This is such an adorable and sweet book! The story of healing and love wrapped in one makes this a uniquely wholesome reading experience, a balm as much as it is painful. Miriam and Noelle are really compelling main characters with similar yet contrasting struggles that make them magnetic main characters. The tension between the two of them is palpable and jumps of the page. I also loved Hannah's story so much. All three of them are torn up due to traumas but grow stronger together and in support of each other. The small town vibes, the effusive love, and the hodge podge mashup if Jewish traditions set in a Christmastime backdrop was a uniquely enjoyable experience. Loved it!

Miriam has been estranged from her favorite aunt and her cousin for well over a decade. When her aunt passes away she realizes that she’s been made part owner of the infamous Carrigan’s christmasland farm. While her cousin has mixed feelings about Miriam being back, Noelle the manager of the Christmas tree farm is not happy at all and not just because she’s wildly attracted to Miriam. 👀

The romance bit kicks off with quite the enemies to lovers clash. Noelle is pretty harsh and blunt about what she thinks of Miriam’s staying power, but I liked how bit by bit the frostiness thaws and 🔥 pinning follows 🥰. I loved the references to Jewish ceremonies and festivals and with the characters embracing it all blended really well with the storyline.
Now other than the romance arc, there’s definitely a lot of backstory with the characters and what they’re facing. At times it felt like I had a front row seat to their therapy session. There’s tons of growth and development they experience and you can feel their struggle as they try to overcome their fears.

I totally appreciated that Greer put in a page about what some of the content in the book referred to, because there are a lot of feelings from the trauma that the characters have experienced and maybe unpleasant for some readers to have to read. That said there is nothing overly explicit and it’s all handled sensitively.

This honestly read like a fun holiday hallmark movie plot (fingers crossed it becomes one) from the romance to the climax with all the angsty blow outs and villainous deeds. Ultimately as with all hallmark movies, there is a decadently sweet ending and nice warm glow of everyone coming together and fitting in perfectly. A lovely romance read just in time for the holidays.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Carrigan’s was the Christmas themed haven of Miriam’s childhood. She looked forward to visiting it, and her great Aunt Cass who built and ran the place, every year. With their family being Jewish, a Christmas themed extravaganza might seem an odd choice, but Cass was not just eccentric, but delightfully so.

Sadly, due to parental abuse and trauma, Miriam ran off and for the past decade she’d not been back, having almost no contact with the majority of her family. She made her own new life and, even if it wasn’t perfect, it was comfortable, and most importantly felt safe - with a fiancé, the best best friend, and preparing to open a retail store with the funky upcycled furniture and art that’s made her a cult hit with the Pinterest peeps.

Then everything goes sideways when she gets a call that Cass had passed. After a long illness that no one had told her about. The downside of losing contact with so many for so long. She heads back to Carrigan’s for what she thinks will be a week before she’ll be back to her normal new life. Reconnecting with some of the family, surprise revelations, and some complications in the form of a girl named Noelle who showed up after she’d left and ran Carrigan’s with her Aunt and cousin have her staying longer. And - in true holiday story fashion - has (potentially) pointed her life in a whole new direction and has her questioning if she wants to leave again at all.

This book is incredibly heartwarming and made me smile So Many Times. With a perfect ending and an epilogue that left me wanting more. There are some pretty heavy issues though - narcissist/abusive parent problems, ongoing recovery from alcohol addiction, healing heartbreak, and (of course) the loss of a beloved family member Cass that set all this in motion *but* it was all handled in a real and sympathetic way (imho) and with an overwhelming theme that love, be it platonic, familial or romantic, always wins. And that fail parents can and should be replaced with loving and supportive people, ones that care without a sense of obligation. Found family, once again, for the win.

I’m so upset that Carrigan’s - and all the people there - aren’t real. I want to be in on their particular version of ‘the island of misfit toys’ (I don’t care that a particular character meant that comparison as a dismissive comment, I’ve decided it is both accurate and more importantly delightful. Just to spite him)

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC

Season of Love is one of those rare books that made me laugh AND cry - in public in a coffee shop no less. I received an advance copy from the publisher and genuinely couldn’t put it down. From the cover (A CURVY BUTCH, whew 🥵) to the honest and frank discussions of trauma, sobriety, parental abuse, and more. I saw so much of myself in Miriam. Definitely one of my top five books of the year - and I hope Helena Greer writes a sequel ASAP!

