At first I thought THE CHRISTMAS SWAP was destined to disappoint me like so many other holiday stories, but it managed to redeem itself. Sweet, nerdy Ben Gibson hasn't had much luck in serious relationships, much to the consternation of his family, which encourages perfection. So he asks Margot Murray, who recently designed his company's website, if she'd mind accompanying him to his family's beautiful country house (which doubles as a B&B) and posing as his fake girlfriend. Dealing with her own relationship drama, Margot happily say yes as she's eager to get away from the city. Ben and Margot make great friends, but Margot quickly realizes she has major romantic feelings for a different Gibson: Ben's sister, Ellie.

Told in a back and forth POV from Margot and Ellie, SWAP is a bit repetitive at first as we see events through both Margot and Ellie's eyes. At first, this looks like it's going to be a story filled with characters who do not communicate and lack common sense (ok, this may be a theme throughout). Ellie immediately makes a (wrong) snap judgement about Margot and then vacillates in her feelings about her in a very annoying and unhinged way. What follows is a series of bad decisions and miscommunications that made me cringe.

Luckily, around halfway through, the book picks up, as Ellie wises up a bit and we gain more insight into Margot's history. The book deals well with some serious topics, such as emotional abuse and anxiety about expectations, which I really appreciated. It's very festive; I wouldn't read it hungry, as it describes delicious food quite well! By now, things are predictable and silly, but in a good way. Margot and Ellie have a cute chemistry, and as we get to know them, it's easier to realize that they are not making their bad decisions maliciously.

There's no deep character development here, perhaps with the exception of the little exploration into Margot's past relationship, but I grew to care for everyone, including some fun side characters, like Ben's grandpa and other sister. And, of course, it's always fun to see a lesbian holiday romance. Oh, and there are cute dogs! Overall, a fun holiday read, especially if you like that sort of thing.

This was so fun! I do think in some ways, it's a bit too similar to Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun (which I LOVE), but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing!

sadly did not get a chance to read this before it expired but I will definitely be reading this at christmas time and coming back to update! Queer christmas romcom? sign me up!

The Christmas Swap is the perfect Christmas love story. Margot Murray is a single businesswoman with no interest in romance. Ben Gibson is an unlucky-in-love man need of a woman to bring home for the holidays. Together, they make a pact: Margot gets two blissful weeks away from London in a picture-perfect manor, in exchange for posing as Ben's girlfriend.

This kind of story can only go one way. Margot is sure to fall in love for real. And she does. With Ben's sister, Ellie.

The perfect Sapphic holiday read! Absolutely LOVED it!

Would make a perfect Christmas movie!

I really liked most of this book! The romance was cute and well done. And the friendship between Ben and Margot was amazing. I really liked how kind he was about her past relationship. I didn't enjoy how mean Margot and Ellie could be about other women. I also feel like if there was going to be a flash forward scene at the end it would've been nice to talk about if there was improvement in the parental relationships because those were a major issue in these people's lives.

This is a cute fake dating book, the first sapphic version I've read. Yes it is predictable, and yes it is like other fake dating plots. But isn't that part of the charm?

This was really cute. I love their little midnight picnic dates. I do wish they told Ben sooner but I don't care that much. They were adorable and clumsy around each other and it made me happy.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

I absolutely loved this one. It was a little predictable, but genuinely such a fun read. If you like LGBTQ+ representation, fake dating trope, and a touch of familial angst then this is for you. I really appreciated Margot's journey through realizing that her past relationship had been abusive, even if that abuse wasn't physical. Ellie and Ben coming together over their shared experiences of falling short of their parent's expectations was also really sweet.

This book has 3 main characters, Ben, Margot and Ellie.
Ben is always being bothered by his parents because he never brings a girlfriend home. Enter Margot, Ben's friend. Ben convinces her to go with him and be his "girlfriend" to his parent's mansion for the Christmas break, since she has no plans. All seems like it will work out until Margot literally runs into Ellie. Despite everything, sparks fly between the two women. They try to deny it, but they cannot and start having midnight rendezvous without Ben's knowledge.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A cosy sapphic rom-com that I was definitely excited for the holiday season.

