Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Grand Central Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars

Things I liked:

I loved the conversations around memory, especially the part about how people can grow up in the same environment and with the same people but have completely different experiences with them. This is only complicated when someone has passed away and is no longer there to have complicated conversations with.
The found family aspect in this is also one of my favorite things in this series.

Things I didn’t like:

Some of the conversations Hannah and Levi had around their relationship got repetitive after a while.

Carrigan's All Year is back, and Hannah and Blue (Levi)'s story occurs between Passover and Pride Week. Their second chance, soulmates-but-torn-apart-by-their-incompatible-views-of-the-future romance had me wondering if they could really pull it off, which made the HEA that much more satisfying! Carrigan's Christmasland is a delightful series from Helena Greer, full of warmth, character growth, and lovely characters I was rooting for from page one. I received an advanced review copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

3.5 stars
I loved the first book and was really looking forward to book 2, however I didn’t enjoy my reading experience as much.
The relationship between Levy and Hannah is so messy and complicated and I struggled with the fact that they couldn’t communicate like adults until the end of the book. They otherwise fought or made up and it got tiresome after a while. Their love story and the plot was interesting but I could have live with less drama and so much self centeredness from these two.

I have tried to read this book several times and it is just way too cheesy for me I can't get past the first few chapters. It is just not my type of book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as always, all words are my own.

Despite numerous character speaking like they were reading from a psych textbook, this whole cast felt like they could use an enormous amount of therapy. Whenever the two MCs talked to each other, I wanted to head-desk.

I found Hannah very contrary. Hannah saw the world with her parents as a kid and came back to her favourite place to make a career and life. Levi was stuck in that place as kid and left to make his career and life. And while Levi is proud of Hannah, Hannah only resents Levi. Hannah says at one point that she thought Levi was too worldly for her, but at the same time was mad that she built up a life she was proud of and that he shouldn't ruin it for her, which he never does, by the way. She had all this pent up something and he resented the childhood he had, full of bullies and emotional abuse that no one took seriously (and when they do, it felt so disingenuous??). I don't know, they felt like an absolute mess, and Hannah especially felt like she just wasn't open to seeing other people's perspectives, as if they'd tarnish her own views and memories. It all felt fairly toxic. And like, it seemed like no one really noticed Levi's suffering?? Which also seems wild to me. I understand the children, but the adults being totally aware of how Levi was being treated just ignoring it and staying felt so wrong.

As a whole, there is a big cast. It took a second to adjust, since I haven't read the first book, but I adjusted eventually. I feel like if you're making companion novels that are marketed to be read as stand alones with cameos, those cameos shouldn't have such a big impact on the reading experience. There are a bunch of characters and some inside jokes that I assume are pulled from book one, but dumping it all on readers, especially new ones, at the very beginning of the book makes the barrier to entry a bit higher.

I loved the Jewish rep in this book. I think that it was so interesting that this Jewish family owned a Christmas tree farm, but still held true a lot of their own beliefs, and I liked that. The presence of Jewish culture, especially noticeable in their food and Levi's foody dreams, was very strong and educational. I loved that aspect of the story.

All in all, this one wasn't for me. I don't think it's because it's a sequel, but because Hannah and Levi don't seem good for each other at all. I feel like they ended up together because that's how they believed their HEA should be rather than what's actually best for them. I need all of them to go to way more therapy though. The therapy speak isn't enough to save them.

Rep: pansexual, demi MMC; FMC with anxiety

TW: grief, anxiety, emotional abuse (flashback), toxic relationship; mentions homophobia, death of a family member

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Pacing: 2/5
Overall: 2/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever via Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

hot amazing showstopping, very obssesed because hello? I love them so much and they deserve the world they should be real. I need them as my friends too

This book made me feel so many things!!! While being a queer person, I always assumed I was ace. I also knew I was pansexual. But meeting Levi, a Demi-pansexual was everything I needed.

