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I'll Be Gone for Christmas
For fans of The Holiday comes a heartwarming Christmas house-swap rom-com debut in which finding yourself and finding love come hand in hand.
Bee Tyler needs a break. In the bustling San Francisco tech community, no one ever seems to stand still—especially her perfect sister and business partner, Beth. So when her best friend suggests a getaway on the wildly popular house-swap app, Vacate, Bee decides a countryside retreat might be exactly what she needs.
Clover Mills has had a year. Between losing her mother and making the complicated decision to leave her fiancé, sticking around the idyllic Christmas obsessed town of Salem, Ohio, just doesn’t feel right. So when she hears about Vacate, she jumps at the chance to spend the holidays in the unfamiliar city of San Francisco.
Soon enough, Bee is living in Clover’s cozy Salem cottage, and Clover is living in Bee’s sleek San Francisco apartment. As Clover can’t seem to stop running into Bee’s frustratingly gorgeous sister, Beth, and Bee finds herself spending more and more time with Clover’s ultra charming ex-fiancé, Knox, the two women realize that this Christmas they may find just what they were looking for and more…
Bee Tyler needs a break. In the bustling San Francisco tech community, no one ever seems to stand still—especially her perfect sister and business partner, Beth. So when her best friend suggests a getaway on the wildly popular house-swap app, Vacate, Bee decides a countryside retreat might be exactly what she needs.
Clover Mills has had a year. Between losing her mother and making the complicated decision to leave her fiancé, sticking around the idyllic Christmas obsessed town of Salem, Ohio, just doesn’t feel right. So when she hears about Vacate, she jumps at the chance to spend the holidays in the unfamiliar city of San Francisco.
Soon enough, Bee is living in Clover’s cozy Salem cottage, and Clover is living in Bee’s sleek San Francisco apartment. As Clover can’t seem to stop running into Bee’s frustratingly gorgeous sister, Beth, and Bee finds herself spending more and more time with Clover’s ultra charming ex-fiancé, Knox, the two women realize that this Christmas they may find just what they were looking for and more…
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2024
288 people are currently reading
18131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 706 reviews
December 11, 2024
3/5 ⭐️
- This book was such a fun read! Loved that it felt like a true slow burn and gave such cozy vibes for the holiday season. Loved all of the representation in this story too!
- Was a bit confused with all of the characters in this story and it took me awhile to get all of them straight, but all of the characters kept me invested in the story so I definitely see why they were included!!
- Will definitely read more from this author! I absolutely eat up a slow burn and I love that this story has so many deeper themes within this book too.
- This book was such a fun read! Loved that it felt like a true slow burn and gave such cozy vibes for the holiday season. Loved all of the representation in this story too!
- Was a bit confused with all of the characters in this story and it took me awhile to get all of them straight, but all of the characters kept me invested in the story so I definitely see why they were included!!
- Will definitely read more from this author! I absolutely eat up a slow burn and I love that this story has so many deeper themes within this book too.
December 18, 2024
fans of the movie the holiday, this one's for you!
this was a super cute holiday read. bee is looking to escape her hectic SF city life running a tech company with her sister to stretch her creative brain again, and clover is looking to get away from her midwest small town, newly haunted by grief.
they both get to find new sides to themselves and connect with some special new someones ;) (there's a sapphic pairing!)
very sweet and funny, there's some serious topics that aren't delved in too deeply to effect the mostly lighthearted holiday vibe.
def rec this for your holiday reads!
this was a super cute holiday read. bee is looking to escape her hectic SF city life running a tech company with her sister to stretch her creative brain again, and clover is looking to get away from her midwest small town, newly haunted by grief.
they both get to find new sides to themselves and connect with some special new someones ;) (there's a sapphic pairing!)
very sweet and funny, there's some serious topics that aren't delved in too deeply to effect the mostly lighthearted holiday vibe.
def rec this for your holiday reads!
December 30, 2024
Holidays
"I've always thought you were gorgeous, but also kind of scary?"
