I can see why The Holiday Swap is being touted as one of THE to-read books of the 2021 holiday season- what a perfect holiday book! Holiday Swap has the hijinks, fun, and sweetness of a Hallmark movie but just enough weight to make it a re-read for Christmases to come.
Charlie and Cassandra are both super entertaining protagonists. Knox uses the twin trope well; it ties the story together, but it isn't non-stop "oh shucks, twins" moments like we often see. And as someone who loves holiday baking and holiday baking shows, I loved that both are featured! (My only tiny qualm is that I would have loved for one of the recipes to be included.) All in all, a perfect Christmas book!

I really enjoyed this fun, light, holiday read. Sometimes you are looking for a pleasant distraction and this novel is like a Hallmark Movie -- predictable, but comforting and enjoyable.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I hate books like this. It kept me up all night. Could not put it down.

For the movie version, I pictured Mario Lopez as Miguel Rodriguez.

Loved it!

If you want a lovely, romantic holiday comedy to warm your heart, look no further than The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox. Identical twin sisters, Charlie and Cass, decide to secretly swap lives with each other in the weeks leading up to Christmas. What seems like a perfect solution to fix a dilemma, turns to days of mouth-watering, funny twists and turns, but also leads each sister to evaluate what they truly want in their careers in the food industry and in love.

I enjoyed the way this book was written, alternating between the sisters, for each of the days leading up to Christmas. Will Cass end up with Miguel, the handsome dimpled physician assistant? Will Charlie and the hot firefighter Jake find love?

This book is the perfect way to kick off the Hallmark movie season!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’m so happy the The Holiday Swap was the first Christmas themed book I’ve read (and now that I’ve read a Christmas themed book I am sad I didn’t start sooner).

In The Holiday Swap an accident causes twin sisters Charlie and Cass to switch places for a week right before Christmas. Think The Parent Trap but with adults, a TV baking show, a jealous (and super full of himself) co host, a good looking fireman, a handsome doctor, a boyfriend who won’t take a hint and family bakery, all set between fast paced LA and a quaint town called Starlight Peak.

This book was a super fun, light read that will capture you the moment you begin reading. The characters are all so well rounded, realistic and likeable that the moment you begin reading you will want to be their best friends!

The Holiday Swap will be perfect especially around the holidays, when you’re sitting near your Christmas tree, cuddled in a blanket while it lightly snows outside, you’ve lit you favourite candle and a pie is baking in the oven. It really gives off feelings of all things cozy, but also reminds us all of the real magic of Christmas.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox is a cozy, holiday read that is perfect for fans of the Great British Bake-Off and RomComs.

Twins Cass and Charlie used to swap places as teens, but that was a long time ago. When Charlie finds herself in a bind as the host of a tv baking competition who loses her sense of taste and smell as a concussion side effect – she asks her sister to swap places one more time.

Cass runs the family bakery in Starlight Peak and is feeling stuck, so a weeklong sojourn in LA might be exactly what she is looking for…

This book is told from the alternating POVs of Charlie and Cass as they attempt to jump into each other’s lives, neither woman thinks of the repercussions of living for someone else, and things (expectedly) don’t go as planned.

Reading this book was like cozying up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate. For foodies there was a lot of baking talk and tv production, which I enjoyed. There’s also the things you’ve come to know and love in a small town hallmark movie – the grandma-figure who gives great advice, the busy-body neighbour, a hunky good Samaritan who has returned to town after time away, and even a snow storm that threatens to keep the family apart at Christmas. If it isn’t obvious, I didn’t really connect with Cass’s character and her time away in LA, but it wasn’t enough to affect my overall book experience.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Parent Trap version with grown ups set around the holidays?
Yes please!
This is a happy ending story with many hi-jinks along the way.
Charlie & Cass are wonderful characters and the duel settings of small town and L.A. kept things interesting. The love story side pieces all stay very PG13, but are still fun to read.
I took a star off only because I felt like the twins probably could have let more people in on the switcheroo to lessen the drama in their lives.
Much love to NetGalley & Penguin Random House Canada for my DRC.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this lovely romance.

Cass and Charlie are twin sisters who grew up in northern California. Their parents run a popular bakery, and both learned how to bake from their youth. But Charlie wanted more than a small country bakery, she went to culinary college and then pursued a career in an LA restaurant. She's finally gotten a break at a TV career as a pastry chef and commentator on a Christmas styled competition "Salty and Sweet". Cass has stayed home, has had the same boyfriend for ten years and is tired of her predictable life. When Charlie has an accident at work and suffers a concussion which leaves her without the senses of taste and smell, she knows she can't complete the competition and would thus lose out on her own baking show. She calls Cass in a panic and begs her to swap places for ten days. Cass has just broken up with her boyfriend, and is happy to get out of town. But each has to face problems with their new lives, but both also find an attractive man to flirt with.