Levi and Hannah have been a thing for YEARS. And are technically married. Unfortunately, they’ve been estranged for a while and have to meet up since Levi wants to dissolve his share in Carrigans so he can be done with the place, one and for all. But what happens when he realizes he can’t be without Hannah and they begin a married with benefits relationship that turns into an enticing revisitation of their romance.

I love Helena’s writing so much.

Competently written but incredibly exhausting. Another review I saw said they were tired of the endless meaningful conversations and therapy speak and that is exactly the issue. Too much of all that for two people who should absolutely not end up together in any way because of their pile of unresolved issues. Probably not a good sign for a romance where you do NOT want the main couple to end up together. The "for never" part of the title is very apt.

Thank you to Forever/Grand Central and Netgalley for the eARC! I loved the author's previous novel, and after taking so long to read this, I wanted to love it so much but it just wasn't for me. there wasn't enough at stake, very low angst, and the 2nd chance romance didn't engage me all that much.

I loved this book! The plot, the characters, all of it. The writing great! And it was a fun book.
Would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

Childhood friends to lovers to strangers back to lovers. It'a complicated backstory and at times I was a bit confused. Long story short, Hannah is the co-owner of an inn Carrigan’s All Year and Levi is a celebrity chef, but also the other co-owner thanks to Hannah's grandmother's will. Levi has had some family drama so he left, but now he's come back and wants to woo Hannah, so he'll sign over his half if she goes on five dates with him.

It's a second-chance queer romance set at a destination inn mixed with family drama and a bunch of surprises. There are some nods to Greer's other book Season of Love, and while it's not required to read that I do recommend it.

Unfortunately i made the decision to DNF this book after multiple failed attempts to consume. I hope to pick it up again at a later time.

I requested this book because I greatly enjoyed Helena Greer's previous book and was incredibly excited to find out the sequel followed Hannah and Blue. I am someone who is a huge fan of second chance romances and this book was a super fun addition to the books of this trope that I have read. The character development was great and I loved the queer and Jewish representation.

Okay, I loved the second book in the Christmasland series. It was well worth me being a bonehead and not realizing that this was book 2 when I got my ARC copy last November. Alas here we are.

I loved that we got to see Carrigans Christmasland in the non-holiday season and experience what is going to come from this amazing group of owners. Yet when Blue shows up, I got really nervous. How are we supposed to handle him arriving again after being gone and needing something like adventure to feel fulfilled. Yet Hannah doesn't want to really let him back into her life and that is the biggest struggle of this book.

This one leaned more toward the two main characters than the first book. In book one it felt like we were getting to know everyone and got to see a lot of side characters whereas with this one it felt like we really only got to see the FMC and the MMC. That could be because this is a second chance romance, but I just wanted to see a tiny bit more of the other characters that we had grown to love. I loved the mental health representation in this; however, I wish there was a tiny bit more understanding from one mental health person to another because while one person may not remember how something happened, it easily could be the biggest thing to happen in another person's life and could alter their entire course.

I'm very excited to see what the next instalment of this series is going to bring and really hope that we get our big, tall southerner's story too.

For Never & Always by Helena Greer. Pub Date: November 28, 2023. Rating: 2 stars. I think if I would have realized this was technically a sequel novel, I may be enjoyed this book a little bit more. Alas, this book was just okay for me. I do appreciate the representation of mental health, Jewish and sexuality in the book because I think theses are important things to be aware of and educated on. I did feel there was a lot more drama in this novel than there needed to be, which got a little annoying throughout. I also am not a huge fan of miscommunication/lack of communication in a romance story, which seemed to be present in this novel. If you enjoy second chance romances, then this book could be for you! Thanks to #netgalley and #foreverpublishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for this ARC!

- I have very mixed feelings about this book. If it wasn’t an arc, I probably would have dnf’ed it. I put it down for months and only picked it up once I got the audio. By the end, I liked parts of it more than I thought!
- The pacing is rough. If you haven’t read the first book, you’ll be a little lost with all the characters and development, and the pacing does not help this slower start. The MCs are also incredibly frustrating at the beginning, which compounds this.
- Levi is discussed as being very fashionable, but the outfit descriptions really took me out of this. I can only hear about this 30 year old wearing two scarves and being described as a bad boy chef so many times.
- I struggle with second chance romance, but I was impressed with how the romantic arc was handled by the end-especially the way the characters had to work with the side characters to get to where they needed to be.

