Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish

25 reviews

sage_alexandra's review

• 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

if you liked 2006's "The Holiday," you'll like this even more because its queeeeeeeer!!! I came for the lesbians and stayed for the gays. Truman's love of bullet journaling might be the kick I need to get back into it myself. And Greta makes me mourn even harder for good lighting and temperatures for plants.

we love Ash so much in this household 

*would've rated higher except i got the ick from Carys later on in the book. I honestly thought maybe that relationship wouldn't get a happily ever after. Ash and Truman's story gets 5 stars though!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Dementia, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Minor: Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

sexual content specifics:

public, but relatively hidden, sex between Carys and Greta. they are also much more sexually active than Truman and Ash

shelfofunread's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Dementia

Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

3.0

I can't quite pin point what it was, but I had a hard time getting into this one. It was also steamier than I was expecting, which isn't a bad thing, it just took me by surprise. Part of it was probably the insta-love-ish part of the plot, which isn't my favorite trope in romances. Give me the slow burn over that any day. I like the anticipation.

It's a cute holiday romance, though! I enjoyed how both Greta and Truman found what they were looking for by swapping houses. There's some more emotional tones, but overall, it's an upbeat, happy romance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Dementia

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Alcohol

Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia

fanboyriot's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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? No

5.0

Read For:

✓ House Swap

✓ Happy Ending

✓ Holiday Romance

✓ Healthy Boundaries

✓ Wholesome Romance

˗ˏˋ ★ REVIEW ★ ˎˊ˗

This was such an amazing book.  Could not recommend it enough.  I loved all the holiday vibes and the healthy romance was so good!!  The characters working with how to set boundaries and especially with family it was written so well. And the characters all had depth and personality.  The plot was cute and the house swap made for an entertaining read, both settings were written beautifully!

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Angst Level: n/a

POV: Duel, Third Person

Release Date: 06, September 2022

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Vomit, Grief, and Religious bigotry

kshertz's review

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was so cute!! I loved the movie, “The Holiday” and this is basically that but so queer. It was so cute. I really loved these characters and their journey. I liked watching them fall in love. I would definitely recommend it as a light easy sweet read

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Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic relationship

the_true_monroe's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-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

3.0

While the overall story was not for me, I connected greatly with Greta’s family dynamic, the struggles it caused in her interpersonal relationships, and her transition into her own person outside of the enmeshed family. I loved how her thought process and realizations were thoroughly communicated to the reader but also her partner.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Dementia, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Transphobia, Vomit, and Lesbophobia

annahamburger's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Dementia, Grief, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Vomit, and Antisemitism

theespressoedition's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship

sariereads's review

emotional funny 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Dementia

Moderate: Lesbophobia

h_elen's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Dementia, and Alcohol