Title: Love for the Holidays
Author: Arizona Tape
Series: Rainbow Central #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance, LGBTQI
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021
This was such a great, beautiful and seriously cute sapphic romance. It was that gorgeous roommates to friends to lovers storyline. And I love how Ivy and Frances spend the entirety of this story getting to truly know one another and support each other. Honestly, for me, the romance took a step back from the relationship building. I absolutely adored this couple and how they manage to chase away the hurts of the past around Christmas time. As with everything I’ve read by Arizona Tape, this story was fun, light and made me fall more and more deeply in love with every passage.
Although Ivy starts this story consistently stating that she’s straight, this story isn’t really about her “coming out”. Honestly, it’s such a non-issue that you almost miss the moment. Rather, this story is very much about two women falling in love with each other through support and mutual desires. Honestly, the entirety of this romance is so refreshingly drama free. The only angst for both Ivy and Frances is that they aren’t sure how to show their roommate that they want more. And they don’t quite know how to make a move.
Where Ivy is all bright light and intensity, Frances is a little more subdued. I actually really enjoyed reading about her falling for Ivy. It’s such a gentle falling based on mutual support and kindness. These two girls are honestly total relationship goals. They are supportive and kind. And their entire friendship turned relationship ends up being based on mutual respect and non-judgement for each other. Plus, I thought that Ivy’s best friend, Jenna, would kick up a bit of a fuss at their relationship. But, like everyone in this story, she is all support and love. Honestly, I wish all social circles were capable of this kind of support and kindness.
Both Ivy and Frances have difficulties with family that is seriously triggered by the holidays and Christmas. They might be on different ends of the spectrum of family closeness in this, but I love how Love for the Holidays drives home that this time of year, whilst enjoyable, can also be difficult. Even in the moments that we are enjoying time with our family, it can still be tough to figure out how to negotiate the whole myriad of feelings. Ivy and Frances both did this beautifully, and it came as a welcome breath of fresh air and joy for a holiday season that I’m going to find difficult myself.
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Earth and Skye 