Cover Image: Season of Love

Season of Love

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Member Reviews

Season of Love has everything I love about a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie, plus a quirky cast of queer characters that I fell in love with. I wanted to hop into the book and spend a holiday season at Carrigan's. This is definitely going to go into my annual Christmas book re-reading rotation.

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When Miriam’s great-aunt Cass passes away, she inherits a one-fourth of her Jewish’s family’s Christmas tree-farm. Miriam has spent the last few years avoiding her father, so she plans to sit shive, avoid her parents, and get back to her real life as soon as possible. When she finds out that the farm is in risk of going under, she must work with her cousin and Noelle (the farm’s grumpy manager). Noelle Miriam to leave but her ideas might just save Carrigan’s - and they might just fall in love.

I listened to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed this! I liked it more than I thought I would - like if I were describe it in one word: heartwarming.

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This was a really sweet sapphic slow burn with a Jewish MC who inherits a Christmas tree farm.

I did a hybrid read and I absolutely loved both of the narrators.

I’ve never read a book before where one of the characters is already in a fake relationship at the beginning of the book and honestly my mind was so blown and I loved it.

Steam: Kissing only/closed door

Thank you to the publisher for the finished copy of this book.

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✨ Review ✨ Season of Love by Helena Greer

Absolutely loved this book! A Jewish family running a Christmas tree farm - a total delight! I loved Miriam's wacky art, her supportive ex, Noelle's ax-swinging butch flannel, and just all of the adorableness of these friends and family members banding together to figure things out.

This book puts a lot of weight on mental health, healthy boundaries and relationships, and healing trauma from the past. I loved how open the author and characters are about these topics and made it feel really warm and authentic even with the tough topics.

On top of that the whole Christmas tree farm + Jewish family celebrations was truly a delight of a mash up. I jumped right into her sequel after this one and will be following her writing from now on!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.25)
Genre: f/f contemporary romance
Setting: rural NY

Thanks to Forever and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

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Season of Love was an emotional story with Hallmark vibes. I appreciate including the Christmas and Jewish holidays in this book. We need more books like this!

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A very endearing holiday romance containing so many topics you don't see often together in books - LGBTQ+ representation, family trauma, plus-sized character, Jewish culture, Christmas trees, and more! This is the first book of this kind that I read and I liked the way the author developed the characters and the heavy themes about family. I also really enjoyed how much culture plays a role in this book.

This was very different for me and I enjoyed it. Thanks so much to the Forever team and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!

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3.5

I really had so much fun with this story overall. It did take a me a minute to connect with the characters though so that knocked some stars off.

The slow build of their relationship really was delightful though.

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Season of Love by Helena Greer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was heavier than I thought it would be but it was still somehow lighthearted. Miriam experienced family trauma that caused her to leave her hometown. She goes back only after learning of a death in the family and discovering she is now part owner of their Jewish-run Christmas tree farm. The family is religiously Jewish and practices the faith while celebrating the beauty and decorations of the Christmas spirit. While trying to save the farm, Miriam also meets Noelle, the manager who she can’t help but be extremely attracted to. This book is light on the spice and filled with found family, love, and support. I enjoyed the characters, Miriam’s growth, and the beauty of the town coming together to save the farm 🎄. |Brit|

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I absolutely LOVED this book. Season of Love is basically a giant warm hug and I'm so happy to have read it. I really loved watching Miriam and Noelle work through their issues and grow as people both together and separately. The family feelings as well as the romance hit JUST right in all ways. I'm so excited to read more from this author in the future.

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Season of Love is a holiday season romance that checks all the boxes-- it's sweet and wholesome with an undercurrent of serious emotions, both good and bad. It's also loudly queer and lovingly Jewish despite its over-the-top setting. Carrigan's Christmasland is an institution in Advent, New York. Run by the eccentric and magnetic Cass Carrigan, the business is open for only two months of the year, during which Christmas cheer is sprinkled liberally over a steady stream of tourists. But now Cass is dead, and her prodigal niece must return after a ten-year absence to mourn the woman and legend who shaped some of the happier parts of her childhood.

