In The Christmas Swap three friends in 3 different families swap Christmases, experiencing new traditions and finding both themselves and love along the way.

A heart warming tale reminiscent of Christmas rom-coms, but it also manages to be a page turner and it weaves in and out of the stories of each of the friends.

Would I recommend it? Yes.

This was just the sweet read that I needed. Three friends swap themselves into their families lives over Christmas. Each woman has something come up along the way.....especially when it comes to meeting a man!! If you like the movie, The Holiday, you will definitely love this book. At times it is hard to keep up with three different characters, their life and new love interests. But, this book reads easily and you never have to wonder which character is which. I would highly recommend this book, even if you don't read it during Christmas time!!

I was thrilled when I received an approval for The Christmas Swap because it sounded like a fun break from reality filled with not one, not two, but THREE holiday romances!

I couldn't put this book down. I loved reading about Chloe, Jules, and Lucy's Christmas adventures in Colorado, Australia, and England. These girls sounded just like my friends and I loved that I could relate to each of them in some way. Their characters were so well developed and each chapter had a different tone. Major kudos to Sandy Barker for writing this story from three perspectives. It could have been overwhelming and confusing for so many plotlines, but this one is perfectly done!

This was the exact book I need to read. It let me escape reality and indulge in Christmas a little early. I would love to see a sequel to see where The May Ladies end up!

The Christmas Swap by Sandy Barker will certainly put you in a festive mood. Reminiscent of The Holiday, but with three swapees instead of two, we meet Lucy, Chloe, and Jules, three lifelong friends who, for various reasons, decide to opt out of their own Christmases, and jet off to spend the holidays in each other's home countries, and with each other's friends and families. It wouldn't be Christmas without finding someone with whom to curl up by the fire, and each woman will experience a magical, romantic, once in a lifetime holiday. Yes, it is all very cozy, but isn't that just what you want in a yuletide read? This one will definitely bring some cheer.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC.

Jules, Chloe & Lucy have been friends for twenty two years after meeting on holiday, who have become life long friends. They live in three different countires & decide to swap Christmas's.
What a great book, I loved it! Obviously people will compare this book to The Holiday but I prefered this. Loved the friendship, loved the families & friends too.
Even my new grandson, who is yet to be born, will be called Archer after one of the characters. A book I will recommend to all & will read again.

The Christmas Swap by Sandy Barker is about three friends who want a change this Christmas so they swap hometowns for the holidays.

Chloe, Jules and Lucy have been friends since they were 11. Chloe goes to stay with Lucy's family in Oxfordshire, England, Lucy goes to stay with Jules' family in Colorado, and Jules visits Chloe's friends for Orphan Christmas in Melbourne, Australia. There were points in this story where I thought I might need a diagram to keep everything straight!

I absolutely loved the varied settings! Summertime in Australia, a snowy Colorado town, and the English countryside each brought their own charm to Lucy, Jules, and Chloe's Christmas celebrations. I also enjoyed getting to see a bit of the different countries' Christmas traditions.

One thing I would have changed is that the romances seemed a bit rushed. Because you only saw each character for a chapter at a time, it was occasionally a bit hard to keep track of everyone, especially the side characters in each individual story. I am a sucker for love at Christmastime, so the characters being swept up in romance during the holiday season was not unreasonable.

Overall, this was a fun, sweet, festive book. I recommend it for anyone who loves Hallmark Christmas movies and cozying up in fuzzy socks and a blanket to enjoy a light and romantic read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the advanced copy in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I have read all of Sandy Barker’s other books and The Christmas Swap didn’t disappoint. This was a fun and festive story in the tradition of all good modern Christmas movies... I found it ridiculously easy to read, staying up late to get to the end, and it made me feel all Christmassy, even in September!

I particularly enjoyed the close and witty friendship between Chloe, Jules and Lucy - the ‘May Ladies - and Sandy gave each of them a suitably lovely and sexy leading man. I liked having the three different storylines; it was intriguing and I think part of why I found it so hard to put down, as well as Sandy Barker’s warm and welcoming writing style. I think my favourite couple were Chloe and Archer, the international movie star (possibly because I dream of meeting one of my actor crushes in real life!)

Stunning locations are a running theme through this author’s books, and the opportunity to visit Colorado, Australia and Oxfordshire in one story was delightful. I’m planning to buy the paperback when it’s released and read it again over Christmas.

I was looking forward to this book but, although I liked the sound of it because its basically a three in one, I just felt like there was too much going on.

It wasn't a bad book and it was a nice read but I think it would have been better dealt with in separate stories rather than one combined one.

I will read this author again though and I enjoyed her writing style.

A Christmas feel-good romance about three best friends that decide to do a house swap fir the holiday season. The storyline flowed seamlessly and the love stories sparkled!

I chose this book because I liked both the cover and the concept of three friends swapping Christmases. Sandy Barker is a new author for me, although I have been tempted by some of her previous books.

This story was well written, and really easy to read. It was lighthearted, and had lots of humorous moments throughout, as well as the romantic ones. It was rather like three Christmas romances, but they are all entwined, as the three women have been best friends all their lives. They swap homes for the holidays, all fall in love, and much fun ensues.

I liked all of the characters, and I particularly enjoyed the way the three friends got to know each other’s families, or friends. You can also really feel the friendship between Lucy, Chloe, and Jules.

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and lighthearted Christmas romance, with humour and friendship.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

I loved reading the book! This was such a fun Christmas story and the three different international plot lines was a fun twist on the typical Christmas romance. I highly recommend this book wanting a cute and fun holiday read!

Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, & NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

What a cute happy Christmassy book to put you in the holiday mood - who cares if Christmas is several months away! Three best friends decide to "swap Christmas" and spend the holidays with each other families, who all live in totally different locations - one in sunny Australia, one in cold snowy England and one in Colorado. Is this totally unrealistic? Yep. Is it totally charming? Yes! Lighthearted and engaging, this will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit. All three stories were enjoyable and I look forward to reading more from this author! Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One for Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chloe, Jules and Lucy are lifelong friends who are scattered across the globe (Australia, the US and the UK respectively) and have often travelled together. But they've always spent Christmas with their own families. This time, however, they've decided to swap locations for a change of scenery. Love can be found in many places, but this year it will be with a best friend's brother, a movie star and a hot winemaker...

As a huge fan of The Holiday, I was excited to get into this story, but perhaps my expectations were a little too high given the book's inspiration! That said, I think it would make for very pleasant reading over the holidays. These three women are interesting characters with interesting backgrounds, not cardboard cutouts.

However, the three storylines never quite meshed into a single cohesive plot for me - I think they might have worked better as separate novellas. There were some scenes I really wanted to see fleshed out more - or just see, given that they happened "off-screen". But this isn't a dealbreaker for me.

One thing I should flag is a line that appears in Jules' POV - the sentence is worded in such a way that it suggests that ace men are "boring". Being so near to the end of the book, it did leave a lingering impression (and not a good one). It's such a small thing, but still...

Reading this book put me right the perfect holiday mood, even though it's only September! Clearly inspired by the wonderful movie The Holiday, in this story, three women swap homes for Christmas. Chloe, Jules, and Lucy, lifelong friends from different continents after meeting on vacation as children, decide to spend Christmas in each other's respective places--a holiday with friends in Australia, the quaint family cottage in England, and a mountain mansion in Colorado. Each lady is ready for a change of pace and end up opening their hearts to the men they meet on their journey!

Now look. I understand that the premise isn't original--it's the The Holiday. And nothing about this realistic--what are the chances that three women ALL meet their soulmates on vacation in completely different countries. And instalove? Not a fan. But I still loved this book! It was just so incredibly charming, with characters just simply impossible to hate, and three stellar stories packed into one novel. Three for the price of one! I also loved getting to explore three different locations. You get to see a warm-weather Christmas in Australia without sacrificing us American's idea of a white Christmas. This book was just so adorable it was impossible NOT to like it, even with all its implausibilities. A perfect cozy Christmas read.

I absolutely adored this book - seriously it was so unbelievably good. I did contemplate if reading a book with Christmas in the title was a bit random in September but I am so glad I pushed that thought to the side and read it whilst enjoying the late summer sunshine.

Chloe, Jules and Lucy are best friends in their early thirties. They first became firm friends aged 11 whilst on holiday with their respective parents and that friendship has grown over the years despite them living in different continents. Chloe lives in Australia with her best friend and workmate Ash, Lucy lives in a flat in London and Jules lives in Colorado. When Chloe announces in one of their face time calls that her parents are going on a cruise for Christmas, the girls hit on the idea of a Christmas Swap. Jules goes to Australia, Chloe to Lucy’s parents in wet England and Lucy to Jules’ parents log cabin in the snowy depths of Colorado. It’s a Christmas they certainly won’t forget!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

3*
I enjoyed this book. I was hooked when I first started reading it. It’s about three friends (Chloe lives in Australia, Lucy in England and Jules in Colorado). They first met when they were 11 in Hawaii and ended up being best friends ever since. Chloe, being upset that her parents were going on a cruise over Christmas, suggests a Christmas swap, meaning Chloe would go to England to spend Xmas with Lucy’s parents. Jules would go to Australia to spend Xmas with Chloe’s friends, and then Lucy would go to Colorado to spend Xmas with Jules’ family. All three girls meet guys (all gorgeous of course) and the love story’s start. Each chapter was focused on each girl. Near the end of the book it got boring. I think it needed more hot romance, more intrigue, and for one girl (I won’t mention whom) the love story didn’t end the way it should’ve. Oh well....it was a fun romance read. Light and fluffy.

Thanks @netgalley for the ARC
#thechristmasswap

Like the other reviewers, it reminds me of The Holiday movie! Cute, uplifting read where everyone gets their happily ever after.

The May Ladies, Lucy, Chloe, and Jules meet when they are 11 and in vacation with their parents. Now they are in their 30s, and swap their Christmas and with each other. Fu of instant romance, gorgeous scenery and no drama, it's a cute christmas read.

I do love a Christmas book, so this is absolutely brilliant as you have three wonderful Christmas days in very different locations to enjoy, plus three gorgeous men to share them with!
Such a fabulous idea for a festive read, I loved seeing all the different traditions and places as we shared Christmas across the globe!
As always I found myself completely engrossed in the book, Sandy is so skilled with her descriptive writing.
I just adored this gorgeous book so much!

The Christmas Swap (Sandy Barker)

I know, I know. It’s a little early for a Christmas story since it’s barely September, but I love it! I love a good, heartwarming story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chloe, Jules and Lucy have been friends since they were kids. Now, they live on three different continents and as Christmas approaches, they each realize they want something new/different. So Lucy heads to Colorado, Chloe to London, and Jules to Melbourne. Little did they know their lives would be forever changed!

Thanks to @netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review!

#netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #bookreview #thechristmasswap #sandybarker #fiction #christmas

Sounded interesting. I'm sure people will enjoy this book, but it is not for me. Was a bit simplistic, ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.