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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Are you looking for a holiday read with Hallmark vibes and a touch of spice? Then look no further because Julia McKay has got you with The Holiday Honeymoon Switch! I loved the friendship between Holly and Ivy most of all, and it is always refreshing to see a strong female bond in any book, but especially a rom-com. They had their own little meet cute that was absolutely adorable, and I found myself wishing I had an instant bestie sitch like this. The romances are both equally on point with Holly finding someone from her past in Hudson Valley and Ivy meeting someone new in Hawaii. I loved the variation the two different locations gave me as well and I loved the two besties POVs equally.
The audiobook is delightful as well with the fabulous Brittany Pressley voicing both characters. I do wish we would have had another female narrator to add a bit of differentiation between voices but since Pressley is one of my top 5 favorite narrators, this didn’t bother me as much as it could have. I would definitely recommend the audiobook but I’m sure reading would be good as well! I hadn’t realized that McKay was the pen name for Marissa Stapley who also writes under the pen name Maggie Knox, but I had a feeling this wasn’t a debut, and I love her, so it makes sense. I loved everything about this breezy read that is packed to the brim with sweetness!
Read this if you enjoy rom-coms with a focus on friendship, a holiday read that isn’t too in your face about it, and plenty of insta-love!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The audiobook is delightful as well with the fabulous Brittany Pressley voicing both characters. I do wish we would have had another female narrator to add a bit of differentiation between voices but since Pressley is one of my top 5 favorite narrators, this didn’t bother me as much as it could have. I would definitely recommend the audiobook but I’m sure reading would be good as well! I hadn’t realized that McKay was the pen name for Marissa Stapley who also writes under the pen name Maggie Knox, but I had a feeling this wasn’t a debut, and I love her, so it makes sense. I loved everything about this breezy read that is packed to the brim with sweetness!
Read this if you enjoy rom-coms with a focus on friendship, a holiday read that isn’t too in your face about it, and plenty of insta-love!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
* - Cancelled wedding
** - Vacation in Kauai
*** - Reconnecting with an old high school friend
.5 - Art holiday
Fun holiday switch romance. I was quite annoyed that Ivy just let Matt & Abby get away with keeping that room, when it was Holly's mother that paid for it! I would have expected her character to confront them right away, give them the boot, and take the luxury resort room for myself. Also, all her reasoning for not sharing what was happening with Holly felt a little forced and out of character for her.... but that wouldn't have made for as much tension in the book.
** - Vacation in Kauai
*** - Reconnecting with an old high school friend
.5 - Art holiday
Fun holiday switch romance. I was quite annoyed that Ivy just let Matt & Abby get away with keeping that room, when it was Holly's mother that paid for it! I would have expected her character to confront them right away, give them the boot, and take the luxury resort room for myself. Also, all her reasoning for not sharing what was happening with Holly felt a little forced and out of character for her.... but that wouldn't have made for as much tension in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books Putnam for providing this book, with my honest review below.
The Holiday Honeymoon Switch was a cute book that brought me back to the Christmas season (even in March). We see the friends meet cute between Holly and Ivy when they are in college and then jump forward to current day, at Holly’s rehearsal dinner. Things quickly go wrong for Holly, with her finance leaving her for another woman, kicking off the holiday honeymoon switch.
This was a very easy read and I enjoyed the premise. Past that it was a bit simplistic be twee (very much a hallmark or lifetime movie in book format), but I see that appealing to many younger adult readers. I say younger adult but I don’t meant teenagers, as this book has some light spice, rather those in early 20’s. Definitely very feel good and heartwarming, though nothing really stood out for me. I’m giving this a 2.8, rounded up to 3, for being so well written and for having a well contained plot.
The Holiday Honeymoon Switch was a cute book that brought me back to the Christmas season (even in March). We see the friends meet cute between Holly and Ivy when they are in college and then jump forward to current day, at Holly’s rehearsal dinner. Things quickly go wrong for Holly, with her finance leaving her for another woman, kicking off the holiday honeymoon switch.
This was a very easy read and I enjoyed the premise. Past that it was a bit simplistic be twee (very much a hallmark or lifetime movie in book format), but I see that appealing to many younger adult readers. I say younger adult but I don’t meant teenagers, as this book has some light spice, rather those in early 20’s. Definitely very feel good and heartwarming, though nothing really stood out for me. I’m giving this a 2.8, rounded up to 3, for being so well written and for having a well contained plot.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
I think because it covered two storylines, it wasn’t able to do either with much depth, so the characters felt pretty superficial. Not a lot of butterflies for me in either story.