DNF at 12%

You know it's time to DNF when you start thinking of doing the dishes and that sounds like a better time than reading your book 🙈🤣

DNF for the following reasons:
* The writing feels a bit wonky. There's moments where the flow is broken, which could've easily been fixed.
* The dialogue feels very unnatural, with the sole purpose of feeding the reader information.
* I love a pining MMC as much as the next gal, but reading Sumner's POV is making me cringe so hard. He's in love with the girl and they've barely talked or spent time together? And it's just *too much*. I'm not a fan of instalove, and this is very much the case for both characters who are either already there or very close to being there. I prefer reading about them falling in love.
* I wasn't a fan of the overexaggeration in Britta's pov in the first chapter about how big Sumner is: wider shoulders than she is tall (those are either very broad shoulders or she's tiny), his head almost touching the ceiling of the bar (some very low ceilings or he's a giant), eating a burger in only two bites (respect. That's one big mouth.)... I usually don't make a fuss about things like these and could've overlooked it, if everything else would've worked for me.

I'm not enjoying it so far and I don't think it'll get better by pushing through. I don't see myself enjoying it more at a later time because of the instalove feel. So sadly, it's a DNF for me.

*I received a free copy (ARC) through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

*I usually don't rate DNFs because it's a case of "not for me" and not "I didn't like this", so 3 star rating because NetGalley forces me to rate and 3 stars feels like the most neutral.*

The perfect novella. Packs an emotional punch and has Tessa’s well known steam. Sports romance and fake marriage are honestly two of my favorite tropes. I read this in one sitting and I would highly recommend.

! I’m a sucker for both brother’s friend and a marriage of convenience, so this story was already right up my alley. I think my favorite thing was how much heart was packed into such a short story. I think a lot of romcom novellas struggle with the relationship not having enough time for a lot of depth, but this book did not have that problem at all!

Same Time Next Year is my first book by this author and I can't wait to read more! Britta works in a sports bar where a local hockey team likes to hang out. Sumner needs a green card to stay in the US to try to make it to the NHL. Britta has always liked Sumner but has a strict rule about dating anyone on the team since her step brother plays on the team too. Can she be a fake wife to help Sumner out? A quick read with a happy ending and who doesn't need that!

Thank you to Tessa Bailey, Amazon Original Stories, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Same Time Next Year is a quick and spicy hockey novella. Britta works at her local bar that is also her safe haven. Sumner is on the local hockey team that comes in regularly. Sumner needs a green card to stay in the US with hopes of being drafted, Britta wants nothing to do with relationships, but wants to purchase the bar.

I loved everything about this novella! It was quick and spicy, but also loveable and cute. I loved watching Britta and Sumner's fake relationship blossom.

This was my firs Tessa Bailey and it was actually really enjoyable! Britta works at a bar where the local hockey team typically hangs out. Britta hopes the bar one day to be her own and she has a strict no-dating rule for hokey players. Britta has a a soft spot for Sumner and she knows that he's absolutely crazy for her, so when the team asks her to marry him as his work visa is about to expire, she's hesitant at first. Sumner and Britta end up getting married with the agreement that Sumner will give Britta the money she needs to finally get the bar but as time passes, it's tough for this fake relationship to not feel real.

I had such a hard time getting into this book. For some reason I did not like the male lead and it really made me struggle with it.

This novella was really easy to read in one sitting.
Marriage of convenience of storylines are almost always a little far fetched but this story was enjoyable nether the less.
It did feel a little rushed and underdeveloped in some areas but it is a novella so there will often be elements of that.
Overall it was a quick, cute and easy romance read.

