I discovered Julia McKay here on NetGalley, and I am so glad I did! Holly and Ivy are best friends who happen to look alike. Holly's fiance jilts her right before their Christmas wedding, and the two friends decide to switch places, with Ivy going on Holly's honeymoon (solo) and Holly taking Ivy's place on a solo art retreat. Both women are strong leads, and it was a delight reading their holiday romances unfold.

Nothing like hating Christmas with the name Holly or Ivy, but these two grinches still count the Christmas party where they met as the best day of their lives! They are so close they even look alike! But when Holly is left at the alter by her frat boy she can't stand the thought of going on her non-refundable honeymoon. It just so happens that Ivy has her annual art getaway to an ecofriendly cabin in NY planned at the same time, so what is there to do but switch vacations and maybe find love at the same time. Fate works in mysterious ways when we are least expecting it.

This was a really fun Christmas romance! The two main characters are so diverse and lovable. The author is able to really capture each of them and do each of their stories justice, while maintaining a fluid storyline. There was no disjointedness to the stories and each was wonderful in their own unique ways.

This is a Christmas romance, so the timeline is very sped up to fit the timeline. For me it makes it slightly less believable, but understandable given the niche genre. The stories are cozy while still having some behind the scenes sexy times. If you want a book with a lot of spice than this probably is not the book for you.

Overall, I highly enjoyed this quick and fun Christmas story. It is a 2 for 1 deal and I can't decide which story I like best! I liked how original the story was while still playing to the beloved Christmas tropes we wait all year for. I will be sharing this one with all of my holiday romance lovers!

This book was sugar, spice, and everything nice. It was both cozy and tropical. Julia did a great job with the dual POV and storylines. It was easy to follow and kept it exciting to read. I did find myself enjoying one of the stories more than the other, but I loved all of the MCs and would definitely recommend this book (especially as a Holiday read!).

This was a very easy and light hearted romance read with minimum spice levels. The novel leans heavily on Ivy and Holly’s character development, as well as their friendship. Their respective journeys on figuring out what they really wanted in life, and gaining the confidence to go after those things was very inspiring.

Some of the one liners in this book had me chucking. The story really hooked you in and started off strong.

I personally could have done with better development of both of the romances. Both romances had undeniable chemistry, but I wish both had been drawn out more, where we got to see the characters interact and actually develop their connection further. It all felt a little too rushed. I fell in love with Ivy and Holly, but I wished we saw more Aiden and Oliver, and more about who THEY were. It wasn’t enough and I think the story would have been stronger.

This also is a very christmas heavy novel and it feels a little too early in the season for me to be getting in the Christmas spirit. It’s SPOOKY season, Putnam!

Overall I did enjoy the story and I appreciate getting to read it early!

I recommend this for fans of The Holiday (2006 movie).

When Holly’s wedding is called off, she decides to swap getaways with her best friend Ivy who was supposed to have a snowy art retreat, while Holly would’ve had a sunny honeymoon in Hawaii. Holly needs time to regroup and wallow, and the cabin vacation seemed like the perfect place to isolate.

I enjoyed how both Holly and Ivy’s stories unfold separately but all came together at the end, and how their solo vacations led to soul searching and unexpected romance. It was what they both needed in this stage of their lives.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC of this book.

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. When I saw that this gave off the same vibes as The Holiday, I immediately knew I had to get my hands on this book! I loved the dual POVs of a White Christmas and a Green Christmas, even better that the two switching up locations are friends who go on their own journeys. This felt very hallmark and cozy, which is what you need in a good holiday book.

A Hallmark Christmas movie with a little bit of spice! The perfect way to describe "The Holiday Honeymoon Switch" by Julia McKay. It may have been October when I read this book but it still made me yearn for the holiday season and crave some Christmas fun. Such a fun, fast read, that I recommend to anyone looking for a light and fluffy holiday-inspired reading romp.


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy of 'The Holiday Honeymoon Switch" in exchange for my fair and honest review.

