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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
5 stars!
The Holiday is already the best Christmas rom-com and this takes that story and makes it even better! I loved that the women were already best friends from the start and how it came across on the page. Plus, we get 2 romances in one book! Which meant there wasn't a lot of filler or pointless scenes. The romance, the 3rd act conflicts, and the resolutions all made perfect sense for the story and the characters. I read this mostly in a day and am now so ready for both Christmas and a beach vacation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
The Holiday is already the best Christmas rom-com and this takes that story and makes it even better! I loved that the women were already best friends from the start and how it came across on the page. Plus, we get 2 romances in one book! Which meant there wasn't a lot of filler or pointless scenes. The romance, the 3rd act conflicts, and the resolutions all made perfect sense for the story and the characters. I read this mostly in a day and am now so ready for both Christmas and a beach vacation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was such a fun holiday read full of friendship, romance and Christmas cheer! Both Holly and Ivy were so much fun to read and I loved their friendship so much. Even though they’re apart for the majority of the book, you can just feel how much they care about their friendship and would do anything for each other. I also loved that not only did you get a small town setting at Christmas (which is my favorite!), you also get a Hawaiian Christmas full of sun, sand and fun cocktails! The side characters were written so well and brought so much fun to the story, especially Larry! And of course, the romances were top notch. SEVERAL swoonworthy moments! Definitely add this one to your holiday TBR, especially if you love The Holiday, a small town setting or a holiday in the sun!
CW: infidelity,
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
While my first attempt reading a (coauthored) book from Marissa Stapley wasn’t so great, I remain optimistic that something else she writes could work for me, so I took the chance on The Holiday Honeymoon Switch, which she wrote under the pen name Julia McKay. And while some intervening circumstances made me apprehensive, like my overwhelmingly Grinch-y feelings about books compared to The Holiday suddenly exploding in popularity, this one proved to be an exception to the rule.
For one, I loved the strong theme of friendship from page one. Holly and Ivy (the names are the best!) are best friends, almost sisters, and I love how ride-or-die they are for each other. But it’s also great to see them on their own adventures, while also seeing how one’s life still impacts the other from a distance.
And their respective romances are both fairly interesting and substantial, in spite of the reader not getting insight into the love interests’ POVs. I admit I liked Oliver a little more, and I felt I got to know him a little better over the course of the book, and he does a wonderful “grand gesture” for Ivy towards the end! But Aiden is a solid love interest for Holly, and she realistically moves on from the betrayal of being cheated on by her fiancee, in spite of the short timeframe.
This was a pleasant surprise, and I’d recommend it to readers interested in a book that is both a holiday romance and celebration of friendship. iendship between women.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I absolutely loved reading "The Holiday Honeymoon Switch"! It was so captivating that I couldn't stop reading until I finished it. The book was charming and unique, especially the friendship between Holly and Ivy. I also enjoyed following their separate love stories and the journey of finding their Christmas spirit again. Aiden and Oliver were wonderful MMC’s, and I adored them. The author did a fantastic job of weaving together romance, humor, and heartwarming moments. So cuddle up next to a fire and read this book when it comes out, it will not disappoint! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
What a cute holiday romance!
Holly and Ivy have been best friends ever since they met at a college Christmas party and bonded over their indifference for the holiday. Fast forward a few years and Holly has just been dumped by her fiancé the night before her wedding. Unable to bear going on her honeymoon alone, but not wanting the non refundable trip to go to waste, Holly convinces Ivy to go to Hawaii in her place while Holly will go on Ivy’s cabin getaway in the Hudson Valley to get the solitude she craves. But what will happen when Holly’s airbnb host turns out to be an old high school rival and Ivy meets a hot bartender at the resort?
I really enjoyed this book! I feel like the only thing better than a holiday romance is two holiday romances and this book definitely delivered! I thought the author did a good job of balancing the two different storylines. I felt like the two different sides of the romance got equal attention and they both had the shenanigans that make romcoms so fun. The characters felt well written and had a good amount of growth considering the story only spans two weeks. I also really appreciated that the story had strong themes of friendship and self discovery in addition to the romances.
If you enjoy holiday romances you’ll definitely want to add this one to your list for this holiday season!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Holly and Ivy have been best friends ever since they met at a college Christmas party and bonded over their indifference for the holiday. Fast forward a few years and Holly has just been dumped by her fiancé the night before her wedding. Unable to bear going on her honeymoon alone, but not wanting the non refundable trip to go to waste, Holly convinces Ivy to go to Hawaii in her place while Holly will go on Ivy’s cabin getaway in the Hudson Valley to get the solitude she craves. But what will happen when Holly’s airbnb host turns out to be an old high school rival and Ivy meets a hot bartender at the resort?
I really enjoyed this book! I feel like the only thing better than a holiday romance is two holiday romances and this book definitely delivered! I thought the author did a good job of balancing the two different storylines. I felt like the two different sides of the romance got equal attention and they both had the shenanigans that make romcoms so fun. The characters felt well written and had a good amount of growth considering the story only spans two weeks. I also really appreciated that the story had strong themes of friendship and self discovery in addition to the romances.
If you enjoy holiday romances you’ll definitely want to add this one to your list for this holiday season!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you NetGalley, Julia McKay, and Penguin Group Putnam for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
What an adorably sweet Christmas rom-com that is perfect for the holiday season!! When a doppelgänger best friends swap a cozy Christmas cabin getaway for the other's sun soaked Hawaiian would-be honeymoon, they each stumble upon unexpected love in the most surprising places. Though romance blooms along the way, the heart of the story centers on the unshakeable bond between Holly and Ivy, whose strong friendship takes center stage amid the backdrop of their unexpected holiday adventures. I absolutely loved this cozy, feel-good holiday read and I highly recommend it!! 🩵🩵🩵🩵
What an adorably sweet Christmas rom-com that is perfect for the holiday season!! When a doppelgänger best friends swap a cozy Christmas cabin getaway for the other's sun soaked Hawaiian would-be honeymoon, they each stumble upon unexpected love in the most surprising places. Though romance blooms along the way, the heart of the story centers on the unshakeable bond between Holly and Ivy, whose strong friendship takes center stage amid the backdrop of their unexpected holiday adventures. I absolutely loved this cozy, feel-good holiday read and I highly recommend it!! 🩵🩵🩵🩵
This was too cute and a good transition into holiday reading for me because it it’s my too Christmassy but still had some moments which is what I needed right now. Holly and Ivy were the most adorable BFF duo and I really enjoyed you got both of their love stories. It’s narrated by one of my faves too so that was an added bonus to an already adorable read
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a cute story about two best friends going on vacations (swapped between each other) and finding love. The honeymoon part comes into play when Holly is supposed to get married but... well... her fiancé is kind of in love with someone else. She's obviously not feeling like lounging in Hawaii to recover on what was supposed to be her honeymoon so she convinces her best friend Ivy to go in her place while she goes on Ivy's two week snowy cabin trip instead. Ivy winds up not staying in the planned hotel - long story - but finds a great apartment with a hot neighbor. Holly, meanwhile, is trying to figure out how to get the fire to work and bumps into Eco Clark Kent, a former classmate. Sparks commence flying! This was a quick read and, as I mentioned, cute, but was pretty predictable. Honestly though, that's what I'm usually expecting when reading a book in this category.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advance reader copy!
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advance reader copy!