This was a cute but predictable friends to lovers tale. Enjoyable and gave me "The Holiday" movie vibes.

This book had so much potential as a dual point of view holiday romance, but sadly fell short for me.

A lot of my issues with the book had to do with the writing style. I felt like the dialogue was lacking in both quality and depth and there was so much left unsaid between the characters. The storylines moved way too quickly with both friends falling in love in less than a week - impressively quick even by hallmark movie standards. There were also a couple of details that didn’t add up…

Overall, this one just left a lot to be desired.

I really wanted to love this one, I loved the synopsis and The Holiday is one of my favorite holiday movies, but it fell flat for me. Ideally I would've enjoyed this more if it had been split into separate books.

I loved The Holiday Honeymoon Switch! Granted, reading it right after my return from Kauai during December, to cold in the PNW probably didn't hurt. I got ALL the feels from this book. A wholesome story of friendship and love, it's the perfect holiday treat. From warm beaches in Hawaii, to romantic cabins in the woods, this has a little of everything.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub date: 08 October 2024

I’m so torn on how I feel about this book. On one hand I loved the female friendship aspect but on the other hand I felt like the book was at least a hundred pages to long and wish that this book could have been split into two stand alone novels in order to have more plot and character development. As someone who loves the movie The Holiday, I feel like I had higher expectations for this book and it just fell short for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Sometimes Insta-Love works, and sometimes it doesn't. This was one of those "it doesn't" books for me!

The start of the book was amazing. The plot starts with Holly's fiance leaving her because he felt they were only marrying each other because it was safe and what others wanted. Holly in her despair wants to switch New Year's trips with Ivy so that Holly can spend time in solitude and Ivy can draw the beach for her art retreat. I feel in many books recently the love interests are clique or unlikable, but I loved the main characters and the love interests in this story. Plenty of characterization made each character have their own quirks and faults, making the plot move along smoothly. However, I did not feel the chemistry between the characters. The relationships in the book felt forced to keep the story moving. Therefore, the plot felt forced as the relationships had to solidify by the end of the story for both characters to have a happy ending. Overall, the story was cute and had amazing characters, but it felt rushed and forced.

I wanted to love this one since The Holiday is one of my favorite movies, but I think it was a lot to fit in 300 pages. I wish Holly and Ivy got separate books because then it wouldn't feel rushed or insta-lovey. Overall it was a cute holiday read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very cute double rom-com where 2 best friends go on each other's vacations so one can mend after basically be dumped at the alter. Loved this so much!

This book was another holiday book by Holly Cassidy just in a different font. I think that if the storylines were more flushed out and there was more character development this had potential to be 2 great love stories. I understand that romance, especially holiday romance is seen by many as an escape and cheesy, but I appreciate plot and I feel like this didn't have much. Miscommunication trope too?? in 2024?? no thank you. Thank you for the arc but this book was just not for me.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Penguin Group for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, instalove, holiday vibes

This was a super cute read! It's a very interesting concept. Of course, you have to suspend your belief a bit. It's very wholesome and has instalove connections. I highly recommend this for a fluffy read!

Are you looking for a holiday read with Hallmark vibes and a touch of spice? Then look no further because Julia McKay has got you with The Holiday Honeymoon Switch! I loved the friendship between Holly and Ivy most of all, and it is always refreshing to see a strong female bond in any book, but especially a rom-com. They had their own little meet cute that was absolutely adorable, and I found myself wishing I had an instant bestie sitch like this. The romances are both equally on point with Holly finding someone from her past in Hudson Valley and Ivy meeting someone new in Hawaii. I loved the variation the two different locations gave me as well and I loved the two besties POVs equally.

The audiobook is delightful as well with the fabulous Brittany Pressley voicing both characters. I do wish we would have had another female narrator to add a bit of differentiation between voices but since Pressley is one of my top 5 favorite narrators, this didn’t bother me as much as it could have. I would definitely recommend the audiobook but I’m sure reading would be good as well! I hadn’t realized that McKay was the pen name for Marissa Stapley who also writes under the pen name Maggie Knox, but I had a feeling this wasn’t a debut, and I love her, so it makes sense. I loved everything about this breezy read that is packed to the brim with sweetness!

Read this if you enjoy rom-coms with a focus on friendship, a holiday read that isn’t too in your face about it, and plenty of insta-love!

Cute, quick read that’s perfect for vacation! Not going on my favorites list but had a fun time reading

Reminds me of the movie the holiday. A typical Holiday romcom. Instant fall in love medium spice kind of romance. I was left wanting more depth.

This was a cute read that had me wanting to be Holly and Ivy's third bestie. The power and importance of friendship rang through as a theme in this book and it was a fun and relaxing cozy winter read. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Friends help friends when wedding drama happens, and Holly and Ivy do just this that. In The Hollywood Honeymoon Switch that involves Ivy going on the would’ve been honeymoon and Holly getting some time to hole away and heal at the cabin. Cute romance with a fun premise, but I didn’t feel like I got much depth with the characters.

Absolutely loved this one! Such a perfect Holiday read. It was so enjoyable. I am a seasonal reader and loved the different settings of snow and beach back and forth throughout the book. I really liked McKay's writing. I was swept up into the story from the start and could not put it down. Definitely a new go-to author for me. If you love a good rom-com, this one is perfect for you!

~2.5 stars, rounded up~
Holly Beech and Ivy Casey are best friends who are so in sync they could pass for twins. When Holly’s fiancé dumps her, leaving her with a nonrefundable honeymoon, she convinces Ivy to swap places—Ivy will take the Hawaiian vacation, while Holly retreats to Ivy’s Hudson Valley cabin to heal. But Holly’s quiet escape is disrupted when her rugged Airbnb host turns out to be her high school rival, now a total heartthrob. Meanwhile, Ivy’s solo art retreat in Hawaii is thrown into chaos when Holly’s ex-fiancé shows up at the honeymoon suite with a new woman. Furious and without a bed, Ivy finds an unexpected ally in the handsome hotel bartender. This Christmas, despite all the curveballs, might just turn out to be the most magical one yet.
***
I’m so Team Ivy - I tried to be sympathetic towards Holly given her situation, but MAN… She could be insufferable & whiny. There’s also the ‘insta-love’ aspect, which I’m slowly starting to realize isn’t my jam. I could believe Ivy’s situation, but I didn’t care for Holly’s storyline.

I loved this. A cute and emotional holiday adventure with two friends. I loved both of them healing and finding new passions in new places. I loved their friendships and how fun this was. It’s a perfect holiday read,