The Holiday Honeymoon Switch
By Julia McKay
Narrated by Brittany Pressley
4 ⭐️

TLDR: Cute and cozy with a side of “The Holiday”

Ivy and Holly’s friendship is the star of this book, well that and Mrs. Claus. I enjoyed the romance aspect as well but the friendship is what shined for me. I found this read to be easy and breezy; a perfect holiday beach read. The audiobook was just as enjoyable. Pressley did a great job navigating the characters in this one. I’d recommend it if the mood strikes. 🎄

Thank you NetGalley, Julia McKay, and Penguin Group Putman for this eARC. I enjoyed the borrowed audiobook from my library’s Libby app.

3 ½ stars.
I really wanted to love this because THIS AUTHOR IS AMAZING.
But I didn't feel connected to the story. Though I did love the IDEA/plot of this story (it gives The Holiday).
I did love EVERYTHING about the MMC and was loving the little bit of spice this story gave.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. 🤗

This is such a fun holiday read! If you’re a fan of entertaining holiday movies, especially ones like the Holiday, then you may love this book.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This one took me a while because I have not found a lot of time to read physical books lately - being a mom does that! But I definitely hit the point where I just wanted to be finished with this book when I was reading today. I read over 100 pages today alone and I was curious about what was going to happen with all of the characters. I really enjoyed the romance aspect of it but felt that it was definitely rushed but honestly that’s the way I feel about most holiday romances.

Love the book was well written easy to follow and keeps the reader engaged in wanting to read more. The development of the characters were well and went together. Definitely would want a paper copy of this book when it is released.

I really enjoyed this! I loved the vaca vibes and friends helping each other out and both finding what they were looking for. Super fun read.

I was definitely invested from the start! I loved how McKay told the story of how Holly and Ivy's friendship started. Really set the tone for the part about Holly being dumped right before her wedding (good riddance). I loved the setup for Ivy to take the Honeymoon plans. Definitely gave me Christina Lauren vibes for the Unhoneymooners. Meanwhile, Holly takes upstate New York for a cold secluded much needed retreat. I just loved their friendship so much. It was sweet and sisterly.

Of course, they both meet someone during their trips. I enjoyed both point of views of two love stories. I was definetely more invested in Holly's since she was literally just dumped. Although Ivy's romance felt more 'realistic' versus Holly's insta-love. Overall towards the middle of the book it started feeling a bit rushed on both parts. Which is probably why I didn't feel like the romance was super authentic. This was a super cute read for the Holidays (I did not read then though). I would recommend anyone add to their Christmas reading list.

This was a cute, fun read! One best friend was broken up with just before her wedding so the other best friend takes the honeymoon so it doesn’t get wasted while she decides to go upstate and go off the grid. Both find what they’re looking for in completely different places.

I thought this was well-placed and charming. Great friendship and lovely romance.

3.5 stars rounded up to four stars. I loved the location settings, the holiday vibe, the idea of a swap to help a friend out, and reconnecting with an old classmate. The pace of the relationships both seemed a bit rushed; granted, I realize that it primarily being set over two weeks results in that playing out. If this were a Hallmark movie, I'd definitely watch it, especially to see who'd be cast as the two MMC's!

When you think you’re supposed to marry your true love and then he dumps you the night before the wedding what’s a girl supposed to do? Have your best friend switch vacations with you of course.
When Hollys fiancée leaves her the night before their wedding she is crushed. Her and her bestie come up with a plan. Holly will go to an eco-friendly cabin that Ivy usually takes at Christmas time and Ivy will take Holly’s honeymoon she was supposed to have to Hawaii.
Little do the girls know they will end up finding their true loves while on their own adventures.
This was such a sweet, fun, cute, best friends book. What a best friend is all about!!

Holly and Ivy, the friendship that holds on and keeps giving! Friendship in stories is always an attention holder for me. I love that they did everything in their power to make sure each other was happy, they are so selfless and that’s what made them falling in love all the more special. The full circle of starting at a wedding with a crappy fiancé and ending at a wedding with a wonderful fiancé, really shows the motions of true life! Also the vibes of summer and winter locations back and forth was so perfect to read during spring, aka between the seasons!

This was a cute and easy read, but he characters did seem a bit basic. I understand having the two couples' stories happen in one book since it happened at the same time, but I would have almost preferred each couple to have their own book. Their relationships didn't feel as deep or detailed as they could have been if maybe they had their own books. In the end, it was a fun book for the holiday season, very much like your classic Hallmark Christmas movie.

Funny, festive, and full of feel-good chaos, The Christmas Switch is a delightful holiday rom-com about friendship, mistaken identity, and unexpected romance. With dual love stories, snappy banter, and just the right amount of holiday magic, it’s the perfect cozy escape.

What a fun holiday themed book (also a great beach read)!

Holly and Ivy are best friends. After Holly’s fiancé leaves her on their wedding day, Holly and Ivy swap their trips to both have some time away.

