Member Reviews
It is a really nice Christmas story about 3 friends who decide to swap their Christmas white each other.
Chloe ends up in a small Oxfordshire village with Lucy's parents. Jules ends up in Melbourne staying with Chloe's flat mate and Lucy ends up in Colorado with Jules family.
There is romance and also a bit of comedy in this book I would recommend you read this.
Lucy, Chloe and Jules met as children and are still best friends to this day. This Christmas they decide to swap lives for a week to experience each other’s Christmas’. Friendship, drama and romance occurs for each girl.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. I also appreciated the Christmas feel throughout the entire book. (Not all Christmas books actually have Christmas in them - I know, right!?)
I loved the characters of Lucy and Chloe, however Jules fell short for me. I found her character cold throughout, which didn’t allow for me to feel the love she had for her family or her new beau.
Overall a cute Christmas romance. A 3.5 star.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy for an honest review.
Christmas books always make me happy. They’re pure palate cleansers when you’ve read multiple hard topic books or a lot of one genre. This one is no different.
Easy to read. Quick. Cute. And helps start the Christmas countdown (ok, ok, I won’t start till November 12 😜) but I think with the way this year has gone, we all need a little bit more of happy books that end with happily-ever-afters.
This book by Sandy Barker is about 3 girlfriends who meet as young girls on a holiday and become best friends. The only thing is that they all live on different continents in the world: Australia, the UK and America.
That doesn’t stop these three “May Ladies” who meet up on vacations over the years to keep the friendship strong. It’s one Christmas when the sister-friends are 33 and stalemate in their life that they decide to swap Christmas’ with each other. Each will head to Christmas in their friend’ hometown to shake up their holiday season. Little do they know that romance awaits them in Colorado, England and Melbourne. Perhaps the Christmas swap will change their future.
Published October 16, 2020. This Christmas book will do what exactly it sets out to do: get those Christmas feelings stirring. And makes me want to travel even more.... one day hopefully soon when covid leaves us 🙏🏻
A wonder book about three girls who have been friends for donkeys years and are now in their thirties. One lives in England, one in America and the other in Australia. After having one of their catch up chats they all realise that they would love different things at Christmas so decide to swap. Australia for England, England for America and America for Australia. However none of them expect to find their love of there life’s and when their holidays come to an end, realise they have huge life changing decisions to make. Loved it
I absolutely adored this book and its 3 BFF aka "May Ladies" and their journey to
different parts of the world. They all swapped places for christmas and found not only new friends for life but also LOVE.
Each of them different, each with their own desires and wishes and yet deep in their hearts, although not knowing, seeking for love. Each has got her own twist and that made the book even more exciting.
I love Sandy Barker's writing and couldn't wish for more especially at this time of the year when the clock is ticking and the most beautiful season of the year is soon arriving.
Anyway this book and its stories stole again my heart.
This is the story of three best friends, one living in Australia, one in the USA and the other in the UK all swapping homes for Christmas.
I love reading Sandy Baker books as they are always rich with descriptions of other countries and full of adventures.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last.
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I really enjoyed this fun Christmas story and loved the way the three ladies loves intertwined together.
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I loved all three characters and I equally loved all three dishy male characters too!
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It gave me a feel very much of The Holiday which is one of my Christmas faves!
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Bring on the festivities!!
What a great book. It contained all of the necessary ingredients in abundance, romance, snow, festive traditions, decorations, food, families, friends and love. If you want to be transported to the UK, USA and Australia for a Christmas to remember this is the book for you.
