The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay is such a cute, sweet, spicy, and funny rom-com; but also much like “Mmmbop” by Hanson, the fluffy, fun, and sweet lyrics have a deeper meaning regarding the nature of friendships.

Holly and Ivy met at a kegger in college, and despite the partners that they came to the party not being their soulmates, Holly and Ivy soon realized that they were platonic soulmates. They really did finish each other’s …sandwiches!

When Holly’s fiancé decided to call off their wedding the night before the wedding, Ivy tries to stay strong for her bestie. Holly convinces Ivy to swap places with her, as the Hawaiian honeymoon that her parents bought for her was nonrefundable, and Ivy had a secluded vacation planned. Holly did not feel like being around people, so being secluded in the mountains sounded divine.

And of course, all manner of shenanigans took place for both of them. But was this swap a good idea? Or will it just lead to denial and more hurt and heartbreak?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this amazing ARC!!

4.5⭐️

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch was so cute! It followed best friends Holly and Ivy (great names) as they swapped vacations with each other. This book was so insanely cute. It’s one of those books you need to read in a cabin in the mountains wrapped in a fuzzy blanket as the snow falls outside. It had the perfect balance of romance and friendship. The story felt more like a story about finding yourself more than a true romance book, but the romance was a very present plot point within. The book is written in 3rd person (which I will admit I normally am not a fan of), and switches back and forth between Holly and Ivy each chapter. I read this in the summer but it put me right in the Christmas Holiday spirit. I loved reading Holly and Ivy each working through their own battles and truly finding themselves on their respective trips. I would recommend this book!! I will probably reread during the holiday season.

This was a cute book though fairly predictable. It's not your classic feel good Christmas book though it's set around the holidays and there are some holiday scenes. Holly and Ivy are best friends with cute Christmas names and after Holly's wedding disaster, they switch holiday vacations and have separate adventures at Christmas. This book has LGBT references and is a bit racier than what I typically read so skipped over those scenes.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a cute and quick holiday from com that made me want to jet off to Hawaii. I enjoyed reading the two storylines develop.

I was very excited for this book, however, I could not push through it. It felt very forced, and very predictable. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me, and I ended up DNF'ing it.

This was cute. I loved the dynamic between the two besties, Holly and Ivy. The romance they each had was just a bonus. Great Christmas vibes. Hunky male main characters. The perfect holiday read.

Thank you NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off strong for a romance. I feel like towards the end it just got too convenient. The way that both of them just happened to find their forever guys in their convenient switched vacations quickly descended from cute to sickly sweet for me. Also Holly asking Ivy to drop everything and fly 12 hours across the country when 10 seconds later everything is fine, I would be pissed, understanding, but totally pissed. And I feel like we missed an opportunity for some fun mischief with Ivy and Matt. Overall the book was enjoyable but a little too sickly sweet. A little bit more descriptive spicy scenes might have made up for the overt sweetness, but they were vague and romantic instead of hot and naughty. Thank you netgalley for the e arc

There's something about reading holiday romcoms that melt my heart, regardless of the time of year. Holly and Ivy are best friends. From the moment they met, they clicked. They are the definition of best friend soulmates. To top it off, they're practically twins.The night before Holly marries her long-term boyfriend, Matt, Matt breaks off the wedding. He's met someone else and wants to see where it may lead. (We don't like Matt, ok.) Holly is left with a non-refundable honeymoon trip she's dreading to take, so her and Ivy swap holiday destinations. Ivy heads off to Hawaii and Holly heads off to the Hudson Valley. Both look forward to relaxation, but neither are waiting to find love. The Holiday Honeymoon is a light, quick read that's great to kick off the holiday season or perfect for Christmas in July.
I love the concept of having two romances in one. Both are so different, it's refreshing and fun to read. This is a love story, but also a story of best friends and life. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book! This review will be posted to Goodreads.

This is such a cute romance! I loved every moment watching Holly and Ivy walk through struggles of life but realizing that life doesn’t always work out like how we picture it, but that doesn’t mean we won’t love the outcome. Their friendship and dedication they have with each other is inspiring. Plus, I absolutely fell in love with Aiden and Oliver. I hope everyone who loves a good romance will love this book as much as I do!

I loved it. Full stop. The duel storylines worked well together and weren't a distraction. Both were equally good without one just bringing the whole story down.

I loved this book! I read this book in one sitting!! I believe this is the first book I’ve read by this author and I can’t wait to read more!

I loved this book so much. It makes me wish it was winter so I can binge Christmas books! Such a sweet book that has two stories going on. Really enjoyed reading this!

I hate trying new things so I was a bit unsure whether I’d like a book with two separate plots happening parallel to each other. But it was fantastic! My biggest fear was that I would love one of the romances but be annoyed by the other. But in actuality, I was thoroughly invested in both stories. Reading them side by side was frustrating but in a fun way. It really built suspense when one story would stop just when I wanted to hear more and switch to the other woman’s chapter. But then just as I got invested in her chapter, it would switch again. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My only issue was that the book could have been longer. I felt like the endings were a bit rushed. But maybe that’s just because I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t want it to end.

I love Christmas and I love romance and I especially love Christmas romance (x2!).

Such a cute holiday rom com that truly melted my heart. It was exactly what I needed through these warm summer months that truly made me feel like going back to the calmer time of my life.

Two friends alter their vacation arrangements and encounter new acquaintances during their trips. The story has a reminiscent feel of Hallmark movies, and I found it incredibly charming. It was a delightful experience that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Julie McKay for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a fun little Hallmark-esque holiday romance read! The two parallel storylines are a fun way to experience a beachy Christmas AND a snowy mountain Christmas in one book!

The friendship of Holly and Ivy is what made this book special. I mean- during their own meet cute- their friendship was solidified by purse wine. What's not to love!?

If you love to binge all the holiday books you can- definitely squeeze this one in!

Thank you NetGalley and Julia McKay for the ARC.

I read "The Holiday Honeymoon Switch" by Julia McKay recently, and I’d say it's like a solid 3 out of 5 stars. It’s about two best friends, Holly and Ivy, who swap holiday plans when Holly’s wedding gets called off last minute. Holly ends up in snowy New York while Ivy takes her place in Hawaii.

The book does a good job describing both locations, making you feel like you're right there with the characters. The holiday vibe is strong, but sometimes it feels a bit forced.

What I liked most was the friendship between Holly and Ivy. It felt genuine and was the best part of the story. However, the romantic plots were a bit predictable and lacked depth.

Overall, it's a nice, light read, especially if you're into holiday romances with strong friendships. If you want to read more by Julia McKay, check out "Summer at Sandcastle Inn" and "A Season for Love."

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the premise of this book more then I expected. I expected to like it a lot, but not as much as I did. I really enjoyed the trope. I loved the switch. I loved the fun of this book. I ate this book up!

Two friends end up switching their vacation plans and meet people on their trips. It gives me hallmark vibes and it was actually very cute! I really enjoyed it!!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book!

Holly and Ivy met in college through their boyfriends, and form a bond over their favorite Holidays. They switch trips and each fall in love. Sort of like the perfect Hallmark movie.

Dual POV - well written