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A review by mldavisreads
The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish
adventurous
reflective
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Contemporary LGBTQ romance. Greta in Maine and Truman in New Orleans both find themselves needing to get out of town for the holidays. A mutual friend, Ramona, helps them arrange a house swap so that Greta can watch Truman's dog and Truman can watch Greta's plants. Greta loves the quicker pace of life in New Orleans, the weather that is conducive to growing almost year-round outdoors, and the LGBTQ scene she finds there. Truman loves the sincerity of the people on Owl Island, the small-town feeling, but does not particularly like the cold. Greta meets Carys and falls in love with her confident, no-nonsense approach to life. Truman meets Ash, a florist who owns his own business and needs a partner in more ways than one.
I enjoyed the house swap and the sense of reflection that comes from being in a completely new place around people that don't know your past. I really enjoyed Truman's journey but didn't enjoy Greta's story as much. Greta's story had a few too many characters to keep track of, and for the longest time I thought she was dating Muriel, a much older gardener she met, so I was a bit put off by that. I eventually realized that Muriel was an older friend who served more as a mother/mentor figure, but didn't like that I had been so easily confused by a central plot point. Lots of reflections about why we are the way we are, setting healthy emotional boundaries, and speaking up for our needs. The psychological aspect was a bit heavy-handed at times.
I enjoyed the house swap and the sense of reflection that comes from being in a completely new place around people that don't know your past. I really enjoyed Truman's journey but didn't enjoy Greta's story as much. Greta's story had a few too many characters to keep track of, and for the longest time I thought she was dating Muriel, a much older gardener she met, so I was a bit put off by that. I eventually realized that Muriel was an older friend who served more as a mother/mentor figure, but didn't like that I had been so easily confused by a central plot point. Lots of reflections about why we are the way we are, setting healthy emotional boundaries, and speaking up for our needs. The psychological aspect was a bit heavy-handed at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use