I didn't really have much expectations going into this after I read Tessa's "My Killer Vacation," because I didn't think we could top that. Boy was I wrong.
I love a marriage-of-convenience story and with that trope you're going to have to suspend your belief a little bit because its highly unrealistic and the excuses can be a little far-fetched, but this takes the cake by far. You're telling a 27-year-old man still has the chance to play professional hockey??? He's from Canada and he has a chance to get a green-card in a less a year?? Like come on, this setup has to be the laziest and flimsiest I've ever seen, was Tessa Bailey even trying?
It was quick to read and bits of it were fun but overall the plot just took me out, every time. I'm not even going to delve into the "dirty talk" because that's a whole can of worms I'd like to forget about honestly.

I absolutely ADORED this novella! Short and sweet, a perfect one sitting read. I loved watching this marriage of convenience turning into so much more and watching our MCs melting for one another.

This was a fun, short, fake marriage story. Britta is opposed to commitment after seeing her father leave her and her mother for his second family. Sumner grew up with a large, loving family and the example of his parents being together for over 30 years. Though Bryce is the half-brother from her father's second marriage, Britta has a good relationship with him. Bryce and Sumner are teammates on the hockey team in Connecticut, but when Sumner's work visa is about to expire, Bryce tries to convince Britta to marry him. All the guys on the team have noticed that Sumner is in love with Britta, and Bryce can tell that she likes Sumner, but her opposition to marriage has kept her from a relationship. In a last-ditch effort, they are convinced to get married, and that is when the fake relationship slowly turns into a real one. It has the right amount of spice and was very enjoyable.

My first Tessa Bailey, and I have mixed feelings? It was super cute, yes! I loved Britta & Sumner ♡ Since it was a novella, I gobbled it up, but I did feel like it was a bit rushed. Overall tho, a worthwhile January read!

This was a cute romance in theory, and a bit spicy as expected with Tessa Bailey. Being a shorter book I feel like the chemistry, character development and plot were less developed, but with less pages you get less story - right? For me the spice was cringe worthy and uncomfortable. I did like the alternating POVs, however of that's how men think I'm not sure I want to be in their heads. Clearly this one wasn't for me.

Thank you to Tessa Bailey, Amazon Original Stories, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

So I love Tessa's books, but for some reason, this one just didn't do it for me. I found it cringy and cheesy. Some of the smut scenes seriously made me roll my eyes. I cannot imagine anyone using the phrases Sumner uses.

The whole green card situation was completely wrong. At 28 years old, Sumner's chances of being drafted are basically at zero. Also, why doesn't he want to go back to Canada and play hockey? Last time I looked Canada is known for hockey. Canada = Hockey, like Baseball = USA.

Also, I think she may have been going for the world record of using "wife" in a novella.

I wish this was a longer book as I felt that there was so much more to the story! It felt way too short and rushed for my liking, but it was enjoyable none the less.

A sweet and sexy hockey romance. The characters were strong and their wounds deep. They face down a difficult situation and came out of it in a way that was satisfying for the reader..

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Originals for this ARC!

This was a cute "fake marriage for a green card" sports romance, with a very little bit of holiday vibes. It covers their year in time jumps as they fall for each other. They are already both attracted to each other, but the FMC does not believe in romance or serious relationships, while the MMC aspires to the kind of love and devotion that his parents share.

decent. nothing to write home about. easy one day read . Also kinda hard to read if you realize how little research went into green card marriages and all of that. and with it being a novella there was some stuff left out that felt like it needed to be addressed but i’m not mad that i read it

2 ⭐️

Well, no, this definitely wasn’t my cup of tea. I didn’t really like any of the characters, really, and also the storyline just didn’t do it for me. Maybe because it’s a novella and there’s not too much room for any depth, but I honestly feel like I’d maybe DNF’ed this book if it was full-size. Not for me, but it does read very quickly!

I received an E-ARC from NetGalley. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Same Time Next Year is a cute novella from Tessa Bailey that has a fake-dating/marriage trope for a green card situation as well as being a hockey romance. This was kind of a swing and miss for me, I didn't super vibe with either of the characters even though the plot was right up my alley. Still a nice quick read overall.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.