I was so excited to see that Sandy Barker wrote a follow-up to my all-time favorite Christmas book, The Christmas Swap. Sandy Barker's books are an automatic buy for me - her characters are always witty, fun and sometimes sweary, which I love. Good strong chapters, a fun festive plot, and characters with depth are what you will get in this book, but you'll also feel as if you've been whisked away! The Christmas Trip is destination reading at its finest. I told my husband I felt like I was in Hawaii, now I'm looking up tickets to Kauai. She's a writer to watch--a queen in this genre. I recommend The Christmas Trip to all romantic comedy enthusiasts.

Thank you NetGalley for the read, and One More Chapter. I am eagerly waiting for this author's next book!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The three front ends are all settled in their relationships, all busy and the year has flew by without much opportunity to meet up.

But, Ash, plans something, the outcome of which is that, the three of them are together again, for Christmas, this time on a tropical island with their partners.

All three friends are kept busy, and we meet new characters, the housekeeper, Leilani as well as Audrey, who is a bit childish, but intriguing.

I loved the description of the Hawaiian island.

I recommend this book.

I couldn't put this down, I was reading the majority of it on the tube, and it's actually a miracle I managed to get off at the right stops as I was completely unaware of my surroundings I was that engrossed in the story.

Taking place a year after The Christmas Swap we get to spend more time with the May girls this time in Hawaii. And we get to reunite with them, and their men who they met in thee previous book too.

As I have come to expect from a Sandy Barker novel there is a keen emphasis on location and I could picture Hawaii really clearly and so vividly. And I loved the introduction of Leilani as a character, she is house keeper and mama figure in the luxurious property they are all staying in, in Hawaii.

And I enjoyed getting to know her a bit and could feel the warmth of her personality from here. I was less keen on meeting Audrey, although she is a bit mixed up and does have some redeeming qualities, it takes a while for her to grow on you.

Just how great are the men in this book, I would happily have Archer, Matt or Will as my boyfriend, they are just so wonderful and I love seeing how they treat their May Ladies.

I loved all these characters in thee first book and absolutely adore them even more after this one. It is everything you want for in a Christmas romance, and given I am personal fan of Christmas in the sun, I loved seeing how the girls, especially Lucy trying to turn Hawaii into a familar sort of Christmas, or adapting their expectations.

It is so special to see all three of these best friends in the same country at the same time, and it's just an all around feel good story that is immersive and wonderful to read.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I hadn’t realised Ms Barker had written a follow up to her previous year’s great Christmas novel The Christmas Swap, so was delighted, once I settled down and opened my arc copy, (thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley) to find The Christmas Trip is just that. I LOVE sequels and follow ups, and while this second novel takes us back to the comings and goings of friends Chloe from Oz, Lucy from the UK and Jules from the USA, the book certainly can be read as a standalone and one doesn’t necessarily have to have first read last year’s offering. (If you can – do – that is also a jolly good read!)
Sandy Barker is skilled at taking the reader on a journey to exotic and wonderful places so that one can almost think oneself there. What more could one ask for, for Christmas? A fabulous location, a billionaire estate, a tropical background and your mates. Oh, and romance. Did I mention the romance? Always drafted with a deftness and insight into how her characters should feel and act.
There are issues to solve and great characterisation, particularly from the new characters introduced into this sequel - I particularly liked the housekeeper. A great romantic escapist read to sit and lose oneself in while it rains here in the UK! As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed Sandy’s latest book. Great read. 5 stars from me!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Chloe, Jules and Lucy have been friends for years. With the holidays upon us they are excited for what lies ahead. This book was a quick read.

BFFs since age 11, the May Ladies found Love in their first novel, The Christmas Swap. In this sequel, it's a year later and they're back together to compare notes on their lives, their loves, their hopes, their fears. More than a holiday rom-com, this is light women's fiction about friendship set against a fantasy backdrop of billionaire-style Hawaiian luxury.

I'm a total sucker for books where women have each other's backs, try to help through trials large and small, and who extend that help to other women who seem to be struggling. I also really enjoy books where the women deal with their emotions in mature ways rather than spiraling into adolescent acting out at the drop of a fingernail or wine glass. These 30-somethings take time to check in with themselves, face their discomforts, and if they can't promptly work through the issue by themselves or in a chat with their BFFs, they don't make everyone else suffer for their temporary uncertainty. They balance relationships and best friends with work and family commitments. They figure out how to have fun for part of every day even when all is not ideal. And they pull together to make a Christmas that satisfies everyone from the most traditional to the most avant-garde among them.

