"As you get older, you'll find that we have friends for a reason, and friends for a season. If we are very lucky, friends for a lifetime"

Friends for a Season by Brad Graber follows the story of Zak, an 18 year old at the prime of this life, faced with a health complication and also of Helena, a 83 year old woman faced with changes in her life that cause her to seek a new living arrangement that she feels will keep her safe as she faces the aging process.

Their stories start seperately but we soon see how their lives become intwined as they deal with the changes in their lives.

This is a story of how "Two generations. Two sets of problems. And yet the ability to solve their issues together through love and mutal respect.

As someone who works in long term care with a brother that is a member of the LGTQIA+ community, I throughly enjoyed the story of both characters. I will and have already recommended this book to my book loving friends and co-workers. It was a easy read with a few comedic points added in that captured my attention and kept me wanting to read to find out how it ended for both Zak and Helena.

Thank you Dark Victory Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own"

I had never heard of this author, but I hope that he has another book at some point. I loved reading his 'Friends for A Season'

This is a story with so much love, not with family, necessarily, but a story of a young man who struggles with how he perceives himself, and how others perceive him.

This is such a beautiful story. I started reading it earlier this morning, and just finished reading it. It's a story with charm, but also with a friendship that forms between an elderly woman and a young man.

I loved every minute of reading the author's story, and I think so many others will love this story.


Pub Date: 06 Apr 2026


Many, many thanks for the opportunity to read and review Brad Graber's wonderful 'Friends for A Season'

This was a gentle, character-driven story about aging, loneliness, and the unexpected connections that can reshape how we see our lives 😌

I really liked Helena as a main character—she’s proud, independent, and struggling with a loss of control, and I liked how the story doesn’t shy away from her fear and resistance to change, especially when facing the idea of moving into a retirement community. It makes her growth feel earned.

What I enjoyed most: the intergenerational friendship between Helena and Zak 💛 It’s such a simple concept, but I really liked how their connection feels mutually beneficial, not one-sided—both of them are isolated in different ways, and their bond gives each of them something they’re missing.

I also liked how the story explores purpose—Helena stepping into the role of patient advocate gives her a renewed sense of meaning, which adds depth beyond just companionship.

If you love emotional, character-focused stories, intergenerational friendships, themes of aging and purpose, quiet personal growth, and heartfelt connections, this is warm, reflective, and quietly uplifting 📖✨

Friends for a Season by Brad Graber follows the story of Zak, an 18-year-old trying to find his ground during his first semester of collage, and Helena, a 83-year-old activist and author coming to terms with the limitations and solitude of her age. Both of their lives are rapidly changing, each of them going their own way until they meet at their moment of greatest need..

For me, on top of the writing that flowed so well., Zak and Helena even with their flaws, were great characters in their respective opposite places in the cycle of life; they were the kindness and persistence that the other needed. I felt that their sorrows and joys were extremely human; sometimes we do whine and lose sight of the bigger picture but we are still able to get up and move on.

Ii do feel, however, that among all the characters the author didn't work Allison well, she would simply pop in and out of the narrative, she was truly just felt like a mechanism to move things around. That being the case, there were other ways to solve the problems she was used to fix. I also felt the same about Helena's sons, I know why they weren't present but I wish that has been expanded more and it's a shame It wasn't.

Aside these minor grievances, Friends for A Season was a delightful read, I loved the little found family moment we had as the book progressed. It's a good lesson, you never know when you'll find your closest friend or when an act of kindness will change your life. Helena and Zak are a good reminder that the only unchanging thing in life is death.

Thank you Dark Victory Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange of a honest review.