It was such a cute and fun holiday book! I really enjoyed the premise of this book. It follows Holly and Ivy who switch destinations for the holiday.
It was the perfect book for a cozy season!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

I am honestly surprised how much I enjoyed this book! Sometimes I feel like holiday books become too overly cheesy but this was the perfect amount of holiday cheese with some drama!

I absolutely adored Holly and Ivy’s friendship. This book has romance but the best love story is their friendship. This really feels like it could make for a great Hallmark movie…once you remove the little bit of spice. I’m rating the spice 1 🌶️ out of 5.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

One of my favorite holiday movies that I watch year after year is the Holiday and the Holiday Honeymoon Switch generally reminded me of that movie (meaning I smiled the entire time I was reading), but with more emotional twists and even greater character depth because the Holiday Honeymoon Switch is anchored in friendship between the two main female leads. I loved that Ivy was an artist and Holly's recovery from her heartbreak to finding love (albeit in just a few days) was so sweet. The two male leads were everything you would want for our female leads- interesting, sweet, romantic and strong. A great holiday read!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the fun ARC.

This was like the Holiday Swap. Us both sides of the novel are great! I enjoyed Hawaii but also the environmental cabin in a small town. This was a nice balance of two best friends finding exactly what they need. It starts off tough with a broken engagement but the story is so cute. Definitely want to see this as a hallmark movie.

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch is a cute story about a cancelled wedding that ends up in two new romances for best friends. After Holly’s fiancé calls off their wedding the night before, Ivy sends Holly to an eco cabin in the woods to recover and Holly insists she that Ivy takes her place on her honeymoon in Hawaii. They both end up meeting the one, but how to make the long distances work out?

I could not get enough of this lovely romance. It’s the first book that I stayed up late reading and finished in two days. It broke me out of my reading slump. The story is full of silly tropes and cliches, but it’s exactly what I needed to brighten up my surgical recovery.

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay, when Holly‘s lavish wedding is called off her best friend Ivy is there for her not because Holly is crying and brokenhearted due to her fiancé Matt confessing he was in love with someone else but because Ivy is always there for Holly. she is rational thinks it through and ultimately decides she will let Ivy go on her Hawaiian honeymoon while Holly goes to stay in the Echo Lodge in upstate New York. When Ivy arrives in Hawaii however she learns Matt and Abby have already checked into the room and are using the honeymoon is their own vacation but once again Ivy doesn’t confront him on behalf of her best friend Holly but instead hides out from the couple. Thankfully she meets a kind bartender in Oliver, who offers her a room in his beach cottage at the same time the landlord Aiden who owns the winter getaway Holly is staying in there soon figure out they knew each other in high school and we’re actually each other’s intellectual rivals but on her snowy getaway despite her wedding was just canceled days before she starts to really like him and sees him differently. This is where I usually say something like Lil Holly get over her heartbreak but it seems Holly was over it before the heartbreak even happened I think that is my biggest complaint about this book is there was no fire I mean even when Ivy confronts Matthew and his girlfriend Abby in Hawaii she didn’t even have great put downs for him as a matter of a fact she came off looking crazy after the whole exchange. I hate to be cool about any book because I know the love and the tension and time that goes into writing one but I felt like this one was just generic not to mention I didn’t feel like I could root for either girl they were so lame… I guess. I love a good Christmas story and did love George and Mrs. clause in the town of Grimble but everything else was just a miss for me. #NetGalley, #PutnamAndSons, #JuliaMcKay, #TheHolidayHoneymoonSwitch,

Thank you to NetGalley, PRH Audio and Putnam Books
for providing me with an advanced copy of this book and audiobook for free in exchange for my review! @prhaudio #PRHAudio #PRHAudioInfluencer
All opinions are my own.

I thought this was an adorable holiday romance. I enjoyed both main characters -- appropriately named Holly and Ivy. I also enjoyed their respective love interests. This book had a very clever premise, but at the same time seemed to be a twist on Christmas classics such as the Holiday. It also reminded me a bit of The Parent Trap.

