Thank you to Tessa Bailey and Netgalley for this promotional copy of Same Time Next Year in exchange for my honest opinion...

This same time next year Sumner and Britta are supposed to call off their marriage. One year, to the day, after they agreed to be married, all so Sumner could stay in the States and apply for his green card. Otherwise, his chance at playing in the NHL wouldn't be lost. After all, the team is counting on Britta, and while she doesn't believe in marriage or happily ever after, she's willing to take one for the team, literally. But when she starts to notice her body reacting to Sumner's possessiveness, his sincere advances, and his touch, that's when she knows she's in trouble. Could Britta be falling for her husband? Is the sexual tension she feels whenever she's near Sumner more than just lust, but actual love?

This sexy little romance is just what I needed to read to get my mind off of the list of things I need to be doing! The pent-up tension between these two is so thick (ahem...) and steamy that it's like a tidal wave of hotness! The quick succession of events that happen throughout their year as a fake married couple fast-tracks their feelings right along with the storyline in an easy, enjoyable reading experience. If you're looking for a quick, spicy read, this one is for you. Come for the fake marriage trope, but stay for the sexual tension and (slightly kinky) sexy times. :)

As I delved into Tessa Bailey's "Same Time Next Year," I found myself transported into a world where love, laughter, and unexpected twists come together in a delightful concoction. This steamy novella is not just a romance; it's an emotional rollercoaster that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you with a satisfied smile.

Britta, the ambitious waitress with a strict no-dating policy for hockey boys, and Sumner Mayfield, the beast on the ice with dreams of making it to the NHL, are characters that linger in your thoughts. Bailey masterfully breathes life into them, making their struggles and triumphs feel remarkably real.

What starts as a fake marriage on a wild New Year's Eve unfolds into a journey of self-discovery, sacrifice, and unexpected love. Britta's hesitance and Sumner's desperation are palpable, making you cheer for their unconventional union. As the seasons change, so do the dynamics of their relationship, revealing layers of vulnerability and strength.

The chemistry between Britta and Sumner sizzles off the pages, and Bailey's ability to infuse humor into their interactions adds a delightful charm to the story. You can't help but root for them, laugh with them, and feel a tug at your heart as they navigate the complexities of their fake marriage.

This story was short and sweet and I enjoy romances featuring hockey players. Britta works at a bar called Sluggers where the local hockey team gathers. She has a strict policy against dated players especially since her half brother is on the team but she can't help but develop a soft spot for one player, Sumner Mayfield. When the hockey team brings it to Britta's attention that Sumner's visa is about to expire, forcing him to go back to Canada just when he is on the brink of being called up to the National League, it becomes clear that they want her to marry Sumner to keep him in the country. Sumner has always had a crush on Britta and knows she doesn't feel the same so despite his team's best efforts he doesn't expect her to agree to this marriage scheme. Britta, however, surprises everyone when she agrees so long as Sumner gives her the money to buy into the bar. They agree to remain married for a year, giving them each enough time to get what they want. However, the more they interact the more challenging it becomes to deny their attraction.

This is my first taste of Tessa Bailey and I loved it! I had so much fun reading this short story and the idea of it - I don't even care about the inaccuracies that are probably in it because I loved the characters. I wish we had a full length story of Sumner and Britta!

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Orignal Stories for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The length of this book was actually perfect. It wasn't too short that the story was rushed, but it also made for a quick read. I liked the storyline, but I just couldn't get past all the smut. The main male character was cringe worthy. There are a bunch of inaccuracies regarding hockey and the US immigration process. Since it is fiction perhaps the author chose to ignore any of the actual process to make the story sound better. I really enjoyed It Happened One Summer and decided to start reading more titles by Tessa Bailey. I feel like all the others I've read don't have much of a story and are just full of banter and smut. Unfortunately, I think it's time for me to take a break from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for a digital copy.

Quick and gets right to business- if you know Tessa Bailey, you’ll know what’s coming. Mismatched couple, a fabricated reason for them to get together, then plenty of sex. Enjoyable if you like your romances with less romance and more graphic interaction, but beware to readers who like to keep it clean. I enjoyed it as a passing escape.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for allowing access to an ARC.

This was a short novella and it was very cute! I love the build up of the female main character learning that her parent’s failed love story is not the norm. It was nice going on the journey with her, learning to love the male character.

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