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Same Time Next Year #1
Same Time Next Year
From New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey comes a steamy novella full of hope and humor tracking a couple’s fake marriage for a year after the wild New Year’s Eve when they first say “I do.”
Adored by all, Britta is an ambitious waitress working at Sluggers. The popular bar holds a special place in her heart and is a regular hangout for the Bridgeport Bandits, the local hockey club. With a half brother on the team, Britta has a strict no-dating policy for hockey boys. But she does have a soft spot for one particular player.
A beast on the ice, Sumner Mayfield is on the brink of breaking into the NHL. But time’s running out. With his work visa about to expire, Sumner’s only chance to stay in Bridgeport is to marry an American—and get a green card. Otherwise, it’s back to Canada for the defenseman.
On New Year’s Eve, the team begs Britta to marry Sumner that very night. Sum is embarrassed yet hopeful—he’s desperately in love. But Britta balks at first. Until something about Sumner’s soulful brown eyes and ripped physique makes her reconsider…
Adored by all, Britta is an ambitious waitress working at Sluggers. The popular bar holds a special place in her heart and is a regular hangout for the Bridgeport Bandits, the local hockey club. With a half brother on the team, Britta has a strict no-dating policy for hockey boys. But she does have a soft spot for one particular player.
A beast on the ice, Sumner Mayfield is on the brink of breaking into the NHL. But time’s running out. With his work visa about to expire, Sumner’s only chance to stay in Bridgeport is to marry an American—and get a green card. Otherwise, it’s back to Canada for the defenseman.
On New Year’s Eve, the team begs Britta to marry Sumner that very night. Sum is embarrassed yet hopeful—he’s desperately in love. But Britta balks at first. Until something about Sumner’s soulful brown eyes and ripped physique makes her reconsider…
143 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2023
12729 people are currently reading
41626 people want to read
About the author
Tessa Bailey
96 books67.5k followersNew York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 10,694 reviews
June 11, 2024
it is so bad i want to give you a zero, but that's not possible.. so i give you a one
i only read this bc i want to finish my reading goal but fucking hell this sucked. it was cringy and completely unrealistic. tessa girl, google exists for a reason.. idk maybe u should like use it next time?? who tf is getting a green card in a span of 3 months?? the guy interviewing them sees them dry humping against the mmcs car and basically says “i know true love when i see it.. approved” ahh 0/10 worst experience of my life. the mmc constantly sexualised the fmc, he was pathetic and cringy, he had a weird obsession w the fmcs nipples and he gave major serial killer vibes. why was this man simping over a girl named after a water filter. even tho this is a novella i was literally fighting for my life trying to finish this 😭😭
if i had to suffer, so do you!!!
“you’re the only one i’ll ever give it to, tight girl.”
“creamy wife pussy”
“let me slide my hands into those panties and play with something tight.”
“my middle finger slides down between the cheeks of her ass and jiggles that pucker.”
“ohhhh my god!” she shakes like a washing machine on the spin cycle.
anyways, i’ve come to the conclusion that tessa bailey’s books are just not for me!
i only read this bc i want to finish my reading goal but fucking hell this sucked. it was cringy and completely unrealistic. tessa girl, google exists for a reason.. idk maybe u should like use it next time?? who tf is getting a green card in a span of 3 months?? the guy interviewing them sees them dry humping against the mmcs car and basically says “i know true love when i see it.. approved” ahh 0/10 worst experience of my life. the mmc constantly sexualised the fmc, he was pathetic and cringy, he had a weird obsession w the fmcs nipples and he gave major serial killer vibes. why was this man simping over a girl named after a water filter. even tho this is a novella i was literally fighting for my life trying to finish this 😭😭
if i had to suffer, so do you!!!
“you’re the only one i’ll ever give it to, tight girl.”
“creamy wife pussy”
“let me slide my hands into those panties and play with something tight.”
“my middle finger slides down between the cheeks of her ass and jiggles that pucker.”
“ohhhh my god!” she shakes like a washing machine on the spin cycle.
anyways, i’ve come to the conclusion that tessa bailey’s books are just not for me!
January 1, 2024
Same time next year? How about- Never again 😀
nope
January 4, 2024Seeing this book tank in the ratings brings joy to my cold Canadian heart. 😂
Putting this shelving back up so I know to avoid forever.
*******************
Nope.
This is why I can’t read hockey romance, I pretend it’s the lack of teeth, but truly, it’s the lack of research.
Summary of inaccuracies from other reviews and a quick scan of the book:
> A 28 year old Canadian hockey player thinks he still has a chance to make it to the NHL if he plays on a rec team in Connecticut has to avoid being deported to Canada by having a green card marriage even though his front office would have his immigration covered if he was actually any good. He’s not playing in the minors even, he GOES to the AHL and then gets to the NHL from there. Surrre. (He has a work visa too and not a special talent visa, but if he’s in this not even farm team league he’d need a day job because who’s earning money playing in a rec league?).
> No Canadian player has ever been afraid of missing out on the nhl by being ‘forced to return’ to Canada. It’s Canada. We are kinda known for our hockey.
> The reason that’s given as to why he can’t be drafted from Canada is that ‘there are no open positions on Canadian teams’ this is absolute fiction. You go into the draft for all teams, they don’t hire based on open spots into teams within the country where you play!! Sidney Crosby was drafted to the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Quebec major juniors from which he was seen and scouted.