Brittany Pressley as always does a great job narrating this audiobook, and continues to be one of my favorite audiobook narrators to listen to. If only she could narrate EVERY book, LOL.

Pick this up for a cozy romance this holiday season. You won't regret it!

Super cute, fun holiday read. Holly's fiancee dumps her on the eve of their marriage. Feeling like she needs time alone she gifts her best friend Ivy her Honeymoon trip to Hawaii for her yearly art trip. She in turn, takes Ivy's cabin for time to think and solitude. And of course they each find their perfect match over the course of the next two weeks. Reminded me of The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

5 stars!

The Holiday is already the best Christmas rom-com and this takes that story and makes it even better! I loved that the women were already best friends from the start and how it came across on the page. Plus, we get 2 romances in one book! Which meant there wasn't a lot of filler or pointless scenes. The romance, the 3rd act conflicts, and the resolutions all made perfect sense for the story and the characters. I read this mostly in a day and am now so ready for both Christmas and a beach vacation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book was such a fun holiday read full of friendship, romance and Christmas cheer! Both Holly and Ivy were so much fun to read and I loved their friendship so much. Even though they’re apart for the majority of the book, you can just feel how much they care about their friendship and would do anything for each other. I also loved that not only did you get a small town setting at Christmas (which is my favorite!), you also get a Hawaiian Christmas full of sun, sand and fun cocktails! The side characters were written so well and brought so much fun to the story, especially Larry! And of course, the romances were top notch. SEVERAL swoonworthy moments! Definitely add this one to your holiday TBR, especially if you love The Holiday, a small town setting or a holiday in the sun!
CW: infidelity,

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay is a delightful romantic escape filled with charming characters and a sprinkle of holiday magic. The witty dialogue and unexpected twists keep the story engaging, making it a perfect read for those cozy winter nights. McKay masterfully blends humor and heart, ensuring readers are left with a warm smile by the final page.

I've enjoyed Maggie Knox's books and was excited to pick up another one by her other pen name!! And since the holiday is a year round favorite movie and the unhoneymooners is what got me into reading romcoms...needless to say with a description starting out with both of those mentions I couldn't wait to dive into this one!

This was a perfect book to jump into cozy season with, I loved the friendships and that the insta-love was done in a way that felt mostly realistic. Hawaii is a favorite winter destination of mine so the two settings really felt like we were getting the best of both worlds. I loved the dual POV between Holly and I've but I wanted a bit more, like this would have worked perfectly as a duet so we could fall even more in love with each of their stories.

For those that are counting down til the hallmark Christmas movies return for the season, this is a perfect read to tide you over!


Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my review!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
While my first attempt reading a (coauthored) book from Marissa Stapley wasn’t so great, I remain optimistic that something else she writes could work for me, so I took the chance on The Holiday Honeymoon Switch, which she wrote under the pen name Julia McKay. And while some intervening circumstances made me apprehensive, like my overwhelmingly Grinch-y feelings about books compared to The Holiday suddenly exploding in popularity, this one proved to be an exception to the rule.
For one, I loved the strong theme of friendship from page one. Holly and Ivy (the names are the best!) are best friends, almost sisters, and I love how ride-or-die they are for each other. But it’s also great to see them on their own adventures, while also seeing how one’s life still impacts the other from a distance.
And their respective romances are both fairly interesting and substantial, in spite of the reader not getting insight into the love interests’ POVs. I admit I liked Oliver a little more, and I felt I got to know him a little better over the course of the book, and he does a wonderful “grand gesture” for Ivy towards the end! But Aiden is a solid love interest for Holly, and she realistically moves on from the betrayal of being cheated on by her fiancee, in spite of the short timeframe.
This was a pleasant surprise, and I’d recommend it to readers interested in a book that is both a holiday romance and celebration of friendship. iendship between women.