As always with a story with multiple POVs, I ended up preferring Clover's to Bee's. We do start the story with Bee, a sad girl in business with her twin sister. Their parents sound horrific, but 'tis the season and all that!
Bee lives in San Francisco. Clover lives in Ohio. I forgot where. It doesn't matter. How their stories intertwine is Bee's friend Ayana's app Vacate, where you can switch homes with someone. So Bee travels to Ohio, and Clover to San Francisco.
Clover legit works on a farm. Her farmhand is also her ex-fiancée. In her youth, she kissed her best friend Hailey, and was probably in love with her, but her mom said she didn't "raise her that way," whatever the hell that's supposed to mean. Just kidding. I know what that means. Fuck her. Anyway, turns out Hailey lives in San Francisco. Surprise. Not.
Bee's dating life is worse. Every time they mention her ex Roger, I gag a little inside. And I'm currently on dating apps. It's bad out there. Stay safe. Stay married. So if you think this is a second chance romance where Clover and Hailey end up together, think again. As you know, it's my least favorite trope. But back to Bee. And Bee's twin, Beth. And their horrid parents, who are horrid to Bee because she sucks at business minded things, but also equally horrid to Beth because she is queer.
And lo and behold if Beth didn't leave something she needed at Bee's while Clover was staying there. And the queer community is very, very small. So when Clover makes some new Castro friends, Beth ends up there, too. Surely we're not shocked.
And on the other side of that, farmhand Knox gets hit on by every woman in Ohio. But he has no idea why. But he is feeling some things for Bee. Things progress for everyone.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon
"I've always thought you were gorgeous, but also kind of scary?"
As always with a story with multiple POVs, I ended up preferring Clover's to Bee's. We do start the story with Bee, a sad girl in business with her twin sister. Their parents sound horrific, but 'tis the season and all that!
Bee lives in San Francisco. Clover lives in Ohio. I forgot where. It doesn't matter. How their stories intertwine is Bee's friend Ayana's app Vacate, where you can switch homes with someone. So Bee travels to Ohio, and Clover to San Francisco.
Clover legit works on a farm. Her farmhand is also her ex-fiancée. In her youth, she kissed her best friend Hailey, and was probably in love with her, but her mom said she didn't "raise her that way," whatever the hell that's supposed to mean. Just kidding. I know what that means. Fuck her. Anyway, turns out Hailey lives in San Francisco. Surprise. Not.
Bee's dating life is worse. Every time they mention her ex Roger, I gag a little inside. And I'm currently on dating apps. It's bad out there. Stay safe. Stay married. So if you think this is a second chance romance where Clover and Hailey end up together, think again. As you know, it's my least favorite trope. But back to Bee. And Bee's twin, Beth. And their horrid parents, who are horrid to Bee because she sucks at business minded things, but also equally horrid to Beth because she is queer.
And lo and behold if Beth didn't leave something she needed at Bee's while Clover was staying there. And the queer community is very, very small. So when Clover makes some new Castro friends, Beth ends up there, too. Surely we're not shocked.
And on the other side of that, farmhand Knox gets hit on by every woman in Ohio. But he has no idea why. But he is feeling some things for Bee. Things progress for everyone.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon
December 19, 2024
wow wow wowww like i loved the dynamics in this one
January 5, 2025
A quick and cute listen, but nothing more than that. I was expecting both of them to be in sapphic relationships, but only one was, and the pairings lacked chemistry. Neither storyline felt properly developed, but they were still enjoyable to follow. Extra points for the cutest little house chicken Bennie, she was the real MVP of this read.
June 28, 2024
This was good and fluffy I really enjoyed it. At first, I was confused at the first 30 % because I didn't read the synopsis and thought that the romance was between the two main characters on the cover. Once I understood that this was a house swap with two different romances I was with it. This book follows the two fmc's Bee who's from an affluent part of the city and Clover who lives in a small town with her family farm. Bee feels overwhelmed because of the business she runs with her twin sister and Clover is dealing with grief and a breakup. They both decide to swap houses to take a break and get away from their lives for the Christmas season and that leads to them both finding friends, found family, and romance.
