madden Donahue, her long-standing crush . . . and her brother\u2019s best friend. \u201cMadden is with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho else is going to catch your pitches?\u201d Elton responded. <\/p>\n

Skylar picked her way backward through the wild conversation, her concentration splintered just knowing Madden was apparently on his way to her apartment. Snatching up the phone, she jogged to the bathroom, set the device on the sink, and found her toothbrush, applying a swipe of Crest. \u201cOkay, wait. Did you say I was pitching against the Bearcats?\u201d she asked, just before sticking the brush into her mouth, scrubbing.<\/p>\n

\u201cCorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs in, the professional hockey team?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her incredulity reflected back at her from the mirror. \u201cHow and why?\u201d<\/p>\n

Elton had the nerve to sound impatient. \u201cI\u2019ll explain on the way. How soon can you be downstairs? We\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n

She rinsed and spit as quietly as possible, barely refraining from chucking the phone into the toilet. \u201cTen minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTen, shithead.\u201d She yanked her long brown hair up into a ponytail. \u201cYou\u2019re lucky I only set aside this morning to work on next week\u2019s to-do list.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo me a favor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to this one?\u201d she sputtered, running to her bedroom closet and hunkering down in front of the stackable drawer holding her multitude of sports bras.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. When you get into the car, sit as far away from me as possible just in case sucking is contagious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to sit close enough to choke you to death. You won\u2019t even see it coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChoke me after the game. Save your energy for pitching.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nightshirt off. Quick underwear change. <\/p>\n

Sports bra on. Yoga pants up.<\/p>\n

Socks.<\/p>\n

It was that weird turning point between winter and spring when the temperature was chilly in the morning and absolutely baked Boston in the afternoon, so Skylar wasted a full minute trying to decide between a tank top or a sweatshirt, finally pulling on both. Then she snatched up her sneakers, keys, phone, and her softball glove where it sat on a shelf of honor by the front door. A minute later, she sailed out of the building, flashing her brother the middle finger through the windshield of his car, a gesture that he gleefully returned.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi, Madden,\u201d she said, climbing into the back seat. \u201cThat bird wasn\u2019t for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched his profile for that signature lip twitch, her stomach turning over when she got it. \u201cGood morning, Skylar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy doesn\u2019t Madden get flipped off?\u201d Elton complained while pulling into traffic. \u201cYou\u2019ve known him too long to be polite.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heat crawled up the back of Skylar\u2019s neck, carrying into her cheeks, so she ducked down to lace up her sneakers\u2014and hopefully hide her infatuation at the same time. \u201cI don\u2019t know. It probably has something to do with the fact that he\u2019s a decent human being. You should be taking notes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake note of this.\u201d Elton hit the brakes and Skylar almost tumbled off the seat.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d She rubbed her noggin where it had connected with the back of the driver\u2019s seat. \u201cAre you trying to injure me right before the season?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was too far,\u201d Madden said evenly. \u201cShe could get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elton continued to drive, unperturbed. \u201cYou\u2019re right. Then who would pitch this morning?\u201d<\/p>\n

Madden grunted.<\/p>\n

It took all of Skylar\u2019s concentration not to hurl herself down onto the seat in a full body swoon. And to keep her eyes from cataloging the breadth of Madden\u2019s catcher shoulders, that little whorl where his dark hair ended just above the nape of his neck, the utter stillness of him. The solid dependability he\u2019d projected from the moment he arrived to live with their next-door neighbor when Skylar was fifteen.<\/p>\n

Elton and Skylar both lived in Boston now, but they\u2019d lived most of their lives in Cumberland, Rhode Island. The summer she earned her learner\u2019s permit, the elderly Irishwoman who lived beside their two-story colonial had knocked on their door to introduce her grandson, Madden, who\u2019d come all the way from Belfast to visit her in Cumberland for the summer.<\/p>\n

