Margo is doing well in her professional life, but her personal life leaves something to be desired. When her client, Ben, proposes that she come home with him for the holidays so his family doesn't think he's a single loser, she agrees. After all, she's a lesbian. What has she got to lose by spending Christmas with his family in a country estate? As it turns out, a lot. What Margo wasn't expecting was Ben's sister, Ellie, who is home from abroad. Sparks fly immediately as the two struggle to figure out how to keep their blossoming relationship a secret, while Margo tries to avoid her toxic ex who very much wants her back.

This was a cute book with a fun spin on the "fake dating" trope. Margo and Ellie were adorable together, and I was rooting for them the entire time. I also enjoyed the subplot with Margo's ex. I think it's important to show that abuse can exist in all kinds of relationships, and I applaud the author for including it.

If you're looking for a queer Hallmark movie-esque book for this Christmas, check it out!

Reviews to come on @pittelsbookclub on TikTok and Instagram.

"The Christmas Swap" by Talia Samuels is a heartwarming holiday tale that captures the spirit of the season with charm and emotion. Set against a festive backdrop, the story revolves around unexpected connections and the magic of second chances.

Samuels' writing beautifully brings to life the holiday atmosphere, infusing each scene with the joy and wonder of Christmas. The characters in the novel are relatable and endearing, each carrying their own hopes and dreams. As the story unfolds, their interactions reveal the importance of compassion and understanding, especially during the holiday season.

At its core, the novel explores themes of empathy, personal growth, and the power of community. Through the characters' experiences, the author delivers a heartwarming message about the impact of small acts of kindness and the potential for positive change.

The romance that develops in "The Christmas Swap" is sweet and tender, adding an extra layer of warmth to the story. The gradual build-up of feelings and the characters' emotional journeys make their connection resonate with authenticity.

Talia Samuels' storytelling is engaging and inviting, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the world she has created. The pacing of the novel maintains a balance between heartwarming moments and moments of reflection.

In conclusion, "The Christmas Swap" is a delightful read that captures the magic of the holiday season. With its themes of love, friendship, and the joy of giving, this novel is a perfect choice for anyone seeking a heartwarming story to brighten their spirits during Christmastime.

2.5/3

this book is fine - the writing felt very ametuer (which makes sense for a debut, so obv there is time and room for her to improve that); it had a lot of plot points going on (more so than I would have liked, but this also seems common in romance books written for older audiences - the characters are 30ish & I am only 22); and with the amount of plot points / conflicts, the pacing felt off

though I think there is a good amount of space for improvement in the future, this is a fine enough romance book - and it can be enjoyable as long as you don't mind having to get to know a bunch of not super plot-important characters (which is lowkey a pet peeve of mine, but that's me)

biggest issue I had with the book is that I didn't really love any of the characters and honestly I kind of hated Ellie from the start (though she gets a little better) because who in their right mind is willing to ruin their own Christmas (especially if she is such a family person as she says she is) in order to get revenge on another person, let alone a stranger? Frankly her conversation with Ben could have happened a lot earlier and she would not have had to put so much negative energy into trying to find faults with Margot

I would recommend to people looking to read a lesbian romance book that takes place during Christmas; I think it can be enjoyable if you're just looking to read something with a little festive spirit

This book is pretty darn charming. I really liked that even though the characters had their own inner struggles, the plot did not rely entirely on their insecurity. I have read many romances lately that lean so hard into one or both characters having next to no self esteem, so it was refreshing to read characters whose inner dialogue was more balanced and positive while still having enough self doubt to feel realistic. I also really liked how brief the third act break up was. I know it feels necessary for a romance to have these, but I hate them, so I always like when it's not protracted and overly dramatic. The biggest drawback for me, but potentially a positive for some, is that there is no spice, like not even cinnamon. Very very chaste. Not why I read romance, but certainly there is an audience for this. It is a testament to the good character development of the book that I enjoyed it despite the lack of spice.

Reading a Christmas book on the beach is kind of funny. Initial thoughts: I'm really enamored with Ben almost immedietly. I read a holiday swap book last year and it was fine, but THIS is what I want. It's cozy Christmas queer fake dating. But there's a twist, Margot listens to girl in red--literally and figuratively. The Christmas Swap is a sweet romcom that's not cheesy or annoying in the least (in the way I often find books that are described as "sweet" or "romcoms).

