I believe this is marketed as a standalone but I really think you need to read Season of Love, Helena Greer's debut novel, before this one. You'll definitely have a better understanding of some of the major characters who play important parts in this story.

That said, I enjoyed this book more than I did SoL. And it made me look at one of the main players in SoL, who also plays a big part in this book, a lot differently. But I really liked the two main characters in this book, Levi and Hannah. I liked getting to see things from both their points of view, as well as the flashbacks. These two had so much history- most of it good, until it wasn't. I'm so glad Levi came back to Carrigan's, they really, really needed to work things out and to make things right between them. There was just too much good and wonderful between them, for it to all end.

I loved the epilogue!!!

DNF

I rarely ‘do not finish’ a romance novel. But, as I found myself hating more and more of “For Never and Always”, my absolute disgust with this book forced me to stop.

Hannah and Levi have been friends / in love with each other all their lives; they haven’t seen each other for a number of years after Levi asks Hannah to leave the farm/hotel where they all live to explore the world and Hannah refuses because her aunt (who owns the property) is sick, and the hotel is her happy/safe place. Levi’s back and wants to reunite.

Levi hates the farm and small-town for various reasons I won’t get into. But what is important is that everyone dismisses or doesn’t know about how bad it was for him. Hannah says something to the effect of “I guess we should have believed you instead of thinking you were an exaggerating, moody teenager”; everyone is shocked at how poorly the perfect aunt treated him. Did these people not have functioning eyes or ears?

I stopped reading when a side character says to Levi (I paraphrase) “I thought you were a just a whining cisgendered white man, but now that I know you’re queer, your trauma is real / justifiable.”

Hannah is terrible. She and Levi are having dinner, and she wants to know about why his childhood was so bad, and Levi explains some of the ways the aunt treated him. Her response: “I can’t believe you’re trying to ruin the memories of someone I love.” And then she runs out of the restaurant.

Levi is described as "selfish" or self-centred, but I saw little evidence of it. He is a person who filters events through his own experience - not sure that makes him selfish or simply human? And, when he's spent most of his life not fitting in and told he's a drama-queen, all my sympathy was for him. I could only think - you can do better!

I found all the "best friends" immature and similarly terrible, and I just could not bring myself to finish this book. I received an ARC of this book, but the review is my own.

You don’t need to read the previous book to understand this one but I would recommend her other books. This one felt a bit flat to me simply because e the characters weren’t my favorite.

Helena Greer’s Season of Love was one of my favourite holiday books last year (review here) so I was really looking forward to getting to hang out at Carrigan’s All Year again with Hannah, Miriam, and Noelle in For Never and Always. But, while I was happy with some of the themes of the story, I was ultimately left disappointed. I didn’t buy the romance and if I don’t buy the love story in a romance novel? Well, that’s a hard thing to come back from.

Here’s the book’s description:
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.
I was so sad that I didn’t love this love story more than I did. I just found Hannah and Levi’s relationship to be so incredibly toxic. I was with Noelle, who also didn’t think they belonged together. Hannah explained her feelings by saying that Noelle just never got to see Hannah and Levi together and happy. By the time Noelle came along, cracks had formed and it wasn’t a great relationship. Well, I didn’t see a great relationship either, not even in some of the flashbacks. And I love a good romance between childhood friends but I couldn’t see past their toxic past. Especially when they kept saying that they used to just “fight or fuck.” I’m supposed to root for them after that? When neither of them were actually, you know, TALKING to each other? “He’s just not understanding!” Well, sweetie, it’s because he can’t read your damn mind. Of course he doesn’t understand. As for Levi, he wasn’t telling all his truth that completed affected his teenagehood and something he sure as hell needed to resolve before he could have a healthy relationship.

Speaking of that secret of Levi’s…it had to do with Cass and it made zero sense to me. It was a huge truthbomb that affected Hannah and Miriam so much but I was left scratching my head a bit. Not necessarily because of what happened. But more just how the narrative was being put together. It seemed like this truth should have caused more…problems? Maybe? It’s hard to say without spoilers but it was a big part of why the story didn’t work for me.

This story also kind of dragged for me. I didn’t really feel like there was much movement in the plot. It was just back and forth of Hannah and Levi trying to figure out their lives and being kind of whiney and kind of self-centred the whole time. I’m pretty sure there was a lot of skimming happening.

