I enjoyed the premise of this book, but I think it missed the mark for me. I didn’t realize this was a sequel so it’s partially on me for not having read the first book, but there was so much going on anyway that it was hard to keep up. It definitely had potential to be great, so I will try out other books from this author, this one just didn’t hit perfectly for me.

I appreciate the opportunity to read an ARC provided by NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. However, I found the novel's dialogue to be clunky and unnatural, with characters over-sharing and reacting in ways that felt forced. The dynamics between characters were unlikable, especially the irrational anger of the alleged best friend when the main characters' marriage is revealed. While the book had moments of promising tension and chemistry between the main characters, the fade-to-black approach left much to be desired. With some editing and finesse, the novel could potentially enhance these positive aspects.

**Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5**
Season of Love by Helena Greer was one of the first books I read for my holiday season reading this past year, so when I saw For Never & Always–about side-characters Hannah and Levi who we met in Season of Love–I knew I had to pick it up.

For Never & Always follows Hannah and Levi “Blue” and their journey to either repair their relationship, or part ways for good. When Levi shows up on Hannah’s door after 4 years and determined to win her back, Hannah must decide whether or not she can forgive and move on from all that happened in their past. Through a series of flashbacks interwoven with present day events and conversations between Hannah and Levi, what unfolds is a beautiful and difficult story of the passion and heartbreak of first love, the arrogance of youth, and the rippling effects of unresolved personal trauma.

For me, the character development is a real strength of this book. We see both the main characters undergo a lot of personal growth in complex and honest ways that didn’t feel overly simplified for the sake of narrative. Something I appreciate about Greer is the more realistic way that she deals with complicated mental health and past struggles in her characters, and this is displayed well in this book. Greer’s decision to engage with (rather than overlook) Levi’s queerness in this book was also very refreshing, especially in this book which might appear to be about a cishet MF couple.

Two reasons I think this book may not work for people have to do with the tone and choice of marketing. This is not a “light” romance novel with a picture perfect love story, and so I can see people not loving the more serious or sad feelings dealt with in this book. Secondly, I’m not sure I agree with the decision to market this as a standalone instead of book 2 in a series with Season of Love. Personally, I think the background information we get on these characters and their family in Season of Love is absolutely necessary for really appreciating Hannah and Levi’s journey as a couple, the business situation they’re in, and their respective relationships with their families. While this technically could be read alone, I think it would undermine the emotional work that Greer clearly puts a lot of effort into developing with these characters. Because I read Season of Love, I think I was already invested in a lot of their world and their characters, which made this book work well for me in a way it might not have for others.

I would definitely recommend this book to adult romance readers, especially those looking for more complicated emotional stories that they can connect with. I’m glad I continued on in the series, and I look forward to reading the next planned book about Tara!

**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you, NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Helena Greer for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book!
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

The cover of For Never & Always makes it look like it would be another book set around the Christmas or Hannukah season, but actually it's set in the Spring (I think). So if you were afraid you shouldn't pick it up outside of the winter holiday season, have no fear. This book can be read at any time. As for what it's about, this book follows Hannah and Levi, who are childhood best friends turned lovers turned exes with quite a bit of animosity between them. Okay, mostly just on Hannah's side. The two of them each have a deep emotional wound that fully drives this story and so the character work is really incredibly well done in this one. Greer shines with the way she layers those wounds into the story and carefully weaves in healing. Hannah and Levi are Jewish and Hannah has this awesome Rabbi who they eventually turn to for some guidance in how to move forward in their relationship. I really loved the way this book talked about faith and romance. It was well done. I can't wait for the next book in this series. I rated it a four star and I think it's probably closer to a 4.5 because I am still thinking about it two weeks later.

I love a second-chance romance and the LGBTQ representation is great! I didn't realize this was a sequel of sorts and I hadn't read Seasons of Love first, so that's on me.

This second chance romance was a breath of fresh air in a sea amongst traditional holiday Rom-Coms.

First, the main characters are Jewish who run a Christmas Tree farm. Second, there is queer representation (demi-sexual) and a strong emphasis on mental health (working through past trauma, anxiety disorder/panic attacks, and therapy).

The romance is a second chance romance between two childhood friends (both grumps!); finding their way back to each other is a journey readers will easily be invested in/cheering along. My favorite part of this romance plot was the way the main characters are kind, supportive, and seek to support each other. Yet there is still plenty of angst and in Greer’s typical fashion, plenty of fun shenanigans. There is also plenty of steam/tension but the bedroom scenes are fade to black/closed door. Overall, this is such a fun town, family, and wonderful queer and Jewish representation, that I am looking forward to returning in the next series installment. Thank you to Forever pub and NetGalley for my e-arc!

