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amberinpieces's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Alcohol
Minor: Antisemitism, Death, Death of parent, Biphobia, Terminal illness, Classism, and Sexual content
chandlery's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Alcoholism, and Grief
apollo0325's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Sapphics really do fall in love quickly, huh?
It was an easy read, and while I liked a lot of the elements such as the exploration of trauma and how trauma affects our relationships, I also felt like it didn’t do enough. We get told who Cass is, but we never get to SEE who Cass is. Despite her deceased status, I think we could have done some small flashbacks especially with the letter from Cass at the end. It contextualizes the relationships between Cass, Miriam, Hannah, Levi, and Noelle and it makes the reader understand the emotional toil Cass’s loss has put on the main characters as well as the community. It feels like the book forces you to rely on how it might feel to lose a loved one, and if the reader like me has not experienced that, the emotional punches of this novel become weak.
I also hated the epilogue lmao it’s so obvious that they planned sequels to this because of the epilogue.
It was an easy read, and while I liked a lot of the elements such as the exploration of trauma and how trauma affects our relationships, I also felt like it didn’t do enough. We get told who Cass is, but we never get to SEE who Cass is. Despite her deceased status, I think we could have done some small flashbacks especially with the letter from Cass at the end. It contextualizes the relationships between Cass, Miriam, Hannah, Levi, and Noelle and it makes the reader understand the emotional toil Cass’s loss has put on the main characters as well as the community. It feels like the book forces you to rely on how it might feel to lose a loved one, and if the reader like me has not experienced that, the emotional punches of this novel become weak.
I also hated the epilogue lmao it’s so obvious that they planned sequels to this because of the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Addiction
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Two women brought together by grief become instant enemies & hate-work together to save the tree farm their departed loved one left behind. A charming fall/winter enemies to lovers holiday romance. I enjoyed the characters and how they worked through their respective trauma. I wish the dad had been a character and not just a boogie man, and that we got more of the tree farm flavor than the small glimpse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, Grief, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism
Toxic parent, narcissistjfhobbit's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Grief
kenz_m's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Death, and Child abuse
sarahthescrivnr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a neat holiday romance. There was more emotional depth around the events that are described in the blurb than I thought there might be, which was a nice surprise. There was a realistic amount of mess and grieving as well as discussion of trauma. I really loved that other friendships and community were also a big part of the book, not just minor characters shoehorned in.
I liked so much about this, but there were parts of the writing that just weren't for me. I can't describe it much without spoilers or just talking for longer than a book review should be. Even still, it was a good read!
And for those who care, the spicy scenes are fade to black. So, while there's plenty of lusting, this may be good for folks who aren't super into heavy sex scenes.
I liked so much about this, but there were parts of the writing that just weren't for me. I can't describe it much without spoilers or just talking for longer than a book review should be. Even still, it was a good read!
And for those who care, the spicy scenes are fade to black. So, while there's plenty of lusting, this may be good for folks who aren't super into heavy sex scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Death, Cancer, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Fatphobia, Antisemitism, and Drug use
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
My final holiday read of 2023! This was sort of a Jewish-Christmas mash-up, as a lot of the characters are Jewish but they are trying to save Carrigan's Christmasland. The premise was fun, the characters were pretty well rounded for the most part, and it had some excellent holiday vibes.
I do think the book itself was slightly longer than it needed to be. Part of that was because of how much time takes place, I think. It just felt a little drawn out. But I did enjoy the romance! It felt realistic to me.
If you do pick this up, be warned there are some pretty heavy themes of grief and dealing with past traumas from abuse. It's still a rom-com, but definitely with some heavier themes.
I do think the book itself was slightly longer than it needed to be. Part of that was because of how much time takes place, I think. It just felt a little drawn out. But I did enjoy the romance! It felt realistic to me.
If you do pick this up, be warned there are some pretty heavy themes of grief and dealing with past traumas from abuse. It's still a rom-com, but definitely with some heavier themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Antisemitism and Sexual content
lisacanteven's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
Wow this book. I was expecting a light and airy holiday romance. I'm not big on Christmas, so the Jewish rep meant I would get a holiday romance without Christmas. I did definitely love that it actually spans from Halloween to January. I don't enjoy any fall and winter holidays, but I do love the seasons so this was the perfect story.
I immediately fell in love with all the characters. They are so deep yet so lovable. I want to know all their stories. And hopefully I will get to. I really felt like Miriam's character was take so much from my own experience. When you have made someone feel like a character was written for them, you have succeeded. In this case, Helena did this with Miriam for me. The issues Miriam had with her mom were completely different than mine, yet the consequences were very similar. Thank you, Helena.
Please read this book for such a real yet gentle and beautiful look into adults coping in the best ways they know how. Things can get messy, but they can be fixed with some healthy communication. I think this book does a great job of demonstrating how we can have respect and leave room for people's traumas, but we can still expect them to grow. I just loved this book.
I immediately picked up the next book, For Never & Always, because the ending was perfect. The build-up to the next two characters' stories was so good. I am in a chokehold for their book.
I immediately fell in love with all the characters. They are so deep yet so lovable. I want to know all their stories. And hopefully I will get to. I really felt like Miriam's character was take so much from my own experience. When you have made someone feel like a character was written for them, you have succeeded. In this case, Helena did this with Miriam for me. The issues Miriam had with her mom were completely different than mine, yet the consequences were very similar. Thank you, Helena.
Please read this book for such a real yet gentle and beautiful look into adults coping in the best ways they know how. Things can get messy, but they can be fixed with some healthy communication. I think this book does a great job of demonstrating how we can have respect and leave room for people's traumas, but we can still expect them to grow. I just loved this book.
I immediately picked up the next book, For Never & Always, because the ending was perfect. The build-up to the next two characters' stories was so good. I am in a chokehold for their book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Grief