This was a fun read with wholesome romance and a happy ending. It left me with tears of joy in my eyes. I would definitely read more than the team that wrote this book.

What a great escape! The Holiday Swap is a must read. It doesn’t get any better than spending an afternoon curled up with an enjoyable book.
I have always been intrigued by twins and find identical twins especially fascinating. The main characters, Charlie and Cassandra, 28 year old identical twins, switch lives and with that comes lots of complications. The Holiday Swap is a fun Christmas themed take on Disney’s ‘Parent Trap’.
4.5/5 The Holiday Swap would be a great movie.

What a sweet holiday read!

I really wanted to read a holiday book recently to get me into the Christmas spirit, and this book was perfect! I loved the story, twins switching places only to fall in love with the men from their "fake" lives. The drama, I love it! It also reminded me of the movie with Vanessa Hudgens?? Anyways, I really liked this one, it was fun, Christmassy, the love interests were a doctor and a firefighter (can't get any better than that!) plus there was a cute dog named Bonnie too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the earc in return for an honest review.

This classic tale of identical twins who switch jobs and lives for a week after one suffers a concussion in a workplace accident. It's a great tale that provides double the laughs, double the drama and double the romance as the sisters discover that living someone else's life isn't as easy as it looks from the outside. Add in a small mountain town and a healthy dose of Christmas magic and you have a story that's a rollicking good read.
The Holiday Swap offers everything I look for in a romance - hunky, sensitive heroes, smart, beautiful heroines and a supporting cast that provides both the not quite villains and the adorable allies.
While not by any means a new theme, the authors handle the trading places plot in an original way and the writing is well done and draws the reader in, keeping you turning the pages - probably later into the night than you really should.
If you're looking for a great read to put you in the holiday mood this is a book that won't fail to warm your heart and make you smile.

3.5 STARS - The Holiday Swap is a sweet, easy-going RomCom that has a delightful holiday Hallmark movie feel. The story focuses on identical twin foodie sisters who swap lives for a week and learn that the sourdough isn't always as tangy on the other side, but sisterhood is forever.

This is the first book by Maggie Knox, the pen name and first book of the Canadian writing duo of Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley. This is a cute but predictable story that will satisfy the romance lover and the foodie that dwell within you in equal measure. It is also the perfect bookish pick for those who are in the Christian holiday spirit who like a romance that is lower on the sassy/saucy scale (aka a 'clean' Romcom).

Will you have to suspend disbelief since love happens faster than a falling soufflé? Sure, but I enjoyed that love wins out and the verbal comeuppance is extremely satisfying. This is a Parent Trap meets MasterChef with not one but two romances for readers to swoon over. There are characters you'll love and those you'll love to see get their just desserts (see what I did there?).

So, grab a coffee and your favourite baked good and settle in for a festive feel-good, romantic holiday story about the bond between sisters, finding love and fighting for what makes you happy. Beware of the urgent need to bake delicious treats after reading this book. The foodie descriptions are the icing on the proverbial cake.


Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to G.P Putnam's Sons (Penguin Group) for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

We may not have even had Thanksgiving yet, but I am a sucker for holiday reads and have been known to read them year round.

I finished up my gifted copy of The Holiday Swap just in time for pub day! Was it realistic? No!
Did I enjoy it? I most definitely did.

Identical twins swap places to escape their problems in this sister-centric holiday rom-com. Disasters occur. Romance happens. We get to feel all warm and fuzzy by the final chapter with some eye rolling and giggles along the way. I will admit that there were times I enjoyed the supporting cast of characters (Faye! Bonnie!) more than the actual story because they were awesome. Plus, so many sweet treats... it was charmingly cute.

4☆☆☆☆ for a fun holiday-themed read filled with food, twins who switch spots and more food (oh and a hot firefighter who loves dogs)

Let me introduce you to Char and Cass, identical twin sisters who, in their mid-twenties, seem to be living the dream: Char is a well-known pastry chef and food tv personality living in LA but she has to contend with a detestable co-star who seems to jump at every opportunity to throw her under the bus. Cass lives in the twin’s hometown, a few hours north of her sister. She has the family bakery to run and longtime boyfriend Brett to keep her company - except she’s not sure Brett’s really for her.

When Char suffers a concussion and loses her senses of smell and taste, rather pivotal for her work, the two switch spots - oh, and this is all in the two frantic weeks before Christmas. There are special sourdough loaves to make at the bakery, a Brett to deal with and tv specials to film!

This was a really lovely, enjoyable read and I have to admit I definitely pictured Mary Berg (Master Chef Canada winner!) the entire time as both Char and Cass. I wonder if Knox drew any inspiration from Berg’s fiery red hair, cooking savvy and contagious personality.