This book was ohhh so cute and swoony!!! I love this author’s writing and look forward to reading more from her!!!

This book was so cute! It had so many of my favorite romance tropes, especially second chance and best friends, and found family. What made it a great read was the mental health and queer rep - we need more of this and I was so happy to see it.

Hannah and Levi are two of the most frustratingly perfect for each other characters I’ve ever read. By page 20 I knew this book was gonna be a memorable one and ooh wee, 330 pages later I am a sappy mess and so far gone for these babies. Who are not babies at all. Very queer. Very Jewish. Incredibly fun. And just a touch too close to the heart for me. A top romance of my year for sure.

Thank you forever for my advanced e-copy!

After reading reviews and although it’s most likely an interconnected standalone, it seems like you have to read the first book in order not to be confused about the timeline and the cast of characters. I paged through a little bit and it is confusing since I’m starting at the middle of a whole big story.

So by no fault of the author, it should just be a little more clear marketing wise when these kinds of things happen.

I read and really enjoyed Helena Greer's first installment in this series, "Season of Love", and For Never and Always is an even better follow up!

Hannah Rosenstein lived a childhood of adventure, tagging along with her parents as they traveled the world, but her real home has always been at Carrigan's Christmas tree farm with her eccentric and deeply beloved great-aunt. She loves the stability and comforts of her home on the farm, but when her late great-aunt's will stipulates that she will share the inheritance with her ex/great young love Levi "Blue" Matthews, she is thrown into the chaos she so despises.

I loved both Hannah and Blue and their chaotic but tender second chance love story. This was a great story of rediscovering love and finding yourself in the process. I would definitely recommend reading the books in order, but while the first book leans into the Christmas part of the setting, this book is a delight at any time of the year. Jewish readers will love the strength of the representation, and queer readers will enjoy the range of representation and found family in the main characters and side characters alike. This was a solid 4.5 stars rounded up.

I hereby declare a shenanigan.

This was my last read of 2023 and I loved it. Pretty much anything that makes shenanigans a part of the plot I’m going to love. I don’t know if shenanigans count as a microtrope but I’m making it one & also making it one of my favorites.

Levi & Hannah were just 💜💜. And I loved how this story explored their relationship with each other & their family & friends.

I love this series & can’t wait to spend more time at Carrigans!

Special thanks to @readforeverpub for the ARC!

For Never & Always follows Hannah and Levi who were once lovers and now are reconnecting over the hotel they inherited!

I didn’t know this was technically a sequel before I went into it and although I don’t think that harmed my reading experience, there was definitely some extra angst that I probably missed regarding a certain side character.

I really enjoyed the start of this! I just wrapped up a few stories about unlikeable main characters and this was a great change of pace with two messy characters but who were both still likeable and able to pull me into their relationship.

I think the things I didn’t really love were related to the drama that they both thrived and loved as people. Both that either Levi or Hannah search for or create drama, they just both love being a part of things and their overall lack of communication skills lead to more pain for them both

Both Levi and Hannah seemed to really self-analyze in different ways and look towards a way they can both be full people separately while also trying to figure out how to be in a healthy relationship together. You’re definitely rooting for them to get their shit together throughout though!

For Never & Always
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Helena Greer

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Hannah Rosenstein should be after a lonely childhood of traipsing all over the world, she finally has a home as the co-owner of destination inn Carrigan’s All Year. But her thoughts keep coming back to Levi "Blue" her first love, worst heartbreak, and now, thanks to her great-aunt’s meddling will, absentee business partner. 

When Levi left Carrigan's, he had good intentions. As the queer son of the inn's cook and groundskeeper, he never quite fit in their small town and desperately wanted to prove himself. Now that he’s a celebrity chef, he's ready to come home and make amends. Only his return goes nothing like he his family's angry with him, his best friend is dating his nemesis, and Hannah just wants him to leave. Again .

Levi sees his chance when a VIP bride agrees to book Carrigan’s—if he’s the chef. He'll happily cook for the wedding, and in exchange, Hannah will give him five dates to win her back. Only Hannah doesn’t trust this new Levi, and Levi’s coming to realize Hannah’s grown too. But if they find the courage to learn from the past . . . they just might discover the love of your life is worth waiting for.

