Bubbling up with Helena

• Title: For Never and Always
• Author: Helena Greer
• Publisher: Forever
• Release Date: 11/28/23
• Genre: Romance
• Age Range: Adult
• Rating: ★★★★
• Publisher’s Summary: One surprise inheritance, two best friends (now bitter exes), and three months to prove he loves her, forever and always, in this swoony second-chance romance for fans of Alexandria Bellefleur and Ashley Herring Blake. Hannah Rosenstein should be happy: 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” Matthews: 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 planned: 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 really enjoyed Helena Greer’s last book, Season of Love, a romance centering on Hannah Rosenstein’s cousin, Miriam. It was so much fun to revisit Carrigan’s and all of its crew in For Never and Always.

Levi and Hannah’s relationship provides a lot of good lessons about marriage. They love each other, but life has pulled them apart. They are granted a second chance in this book, and Hannah is a little hesistant about the idea of remaining married to Levi. As the story continues, they realize that the key to successful marriage is choosing to priortize one another, and they find ways to compromise so they can be together and each get what they want. That realization absolutely matches with my own life experience, and I found it very moving.

For Never and Always mentions so many different Jewish holidays, which made me so happy. Hannah and the team and Carrigan’s host a big Passover seder. There is even a brief mention of Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish holiday that celebrates trees. The representation made me really happy. The world could certainly use some Jewish joy right now, and For Never and Always provides exactly that.

Levi discusses with Hannah that he identifies as demisexual, meaning that he can only experience sexual attraction to someone after forming a deep emotional bond with them. He cannot see himself feeling attracted to anyone but Hannah. There is so little representation of the asexual spectrum in books in general, especially in romance. I am so glad that Greer told Levi’s story, and I can only imagine how much it will mean to people.

There is also a nonbinary rabbi, Ruth, who Levi and Hannah ask for advice. I was thrilled to read this representation as well. It is so important to have nonbinary characters in all kinds of roles and stories. I also absolutely love portrayals of rabbis that disrupt the idea that they have to be old men with big beards like in Fiddler on the Roof. My only complaint is that I wanted more of Rabbi Ruth in this story.

Greer’s books have brought me so much joy, and I am already looking forward to the next one. I would also love to see Season of Love or For Never and Always made into a Hallmark movie.