LGBTQ holiday reads?! YES! Lovely, wise great-aunts who make our hearts ache from their loss? YES! Jewish run Christmas tree farms? ABSOLUTELY YES.
This book has all the good things going for it and was truly such an enjoyable read. I loved Miriam and I loved blending the Jewish tradition with the Christmas tree farm. This book may just be my favorite holiday read of the year. Would easily recommend to anyone looking to have their heart swoon.

Miriam Blum left her family behind 10 years ago after a blow up with her emotionally abusive father, and emotionally unavailable mother. So when her aunt Cass, the woman she thought of as a mother, dies, she is forced to go home and face her family. Miriam thinks this is gonna be a week long trip home, but when the aunt leaves her Christmas tree farm to Miri, her cousin Hannah, their family friend Levi and the Tree taker Noelle, the past is bound to get dragged up and out into the open. Not only that, but Cass left the farm in financial ruin and the three girls have to come together to save the farm before the bank sells it off. Can Noelle, Hannah and Miriam save the farm and clear the air from the last 10 years?

Oh Boy there is a lot to unpack here and I have a lot of feelings.

What I Liked
• the inclusivity of it all. There's a ton of LGBT characters,
• All the Jewish representation and accuracy for a Christmas book. I also enjoyed that most of the jewish characters didn't have these stereotypical Jewish characteristics that a lot of entertainment leads with.
• The found family vs blood family storyline. I am always here for a found family moment.
• I loved that Miriam and Noelle overcame a lot of past trauma to get to a healthier place together and they both kind of called each other out at points.

What I Didn't Like:
• The love story felt disjointed to me, like it's clear this is an enemies to lovers trope and it's very obvious Miriam and Noelle hate each other in the beginning. Then all of a sudden Hannah or Cole or someone goes oh its obvious you guys want each other. Um What?! I did not get that at all. I mean knowing this was a romance it was assumed, but I didn't get that vibe in the writing at all. They both mentioned to themselves they were annoyed that they were attracted to each other, but no where was it ever really shown in the book they were attracted to each other. It happened a couple more times like this as the book progressed too. I wish the romance storyline was a little smoother.

• This was way too long and had a couple too many plot points. It felt way too broad like did we really need to go passed Christmas/New Years? I don't think so. I think the book was just as successful at the 65% mark as it was at the 100% mark. I found myself skimming at some points cause I was just like oh here we go again ANOTHER hill to cross.

• The Dad. He was the worst and I get he was supposed to be the enemy of the story, but I felt half of his story was unnecessary. Did he really have to be this awful drug lord? It felt so unrealistic and soap opera-y. I felt like his awfulness was enough being manipulative, and emotional abusive.

I do have to say, even though I had some mixed opinions on this book, I am actually really excited for book 2 with Levi coming back. I see a second chance romance in the future and I am always a sucker for that! Thanks the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book is out now!

SEASON OF LOVE is a fantastic holiday romance. I loved everything about it! From the three-demential characters to the engaging conflicts, I thought this was the perfect blend of character-driven and plot-driven storytelling. Miriam and Noelle were fantastic narrators, and Greer’s writing really thrived in dual-POV. I highly recommend this one if you are interested in: Jewish rep, Christmas tree farms, cozy small town settings, a touching exploration of grief and family, great characters, a sexy sober fat butch love interest, and a cast of characters you’ll love. Can’t wait for Hannah and Levi’s book!

Miriam was totally ok with how her life was going. She had a fiancee she was in “like” with and was about to open her dream art space when a phone call from her past changed everything. What started as a short trip “home” to mourn a beloved aunt turned into more than she bargained for, and Miriam is forced to choose between staying “safe” or facing her complicated family past head on. Will she go back to Charleston and her prim-and-proper southern belle fiancee or will she see if Noelle, the lumberjane Christmas tree farmer, can help her untangle the mess of her family?
Season of Love by @blumagaincurios was so cute and the perfect read to start off the Christmas season! So easy to read, I devoured in a day and a half! The story is complex with lots of layers which makes it feel more complete than just a sugary sweet rom-com. I’m not sure what you’ll fall in love with more: the characters or the setting! I wish I could book a room at Carrigan’s this holiday season!
** This ARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

