Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey

5 Stars Jan 02, 2024

My review

5/5 stars

I got this as a freebie on Amazon Prime Reads - a quick novella about a marriage of convenience. I did not expect to absolutely love it!

Britta is an endearing female lead. Sumner was a charming male lead. I enjoyed the fact that they had some level of familiarity at the start of the story, but we got to watch their relationship develop over the course of a year.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much story was packed into just 150 (or so) pages. The story moved at a nice pace, I got emotionally involved with the characters, there was room for a couple of steamy and intimate scenes, and I didn't feel like I'd been short-changed.

A very sweet, very quick read to round off the year.

Book blurb

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…