> Also 28 is like a grandpa for a hockey player and he would absolutely not be drafted at that age (current ave age of NHL players is 24 yrs old), if he was good he’d have been drafted at 18-20like everyone else and it would have been done from Canada where 42% of all NHL hockey players are drafted from. (29% from the USA , the remainder from Europe).
👆🏻 these stats were one click google searches.
Tessa google is your friend, even for a novella you should have a basic understanding of Canada and minor hockey and how they manage immigration for their players if this is the driving plot point in your book. This isn’t fantasy, this is contemporary and you used the NHL and Canada, you didn’t even make up a league or a country, these rules and places exist and you can’t just disregard them. I’m taking this as a personal insult that you didn’t care enough to bother with BASIC RESEARCH.
Putting this shelving back up so I know to avoid forever.
*******************
Nope.
This is why I can’t read hockey romance, I pretend it’s the lack of teeth, but truly, it’s the lack of research.
Summary of inaccuracies from other reviews and a quick scan of the book:
> A 28 year old Canadian hockey player thinks he still has a chance to make it to the NHL if he plays on a rec team in Connecticut has to avoid being deported to Canada by having a green card marriage even though his front office would have his immigration covered if he was actually any good. He’s not playing in the minors even, he GOES to the AHL and then gets to the NHL from there. Surrre. (He has a work visa too and not a special talent visa, but if he’s in this not even farm team league he’d need a day job because who’s earning money playing in a rec league?).
> No Canadian player has ever been afraid of missing out on the nhl by being ‘forced to return’ to Canada. It’s Canada. We are kinda known for our hockey.
> The reason that’s given as to why he can’t be drafted from Canada is that ‘there are no open positions on Canadian teams’ this is absolute fiction. You go into the draft for all teams, they don’t hire based on open spots into teams within the country where you play!! Sidney Crosby was drafted to the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Quebec major juniors from which he was seen and scouted.
> Also 28 is like a grandpa for a hockey player and he would absolutely not be drafted at that age (current ave age of NHL players is 24 yrs old), if he was good he’d have been drafted at 18-20like everyone else and it would have been done from Canada where 42% of all NHL hockey players are drafted from. (29% from the USA , the remainder from Europe).
👆🏻 these stats were one click google searches.
Tessa google is your friend, even for a novella you should have a basic understanding of Canada and minor hockey and how they manage immigration for their players if this is the driving plot point in your book. This isn’t fantasy, this is contemporary and you used the NHL and Canada, you didn’t even make up a league or a country, these rules and places exist and you can’t just disregard them. I’m taking this as a personal insult that you didn’t care enough to bother with BASIC RESEARCH.
December 2, 2023
update: i’m officially swearing off all tessa bailey books
i went into this with no expectations since i’m not the biggest fan of tessa’s writing, but i thought the story would be entertaining. i mean, it’s hard to go wrong with marriage of convenience ... usually.
our main guy, sumner, is this potential-star hockey player from canada, playing in the usa. but he won’t be able to stay in the country and make his way up the hockey levels if he doesn’t get a green card – enter britta, sister of sumner’s teammate, bartender at their favorite bar, and girl sumner has been swooning over since he met her. the two get married despite britta’s opposition to commitment, sumner gets his green card, and we all live happily ever after!
first of all, tessa i know this is a novella but you could at least do some research. as a sport management major, it was physically painful to read the way hockey was described in this. sumner couldn’t play hockey in canada ... why exactly? they’re literally known for their hockey. also ... he would almost definitely play more than one month before being called up to the big leagues.
and the green card stuff? it was the main plot point at first but was apparently resolved not even halfway through? you don’t get a green card just for going to an interview with your wife and answering all the questions correctly. it would also take longer than, what five months? i don’t remember how long but it’s not unlikely that this process takes over a year.
aside from these major issues, the romance was just so fucking weird. the unrequited love sumner had for britta was awkward to read about. him constantly talking about being obsessed specifically with eating her out, when she had never shown an ounce of interest in him, made me beyond uncomfortable.
side note: the word “wife” was used FORTY FIVE TIMES. in 126 pages. how is this even possible.
the characters had no personalities other than sumner’s obsession with britta and britta’s trust issues + shitty dad. she also acted so naive for her agei actually don’t remember how old she is but it was probably 25ish idk.
and don’t even get me started on the smut. i can’t even talk about it. here’s some quotes:
That’s how I greet that swollen bud, with a gentle pressing of my lips, before I quite honestly lick the sweet hell out of it. I know my fucking job, and I perform it, spreading her hot legs wide and tonguing that creamy wife pussy until I forget to breathe.
I twist my fingers around, thanking God for making them long, finding that rough spot inside her and tickling it fast, so fast, while my tongue exploits her clit between my tongue and bottom lip—and she blasts off, a stick of dynamite that has reached the end of its fuse.
“You’re going to objectify me. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Dead ass.”
“You’re the only one I’ll ever give it to, tight girl.”
alright well! on that note, save yourself and don’t read this. i literally cannot think of a single redeeming factor so ... one sad, awkward star.
