Get me a hockey fake husband like Sumner for Christmas!

I enjoyed reading Tessa Bailey's "engagement for a year" novella, Same Time Next Year. Britta was open with her experiences with not wanting to open up with love are clear from the start. Sumner was open with his love for Britta, including his overall love for her and not wanting to hook up unless it was love.

I enjoyed reading Same Time, Next Year and recommend it to anyone who wants a fun/sweet romance.

This was such a fun, quick read. I love Tessa Bailey, so of course I was excited to get to read this one. It didn’t disappoint. Such a cute story with some spice.

Cute, fast paced and SPICY good read. I enjoyed the "he falls first" trope. Also, liked how the FMC started out strong and independent. She didn't coward when presented with the opportunity to pursue her dreams to become part owner of the bar where she worked, but was okay with following her heart after that dream was accomplished. The decision she had to make in the end made her relatable, real life relationships require compromises and I like seeing that in books. It was easy to see where the book was going, but it didn't stop me from wanting to read until the end.

Marriage of convenience has recently become one of my favorite tropes, so this story was right up my alley! I loved the bond/friendship that Sumner and Brittany had from the beginning and how protective he was of her. The fact that their relationship evolved over the year naturally was the best part to me!

An enjoyable steamy and cozy fake marriage novella in the Christmas season. Even though I'm not that big of an insta-love fan and this book not being a full-length story made everything rushed, I still was able to appreciate Britta and Sumner's story. Perhaps, several things that could have been developed better, but the book was entertaining.

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC

This was a cute and spicy novella, typical fare for Tessa Bailey. Very quick read -- read in one sitting. Really enjoyed this short format and, as usual, she writes the best grumpy guys with a soft spot.

Thanks to Netgalley for the E-ARC..... was this one of her best work no did I still enjoy it yes. I was so excited to be able to read this and even though Britta got on my nerves I could get where she was coming from. A easy and fast read.

There's so much that I really enjoyed about this novella. I'm always a fan of a romance where the man falls first, and there was a lot of charm involved as Britta lets her guard down enough to realize she really cares for Sumner. I especially enjoyed the scene between Britta and her half-brother where she finally confronts her fears and her feelings.
I also really liked Britta as a character. I would have liked even more from her perspective, actually, to understand her better. I appreciated her background and how it made it difficult to trust and believe in a happy ending. And I loved that despite her family history, she was a generous enough of a person to still absolutely love her half-brother.
And I always love a good trope. I didn't even mind that it was a bit unbelievable that a Green Card would be approved so quickly. The romantic in me loved the part where Sumner and Britta were forced to get to know each other better for their interview and Britta starts to fall. Swoon.
Unfortunately, the story fell apart around the character of Sumner. At first glance he's dreamy--tall, all muscles and charm, manners, and head over heels in love. But the more we get his POV the less attractive it became and gave off more than a couple red flag vibes. A lot of his internal dialogue (and some spoken dialogue for that matter) came off overly possessive and obsessive, like his suggestion that Britta track his phone at all times so she always knows where he is. But most troubling was his demand that Britta love him that he shouts as he's climaxing. I understand it was meant to illustrate his strong feelings for Britta and that the sex was so intense, so passionate that his sensibilities were overwhelmed. When rational he would never demand anything of her, but in the throes he couldn't stop himself. But I find that troubling. It's an excuse abusers make. Fortunately for Britta she was won over by this declaration, but for me it had the opposite effect.
This novella had charming structure and good pacing, but in the end it just wasn't for me.

This was a quick read. Although it's called a holiday story, it really starts on New Year's Eve, and their relationship has an expiration date of 1 year. I felt the story was ok. For me, there really wasn't anything key to the story to draw me in. What I didn't like about this book is that it just didn't make me feel. Perhaps it was because it's a novella that there wasn't enough backstory to each character's woes that I simply felt indifferent towards each character.

I like that Tessa bailey wrote Sumner to be the first to fall. Those are typically my favorite stories to read. But I felt that the manner in which he convinced Britta to love him didn't feel real to me.

Thank you Tessa bailey and Netgalley for this ARC. The above is my own and personal opinion.

This was my first Tessa Bailey book. I was definitely not warned! Wtbs- I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I loved that Britta and Bryce had such a sweet relationship despite what their father did to her and her mom. I really loved how much Sumner admired Britta. He was kind of too obsessed at some points. I do wish the book was a pinch longer which would have allowed us to have a better view into their relationship from like December to September. I know it’s a novella but it felt a bit rushed.

A quick fun little hockey read. Britta works at a pub in a hockey town where the semi pro team stops in on the regular. She can handle both the bar and the hockey guys that love to show up. Enter Sumner - the guy on the team that is on the verge of making it to the NHL. The only issue is that his work visa is about to expire- like tomorrow. Thanks to NetGalley for this brief respite from the craziness of Christmas.

