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courtneyhollyy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Dementia
sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It is marketed as a “holiday” romance, but except from a few mentions here and there of the holidays and the wintery setting in one location, it really didn’t give me big “holiday” vibes, it was more a side event that happened in the timeline of the story.
I really enjoyed Truman’s storyline and I felt like the romance in his story was a bit more fleshed out. Then again, it was very insta-love for Greta and I don’t vibe with insta-love, I cannot relate to it at all.
I felt like the flipping back and forth between timelines was a bit distracting, and I felt that the two storylines could’ve been their own books as an interconnected standalone series to really flesh out the characters and their issues and conflicts a bit better.
Overall, I did enjoy the characters, the couples and the romance, as well as the self-discovery woven into these stories and had a good time reading this.
Graphic: Dementia
lonneke_l's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
For that reason alone, I'll give it some stars. I liked the idea of the double POV, but that did mean that I did enjoy one character's story more than the other. Truman's story felt more mature, and I was drawn in a lot more than Greta's.
The story deals with some pretty heavy themes, but not in a way that drags you down; rather, in a way that makes you feel like maybe you too can conquer whatever's been bothering you.
It's a cute book and a quick read--perfect for the holiday season!
Graphic: Dementia
bookcheshirecat's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
➽ This is a fun take on The Holiday, following two queer characters! Greta and Truman don't really know each other, but decide to switch lives for Christmas as they each have something difficult to deal with. Greta's struggling with her overbearing, controlling family who cannot respect her and keeps setting her up with a guy despite knowing that she's a lesbian. Escaping to Truman's place in New Orleans seems like the perfect time away from her family to figure out what she truly wants. Truman just found out that he's the other guy, as his boyfriend is married and has been keeping him a dirty secret. Humiliated and betrayed, he's all too happy to go to the little island Greta calls home.
➽ I liked the dual POV and the romances, though I preferred Truman's story! While both of them deal with their respective issues, I felt like Truman's romance was a bit more fleshed out. For Greta it's a huge case of insta love with a girl she meets in New Orleans. Carys was very aloof as a character, plus I never felt the spark between them or got a feeling as to why they liked each other. Truman and Ash had way better chemistry and I enjoyed their pining! Greta and Carys' got together so quickly and then their romance just stagnated. Nevertheless, this was a fun, fast-paced Romance perfect for the holidays!
Graphic: Homophobia and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Infidelity
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Lesbophobia
beth_s98's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Drug use, and Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Dementia, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
maregred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Dementia, Drug use, and Infidelity
Minor: Lesbophobia
daryn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Dementia, and Drug use
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Vomit
jashanac'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
4.5
There were just a couple of moments where I was particularly annoyed with Truman... just some "omg HOW are you misunderstanding this situation and WHY are you overreacting like this?!?!" moments. Nothing wild or drastically annoying and they were resolved fairly quickly, which I always appreciate. (I hate a long ass, drawn out, ridiculous 'third act breakup' type of situation.)
I love the movie The Holiday and could see the similarities with this story and I adored all of those little nods (going to the local grocery store/market on the first night to get wine & cheese & then completely hammered alone? haha love that scene -- and finding an older person to befriend and breathe new life into and gain immense wisdom and inspiration from? ADORE!)
All of the conversations of personal reflection, acknowledging how your maybe-kinda-toxic family/upbringing affected you, and working to grow from it... that was all really nice to see and I felt like it was executed well. Some of it frustrated me for the simple fact that it was so realistic and in real life it frustrates me to see people letting their dysfunctional families or other loved ones basically control them -- can't stand it! But again, it was realistic and I thought the exploration and growth from that was done well.
I also appreciated that budding love and romance was definitely a huge motivator for our two main characters... but that they wanted it to be very clear that they weren't making decisions solely because of that -- and I believed it. There's nothing wrong with a budding romance being PART of your reason for choosing a certain life path, as long as it isn't the ONLY reason and certainly as long as you aren't making a choice BECAUSE the other person is telling you to. I felt like both of our main characters made choices that they would have made regardless of potential romance, and I really liked that.
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Dementia
Minor: Homophobia
I wanted to point out that the infidelity content warning is not something that is perpetrated by either main character. It's perpetrated by someone else in the story and is quickly over.evelynyle_88's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Listening to this audiobook is so soothing. Knowing the story between Greta, Truman, Veronica and Ramona really what a new thing for me. Perfect for Christmas story. What a heartwarming story and really my new favourite!!
The Holiday Trap is one of a kind for me. The level of funny killing me. And to know there's astrology, Mardi Gras, King Cakes... once again... make me learn Mardi Gras culture; once again.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Dementia, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Homophobia, Child abuse, and Death