If you enjoy Hallmark/Netflix Christmas movies then this book is definitely for you!

While the plot itself wasn't entirely believable (I mean, 2 adult twins being able to swap lives?), the story itself was cute and full of fun little moments. This is a clean, easy-read that made me wish we just a little bit closer to the holiday season!

A perfect cozy holiday read! Curl up with a big hot chocolate and a cozy blanket, and dive into the lives of the twins in Stars Peak.
You wont need to choose a favourite sister, your heart will warm to both in this dual narrative as each chapter inches you closer to Christmas.

As if it were even possible, the powerful writing of Karma Brown and Marrisa Stapley is amplified when they write together!

The Holiday Swap is a really cute heartwarming book, it's like a hallmark movie but in a book.

I really loved the dual point of views but I was drawn more the Charlie story more, I think it had everything to do with the small town feeling. I always choose small town over big cities.

If you are looking for a quick read this upcoming holiday season this is the book for you.

I would recommend this book to everyone who love cute romcom stories.

You will fall in love with Charlie and Cass ❤️

This is a Hallmark movie in book form, but with better character development! It's a lovely festive weekend read.

This book has the makings of a Hallmark movie! You have two Canadian powerhouse authors behind Maggie Knox and they have delivered a perfect Christmas novel!

There are twins, small town vs big city, a horrible accident which causes a switch and of course a Physician Assistant and Firefighter to add some romance.

When Charlie has an accident on the set of her baking show which causes a concussion and alters her sense of smell and taste what else can she do but call her identical twin Cassie and switch lives. They both have a baking background so what could possible go wrong??

This book will make you smile, fell warm and cozy and help you get into the Christmas mood. I highly recommend this one for the upcoming Holiday season.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for my digital ARC for my honest opinion.

This is such a cute story! Makes me excited for Christmas! Between 4.5 and a 5.

Famous TV show chef Charlie Goodwin is a co-star on Sweet and Salty, a baking show, with her horrible co-host Austin. Vying for a job on a new baking show, Charlie is putting on her best "sweet" face and trying very hard to earn host job and the new show. A random accident unfortunately gives Charlie a concussion, losing her ability to taste and smell. Essentially, how can she judge a baking show? Enter Cass, Charlie's identical twin sister and baker at their legendary family bakery in their small hometown. With the countdown to Christmas on, the sisters switch places-Cass hosting the TV show and Charlie in Starlight Peak running the family bakery while their parents are on vacation until Christmas Eve when the sisters switch back. Enter love interests, competition from co-hosts and huge companies and a lot of sweet treats!

This book has good vibes all over it. This is such a sweet, feel good story. Both Charlie and Cass find lovely men-Jake and Miguel, and experience relationships with them while pretending to be the other. This book left me reading, interested and waiting patiently for Christmas. This is definitely a G-rated story, there is absolutely no spice, but I didn't miss it. The story was well written with interesting characters. I loved the small town vibes in Starlight Peak and the experiences working on a TV show. I did think the love interests happened a tad too quickly, and some of excuses for being the other twin were a tad questionable, but it didn't ruin the story for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.

Probably actually a 3.5

This book was cute, a pure Hallmark movie as a book. It was really clean (0 spice), didn't deal with any difficult topics, and in general, was a feel-good holiday romance.

The story follows Charlie and Cass, a pair of identical twins who switch lives in the leadup to Christmas after Charlie gets a concussion. In their new lives, the twins find strength, personal growth, and love.

It honestly sounds like the perfect read, except that both POVs sounded identical to me. If the chapters didn't have the twin's name at the beginning, I would not have been able to tell the difference. Which I guess makes it more believable that they were able to switch lives for an entire week and nobody noticed?

If you read this around the Christmas period, I think you really can't go wrong!

This was the sweetest, most delightful story I’ve read in a long time! It was also very sweet in the sense that there was a local bakery and baking show involved in the story! It was full of delicious food references and holiday cheer!

Cass and Charlie are identical twin sisters. Charlie lives in one state and hosts a baking show and Cass lives in another state and runs her parent’s local bakery. When Charlie gets a concussion and can no longer taste and smell and is unable to host the baking show, she asks her sister Cass to switch places with her to finish the show and save her career. What happens next is an unfortunate mix up of two different men falling for a twin who they think is the other twin.

As I was reading I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next and that is what made it a page turner for me! It’s the perfect holiday read and you’ve got to pick it up if you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit!

After celebrity chef Charlie Goodwin has an accident at work and loses her sense of taste and smell, identical twin sisters Cass and Charlie swap lives leading up to the Christmas holidays. Cass is thrown into the LA lifestyle both on set and off. Charlie is going home to run her family bakery in their quiet hometown of Starlight Peak.

This was a very cute romance book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is ready to kick start their holiday season. It felt like a Hallmark movie unfolding on the page.

This isn't an original idea but it is one that I enjoy. Swapping lives to help out a loved one sounds like it would be a fun escape for a while but just because you look alike it does not make it easy to traverse that person's life personally or professionally.