-------------------
if i hate this i’m officially swearing off all tessa bailey books
i went into this with no expectations since i’m not the biggest fan of tessa’s writing, but i thought the story would be entertaining. i mean, it’s hard to go wrong with marriage of convenience ... usually.
our main guy, sumner, is this potential-star hockey player from canada, playing in the usa. but he won’t be able to stay in the country and make his way up the hockey levels if he doesn’t get a green card – enter britta, sister of sumner’s teammate, bartender at their favorite bar, and girl sumner has been swooning over since he met her. the two get married despite britta’s opposition to commitment, sumner gets his green card, and we all live happily ever after!
first of all, tessa i know this is a novella but you could at least do some research. as a sport management major, it was physically painful to read the way hockey was described in this. sumner couldn’t play hockey in canada ... why exactly? they’re literally known for their hockey. also ... he would almost definitely play more than one month before being called up to the big leagues.
and the green card stuff? it was the main plot point at first but was apparently resolved not even halfway through? you don’t get a green card just for going to an interview with your wife and answering all the questions correctly. it would also take longer than, what five months? i don’t remember how long but it’s not unlikely that this process takes over a year.
aside from these major issues, the romance was just so fucking weird. the unrequited love sumner had for britta was awkward to read about. him constantly talking about being obsessed specifically with eating her out, when she had never shown an ounce of interest in him, made me beyond uncomfortable.
side note: the word “wife” was used FORTY FIVE TIMES. in 126 pages. how is this even possible.
the characters had no personalities other than sumner’s obsession with britta and britta’s trust issues + shitty dad. she also acted so naive for her age
and don’t even get me started on the smut. i can’t even talk about it. here’s some quotes:
That’s how I greet that swollen bud, with a gentle pressing of my lips, before I quite honestly lick the sweet hell out of it. I know my fucking job, and I perform it, spreading her hot legs wide and tonguing that creamy wife pussy until I forget to breathe.
I twist my fingers around, thanking God for making them long, finding that rough spot inside her and tickling it fast, so fast, while my tongue exploits her clit between my tongue and bottom lip—and she blasts off, a stick of dynamite that has reached the end of its fuse.
“You’re going to objectify me. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Dead ass.”
“You’re the only one I’ll ever give it to, tight girl.”
alright well! on that note, save yourself and don’t read this. i literally cannot think of a single redeeming factor so ... one sad, awkward star.
-------------------
if i hate this i’m officially swearing off all tessa bailey books
November 8, 2023
I enjoyed reading the reviews more than the actual book...... Canadian ones especially.
November 12, 2023
2/5
It wasn't that terrible, but I feel like Tessa Bailey's books have lost their appeal for me lately. I heard Tessa talk about writing a hockey book, or novella, over a year ago so when I saw that she had finally decided to publish this type of story, I really wanted to give it a try. As you may have noticed, picking up this book wasn't my best decision. At least it was short, so I finished it quickly. If this had been a full-length novel, there was no way I could have finished it.
The writing and the cringy smut are the main reasons why my rating is so low. I literally had to skip the last scene because I couldn't do this to myself. The dirty talk was not it. At all.
The two stars are because there were two things I quite liked here. Surprisingly. The first thing is that our hero was obsessed with the heroine. I’m always eating it up. Especially when he's like this.
The second and last thing is that there was no insta lust, or love here. Having read some Tessa's books, I pretty much expected it here, and was surprised when the "I love you" confession came after like nine months. There were a lot of time jumps, so it might have seemed like the confession came quickly, but it was a novella, a smutty novella, so I was pleasantly surprised that it happened after such a long time and not after, say, a week. Like in one of Tessa's books.
I think I need to take a break from this author's books for a while. At least I hope I do, because usually my resolutions like this don't last very long. In overall, unfortunately, I don’t recommend.
It wasn't that terrible, but I feel like Tessa Bailey's books have lost their appeal for me lately. I heard Tessa talk about writing a hockey book, or novella, over a year ago so when I saw that she had finally decided to publish this type of story, I really wanted to give it a try. As you may have noticed, picking up this book wasn't my best decision. At least it was short, so I finished it quickly. If this had been a full-length novel, there was no way I could have finished it.
The writing and the cringy smut are the main reasons why my rating is so low. I literally had to skip the last scene because I couldn't do this to myself. The dirty talk was not it. At all.
The two stars are because there were two things I quite liked here. Surprisingly. The first thing is that our hero was obsessed with the heroine. I’m always eating it up. Especially when he's like this.
"How is everything in the world not canceled right now? Are people still traveling, going to work, and eating in restaurants when my wife looks this hot?"
The second and last thing is that there was no insta lust, or love here. Having read some Tessa's books, I pretty much expected it here, and was surprised when the "I love you" confession came after like nine months. There were a lot of time jumps, so it might have seemed like the confession came quickly, but it was a novella, a smutty novella, so I was pleasantly surprised that it happened after such a long time and not after, say, a week. Like in one of Tessa's books.
I think I need to take a break from this author's books for a while. At least I hope I do, because usually my resolutions like this don't last very long. In overall, unfortunately, I don’t recommend.
November 21, 2023
dear tessa bailey, google is free
December 11, 2023
tessa bailey is so busy cranking out 18 books a year she didn’t have time to google whether Canada was apart of the nhl
December 20, 2023
Original: Oct 27, 2023: I am here to balance out somebody who apparently gives 1 star to books no one’s even read yet…
Update: Dec 20, 2023:
*4.5⭐️
I finally read it and I loved it! It was so cute! 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!