A fun feel good festive Christmas swap. Three lovely romances for the price of one. Chloe, Lucy, and Jules met when they were 11 while they were on vacation with their families in Hawaii. The girls formed a fast friendship dubbing themselves the May Ladies since they all have May birthdays. Through the years the girls’ friendship has strengthened through video chats and vacations spent together. This year however they are planning something a little different Chloe is heading to Lucy‘s home in the UK for a traditional family Christmas. Lucy is heading to snowy Colorado for a white Christmas at Jule’s family ski cabin. And Jules is heading to Australia to spend time in the sun with Chloe‘s friends at their orphan’s Christmas. The book bounces around between the three girls adventures with periodic video calls between the three woven in. Love spending time with these three ladies in these three gorgeous locations. Also loved getting to know the three men they all get involved with-seriously Will, Matt, and Asher were three of the greatest guys ever. The chemistry was instant, the angst was minimal, and the romance was sweet. Admittedly I enjoyed Chloe and Lucy‘s stories a tiny bit more than Jules, probably because in California I’ve spent many a hot Christmas. Love how the book highlighted the different cultures and food when it comes to celebrating Christmas in these three locations. Snowboarding, winetasting, fair planning. Sun, snow, rain. Christmas cake, hot chocolate, shrimp. Three friends... three men... three Christmases... one great book!
This book in emojis ☀️ ❄️ ☔️ 🍷 🎿 🎠 🎁 🎄 📸
*** Big thank you to One More Chapter for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jules, Lucy and Chloe have been best friends since childhood and they end up swapping Christmas’s with each other, Chloe in the UK, Lucy in America and Jules in Australia, think the movie The Holiday
I enjoyed this book however I did have to concentrate a lot to remember who was who and where they were which did make it harder to read. However it was really good to see the various Christmas’s and how they differ in different places, what’s normal for me in England would be totally strange for someone from America
The girls each discover something about themselves and they end up fighting but also getting closer which made them feel more real. They each also meet someone who makes them happy and could be their forever person, even if they seem a bit unlikely at the time
There is a lot of drama and families at Christmas can always be difficult but it worked so well and had me keeping on turning the pages pulling me in
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a romance that isn’t totally traditional with some fabulous main characters who you will adore
AM 🐾 x
The story of three friends who swap christmases. Told from each of their points of view, it was an enjoyable festive read, especially to see the differences in holidays acroos different parts of the world.
This was just ok. Way too much focus on diet and looks. Who cares how many calories a slice of christmas cake is? None of the romances worked here for me either. Good in concept bad in execution.
I get that it references The Holiday a lot but the plot is a blatant rip off of the film, only the characters are not as fun.
This book followed the same format as the film The Holiday, one of my favourite films. So I was delighted to get a copy of the book from Netgalley.
We follow three friends who decide to swop Homes for a different family Christmas experience. The story is set in Colorado, Australia and England and the descriptions of the different landscapes is beautifully written. Also, I found the different family traditions and food interesting.
However, I had difficulty switching backwards and forwards between the three friends and did find I lost concentration in parts. I have to admit that I struggled to finish the book
I love Christmas, Christmas books, Christmas films….basically anything that gives me the festive feels. And this book delivered exactly that.
A film I absolutely adore is The Holiday, and this book has the same premise which is why I instantly signed up for the opportunity to take part in the tour.
Three friends, Chloe, Jules and Lucy meet on holiday when they were 11 and have remained friends ever since. They are now in their 30s and are all in need of a change. So this Christmas they all swap homes.
The three girls are based from all-over the globe. Chloe lives in Melbourne, Australia, Jules is from Colorado, USA whilst Lucy is from a village in Oxfordshire, England. They each fly off and spend the holidays with each other’s families.
The families all bring completely different dynamics to the story, ones that are completely different to what each of the girls are used to. The families are all brilliant and contrasting. It is an insight into the different types of Christmas’s that people experience.
The chapters alternate between each of the three lead characters and we see the completely different Christmas’s each of them are having in their new locations.
Not only is this book full of festive cheer that each of the families and their individual traditions bring, but there are love interest for each of them. And each of their love interests are brilliant characters.
The relationship their friend’s families are heartwarming, with all the families welcoming them with open arms.
It was great to see each of the relationships develop between the three girls and their particular love interest, Archer, Matt and Will.
