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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book was okay. If you're in the mood for a Hallmark-esque romance that celebrates friendship, this may do it for you. Normally, that's my comfort go-to. This one missed the mark for me.
Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the characters. Holly and Ivy are both sort of bland, and don't do much over the course of the story that made me go, "Wow, I understand why they're the main characters!"
(Is that too lit-snob of me?)
From a technical perspective, the writing is great, particularly in regards to the settings. If Krimbo were real, I'd live there! A snowy forest of Christmas trees? It sounds magical. However, I found the choice of third-person present a little weird. I haven't read a ton of books written in that tense with dual perspectives, and after reading this, I kind of get why. It sounds good in theory; you're right alongside the character as they make their crucial decisions, rather than lagging behind them in an awkward, borderline voyeuristic way. However, shifting the perspective to present makes every emotional decision a little too rational, a little too quickly.
And for the record, I can't believe I'm saying this because I enjoy characters acting like adults and talking through their problems, but Holly and Ivy are too... level. They are too stable to feel real. There's little emotion and very little drama, and though that can be realistic, most people's emotions are messy when they've been jilted, or when they find out their best friend's ex-fiancé was having a full-blown affair.
So anyway, the main characters are a bit flat, but ironically the love interests are pretty well done. You can how they would be charming. Although... I admit that the celebrity comparisons were pretty weird. (Describing your main characters as resembling Rachel Bilson or Eva Mendes feels more suited to a Wattpad story than a romance novel to me.)
The dialogue comes off very robotic, too. Dialogue is a tricky thing to nail down, and I'm not sure McKay quite gets it right.
In a few months, I'll see this on my Goodreads and I'll go, "Wait, which book was that again?" I hate to be that blunt because I know how much love and care probably went into this, but unfortunately, it's true.
Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the characters. Holly and Ivy are both sort of bland, and don't do much over the course of the story that made me go, "Wow, I understand why they're the main characters!"
(Is that too lit-snob of me?)
From a technical perspective, the writing is great, particularly in regards to the settings. If Krimbo were real, I'd live there! A snowy forest of Christmas trees? It sounds magical. However, I found the choice of third-person present a little weird. I haven't read a ton of books written in that tense with dual perspectives, and after reading this, I kind of get why. It sounds good in theory; you're right alongside the character as they make their crucial decisions, rather than lagging behind them in an awkward, borderline voyeuristic way. However, shifting the perspective to present makes every emotional decision a little too rational, a little too quickly.
And for the record, I can't believe I'm saying this because I enjoy characters acting like adults and talking through their problems, but Holly and Ivy are too... level. They are too stable to feel real. There's little emotion and very little drama, and though that can be realistic, most people's emotions are messy when they've been jilted, or when they find out their best friend's ex-fiancé was having a full-blown affair.
So anyway, the main characters are a bit flat, but ironically the love interests are pretty well done. You can how they would be charming. Although... I admit that the celebrity comparisons were pretty weird. (Describing your main characters as resembling Rachel Bilson or Eva Mendes feels more suited to a Wattpad story than a romance novel to me.)
The dialogue comes off very robotic, too. Dialogue is a tricky thing to nail down, and I'm not sure McKay quite gets it right.
In a few months, I'll see this on my Goodreads and I'll go, "Wait, which book was that again?" I hate to be that blunt because I know how much love and care probably went into this, but unfortunately, it's true.
Super cute book, I enjoyed listening to this one. Best of both worlds; a story about best friends who swap vacations for different reasons. I loved the story line of a wintery cabin in Hudson Valley and a warm Vacation in Hawaii. Definitely recommend this one
3.5 ⭐️
Audiobook
I knew it was going to be a fluffy little fast listen; and it’s exactly what I wanted. Holiday adjacent, easy to listen, cute plot, tolerable narrator. It’s like a Hallmark Christmas movie for my ears and I did enjoy it. Not high literature, but that’s okay, it fit the bill and was fun.
Audiobook
I knew it was going to be a fluffy little fast listen; and it’s exactly what I wanted. Holiday adjacent, easy to listen, cute plot, tolerable narrator. It’s like a Hallmark Christmas movie for my ears and I did enjoy it. Not high literature, but that’s okay, it fit the bill and was fun.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Holly’s heart is shattered after her fiancé dumps her the night before their Christmas wedding. To help her heal, her bestie Ivy offers a unique plan: they’ll swap holidays! Ivy takes Holly’s non-refundable beach honeymoon in Kauai, while Holly goes on Ivy’s eco-friendly winter cabin retreat. Both women set out to relax and focus on themselves, but fate has other plans in store. They never imagined finding true love amidst these beautiful vacations.
This was my favorite holiday read of the year. It was a delightful mix of cuteness, humor, and romance. And Brittany Pressley did a great job narrating the audiobook.
This was my favorite holiday read of the year. It was a delightful mix of cuteness, humor, and romance. And Brittany Pressley did a great job narrating the audiobook.