I loved everything about this book from its concept, take a hallmark charismas movie and make it queer and Jewish, to its characters, its humor, and its heart. I read this book in a day and found myself giggling and walking to find my roommate to read her wonderful, sweet, and funny passages. This book has some of the best humor I have read in a book that was marketed as a 'rom-com' in a long time.

The characters in this book, both our MC's Noelle and Miriam, as well as all of their found family and friends are wonderful and well rounded. This book is also a realistic look at the many ways that our childhoods and families of origin can cause us trauma that we live with and carry in to our adulthoods even when we think we are fine. While as a mental health professional I loved the multiple references to getting support from a therapist my one wish for this book was that any of these characters would start help while still on page! Outside the emotions and the trauma I loved the depictions of close adult friendship as well. This story feels so true and relatable to me in all the ways people are deeply connected in their friends, found families and communities.

I don't know how to fit the following things in to this review so here is just a list of things I loved. I love a unapologetically hot fat butch main character. I love how Jewish this book is, its wonderful. I love Hannah (Miriam's cousin and Noelle's BFF) and her relationships with every other character in the book. I love how millennial this book feels (as a millennial) it makes it feel real and honest to me. I love how gay this book is, and I want to be very clear that this is not just in the fact that the characters are gay but in the way they behave in community, its hard to exactly explain but this book is VERY GAY.

I really loved this book and it's truly a sweet and wonderful holiday hug that includes all kind of silly hallmark tropes that feel fun fresh and engaging instead of tired and boring. I can't wait to read it again curled up in front of a fire. (Also I really want a sequel to get Hannah and Blue's story and I don't even like second chance romance very much!)

Thank you to Net Galley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a free E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review of this book.

I really wanted to like this book. I love the representation of sexuality, size, and expression. I also love the little glimpses into Jewish culture, and the big personality of the family matriarch, Cas.

The pace is a little slow, stagnating for quite a while in the second act. There is a lot of build up of history and relationships with little payoff. For main characters, Miriam and Noelle are somewhat flat, lacking development and depth both individually and as a couple. As a result there are no real stakes for their relationship. Cas is the most well developed character and we never really meet her.

All that being said, as a fluffy rom-com, it’s a pleasant read. I’d give this 2.5 stars for acts 1&2, and 4 stars for act 3. Overall I’ve rounded up to 4 stars because this is a debut novel. The author has a lot of potential and I’ll definitely check out future books. Thanks to the publisher for providing an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet, funny, full of heart and the ways our chosen family can get us through our worst traumas.

I loved Miriam and Hannah and would read many books with them as the leads.

I adored this book so much, it had me in the Christmas spirit in the middle of a blazing hot summer. The characters are loveable in the way they fit into, and sometimes, go against typical Christmas rom-com character types. This genre was severely lacking sapphic characters, so I’d recommend this book to anyone who’s ever watched a Hallmark movie and thought, “Cute. But what if it was gay?”

This was such a cute story, though there is an undercurrent of previous trauma and it's impact on the characters. I really appreciated that?! The whole vibe is that of a Hallmark Christmas movie, but the characters' struggles with dealing with triggers and emotions made it feel more real to me.

Miriam and Noelle are hilarious and adorable. It's such a pleasant femme/butch dynamic that they try to resist. It's enemies to lovers, forced proximity, redemption, found family... Everything I want in a book! This got me into such an excited, present-buying sort of mood, and I definitely feel like I'll be rereading it closer to the holiday season.

The side characters are also amazing, and I want a story about Cole yesterday.

I received an advance copy from the author as part of #Holigays22!

If you love fluffy modern holiday romances but always close the book thinking "Would have been better if it was gay" - this is the book for you! Hannah and Miriam are lovably imperfect sapphics who have been burned in the past and struggle with love (haven't we all?), but feel themselves unavoidably drawn to each other despite their best efforts. The story has a well-rounded cast of characters, including a found-family dynamic that feels completely natural, even when deal with strife and interpersonal issues. There's also a Norwegian forest cat!

As a reader, I did find that sometimes transitions within chapters were a little abrupt, or that I would have preferred a conversation be more fully fleshed out to feel like it had been fully addressed. I would also have liked to see more detail around the Jewish holidays - as a non-Jewish person, sometimes the descriptions of the holidays were a bit sparse, and I was left wondering how those holidays are observed or what traditions went with them. That said, none of these felt like they were treated with disrespect.