Also, I know this is marketed as a New Years book, but it can be easily enjoyed at anytime, especially since only a few chapters take place during the holiday.
Update: Dec 20, 2023:
*4.5⭐️
I finally read it and I loved it! It was so cute! 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!
Also, I know this is marketed as a New Years book, but it can be easily enjoyed at anytime, especially since only a few chapters take place during the holiday.
November 3, 2023
Tessa, baby gorl this wasn’t it. Miss Britta filter is a walking red flag with all her trust issues. Also wtf does nine deep and ringing my bell even mean I tried to urban dictionary, Google, and ask my grandmother that and no dice. The one star is for the broccoli cheddar soup and the broccoli cheddar soup alone.
February 4, 2025
It's unbelievable how I loved the first Tessa Bailey book I've ever read, and from there on it just got worse.
I feel thrilled and excited every time she announces a new release, I add them right away to my tbr, and I even wait till I’m sure I really wanna read it… just to end up disappointed every single time. Trust me, I don't wanna complain either, but it's her third book this year alone and now I have to talk about it.
Is the book that bad? Is it her writing? Is it the underskin feeling that this story is addressed to a specific part of the BookTok, while others may just feel like her only concerns were the sex scenes - all from his pov, btw?
That's up to you to decide, what I can say is that it feels off for many reasons.
Besides one of the most unrealistic cliches made in Hollywood - this is not how green cards work at all, and you can't marry someone the day before your expatriation just for staying in that country -, the plot holes were so many in so few pages that I just wonder why don't turn this into a proper book.
Leading the readers during Britta and Sunmer’s romance would have made a big change in the way they acted around each other, and I'm not talking only about the two of them being ALWAYS horny, but also things like picking someone up and putting her in your lap because she’s telling you her sad life story when you don't know her enough to do that.
I’m brutal because I expect something way better from a big name such as hers, and the moment I start acting like an editor is when I drown the line of a book being decent - and it can only go one way from there.
And many of these “issues” were really just editing things that I thought they’d have fixed in the final version, although they didn’t: him annoyingly repeating wife every two sentences, her just scratching the surface of what happened with her father, they being in their late 20s and her best friends since middle school both already having kids because the author couldn't come up with a better idea, and why - WHY - is this story beginning during a year we haven't even start when she could have set it from New Year’s Eve 2022 and ending it now?!
My only resolution for next year is to find another good TB’s book, hoping I won’t have to look too hard for it.
↠ 2 stars
Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
I feel thrilled and excited every time she announces a new release, I add them right away to my tbr, and I even wait till I’m sure I really wanna read it… just to end up disappointed every single time. Trust me, I don't wanna complain either, but it's her third book this year alone and now I have to talk about it.
Is the book that bad? Is it her writing? Is it the underskin feeling that this story is addressed to a specific part of the BookTok, while others may just feel like her only concerns were the sex scenes - all from his pov, btw?
That's up to you to decide, what I can say is that it feels off for many reasons.
Besides one of the most unrealistic cliches made in Hollywood - this is not how green cards work at all, and you can't marry someone the day before your expatriation just for staying in that country -, the plot holes were so many in so few pages that I just wonder why don't turn this into a proper book.
Leading the readers during Britta and Sunmer’s romance would have made a big change in the way they acted around each other, and I'm not talking only about the two of them being ALWAYS horny, but also things like picking someone up and putting her in your lap because she’s telling you her sad life story when you don't know her enough to do that.
I’m brutal because I expect something way better from a big name such as hers, and the moment I start acting like an editor is when I drown the line of a book being decent - and it can only go one way from there.
And many of these “issues” were really just editing things that I thought they’d have fixed in the final version, although they didn’t: him annoyingly repeating wife every two sentences, her just scratching the surface of what happened with her father, they being in their late 20s and her best friends since middle school both already having kids because the author couldn't come up with a better idea, and why - WHY - is this story beginning during a year we haven't even start when she could have set it from New Year’s Eve 2022 and ending it now?!
My only resolution for next year is to find another good TB’s book, hoping I won’t have to look too hard for it.
↠ 2 stars
Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
January 4, 2026
This was a solid novella. The MMC was 🤤 and the FMC had her issues but she was tolerable.
I'm not sure what everyone looks for in a novella, but this was a quick, easy read, and I was entertained the whole time.
I'm not sure what everyone looks for in a novella, but this was a quick, easy read, and I was entertained the whole time.
November 6, 2023
DNF at page 30 😭
The vibe was just so off. She knew he liked her, agreed to marry him for 50k and then ignored him.
Also - I’m not a hockey girl (🙋♀️🇬🇧), but isn’t the sport a big deal in Canada? Would an NHL player really want a green card marriage to avoid being deported there from the US? Couldn’t he just… play in Canada? Also, wouldn’t the team have it covered for him?
The vibe was just so off. She knew he liked her, agreed to marry him for 50k and then ignored him.
Also - I’m not a hockey girl (🙋♀️🇬🇧), but isn’t the sport a big deal in Canada? Would an NHL player really want a green card marriage to avoid being deported there from the US? Couldn’t he just… play in Canada? Also, wouldn’t the team have it covered for him?