I did not realize Julia was part of Maggie Knox and I have enjoyed those holiday books as well. Both Oliver and Aidan were super loveable and loved the banter between them and Ivy and Holly, respectively. Plus who doesn’t love a cute cat!

This book was a fun written romcom version of the holiday. I loved how the two best friends supported each other in their story while also having the space for them to have their own adventures. A really fun read!

A big thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Ivy and Holly first met during college at a fraternity party that neither particularly wanted to attend. Over a bottle of wine brought by Holly, the two quickly formed a deep and lasting friendship. Eight years later, Holly is preparing to marry her college sweetheart, Matt, in what promises to be a fairytale Christmas wedding—until Matt abruptly ends the relationship the night before the ceremony.

Reeling from heartbreak, Holly and Ivy decide to trade places. Holly retreats to a quiet cabin in the Hudson Valley that Ivy had reserved for her annual art-focused vacation, while Ivy heads to Kauai to take advantage of the non-refundable honeymoon trip Holly’s mother had planned. Upon Ivy’s arrival at the resort, however, she is shocked to learn that the bride and groom have already checked in—on what should have been Holly’s wedding day. Ivy soon discovers that Matt is there with a co-worker, with whom it becomes clear he had been having an affair.

Unwilling to confront Matt or let him know she is there, Ivy finds alternative accommodations with the help of Oliver, a local bartender. Though initially dismayed to find Oliver seemingly involved with her temporary landlord, Ivy soon begins to see a different side of him. Meanwhile, Holly arrives at the Hudson Valley cabin only to discover that she is unable to get anything working. She turns to the property manager for assistance, who happens to be Aiden, a former high school classmate and one-time SAT rival.

As both women settle into their new surroundings, they find unexpected comfort and connection. Ivy explores the natural beauty of Hawaii with Oliver, joining him on a remote camping trip as he pursues a dream photo for a National Geographic assignment. Holly, meanwhile, grows closer to Aiden while discovering the quiet charm of Krimbo, a snow-covered town brimming with holiday spirit. Though apart from each other and their families, both women find themselves surprisingly content, surrounded by new friendships and the possibility of new love.

However, complications arise. On Christmas Day, Holly’s relationship with Aiden is shaken when his sister learns of Holly’s recently cancelled engagement—something Holly had yet to disclose. In Hawaii, Ivy begins to seriously consider the future of her relationship with Oliver and finally confronts Matt, candidly expressing long-held feelings and recognizing, at last, that he and his companion Abby are well-matched in their shortcomings.

As Oliver embarks on another trip to capture his elusive photo, Ivy celebrates Christmas with his friends. Her celebration is cut short when she receives a distressed call from Holly, who is overwhelmed by the emotional weight of her broken engagement. Without hesitation, Ivy leaves a heartfelt letter for Oliver and boards the next flight home to be by her best friend’s side.

What follows next is for the reader to discover—but rest assured, it is well worth the journey.

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch is a beautifully written exploration of friendship, resilience, and the unexpected turns life can take. With rich character development and heartwarming seasonal charm, it is an engaging read that resonates well beyond the holiday season.

This was a sweet, cute little read. I liked the characters and storyline. Great for a fans of The Holiday (my favorite holiday movie). The cover is super pretty too.

Cute Christmas Love Story 🎄❤️

Holly Beech (MFC #1) has been with Matt Carter for ten years and now on the night before their wedding, he tells her that he’s in love with someone else and breaking it off! Ivy Casey (MFC#2) is Holly’s doppelgänger, her “ride or d!e” bff and she never believed that Matt was good enough for Holly, but now she’s furious with him for dumping her the night before their wedding.

Holly and Ivy decide to swap vacation destinations so, instead of Holly going to Hawaii for what would’ve been her honeymoon, she trades destinations with Ivy and goes to an off grid remote cabin in upstate New York.
Holly arrives in her remote, off-grid cabin only to discover that her high school academic rival is the owner and they have instant attraction to each other.

Ivy has arrived in Hawaii only to find douche-bag, cheating Matt has arrived at the hotel with his cheating coworker a day early as Mr & Mrs Carter, when Holly’s parents paid for this honeymoon trip for her and Matt!!
Ivy finds an air b&b with the help of the hot bartender, Oliver, and finds that the two of them have an attraction to each other and a lot in common.

This was a 5 star ⭐️ read for me, Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam/Penguin for sharing this wonderful story with me.

What a wonderful read! This has all the charm and warmth that you would expect from a Hallmark movie, and I mean that in the most positive way.

This book was a delightful and refreshing choice which makes it an ideal pick for the upcoming holidays. I would highly recommend it for both personal enjoyment and book clubs during the coming Christmas season.

Holly and Ivy are wonderfully relatable characters, each in their own unique way. Their friendship feels incredibly genuine and authentic, beautifully portrayed from both perspectives throughout the book. This was an exceptionally crafted and perfectly paced vacation romance. I can relate to the sentiment about Christmas not being a favorite!

Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for the Ebook in exchange for an honest review🎄

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.