Review: The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

If there’s one thing about me, if it’s a holiday romance, i’m gonna read it. They are my kryptonite and I shall love them forever. This was is comped to The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren and the Nancy Meyers’ film, The Holiday. Two of my favorite stories! It was cute, definitely on the cheesy side, but the cozy settings and friendship really make it a perfect read for the festive time of year.

Synopsis:

“Holly Beech and Ivy Casey are bury-the-body besties. They’re so in sync, they even look alike. When Holly’s fiancé jilts her, leaving her in shock and with a nonrefundable honeymoon, Holly convinces Ivy to switch places. Ivy will go on the Hawaiian honeymoon her best friend can’t bear to take alone, while Holly escapes to Ivy’s rented Hudson Valley cabin to binge-watch holiday movies and heal.
    But Holly’s wallowing is interrupted when her rugged Airbnb host turns out to be her high school academic rival who’s had a major glow-up. Meanwhile, Ivy’s (now Hawaiian) annual solo art retreat is upended when Holly’s ex-fiancé checks into the honeymoon suite—with a new woman. Raging and bed-less, the last thing Ivy expects is for the hot hotel bartender to come to her rescue. Against all odds, this Christmas might prove the most magical yet.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

  1. The Premise—The Holiday is one of my all time favorite movies and I’m always looking for a bool that captures the same energy. While this doesn’t 100% feel like The Holiday, it did have some similar elements that made it enjoyable!

  2. The Settings—I am not a “spend the holidays somewhere tropical” person but since I read this pre-pub in the Summer, it was fun to visit there through the pages! But I loved the small town in the Hudson Valley and all the small town characters.

  3. The Festive Elements—There’s no doubt this book takes place at Christmas! A great easy, festive read that’s a little different than the usual cozy romance.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

  1. The Writing/Voice—It was a little too cheesy for me and I wanted things to be a little more grounded in reality.

  2. The Epilogue—A lot of telling vs showing and I did not vibe with it.

Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3/5

Content Warnings:

infidelity

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