Despite numerous character speaking like they were reading from a psych textbook, this whole cast felt like they could use an enormous amount of therapy. Whenever the two MCs talked to each other, I wanted to head-desk.

I found Hannah very contrary. Hannah saw the world with her parents as a kid and came back to her favourite place to make a career and life. Levi was stuck in that place as kid and left to make his career and life. And while Levi is proud of Hannah, Hannah only resents Levi. Hannah says at one point that she thought Levi was too worldly for her, but at the same time was mad that she built up a life she was proud of and that he shouldn't ruin it for her, which he never does, by the way. She had all this pent up something and he resented the childhood he had, full of bullies and emotional abuse that no one took seriously (and when they do, it felt so disingenuous??). I don't know, they felt like an absolute mess, and Hannah especially felt like she just wasn't open to seeing other people's perspectives, as if they'd tarnish her own views and memories. It all felt fairly toxic. And like, it seemed like no one really noticed Levi's suffering?? Which also seems wild to me. I understand the children, but the adults being totally aware of how Levi was being treated just ignoring it and staying felt so wrong.

As a whole, there is a big cast. It took a second to adjust, since I haven't read the first book, but I adjusted eventually. I feel like if you're making companion novels that are marketed to be read as stand alones with cameos, those cameos shouldn't have such a big impact on the reading experience. There are a bunch of characters and some inside jokes that I assume are pulled from book one, but dumping it all on readers, especially new ones, at the very beginning of the book makes the barrier to entry a bit higher.

I loved the Jewish rep in this book. I think that it was so interesting that this Jewish family owned a Christmas tree farm, but still held true a lot of their own beliefs, and I liked that. The presence of Jewish culture, especially noticeable in their food and Levi's foody dreams, was very strong and educational. I loved that aspect of the story.

All in all, this one wasn't for me. I don't think it's because it's a sequel, but because Hannah and Levi don't seem good for each other at all. I feel like they ended up together because that's how they believed their HEA should be rather than what's actually best for them. I need all of them to go to way more therapy though. The therapy speak isn't enough to save them.

Rep: pansexual, demi MMC; FMC with anxiety

TW: grief, anxiety, emotional abuse (flashback), toxic relationship; mentions homophobia, death of a family member

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Pacing: 2/5
Overall: 2/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever via Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.