First, I’d like to thank the author and Netgalley for providing me a eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So I absolutely loved this book and I think Helena Greer might be my favourite romance author, because like with Season of Love, For Never & Always is a swoon-worthy romance that is chalked full of emotion and depth (and has no spice which I don't hate reading but this book is an excellent example of how spice is not always needed in an adult romance novel). For Never & Always allows us to return to the world of Carrigan’s and get reunited with all of the characters from the first book, through the eyes of Hannah and Levi Blue.

I love how much the characters grow and change throughout the book and also are shown to have grown since they broke up 4 years prior. Levi and Hannah both grew so much as people in a way that made it not only understand why their relationship fell apart the first time, but also how they are more suited to each other now. I also really enjoyed that while the majority of this book took place in the present, flashbacks into Levi and Hannah's childhood offered us glimpses of how they became a couple and broke up before.

The characters were also wonderfully flawed in a way that made them and the story just feel so real. I also think Levi's sexuality (being demisexual and pan) was handled amazingly by the author and the characters in his life. It was honestly amazing to see a queer M/F relationship where it is the male who is explicitly queer. All that is to say, Levi is a disaster ace and I love him.

Anyways, cannot wait to read what Helena Greer writes next.

*For Never & Always* by Helena Greer is a poignant and emotionally charged story that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the bonds that tie us together, even when we think they’ve unraveled for good. This novel delves deep into the hearts of its characters, making it a compelling read for anyone who enjoys a romance with substance and depth.

The story centers on two former best friends who were once inseparable but have since grown apart due to a painful falling out. When they unexpectedly reunite after years of silence, they must confront the unresolved feelings and regrets that have haunted them. What makes this book stand out is the raw honesty with which Greer portrays the messy, often painful process of mending broken relationships.

The characters are complex and deeply relatable, each carrying their own burdens of guilt, sorrow, and longing. Their journey from estrangement to reconciliation is beautifully written, filled with moments of vulnerability that tug at your heartstrings. Greer’s talent lies in her ability to capture the small, quiet moments that speak volumes about love and friendship—the unspoken words, the lingering glances, the hesitant steps toward forgiveness.

*For Never & Always* isn’t just a romance; it’s a story about healing and the courage it takes to face the past and open yourself up to love again. The tension between the characters is palpable, and the slow build-up of their rekindled connection is both satisfying and deeply emotional. Greer doesn’t shy away from exploring the pain of lost time and missed opportunities, but she also offers hope that it’s never too late to find your way back to the people who matter most.

The writing is lyrical and evocative, drawing you into the emotional landscape of the story. Greer’s ability to balance heartbreak with hope makes this novel a standout in the contemporary romance genre. *For Never & Always* is a five-star read for anyone who believes in the power of second chances and the enduring strength of love, even when it’s been tested by time and heartache.

this was a very cute story! I appreciated the representation woven in as well. I read a lot of romance novels so I feel like I have a high bar sometimes. There were some pieces of character development I wanted to see more of, and I wish the pacing was a bit more even. Second chance romances have a special place in my heart though! Recommend reading this at least once :)

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3 | 😘=4.5 | 🤬=4.75 | 18+

summary: second chance secretly-married-this-whole-time romance set on a Jewish-owned Christmas tree farm ft. a hotel manager and a professional chef

thoughts: second chance romances are not easy to write! they’re just not!! there’s such a careful balance between pining over/flashing back to/reminiscing upon the past, and moving the present plot forward; this book didn’t quite work out. too much pining, too many long long breakless paragraphs about how tortured and lovesick and broken and tired and wistful and angry the protagonists are, which is fine in moderation, but too much is simply not acceptable for the romance genre. it gets boring, and it gets old.
however, despite all this, I didn’t hate it? I just think it needed a better (or different) editor in order to suit my highly specific tastes.