If Jean Meltzer and Alison Cochrun paired up on a novel, Season of Love would be the final product. However, it's also a very unique and heartfelt story with lots of quirkiness throughout. I enjoyed the Jewish references while feeling like I was experiencing a Hallmark Christmas romance movie. I liked Miriam and Noelle and enjoyed seeing both their perspectives. There's a lot of enemies-to-lovers "will they, won't they?" going on between them. The supporting characters were a lot of fun too (with the exception of one who doesn't actually show their face), especially Cole. (And even Cass, posthumously.) Carrigan's would be a fun and festive place to visit, that's for sure! I liked the Rent references at one point, which I'm sure inspired the title.

My only issues were that the story felt slow at times and it could have ended a lot sooner than it actually did and still wrapped up nicely. I also wanted to see Miriam's dad receive major karma. The epilogue felt like a weird loose end that wasn't necessary to further the plot.

This is Helena Greer's debut and it was a strong one. I'd be interested in reading whatever she comes up with next. In the meantime, bundle up and get cozy with this sweet, Sapphic rom-com!

Side note: I did not know who to cast in this one, but I hope that if Hollywood ever does make a movie, they cast people who fit both culturally and who are LGBTQ+ (for the roles that require it).

Perfect for the holiday season!

If you're looking for a new holiday read, look no further! This book grabbed my attention from the get-go with the cover and grabbed my attention even more with the blurb and characters! It's a fun book that's perfect for the holidays to give you all the gushy happy feelings!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub for the earc in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book!! I loved how queer and joyful it was. I also loved how Noelle’s fatness was never a plot point and Miriam was attracted to Noelle in part because she was fat and Butch. While I thought it was a little long and could be touch slow at times, loved the way the plot unfolded and developed their love story. Excited to read the next one!!

This was EXACTLY the queer, diverse holiday romance I wanted. I can't wait for my next trip to Carrigan's!

This book let me down, frankly. I found the relationship to be really volatile in a way I didn't find romantic. And the business dealings overshadowed the romance as a plot, and I wasn't really invested in the business plotline. I was also so horrified for the recovering alcoholic character who started drinking at 10 years old, I feel like a plot point that tragic and touched on so lightly doesn't mesh with something that's supposed to be a lighthearted Christmas romp. And there's the nitpicky factor that the author's depiction of the Adirondacks didn't ring true to me as someone who grew up there for reasons that aren't worth listing.

The cover sold me immediately! Plus, there's a cat! :)

Christmas Tree Farm✔️
LGBTQ Romance ✔️
Quirky Characters ✔️
Closed Door Romance ✔️
Dual POVs ✔️
Enemies to Lovers ✔️
Grumpy Sunshine ✔️
Satisfying Conclusion ✔️
Debut Author ✔️

Thanks to Forever and Netgalley!

A heartwarming novel for the holiday season - and, really, the rest of the year as well. The title put me off somewhat, but I'm glad a friend convinced me to pick this up and read it. I love the characters and the interaction among all of them. Thank you for letting me preview this book! I'm looking forward to Helena Greer's next one.

I really enjoyed this book! Loved the queer and Jewish representation. I enjoyed the love story between the main characters and would definitely recommend adding this one to your holiday reading!

The most bingeable book of the season! This romance was so cute, I loved every second of it! I can't wait to read more Helena Greer books in the future. Season of Love was a phenomenal debut and I cannot wait until Greer releases more novels. Definitely a new auto-buy author on my list!

4.5/5

This has the perfect amount of drama, humor, and romance that I could ever want from a book of this genre. The characters are so well fleshed out and even though I'm picky about romance I fully believed in the relationships that were featured. It got quite deep as well, which really added to the intensity of the story, and I absolutely devoured it. I think I could read a hundred more of these books with these characters just getting into different shenanigans and falling in love. Doesn't even have to be Christmas themed.

Thank you, NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a pretty great novel that centers around winter holidays, but it's decidedly not a romantic comedy from beginning to end. It deals with a lot of trauma, and so I appreciated the introductory author's note.