This is a short book and i feel like the characters and the romance developed well. Clover becomes friends with Bees' twin sister after not initially getting along and they get attracted to each other. Bee meets Clover's ex-fiance on her first day in the small town and as they get to know each other they also like each other and eventually get together. Both romances were slow burns and really intertwined with the personal issues the fmc's were going through. Overall this is a cute holiday read, it's diverse and short and I would recommend it.
Read for:
- Two romance plots
- Queer romance
- Small town/ City fmc's
- Black characters
- Holiday-themed
This is a short book and i feel like the characters and the romance developed well. Clover becomes friends with Bees' twin sister after not initially getting along and they get attracted to each other. Bee meets Clover's ex-fiance on her first day in the small town and as they get to know each other they also like each other and eventually get together. Both romances were slow burns and really intertwined with the personal issues the fmc's were going through. Overall this is a cute holiday read, it's diverse and short and I would recommend it.
Read for:
- Two romance plots
- Queer romance
- Small town/ City fmc's
- Black characters
- Holiday-themed
December 4, 2024
જ⁀➴°⋆ 2.75 ★
i really wanted to like this book more but unfortunately it felt really flat to me. The idea was good but i didn't really like the execution. I wasn't very interested in the characters and it kinda felt like nothing happened?? it only started to get better at the end, like 82%, and that sucks. I also didn't like the way the writer told this story bc i hate romance books written in 3rd person😭
the representativity was good tho and i appreciate the author for that!!
୨ৎ clover & beth
they were my favorite to follow in this book! Clover's chapters were waaay more fun to read and her relationship with beth was really cute. The only thing i think it was unnecessary was that other girl appearing out of nowhere? idk maybe if the book were a little longer there would be more time to create more tension but it just felt meh. We all knew what was going to happen 🤷♀️
୨ৎ bee & knox
hmmmm idk....? i dont have a lot to say about them bc their story was really irrelevant me. Couldn't feel any chemistry between them and their relationship felt a little bit forced
. ݁₊ ⊹ ── ﾟ✧
i'm sure i'm not gonna be thinking about this book after i post this review but i'm glad i gave it a try :) i buddy read this with my friend melissa 🫂💞
i really wanted to like this book more but unfortunately it felt really flat to me. The idea was good but i didn't really like the execution. I wasn't very interested in the characters and it kinda felt like nothing happened?? it only started to get better at the end, like 82%, and that sucks. I also didn't like the way the writer told this story bc i hate romance books written in 3rd person😭
the representativity was good tho and i appreciate the author for that!!
୨ৎ clover & beth
they were my favorite to follow in this book! Clover's chapters were waaay more fun to read and her relationship with beth was really cute. The only thing i think it was unnecessary was that other girl appearing out of nowhere? idk maybe if the book were a little longer there would be more time to create more tension but it just felt meh. We all knew what was going to happen 🤷♀️
୨ৎ bee & knox
hmmmm idk....? i dont have a lot to say about them bc their story was really irrelevant me. Couldn't feel any chemistry between them and their relationship felt a little bit forced
. ݁₊ ⊹ ── ﾟ✧
i'm sure i'm not gonna be thinking about this book after i post this review but i'm glad i gave it a try :) i buddy read this with my friend melissa 🫂💞
November 28, 2024
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Insta Book Tours.
I'll Be Gone For Christmas is a sweet romantic holiday read perfect for fans of The Holiday and house swap tropes.
We follow two POV: Clover who lives in Salem, Ohio, on her family's farm and is desperate to get away after the loss of her mother almost a year ago and the separation from her fiance Knox Bee lives in San Francisco and is dreading Christmas with her family, who always seem to be disappointed in her and wants a break from the daily grind of her work in tech, plus shes finally dumped her womanising boyfriend and needs a breather. Bee sends a house swap message to Clover and the pair switch homes for the few weeks leading up to Christmas.
This is such a sweet and charming read with fun and discoveries for both women. Each woman embarks on a new romantic adventure and finds things they never knew they were missing before the swap. This was like a warm hug and just the perfect quick escape for the holidays.
