Fake dating is my least favorite trope. This one had a LGBT twist and was okay. I didn't enjoy the characters and thought they were kind of whiney and annoying. Read if you like messy Christmas romances.

After a rough breakup, Margot agrees to go home with a near-stranger as his fake girlfriend. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right? Unfortunately, his younger sister Ellie is exactly Margot's type--and vice versa. Ellie knows her brother's new girlfriend is hiding something, and she's determined to find out what--even if it means breaking up the two of them. This book was full of holiday cheer and sweet romance. TW for mentions and depictions of a past emotionally abusive relationship.

I wanted to badly to like this book. I was hoping for a cute queer Christmas romance, but the characters felt like they were lacking at times that made it hard to connect with them. For the age they were stated to be, the characters do not quite feel that mature. I almost was unable to finish this book, however I powered through for the sake of an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a sucker for a good holiday romance and books like this one are why you can never go wrong with the Christmas and romance combo!

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC! I love to see any LGBTQ+ representation in stories and this book is no exception. I do wish the characters were more developed and that the plot was less surface level but we will take what we can get. Out now!

Talia Samuels’ The Christmas Swap is a delightful holiday romance that cleverly combines charm and unexpected connections. Margot Murray, newly single and skeptical of holiday romance, enters into a pact with Ben Gibson, who needs a fake girlfriend for his family’s holiday gathering. In exchange for a luxurious stay at a picturesque manor, Margot agrees to pose as Ben's girlfriend, giving him the perfect holiday companion and herself a much-needed escape from London.

The festive setting of the manor adds a magical touch to their arrangement, creating a cozy and picturesque backdrop for their evolving relationship. The true highlight of the novel is the dynamic between Margot and Ben’s sister, Ellie. Initially wary of the fake relationship, Ellie’s growing bond with Margot introduces a layer of emotional depth and genuine connection. As Margot and Ellie’s friendship blossoms, the charade becomes increasingly complicated, leading to a heartwarming exploration of what it means to embrace new possibilities during the holiday season. Samuels captures the essence of Christmas with humor and romance, making The Christmas Swap a charming and engaging read.

DNF @ 25%

This plot was too similar to Kiss Her Once for Me, the writing too British, and the main characters felt like they were trying so hard to be "Not Like Other Girls". I found Ellie's reasoning for assuming Margot was a gold digger a stretch, and it kind of went downhill from there.

I think this would hit better during the holiday season and when you're looking for whatever the winter version of a beach read it.

This was incredibly cute, and perfect for the holiday season. It was touching, and funny, and in it for the feels.

This was a fun, holiday fluffy romance.
I did enjoy myself - I was invested into the characters and their relationships even though they all felt very service level.

I love a fake dating trope but this was a twist on the trope of you fake dating someone who isn’t in your interest and fall for his sister.

I really enjoyed Margot. As someone who has dated many narcissists and been emotionally abused, i related to her on such a deep level that it made me root for her relationship with Ellie & her friendship with Ben. The way he supported her without pushing her was beautiful. He reminded me of a very close friend i have who i have similar late night dinner / talking with.

It was fun, not very developed in terms of character depth, but if you’re looking for a quick, fluffy holiday romance i would def recommend.

What's Christmas without a fake relationship drama? The set up here is a lesbian graphic designer (I think that's what she did) agrees to be her new male client's fake girlfriend for his week-long trip to his family's hotel for Christmas. So many warning bells already. Immediately on arrival, she meets (wait for it...) his single lesbian sister. There is not one moment of this book that is believable or not painfully predictable. The characters are described as 30ish, but read much much younger and immature. In what feels like an attempt to extend the page count rather than actually tell this story, the main character's abusive relationship with her ex-girlfriend is introduced. This comes out of left field, doesn't really change the trajectory of the story, but does feel extremely out of place with the overall "light" tone of the story. I was left feeling more "Bah Humbug!" than getting into the holiday spirit.

I’m not normally one for holiday romances OR romcoms, but this one really caught my eye. I was so thrilled to see a sapphic couple in a situation we don’t normally get to see them in literature, so I was willing to branch out a little bit. I was so glad that I did. It was a very classic “Hallmark movie” book, but it was done in such a way that it felt comforting, rather than over-done and trite.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was super cute and fun! The festive Christmas-in-the-country romance vibes were really enjoyable and I loved both Margot and Ellie—especially Ellie and her grumpy, suspicious jumping to ridiculous conclusions. I also really enjoyed the budding friendship between Margot and Ben, that was a nice little bonus relationship to get invested in. The set up and high jinks were exactly what you expect/want from a fluffy holiday romance, with a satisfying HEA.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I wanted to like this one more than I did. I had a hard time caring about the characters or if they achieved their goals. It is a classic setup-guy needs date to get family off his back, lady getting over a break up, the twist was different (lady liking guy's sister), but this one just didn't click for me.
The setting was written well. The characters were not really fleshed out, but I get that this is expected for a Christmas rom-com.
Overall, it was ok.




Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an early copy of this book. Below is my honest review.

Book Review:
This holiday sapphic romance is absolutely delightful! It's a heartwarming rom-com with a touch of hallmark magic. Filled with charming misunderstandings, surprising revelations, tender moments, and plenty of laughter, this story is perfect for anyone seeking a light and uplifting read. It's the ideal book to add some cheer and joy to your holiday season. I really enjoyed reading this book. It had a slow burn beginning but finally picked up and kept me wanting more. This book is enemies to lovers with playful banter between our main characters. Both characters also go through a self discovery moment. This book had just the right spice and made me fall in love with Margo and Ellie's relationship. I highly recommend this book which I rated 5 stars.

This queer romance, unfortunately, falls flat with a plot that seems stuck in romance clichés. The characters lack the spark needed to make them memorable, and their development feels like ticking off a checklist. Sure, it's great to see LGBTQ+ representation, but the story leans heavily on predictable twists. The writing is okay, but it never quite hits that emotional high note. It's not a complete disaster, and there are some authentic moments, but it doesn't bring anything fresh to the table. Giving it two stars because, let's face it, there are better options out there for a more engaging queer romance read.

A fake dating story set in the British countryside at Christmas. I love the ol "fall for the sister of your fake boyfriend" trope, it's good times.

I really enjoyed this one! Super cute. Each of the characters were well developed and had great personalities! Overall super fun read! Definitely pick this one up if you love Sapphic romance! Love how the cover depicts the pairing but the synopsis mentions a man...

I like to read diversely and I like holiday romances so this cover really connected with me and made me want to check it out. This book is full of holiday spirit and sweet romance.. A young woman thinks she deserves a fun holiday romp with a client after a bad break up. The only problem is the sham relationship she is having with her boss is threatened by the romantic feelings she is developing for his sister. i liked the alternating narratives and the ending.