Ben and Margot are trying to pull off a fake dating Christmas hoax--they are really client/contractor or friends, but for this Christmas they are playing the roles of committed couple. Off they go to his family's estate to celebrate the holiday with his family and their heavily pregnant dog. It's going well enough, but Ben's sister Ellie puts a wrench in those plans by being nosy and unsure of the relationship....oh, and a hot lesbian who Margot can't keep her eyes off of.

This story is funny and sweet with just enough tension to keep things interesting but not frustrating.

"Surprise, also I'm a raging lesbian'
'nice. Me too'.

If you are looking for a cozy holiday read, I can't reccomend this one enough. Truly, The Christmas Swap is straight up lovely.

“The Christmas Swap” was a very sweet, cozy Sapphic Christmas romance. I loved Margot so much it's insane. Her story about her Nana and how much she meant to her, her wit and kindness, and her journey figuring out how bad her ex truly treated her. I really liked her and loved reading her POV. The chapters from her point of view are my favorite. I love when you know from the outset that a couple is made for each other! I loved that this is a dual POV romance. It is always better when you get both perspectives of the MC’s so you can see how they really feel. I think that it allows the reader to really be able to see the relationship blossom. I loved all three of the main characters had some growth over the book, and the way both Ellie and Ben supported Margot through her realizations about her former relationship was so uplifting to read. There were definitely shades of “Kiss Her Once for Me” with the fake relationship over the holidays, but at the same time, it was done in a very original, unique way. I like that Talia didn't try to force the lie/Ellie's investigation into Margot's gold-digger nature for longer than she did, because it would have been very tiresome to read. The affection between the characters is limited strictly to kissing. This is fine, and I feel that the book was great without them, but if you're looking for a romance for the sex scenes, this is a would not be the book for you. This is a very nice rom com that will have you wanting to finish it in one sitting. I think that this would make a great Hallmark Christmas rom-com movie. Many thanks to Talia Samuels, Netgalley and Alcove Press for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I can’t wait to read Talia’s next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

I'm going to be very clear about the premise and genre of this book, because I think readers with accurate expectations going in will be much happier than readers who are expecting something else when they pick up this novel. The Christmas Swap is a cozy, wholesome sapphic Christmas romance - much in the same vein as Hallmark movies. It's sweet and easy to read (without much spice). If you're looking for the Hallmark experience in the format of a holiday book about lesbians, then this is the story for you! If you are seeking a deeper, more complex romance, then you might want to skip this one.

I'm rounding my rating up to four stars, because this book is quite good if you are seeking a warm, lighthearted holiday read from a queer perspective. It's your typical fake-dating trope, but it follows through on almost everything it promises. Margot recently lost her grandmother and broke up with her ex-girlfriend. She's not in the mood to celebrate Christmas at home, so she jumps at the opportunity to visit an English manor for two weeks instead. The catch? She must go with her client, Ben, and pretend to be his girlfriend (as he's tired of being pitied each year for coming home single). Margot quickly discovers that she's in for an eventful holiday season, as she meets his family and, specifically, his sister, Ellie. Ellie is gorgeous, but Margot has trouble connecting with her, as Ellie suspects something is amiss between Margot and Ben. Can they successfully convince Ben's family that they're in love? Or will Margot fall for her fake-boyfriend's sister instead?

If you're looking for exquisite Christmas vibes, then you won't be disappointed with the atmosphere here. I loved reading about the Gibson family's beautiful manor in the English countryside. I could imagine all of the lovely decorations and could nearly smell the plethora of delicious Christmas food everyone was eating. This book is a timely read for the holiday season. Samuels' writing excelled at setting the scene, without being overly complicated or wordy. I also didn't mind the pacing; the novel takes its time to establish the setting and characters, but it never felt too slow.

I would argue that aside from the setting, the characters are the other standout of this novel. I loved reading about Ben and Margot's friendship. They're both lovely people, and it is great to see them support each other throughout the story. Ellie is a bit annoying at first (when she suspects Margot is dating Ben for his money), but I came around to her by the end. I loved some of the side characters, as well, like Ben's grandfather and the family dog (who has her own little subplot about how she mysteriously wound up pregnant). The characters care about one another, and it's heartwarming to watch their relationships grow.

