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Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
The Holdout by Laurel Osterkamp is a fantastic book. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Robin, hate Grant, wonder about Nick's role, and stay up late reading to see who wins The Holdout. Robin’s mother died when she was two and she has spent her entire life trying to prove herself to her father and brothers. When she gets chosen to be a contestant on The Holdout, a reality TV show, Robin believes this is her chance to establish her worth. The Holdout is a tough show and Robin finds herself fighting hard to win challenges and not be the one to get sent home. She also falls in love with Grant, another contestant. The final results are not to be revealed for a year and Robin cannot discuss any part of the show until the conclusion airs on TV. She returns home and is called for jury duty. The story flips back and forth between her being on the show and being a member of the jury and getting to know the other jurors, especially Nick. When the show finally airs, Robin is teased by her family, encouraged by her friends, and she tries to change her appearance in order that the 11 people on the jury don’t recognize her. When the final show airs and the winner is announced, there are many surprises. The jury case ends with some surprises as well.
Laurel Osterkamp is a brilliant author and The Holdout is a winner. I shared Robin’s pains and joys as she fought her inner battles dealing with love, pride, justice, and life. I loved this book - it had a little of everything in it. The Holdout was so well written that I felt as though I knew Robin forever and hoped our friendship would continue long after I finished the book. Don’t miss this one. The Holdout and Laurel Osterkamp will be talked about for a long time. The Holdout has all the makings for a long run at the top of the bestseller list.
