The Holiday Honeymoon Switch

This was a sweet festive romance that follows two best friends who swap their Christmas holiday plans. After Holly's wedding is cancelled at the last minute, the besties decide that Ivy (yes, the BFFs are Holly and Ivy) will go on Holly's honeymoon and Ivy will take Holly's vacation in a secluded cabin for some much-needed quality alone time. 

The story has a mild The Holiday meets The Unhoneymooners vibe (with less spice and banter), but the highlight for me was the bond between the two besties, Holly and Ivy. I enjoyed getting POVs from both women and sure, there's some InstaLove and a quick romantic turnaround for Holly that will require readers to go with the flow, but overall, this was an enjoyable, wholesome holiday romance that's has a sprinkle of low spice and is a good pick to share with your own BFF this holiday season.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Julia McKay

Genre: RomCom, Holiday, Canadian

Type and Source: ebook from public library

Publisher: G.P Putnam's Sons

First Published: September 24, 2024

Read: Dec 15 - 17, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: Trading places and vacations might just be the Christmas miracle these two best friends need.

“The Holiday meets The Unhoneymooners in this friends-swapping-places romance that has it mistletoe and make-outs, plus sun, sand, and swoon!”—Chantel Guertin, author of It Happened One Christmas

Holly Beech and Ivy Casey are bury-the-body besties. They’re so in sync, they even look alike. When Holly’s fiancé jilts her, leaving her in shock and with a nonrefundable honeymoon, Holly convinces Ivy to switch places. Ivy will go on the Hawaiian honeymoon her best friend can’t bear to take alone, while Holly escapes to Ivy’s rented Hudson Valley cabin to binge-watch holiday movies and heal.

But Holly’s wallowing is interrupted when her rugged Airbnb host turns out to be her high school academic rival who’s had a major glow-up. Meanwhile, Ivy’s (now Hawaiian) annual solo art retreat is upended when Holly’s ex-fiancé checks into the honeymoon suite—with a new woman. Raging and bed-less, the last thing Ivy expects is for the hot hotel bartender to come to her rescue. Against all odds, this Christmas might prove the most magical yet.