This book was so cute. I loved the Christmas Tree Farm/Inn setting. I really loved the relationship between Miriam and Noelle. I loved hearing about Cass and how much the family loved her. I really liked the elements of the holidays added throughout. Just a fun book that was very easy to read!

we really don't see enough jewish publications, let alone queer jewish publications. and let me say, this one truly hit it out of the park. it was a fun hallmark-esque, shenanigan™️-filled adventure that filled my heart whole.

as a queer jew myself (albeit non-religious), i loved seeing this representation. seeing characters that appreciate and practice these aspects of my culture and ethnicity. we follow miriam and noelle and hannah from pretty much the beginning of the high holidays in mid-october through to new years. we see them observe these holidays. we know that they all take pride in their heritage. and i truly just love that. genuinely, words cannot describe how happy that makes me.

as for the romance, i loved seeing this sapphic take on city girl ends up in small town to save the farm (and in tandem, the whole town). it was so well done, and not as cheesy as you'd think. i mean, we do follow some heavy topics of childhood trauma and abusive/toxic parents. resulting in many important discussions about unpacking and unlearning trauma responses as well as discussions of therapy. it was handled so well.

i think, just overall, this his so many beats that i love in a romance. can someone point me to the nearest noelle, please.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

This is a wonderful holiday romance with surprising cultural nuances. Miriam's lost her aunt, is dealing with a narcissistic family dynamic and needs respite. Enter Noelle and the sweetest farm and town you'd ever want to read about. I hope this finds itself becoming a holiday film icon.

Story

I was really looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. When Miriam heads to "home" after her great-aunt's passing, she finds herself completely changing the course of her life. Cass has left her a portion of Carrigan's Christmas tree farm, along with her cousin, her cousin's ex-fiance, and Noelle, who she brought on to manage the farm at some point. This is honestly a tough story with some abuse elements and a lot of trauma to unpack - it's not a light and airy holiday book, but I still found the romance to be swoonworthy! The story is really addicting and enjoyable, with everyone's issues feeling real and fleshed out.

The back-and-forth was often annoying but not to the point where I wanted to put the book down. I could see the conflicts and their reasoning, so it was valid!

Wintery Setting & Holiday Feels

Excellent Christmas tree farm setting with Jewish main characters, Christmas vibes, and a plot that stretched to New Years. It hit on many  holidays throughout the end of the year and brought a lot of diversity to the usual plain-ol-Christmas-book TBR I have each December.

Overall

I really loved this one. This band of misfits was so real and charming! Like I said, it's not a light holiday story but still had lots of holiday vibes across the board. Now give me a Hannah/Levi companion book RIGHT NOW. And a book about Cole. And Tara! I want it all.

Where to start with Season of Love by Helena Greer? For one, I thought this was going to be a light and fluffy romcom based on the cover, and while it did have a lot of Hallmark Christmas movie qualities, it definitely brings weighty subjects as well. There is a content guidance page at the beginning of the book, and if you are a sensitive reader with triggers, I highly suggest checking that out before starting. The romance between Miriam and Noelle is super sweet and a little messy, just like love is IRL, and the characters and their issues were both very relatable and realistic. I actually just watched a Hallmark movie with Jewish rep while in the middle of Season of Love, and though I am not Jewish myself, I love seeing it in books and movies. And what a better setting than a Christmas tree farm?! This is also a debut novel, and I would never have been able to tell had it not been mentioned in the letter from the author at the end.

The romance and banter between the characters (especially Miriam and Noelle) were fantastic, and I loved the humor that Greer provided as well. PLUS, there is an enormous tortie (tortoiseshell cat for you dog people) that was described in such detail that I wanted to be there so I could hug it. Season of Love is incredible on audio as well, and having Barrie Kreinik & Emily Lawrence narrate was the icing on the cake. They voiced Miriam and Noelle so well that they made them feel like living people that I could reach out and touch if I wanted to, and who doesn't love that. The romance in the book is pretty closed-door, which is actually what I prefer, so I was really happy with how that played out. I loved the storyline and basically all of the characters as well and was incredibly satisfied with how it closed out. Also, the sober old ladies!! They were the best and provided some lovely comic relief as well as sage advice. In other words, if you want to get into the Christmas mood but want some meat to your story as well, Season of Love is for you! Looks like Greer’s next book will be based on 2 of the characters that are in this story, and I already can’t wait to read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.