December 2, 2023
Imagine slicing a chapter purely about broccoli cheddar soup in between two extremely cringe sex scenes.
If that's what you're into, then wow do I have the book for you.
I can't even coherently collect my thoughts so I think a list will suffice.
- The gasp Canadians collectively gusped when Miss Tessa said poor Sumner couldn't possible have an NHL career in Canada. Like, girl? This isn't even research at this point. It's common sense.
- the cute thing of having a wall full of the same picture of your significant other? It's not cute, it's like serial killer behaviour. Stop.
- I'm no expert on marriage other than the fact that I am married, but don't you think you need a marriage license before getting married legally? Instead of some drunk dude officiating you in a bar??? The night before the poor hockey player is getting deported? Also totally not fishy at all. The government would totally not think it was a marriage of convenience for a green card.
- getting your green card in less than a year is pure fantasy and kind of insulting to people who actually have to go through that process.
- our MMC is grossly possessive, can not go three days without touching himself (the horror!), and honestly is just really creepy !
Anyone who says oh it's fiction don't be so critical...no. This is a story with so many stupid oversights that it completely takes you out of the story. What should have been a fun romance turned into something incredibly difficult to get through. Please. Google is your friend!
Sidenote: "jiggle that pucker" will live rent free on my head forever. Iykyk.
If that's what you're into, then wow do I have the book for you.
I can't even coherently collect my thoughts so I think a list will suffice.
- The gasp Canadians collectively gusped when Miss Tessa said poor Sumner couldn't possible have an NHL career in Canada. Like, girl? This isn't even research at this point. It's common sense.
- the cute thing of having a wall full of the same picture of your significant other? It's not cute, it's like serial killer behaviour. Stop.
- I'm no expert on marriage other than the fact that I am married, but don't you think you need a marriage license before getting married legally? Instead of some drunk dude officiating you in a bar??? The night before the poor hockey player is getting deported? Also totally not fishy at all. The government would totally not think it was a marriage of convenience for a green card.
- getting your green card in less than a year is pure fantasy and kind of insulting to people who actually have to go through that process.
- our MMC is grossly possessive, can not go three days without touching himself (the horror!), and honestly is just really creepy !
Anyone who says oh it's fiction don't be so critical...no. This is a story with so many stupid oversights that it completely takes you out of the story. What should have been a fun romance turned into something incredibly difficult to get through. Please. Google is your friend!
Sidenote: "jiggle that pucker" will live rent free on my head forever. Iykyk.
February 3, 2025
✩ 2 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Marriage of Convenience
➼ Hockey Romance
➼ Daddy Issues
➼ He Falls First
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Novella
➼ Dual POV
Tessa Bailey writes every horny thought she has out on the page, and no shame, but I personally am not here for it. The first books I ever read by her were the Bellinger Sisters duet and they are still my favorite books by her. They had the perfect amount of spice, well developed heroines with their own unique personalities, AND sexy heroes with cool jobs. THIS is the formula she needs to get back to. I don’t want to know some of these things her characters are thinking. I almost always develop the ick and yet… I keep reading her books so I really have no one to blame but myself. Actually no… I’m blaming you guys. 🤣 Stop making these popular! I’m a slave to FOMO! 😂😂😂.
*Obviously kidding, I have free will, just no self control. 🤪😘
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Already regretting reading another Tessa Bailey and I’m still on page 1... Why am I like this? 😆
What to Expect:
➼ Marriage of Convenience
➼ Hockey Romance
➼ Daddy Issues
➼ He Falls First
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Novella
➼ Dual POV
Tessa Bailey writes every horny thought she has out on the page, and no shame, but I personally am not here for it. The first books I ever read by her were the Bellinger Sisters duet and they are still my favorite books by her. They had the perfect amount of spice, well developed heroines with their own unique personalities, AND sexy heroes with cool jobs. THIS is the formula she needs to get back to. I don’t want to know some of these things her characters are thinking. I almost always develop the ick and yet… I keep reading her books so I really have no one to blame but myself. Actually no… I’m blaming you guys. 🤣 Stop making these popular! I’m a slave to FOMO! 😂😂😂.
*Obviously kidding, I have free will, just no self control. 🤪😘
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Already regretting reading another Tessa Bailey and I’m still on page 1... Why am I like this? 😆
December 27, 2023
okay THAT WAS CUTE!!!
November 7, 2023
Someone said this has Jessa Kane vibes and they were right (but slightly less unhinged). I want more men jerking off to their wedding fantasies, please.
Classic Tessa.
Classic Tessa.
December 1, 2023
dnf at 31 pages lol this is ridiculous stop writing subjects you aren’t going to do research on
November 4, 2023
3.00!
With each book Tessa bailey gets more horny.
Tbh Ik this was a novella so I didn't really expect anything for this because Tessa can barley focus on the plot in her full length novel I was a bit surprised the snut scenes happened later like the last 3 chapters are pure smut except for the epilogue.
It started off good, interesting. We had our MMC sumner (called his summer for atleast half a book😭) who was getting deported and our FMC Britta who marries him to help him not get deported. They both know each other and Sumner has a big crush on Britta.