Of course there's romance and tension, but it's about where next to take a year-old relationship that's still delighting you than about the initial dance of advance/retreat/should-we-shouldn't-we.

Although I found one character a bit of a wet blanket, I appreciated how her friends handled her and how she tried to handle herself. Some of the staff-employer dynamics didn't ring quite true. Some of the off-page antics would have been hilarious if shown on-page.

You'll get more out of this book if you've read the other first, but it's not essential. There's enough in the text to make it understandable and enjoyable even if you know none of the history.

Whether you think the biggest dollop of fantasy is found in the billionaire estate or the fact that all their boyfriends get along with each other and nobody's trying to alpha-male the others, you'll find plenty of tropical scenery, vacation activities, and a decent dash of celebrity spice with the May Ladies on their Christmas Trip.


#Netgalley #ChristmasTrip #SandyBaker #Hawaii #Christmas #tropical #pineapple #luxury #stepmother #WomensFiction #romance #romcom

The Christmas Trip

Lucy, Jules and Chole are friends but live in a world apart. All the ladies plans are change for this holiday season luck be had it they are all heading for the same destination. A very easy read which deals with real life issues. I adore the way the ladies friendsip is explored.

#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #romance #seasonal #TheChirstmasTrip #friendship

While this is a sequel I felt like I could follow it fine without having read the first one. Its a quick easy read, I liked that the characters had their own chapters and they were all nice and well rounded. Great enjoyable Christmassy read.

I had a difficult time getting into this one. There was very little background information on the characters, most of whom I found unlikeable, so it was hard for me to root/relate for them. Some of the things they said and did just made me say “are you serious” and the amount of times they said sweetheart, darling, babe, and my love drove me insane. I’m all for pet names (love them actually) but it was unnecessarily excessive. Chloe, Archer, and Leilani were my favorite characters by far. They were the most level headed and down to earth characters. I appreciated how much the May Ladies friendship played a role in the story and how close the trio remained since childhood. The author did an excellent job creating the perfect Christmas in Hawaii. I loved seeing the group decorate, cook, play games, and get into the holiday spirit with one another.

☀️Christmas on the beach
👯‍♀️Friendship
💛Love

*****After reading this book I didn’t a little research to see if I just overlooked the first book before requesting this one and noticed that the book is published under another Sandy Barker’s profile on Goodreads.

The Christmas Trip
By: Sandy Barker
Review Score: 4 Stars

Five Key Feels

-I love how this book jumps in after The Christmas Swap.

-I think Archer and Chloe are my favorite couple…but its hard to pick!

-Chloe and Jules’ support of Lucy is so kind, and a true testament to their friendship.

-Audrey’s character arc is wild and so well done.

-No spoilers, but the epilogue is so sweet!

——

The Christmas Trip was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 11/10/22

It is no secret that I LOVE books by Sandy Barker. I love the characters she creates, and I love the locations that she chooses for her stories. This one is no exception.

The May Ladies are such a great group of friends. I so enjoyed being back with them, and seeing how their lives were both different and the same compared to the last book.

No spoilers, but there were so many good parts of this book. Their chance to be together for Christmas again was so fun, and I loved to see how all of that unfolded.

This is another fun read, perfect for the holidays. Check out The Christmas Trip (but read The Christmas Swap first)! You won’t regret it.

#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #fivekeyfeels #audiobooks #audiobook #fiction #arcreview #netgalley #thechristmastrip #sandybarker #harpercollinsuk #onemorechapter

We are back with the May Ladies, Aussie Chloe, American Jules and Brit Lucy for another fun filled instalment.

After a hectic year, Chloe is desperately looking forward to spending some quality time with British boyfriend Archer and what better way than spending Christmas in Paris?

Lucy is looking forward to another white Christmas in Colorado with Will. The long distance romance is beginning to take its toll and whilst Jules loves her new life in Melbourne where she can see gorgeous e boyfriend Matt whenever she likes, the flat share is becoming a bit too crowded and longs for her own space.

When Archer’s Paris plans go awry, he comes up with an amazing plan B by getting all Chloe’s friends together for Christmas.

