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abbypeekreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
If you like The Princess Switch movies on Netflix, you'll definitely enjoy this book. While there isn't a royal aspect to this story, we still have two identical twins switching places with each other and falling for guys in their sister's life and generally messing things up. Though the whole scenario might be unlikely to ever happen, once you get over that hump, it's still a cute and sweet and generally fun story to read.
The settings were idyllic (a cozy small town during Christmas and a holiday baking show in LA?? I'm sold), the romances gave me all the fuzzy feelings, and Cass and Charlie's relationship was a pleasure to witness. I enjoyed reading from both of their perspectives and seeing the growth they both experienced. I'd recommend if you're looking for a quick and easy holiday read!
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Alcohol and Blood
atamano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Toxic relationship
stardustandrockets's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content and Pregnancy
books_hello's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Pregnancy
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Author: Maggie Know
Genre: Holiday Romance
Rating: 3.0
Pub Date: September 30, 2021
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Cozy β’ Whimsical β’ Cringy
π S Y N O P S I S
When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell--both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie's identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family's bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won't get the memo that they're over.
With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven't done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician's assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix.
π T H O U G H T S
I wanted to read The Holiday Swap last holiday season, but just never got to it. This year I made it a priority, making sure to read it before picking up Maggie Knox's latest release All I Want for Christmas.
What I like:
β’ the premise. Twins swapping places for 12 days sounded like such a fun and creative idea.
β’ the dual setting/dual perspective. The small family run bakery and a TV baking show contrasted worlds nicely as did having identical twin perspectives.
β’ the cooking/baking. It's no surprise I love books that involve food, so that aspect was what kept me going.
What I didn't like:
β’ double the romance. Maybe one romance would have worked, but two just felt unrealistic. It was highly unlikely both twins would end up in a romance in the opposite place at the exact same time.
β’ the lying. It wasn't just the deception of swapping places. There were just so many lies, and eventually it felt redundant.
β’ lack of festiveness. This didn't feel like a holiday read to me, apart from it taking place during that time of the year, which was disappointing.
The Holiday Swap is filled with mishaps and witty dialogue where everything ends tied up with a bright shiny bow. I've read a handful of 'holiday romances' this month, and I'm starting to think they may just not be for me. But of course, I'm going to try another one...
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ Hallmark movie devotees
β’ fans of Cake Wars
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"We don't always know how to ask for what we want."
Moderate: Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming
Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol
amotoquinha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
4.0
β½ The Holiday Swap reminds me a bit of The Princess Switch, as it's a fun, romantic story that features baking in some capacity π Here it's twins Charlie and Cass switching places, as their personal lives are in disarray. Both of them love baking, but they have two very different careers. Charlie is a baker on a famous reality show, but her co-host is a major jerk and she cannot wait to show him who's better. She's driven and smart ... but a freak accident leaves her without her ability to smell and taste. That's why she's desperate for her twin to take over! Cass is a passionate baker at their small home-town bakery, but an awful fallout with her ex leaves her shaken. She's all too happy to switch and get out of town!
β½ The switching, ensuring chaos and baking really sold me on this! I loved seeing Cass and Charlie's bond and their difficulties with impersonating each other. Getting out of their lives also made both of them realize that their current life might not be what they really want. The romances were super cute as well, though there is of course the typical lying involved due to the switching trope. I still had a great time with this book! The only issue I had was with Cass' ex and how easily his toxic behavior was forgiven in the end.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
gemin1reader's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
fictionaladventures's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
eryn_gilbert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, and Medical content