For some reason, he\u2019d never actually left Rhode Island.<\/p>\n

Or her heart\u2014which he\u2019d owned since the moment his guarded eyes met hers.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm.\u201d She ordered the fluttering in her chest to cease its torture. \u201cAre you going to explain why we\u2019re randomly playing ball with a pro hockey team?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you insist.\u201d Elton sighed. \u201cCouple weeks back, I took Bubba to the dog park.\u201d Bubba was her brother\u2019s beloved bichon frise, which he\u2019d inherited from an ex-girlfriend who\u2019d realized after adopting Bubba that she was allergic to dogs\u2014and Elton, too. \u201cWhile I was at the dog run, I met this girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a feeling this is where our story would begin,\u201d Skylar inserted dryly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings were going well\u2014or so I thought. She gave me her number. Then four hockey players showed up and started hassling me about it. Fine, whatever. She\u2019s taken. I get it.\u201d Elton rolled to a stop at a red light, glanced back at Skylar over his shoulder. \u201cThen they start talking shit about baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skylar turned to stone. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey said it\u2019s boring. Easy. Not a real sport. Background noise for a nap.\u201d<\/p>\n

She opened her mouth, but the outrage prevented actual words from coming out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d her brother said, regardless. \u201cNaturally, I challenged them to a game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho else is coming?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFew of our old teammates from Brown, plus a couple of guys I met at spring training last week in Florida.\u201d Elton and Madden had both played baseball for Brown and were now preparing to enter the minor leagues in May. \u201cThey were driving distance and pissed off enough by my story to give up their Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t thrown a baseball in a few months. Only a softball.\u201d Skylar stretched her fingers in her lap. \u201cNot since the last time we were home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re getting to the field early. So you can warm up that arm.\u201d Elton chuckled. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to see their faces when you throw your first pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Madden made a sound of agreement that sent a wave of warmth through her chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking of going home . . .\u201d She strove to sound casual. \u201cMadden, you\u2019re coming to Rhode Island for spring break, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned his head just enough to send her a sidelong glance. \u201cYou think I\u2019d miss the Page Stakes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d She laughed breathlessly. \u201cOf course not.\u201d<\/p>\n

She ignored her brother\u2019s watchful gaze in the rearview, schooling her features and quickly tightening her ponytail. On the inside, though, was another story.<\/p>\n

A full week with Madden.<\/p>\n

Anticipation sparked in her wrists, her fingertips.<\/p>\n

Maybe Madden would finally start looking at Skylar and see more than Elton\u2019s tomboy younger sister? Please, universe? After all, she was now a senior at Boston University and dude, she cleaned up nice. Pretty nice.<\/p>\n

Decent, at the very least.<\/p>\n

There had been times over the past six years when she\u2019d thought maybe, just maybe, Madden was looking at her as if he found her attractive, but she usually just had ketchup on her face. The annual Page Stakes might be the perfect opportunity to show her brother\u2019s best friend that she\u2019d become a capable woman, not the nosy tagalong from days of yore. Maybe she could even convince him to be her teammate at the yearly competition?<\/p>\n

\u201cSo . . .\u201d Skylar slid her hand into her glove, crushing the worn leather with the opposite hand. \u201cSpeaking of the Page Stakes, have the teams been locked in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, are you fully awake yet, Sky? The teams are always set in stone. Otherwise, how would Team Foul Balls be defending champs?\u201d Elton and Madden exchanged a quick fist bump over the console. \u201cMom and Dad pair up. You and Eve round out the teams,\u201d Elton continued, referencing Skylar\u2019s best friend who still resided in their hometown. \u201cThat\u2019s how it has always been. Don\u2019t fuck with tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t it be fun to shake things up, though?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Elton replied without missing a beat. \u201cStay in your lane.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skylar sniffed. \u201cI\u2019m going to throw the game this morning just to spite you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u201d Her brother\u2019s skepticism was on full display in the rearview. \u201cWhen you meet these assholes, you\u2019ll want to beat them as much as I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