This book brings so much fun and laughter as well as festive cheer.
The only thing I did find was that I sometimes struggled to keep check of who was from where and where they were for Christmas. This didn’t however stop me from enjoying the story.
If The Holiday was a success on the screen, then this would be too.
I think my favourite Christmas would be in snowy Colorado. Where would you choose?
What more could you want than a Christmas romance to curl up with this holiday season?
This book was sweet. Seriously sweet. As in, once I had finished it, I had the sensation of tooth ache. There is not a dilemma or real cross word in these pages and I think it would be impossible not to find your mood improved after reading Barker’s book. Plus, it will certainly get you in the Christmas spirit.
The best way to describe this book is by referring you to the Christmas film, 'The Holiday'. Because, that’s what this book is. Three friends who are dotted around the glove – Denver, Oxfordshire and Melbourne – decide they want the other’s Christmas season. Jules wants to escape the chilling winter snows and heads to Australia; Lucy wants more snow than what Britain can offer, so jets to America; Chloe wants something more traditional than a summer Christmas and therefore lands in the UK. You get the gist of it.
Throw in three gorgeous men and you have the recipe for romance and relationships. The three males are all equally appealing and do not seem to have a bad bone to them, nor any skeletons in the closet. Will, Jules’s brother, is portrayed as the most vulnerable and I found it difficult to believe he was in his twenties – he seems more like an old teenager! On the other hand, Archer, in the UK, is a famous actor and readers only get a true sense of his fame as Chloe grows closer to him. In Australia, Jules sets her eye on Matt, who, as it turns out, is a bit of a wine connoisseur and businessman. Will the ladies settle into their relationships?
I think I was wishing for a bit more drama and crisis in this story. But, this would definitely go against the Christmas spirit! It was a predictable story for the most part as it was clear that each of the girls would end up in a holiday relationship. True, I was keen to see how the romance would be established, especially as each girl is surrounded by friends and family – where was the privacy?! In addition, I was really curious about how Barker would conclude the narrative: would the girls keep their Happy Ever After, despite living in different countries?
As you would expect with the Christmas season, there’s a lot of references to food in this book. It was guilt-free over indulgence through the pages and with no need to diet afterwards! Reading the book did make me peckish and craving a few hot chocolates to drink so, perhaps read this when you can control your munching?!
This was a lovely book to read, I’ll admit it. Once I got my head around each of the character’s home town and then where they had landed, I soon fell into this easy-to-absorb narrative. I loved the cultural differences that became evident in the plot, such as Jules not understanding certain Australian phrases. It felt like the writer had really considered how each character would fit into her new surroundings and what they would find so different.
If you love everything Christmas and you love that festive film, then this is definitely going to be a popular read. Personally, I would have preferred a bit more drama and crisis to the characters’ happiness but, this would certainly go against all what Christmas symbolises. It is lovely, the characters are lovely and, on completing the book, you will feel even more festive.
With thanks to One More Chapter, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Christmas Swap follows the stories of three friends, Jules, Lucy, and Chloe, who have decided to swap their Christmas celebrations and their respective countries. Each of the May Ladies gets to experience different holiday traditions and learn more about themselves and their friend's families.
I love holiday romance novels; they're my absolute favorite! I loved that each of the girls has a romantic interest and that one story didn't detract from another. It was also fascinating to learn more about how America, England, and Australia differ in celebrating Christmas. Overall, the book was fantastic, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a quick, fun holiday read!
The perfect escape, three holidays in one book.
Sandy Barker’s latest release, The Christmas Swap follows the stories of three best friends who live thousands of miles apart, from the US, the UK, and Australia. When one of their group, tells her friends her parents are leaving her alone at Christmas they hatch a plan to live out their dream Christmas, little do they know the adventures they have in store.