The chemistry between the two leads was there, but it felt a smidge cheesy. Fake dating trope is one of my favorites but it didn’t deliver in a fresh new direction.

Since this is not my first sapphic Fake relationship Christmas romance, I must say it's not the best on the list.
It was a fine read, Characters are likeable but that's about it.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing mit with this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication: Out Now!

Rating: 2 stars

This book was a miss for me. I felt that the story wasn't complex and is your typical cheesy holiday rom-com. Ben needs a date and Margot needs somewhere to go for the holidays. A not so meet cute with Ben's sister and then the whole "oh dear I'm falling for her" trope.

What I didn't like and couldn't get over is that the characters were over the top. The reader is constantly reminded just how nerdy Ben is and how he can't land a girlfriend. It seemed like their descriptions were a bloated version of some sort of trait and that became their whole personality.

Overall, I wasn't a fan.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy and the opportunity to review honestly. Unfortunately, I should have DNFed this one. The writing is very juvenile and somehow the characters in a sapphic Christmas romance weren’t likable?!?!

This had a strong start that was charming and humorous. The classic fake dating trope is applied a little differently here and as the attraction between Ellie and Margot grows, despite the fake boyfriend situation, the comedy is in full swing. Where this started to lag a bit was in the fact that it’s not until halfway through that I felt the romance aspect really started to take off. It just felt too slow and then too immediate. I didn’t really get the chemistry between the characters like I was meant to, and I think the instant lust once things are clarified felt rushed.

Lastly, while there is some open door scenes, I struggled to get into them because it didn’t feel like the emotional intimacy and vulnerability was there.

Overall, this just felt fine but not quite the warmth and gooey holiday romance vibes I was hoping for.

Not my favorite holiday read of the year but it wasn't terrible by any means. This fake dating, Sapphic Christmas romance sees Margot falling for her fake boyfriend's sister, Ellie as she spends the holidays with his family in an attempt to make them think he's not a total loser.

Not my favorite holiday read of the year but it wasn't terrible by any means. This fake dating, Sapphic Christmas romance sees Margot falling for her fake boyfriend's sister, Ellie as she spends the holidays with his family in an attempt to make them think he's not a total loser.

Perfect for fans of Alison Cochrun's Kiss her once for me (with a VERY similar/read 'same' plot). Okay on audio though despite there being two narrators I did have difficulty distinguishing between the dual POVs when it switched from Margot's to Ellie's perspectives). Overall just an okay read for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

CW: toxic controlling past relationship

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels is for fans of Happiest Season — a secret romance between two women staying in a perfectionist family’s giant home for Christmas. Though I was interested in the premise, the pacing and character development fell a little flat for me. The main characters, Ellie & Margot, are so similar that I struggled to tell their dual POVs apart. They went from sort-of-enemies to insta love a bit too quickly, and the ending (no spoilers!) felt very rushed and a bit too neat. My favorite parts were scenes with Ben and Margot’s grandfather — to be protected at all costs! 💙

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a sweet, closed door holiday romance with a twist on fake dating, 'The Christmas Swap' is the book for you!

Reading this book if you like:
-closed door romance
- a sweet romance
- fake dating (but actually falling for your fake boyfriend's sister!)
- hallmark holiday movie vibes
- forced proximity (being together for the holiday!)
- stories set in the winter
- dual POV

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an ARC of this book.

Sapphic Christmas book? Say less. It's why I requested this book! I give it 3 stars overall. The book is very cute and fluffy. I love cute a fluffy books. It is very hallmark Christmas movie. Really simple and fun. There are no high stakes here. I would love to listen to this book on audio while I decorate Christmas cookies. I only give it 3 stars because there were parts of the book where I found myself kind of bored. I think if it was shortened a bit then it would be a lot better. I will still be recommending this book to my friends who love Sapphic Christmas stories and Hallmark movies.