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.

This was a great second chance romance! It was written extremely well and the author showed great care handling some really delicate topics. It’s clear that a lot of attention and care was given to ensure accurate representation in this book and as a reader, that’s greatly appreciated! Beyond that, the pacing and the setting worked wonderfully for the plot, and the characters were really well developed. I loved the relationship between them and was very satisfied with how this story wrapped up. This was my first book from this author but I’m very interested in reading more from them in the future!

This one took me a while to get into, but once I did, it was an okay read. There is nothing that stands out as amazing or terrible. I did enjoy seeing the demisexual rep, specifically with a MMC since I feel as though most demi rep I see in romance is with FMC’s. However, I did not enjoy the constant back and forth with the main characters. It felt unnecessary to drag it from basically the beginning of the book until the end. Just when I thought they would figure it out, someone had to have doubts or something would come up to bring them apart again.

I will say that this book did make me interested in the side characters, which led me to reading the first book, Season of Love. I enjoyed that one much more and I am very excited to read Hers for the Weekend! Overall, this one was not for me, but I would still recommend it to others, especially if you like second chance romances that are also slow burn.

For Never and Always is a second chance romance about childhood friends to lovers. But it’s not super heavy on the romance and definitely offers more self disco every and reflection than the average romance. However, the self-reflection feels a bit too in your face. Almost every conversation was super deep and lacked the subtlety that would be required for these conversations to feel truly authentic. Plus they were having these deep conversations when they were children and the language didn’t match the age group. Lastly, the solution felt so obvious. It shouldn’t have taken them so long to come up with it and maybe we could have gotten more time with Levi and Hannah as a healthy couple in the end.

I just love this series! I love the monthly breakdown and following the characters through this year. Helena Greer writes them with depth and emotion. There’s a genuineness and effort to be real that doesn’t go unnoticed. I’m looking forward to wrapping up this year with Shenanagins!!

It's rare that a romance can make my jaw drop but that's exactly what happened when Levi, who has been estranged from Hannah, his best friend and ex for four years, said he wants his wife and marriage back. I love a marriage in crisis! Hannah and Levi can be categorized as idiots to lovers because these two can't seem to get out of their own heads and way to be together without destroying each other in the process. Whether it's because of fate or proximity, they were destined to be together through their connection to Carrigan's the Christmas tree farm his parents work at, and her aunt owned. But when you're young, and still trying to find out who you are, what you want, and how to get there with an all-consuming relationship, sometimes time apart to figure that out is what's needed. I felt for Levi being the black cat in a town where he's ostracized and yearning to escape the assumptions put on him, and for Hannah, who grows up with constant location changes and wants to make her life in the one place she found stability and the love of her life.
I also loved the representation! Levi is demisexual, and there is a big cast of supporting queer characters. Plus, both MCs are Jewish and I liked the incorporation of the religious observations and holidays. I definitely recommend reading the first book of the series. I read this as a standalone but did feel a little lost with some character introductions and some unclear transitions, but ymmv.

I really loved all of the representation in this book and how much thought and care went into both of these main characters. At times I felt a little lost because there were a lot of characters to keep track of as well as the different timelines in the book. Would be open to reading another by this author that had less going on.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
This was a great second chance romance.

this book was a little. Infusing for me. I didn’t realize that this was a sequel so some of it was a bit confusing with the characters and flashbacks. At some point sod the book I really struggled to enjoy both main characters and they both needed to get over themselves.

I enjoyed getting to read more about Carrigans and seeing Levi and Hannah’s backstory. I’m content with how the book went and ended. It’s very cute and I’m excited to read the next one and see how Tara is doing. Thank you Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very cute addition to the series.

This can be read as a standalone, but as someone who only vaguely remembered Season of Love, things definitely make more sense if you’ve read the first book.

Second chance romance! Childhood friends to lovers! Grumpy sunshine! Oh my!

I have mixed feelings on this. I was so intrigued by Levi and Hannah because of book one - and the messy relationship that’s foreshadowed there is definitely delivered here. Expect angst, complex feelings, and a lot of introspection.

I won’t lie - this book kinda drags at time. But the writing is excellent and the characters are compelling enough to make you push through.

As I mentioned before, Levi and Hannah have a messy past. They were not good for each other when they were younger and had awful communication skills that inevitably led to their downfall.
But, for better or for worse, they’re still connected to each other.
They have a lot of baggage to overcome, and they somehow manage to do that. Their fight to the end, to be together, to make it work is beautiful :,)

Last thing - I love the growth we get to see between Miriam and Noelle, I’m so excited for the next book! And Cole is still the best character (seriously - when do we get his love story??).

This rom-com was a delightful opposites-attract story with solid grump and sunshine MCs. The chemistry was often surface level, but the witty banter made for some highlights. While the plot was predictable at times, it was over a satisfying read for fans of slow-burn romance.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for netgalley and the publisher for granting my ARC. I loved the first book and I loved the family and setting and everything that it set up. However, I just couldn't get into this one. The characters fell flat and I just wasn't into it. DNF'ed at 25%