This was a very clean romance, which I found to be refreshing, and would have no problem recommending this to several different age groups.

This book was so fun to read! I was looking forward to a light, fun read & that’s just what this book was. Charlie & Cass are both rich, unique characters with the same kind of values you get from being raised as siblings. I loved the secondary characters too: Jake, Miguel, Walter, Faye & more. There was a point around half way through the book when I wondered where the story was going but then it progressed wonderfully. I really wanted to shake those sisters & tell them to tell the truth but the actual resolution of the switcheroo was so satisfying. What a great story!

Thanks so much to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read this great story!

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox (which is the pen name of Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley) appeals to my baking loving, holiday reading, romantic heart. Identical twins Charlie and Cass Goodwin have baking in their blood. Growing up in Starlight Peak, an ideal holiday picture postcard town, the twins grew up at Woodburn Breads their family-owned bakery. Charlie leaves to train as a professional chef eventually landing a television job with an abhorrent co-host and Cass stays at home honing her baking craft with the family. With twelve days left until Christmas, Charlie is wrapping up her television show hoping that she will be given a coveted show of her own, while Cass is busy baking the traditional Starlight Loaves handed out on Christmas Eve every year. Charlie experiences an unfortunate incident at work that leads her to the emergency department with a concussion that leaves her without any sense of taste or smell. How will she be able to show her true potential without her senses? Meanwhile, Cass has broken up with her long-term boyfriend Brett, a fact that he doesn’t seem to be acknowledging. Charlie comes up with a plan, why don’t they swap lives, just until Christmas, Charlie can bake at the bakery while Cass can fill in on the television show.

Can the twins fall into each other’s lives without anyone noticing? Cass nervously steps in front of the camera with the help of Charlie’s friend and makeup artist Priya, in on the plan. Cass quickly notices that Charlie’s life is hectic and how Charlie’s co-host Austin is unfairly given more credibility to spite lying and cheating his way to the top. He gets to wear Chef’s Whites while Charlie has to do the same work while wearing heels and fancy dresses. Charlie discovers that Cass has been working just as hard at the family bakery, while somehow maintaining connections with the local customers. This includes her all-time favourite customer Faye, who is like a grandmother to her.

While swapping lives, Charlie meets Faye’s Grandson, Jake, a local firefighter, who always seems to be at the right place, at the right time. Cass meets the Physician’s Assistant, Miguel, who treated Charlie in the hospital and is a huge fan of Charlie’s television show. While each exploring the other’s life, both Charlie and Cass come closer together, but also find what they were missing in their lives and feel terrible trying to keep up the façade of who they really are. Although this book takes place during the run-up to the holiday season, you could read this at any time of year, but if you’re looking for something to put you in the holiday spirit, at trip to Starlight Peak is ideal. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a cute Christmas romance novel. It is predictable, but that's the point of these books. I read them for being cute and happy, rather than filled with pages and pages of drama or horror. I want to see the happy endings and the journeys for the characters.

I did like Charlie's moments more than Cass's. I think Cass's chapters could have included a bit more with time on the air. I'd have loved to see more of the scenes on the show rather than just hear about what happened after. Show, don't tell. But overall, it was a great read and got me into the holiday spirit.

Full review is at Amazon Adviser.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox in exchange for an honest review.

A super cute Rom-Com that gave me parent trap vibes with all the fun of the holiday season entwined in the story too.

It's a super easy going read, a bit predictable, but still cute and fun.

Get ready for this season’s newest holiday rom-com by Maggie Knox (pen name for writing duo Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley) The Holiday Swap. It has all the sugar and spice you would expect from a Hallmark movie and a food network baking show. It is a holiday-themed romantic comedy about identical twins who switch lives in the days leading up to Christmas think Switched at Christmas, The Princess Switch or go back to the Lizzie McGuire movie whatever your favourite twin movie is the authors bring a fresh fun tone to these pages.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, I’ve read a bunch of cute Christmas stories over the last month and this has been my favourite , I loved the authors writing style and I loved all the interactions with characters and that everyone had a story to tell.
Imagine swapping places with your twin to help them out and in the end finding out you both learned more about yourself by stepping into the others shoes. It’s about finding your passion, falling in love, family, standing up for yourself, and loving yourself.
I would recommend this book to my friends or BookClub to read....in fact we are reading it in December as a club pick.
I received a free copy from NetGalley, all opinions expressed are my own

Thanks to The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox, holiday cheer has come early this year. Its premise whisks together a wholesome blend of light Hallmark-like romance and The Princess Switch-style shenanigans readers can embrace effortlessly. The characters are infectious, and the whimsical baking heists at the heart of this story are delectably enchanting.

I found myself thoroughly entertained within the pages of this festive book, each chapter brimming with recipes to feast on and just the right balance of sweet and salty antics amongst the characters. It’s difficult not to come away from this one smiling and yearning for Christmas traditions, even as I prepare to carve pumpkins for Halloween.

