This book started out really good. I was so excited about the idea that these best friends were switching up their vacations. I got weirdo vibes from Oliver at first... I'm not sure if he just came on too strong for me or what but I kept telling myself there's no way I'd ever stay in the same house as someone I just met only hours earlier. In that same breath, I absolutely fell in love with Aiden. I think because of his connection with Holly. I love that they knew each other. And even though they talked about how it was mostly competition between the two of them, I wish there would've been like a crush one of them had on the other, it would've made more sense when they end up together in the end. Aiden was so sweet and not too forward for Holly but I will say things escalated quickly for both girls. I was pretty surprised when I got to 80% and there hadn't been a third-act breakup or falling apart but then it came around 87%. I was not a huge fan of the way this book ended. It felt super rushed like the author only had so many pages to write and forgot that there needed to be some breakup so she threw them in there real quick and then ended the book. Not a huge fan. I also can't believe Ivy and Oliver end up being the ones to get married in the end because of how much Ivy pushed back on their relationship and I just got weird vibes from the whole thing. How do you move across the world essentially for someone you "like" and have known less than 2 weeks?? Anyway, the book was fine but not a favorite.

2.5 rounded up. It's very much a Christmas romance - not a ton of depth, but fun for the holiday. I think where I struggled with this one was that it wasn't Christmas-y enough? Like if you're going to skate by on it being seasonal brain candy, you have to at least lean into it. Plus a lot of "conflict" was resolved so fast at no point were you even really invested. I read it in the depth of summer, so maybe reading it during the holiday season would make this a little more fun too.

Two best friends, two love stories around Christmas time. Holly has been dumped by her fiancé. She insists her best friend Ivy take the honeymoon while she goes to a cabin Ivy had planned to be secluded in. Neither woman expected to fall in love and cure their heartbreak, but isn’t that what it’s all about?

This book was sweet. I liked each love story equally so I wasn’t skipping pages to go back to the one I preferred. Very light steam but the romance is fully blooming.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC.

Gosh, The Holiday Honeymoon Switch has it all. Christmas, beaches, romance. This was a fabulous book. Five star read.

Read this contemporary romance if you like:
✨dual pov
✨best friend trope
✨insta-love
✨holiday/vacation romance
✨Christmas

Thank you Net Galley and G.P Putnam's Sons for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

My thoughts 💭
•It's The Holiday meets Forgetting Sarah Marshall meets The Unhoneymooners

Although it's something I've seen and read before (see above), I love the premise of the story. Unfortunately, this book was NOT for me as I found it extremely hard to get through with the bland and extremely cringy dialogue. The whole book felt like a play by play description of what was happening or what was being felt. It's a lot of "telling" and very little "showing" the readers what is going on. I am not usually a DNF'er, but I almost made an exception for this one.

If you liked “The Holiday” this gives very similar vibes. I adored the friendship factor in this holiday romcom. 3.5 stars

what a cute and fun holiday read. this contains best friends, dual pov (we love), third person, vacation, and holiday romance. it wasn’t my fav holiday read but i still enjoyed it and getting to know the characters

A cute holiday romance with some spice. The story switches between two female main characters who are best friends. One is gilted at the altar, and the other is an artist in need of a break. They decided to trade vacations and both end up meeting gorgeous men who sweep them off their feet. While this book is very predictable, it is a very sweet romance.

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch


I absolutely adored this book and devoured it in one sitting. The way the story unfolded kept me hooked from start to finish. While I'm not usually a fan of third person narrative, I found it to be charming and well-executed in this book. The characters, Holly and Ivy, were so endearing and relatable, and I couldn't help but root for them throughout the entire story.

Holly's meticulous planning and Ivy's free-spirited nature created an interesting dynamic between the two best friends. The unexpected turn of events that led to them swapping their upcoming trips added an exciting twist to the story’s plot. It was heartwarming to see how this decision ultimately changed the course of their lives. Despite a few minor editing issues and my personal preference against insta-love books, I would still give this book a solid 4-star rating for its captivating storyline and lovable characters.

The book beautifully captures the essence of friendship, love, and the unpredictability of life. The author did a fantastic job of creating a heartwarming and engaging story that resonated with me on so many levels. The setting of Hawaii and upstate New York added a wonderful backdrop to the unfolding events, making the story even more immersive. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming and uplifting read. It's a delightful story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

This book is perfect for the holidays. It’s giving off a lot of the movie, the Holiday, vibes in the best way. I loved the friendship between Holly and Ivy and the guys? Swoon. I also loved googling all the places in Hawaii.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! I was so worried we were going to have new men thinking each woman was the other but that didn't happen and I LOVE THAT!

Holly and Ivy are BFFs from the night they met. Their boyfriends were good friends and introduced Holly and Ivy at a party that neither particularly wanted to be at. They discovered how much in common they had and decided on the spot to be friends no matter what. Ivy and her at that time boyfriend are long over but Holly is about to marry the man she's been with since that time. That is until he decides they're not getting married because they're not really in love and there is someone else he would like to explore a relationship with. OMG WHAT?! Dick. In the fall out Ivy insists that Holly use her secluded cabin reservation to hole up and get her thoughts together. Holly decides that Ivy needs to change locations of her annual writing retreat to Hawaii since Holly doesn't want her nonrefundable honeymoon to go to waste.

