Scan barcode
warlocksarecool21's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Overall, I liked what this book was trying to do, but I don’t think it was executed that well. The strongest part for me was Miriam’s starting to heal from her trauma and the idea of a family coming together in their grief to save something they love. I appreciated seeing the complexities of their family dynamic and also the celebration of Jewish culture and traditions. The characters were strong, I liked Miriam and a lot of the side characters but I struggled a lot with Noelle. My main issue was that I felt that neither Noelle or Miriam were ready for a relationship. They had a lot of shit to work through and both need to go to therapy before getting together. (I know at the end they planned to go to therapy but it kind of felt like their love fixed everything instead of actually working through their issues). I appreciated the attempt of the story’s message that even if you experience trauma that you still can hurt people and need to be held accountable but how it went about that was really frustrating to me. I thought Noelle was really hard on Miriam (and projected a lot of insecurities on her) and that it wasn’t her place to get involved with Miriam’s relationship with her family. Their relationship was really frustrating to me in that aspect. I kind of didn’t like Noelle for a lot of the book bc of how she made her flaws and insecurities other people’s problems and it made me uncomfortable due to similarities to someone close to me that I won’t delve into here. I think there was a way to healthily incorporate a relationship into this book but what we got caused a lot of unnecessary angst and frustration for me. The ending for Miriam and Noelle was sweet but I wasn’t entirely sold on their relationship. That aspect of the book wasn’t for me but maybe others will like the messiness of it. I also struggled with the pacing and length as well. The beginning took so long to set up and by the end of the second part I was ready for it to be over.
Definitely read for the exploration of trauma, grief and healing but the relationship isn’t stereotypically fluffy like you’d expect. I might pick up any sequels if they follow the other characters because some of them were really interesting and hopefully I’ll like them more.
Definitely read for the exploration of trauma, grief and healing but the relationship isn’t stereotypically fluffy like you’d expect. I might pick up any sequels if they follow the other characters because some of them were really interesting and hopefully I’ll like them more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
megj23's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Biphobia and Death of parent
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
- SEASON OF LOVE is the rom-traum-com of your dreams. I loved the unpacking of years of family history, the self-discovery, and the tenderness with which it was all treated.
- Not to mention, we hardly ever see traditionally published sapphic romances featuring fat and/or butch characters, so this was a real treat.
- Honestly, SEASON OF LOVE is just a perfect example of what romance can do - explore hard experiences and topics with a gentle hand, and show the characters and the readers that everyone deserves more and better for themselves.
- Not to mention, we hardly ever see traditionally published sapphic romances featuring fat and/or butch characters, so this was a real treat.
- Honestly, SEASON OF LOVE is just a perfect example of what romance can do - explore hard experiences and topics with a gentle hand, and show the characters and the readers that everyone deserves more and better for themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Antisemitism
stacy837's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Terminal illness
rorikae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Seasons of Love by Helena Greer is a cute holiday romance about a Jewish woman who inherits her great aunt's Christmas themed inn and one of the women who works at this inn.
Miriam Blum hasn't been home to Carrigan's for 10 years, ever since a particular incident with her abusive father caused her to push her entire family away. This included her great aunt Cass, one of the most important people in her life and who's Christmas themed inn she'd visited yearly since a child. When Cass suddenly passes away, Miriam is called back to Carrigan's, where she has to face the family she has been avoiding. While there she meets Noelle Northwood, who works at Carrigan's tending the Christmas trees. Struggling with their grief, feelings of abandonment, and familial trauma, the two begin to feel something for each other while also working to save the inn that brought them together.
Seasons of Love is an extremely cute Sapphic romance steeped in its two characters strong personalities. Miriam is an artist trying to find her footing while Noelle is dealing with a family that left her long ago. Greer does a great job of exploring both women's personal histories while they also come to know each other better. The story is full of fun and also complex characters, a wonderful Christmas inn that I want to stay at, and so much heart that it's oozing from the seams. If you're looking for a holiday romance, I highly recommend this one. I will note that it is a closed door romance, which was the only thing that left me disappointed about the entire book. I can't wait for the series that this kicks off as this story does a good job of setting up the next couple that will be followed. I can't wait to read more of Greer's books as she is clearly a wonderful writer who creates fun, poignant stories.