I'll Be Gone For Christmas is a sweet romantic holiday read perfect for fans of The Holiday and house swap tropes.
We follow two POV: Clover who lives in Salem, Ohio, on her family's farm and is desperate to get away after the loss of her mother almost a year ago and the separation from her fiance Knox Bee lives in San Francisco and is dreading Christmas with her family, who always seem to be disappointed in her and wants a break from the daily grind of her work in tech, plus shes finally dumped her womanising boyfriend and needs a breather. Bee sends a house swap message to Clover and the pair switch homes for the few weeks leading up to Christmas.
This is such a sweet and charming read with fun and discoveries for both women. Each woman embarks on a new romantic adventure and finds things they never knew they were missing before the swap. This was like a warm hug and just the perfect quick escape for the holidays.
September 17, 2025
A little boring at times. Nothing stuck out to me to make this book memorable. I liked the concept of swapping houses though. The story follows a woman who swaps homes for the holidays, hoping for a change of pace, but instead finds unexpected challenges and drama along the way.
December 3, 2024
I thought this might become on of my favourite reads of the holiday season, with the Holiday inspired plot and the sapphic romance, and I did enjoy this, but it wasn't what I was hoping from it. I liked the writing, and I loved how the characters grew on me. I didn't like them much at first but everyone went through so much growth and I loved going through that with them. But I felt like it took ages for the book to actually get going. By 50% in, I felt like the book had barely started. At around 75%, I felt like things were finally starting to take off. I missed a lot of build-up in the romances, so I lacked a real connection with them.
December 14, 2025
I thought this was a really fun read with a super enjoyable writing style that really made the most of 270 pages! Definitely recommend to people looking for a book to read before Christmas who don’t have a lot of time- I read it in one sitting and it flew by!
Due to personal preference Clovers POV was way more interesting to me than Bee’s and I absolutely don’t care for her romance with Knox (would’ve rooted for a friendship though!) but I think that’s just because I don’t care for het romance at all. I literally hated the romance genre until I found queer romances, which I feel just bring way more to the table because the stakes are higher and the feelings are more intense.
It really captures the vibes from “the holiday” movie while still being a totally unique story- an amazing feat if you ask me! I think this book would also make a great movie, so the execs better get on that ASAP.
Also a good read for those who don’t really care for Christmas- I know it says Christmas in the title but it’s more so about the time leading up to Christmas and taking a break from life and rediscovering who you are.
Due to personal preference Clovers POV was way more interesting to me than Bee’s and I absolutely don’t care for her romance with Knox (would’ve rooted for a friendship though!) but I think that’s just because I don’t care for het romance at all. I literally hated the romance genre until I found queer romances, which I feel just bring way more to the table because the stakes are higher and the feelings are more intense.
It really captures the vibes from “the holiday” movie while still being a totally unique story- an amazing feat if you ask me! I think this book would also make a great movie, so the execs better get on that ASAP.
Also a good read for those who don’t really care for Christmas- I know it says Christmas in the title but it’s more so about the time leading up to Christmas and taking a break from life and rediscovering who you are.
December 21, 2025
super cute dual POV retelling of the holiday with an f/f san francisco romance and an m/f midwestern romance! oh how i love queer retellings of classic romcoms! this is a really fun christmas read.
it's wild how bee and clover both fall into each other's communities so quickly and easily. in closeted clover's case, this is a caring queer friend group, and in lonely bee's case, this is a close-knit small town. i honestly cannot even fathom being lucky enough to find such warm and friendly people, AND being socially adept enough to bond with them so quickly! all the the fast camaraderie almost brings a fairytale feeling to the story.
also, i love how this story dares to go even messier than its source material. clover falls for bee's twin sister, and bee falls for clover's ex fiancé!! truly juicy, yet it all plays out with healthy communication in lieu of drama.
the pacing does feel a bit off, with a slow beginning and a rushed final portion. this is especially noticeable with clover's arc. for a while i wasn't sure whether her romance would be with beth, or with her second chance high school crush. when clover finally lands on beth, suddenly the timeline accelerates, and it seems like much of their romance develops off the page.