Even though I didn’t enjoy For Never and Always, I still want to check out the next book in Helena Greer’s series. I think she has good stories to tell - this one just really missed the mark for me.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via Netgalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

I did not finish this I just couldn’t get into this book.I was not interested in anything about this book

Thank you @readforeverpub for a copy of this second chance romance. I was happy to be back at Carrigan's and seeing all the characters. This one centers on Hannah who loved the farm growing up when she visited when she was not traveling with her parents. She grew up with Levi who was raised on the farm which his parents running the inn. There was so much angst in this story between Levi and Hannah. The back of forth anger got a bit exhausting for me. I did enjoy seeing them work together and the flashbacks of the story.

I was so excited to return to Carrigan's and to meet Hannah and Levi in an in-depth capacity! I enjoyed Hannah in "Season of Love" so I couldn't wait to read her own story. I loved their chance at a second chance romance and observing them each growing in their own personal way. The friendships and family in this story are overall positive and supportive and what everyone needs in their lives! Being able to watch the transformation of Carrigan's over the year and to watch Miriam and Noelle grow in their relationship was also fun! Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Dnf ~ 20% I didn’t realize it was a second book in a series, and wasn’t connecting with the characters. May come back and finish if I read Seasons of Love at a future date.

I appreciate the Jewish and queer representation but I was just not connecting with Levi and Hannah quick enough to keep reading, especially with all the other characters being introduced. Too many books, so little time.

3.5*

I believe this is marketed as a standalone but I really think you need to read Season of Love, Helena Greer's debut novel, before this one. You'll definitely have a better understanding of some of the major characters who play important parts in this story.

That said, I enjoyed this book more than I did SoL. And it made me look at one of the main players in SoL, who also plays a big part in this book, a lot differently. But I really liked the two main characters in this book, Levi and Hannah. I liked getting to see things from both their points of view, as well as the flashbacks. These two had so much history- most of it good, until it wasn't. I'm so glad Levi came back to Carrigan's, they really, really needed to work things out and to make things right between them. There was just too much good and wonderful between them, for it to all end.

I loved the epilogue!!!

Thrilled to return to Carrigan's! I love the setting and the cozy little cast of characters. Needed more Kringle tho.

I absolutely adored Helena Greer’s debut, Season of Love, and could not wait to get my hands on Hannah and Blue’s second chance romance in For Never and Always. This is a book full of complex history and an exploration of sorts of the fallible nature of memory and how different people have totally different experiences. It was such a trip to see Cass through Levi’s eyes while he grew up because in SoL she’s so beloved and seen as such a guiding force, but for Levi she was this person who constantly made him question his value and especially his right to space at Carrigan’s. I really loved that complexity and nuance. I also wholeheartedly believe this is one of the best second chance romances I’ve ever read! The way their history was shown with interstitials and the contrast of the people Hannah and Levi had grown into was so well executed. It really showed how sometimes the perfect person for you isn’t perfect *right now* and needing time and space apart to grow and mature can make such a difference in a couple’s ability to have a healthy relationship. I just really loved this so much on multiple levels, and I absolutely cannot wait for Tara’s book next!

EXCUSE ME more people need to be screaming about FOR NEVER & ALWAYS and also its predecessor SEASON OF LOVE, set in the magical world of Carrigan’s Christmas tree farm turned year round upstate NY destination, run by a Jewish family - yes that’s right. The characters are all kinds of queer, some have anxiety, they have messy family dynamics, they are EVERYTHING. (The Veronica Mars references are great too. #LoVe) If you are going to do any holiday romance reading let it be this one, I beg you.

Levi always hated Carrigan's, despite growing up there, and he took his opportunity to leave and become a celebrity chef leaving behind his family and his ex, Hannah, who he still loves. Hannah is furious with Levi for leaving, and maybe even more furious when he returns, but Levi's determined to prove to Hannah and his friends and family that he can be what Hannah needs.

It took me a while to get into this book because I did not like Levi at first, but by halfway through he managed to win me over as he slowly won over the rest of the characters. I really loved all the characters and the way they slowly worked through their anger and distrust to create a better relationship together.

Let me start off by saying that I am not a huge proponent for second-chance romances, but definitely try to give them a fair chance! (Who else agrees that most of the time exes are exactly that for good reason??) I can obviously appreciate a good redemption arc, which I do believe Levi has achieved for the most part, thus making their pairing one I’m happy to be wrong about! I loved all the diverse characters, who were so well-written, and that it wasn’t just a simple forgive-and-forget. They really did the work for their HEA! I would definitely recommend reading the first in this series to help lessen some probable confusion about everything going on in their world. Overall, I’d give this story a 3.75, rounding up to a 4 for any possible trope bias!