Miriam Blum hasn't been home to Carrigan's for 10 years, ever since a particular incident with her abusive father caused her to push her entire family away. This included her great aunt Cass, one of the most important people in her life and who's Christmas themed inn she'd visited yearly since a child. When Cass suddenly passes away, Miriam is called back to Carrigan's, where she has to face the family she has been avoiding. While there she meets Noelle Northwood, who works at Carrigan's tending the Christmas trees. Struggling with their grief, feelings of abandonment, and familial trauma, the two begin to feel something for each other while also working to save the inn that brought them together.
Seasons of Love is an extremely cute Sapphic romance steeped in its two characters strong personalities. Miriam is an artist trying to find her footing while Noelle is dealing with a family that left her long ago. Greer does a great job of exploring both women's personal histories while they also come to know each other better. The story is full of fun and also complex characters, a wonderful Christmas inn that I want to stay at, and so much heart that it's oozing from the seams. If you're looking for a holiday romance, I highly recommend this one. I will note that it is a closed door romance, which was the only thing that left me disappointed about the entire book. I can't wait for the series that this kicks off as this story does a good job of setting up the next couple that will be followed. I can't wait to read more of Greer's books as she is clearly a wonderful writer who creates fun, poignant stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent
bowtiequeer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
liferhi_inspired's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
anhf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent
hopesmalley's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I wanted to finish this book in time for Christmas, but New Years Day works too. The blurb made this read like a Hallmark movie. and while it definitely had a majority of the tropes, it touched on some surprising topics. I think that the author handled the themes of emotional abuse, grief and alcoholism well.
However, I didn't find myself connecting the with the characters. I wanted to love Noelle and have her be my book girlfriend but I just couldn't. Her chemistry with Miriam felt forced and the whole book just had weird pacing.
However, I didn't find myself connecting the with the characters. I wanted to love Noelle and have her be my book girlfriend but I just couldn't. Her chemistry with Miriam felt forced and the whole book just had weird pacing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Stalking and Death of parent
binreads's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I have lots of thoughts...My main qualm with this book was that I wish it didn't repeat itself so much. By the third act, I was skimming at that point because it was so overkill. Also, it's all basically a trauma dump. For a book called Season of Love....I expected a bit more joy but god it's so sad.
I was more interested in the side characters like Hannah, The Matthew's and Cass than the main two! (I'm actually am intrigued to read the second book set to come out Fall 2023 about Hannah and Blue)
Unfortunately, I really disliked Noelle and made it difficult to read her parts. She's way too overly judgmental and I found she had almost no redeeming qualities. Miriam was alright but nothing about her really made me root for her. I also found her artist career completely unrealistic?
Hated the 'fade to black' before the intimate *spice* moments, I feel like I might've understood Noelle and Miriam's relationship more deeply.
I'm going to mark the rest as spoilers because I'm about to go into DETAIL:
Wow, where do I start...Noelle and Miriam have so many issues, I think they both needed some serious therapy or some more time before committing to this relationship.
Noelle from the start is very judgemental of Miri, but never took a MOMENT to think "Hey, this girl left her entire family and hasn't come back for years. That's strange. Something traumatic must've happened to her for her to do that." Especially with Noelle's background with her parents' being alcoholics, herself being a recovering alcoholic, and all of her own trauma she has experienced, you'd think she would not judge people so quickly.
I found her incredibly rude and just an outright hypocrite. When they find out Miri's father is trying to ruin everything, and Miri has that moment where she wants to run again, why didn't Noelle just give the girl time to THINK???? Her father was horrible to her, she knows this and yet blames Miriam for being scared, and her first thought going back to what she knows which is to run. Uh, hello she left for YEARS and didn't speak with her literal family yet you think she'd immediately be cured from her traumatic past and stay for someone she's known for a few months?? Noelle ultimately only thinks for herself and what outcome benefits her.
Miriam was more digestible. Her art selling for thousands of dollars at the end made no sense to me though because wasn't Tara taking care of her financially? I still don't understand the whole fiance thing, what was the point of all that? It added nothing to the story. I feel like her and Tara being partners would've left the same impact. Or if Miriam was just single to begin with. But speaking of Tara, she was actually a very interesting character and I'm sad she was just washed down to a ridged person.