Miriam's life is kept small and controlled, a coping mechanism learned in an abusive household. While her art has a strong online following, she hasn't painted, her truest joy, in ten years. She hasn't visited the place she thinks of as home. She hasn't opened up about her past, and her feelings are under a strict lockdown. Her fiancee is a friend with benefits, and that works perfectly for Miriam. But now Cass is dead, and she can't hide or run anymore. Cass left a quarter of Christmasland to Miriam, and the business is failing. It will take her creative spark and her long-abandoned vulnerability to commit to this monumental task.

One of the other beneficiaries is Noelle, who's been in charge of the farm's Christmas trees for years. She takes an instant dislike to Miriam, the woman who left Christmasland behind despite it being the best place in the world. She broke Cass' heart and that of her cousin, Hannah, Noelle's best friend. It will take a lot for the steadfast but wary Noelle to trust this flight risk interloper-- never mind that Miriam's cute, talented, and loved by the rest of Christmasland.

The book is about the characters' journey to save their home by evolving into something new together. It's about past hurts and accountability in the present. And it's about a love that's worth fighting for even on the bad days-- the days when past traumas rear their ugly heads and bring out the worst in us. It's a closed-door romance, one that's quick to spark and quick to ensnare deeper feelings. Miriam and Noelle experience fragile joys amidst bigger challenges and stand by each other in big ways even when they're at odds in smaller ones.

Beyond the romance, several aspects of the story drew me in. The whole cast of characters is a delight with no shortage of people I would want to see star in their own stories. Not only that, but the relationships are so tangled and real and true. Both Miriam and Noelle have fraught family realities in different ways, and found family serves as their bedrock. Beyond the obvious queerness of a sapphic romance, these other bonds were just as meaningful to me as a representation of our community. We see people with friendships they put first and with unexpected bonds that light up their lives. I was especially amused by Miriam's friendship with Cole, a confusing human in boat shoes who is also a hacker and Southern belle and former arsonist and commitmentphobe and supposedly straight man all in one. But most importantly, he's a devoted best friend who needs his own book *ahem.* Both protagonists reflect on how queerness (Noelle's a butch lesbian and Miriam's bi but not much romantically interested in men) is a light in their lives rather than an obstacle, and I think that's something we all need to hear more often.

Other content warnings to consider: Noelle's an alcoholic, but she's sober, and we don't see her struggle with that in the book. It's a source of strength and community for her. Her parents were also alcoholics, and she was estranged from them before they died. Miriam's abusive father is a factor in the plot, so expect to see some of his controlling behaviors on the page.

This is not only an excellent holiday season romance and queer romance but also an all-around good story about facing your traumas with those you love and building a better life for yourself where you can be open and happy. Thanks to Forever for my copy to read and review!

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I love a holiday read, and this sapphic romance set on a Christmas tree farm is a fun one. I will say, however, that it reminded me of many other holiday reads, with not a lot to set it apart or stick with me for very long. I love the inclusion of overcoming family trauma and creating boundaries. I love the witty and humorous banter between our leading ladies. There are some legit amusing parts that had me laughing. This book is a warm holiday read.

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I cannot believe I waited a year from release to read Season Of Love by Helena Greer. This holiday themed book was so much deeper than what I was expecting. Season Of Love is a sapphic love story about healing and strength and showing up for those you love. The story follows Miriam who has been away from her family for ten years – living in Charleston with her fiance, Tara. Miriam has shut herself off from her emotions. Still, she’s managed to create a pretty good life and is about to open up a store for her upcycled antique creations which are all the rage online. However, these plans are thrown into a tailspin when Miriam’s Aunt Cass has passed away and she’s called to Carrigan’s Christmas farm in the Adirondacks. Oh and did I mention that this Christmas Wonderland is run by Jews? Anyways, she goes to sit Shiva for Cass and meets Noelle, the woman who is in charge of growing the trees at Carrigan’s. It is a rocky start but the attraction is there. Oh and it turns out, Miriam inherits 1/4 of a share in Carrigan’s. And so, together with Noelle and her cousin Hannah, she must figure out how to save Carrigan’s.