I really love Holly and Ivy's friendship. They're so sweet, caring, and supportive of each other. I don't have a single complaint about this book.

This was a different holiday story yet I think it could have happened at any point in the year. While the infusion of some Christmas elements such as the characters being named "Holly" and "Ivy" who became best friends and a wedding that was supposed to happen during the holiday season, it really wasn't about the effects of the season leading to a romance. However, that being said, I enjoyed the concept of the switched honeymoon and once a year artist retreat as well as the second chance at love theme that both Ivy and Holly experienced. The story goes back and forth between these two characters to tell their story and yet they remain connected. This could be read anytime and was a pleasure to read, another feel-good book that there is hope after heartbreak. Many thanks to #netgalley #juliamckay #theholdiayhoneymoonswitch for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is such a cute and fun holiday book!!! I loved getting to know both Holly and Ivy’s characters and seeing their stories evolve. The romances were sweet, but I loved how the focus was more on friendship. This book was a quick and easy read. If you're a fan of holiday and vacation romances, you will love this one too!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

this was a pretty interesting concept - 2 best friends switching their holiday vacations after a mishap and meeting the love of their lives on those trips! we get to experience 2 storylines and follow the journey of 2 couples. unfortunately, i don’t think it was executed very well. first off, this was in third person which already made it hard for me to get into and feel connected to the main characters. the writing was super choppy. although julia mckay did a great job at setting the scenes and giving all the details, there were quite a few parts that felt jumpy. because we follow 2 couples, it seemed like they moved pretty fast in their relationships and they honestly felt forced and really awkward. i also did not really understand some parts of the book: why was ivy hiding from matt? why was alexa so rude? why did oliver act so weird about not wanting ivy to come with him to the waterfall? i wish there was a little bit more depth to the story and more relationship building between the characters. i was barely sold on the friendship between ivy and holly.

✨✨✨ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕋𝕚𝕞𝕖✨✨✨

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝒾𝒹𝒶𝓎 𝐻𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓎𝓂𝑜𝑜𝓃 𝒮𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒸𝒽
by: Julia McKay
Release: 9/24/24

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Spice: 🌶️

ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ
𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴

Thank you to @netgalley and GP Putnam's Son for this advanced reader copy!

This book was a sweet read on how we can find our person in our friendships. Someone who understands you like no one else and maybe better than you understand yourself. Holly and Ivy were these type of friends. Friends who came from different backgrounds but connected on their love of wine, Joe Black and luke warm feeling towards the Christmas holiday.

I loved their friendship and the way they supported and loved each other. There is romance but the book focuses on self discovery and taking chances. Learning you are more than enough and your passion is worth pursuing. I loved how McKay wrote this dual POV story. She was able to provide clear insight to Holly and Ivy's world. I truly enjoyed this sweet read!

This was a cute story, and I love the premise, but the execution was a little lackluster. It just did hold my attention and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I think their similarities were intended to be charming but I felt like it was a little overdone. I did end up DNFing at about 40%. Thanks for the opportunity to read early!

"The Holiday Honeymoon Switch" is a heartwarming Christmas tale that beautifully explores the themes of friendship and new beginnings. The story follows two friends who decide to swap their planned vacations after one is left at the altar just before her wedding. Amid the festive backdrop, both women embark on unexpected journeys that lead them to discover new love and rekindle the joy of life. The book is filled with charming characters and delightful settings, capturing the magic of the holiday season. It also highlights the strength of their friendship, showing how support and love can help heal broken hearts. The plot is engaging, with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader invested. Overall, it's a feel-good read that reminds us of the power of friendship and the joy of second chances.

4 out of 5. My first question when I started to read the book as there was a list of the authors previous books was, Why does Julia McKay have so many names or different pen names? But to the actual important matter of the book, it was a lovely take on Friendships even more than romance. It gave me some The Holiday vibes (which is never a bad thing i love that movie) and the difference in the locations was fun, beach vs snow and all the activities. It is absurdly predictable in that of course they both find a perfect partner in their switch, but then again we are in Christmas romance world and predictable but nice is what we expect, and we learn to love. But yes, sometimes its hard to believe that one relationship can happen but two is a stretch, but then again it is the Holiday vibes all around and I just embraced it. I loved the description of Ivy’s paintings they were so vivid. In the end I really enjoyed how the two friends were there for one another and that really more than finding a Significant Other, The friendship is the most important thing that has lasted over all the breakups and heartaches.

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch is sort of like The Holiday movie…almost. Best friends Holly and Ivy don’t care much for Christmas, but after Holly gets left at the altar, Ivy takes her Hawaiian honeymoon and Holly goes to a cabin in the Hudson Valley. To be honest, I was much more invested in that story, with all the snow and the small town holiday magic! Not that I didn’t like Ivy, I just don’t care for the beachy tropical climate as much. Overall a sweet little story about friendship and waiting for true love.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

I love how holly and ivy's friendship is shown. The story plot is so fun and exciting. Everything is described beautifully and I couldn't be happier with how this book ended!