i wish there was more chemistry and romantic buildup, but overall this is a really well done debut. bee and clover both have their own individual growth aside from their romances, and there's an emphasis on the value of rest, of taking time to slow down and nurture yourself. and the cozy holiday vibe is balanced out with an appropriate measure of grief. i especially love the dynamic between clover and knox, lifelong best friends and recent exes who find a new way to be in each other's lives.
it's wild how bee and clover both fall into each other's communities so quickly and easily. in closeted clover's case, this is a caring queer friend group, and in lonely bee's case, this is a close-knit small town. i honestly cannot even fathom being lucky enough to find such warm and friendly people, AND being socially adept enough to bond with them so quickly! all the the fast camaraderie almost brings a fairytale feeling to the story.
also, i love how this story dares to go even messier than its source material. clover falls for bee's twin sister, and bee falls for clover's ex fiancé!! truly juicy, yet it all plays out with healthy communication in lieu of drama.
the pacing does feel a bit off, with a slow beginning and a rushed final portion. this is especially noticeable with clover's arc. for a while i wasn't sure whether her romance would be with beth, or with her second chance high school crush. when clover finally lands on beth, suddenly the timeline accelerates, and it seems like much of their romance develops off the page.
i wish there was more chemistry and romantic buildup, but overall this is a really well done debut. bee and clover both have their own individual growth aside from their romances, and there's an emphasis on the value of rest, of taking time to slow down and nurture yourself. and the cozy holiday vibe is balanced out with an appropriate measure of grief. i especially love the dynamic between clover and knox, lifelong best friends and recent exes who find a new way to be in each other's lives.
May 9, 2025
3.5 stars
Surprise surprise!!!! I enjoyed this more than i thought i would. I loved the characters and their dynamics. At some point i was side eyeing Clover and what i thought was her love interest but i'm glad the book didn't go in that direction.
If your looking for a cute, cozy and fluffy read packed with emotions, this is for you! <3
PS: This maybe a holiday romance but i feel it can be read during any season of the year.
Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the ARC!
Surprise surprise!!!! I enjoyed this more than i thought i would. I loved the characters and their dynamics. At some point i was side eyeing Clover and what i thought was her love interest but i'm glad the book didn't go in that direction.
If your looking for a cute, cozy and fluffy read packed with emotions, this is for you! <3
PS: This maybe a holiday romance but i feel it can be read during any season of the year.
Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the ARC!
December 11, 2024
I’ll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone is a delightful holiday rom-com that gives off major The Holiday vibes while offering a fresh and unique twist. Narrated beautifully by Angel Pean and Karen Malina White, the dual POV performance adds depth and charm to this cozy Christmas tale, making it a great listen for the holiday season.
Bee Tyler and Clover Mills couldn’t be more different, yet their house-swap adventure sets them on a path to discover new perspectives and, of course, unexpected love. Bee’s escape from the fast-paced San Francisco tech world to Clover’s quaint, Christmas-obsessed town of Salem, Ohio, is brimming with cozy vibes and charming surprises. Meanwhile, Clover’s swap to the sleek, bustling city life of San Francisco leads her to unexpected connections—and a fresh start she didn’t know she needed.
The narration brings the characters and their settings to life, seamlessly capturing the warmth of Clover’s small-town life and the buzz of Bee’s city existence. The dual POV format adds layers to the story, making the transitions between Salem and San Francisco smooth and engaging.
One of the many things that makes this story shine is its diverse and lovable cast of characters, as well as the rich communities crafted by the author. From Clover’s charming ex-fiancé Knox to Bee’s frustrating yet gorgeous sister Beth, the supporting characters add humor, heart, and just the right amount of drama to keep things interesting.
With low angst and low steam, this is a super sweet, feel-good read that keeps the focus on the emotional connections and growth of its characters. It’s a great choice for readers who love wholesome holiday stories with a sprinkle of romance and self-discovery.