Season Of Love is excellent and deep. Miriam has been through trauma and it has impacted how she has relationships and feels her emotions. She has had to make herself feel small and cut herself off from people that she loves and cares for. What we find out happened is gut wrenching. Noelle also has trauma in that she lost her parents and was an alcoholic. Noelle, however, is sober now. I actually really liked that piece of the book and how she was depicted. Noelle also is quick to assume and judge – but it is because she is so protective of her people. To be fair, I loved the town of Advent and the community of small businesses which come together to help out. Also, I want to point out how lovely the romance was between Miriam and Noelle. They really had to work for their happy ending – but it was worth it. I am so excited now to also read the next book from Greer which is Hannah and Levi’s story.

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO BUDDY THE ELF, HOW MUCH HOLIDAY SPIRIT DOES SEASON OF LOVE BY HELENA GREER HAVE?
I love the absurdity of the story — a Christmas themed business run by Jewish people. It really works though. We get the holiday season from Halloween to New Year’s all the way to Tu B’Shevat. I learned a little bit about Judaism too and that piece was such a joy to encounter in this book. The culture was so rich and interesting. I loved seeing how important it is to Miriam’s life and also impactful with regards to her feelings of community. Although very heavy, this book had moments of bursting joy so I loved it, and it put me in a wonderful spirit.

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Loved this queer holiday romance. Noelle and Miriam are a delightful duo and I loved their chemistry. I think this was an excellent read for the holiday Seasons.

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This sapphic romp about a Jewish Christmas tree farm is hands-down a new holiday classic. Carrigan’s is such a lovingly detailed place that I’m half-convinced it’s possible to visit — if it were, I’d move in for the whole month of December. Like twining a string of fairy lights around your heart to keep it warm.

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such a fun Christmas book! will be rereading every holiday season!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher!

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What makes "Season of Love" stand out is its ability to tug at your heartstrings without resorting to clichés. It explores themes of loss, forgiveness, and the resilience of the human spirit with grace and authenticity. The characters in this book are beautifully fleshed out, each with their own struggles and vulnerabilities that make them feel like real people facing real challenges. As you follow their journeys, you'll find yourself drawn into their lives, cheering for their successes and empathizing with their setbacks. Helena Greer's storytelling is a genuine gift to readers who appreciate tales of love, hope, and the enduring strength of the human heart.

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A few years I was so desperate for lesbian Hallmark-esq novels that my friend and I decided to write our own. More lesbian and sapphic writers must have felt the same way because the last few years. While Greer's "Season of Love" fits the Hallmark story arc perfectly is a little heavier than I was expecting. I wasn't particularly in love with this story like I wanted to be, and it took me longer than expected to finish.

I DO want to thank Helena Greer for writing an overweight butch love interest. I NEVER see that, so thank you so much for writing someone like me as someone's love interest.

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"Season of Love" by Helena Greer is a heartwarming and enchanting LGBTQIAP+ romance that captures the spirit of the holiday season and the magic of unexpected love. Greer's storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a tale of connection, acceptance, and the joy of the festive season. The book's relatable characters and charming plot create an immersive reading experience that resonates with fans of romance and Christmas stories. Greer skillfully navigates the complexities of relationships and the emotions of her characters, adding depth to the narrative and making it a must-read for those seeking a heartfelt LGBTQIAP+ romance with a holiday twist. "Season of Love" is a reminder that love has the power to bring warmth and happiness even in the coldest of times, leaving readers with a cozy and contented feeling as they follow the characters on their journey of love and holiday cheer.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

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Cute queer romance for the holidays filled with lots of fun. Great escapist read! Hopefully the author writes more, with different holidays.

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