To those who are averse to reading sex scenes, there is no explicit sex in this book. There are descriptions of kissing and some touching, but nothing overtly sexual.

I would highly recommend this read to anyone ready for snowy forests, trees decorated with glitter, and drinking cocoa spiked with espresso around the fire - even if it's still summer wherever you are.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This title publishes October 11, 2022.

This was a sweet and impressive debut! It is definitely worth picking up this holiday season.

Seasons of Love follows Miriam as she goes back to her hometown to take care of her deceased aunt's Christmas Tree farm. The love interest, Noelle, is the long term devout tree farm employee. Miriam and Noelle have to work together to save the Christmas tree farm. All the characters in this book are Jewish.

Positives:
-Both main characters’ childhood traumas are at the center of the book on page. The book discusses how they are navigating working through their traumas both individually and as a couple. I will remember the trauma discussion the most after reading this.
-Discussion of main character navigating a toxic parent cutoff
-Jewish representation
-Just enough fun holiday events are included but not too many that it feels like a cookie cutter version of a typical holiday romantic comedy
-Main character has a fiancee at the beginning of the book. The self-awareness the main character shows with that relationship felt organic and unique to a typical contemporary romance

Criticisms:
-All the romance scenes are fade to black. I kept waiting for steam but there wasn’t any. These scenes are hinted at but never on page.
-I didn’t feel enthusiastically compelled by the pining in the relationship. I wonder if on page romance would have made the relationship more compelling to root for.
-Several side characters felt extraneous. They weren’t important enough to keep track of all their names yet they kept appearing unexpectedly.

I will definitely pick up another romance from this author.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

I have always watched Hallmark movies during the holiday season but this book have convinced me that I'm officially going to BE READING A LOT OF BOOKS instead.

I had no idea what I was excepting but it wasn't to be swept off my feet and fully engrossed in this story and I was. I loved the Christmas tree farm setting. I loved the classic holiday movie moments and so much of the way the main characters interact with one another.

This book was queer, Jewish and warm in the best ways. The character development is incredible and I am so grateful that I witnessed their growth and the way they explore grief, uncertainty and adversity.

I appreciated the ending and the way I felt while reading about a set of complex issues made accessible and enjoyable.

Season of Love by Helena Greer: 5/5 stars

It’s been a while since I savored a book the way I did this one. I loved this so much and don’t think I can write a coherent review, so here are all the things I loved about this.

- The characters had actual conversations, with a realistic amount of depth and complication. The relationships felt real, with the past and the present acknowledged, and changes in dynamic were often discussed.
- The romance was well-paced. Miriam and Noelle tried to play it safe and didn’t take too long to admit they had feelings for each other, and it wasn’t drawn out.
- The romance wasn’t the only important relationship in the book. It was important, obviously, as this is a romance, but Miriam and Noelle’s relationships with their loved ones and with themselves were given a lot of weight and depth.
- The proud Jewishness. The book included grief traditions, holidays and their traditions, and oof some of the food descriptions made me hungry

I will definitely be buying a physical copy of this and recommending it. Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review

So many great Christmas in July reads and Season of Love was right there with the best of them. This book was so so so fun! and very much like a Hallmark movie. There's great sarcasm and funny moments! Love that there's self-awareness with queer characters. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this Digital ARC

I thought this book was pretty cute! It was a fun read, I enjoyed all the quirky characters, and I thought the plot was great. This book has the makings for a Hallmark Movie and y’all know that’s my jam!

Getting to see Miriam slowly take her old life back was really something. In the beginning you can tell she’s holding something back but once she decides to do what makes her happy, it’s like she’s a whole new person. Watching her reconnect with her cousin, fall in love with Noelle, and rebuild her other relationships while also working to save the farm was so fun.

I loved Miriam and Noelle’s relationship and getting to watch them through that awkward stage and how they grew as a couple. I do wish their relationship was more front and center, though, because I really enjoyed their playfulness and their banter.

There were a few slow spots throughout that made it drag a tiny bit but overall I really enjoyed this one and would recommend if you’re looking for a cute holiday romance!

