🎄 Book Review: Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey (Kindle Edition, Under the Mistletoe Collection #2)
A steamy, small-town holiday romance with heart, heat, and a gentle giant—Tessa Bailey’s novella delivers festive charm and emotional depth, though its short format leaves some threads lightly stitched.
🧠 Overview
Published in November 2024 as part of Amazon Original Stories’ Under the Mistletoe Collection, Merry Ever After is a 58-page romantic novella by Tessa Bailey, known for her spicy blue-collar heroes and emotionally vulnerable heroines. The story follows Evie Crowe, a single mother starting over in a small Texas town, working at a thrift shop while dreaming of becoming a fashion designer through upcycling clothes.
Enter Luke Ward, a quiet, hulking farmer who keeps showing up at Evie’s shop in search of jeans that fit—and maybe something more. Their chemistry is instant, but Evie’s past heartbreaks make her wary. She proposes a “friends-with-holiday-benefits” arrangement, while Luke hopes for something deeper.
💘 Key Highlights
- 🧵 Unique premise: Fashion design meets farm life, with Evie’s upcycled creations and Luke’s practical needs creating clever romantic tension
- 🧸 Gentle giant trope: Luke is soft-spoken, emotionally grounded, and deeply devoted—a refreshing contrast to typical alpha leads
- 🔥 Signature steam: Bailey’s trademark spicy scenes are present, with intense chemistry and emotional vulnerability
- 🎄 Holiday backdrop: Christmas adds warmth and urgency to their budding relationship
“Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul.” — Goodreads summary
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 2.79/5 from over 93,000 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise the character chemistry, small-town charm, and emotional undertones
- 🧾 Some felt the novella’s short length made the relationship development feel rushed or underexplored
- 💬 “Bailey’s writing is always hot and heartfelt, but I wanted more time with these characters. The ending felt too quick.” — Bookish Elf review
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Novella format: At under 60 pages, it’s a fast read—ideal for fans of bite-sized romance
- 📚 Part of a collection: Works as a standalone, but pairs well with other Under the Mistletoe titles by Ali Hazelwood, Olivia Dade, and Alexis Daria
- 🔞 Explicit content: Includes mature scenes—recommended for adult readers
🏁 Final Verdict
Merry Ever After is a festive, flirty, and emotionally charged novella that showcases Tessa Bailey’s strengths in crafting chemistry and character. While the short format limits deeper development, the story still delivers a satisfying dose of holiday romance with heart and heat. Perfect for readers who love gentle giants, single moms, and Christmas miracles with a spicy twist.
