2.5 stars. From the synopsis, I expected The Holiday Treatment to be a rom-com about making a gay Christmas movie, but unfortunately there are no on-set hijinks, no drama in front of and behind the camera, no filming in picturesque locations. If anyone knows if that book exists, please let me know.

In the meantime, we have this book, which is about a forbidden workplace fling and the year of longing and secret dating that happens afterward. I had a hard time rooting for Holly and Meredith's relationship. It's ill-advised thanks to the professional power imbalance, it's unfair to Holly, and its problems are never solved in practical ways that the reader gets to see. After a certain point, the problems are just never mentioned again.

For me, the best parts were the scenes with Holly's found family at her apartment complex. It was fun to witness their shared friendship, humor, and support of one another.