So it was going good and then one year passes and it was so clear that they were into each other but they don't do anything because of Brittas trauma of her father cheating on her mother. I honestly found that really dumb and the development wasn't that good.
Oh the hockey part? That was just 5% in this book.
The romance between them felt insta lovey. It happened too fast even for a novella it just wasn't making sense.
The spice on the other hand was spicy and it was what I read this book for. It delivered on that but sumners dirty thoughts bugged me because they were every two seconds there in his pov.
The writing style made it enjoyable I liked how it was paced but this book was not well executed they was clearly some editing required. Maybe another 40 pages might've helped the characters develop more.
Read it if you want a good smutty read!
~~~
Move bitch 🏃🏃🏃
.
A hockey romance with marriage of convenience novella. I'm so glad I'm a prime member.
The smut better smut like it always does!! 😤.
With each book Tessa bailey gets more horny.
Tbh Ik this was a novella so I didn't really expect anything for this because Tessa can barley focus on the plot in her full length novel I was a bit surprised the snut scenes happened later like the last 3 chapters are pure smut except for the epilogue.
It started off good, interesting. We had our MMC sumner (called his summer for atleast half a book😭) who was getting deported and our FMC Britta who marries him to help him not get deported. They both know each other and Sumner has a big crush on Britta.
So it was going good and then one year passes and it was so clear that they were into each other but they don't do anything because of Brittas trauma of her father cheating on her mother. I honestly found that really dumb and the development wasn't that good.
Oh the hockey part? That was just 5% in this book.
The romance between them felt insta lovey. It happened too fast even for a novella it just wasn't making sense.
The spice on the other hand was spicy and it was what I read this book for. It delivered on that but sumners dirty thoughts bugged me because they were every two seconds there in his pov.
The writing style made it enjoyable I liked how it was paced but this book was not well executed they was clearly some editing required. Maybe another 40 pages might've helped the characters develop more.
Read it if you want a good smutty read!
~~~
Move bitch 🏃🏃🏃
.
A hockey romance with marriage of convenience novella. I'm so glad I'm a prime member.
The smut better smut like it always does!! 😤.
November 12, 2023
3.5 stars
A short, sweet and steamy marriage of convince novella. I loved the hero of this one, even though he was a bit over the top at times. I read it in one sitting, it was a good time.
A short, sweet and steamy marriage of convince novella. I loved the hero of this one, even though he was a bit over the top at times. I read it in one sitting, it was a good time.
November 3, 2023
I know this is a novella & it’s supposed to be short & rushed but that doesn’t mean the writing has to be shit too. Every word out of Sumner’s mouth was an ick. The desperation was too much. The descriptive words & analogies during the steamy scenes were just terrible. She uses the most unflattering words it’s jarring. Who wants to be compared to a washing machine on spin cycle while having sex ??? Like oh my god why Tessa.
December 10, 2023
Ufffff. The obsession Sumner feels though 😮💨
I’m aware; I know, and I admit I had to suspend my belief a few times 🤣. But you know what? Celibate heroes are my KRYPTONITE 😭 so I’m gonna mark this as a win for me 🤣.
Sumner’s (27) Canadian and is going to get deported back unless he finds a way to stay in the states and potentially play for the NHL (I know. I was side eyeing this one too 🤣). Enter his obsession, Britta 👀.
Britta’s (26) half-brother plays with Sumner and needs her to do the team a solid- marry Sumner until he can get a green card/get scouted. Britta doesn’t believe in marriage; her father was a cheater and basically had a whole other family (hence the half-brother) so she doesn’t trust easily.
But she’s never met someone as FAITHFUL and OBSESSED as Sumner 👀
And he’s gonna gets her to trust him…
AFTER they get married 😉
What I liked/loved: possible spoilers
—JK? Is this you? 👀😅😭 (see last bullet down below). I swear, this gave me JK vibes 😭 even with the 🔥 talk and the smacking of lots of things. And the ❤️ declaration? Come on 👀
—how OBSESSED Sumner is with Britta 🥰. This man is one of the most obsessed heroes I’ve ever read 👀. Women LITERALLY DO NOT EXIST for him… only Britta 🥰 like 😭🥹🫶 SWOOOOOON!