This is a fab festive read that I really enjoyed. Great to be back with our favourite characters and some new ones added in along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.

Everyone loves a cutesy Christmas story but for those who want more, this book delivers. What could be better than a reunion and Christmas on a tropical island with life long friends in a beautiful beach home and romance to boot! Sandy Barker has created a fun and wonderful setting for the May ladies and their men, including family.! With a huge change away from the usually snowy Christmas, they all work hard amongst much laughter and love, to find the perfect balance of Christmas with the backdrop of tropical of blue seas and gentle breezes. It was such a fun read and gives thought to all is not perfect but let’s work together to make it an amazing time. I believe this would be an ideal book for young women to understand that true love is more that sighs, kisses, cuddles, and everything being perfect. Life’s lessons sometimes take us elsewhere and it can still be amazing. I loved this story an how beautifully it evolved to become a Christmas to remember. What a great imagination, Sandy Barker has!

I received a free copy of, The Christmas Trip, by Sandy Barker. from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Best friends, Jules, Chloe, and Lucy, get to spend Christmas together, their lives are all on different tracks, but their friendship is strong. A delightful Christmas story.

I loved The Christmas Swap & was eager to return to the May Ladies to see what they had been up to. It was great to see them celebrate Christmas together, in addition to the drama that happens in relationships. However, at times it felt like the drama was too much, which I felt threw the story off the rails. For me, part of the magic of The Christmas Swap was seeing Chloe, Jules & Lucy swapping homes for Christmas, experiencing something different, and falling in love. At times, it got to be too much with them all in one place. In saying that, its still a fun festive read with more than one happy ever after.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I read Christmas Switch last year so was thrilled when i saw this sequel. While i do feel some of the love scenes are cheesy, it was great to go back to these three girls to see what happens next. It did get a little long for me, but happy endings, and just good Christmas fiction.

I read the Christmas Switch last year so was thrilled when i saw a sequel. It was great to revisit these three and their relationships. It did get a little long though and towards the end, i was ready for it to be done.

three childhood friends reunite to spend Christmas together. very sweet story. I read this in one day. very quick read.

Best friends Chloe, Jules and Lucy are all loved up but living worlds apart. Chloe is madly in love with her celebrity beau, Archer, but after a whirlwind year in Hollywood’s limelight, she’s desperate to get away and spend some quality time together.

Jules loves her Melbourne life – and gorgeous winemaker Matt – but a crowded flat share has her longing for a place of her own. Meanwhile, Lucy is stuck in a long distance relationship, jetting back and forth between Colorado and London to see Will.

When Archer’s plan to whisk Chloe to Paris goes awry, he surprises her by bringing her friends together for a Christmas to remember…

Sadly, the luxurious surounds can't mask the problems that each of the friends has. A book about realising that where you are is not as important as who you are with and why you are with them.

This is a sequel, however I am yet to read the first one and didn't have any issues in keeping up with the plot.

A quick, fun Christmas read, a great way to spend an hour or two.

Thank you to @netgalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

This was a lovely follow up to the Christmas Swap.

When a book doesn't feel like a series, it is hard to imagine a sequel. But this was a good one. I liked the fact that the book started right at the start., when the girls met in Hawaii, and then jumps to modern day with the girls and their relationships, along with the new characters, Sean, Audrey and Leiani.

You needed to have a little background on the complexities of the relationships between you read this book, esp as the ex became a part of the story midway through.

This is another fun story that encourages you to be with the people you love - it is full of fun, twists, love, adventures and heartbreak - along with the important Christmas element of food!

Another one to watch cuddled up in front of the fire.

It's always good fun to catch up with old friends, and that's exactly what this book is like - meeting up with the May Ladies from Sandy's previous seasonal romcom, The Christmas Swap, to find out what they've been up to since we last saw them. The events here very much follow on from the previous book; although I think you could probably read this as a standalone, why would you want to?! Read both!

This time around the ladies and their significant others are all together, enjoying a sunny Christmas in Hawaii. There's love, laughs, misunderstandings and surprises, along with some new characters I really enjoyed meeting. I'm not giving away any plot spoilers, suffice it to say it all works out in the end exactly as you'd want it to, if not even better! And being a Sandy Barker book, there are marvellous descriptions of the paradise island they find themselves on. I love a white Christmas, but this could tempt me to try a tropical one!

Recommended for anyone who enjoys romance, travel and Christmas.