If you’re looking for a festive and heartwarming escape, I’ll Be Gone for Christmas delivers the perfect blend of charm, humor, and holiday cheer. Grab a cup of cocoa and let this delightful story whisk you away—it’s the holiday treat you didn’t know you needed!
Bee Tyler and Clover Mills couldn’t be more different, yet their house-swap adventure sets them on a path to discover new perspectives and, of course, unexpected love. Bee’s escape from the fast-paced San Francisco tech world to Clover’s quaint, Christmas-obsessed town of Salem, Ohio, is brimming with cozy vibes and charming surprises. Meanwhile, Clover’s swap to the sleek, bustling city life of San Francisco leads her to unexpected connections—and a fresh start she didn’t know she needed.
The narration brings the characters and their settings to life, seamlessly capturing the warmth of Clover’s small-town life and the buzz of Bee’s city existence. The dual POV format adds layers to the story, making the transitions between Salem and San Francisco smooth and engaging.
One of the many things that makes this story shine is its diverse and lovable cast of characters, as well as the rich communities crafted by the author. From Clover’s charming ex-fiancé Knox to Bee’s frustrating yet gorgeous sister Beth, the supporting characters add humor, heart, and just the right amount of drama to keep things interesting.
With low angst and low steam, this is a super sweet, feel-good read that keeps the focus on the emotional connections and growth of its characters. It’s a great choice for readers who love wholesome holiday stories with a sprinkle of romance and self-discovery.
If you’re looking for a festive and heartwarming escape, I’ll Be Gone for Christmas delivers the perfect blend of charm, humor, and holiday cheer. Grab a cup of cocoa and let this delightful story whisk you away—it’s the holiday treat you didn’t know you needed!
October 4, 2024
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Great romance novel that follows Bee Tyler and Clover Mills. Bee works alongside her twin sister Beth and feeling like a disappointment to her and their parents. Clover is still reeling from the death of her mother and breaking up with her fiancée a year earlier. The two switch homes (Bee is in San Francisco and Clover is in a small town in Ohio) in the app called Vacate and experience the Christmas holidays in new places.
I thought the character development of Bee and Clover was great. We had a slow reveal about Clover which was great. And I thought that Boone did a great job with a enemies to lover for one and meet/cute romance for the other (no spoilers on who got what romance type). I loved the secondary characters like Clover's father Jimmy and her ex fiancée Knox along with her new friends she meets in San Francisco. Bee doesn't really have anyone in her life outside her best friend Ayana, sot here's not a lot of there there for her I thought.
The plot does move really slow to the point you get a bit tired of the book switching back and forth between them. The plot though of them finding love and experiencing new things in a new place was solid.
The setting of San Francisco was great, but I did wonder about a black girl growing up on a farm in a small town in Ohio. It felt a bit off and only because the whole town didn't seem to bat an eyelash at her family and I wondered about that bit. It just didn't feel realistic, well not in the version of the U.S. we seem to be getting these days.
The ending was very sweet and we get two very lovely happily ever afters.
Great romance novel that follows Bee Tyler and Clover Mills. Bee works alongside her twin sister Beth and feeling like a disappointment to her and their parents. Clover is still reeling from the death of her mother and breaking up with her fiancée a year earlier. The two switch homes (Bee is in San Francisco and Clover is in a small town in Ohio) in the app called Vacate and experience the Christmas holidays in new places.
I thought the character development of Bee and Clover was great. We had a slow reveal about Clover which was great. And I thought that Boone did a great job with a enemies to lover for one and meet/cute romance for the other (no spoilers on who got what romance type). I loved the secondary characters like Clover's father Jimmy and her ex fiancée Knox along with her new friends she meets in San Francisco. Bee doesn't really have anyone in her life outside her best friend Ayana, sot here's not a lot of there there for her I thought.
The plot does move really slow to the point you get a bit tired of the book switching back and forth between them. The plot though of them finding love and experiencing new things in a new place was solid.
The setting of San Francisco was great, but I did wonder about a black girl growing up on a farm in a small town in Ohio. It felt a bit off and only because the whole town didn't seem to bat an eyelash at her family and I wondered about that bit. It just didn't feel realistic, well not in the version of the U.S. we seem to be getting these days.