The Christmas Swap is a little different from a lot of holiday fiction as it follows each of the May Ladies as they experience each other’s Christmas traditions. While I thought this might dilute the depth of each character’s story, this is not the case, we learn so much from Lucy, Jules, and Chloe’s friends and family.
I love this book and it will call to those, like me, who love love, and there is no better time than Christmas to fall in love.
My thanks to #Netgalley, #OneMOreChapter #OneMoreChapterReads, and @SandyBarker for allowing me to review a copy of #TheChristmasSwap A 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read.
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Swap-Sandy-Barker-ebook/dp/B08611569L/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Christmas+Swap+by+Sandy+Barker&qid=1603126591&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-swap-sandy-barker/1136668284?ean=9780008390037
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-christmas-swap
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-christmas-swap/sandy-barker/9780008390044
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Swap-Sandy-Barker-ebook/dp/B08611569L/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Christmas+Swap+by+Sandy+Barker&qid=1603126591&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-swap-sandy-barker/1136668284?ean=9780008390037
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-christmas-swap
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-christmas-swap/sandy-barker/9780008390044
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 Stars!)
Review:
Chloe, Jules, and Lucy met on family vacations at 11-years-old and have been best friends since. Now, as adults, they realize that it’s time to change their Christmas traditions of the past and live it up around the world. The girls decide to swap their traditional Christmas (including their families) to try something new.
Chloe, who lives in Australia, goes to Oxfordshire, England, to live Lucy’s perfect British Christmas with her family, a tiny British town, an adorable holiday festival, and the perfect British man, who also happens to be a world-famous actor! Although Chloe’s Christmas doesn’t always go according to plan, she might just find her happily-ever-after.
Lucy has always dreamed of a “white Christmas,” like the ones you see in romantic holiday movies. Lucy spends the holiday with Jules’s chaotic family in the Colorado mountains. Unlike Oxfordshire, where Christmas morning includes mostly it’s just grey slush, Lucy might get the white Christmas of her dreams.
Jules leaves her chaotic family Christmas in the snow for a trip around the world - all the way to Australia. Spending time with Chloe’s friends in Melbourne, Jules realizes that Christmas, and life, can be more than she ever expected.
The stories are intertwined with much of it taking place via calls between the girls. Each setting is unique and filled with a great cast of characters that you want to get to know more. Although the book is definitely predictable, it’s still absolutely perfect!
Publishing Information:
Thank you to NetGallery and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Christmas Swap was published on October 16, 2020, and is available in stores now!
The Christmas Swap is a delightful holiday story about three friends from different continents who step into each other’s lives during the Christmas season. It was fun to read about the different Christmas traditions in America, Australia, and America. Each woman also has a love interest, each developing very different love stories. Overall a quick and easy read
that will put anyone into the festive spirit!
5☆ A Fun filled, Feel-Good, Christmassy Romance!
When I first read the blurb straight away my heart filled with joy as it just reminded me of my favourite Christmas Film....The Holiday!
Which it's an ickle bit like that, except with this book.... three best friends decide to swap their Christmases with each other. Oh and don't worry there is plenty of Romance and Humour.
Best Friends Lucy, Jules and Chloe want something different for Christmas this year, one dreams of a snow filled white Christmas ( I mean we all secretly hope for one) , the other is fed up with those bitter cold Christmas (can you guess who swapped) and the last one dreams of having a traditional family Christmas and not being alone.
The Characters are wonderfully written, each one very different yet all on an exciting journey of discovery and growth.
I adored each setting and Barker created the ambiance perfectly, seamlessly swapping between stories.
The Christmas Swap Is a fun filled, feel-good, Christmassy Romance, there's snow, devilishly handsome men, drama, humour, family and friendship, self discovery, traditions, stunning locations, adventure and lots of festive delights to get you in the Christmassy Mood!
So if you are looking for a cosy Christmas Romance, that will leave you feeling warm, have you smiling and laughing then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of The Christmas Swap and be prepared to be whisked away.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.