Thank you Helena Greer, Forever, and NetGalley for this eARC. I read this as part of the HoliGays22 group.

There was so much to like about this book. After years away in effort of self-preservation, Miriam Blum returns to Carriagan's Christmasland tree farm upon her great-aunt's death to sit shiva. Once there she has to deal with the fall out from losing contact with not only her great-aunt, but also her cousin and other people she practically grew up around as a child. Noelle is a more recent addition to the Carrigan's family, running the actual tree-growing operation of the Christmas tree farm. While she's initially drawn to Miri, she has a hard time accepting any reason for her absence of the past decade. Can they save Carrigans after years of declining returns? Is their mutual attraction enough to get past self-doubts and trust issues?

I love everything this book is trying to do. A Jewish family running Carriagan's CHRISTMASland? Yes. Potentially misguided efforts at self-preservation while dealing with abuse? Compelling. Taking one of Hallmark's favorite Christmas movie plots but make it sapphic? Here for it.
That said, the book did fall a little flat- but only because I wanted *MORE*. I wanted to read more about Noelle and Miri working together on their grand plans. The relationship building was more of a montage, and I think that left me a little let down. That said, if you're a fan of holiday romances, this definitely should be on your list!

This book is the biggest warmest holiday hug. It has a little bit of everything from love, abusive relationships, loss, lgbtq, fat MC, Jewish MC and more! Not only did this book make me cry but it gave me goosebumps, Helena Greers writing is amazing.

I loved all the characters and all the growth that each one of them had to go through. I was happy that this book had a HEA, but I could maybeee sense a second book in this series!? Fingers majorly crossed.

This made me very excited for the holidays!

Thank you to foreverpub and netgalley for this earc in exchange for an honest review.

Do you like the idea of those Christmas movies where someone returns to a small town and finds the Spirit of Christmas, but you wish they were gayer and Jewish? Helena Greer’s Season of Love is for you. Season of Love is also for you if you ever wanted to read about a Jewish family trying to save the family Christmas tree farm while grappling with grief and trauma, but in a way that leaves you feeling like someone just handed you the best cup of hot cocoa.

Miriam Blum has built a carefully successful and regulated life. She is about to take her business to the next level with a physical studio and shop in Charleston, and she’s engaged to a woman who will be a great life partner. And then she gets a phone call that her Great-aunt Cass has died. For the first time in a decade, Miriam has to go back to Cass’s Christmas Tree farm, Carrigan’s.

The story telling switches between Miriam and Noelle. Noelle joined Carriagan’s during the decade Miriam was absent. Cass took Noelle under her wing and gave her a sanctuary and Noelle is mad at Miriam on Cass’s behalf. Cass’s will torpedos everyone’s plans to move forward by leaving the farm to four people – Miriam, her cousin Hannah, Noelle, and Hannah’s ex, Levi. In addition, she’s left the farm in a precarious financial situation. Shenanigans ensue.

I just erased three paragraphs recounting the plot and a whole paragraph about Miriam’s best friend Cole. The plot is great, but I want you to read the book and enjoy it as written by Helena Greer, not as recounted by me. I fell in love with Cole before he finished his first line of dialogue and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with him too.

Helena Greer impressed me over and over again with Season of Love. She deftly weaves together grief and trauma with hope and love into a richly textured whole. We never meet Cass alive, but she is the light source that illuminates Carrigan’s and the nearby town of Advent. The legacy of love and generosity she leaves behind has left a foundation that allows the people she left behind to heal and build a stronger future.

There’s so much goodness in Season of Love. Greer has given her world the range to move from life altering grief, to sparkling banter while never straining credulity. The messy feelings that come with grief, trauma, and falling in love never overwhelm the plot. Miriam and Noelle have both kept the messiness of strong feelings out of their lives, and it is only the grief of losing Cass that cracks them open enough to let love come in. This is not a spicy book, because it is fade to black, but it is steamy with yearning.

I cannot wait to see how Greer brings Noelle and Levi together in the next book.

I am friendly with the author of this book, but have done my best to ensure the review is based solely on the book itself.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Forever and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advanced reader’s copy of this book!

Season of Love has to be one of the BEST sapphic romances I’ve read so far. The story follows Miriam Blum, an artist, after she (very reluctantly) returns home following the death of her beloved great-aunt Cass. There, she meets Noelle Northwood, one of the managers of her aunt’s Jewish-run Christmas tree farm who she’s immediately intrigued by- that is, until she realizes that Miriam is the same girl she already formed a (poor) opinion of. They get to know each other (albeit forcefully) when Miriam learns she has inherited the farm alongside Noelle and her estranged cousin, Hannah. Miriam and Noelle go through journeys of their own on this Christmas tree farm that helped them both learn more about love and found family.

This story was so unbelievably heartwarming and beautiful to read and the writing was absolutely gorgeous. There are some heavy topics explored, such as recovering from alcoholism, heartbreak, abusive/narcissistic family members, etc. but the author handles them extremely well. Miriam and Noelle are both such dynamic characters that learn more about themselves and come together to create their own family. I absolutely loved all of the relationships showcased in this story aside from Noelle and Miriam - found family is really one of the most special and unbelievably beautiful things in this world!!

Totally recommend this book for a heartwarming holiday read!! If you’ve ever wanted a sapphic jewish holiday romance this is so for you!!! <3

DNF at about 50% of the way through. I did not enjoy how dense this story was. It also felt clunky. I had to force myself to pick it up so I decided to just put it down for good. I'm bummed because the premise sounded so great. It just wasn't for me.

This is not your typical holiday romance book. At the beginning of the story we meet Miriam, an artist who is uncomfortable in her own skin and in her life. Miriam gets a call from her estranged mother that her beloved aunt has died and she decides that she needs to return to her aunt’s Christmas tree farm to say goodbye. When she gets there she is met with mixed greetings as some are overjoyed to see her after her 10 year absence, and some are bitter she stayed away so long without an explanation. As the story unfolds there is a lot of past secrets and trauma that are discovered (there is a content warning at the beginning of the book for those looking to avoid triggers). The setting of the beautiful upstate NY Christmas tree farm owned by a Jewish family, was beautiful and a neat twist. The cast of characters, were all deeply flawed and people that I’d love to meet and hangout with. Despite all the trauma in the book, it still manages to be a hopeful story perfect for curling up with during the holiday season. I’m really hoping this is a series and that Hannah will be getting her own book soon. I received an ARC from netgalley, and this is my honest review.

This book was everything I expected it to be and more. I loved the characters and the personal and relationship development. It was beautifully written.

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