Unfortunately, this book was just not for me.

It's a cutsy Christmas romcom about twins, Charlie and Cass, who swapped places due to an injury sustained by Charlie on the set of her baking show. I just couldn't get on board with the characters though and found the entire plot rather boring.

If you enjoy the Hallmark Christmas movies, there's a very good chance you'll enjoy this one.

This is a fun and festive holiday read. It will definately put you in the Christmas spirit. Just imagining all the baked goods, and the idiylic town of Starlight Peak, you can almost believe you are there yourself, not to mention the budding romances that evolve throughout the novel.

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

Wrapped in a big fluffy blanket, a cozy cup of hot chocolate and a plate of sugar cookies next to you, sitting in an overstuffed chair next to a window with snow gently falling outside. That is the vibe of The Holiday Swap from writing duo Maggie Knox. With a quaint bakery, a competition baking show and a take on the twin-swap trope, there’s lots of fun and predictable conflict here. It’s Hallmark holiday low-stakes fun, with a pair of no-steam romances, and an adorable dog who makes a cameo. It’s nice, but not particularly memorable for me.

I enjoyed it, picking it up on the first truly cold day where I live, and it definitely has some charming elements. The first half of the story with the baking show squabbles and introduction to the lovely Starlight Peal town, is considerably more engaging than the second half. There’s a lot of drama of convenience, miscommunication and I didn’t find that there was that sparky romance connection with any of the couples. Cass & Charlie were somewhat interchangeable for me, their voices didn’t feel particularly unique, despite the assertion by the characters themselves that they are opposites.

Overall, if you want a parent-trap meets baking show set in an adorable town, cozy, low-conflict, HEA - this is for you. It’s good, but I don’t think this will make it to a memorable recommendation for me for a seasonal holiday read.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada, Netgalley and to the authors for access to a free e-copy of this fun novel. All opinions are my own. This is available now!

I am trying to find the words to describe this book. I didn't love it, but didn't hate it. I loved all the food talk, and loved on twin more than the other. But some of it felt almost too unrealistic to even be believable.

This was a cute holiday read and felt like a Hallmark movie. Twins Cass and Charlie swap places 10 days before Christmas. Cass takes Charlie’s place in LA and Charlie takes Cass’ place in their hometown of Starlight Peak. They are both dealing with some issues and escape their reality for a bit. It starts to get complicated when they both find romance in their swapped lives. It was a cute, fun and somewhat predictable read that is perfect for the holidays.

Thank you Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Authors Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley, writing under pseudonym Maggie Knox, teamed together to write a book inspired by Hallmark holiday movies, so it’s no surprise the story reads like a hallmark movie and would make such a cute film!
Identical twins Charlie and Cass Goodwin love baking, in fact, it’s their whole life. Growing up at their family bakery, Charlie is now a pastry chef on a popular baking show in LA, and Cass is holding down the Fort at the bakery in their rural mountain hometown. When Charlie is injured at work, she recruits Cass to secretly swap places with her on the baking show in order to not risk her possible promotion from co-host to star of her own baking show. Obviously, much shenanigans and hijinks result! This was a fun book set just before Christmas time. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for review.

This book is “Hallmark Christmas Movie” meets every twin swapping story (Parent Trap anyone?). I think if you’re a fan of The Princess Switch movies on Netflix then you will definitely enjoy this book.

I thought it was cute story that I definitely got more into it towards the end. I’m personally not always a fan of the twin swapping plot in general so that’s what plays into my rating. But if you’re looking for that cute, holiday, feel good kind of read, this is the book for you.

3.5 Stars
I thought this story was so cute! It was predictable but that didn’t hinder my reading experience at all. I love stories about twins, I find their bonds so fascinating.
I enjoyed the short, fast chapters from both the sisters POV. It made the story extremely readable and engaging.
I have already ordered myself a finished copy to pass along to my friends.

Loved this! Basically a Hallmark movie on book form, but less cheesy. Really a perfect holiday read.

I really enjoyed the small town, the characters and the relationships so much!

The Holiday Swap

If you want to evade for a few hours, this is a beautiful novel.

We follow 2 twin sisters who switch places because one of them has a health problem and cannot do her job properly. They have done it quite a few times when they were younger, but this is a rare time as adults. Consequences at work and in their old and new personal relationships abound as nobody recognizes them.
Lots of love, decision making and discoveries. A beautiful story.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

This was a really cute entertaining read. I felt like I was reading a hallmark movie. The plot was different. I really enjoyed the character development of the twins.

This was a wonderful and fun read. A book of finding love and a lot of personal growth mixed with funny scenes and many feel good ones, made this book a perfect Christmas read. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and my first by this author!!

I really enjoyed this book. It had the right amount of Christmas vibes in it for when I read it. But it was the character development that really made this book. I absolutely loved seeing how both the twins really came into themselves while pretending to be their twin. I loved the romances in it as well. To top it all off it was extremely funny!

This is the perfect holiday read. It’s perfect for early in the season reading because it’s not too christmassy. If you have a sister, love cooking or baking shows or have a love of tv holiday movies you will love this book. It’s an easy read perfect for this busy time of year.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I adored this G-rated romance. It is perfectly sweet and a little swoony. A Hallmark movie in a book in the best way❤️

The first thing that came to mind when I read the title and summary of this book was "The Princess Switch" on Netflix. But the story was still entirely different. It was an overall good read, and I don't have much more to say. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an EArc of The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox in exchange for an honest review.

A perfect cozy romance! Behind the scenes of a reality show, a sweet small town bakery, the holidays and romance, this book has all the makings of a perfect book to snuggle up with this fall! I flew through this book, it was adorable and just the right amount of hallmark-esque cheesiness to get me in the mood for Christmas.

To my delight I found out Maggie Knox is the pseudonym for two famous Canadian authors. Karma Brown (whose books I very much enjoy) and Marissa Stapley (I've only read one of her books but will look into more of them now.)

This was my first Christmas book for the season. It was sweet (literally as both the main characters are chefs and there is a lot of baking going on.) It really reminded me of a Hallmark type of movie.

Two twin sisters Charlie and Cass decide to swap places just before Christmas. Charlie is a famous tv chef who stars in a baking competition type of show (yes BIG The Great American Baking show vibes.) On set she falls and injures herself and needs to take time to rest but the show must go on! She asks her twin Cass to switch places with her. Charlie will in turn head back to their family bakery (in a quaint small town of all places) to help in the run-up to Christmas.

This is a feel good type of story and a heartwarming romance. It's a little cheesy but it provides you with all the good feels around the holiday season. 🎄

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for granting me access to this Advance Reader Copy.

This was a nice, fun, light read. Like a Harlequin Christmas movie. Two twins trade places and live each other's lives which has them rethinking what they each want with their lives. Throw in a romance for each of them and some yummy food talk. I really enjoyed it.

When identical twins need an escape, they do just that and live each others lives. Charlie heads to her hometown to run the family bakery while Cass heads to LA to help salvage her sisters career. Nothing goes as planned and new love interests makes everything so much harder! I can picture the Hallmark Movie now....but who would they cast?? Perfect story to get into the swing of Christmas.