Second chance lovers, childhood friends kinda turned enemies and not? It was a quick, and easy read and I enjoyed the banter between the characters.

I wanted to love this book. In the first book - I wanted to know what happened to hurt Hannah so deeply. When I was given an ARC, I could not believe my good luck...and then I went from feeling so deeply for Hannah to disliking her. Sadly, I didn't like Levi any better, and I could not get into their second-chance romance. This is likely a me thing. The author did an amazing job with the representation in this story, from the food(s) to the traditions - it is important to show those aspects for the Jewish Community. I would recommend reading it.

✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Workplace

This was one of the best opposites attract books I've read in a while mostly because of the setup: I couldn't comprehend how these two people were going to get their HEA when their life goals and mental health were pulling them in different directions.

It made the read a little stressful, but in a good way! And I love that the answer wasn't a magical or easy solution but took a lot of emotional effort and compromise to get them to the same place where they could both thrive as well as love and support each other.

The chemistry between Hannah and Levi was crackling hot, too, and I dug that that made it harder for them to not get swept up in their own romance. 😂

I loved it: the world, the characters, and the reiteration that love is not just about chemistry but about work and compromise too. 5⭐️

Steam 🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

i think it would be remiss of me if i didn’t start by saying levi is a FAR more patient human than i am. for the multiple times he came out as demi and every. single. person. asked how it’s possible when he likes sex. i— listen, i understand (and have essentially experienced myself) that this is the reality for many aces that have and/or like sex. i just deeply wish as least one person responded even slightly more positively than to immediately question his identity. i just know if that was me, i would not have been so nice about it the 3rd or 4th time in a row. so, i repeat. levi is a much more patient human than i.

okay, onto the actual romance between levi and hannah. i know we’re following the current time where they’re still freshly reclaiming carrigans. and that we periodically flash back to different points in their relationship, from as early as young childhood. i can see what helena was intending. to show us how they came together in the beginning and eventually split. i just personally do not totally believe that their relationship issues were resolved well enough by the end. to me, personally, their chemistry just wasn’t there? and i don’t know how i can explain it.

they spend most of the book both being like we love each other a lot but we have this pile high of concerns and i don’t think we can fix what’s broke. but by the end with one grand gesture and a plan, it’s all fixed. and i truly hope that it *is* enough for them. i guess with lots of work they can get somewhere where it’s healthy and true for them. but i just wasn’t totally feeling it where we end off. here’s to hoping.

i am, however, still very much looking forward to tara’s story (and maybe hopefully cole’s too). she’s an underrated fave of mine and i’m very excited to see what her happy ending entails.

Helena Greer has done it again! She has written a follow up to her first novel and she have truly knocked it out of the park with For Never and Always. And the title says it all.
This novel hits on all the finest tropes: second chance romance, childhood best friends, and found family. It also includes: chaotic main characters, mental health representation, queer representation, and Jewish representation.

Hannah is a Jewish, Christmas themed bed and breakfast owner who has been eternally single since a break up with her Childhood sweetheart. Everyone keeps encouraging her to date because she is unlikely to leave the small town in which she grew up.

At Christmas, Levi shows up at home, the same home he ran away from years ago. The Christmas themed bed and breakfast and his ex Hannah. And the first.thing Levi notices is the attraction and tension between him and Hannah. With their history and the complicated changes that both parties have gone through, everything about Levi being back is complicated.

This is hands down one of the BEST novels I have ever read. Ever! The emotions, the love, the mental health aspects, the representation, the acceptance and so much more. Ugh my heart is so touched

Helena Greer brings us back to Carrigan's Christmas Farm to resolve the cliffhanger from Season of Love! (This is described as a stand alone but I think it would be hard to follow for people who haven't read the previous book.)

The Jewish and queer rep is just as fabulous as it was in her debut, as is the emphasis on mental health, but I wasn't as into Levi and Hannah's romance in this one. Their relationship is VERY angsty and was a lot to take. I had a hard time rooting for them and didn't really understand what they saw in one another, and it felt like the resolution was drawn out longer than it needed to be. I adored all of the side characters - Miriam and Noelle from the first book, plus Cole, Elijah and others - and often found myself wishing there were more scenes with them and less with Levi and Hannah.

That being said, I love Greer's writing and cannot wait for whatever she puts out next.

Thanks to Forever for the copy to review.