—he shares his location with her 😭. Gahhhh 🥹 tell me you’re a faithful man without telling me you’re a faithful man 😭👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
—he 👏🏻 falls 👏🏻 first 👏🏻
—diiiiiirty diiiiiirty mouth 🥵
—the 🔥. This man’s only crime is that he’s about to bust too early just being in the same room as Britta 🤣 but daaaaayum, he makes it up with enthusiasm and intensity 😅😮💨
—she comes first 👀. LITERALLY 🥵💦 each and every time 🔥. I love me a selfless man 💅 (he’s especially into her b00bs too 👀)
—how big he is to her small-ness 👀. I always love a good throw over the shoulder scene 😮💨
—9 in 😉
—how JP he is 👀. Bahahahaha men sure feel threatened by him 🤣
—how jealous she gets 😅. But I love that he gets upset she even thinks about being jealous. Because she has no reason to be 🫶
—meeting his family 🥰
—the epilogue 🥹🫶
What I wanted more of/was baffled by: spoilers
—length (of the book)
—he got a meeting within months with immigration? 😅 I was just talking about this with a student about how her mom’s been waiting for years 😬, so… I had to suspend my belief here
—the NHL/Canada aspect 😅
—the immigration officer sees them grinding outside the office and he’s like “You can relax… I know the real deal when I see it.” 🤣🤣🤣 bahahaha come on 💀. I couldn’t help but giggle and roll my eyes at this
—the time jumps 😅. I get it. It’s a novella. But man, I wish we had seen less of this and more of them on page during all the time jumps
—he… um… self-soothes to a wedding 🤣😅 his wedding to Britta… this gave me JK vibes!!!! Okay, so maybe I don’t hate this anymore 🤣 I’m gonna add this to my likes now 🤣
Overall, I loved this 🥰
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd/omd
-the h’s dad was a cheater but it’s not detailed, just mentioned a few times
-some inaccuracies in terms of Canadians, immigration, green cards and hockey 🤣
-dirty talk/anal play/hand necklace/spit play/boob slapping/biting
-no condoms/he’s been celibate since he saw her and is clean/she’s on the pill/no info on her past
-HEA/epilogue/months later
I’m aware; I know, and I admit I had to suspend my belief a few times 🤣. But you know what? Celibate heroes are my KRYPTONITE 😭 so I’m gonna mark this as a win for me 🤣.
Sumner’s (27) Canadian and is going to get deported back unless he finds a way to stay in the states and potentially play for the NHL (I know. I was side eyeing this one too 🤣). Enter his obsession, Britta 👀.
Britta’s (26) half-brother plays with Sumner and needs her to do the team a solid- marry Sumner until he can get a green card/get scouted. Britta doesn’t believe in marriage; her father was a cheater and basically had a whole other family (hence the half-brother) so she doesn’t trust easily.
But she’s never met someone as FAITHFUL and OBSESSED as Sumner 👀
And he’s gonna gets her to trust him…
AFTER they get married 😉
What I liked/loved: possible spoilers
—JK? Is this you? 👀😅😭 (see last bullet down below). I swear, this gave me JK vibes 😭 even with the 🔥 talk and the smacking of lots of things. And the ❤️ declaration? Come on 👀
—how OBSESSED Sumner is with Britta 🥰. This man is one of the most obsessed heroes I’ve ever read 👀. Women LITERALLY DO NOT EXIST for him… only Britta 🥰 like 😭🥹🫶 SWOOOOOON!
—he shares his location with her 😭. Gahhhh 🥹 tell me you’re a faithful man without telling me you’re a faithful man 😭👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
—he 👏🏻 falls 👏🏻 first 👏🏻
—diiiiiirty diiiiiirty mouth 🥵
—the 🔥. This man’s only crime is that he’s about to bust too early just being in the same room as Britta 🤣 but daaaaayum, he makes it up with enthusiasm and intensity 😅😮💨
—she comes first 👀. LITERALLY 🥵💦 each and every time 🔥. I love me a selfless man 💅 (he’s especially into her b00bs too 👀)
—how big he is to her small-ness 👀. I always love a good throw over the shoulder scene 😮💨
—9 in 😉
—how JP he is 👀. Bahahahaha men sure feel threatened by him 🤣
—how jealous she gets 😅. But I love that he gets upset she even thinks about being jealous. Because she has no reason to be 🫶
—meeting his family 🥰
—the epilogue 🥹🫶
What I wanted more of/was baffled by: spoilers
—length (of the book)
—he got a meeting within months with immigration? 😅 I was just talking about this with a student about how her mom’s been waiting for years 😬, so… I had to suspend my belief here
—the NHL/Canada aspect 😅
—the immigration officer sees them grinding outside the office and he’s like “You can relax… I know the real deal when I see it.” 🤣🤣🤣 bahahaha come on 💀. I couldn’t help but giggle and roll my eyes at this
—the time jumps 😅. I get it. It’s a novella. But man, I wish we had seen less of this and more of them on page during all the time jumps
—he… um… self-soothes to a wedding 🤣😅 his wedding to Britta… this gave me JK vibes!!!! Okay, so maybe I don’t hate this anymore 🤣 I’m gonna add this to my likes now 🤣
Overall, I loved this 🥰
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd/omd
-the h’s dad was a cheater but it’s not detailed, just mentioned a few times
-some inaccuracies in terms of Canadians, immigration, green cards and hockey 🤣
-dirty talk/anal play/hand necklace/spit play/boob slapping/biting
-no condoms/he’s been celibate since he saw her and is clean/she’s on the pill/no info on her past
-HEA/epilogue/months later
July 29, 2024
Y’all this was so bad. ‘Sweetheart’ was cute the first two times but after it being said like 100+ times i was gonna throw something. I also think that trying to include a sex scene, let alone a DETAILED sex scene, let alone 3 OF THEM, into a short story is lowkey ridiculous. Also the language was just so cringy and gross, and I’m a huge Tessa Bailey fan so I’m a little taken aback. But maybe it’s just b/c it was a short story so everything was so rushed. There were also like inconsistencies constantly? Idk but it was not good.
November 2, 2023
This was pretty cheesy.
The male main character, Sumner, is way too good to be true. He gets turned on by the thought of marriage and even pleasures himself to the thought of her in a wedding dress? I don’t know any man in the real world that would do such a thing. It is explained by saying that he came from a perfect and healthy family and has always wanted to start his own.
