Book Review: The Holdout by Laurel Osterkamp


Summary: 
Robin wanted to win The Holdout, a cutthroat reality TV show, so she gave it her all, challenge after challenge. Then she fell for Grant, with his irresistible eyes and heartbreaking life story. But Grant was only using Robin as they competed for a million dollars. Once home, Robin wants to hide from the humiliation as episodes of The Holdout are aired, and she worries her family was right all along; she's not a survivor. Or maybe she'll have the last laugh Besides, Robin now has jury duty. And as she forges ahead, confronting her demons about bravery, justice, and romance, Robin will come to decide which is more important: the courage to stand alone, or the strength to love again. 

Release Date: September 9, 2013
Age Group: Adult
Source: Review copy from author
Reviewed By: Kelli

Review:
I've never been a fan of reality TV, but I really like books about reality TV!  The Holdout was addicting and I could not put it down.  I read this book in one sitting (I stayed up late again) and I wouldn't have had it any other way.  

I don't know about you, but going on a reality TV show is always been a small fantasy of mine.  More so in my younger, childless years, but a dream nonetheless.  So it was voyeuristic fun for me to read about someone brave enough to go on a survival show.  

I really liked Robin, right from the start.  She had gumption and was smart about the way she approached things.  She has a hard time asserting herself with her domineering family, but I loved watching her hold her own with them.  Robin was a strong character and that's always a good thing, in my opinion.  I like strong characters who know what they want and pursue it single-mindedly.  

The actual issue of who would win the show was overshadowed by my investment in Robin's love life.  I really wanted her to find happiness, and was pleased with how the book ended in that regard.  I would have liked a longer epilogue, just to see more of Robin living out her HEA: especially with regard to her career and love life.  

Books like The Holdout are why I love contemporary fiction.  They are just fun, easy reads and I love the escape into someone else's life.  I'm new to Laurel Osterkamp's work, but if her other books are even close to as good as The Holdout, I'm going to be reading them all! 



1 comment:

  1. Sounds kinda fun. Nothing I would pick up on my own but still something I might like.

    ReplyDelete

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