And, like so many holiday reads, this book comes down to family and food, and the friends who are your chosen family. It’s about coming together and being there for one another when we need it the most.

This book will definitely have readers dreaming of sugar plums and shortbread (even though it’s only just October). And it's the perfect read to pass along to your mum or sister!

This was a fun one, it has all the makings of a cozy Christmas read. A big city, holiday bake off feel, and a small town tight knit community.

What I liked:
❄️Dual POV between Cass and Charlie.
❄️Faye! This sweet little old lady was fooled by no one!
❄️Cass’s vindictiveness when it came to Austin Nash.
❄️ All the holiday baking.

What I didn’t like:
❄️The not following of concussion protocol! (from everyone)
❄️How somehow no one could tell these women apart when they switched places.
❄️Austin Nash

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and think it’s the perfect addition to any holiday reading list!

I wasn’t sure about reading a holiday book in September, but you can’t help but smile when reading this book. The Holiday Swap is a story about twin sisters Cass and Charlie, both accomplished bakers and pastry chefs, who secretly switch lives the week before Christmas. Foolproof plan, right?! What ensues is a heartwarming story about love, standing up for yourself, sisterhood and all of the baked goods.

If you’re looking for a story that will make your heart happy, that might just be sprinkled with fairy dust (ahem, powdered sugar) this one is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book is so cute and sweet! It's like a Hallmark movie in book form. Grab your blanket, your hot cocoa and get cozy because this book is sure give you the warm and fuzzies!

Charlie Goodwin is a co-star of her own reality baking show. One day she has a mishap that results in a bad concussion causing her to temporarily lose her taste and smell. Cass, Charlie's twin sister, lives in the girl's hometown helping their parents run the family bakery. She has lots to take care of with the days leading up to Christmas which is made even harder by an ex that just won't take the hint. Charlie convinces Cass to switch places with her while they sort out each others problems. Cass will take over for Charlie on the show, while Charlie will deal with Cass' ex-boyfriend once and for all. Can they pull it off or will everything turn to disaster right before Christmas?

Charlie and Cass are such lovable main characters. I adored their relationship and their willingness to jump into each others lives to help one another. There is something about them that is just so wholesome and lovable. The cast of characters was the perfect size for the story. Each character was needed, perfectly placed and expertly written.

The story was truly wonderful and the writing was simply superb. There was the perfect amount of conflict and resolution. It had a steady flow with no drags or info dump. The Holiday Swap is the perfect story to just snuggle up and enjoy.

If you're a fan of wholesome clean Christmas romances, give this a try. If you're a fan of stories where identical twins pull a switcharoo for awhile, give this one a try. If you want just a nice family Christmas story, give this one a try. Seriously, give it a try.

3.5*

Very cute Christmas book about two twins, Charlie and Cass, who also are bakers. So be prepared to get hungry! Lovely story and characters, but I took out a star because I was annoyed with the dishonesty. This story would've been very short if everyone talked to each other and was honest. Still, it will definitely put you in Christmas mode!

Thank you NetGalley for the free ebook copy.

Charlie Goodwin is a chef on a reality baking show.  When she suffers a head injury on the set and realizes she’s lost her senses of taste and smell, she knows that her success as a reality show baking judge is on the line. She contacts her identical twin Cass who helps run the family’s bakery business and pleads for her to switch places with her until the end of the current shooting schedule.  Needing an escape from her own life, Cass wholeheartedly agrees.

Neither sister knows all that’s in store for her in their swapped life.  It’s the week before Christmas and life are stressful. Why not complicate it a bit more by finding love?  Will the sisters be able to pull off this swap without any disasters?

This book was highly entertaining and I enjoyed it.  Books set around food always entice me and The Holiday Swap had my mouth watering!  The recipes all sounded delicious and had me building my list of Christmas baking in the months ahead.

The identical twins swapping lives is a favourite trope of mine and this one was well executed. The characters were likeable and well developed. The reader is provided with a good sense of the similarities and differences between Charlie and Cass.  I appreciated the theme of venturing outside of your comfort zone to find the life you’re looking for.  Humour is used wisely throughout.  All in all the book is sweet, full of Christmas coziness, and a joy to read.

The recipe for The Holiday Swap:
Mix equal parts The Great British Baking Show, The Parent Trap, and Hallmark Holiday Movie in one 350 page novel. Enjoy!

If you like any of these ingredients, you will like this book!

I found this to be a great holiday read. It is easy to read, where the only confusion maybe during some of the scenes when Charlie and Cass have swapped places.

The descriptions of Starlight Peak, especially Woodburn Bakery, and the set of Sweet & Salty make it so easy to picture yourself there. The same with the characters, those you love and those you don’t.

Pick up this book. Find a cozy place to read. Grab a cup of tea and a plate of home-baked goods. And enjoy!