This novel touches on a couple of heavier subjects, but it does it with care (and, in my opinion, it never goes deep enough that it brings down the mood of the whole book). The characters discuss Margot's emotionally abusive ex, Ellie and Ben's grandfather with memory problems, and bond over the difficulty of watching grandparents age. I enjoyed that the story brought up these issues; there were a couple of quotes I found especially moving. I also liked that the author took a light-handed approach, though. Again, this is a positive if you're looking for a light read, but if you want something that's going to go deeper, you might want to look elsewhere.

I have a few minor issues with this book that keep me from rating it five stars, but they didn't detract much from the overall read. I appreciate that the characters are a bit older (they're in their early 30s), but Ellie comes off as very immature. She jumps to conclusions quickly, and she doesn't seem to put a lot of thought into her decision-making sometimes. I would have liked the sections from her perspective to be shorter, with more showing, rather than telling. Her background could have also been developed more, too. Additionally, there was a missed opportunity to give Ben's family greater depth. Kate, the twins, and to a lesser extent, Ben's parents, all could have been fleshed out more. I got the gist of their personalities, but it would have been more enjoyable if they were given more interesting character traits. Lastly, I think there should have been more time between the break-up with Margot's ex and Margot's relationship with Ellie. Margot realizes she was abused and then wants to jump into another relationship; I feel like Ellie and Margot should have maybe kept it more casual to give Margot time to heal herself first.

This is a great read to bring home with you during the holidays! It's quick, easy to immerse yourself in, and is full of endearing moments. If you don't like Hallmark-like media, then I would recommend you try something else, because you probably won't enjoy this book for what it is. I also expect that The Christmas Swap will be compared quite a bit to Kiss Her Once For Me (another sapphic Christmas romcom with a similar premise of fake dating); I have read and enjoyed both in different ways. In my opinion, Kiss Her Once For Me is more serious and complex. The Christmas Swap is lighter and doesn't touch on heavy subjects in as much detail. I predict a good portion of readers who liked one will be interested in the other, but The Christmas Swap is fluffier overall.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars, rounded up because this novel delivers well on being a light, festive sapphic romcom. I had a fun time with it!

It’s a bit early in the year to publish a Christmas book, at least in my opinion. I think that tainted my enjoyment of this book. I will revisit when Christmas is closer and hopefully I’ll be more open to liking it.
It’s a cute enough story for me to wantte give it another try

I'm just over half way into this ARC and I already know it will be a 5 star read. This is one of few books I have ever gotten holiday vibes from. I also seem to really enjoy the fake dating trope but as the title suggests, I know she will wind up with the sister and their dynamic is hilarious as of now but I can tell will turn into a great romance

An original story idea. Ben and Margot's fake relationship seemed fun, and Ellie's misguided attempts to expose Margot as an assumed gold-digger were amusing. Margot and Ellie even appeared to have some chemistry early on, but once they started actually getting involved, it fell a bit flat. I can't put my finger on why, but it just felt off. A solid read, three plus stars.

<b> Thank you to Talia Samuels, Alcove Press, and Netgalley for an advanced copy to review. </b>

Margot is newly single, dreading the first Christmas without her grandmother and needing an escape. Ben is an unlucky-in-love chatterbox needing a date to bring home for the holidays. The obvious solution? They hatch a fake-dating plan to suit them both... however, as soon as Margot meets Ben's sister Ellie the plan for an easy platonic Christmas holiday goes awry. This book is a cute little twist on the fake-dating and brothers-girlfriend tropes that shines a light on the need for open and honest communication between family members.

Trigger Warnings: discussions of emotional abuse <spoiler> Margot's ex has been verbally and emotionally abusive to her and continues to be so in the aftermath of their relationship </spoiler>

Stars: 2.75/5 rounded to 3/5

Things I enjoyed about this book:
- This sapphic twist on a fake-dating/brothers-girlfriend trope.
- The discovery that Ben and his siblings each considered themselves under the same pressure for perfection, and that bringing that to light is healing to all of them.

