A review by lost_windsock
The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad 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

5.0

This book was so wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed it the whole way through. I felt so hard for both Greta and Truman. I related to Greta's struggles with her family a lot, and the advice she got from Muriel(who was just such a delightful side character) hit me so deeply. I loved Carys and how she was unwilling to accept anything but what she needed, and I loved how she helped Greta realize that was something she needed to give herself too. I also really loved Helen and Veronica, and their whole side plot was just a lot of fun. Truman's plot line honestly got me close to tears several times. The way he was treated by his ex, and the way he let others treat him for most of his life was just so upsetting, especially since he was just the absolute sweetest person. Letting himself tamp down his own creativity, not seeing his own art as art...I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him to shine. I loved the way he ended up meeting Ash, and the theme of everyone in town always recognizing Greta's sweaters made me laugh every time. The tenderness that he was able to offer Ash, who SO needed it, was one of my favorite parts of the book. Those gentle moments of just letting him let go and cry when it was so obvious he hadn't allowed himself that. I enjoyed Truman's side plot with discovering the roots of his favorite book series, and his friends Germaine and Charlotte were a really fun inclusion to the story. Having online friends that support you is real! And the representation of that was so refreshing! Also a big shout out to Ramona, who was a really fun character and whose cryptic texts split up the book into perfect chunks. The holiday themes in this book were actually quite subdued for a holiday book, but I think that made me like it more. 
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