For once, Elton was right.<\/p>\n

The trio arrived at the Langone Park ball field on Boston\u2019s North End fifteen minutes later. Skylar must have subconsciously assumed she was being pranked by Elton\u2014and it would be far from the first time\u2014so she was a little stunned to find an assembly of giants awaiting them in the overcast distance.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoly shit,\u201d she murmured, slowly climbing out of the car, hand in glove. \u201cThose are the actual Bearcats, aren\u2019t they? You weren\u2019t lying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elton barked a laugh. \u201cYou think I could come up with a lie that creative?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re right. You\u2019re not that smart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Madden, clearly amused, tucked his tongue into his cheek and looked down. \u201cThe Page Stakes are going to be extra interesting this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was her opening. \u201cCome on, Mad. Abandon ship while you still can and join Team Skylar. I\u2019ve been fine-tuning my talent show performance\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Elton elbowed her in the side, knocking her off-balance. \u201cQuit poaching my teammate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOffer\u2019s on the table, big guy,\u201d she whispered, patting Madden on the shoulder. Forcing herself not to squeeze or run her palm down the hills and valleys of his triceps. Had he been working out extra hard lately?<\/p>\n

Madden laughed in that low, chugging way of his, then joined Elton picking his way across the ball field. As they walked, car doors began slamming in the parking lot and soon enough, they were flanked on all sides by various baseball players carrying bats, some of whom Skylar recognized from her brother\u2019s former squad at Brown. Others were unfamiliar. The ones she\u2019d never met perused her curiously, as if wondering what the hell a girl was doing at this national summit of penis power.<\/p>\n

She hid an eye roll.<\/p>\n

Her pitching would speak for itself. It always did. <\/p>\n

Usually.<\/p>\n

The scouts from Brown passed on you, didn\u2019t they?<\/p>\n

Much to her parents\u2019\u2014die-hard Brown alums\u2014everlasting disappointment.<\/p>\n

Skylar cleared her throat of discomfort and notched her chin higher, a conversation taking place among the hockey players reaching her ears, carried on the morning air.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should have seen this girl I brought home last night. Legs up to her fucking eyeballs,\u201d said one of them to the group. A mountainous redhead in a wrinkled shirt and the cockiest posture to ever exist. Chest puffed, chin up. A standing manspread. \u201cI had to peel her off me this morning so I wouldn\u2019t be late and she\u2019s already blowing up my phone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou going to call her later?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly if she brings a friend next time. I like a little variety.\u201d <\/p>\n

The ensuing laughter soured Skylar\u2019s stomach. Then and there, she decided to pitch as though life itself was hanging in the balance. A hockey player with a shaved head scoffed, shoving the offensive jackass and, along with the group, they simultaneously realized their opponents had arrived. The handful of Bearcats went from playful to intimidating in the blink of an eye, bristled jaws flexing, arms crossing over their huge pro athlete chests.<\/p>\n

The one who\u2019d been bragging about his exploits didn\u2019t even have the grace to look embarrassed over being caught talking about women like they were trading cards, though he visibly jolted upon realizing a lady was among them, his copper head ticking to one side, an interested gaze narrowing in on Skylar, a shaft of sunlight briefly highlighting the green moss hodgepodge of his eyes.<\/p>\n

Fuck you, she mouthed at him.<\/p>\n

A smile spread across his bearded face.<\/p>\n

Oh. She couldn\u2019t wait to strike this guy out.<\/p>\n

This one\u2019s for the girls.<\/p>\n

Excerpted from the book PITCHER PERFECT<\/a> by Tessa Bailey. Copyright \u00a9 2025 by Tessa Bailey. From Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Reprinted by permission.
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Pitcher Perfect, by Tessa Bailey will be released on September 9, 2025 by Avon<\/a>. To preorder the book, click on the retailer of your choice:<\/p>\n

AMAZON<\/a> AUDIBLE<\/a> BARNES & NOBLE<\/a> BOOKS-A-MILLION<\/a> BOOKSHOP<\/a> APPLE BOOKS<\/a> KOBO<\/a> LIBRO.FM<\/a> TARGET<\/a> WALMART<\/a> POWELL’S BOOKS<\/a> HUDSON BOOKSELLERS<\/a> GOOGLE PLAY<\/a> EBOOKS.COM<\/a>
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