My Thoughts: This was a sweet romantic read. This was a follow up book to The Season of Love and some readers of this book may not know that and feel a little lost. To get the most character enrichment and backstory, it is better to read The Season of Love first, and then dive into this book. Initially, the beginning of the book, I was confused with the storyline but a few chapters and everything cleared up. Hannah Rosenstein spent most of her childhood all over the world, with never living in the same place too long. Her great aunt bestowed Carrigan’s to her, a destination inn. Her great aunt also made Levi part owner. Hannah and Levi were each other’s first love and when he left, she was heartbroken and wrecked. Levi has returned, now a famous chef, and nothing goes as planned. The governor’s daughter is having a wedding at Carrigans and will only do so if Levi is the chef. Well Levi sees this as a way back into Hannah’s graces, he will agree to be the chef for the wedding if she agrees to five dates with him, and if by the conclusion of the dates, he does not win her over, he will sell his shares of Carrigans. Will he be able to win her back over? Or does the hurt run too deep? This follows the tropes of second chance romance, small town, and friends to enemies to lovers.

The story is narrated in a dual narration by Hannah and Levi, in their respective perspectives, with flashbacks to the past. Our heroine is plus size and represented well. Hannah is a fun, spirited woman that is loyal to a fault, and cares deeply. Levi was confused when he left, he never felt like he fit in, for those he loves, he is all in. There was a lot of supporting/side characters in this story. Now in the end, they did enhance the story, but it took some time to get there. The characters were well fleshed out, had depth, had tremendous growth through the storyline, witty banter, chemistry, angst, and tension. The author’s writing style was complex, endearing, closed door, intriguing, and kept me invested (once we got to the halfway mark). I held on reading because I know this author writes very talently and there would come a point when everything made sense.

Trigger warnings: childhood trauma. The author did a fantastic job with representation of LBGTQ+, Jewish culture, customs, and tradition, as well as mental health. The story started a little confusing and no where did it label it a follow up, or sequel book to the Season of Love, which is why a lot of readers were confused by the beginning. It felt like starting in the middle of the book; and then the middle of the book felt like it was the beginning of the book. However, saying this, I still enjoyed this novel and would recommend to other readers.

I have incredibly mixed feelings about this book. got a bit lost with a few of the side characters with their stories as well as the back and forth of things. I almost feel I would have liked it better if I would have read the first book of the series.

I found the characters difficult to like and deal with. They were all so whiny and annoying. It felt sad and unhappy.
I love a good redemption story but unfortunately this one kind of missed the mark for me, but I hope to have better luck with this author in the future.

The premise was really promising, and I'm sure there are plenty of readers who will love these messy, queer characters and their childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance, but something about the writing style just didn't mesh with my brain and made it difficult for me to read.

Thanks to Forever and Netgalley for my copy to review.

✨ Review ✨ For Never & Always by Helena Greer

The sequel to Season of Love, this book picks up where that book ends with Levi (Blue) returning home to Carrigans and his relationship with Hannah. The book alternates between this present day story and short flashbacks providing their back story. Blue convinces Hannah to go on several dates with him in an attempt to woo her back, but really they both identify things they need to work on along the way.

I loved learning more about Blue and Hannah in this book -- the highs and lows of their relationship and what makes them tick. The book is filled with Carrigan's All Year events, including several events for the governor's daughter, and it gives us a chance to settle into Carrigans.

While this book is a second chance book, it feels a lot deeper than that. Instead of the two basically same characters coming together or decades later coming together, it truly felt like them working on themselves and each other in a healthier way than many second chance books feel to me.

It did start to drag a bit in the second half and could have been a bit more snappy, but overall I enjoyed this one, and can't wait for the next!!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75)
Genre: contemporary F/M romance, queer & Jewish representation
Setting: Carrigans Tree Farm, rural NY
Pub Date: Nov 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ Christmas trees & Jewish holidays
⭕️ lots of delicious food
⭕️ second chance romances

Thanks to Forever and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Loved this. It was great to read a romance with characters in their mid-thirties trying to figure out anxieties, relationships and life. Looking forward to book 3.

This was the first book I have read by Helena Greer and I really enjoyed it. I didn't realize this was the second book in this series and because I didn't it did leave me confused figuring everything out. I got there and really enjoyed the book. I will be going back to read the first one. The setting and the characters are really good. This is a sweet small town romance and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

This took me some time to get into it, but once I did I flew through it in less than a day. I ended up purchasing the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. I loved being back at Carrigans and seeing Miriam and Noelle from Season of Love. Levi and Hannah get their second chance when he returns home after Cass’ death. I appreciated how everyone finally heard him in how Cass mistreated him and how it allowed him some peace. There were a lot of healthy aspects to Levi’s relationship with Hannah as they tried to rebuild their secret marriage. I loved that they went to therapy together. There were lots of sweet moments and plenty that made me laugh out loud too. I loved the ending. Im excited for more books from Helena Greer.