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markedwithanm's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
emily_mh's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was not a great execution of what it set out to do, which was to be a Christmas/holiday romance. In terms of holidayness, the holidays of Christmas and Channukah barely feature in the story to the point where I think this would have been better off as a regular romance. However, the romance was also lacking. With Greta’s story, her relationship with Carys felt more like a formative one you have in your 20s that doesn’t have an HEA because you’re there to change each other not be each other’s forevers. I didn’t like this, and I didn’t like that Carys seemed not that into Greta. And I’m not talking about Carys’ direct communication, which I liked, but about the fact that she seemed so dispassionate about the whole relationship. Truman’s romance was definitely my favourite of the two as it conversely felt a lot more equal in terms of love, and even just life experience. However I think Ash, like Carys, didn’t really feel like a real person, like the character wasn’t fully realised.
The strongest part about this book and what saves its overall rating was the character development of Greta and Truman. It was so cathartic seeing them learn about boundaries, and self-love, and living a life you’re in love with, and changing their lives accordingly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Dementia, Drug use, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Classism, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Transphobia, Vomit, Antisemitism, Death, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Abortion, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Major: toxic family Moderate: sick parent, family estrangement Minor: adoptionkharlan3's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Dementia and Infidelity
Minor: Lesbophobia and Drug use
allingoodtime's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Recently I read a book that I said had elements of the movie The Holiday in the beginning. This book is a flat-out last-minute house swap situation with so much romance, it hits all the same notes as The Holiday, not just a few. I loved it!
With a story such as this, where there are essentially two main characters having two separate storylines in two different places, it can be easy to favor one branch of the story over the other. I found, with this book, that I was equally invested in both Greta and Truman. When a Greta section ended and it hopped back to Truman, I would be disappointed for a millisecond before getting fully engrossed in Truman’s story. And vice versa.
The romance between Truman and Ash is so sweet and hesitant and just gave me a yummy warm feeling. Greta’s romance is a bit more chaotic. She grew up on a small island and never really lived anywhere else other than in college. Even then, she didn’t live in such a diverse and metropolitan area as New Orleans. As much as I was 100% on board for the romance between Greta and Carys, I found the other relationships Greta cultivated to be what kept me so engaged in her storyline. Greta really had a lot of digging deep to do in order to understand herself and her family and, in the end, be okay with the decisions she makes for herself.
While the small town of Owl Island always seemed to hold Greta down and cast a pall over her life, Truman thrived in the environment. His creativity flourished and he learned to listen to his inner self to find what he wanted and needed in life. Truman learns how to make himself happy without relying on making others happy to do so. He finds his own adventure on Owl Island, not just with Ash but with the books that he loves and so much more.
I swear, Roan Parrish never disappoints. This story is a bit different than the other books I’ve read by her so far, yet it is just as engaging and entertaining.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Homophobia
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