Noelle and Miriam's love story was all over the place, started out bad and felt rushed. Miriam leaves her so called fiance and has already for the most part moved onto Noelle within a day. Which again, Noelle suddenly is head over heels for Miri after totally being a horrible person towards her.
Also, did anyone else think Cole was gay? Was he straight? Did I miss something?
I loved Miri’s cousin Hannah and the little insight we get into her complicated relationship with Levi. God, that ending with them!?!?!? Why couldn't we have gotten more of that!!!!! That's why I wanna give this next book a chance!!!
I also did not for the life of me understand the whole abusive father angle. Why would he hate his daughter so much just because she didn't want to go into his business? And for him after all these years to still actively try and harm her future? The whole drug scheme? Ziva's character felt so surface level and maybe that's the point of her character but if so, why would she still be invited around when she actively didn't do anything to help her own daughter?
Cass seemed great and I blame nothing on her.
Overall the story is about saving the Carrigan's, but it spends waaaaaaaaaay too much time on that for it to be solved so quickly in the end.
I was more interested in the side characters like Hannah, The Matthew's and Cass than the main two! (I'm actually am intrigued to read the second book set to come out Fall 2023 about Hannah and Blue)
Unfortunately, I really disliked Noelle and made it difficult to read her parts. She's way too overly judgmental and I found she had almost no redeeming qualities. Miriam was alright but nothing about her really made me root for her. I also found her artist career completely unrealistic?
Hated the 'fade to black' before the intimate *spice* moments, I feel like I might've understood Noelle and Miriam's relationship more deeply.
I'm going to mark the rest as spoilers because I'm about to go into DETAIL:
Wow, where do I start...Noelle and Miriam have so many issues, I think they both needed some serious therapy or some more time before committing to this relationship.
Noelle from the start is very judgemental of Miri, but never took a MOMENT to think "Hey, this girl left her entire family and hasn't come back for years. That's strange. Something traumatic must've happened to her for her to do that." Especially with Noelle's background with her parents' being alcoholics, herself being a recovering alcoholic, and all of her own trauma she has experienced, you'd think she would not judge people so quickly.
I found her incredibly rude and just an outright hypocrite. When they find out Miri's father is trying to ruin everything, and Miri has that moment where she wants to run again, why didn't Noelle just give the girl time to THINK???? Her father was horrible to her, she knows this and yet blames Miriam for being scared, and her first thought going back to what she knows which is to run. Uh, hello she left for YEARS and didn't speak with her literal family yet you think she'd immediately be cured from her traumatic past and stay for someone she's known for a few months?? Noelle ultimately only thinks for herself and what outcome benefits her.
Miriam was more digestible. Her art selling for thousands of dollars at the end made no sense to me though because wasn't Tara taking care of her financially? I still don't understand the whole fiance thing, what was the point of all that? It added nothing to the story. I feel like her and Tara being partners would've left the same impact. Or if Miriam was just single to begin with. But speaking of Tara, she was actually a very interesting character and I'm sad she was just washed down to a ridged person.
Noelle and Miriam's love story was all over the place, started out bad and felt rushed. Miriam leaves her so called fiance and has already for the most part moved onto Noelle within a day. Which again, Noelle suddenly is head over heels for Miri after totally being a horrible person towards her.
Also, did anyone else think Cole was gay? Was he straight? Did I miss something?
I loved Miri’s cousin Hannah and the little insight we get into her complicated relationship with Levi. God, that ending with them!?!?!? Why couldn't we have gotten more of that!!!!! That's why I wanna give this next book a chance!!!
I also did not for the life of me understand the whole abusive father angle. Why would he hate his daughter so much just because she didn't want to go into his business? And for him after all these years to still actively try and harm her future? The whole drug scheme? Ziva's character felt so surface level and maybe that's the point of her character but if so, why would she still be invited around when she actively didn't do anything to help her own daughter?
Cass seemed great and I blame nothing on her.
Overall the story is about saving the Carrigan's, but it spends waaaaaaaaaay too much time on that for it to be solved so quickly in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Alcohol