This book was so much FUN!! It was sweet, romantic, cozy, funny, and purely enjoyable from start to finish. The two story lines meant the plot was incredibly fast paced and there was never a dull moment. I adored the friendship between Holly and Ivy, I loved how they were both there for each other without question and how they resolved their disagreements with respect and honesty. The romance plots were so sweet and fun to watch unfold. I loved the conflict resolution for both couples, it felt very realistic and mature which I loved to see! I can’t wait to be able to handsell this one, it’s such a great choice year round due to the dual snowy/beachy vibes!

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2, rating down

This book is about two best friends named Holly and Ivy. Holly is getting married to her long term boyfriend despite the fact she doesn’t feel any spark with him. Long story short, he breaks off their engagement the day before their wedding, which happens to be at Christmas time. Barf. Jerk. Instead of going on her honeymoon, she gifts her vacation to Ivy in exchange for Holly’s upstate NY two week vacation. So yes, the friends switch places. One in Hawaii and one in New York. The book gives off strong holiday vibes, but since half of it takes place in Hawaii I feel like it’s a good book to read any time of year (equally strong summer vibes). While on their separate vacations they meet new friends and potential lovers. Was this a 5 star book? No. But it was cute, light, slightly funny, and a relaxing read targeted towards NA readers. I could definitely see this being made into a cozy little Hallmark movie with mild spice.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The Holiday Honeymoon Switch is available now for purchase.

pretty fun and cute romance that i kinda liked. the instalove was a hair annoying but was generally workable. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

This was a sweet Christmas rom-com that you can enjoy any time of the year (because who says holiday cheer has an expiration date?). You've got doppelgänger besties swapping Christmas cabins—one of which was supposed to be a honeymoon, no big deal—and both of them unexpectedly stumbling into love. It’s the kind of feel-good read that warms you up like a mug of hot cocoa with extra whipped cream. Cozy, charming, and just the right amount of chaos!

Festive, funny, and full of heart, this holiday rom-com delivers a delightful dose of escapism with a clever twist on the classic identity swap. Holly and Ivy’s friendship is the warm, beating heart of the story, grounding the chaos of honeymoon hijinks, surprise romances, and awkward run-ins with exes. The dual storyline keeps things lively, balancing snowy cabin coziness with tropical mishaps. While the plot stretches believability at times, the charm and chemistry more than make up for it. A feel-good, holiday treat perfect for fans of friendship-forward romance with a touch of holiday magic.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this early copy!

What a fun little holiday Romcom. This would make a cute Hallmark movie. If instant love is your thing then this book was made for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putman, and Julia McKay for this ARC.

This book was enjoyable, but not anything memorable. The quality of the writing is fine, but I probably wouldn’t seek out anything else by this author. The two main characters are likeable as are their love interests. I think anyone looking for a light, Christmassy romance might enjoy this. It’s predictable in a way that you sometimes feel in the mood for, especially when looking for a book around the holidays.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

Ooh, this was cute! It was such a light read with fun holiday charm, reminiscent of the rom-com The Holiday movie. Holly is jilted just days before her holiday wedding and in turn convinces her best friend, Ivy, to go solo on what was to be her honeymoon trip. Holly, in turn, vacations in the mountains of Ivy’s secluded cabin. Each woman unexpectedly finds the perfect man for them in the most heartwarming, sweetest of ways. I adored this closed-door romance where true friendship and loyalty also plays a major part in the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this copy.

This was a fun, lighthearted book about friendship. There’s some love, but the true love story is the story of Ivy and Holly and their beautiful friendship. There’s dual point of view and how they each celebrated the Christmas season, learning to love Christmas and heal from heartaches, was perfect.

This was an absolutely adorable read! I enjoyed it so much, I finished it in one session. Zero spice, which I am totally okay with and total cuteness oveload! This was a mix of a couple of my favorite books, People We Meet on Vacation & The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Half disgraced honeymoon and half small town romance. Easy 4 stars from me!!
This was my first Julia McKay read but with definitely not be my last.

Loved this story! Best friend's and friend family loyalty versus domineering and deceitful fiancé. Beautiful descriptions of traveling to sunny beaches in Hawaii and snowy wonderland in the north. Trusting your gut and finding love is always a cozy read. Recommend!

Rating: 3.5/5

Overall, I enjoyed this book up to the epilogue and that was only because it felt too short and instead of showing, there was a rushed scene where we were told what happened since the end of the book. I also think that one couple was better developed and had better scenes than the other one which was kind of a bummer. Then again, I might feel that way because I liked one couple better than the other one. The side characters were fun and I would have liked for them to be more present but since this was a book that happened in a short span of time, I understand why we didn't get more of that.

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch is the cutest story! Best friends, Holly and Ivy (yes those are their names), end up switching Christmas vacations due to a heartbreaking turn of events. Little did they know, it was the exact switch that would change their lives for the better.

There are several spicy moments, which I typically don’t care to read. But this was tastefully done without going into much detail, while still bringing the heat!

Would definitely read again.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. I loved the premise of this book and found this book to be such a sweet and swoony story! I’m either hit or miss with the insta love trope, but I found that it worked in both Holly and Ivy’s stories. I think Julia did a great job balancing each of the friends’ stories, but as a beach girly, I was definitely more invested in Ivy and Oliver’s chapters. If you’re looking for a sweet, quick, hallmark-esque romance, definitely add this one to your list!! Perfect for the holiday season, but not overtly Christmas themed that it can’t be read during the year!

This felt like a Hallmark movie in book form. it was an easy read and i felt like it was well paced and well written. It was nothing too memorable for me, but i enjoyed it regardless! It’s a fun, cozy read that i feel is perfect for the holiday time or to read during the spring/summer when wanting a cozy book!

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.