Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer
Product details
Web ID: 198763377 reviews
Cute, emotional romance
I want to thank NetGalley and Forever Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for review. I am fairly behind on this book and to a certain extent I'm a little frustrated that it took me so long to get to it. The Christmasland adventures of this rag-tag group of friends were incredibly endearing. I did feel a bit like Holly throughout the book because I did not read the previous two books in the series. Overall, Greer made it clear enough that I was able to follow along with the relationships that were developed throughout the earlier parts of the series, but there were quite a few to keep track of throughout the book. In some ways, I do wish that this book had focused more on the friendship dynamics and made the romance a subplot of the book. Greer does balance the two plots, but I was way more emotionally invested in the relationship between Cole and Tara than I was in the relationship between Holly and Tara. I do think that there was a lovely conclusion to the "conflict" between Cole and Tara, but if the whole book had focused on this I would have been perfectly fine. Furthermore, I do think that the resolution between Ivy and Holly was rather rushed. It seems to be such an important part of Holly's story, but it happened in one of the last chapters of the book. I would have loved to see more exploration of this on the page. The relationship between Holly and Tara did make me have a lot of feelings. For 95% of the book, it was mostly wanting to shake them both and tell them to communicate with the people in their lives and go to therapy. What made me strongly invested in their relationship was the grand gesture at the end, which made me wish that the book was a little longer. The book made me think of the final season of How I Met Your Mother, where there was too much focus on minor details of the story while the main chunk of the story that is of interest is rushed at the end. The tension of Holly and Tara developing their feelings was interesting, but I wanted a bit more of what happened once those feelings were clear. Overall, this was a fun and emotional read (at several points you will become frustrated by both characters and also want to hug them). If you like romance novels with lots of character growth, strong friendship subplots, and opposites attracting you will enjoy this book. You might be slightly frustrated because there is some steamy build-up but closed-door scenes, but it will meet your fun romance expectations. Plus it's set in a Christmasland hotel with a magical cat, and what's not to like about that. Content Warnings Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism Moderate: Sexual content and Abandonment Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fun, heart warming and emotional
Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer Rating: 4✨ I’m newer to queer romance books and I wasn’t sure if I’d like them as much as I do traditional romance books. But I can tell you it blew me away. It was sweet, fun, sassy and everything I love about Romcoms! It starts with Tara whose engagement was broken off, due to her marriage of convenience fiancé falling in love while on a trip. Tara receives an invitation to her ex’s wedding and had to go. She didn’t want to show up single and be pitied or the odd one out. Enter Holly, the waitress at the cafe/diner that Tara had been going to for years and that she has a secret crush on. Holly’s family wants her to visit for Christmas but Holly was not ready to go back home. Tara just blurts out the idea of fake dating and having Holly join her for the wedding. Holly jumps at the chance as she has a secret crush on Tara. Here starts their crazy adventures into fake dating, only one bed scenarios and friends meddling. If you like: •fake dating •only one bed •pining •sassy and fun meddling friends •fade to black but still steamy Then you should read this book!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
THIS. IS. THE. BOOK.
THIS. IS. THE. BOOK. I really enjoyed Season of Love and had high hopes for this series, but I’ll admit I was a little let down by Levi and Hannah’s story. However, Holly and Tara’s romance more than made up for it—this one is hands down my favorite of all three! Holly and Tara are both so well-crafted and relatable. They each have pieces of me in them, and seeing them navigate their differences while embarking on their own healing journeys was just so satisfying. Their chemistry was palpable and HOT, and their growth as individuals and as a couple was the cherry on top. By the time I hit the last 10% of the book, I was full-on crying. This story brought all the feels and left me grinning like a fool. If you love swoony, steamy opposites-attract romcoms with real emotional depth, you NEED this book. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Hers for the Weekend
Hers for the Weekend by Helena Greer Cardigan’s Christmasland series #3. Contemporary sapphic romance. Fake relationship troupe. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series since couples from the previous books are secondary characters in this book. No-nonsense lawyer Tara Sloane Chadwick has been invited to her ex’s wedding. At Carrigan’s Christmasland. It’s not just a polite invite. They want her to attend. In a moment of panic, she commits to attending but tells them she’s bringing her new girlfriend. Now she just needs to find one. Holly Delaney is a waitress and baker and is being pressure to go home to Iowa for Christmas where her family is as well as her ex-wife. When Tara asks Holly to be her fake plus one at holiday wedding at Carrigan’s Christmasland, she jumps on the excuse to not go home. Plus, she’s got a major crush on Tara so it’s the perfect opportunity to have a fun fling and then walk away. A perfect setup in her mind. Tara and Holly agree to a temporary arrangement but feelings soon get in the way as well of their jobs and lifestyles. They will have to decide if they stick to the breakup plan or take a chance on more. Both women have a past that’s getting in their way of a future. It will take their friends and a lot of self analysis to move forward. Neither wants to change their life. Plenty of angst, more sizzling steam between all the couples, and lots of cutesy Jewish Christmasland and wedding traditions. Reconnect took too long on the calendar IMO but I know the in depth heart searching couldn’t have been easy. It was fun to have the previous characters integrated into this story which I assume is the last in the series. Holiday romance. Holiday magic. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fun close to the Carrigan’s Christmasland series!
4 stars. I really do enjoy the Carrigan’s Christmasland books, I think the author has created a fun and loving found family in a silly setting. This was a good end to the series. I liked both Tara and Holly, but found Tara’s character more relatable. The road trip was interesting, and the scenes at Carrigan’s were fun. I liked that the conflict took a while to be resolved because both parties knew they needed to work on themselves before they were ready for a successful relationship. Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Come back to Carrigans!
“What’s a Carrigan’s event without us getting overly involved with each other’s drama?” It’s time for the grand tradition of fake dating for the holidays This story is for everyone who wondered what happened to the big city ex when their significant other took off to learn the true meaning of Christmas at the home of their small town roots Invited to the wedding of her ex Miriam at the fabulous Carrigan’s, Tara is willing to be bullied into attending but unwilling to show up alone. Enter Holly, a convenient plus one in the form of a waitress/baker she’d been crushing on. They might be a mismatched couple for the long term, but have just enough of a connection and mutual attraction to sell it for the upcoming festivities. This kicks off with a road trip, there’s the fake dating and - of course - shenanigans, it’s a wedding at Carrigans after all. Even though not the main character, I liked seeing more of Cole most of all. He’s such an interesting character, and his friendship with Tara is everything. Like, friendship isn’t even a big enough word. Just like you’d expect the vibes are strong for the ‘like it or not this family is going to find you (but admit it, you like it and are just scared how much)’ On the romance side, for all the build up and thirsty talk, the action is largely fade to black. The third act breakup had an element that kind of ticked me off. But happily ever afters happen, even if the road is rough, so I’m grateful for that! Thank you to NetGalley and forever for the arc!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
This book stole my whole heart
Listen. I will read grumpy sunshine every day of the week. But this book?? Outshines them all!! Ok maybe not them all, but it was an absolute joy to read. So much fun, I laughed throughout. And then, yes, I sobbed my heart out, because of course I did. I love Holly and Tara, and found family, and healing past traumas, and a magic Christmas cat!! Oh and people determined to make a difference in this world!!! Now I'm legally required to go read her other books obsessively. I hope you read this and love it as much as I did!!!
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com