The ending was very sweet and we get two very lovely happily ever afters.
December 10, 2024
I really liked this one! I think I'm more of a "Christmas is happening but not the main focal point" kind of holiday book reader, which this entailed. It has some pretty serious topics that kept the book pretty grounded.
I did have some issues about a certain plot point and communication but also understand the difficulty of the situation. And I would have liked the ending to be a little more fleshed out especially with the conversations that needed to be had.
This felt more 'warm' than 'cheesy' and I liked it overall.
I did have some issues about a certain plot point and communication but also understand the difficulty of the situation. And I would have liked the ending to be a little more fleshed out especially with the conversations that needed to be had.
This felt more 'warm' than 'cheesy' and I liked it overall.
December 18, 2024
Delightful.
If you’re a fan of The Holiday (film) this is a must read.
Love the house swap element. It was cozy. It was a fun quick read. Really enjoyed.
If you’re a fan of The Holiday (film) this is a must read.
Love the house swap element. It was cozy. It was a fun quick read. Really enjoyed.
December 16, 2024
When I am sold a romance, I very much like the romance to be front and center, which was not the case here for most of the book. The Holiday being one of my favorite movies, I jumped at the occasion of reading a book inspired by it, ESPECIALLY with one of the main characters being sapphic. For most of it, it was more a journey of self acceptance and self discovery, which I love, when that’s what I want to read and what I am promised. And as such it took me a while to care about anything happening in the story.
I loved the friendships, and the journeys both characters went on. Especially Clover being from a small farming town and clearly a lesbian coming to embrace her sexuality and live her truth after being in the clutches of compulsory heterosexuality for so long. But as much as embracing her sexuality was such a big part of the story, one thing was missing: the use of the word lesbian. It usually doesn’t bother me, but it felt so off and like the narrative purposefully avoided using the word when it would have naturally belonged in the story. It just felt weird and unnatural to not be using the proper words for things.
I must also say, as much as I loved the romance between Clover and Beth and wishes it took off way earlier than it actually did (only halfway through the book, really), i did not really care one bit for Bea’s romance and did not really understand the appeal of Knox. I might be biased though, since, you know, he’s a man 😭💀
All in all, this was a pretty okay audiobook to listen to in one go while I was packing for a move, I especially loved it in the second half. But it should not have taken that long to get me invested.
I loved the friendships, and the journeys both characters went on. Especially Clover being from a small farming town and clearly a lesbian coming to embrace her sexuality and live her truth after being in the clutches of compulsory heterosexuality for so long. But as much as embracing her sexuality was such a big part of the story, one thing was missing: the use of the word lesbian. It usually doesn’t bother me, but it felt so off and like the narrative purposefully avoided using the word when it would have naturally belonged in the story. It just felt weird and unnatural to not be using the proper words for things.
I must also say, as much as I loved the romance between Clover and Beth and wishes it took off way earlier than it actually did (only halfway through the book, really), i did not really care one bit for Bea’s romance and did not really understand the appeal of Knox. I might be biased though, since, you know, he’s a man 😭💀
All in all, this was a pretty okay audiobook to listen to in one go while I was packing for a move, I especially loved it in the second half. But it should not have taken that long to get me invested.
December 8, 2024
when bee needs a rest, her best friend suggests trying a house-swap app for a change of scenery. she decides a rural escape could be just what she’s missing. elsewhere, clover is ready to leave everything behind. after a year of loss and heartbreak, the thought of spending christmas in her hometown of salem, ohio, where every corner is full of holiday cheer, feels unbearable. the chance to swap homes with a stranger and head to a big city such as san francisco sounds like the perfect distraction.
as bee settles into clover’s charmingly festive cottage and clover adapts to the modern life of san francisco, unexpected connections begin to form. the former cannot help but be intrigued by clover's ex-fiancé, knox, while the latter finds herself drawn to bee’s maddeningly perfect sister, beth. this christmas, love and new beginnings might just be waiting in the most surprising of places.
sapphic the holiday. so incredibly cute it made my heart soar.