I got done reading a pretty long, heavy book, and I decided I needed to read a short, and fun novella to help cleanse my palette. This story was just what I needed.

Novellas are usually stories i don’t reach for often, just because I tend to prefer when a story has more character development, and deeper plots, and novellas tend to be the opposite. They usually don’t dive into many deep details, but they are entertaining, and this one was just that. It’s a quick, fun and spicy read, which I enjoyed, even though I found the story was somewhat predictable.
Britta and Sumner enter a marriage of convenience so Sumner can stay in the U.S. in order to play on a semi professional hockey team, and increase his chances of getting picked to join a pro team.
Read if you like:
-Short reads (novellas)
-Sports romance
-Friends to lovers
-He falls first
-Marriage of convenience
-Spicy reads

Content Warning: Abandonment, sexual content.
This was a fun, quick and light read. I definitely recommend if you love steamy and short stories.

This was a cute quick super sweet hockey romance. Marriage of convenience is my favourite trope and this did not disappoint 🥰 so cute. And so innocent. And sooo steamy 😏 highly recommend

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have tried to get on the Tessa Bailey train, and I simply cannot handle it. All of her books are extremely cringey and entirely surface level. I could not stand the characters in this one, and since it was a novella, there was zero time to develop any type of character growth. I feel like Tessa just writes books as fast as she can with cheap sex scenes and unlikeable characters... I probably won't pick up another one of hers.

What a fun story! I immediately fell.in love with Britta and Sumner. They had such great chemistry together and the fake marriage plot hooked me in further. I love all of Tessa Bailey's writing and this novella was no different! Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thank you NetGalley for a free e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In "Same Time Next Year" by Tessa Bailey, readers are treated to a sizzling novella that blends humor, heart, and a dash of serendipity in a tale that is as engaging as it is steamy. The story centers around Britta, a spirited waitress with a firm rule against dating hockey players, and Sumner Mayfield, a talented player on the cusp of NHL fame but with a visa dilemma. Their solution? A fake marriage, born out of a wild New Year's Eve decision, which sets the stage for an unexpectedly deep connection.

Bailey's narrative is a masterful balance of lighthearted fun and emotional depth. The setting of Sluggers, the local bar, serves as a perfect backdrop for this quirky romance, encapsulating the small-town charm and tight-knit community vibes. The novella shines in its character development; Britta, with her ambition and vulnerability, and Sumner, with his dedication and hidden depths, are crafted with such authenticity that they leap off the page. Their chemistry is palpable, and their journey from a hasty decision to genuine affection is both believable and heartwarming.

The novella format works well for this story, as Bailey skillfully condenses the evolution of Britta and Sumner's relationship without sacrificing emotional resonance. The pacing is brisk, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. The inclusion of humor, particularly through the secondary characters and the dynamics at Sluggers, adds a delightful layer to the narrative.

However, "Same Time Next Year" is not without its limitations. The brevity of the novella format means that certain plot elements and character backstories are not as fleshed out as they could be in a full-length novel. This occasionally leaves the reader wanting more detail and depth, particularly in understanding the motivations and past experiences of the main characters.

Content warnings for steamy scenes and adult language are appropriate, making this novella best suited for readers who enjoy contemporary romance with a spicy edge. Fans of sports romance and fake-marriage tropes will particularly find this story appealing.

In conclusion, Tessa Bailey's "Same Time Next Year" is a delightful, fast-paced novella that offers a perfect blend of romance, humor, and warmth. It's a testament to Bailey's skill as a storyteller that she can pack so much heart into such a compact format. For those looking for a quick but satisfying romantic read, this novella is a sure bet.

As always, thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive a copy of this Novella. The overview sounded like this would be a cute, fun read. I'm glad I only gave it an afternoon. The premise of the story sounded like a cute rom-com. Girl marries a guy in order for him to get a green card to remain in the US. That took up a few pages. Then I felt like I was reading Fifty Shades again. (Which was better).
Sadly, I wasn't fan and don't think I"ll recommend this book to others.

I technically stopped this one at 70% because I just couldn’t get invested. I love Tessa Bailey but this one wasn’t my fav

First, this cover is the best. It’s so cute. Second, this was everything I wanted and needed in a Christmas Romance. The romance was sweet and spicy. Fake marriage is one of my all time favorite tropes. The chemistry between Britta and Somner was off the charts. The story was just so good. I would love more stories from the side characters. Hint hint dear author! I highly recommend this one! Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Tessa Bailey book and I absolutely loved it. The perfect amount of spice. They were the perfect couple. And I’m happy it was long enough to understand her struggles with wanting a relationship but wasn’t too much of a slow burn.