This felt more like reading a soap opera than a Hallmark Christmas movie, which is why I liked but did not love The Christmas Trip. All of the May Ladies (Chloe, Jules and Lucy are supposed to be 24) plus the new addition of Audrey (in her early 20s) acted like they were significantly younger than they are supposed to be, which muted my enjoyment. Speaking of Audrey, I don't think that she or Sean were necessary to the story and just added drama for drama's sake.

In short, there were too many subplots (why even bring Archer's ex Madison back into the story?) and too many characters so it felt like the story bounced from one misunderstanding to another bit of drama from someone outside of the trio, and everything tied up a bit too neatly in the end. I wish that Jules' story had been resolved on the page <spoiler>because as soon as she started thinking how hungry she was all the time, I knew she was pregnant - even if my personal experience of early pregnancy was complete exhaustion and constantly being sick - and since she spent the whole book being terrified of moving in with Matt because she wanted her own space, it was a complete waste of a plot point. She didn't get to accept his house key (we were left with her asking Matt for time to think about it) or realize she was pregnant in the story; instead, we get a 1 year later epilogue where she has a 4 month old - surprise! - and is still with Matt so apparently it all worked out in the end, even though it would have been far more interesting for her to have spent the book coming to terms with the fact that her life was changing in a significant way!</spoiler>.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was excited when I first heard about this sequel. I loved the first book, The Christmas Swap, where the characters from various countries, trade locations for the holidays. It was the perfect seasonal read. In this book, all of the couples are coming together to celebrate Christmas as one big group in a new location.

I squealed with delight when I discovered this Christmas would be spent on the island of Kauai!! Twenty years ago I honeymooned there so I have such fond and vivid memories of exploring this laid back, secluded island. I wish the couples would have ventured out a bit more to some of my favorite locations, but I enjoyed watching them figure out how to enjoy the differences of a Hawaiian Christmas. The majority of the story takes place at a posh mansion that has all of the amenities of a tropical resort. It was fun watching each of the girls try to figure out how to incorporate their own holiday traditions and decorate the house.

The book switched between everyone’s perspectives, so if you aren’t already familiar with the couples it might be a tad confusing to keep everyone straight. I enjoyed catching up with these characters again and seeing how their relationships have developed. As any young couple with a good storyline, they all include a bit of drama that kept the story engaging. There’s an ex stalker, issues over making a long distance relationship work, possibilities of taking that leap to move in together and one guy is ready to propose! There were three new characters added as well. Audrey brought plenty of angsty chaos and Sean was a great mature addition. My fav was Leilani. She looked after the property and guests, but her reluctance to join the welcoming group was a sweet side story.

I can’t recommend Barker’s destination rom-coms enough!! Can’t wait to see where she takes us next. I received an ARC from @netgalley and @onemorechapterhc - all opinions are my own.

Whilst this was a beautiful setting and fun premise, I did find myself frustrated with the characters seeming inability to express themselves to the people they were said to love. An interesting group and an easy read but didn’t quite hit the spot for me.

I’m torn here. I love Hallmark movies, and typically love Hallmark type books as well, but I’m just eh with this one. I think part of the issue is that even though I read the first book last year, I still couldn’t keep all of the characters and where they are from/live now/dating/related to straight. At this moment, I could not tell you the connections. After two full books 🥴

I did enjoy the friendships and relationships, but I wish their communication skills would have been better. Like, holy hell, just tell people how you feel! So many misunderstandings.

I loved the setting. I haven’t been to Hawaii in 20 years, but I would love to go back. I had the best time with my family there!

Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Chloe, Lucy, and Jules have been friends since age 13 when they met in the teen lounge on a Hawaiian vacation. The girls swapped Christmases the year before (as told in The Christmas Swap) and each found romance in another country.

***Minor spoilers for The Christmas Swap ahead!***

The women return to Hawaii together for the first time with their boyfriends for the following Christmas. Australian Chloe was supposed to spend Christmas in Paris with British actor Archer, but a natural disaster prevented them from having their Parisian holiday. British Lucy is on her way to Colorado to spend Christmas with American boyfriend Will when Archer calls Will and arranges for them to come to Hawaii with them instead. Christmas-aholic Lucy isn't thrilled about spending Christmas on a tropical island when Christmas = snow.

Will's sister Jules and her boyfriend Matt (Chloe's Australian friend) also join the group along with Jules' and Will's dad Nate. Nate wants to spend his Christmas in Hawaii with his kids instead of going to a cabin in Colorado with his ex-wife and her current husband (yikes!).

But Christmas in paradise isn't as rosy as they hoped. Famous Hollywood actor Archer Tate's ex-girlfriend is also on the island and is a threat to their idyllic vacation. And when the paparazzi figure out his location, things will become way more hectic...

This book is a fun, beach-read kind of women's fiction that doesn't grab you as much as the earlier book in the series when all the women are finding love. While it does provide a more realistic view of relationships, it's not as exciting as the previous romance. Recommended only for fans of the first novel.

Representation: native Hawaiian side character

3.75⭐️

First of all, I was really excited to get back to these characters that I met a couple years back! The Christmas Swap is one of my faves and I loved it so much. I enjoyed The Christmas Trip, seeing the girls, getting back into the groove of the three of them, and seeing them with their partners a little ways in!

I did not love this one as much, though. I found it a bit hard to get into at first. The first 1/3 or so I wasn’t super into it, but the last 2/3 I found much more enjoyable. Sometimes felt a little too dramatic.