Things I did not love about this book:
- the 3rd act "break-up" - I don't usually mind it but in this book, it seemed like the catalyst to wrap up all the loose ends the author hinted at earlier. I would have liked to have seen some of those elements woven in earlier instead of just in the last 20%. <spoiler> For example I would have loved for Ben to have discovered Stallion and Bobbi earlier and to have tried to hide his own reawoken romance from everyone - would have been fun for Ellie to go from gold-digging Margot conspiracy theories to trying to solve a Ben mystery. </spoiler> Some of those last-minute revelation/actions <spoiler> Ellie's car chase </spoiler> felt a little out of left field.
- I felt the lead-up to Ellie and Margot was too involved and themes partially redundant for the ending to then wrap things up fairly abruptly and conveniently.

Note: I usually post reviews on social media as well as GoodReads. I won't for this book since it clocked in at under 3/5 stars for me. If this book undergoes a significant revision before publication I'd love to know and be given the opportunity to re-review. I think the premise is great and has a lot of promise, but the execution fell short of what it is capable of.

A sweet holiday romance with plenty of chaos!

Margot's Christmas plans have been cancelled right alongside her relationship. So when one of her marketing clients asks her to pretend to be Ben's girlfriend for the holidays, she agrees. Ben's sister Ellie is coming home, determined to prove she's ready for more responsibility. When she thinks Margot is a gold-digger, all bets are off.

I absolutely love the way healing from abuse was handled in this story. The little subplots were rather predictable but I still enjoyed the journey immensely. I love the fake boyfriend's sister trope and it was done well here. I especially loved the Grandpa!

A cozy, laid back Christmas romance with a sapphic love story and fake dating trope! The setting at an English countryside manor and quirky family members (including an adorable dog) made me pick this book up.
I was pleased by the budding friendship with Ben and Margot’s well developed backstory.
I wish the 2 main female characters had more distinct voices, sometimes I would confuse from which POV I was reading from, because they were so similar. Ellie‘s reasoning often seemed as it had no footing, painting her a bit immature and indecisive. While I didn’t feel the sparks fly with these two, I appreciated the warm and fuzzy vibes.
I recommend this for romance readers who enjoy a straightforward, Hallmark-ish story without any intimate content.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a free ARC for an honest review!

DNF @ 20%

Unfortunately I just wasn’t vibing with the writing or the characters, so I’ve decided to DNF this title. As always, just because this wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it isn’t for you! I think a lot of people will really enjoy this book, just not me.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Review to come ,
I will for now tell you what I was drawn to when selecting this book , the title, and the cover really got me.
Thank you net galley and publisher for allowing me to read this book. !

DNF'ed at 50 percent


I was very excited to start this book but it didn't live up to my expectations and was not very interesting tbh. Its because maybe I've read way too many Christmas romances this year already or something else but I didn't find anything interesting enough to continue the book.

If you like Hallmark Christmas movies, then you will love this book.

The plot is fun and cute, when a single man convinces his lesbian friend to pretend to be his girlfriend for the Holidays with his family. The tables turn when she starts to catch feelings for his sister.

The book is a feel good from start to finish and I was honestly bummed I read it in July instead of December. I could picture curling up with the snow outside while reading it to get in the Holiday spirit.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Margot agrees to help Ben by being his fake girlfriend during Christmas. However, she finds herself falling for his sister, Ellie.

This reminded me a lot of Kiss Her Once for Me except set in England. The writing wasn’t as much for me as that one and I found it hard not to compare the two. British holiday romance fans should enjoy this one overall.

My first Christmas book of the season, and it did not disappoint! I love a fake dating situation. Such a cute book. I was rooting for the characters, and I loved every minute of The Chrismas Swap.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book.

3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for the ARC!

I chose this because of the adorable cover, and it really delivered on the cozy Christmas romance vibe. Margot is fresh out of a breakup with nowhere to go at Christmas, and her friend Ben invites her to his parents country manor to pose as his fake girlfriend. When Ben’s sister Ellie shows up, sparks fly among all the holiday traditions and mistletoe.

I loved all three of the main characters - all had some growth over the book, and the way both Ellie and Ben supported Margot through her realizations about her former relationship was so uplifting to read. The book also touched on some serious family-related topics (grief at family loss and seeing a beloved grandparent struggle with dementia) without feeling bogged down and heavy.

On the negative side, the book dragged a bit for me - the story built slowly and I was never glued to the page. I also thought the end conflict felt a bit over dramatic compared to the softness of the rest of the book.

All in all, though - a sweet story in a lovely setting, very cozy. Low steam, kisses and a few make-out sessions, but it felt right given they were sharing a house with Ellie’s entire family.