A artist with a traumatic past returns home to her family after her beloved relative died... only to discover romance and an inheritance she never expected. Miriam Blum is just about to open up her own store, after striving and slowly building up her career as an artist she’s finally going to have her own store. However, just as she is getting ready to open she receives devastating news, her beloved great-aunt Cass has passed away and left Miriam part-owner of Carrigan’s, her (ironically) Jewish-run Christmas tree farm. Miriam’s plan is to just sit shiva, avoid her parents, and then leave Carrigan to the other co-owners.... except things never go as planned. Miriam has been away from her family for 10 years, after finally escaping the abuse of her father and her emotionally distant father. She is now forced to face all her old emotional hurts... as well as the happy memories as well. Along the way she meets Noelle Northwood, the grumpy farm manager who wants nothing more than to get Miriam out. Despite the sparks between Noelle and Miriam, both of them start off on the wrong foot as Noelle believes that Miriam doesn’t deserve all the love from her family as she ran away from them for 10 years and she doesn’t want Miriam invading her space... and yet the more they both get to know each other the more they begin to soften to each other and fall. both Miriam and Noelle have complicated lives and past hurts, but working together to keep the farm going and to create a future for this Christmas Businesses both of them will begin to fall for one another. This was a sweet and super cute fun Christmas rom-com. I had so much fun reading it and think it’s just absolutely adorable.

*Thanks Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A Jewish holiday romance on a Christmas tree farm and an enemies-to-lovers romance? Sign me up! I always enjoy a holiday romance, so I was excited to celebrate the holidays in July with Season of Love. This is a fun, feel-good romance with humor, a great found family, and an enemies-to-lovers romance.

Miriam and Noelle are layered and complex characters, and I enjoyed their growth throughout the story. Neither are without faults, but, as they face their pasts, loss, grief, and more, they learn so much about themselves. Both have a lot of emotional baggage to work through, and I thought the author did a great job of exploring mental health, the benefits of therapy, and the importance of communication.

Noelle and Miriam have a slow-building, closed door love story. They have great chemistry and banter, and they compliment each other really well. I also like that the story explores all different kinds of relationships, including friendships, romantic relationships, family bonds, and more.

This was a fun holiday romance with small-town charm, dynamic characters, a great found family, relevant themes, and a lovely romance. Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

When her Jewish great-aunt Cass dies, Miriam is bequeathed 1/4 of her Christmas tree farm. The only catch? Her favourite cousin, childhood best friend, and the farm's grumpy manager have also been given 1/4 of the farm. Miriam has been estranged from her family for a decade, but she throws herself into trying to save the farm. Too bad the butch lesbian farm manager is more of a distraction that Miriam had bargained for. She didn't plan to return to Carrigan's, and she certainly didn't expect to fall in love, but Miriam's perfect life is thrown into chaos and it's up to her and her found family to make everything right again.

This is the feel-good holiday romcom you need to warm your winter-cold heart. It has all of the best Hallmark-esque qualities, and will leave you feeling warn and cozy inside. I loved the way the book blended both Jewish and Christian traditions and holidays. The characters were so real, and every single one was fully realized. No one faded into the background, and I can't wait for them to all get their own Happily Ever Afters!

Overall, this was a great debut novel and I'm excited to see what happens next with these characters.

This is an absolutely beautiful romance. This story follows Miriam who is a Jewish queer woman running from her past. Miriam inherits a Christmas tree farm from her beloved aunt and reconnects with her old found family. This book touches on so many amazing topics as well as having a beautiful romance.
There is a huge emphasis on healing from past traumas and learning to grow. All of the characters are dealing with their own issues and there is so much wonderful character development that happens. All of the characters are so amazing and found family trope here is fantastically done.
Noelle and Miriam are also an amazing romance. (Fade to black for people asking. Only kissing) They complement each other so well and are so cute. I also love that Noelle is fat, sexy butch who really loves growing trees. They do so much healing both together and separately. Noelle is in AA and Is struggling with the loss of her parents. Miriam is trying to heal from her fathers abuse. They both have their own issues and I love that their romance isn’t shown to fix everything.

This is one of my new favorite romances and I will recommend it to everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an arc of this book! When I read the synopsis it sounded like a Hallmark movie but sapphic but this book is so much more. It’s very cute and had me smiling for a good part of it but it still deals with more difficult topics.
TW: alcoholism, abusive parent, running away from home