This book delivers on some serious Christmas goodness thanks to Canadian writing duo Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley. Under the pen name Maggie Knox, the two embrace the essence of feel-good, twin-centric films like The Princess Switch and The Parent Trap. The fun twin-swap aspect comes into play when Charlie Goodwin, a holiday baking show host on the rise, who enlists the help of her identical twin sister Cassie to save her career in time for Christmas. The twins are the real miracle here as they navigate the hardship of their drastically different career pursuits with a lovability and witty intrigue that is often cheapened by a desire to have the season be the star of the show, not the characters.

The protagonists in this book come first always, and I found that refreshing, even when the romance takes a backseat to their sisterly bond. Like any two-dimensional holiday binge-read, this book is overtly sweet and brimming with clean holiday fun. Yet, The Holiday Swap dares to challenge the expectation with a plot as warm and as rich as mulled wine.

I was overjoyed by how well-developed Charlie and Cassie were, their sisterly bond tangible and grounded in an unspoken sibling history felt on every page. It was easy to follow their alternating perspectives without feeling lost or off-put by lesser experiences. Both women have a strong voice, equal stakes in this ruse, and individual quirks readers will be happy to entertain as this story spirals into a flurry of burning bakeries and fainting contestants. Even the side characters are loveable in their simplicity.

And I wasn’t irritated by the fact Miguel and Jake are somewhat one-note love interests because the romance and the holiday vibes are meant to enhance, not overpower Cassie and Charlie’s shared experience. The romance introduced is simplistically charming. Both men are kind-hearted and incredibly successful at being good-looking and saving lives. Did I mention Miguel can cook and Jake has a dog? Well, they do, and it leads to several adorable meet-cutes.

If you like your holiday reads a little more spicey, these squeaky clean and overtly straight relationships may leave you simmering, rather than bumbling over with cheer. The rest of the story is strong enough that I did not feel skimped by the toned-down romance of this romantic comedy. Keep in mind this book takes place in the week leading up to Christmas, and realistically the window for hanky-panky is small when you are trying to save your family bakery and your sister’s job. Did I mention Jake has a slightly overweight dog? Sometimes that’s enough to light a fire.

Despite this being a holiday read, the captivating story of love and family is wrapped so expertly, I hardly mind. The execution of the theme is subtle but effective. The premise ignores Christmas shopping montages, sexy garland-hanging parlay, and large family gatherings to bring to life locations that set the mood instead. The task of carrying the theme is one the small town of Starlight Peak, and the bright holiday sets of LA are well equipped to handle.

The people of Starlight Peak are also their own story worth embracing; however, the Gilmore Girls vibes of a town blanketed in snow and overwhelmed with anticipation for the holiday festivities are lovely to slip in and out of. I’m a sucker for this small town bakery atmosphere and all the intoxicating recipes that surround Cassie in this setting. It brings to life a familiar comfort and sense of home that so many of us associate with the holiday season.

So if you are looking for that gateway read leading up to December, The Holiday Swap’s casual approach to the most wonderful (and hectic) time of the year may be a perfect way to ease back into the holiday spirit. And if you pick up any book this holiday season, let it be this one. You will not be disappointed by what you discover when you unwrap this scenic trip of sweet recipes and chaotic twin swaps.

A fun, lighthearted holiday read! This book was my first book by Maggie Knox and likely won't be my last. I recommend this to anyone wanting something romantic, sweet, and full of Christmas cheer to fill the down moments in December - as few as there sometimes are! My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel for this honest review.

What a delightful read! Fun from start to finish, and certainly helped get me in the holiday spirit. If you enjoy holiday Hallmark movies, this book is definitely for you!

As a holiday-loving identical twin I was thrilled to receive an early copy of this festive release courtesy of Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an easy, the-right-amount-of-cheesy, cute holiday read. I would recommend this to anyone who adores holiday romances, fully resolved plots and PG kisses.

❤️ Pros
This story has a little bit of everything characteristic of a made-for-tv holiday romance movie — small town charm polarized by big city possibilities, endearing love interests, misunderstandings, a garland-wrapped winter setting and an abundance of holiday baked goods. The characters were unique, well-developed, relatable and enjoyable.

💔 Cons
At the risk of bursting people’s twin-conception bubbles, there is NO WAY a twin would ever date someone if he couldn’t tell her apart from her sister…especially after ten years together. I found there were a few details — like Brett being fooled by the switcheroo or Cass requesting her twin sister Charlie break up with Brett while impersonating her — that missed the mark a little bit for me.

❣️ Final Thoughts
The writing was well done and the plot made for a cute holiday story.

Unfortunately I couldn't read the book on my Kobo. The type was too small, and I couldn't figure out how to get it to work properly when enlarging the print, it only gave me a portion of the page, and was too difficult to manoeuver. I haven't had this problem with any other books. Too bad, as I was really looking forward to reading the book.