Britta annoyed me so much at first and was also a little unbelievable. She was annoying with pushing him away when he was obviously perfect for her, but I guess without that we wouldn’t even have a story.
A fake marriage pushes them together. I honestly thought it could have been funnier due to the fake marriage.
The talk during the spicy scenes was a big NOPE for me. The spicy parts weren’t bad, if it weren’t for the dialogue. It was laughable.
Overall, wasn’t horrible, wasn’t the best. This was marketed as a short story, but honestly it was longer than most short stories I have read. I actually wish more books were this length.
Read for free from Amazon First Reads.
The male main character, Sumner, is way too good to be true. He gets turned on by the thought of marriage and even pleasures himself to the thought of her in a wedding dress? I don’t know any man in the real world that would do such a thing. It is explained by saying that he came from a perfect and healthy family and has always wanted to start his own.
Britta annoyed me so much at first and was also a little unbelievable. She was annoying with pushing him away when he was obviously perfect for her, but I guess without that we wouldn’t even have a story.
A fake marriage pushes them together. I honestly thought it could have been funnier due to the fake marriage.
The talk during the spicy scenes was a big NOPE for me. The spicy parts weren’t bad, if it weren’t for the dialogue. It was laughable.
Overall, wasn’t horrible, wasn’t the best. This was marketed as a short story, but honestly it was longer than most short stories I have read. I actually wish more books were this length.
Read for free from Amazon First Reads.
November 2, 2023
I don’t particularly enjoy Tessa Bailey’ brand of cringe
November 2, 2024
DNF @ 66% 🙃
Tessa. I’m disappointed.
Tessa. I’m disappointed.
November 2, 2023
I didn’t realize I’ll be reading my TOP novella of the year today 💕💕 wow wow wow I loved everything about this storyline!!! AND THE SPICE 🌶️ I guess I’m into hockey now….byeeee
BOY OBSESSED!! I just loved how Sumner was obsessed with Britta from the very start. Like obsessed with understanding her!! MMC was raised in a female-centric household and his emotional intelligence is 🔝 tier
”Can you please try and piece together what you’re feeling and communicate it to me?”
I think Sumner’s emotional intelligence is really highlighted in how he interacts with Britta. Due to a traumatic divorce between her parents Britta has a hard time trusting romantic partners. The mmc reassures her of his commitment and basically crawls for her.
”I’ll make you feel secure until you realize it’s only ever going to be you.”
BUT what I didn’t expect is for this hockey god to have the filthiest mouth in bed 🥵 Maybe it’s the fact that he is so emotionally devoted to her the dirty talk feels more authentic.
”Come on. Let me slide my hands into those panties and play with something tight”
”A husband has to earn his wife’s come, huh? Do I earn it?”
Seriously how quality smut! Tessa Bailey in her Alexa Riley/Jessa Kane dirty-talk era!
marriage of convenience
boy obsessed 🧎🏽♂️
golden retriever mmc
found family
🏒 hockey romance
BOY OBSESSED!! I just loved how Sumner was obsessed with Britta from the very start. Like obsessed with understanding her!! MMC was raised in a female-centric household and his emotional intelligence is 🔝 tier
”Can you please try and piece together what you’re feeling and communicate it to me?”
I think Sumner’s emotional intelligence is really highlighted in how he interacts with Britta. Due to a traumatic divorce between her parents Britta has a hard time trusting romantic partners. The mmc reassures her of his commitment and basically crawls for her.
”I’ll make you feel secure until you realize it’s only ever going to be you.”
BUT what I didn’t expect is for this hockey god to have the filthiest mouth in bed 🥵 Maybe it’s the fact that he is so emotionally devoted to her the dirty talk feels more authentic.
”Come on. Let me slide my hands into those panties and play with something tight”
”A husband has to earn his wife’s come, huh? Do I earn it?”
Seriously how quality smut! Tessa Bailey in her Alexa Riley/Jessa Kane dirty-talk era!
marriage of convenience
boy obsessed 🧎🏽♂️
golden retriever mmc
found family
🏒 hockey romance
November 16, 2023
4.5 stars. I loved this SO much. I’m frankly shocked by the negative reviews… I guess some people simply don’t like when their heroes are actually decent and not tremendous womanizing assholes??? Not enough excitement or something?
Just over here judging everyone who rated this poorly. 💅🏻💅🏻
Safe
Hero celibate after first seeing the heroine, wasn’t a manwhore before that
Heroine’s past not mentioned much, if at all, but she’s not a virgin
No OM/OW drama, just some jealousy on both sides
No scenes with OM/OW
No cheating.
Just over here judging everyone who rated this poorly. 💅🏻💅🏻
Safe
Hero celibate after first seeing the heroine, wasn’t a manwhore before that
Heroine’s past not mentioned much, if at all, but she’s not a virgin
No OM/OW drama, just some jealousy on both sides
No scenes with OM/OW
No cheating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2024
New Love.
Will Brittany marry Sumner so he can get a green card to be able to continue playing hockey? It’s a cute story that is predictable but that’s ok. Very sweet. Very steamy parts too. Whew!
Will Brittany marry Sumner so he can get a green card to be able to continue playing hockey? It’s a cute story that is predictable but that’s ok. Very sweet. Very steamy parts too. Whew!
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