Let it Glow by Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy is a very sweet and fun winter holiday story for young readers. Aviva and Holly discover their similarities and differences, embracing both.

What a fantastic book!! I could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released, it really got me into wanting the holidays here now. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Let It Glow weaves such a heartwarming and beautiful tale. Aviva and Holly are two strangers trying to find their place during the holidays. They meet and are shocked to find out they are identical! Since they were both adopted, they must be twins! One celebrates Christmas, and one celebrates Hanukah. Can switching families help them understand the other’s holiday better? This book was so amazing! I simply loved it! The characters are great and the plot so sweet. You really feel for the them and understand their emotions. I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.

Identical strangers discover that they're twins, both adopted at birth and unaware of the other's existence, and change places to experience each other's lives in a Parent Trap-like plot. The story addresses a common occurrence for Jewish kids (and kids of other religions) in America when Christmas is everywhere and everyone is assumed Christian unless they say otherwise, with Aviva embracing hew Jewish identity and deciding to celebrate Hanukkah more than her family usually does. Aviva and Holly are both compelling characters, though Aviva's "Avivaciousness" is a bit over-wrought at times. Some plot points require a suspension of disbelief, but not so much that it makes the book unrealistic. A fun and heartwarming exploration of family, religion, tradition, and identity.

I did not enjoy this book very much. It stuck a little too close to the “parent trap” plot line that we often see. I wanted the text to expand more beyond a plot idea that has been done so many times.

Such a fun and cute holiday read. This book is a celebration of both Hanuka and Christmas. It is a nod to adoption. It is an exploration of family. And it is a reminder not to let fears stop you from living your best life. Be brave and flourish!

This book held my attention throughout. It's not even the holiday season and I was so into this book. Great character development and an intriguing plot. And what a tearjerker. Holy cow! I was happily reading along when pow! I was blindsided by tears.

Quite a standout book. Perfect for the holidays or when you simply want a family-centric, feel-good read.

I received an electronic ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group through NetGalley.
From the charming cover on, this book captures the joy and challenges of families. Told in alternating POVs from two young girls who meet at a retirement community of all places and are shocked to feel like they are looking in a mirror. Separated twins is not a new theme but Meyer offers a tender look at how they cope with the initial shock and then proceed to get to know each other. Weaving the two faiths in offers an opportunity for readers to reflect on their own celebrations and recognize others may celebrate differently. Aziza and Holly are delightful characters to wrap a story around as they are typical preteens. Readers see them build a bond and then have a sibling spat. One is part of a three child family and one is an only child so when they trade places, both get to experience a very different life style. They also celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas as "tourists" in their own words. Meyer creates a snapshot in this time and focuses on the way they open their lives to each other and their families. She shares this time in a light hearted way with plenty of humor and leaves the more serious discussions for a later time.

Wow. So many good things to say about this book. Besides the fun “twins swapping places” trope “Let It Glow” incorporates religious identity and balancing spirituality with family dynamics along with great grandparent relationships. The budding romance is adorable and the alternating family perspectives were so entertaining. A genuine “feel-good” read.

I love a holiday book and there are very few for middle-grade students. This one is about twins who accidentally meet at an assisted living center while involved with the Christmas program for the home. If you know "Parent Trap" you will get all those vibes in this book. The novel explores the differences between Christmas celebrations and Hannukkah since one twin is raised Jewish and the other Christian. The book reminded me of a "kid" version of a Hallmark movie. It would make a great screen adaptation.

Marissa Meyer is an auto-read author for me at this point, and I am so glad I was able to read this e-arc of her upcoming book co-written with Joanne Levy, Let It Glow, thanks to Netgally!

This story is a new spin on the classic trope of identical twins meeting for the first time and then switching places! I really loved how in this story the twins had been separated by adoption rather than through a broken marriage situation.

A big theme through the story is learning about the different holiday traditions each twin was raised in (Christmas vs. Hanukkah) and how they were each able to embrace who they were as individuals while also celebrating eachother. I think that is an admirable lesson and made for a sweet story!

I think it is important to note that in this story, the girls learn about the history of Hanukkah and Aviva learns to "feel more Jewish", but there is nothing said about the history of or meaning behind Christmas. Both holidays are treated by the families in the story as meaningful traditions, but there is no mention of God or any real religious significance on either part. I fully assume that was the intention of the authors, but I personally think that was a bit of a disservice to both Jewish and Christian beliefs, when a big part of the plot was centered around this topic, but so much was seemingly left out.

Aviva Davis and Holly Martin both know they were adopted, but when they run into each other at a senior center, they realized that they are identical twins. Both were raised in warm loving families, and developed very different personalities. Of course, they decide to switch places to see what the other family is like, and how they celebrate Hannukah and Christmas – the food! the traditions!
The Parent Trap meets Separated at Birth is fun and sweet and often not believable but always enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this DRC.
#LetItGlow #NetGalley

I recently introduced my girls to The Parent Trap and It Takes Two… they are fascinated by long lost twin stories so this was a fun one to read aloud and have a bit of a Holiday in July moment.

I think the target audience will absolutely love this story about Aviva and Holly. Adopted and separated at birth… they met in an unexpected way and decided to switch homes for a few days. Embracing one another’s families and traditions.

Thank you Feiwel & Friends
Releases 10/1

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Such a fun and festive read! I loved that it covered both Christmas and Hanukkah! I loved that Gramps is a mystery writer. I love the ways the families stories overlap as if their finding each other was inevitable. I love that the two girls are uniquely themselves. Will purchase, add it to the library collection, and booktalk it to my students in (grades 3, 4 and 5 for sure).

Cute story of twins that were separated at birth and happened to find each other at a senior center. Each knew they were adopted but neither knew they were a twin, which makes this a fun twist for the families as well. The girls decide to trade homes for a couple days which makes for some quirky opportunities, but one that I think kids will enjoy reading.

I will definitely be purchasing this book for the library at my school as I know my students will enjoy it. I also really think the cover is beautiful!

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends, for the ARC.

This is a cute twins switch novel set during the holidays. I liked the look at the different traditions. I liked the families were trying new things and embracing the joy of opening their hearts to new things at the holidays.
Very 'parent trap' switch similar, but still super fun!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

The Parent Trap, but make it Winter Holidays! Aviva and Holly are twins who were separated at birth. They run into each other at a senior's center with their grandparents. They decide to swap places to experience each other's lives and holiday traditions.

Such a great holiday read! I love that it includes different holiday traditions. I enjoyed the sweetness of the families realizing the importance of the traditions and the openness of the characters to the other family traditions.

Styled after 'The Parent Trap,' this cute holiday novel follows two separated-at-birth twins as they accidentally meet and become great friends. One is Jewish and the other is Christian, and it is the holiday season. They switch places, learn about each other's families and holidays, and then come together for a beautiful ending. It's a little cliched at times, even seeming to pull some events and ideas directly from the original movie, but it works really nicely and is a sweet holiday season read!