This book made me realize I would not want a tropical Christmas ever, but it was super fun to see how they did things up and some different traditions! I am very much of the Lucy mindset and need snow with my Santa and holiday cheer!

It’s a cute story and a fun follow-up, so if you read the first one be sure to give this one a try!

Thank you to One More Chapter, Sandy Barker and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

Gah I read and loved The Christmas Swap last year, so when I saw that the author had written a follow up I jumped at the chance to read it and I was no disappointed.
Chloe, Jules and Lucy are the May Ladies, they met as children and stayed friends despite living in three different countries. This book picks up a year after the last, as each is adjusting to their new lives / relationships.
I've always liked the thought of reading a book after the happy ever after and this one was really good, I enjoyed spending time with the characters again and how not everything was rosy as with normal life.
I could 100% read another instalment of this series I'm another years time to see what they are all up to.

It was so fun following The May Ladies through their next stage in life! I adored the first book (would highly recommend you read that before you pick up this one, but it is not necessary) and was excited that we had a continuation of Chloe, Lucy and Jules' friendship and love lives.

The girls and their significant others spend Christmas in Hawaii (so envious!) and each character is dealing with their own drama. The backdrop was stunning and I felt like I was transported to Hawaii at Christmastime, especially with those homemade stockings and festive foods!

The writing was fun, the characters were charming (especially Leilani!) and I loved that we got to wrap up everyone's lives in this second book. It went on a little long, but that was fine since I love Sandy Barker!

Honestly I was really looking forward to a hallmark type of Christmas book… unfortunately I felt that the Christmas Trip fell a bit flat. I found the characters to be all super whiny and soooooooo much drama it didn’t feel anything like a Christmas book to me unfortunately. It also dragged on, it was one wrong thing after the next so it felt boring to me. But it could be someone else’s cup of tea.

Thank you NetGalley, Sandy Baker and One More Chapter for the E-Arc.

This was a cute Christmas read. I will say it was kind of hard to follow the story as it seemed a bit disorganized, but overall a fun Christmas book to read. 3.5

My first holiday read of 2022 and it was an enjoyable one! I fell for the May Ladies right off the bat and completely understand that feeling of close-knit best friends. Mix that with their lovable and handsome boyfriends and it is sure to be a hit! The supporting cast of characters surrounding the six of them were also perfectly scripted.

I loved Lucy’s take on Christmas in Hawaii - I don’t think I could spend Christmas without the colder, snowy weather. I just don’t know if it would feel like Christmas, and it is crazy to me that so many people do have that climate during the holidays!

Now that I have been introduced to Sandy Barker’s writing, I will definitely go back to read her other novels! You can’t beat fun, uplifting stories that make you feel great about life! Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Sandy Barker for this gifted copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed Sandy Barkers cozy The Christmas Swap, so I was very excited to submerge myself in the wonderful friendship of Chloe, Jules and Lucy again. This time, the friendly trio and their partners find themselves holidaying in sunny Hawaii, and of course, find their fair share of hijinks and problems, from the minute forgotten fruitcake to the catastrophic relationship worries. I hope that Barker will have another Christmassy novel with this beautiful trio!

Three childhood friends, The May Ladies, keep in touch through thick and thin over many years.
A realistic and funny look at life. A warm and uplifting story which kept me reading well into the early hours. I enjoyed this book very much.

I was really excited to be back with Chloe, Jules and Lucy for another Christmas story, but unfortunately, it didn't really go to plan. The story felt really all over the place at multiple times throughout the book, and it wasn't as organized as the first book was. It might have been down to editing the story though.

A fun festive read that gives you a happily ever after plot. Who wouldn’t love this?
Be prepared for lots of drama!
If you are in the mood for a cute, Hallmark type story…..The Christmas Trip should be on your list!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love me a holiday Christmas book. Everything about this was adorable. It put me right in the Christmas spirit!

The Christmas Trip brings us all back to the trio we loved from The Christmas Swap - Chloe, Jules, and Lucy.

When Christmas plans don’t happen as planned, Chloe’s boyfriend Archer finds a way to surprise all the girls with a Christmas together in Hawaii. It’s been a year since all the couples first met and started dating on their Christmas swap but they pick up where they left off.

They end up with some surprise guests (some good, some bad) throughout their stay, which is bound to make it a Christmas vacation that nobody will forget!

Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #netgallyreviewer #netgalleyreader #netgalleyarc #fiction #booklover #bookreviews #whatimreading #whatiread #bookish #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #bookgram #bookstagrammer #instabooks #bookreviewer #takealookitsinabook #sandybarker #sandybarkerauthor #thechristmastrip

Yet another fabulous book by Sandy. All of her books have been comfortable, easy reading and this one is no exception.

I absolutely adored the Christmas swap so of course I had to read the sequel [ this can be read as a standalone but a lot easier to understand if you read the Christmas swap first] I was rooting for all 3 couples from the beginning and I loved all the different characters that were introduced in this. A fun romantic festive read. Definitely recommended

My Thoughts:
The Christmas Trip is one of those feel good romances that takes place in beautiful Hawaii. The Christmas Trip is a sequel to The Christmas Swap where You first meet good old friends Chloe, Jules and Lucy which have grown apart by life but this trips brings them back together and watching them bond again is just a nice read . The Christmas Trip can be read as a standalone.