- 3.5 stars.
as bee settles into clover’s charmingly festive cottage and clover adapts to the modern life of san francisco, unexpected connections begin to form. the former cannot help but be intrigued by clover's ex-fiancé, knox, while the latter finds herself drawn to bee’s maddeningly perfect sister, beth. this christmas, love and new beginnings might just be waiting in the most surprising of places.
sapphic the holiday. so incredibly cute it made my heart soar.
- 3.5 stars.
November 30, 2024
This was a really fun and breezy read, perfect if you're just looking for light and fun this holiday season. I've actually never seen The Holiday (gasp), but I really enjoyed this reimagining of it and seeing these characters find themselves and find friendship in new environments. I really enjoyed both character's storylines, though I was slightly partial to the lesbian over the straight girl (LOL). As far as holiday romances go, I'd put this one near the top of my list!
December 15, 2024
I’m not a big romance book lover, but this gave me all the feels. Such a sweet story.
December 10, 2024
This is my first read from Georgia K. Boone and I enjoyed it. The Holiday is one of my favorite movies so when I read the synopsis I was all in. I do have to say this felt more like a women’s fiction with romantic aspects as opposed to a romance book. I loved the dual timelines and seeing both Bee and Clover truly come into themselves. I ate Clover and Beth up and watching Clover get the opportunity to truly be herself after feeling stifled at home was great and a reminder of how important representation is in all things. Now Bee and Knox, idk, they were cute but it still felt like Knox was trying to get over Clover so I can’t say I was as invested and I was with Clover and Beth. This definitely gave me cozy vibes though and while I’d never leave San Francisco for an Ohio farm I’m glad everyone got their HEA. Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.
May 18, 2024
I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you Avon for the copy!
The Good
I love and relate to both of these main characters. Bee's story was so relatable to me. Not feeling like enough while also wholly burnt out. I liked her rediscovering her passion with her parents belittlement. I loved seeing her find herself and explore her sexuality and the lesbian community in San Francisco. Clover's story with her mother and Knox is so heartbreaking. Her mother didn't accept her and after her death she begins to understand her sexuality which leads to her breaking off her engagement with her lifelong best friend Knox. The two romances in this were sweet. I liked Clover and Beth's dynamic. Beth was hard to grasp as a character but she's Darcy-esque in the way she comes off as rude when she isn't trying to. Bee and Knox have good chemistry. They are so cute and they have fun together. Knox obviously is going through alot after his relationship with Clover so I understood his hesitation and the push and pull. Beth and Bee's relationship was also interesting. Beth view's Bee as free and not caring when Bee cares so much. Bee see's Beth as the perfect child while Beth is dealing with their parent's homophobia.
The Bad
At 90% I was so worried how these plot-lines were going to be wrapped up. It didn't feel rushed per-say but I was wishing for something more big and dramatic than what happened.
Tropes:
— Holiday Romance
— Small town vs Big City
— Grumpy x Sunshine
Horn Level: 1/5🌶️
Format: Ebook
The Rating
I give this book a 4/5🌟 rating. This is such a sweet holiday romance with a lot of heart!
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The Good
I love and relate to both of these main characters. Bee's story was so relatable to me. Not feeling like enough while also wholly burnt out. I liked her rediscovering her passion with her parents belittlement. I loved seeing her find herself and explore her sexuality and the lesbian community in San Francisco. Clover's story with her mother and Knox is so heartbreaking. Her mother didn't accept her and after her death she begins to understand her sexuality which leads to her breaking off her engagement with her lifelong best friend Knox. The two romances in this were sweet. I liked Clover and Beth's dynamic. Beth was hard to grasp as a character but she's Darcy-esque in the way she comes off as rude when she isn't trying to. Bee and Knox have good chemistry. They are so cute and they have fun together. Knox obviously is going through alot after his relationship with Clover so I understood his hesitation and the push and pull. Beth and Bee's relationship was also interesting. Beth view's Bee as free and not caring when Bee cares so much. Bee see's Beth as the perfect child while Beth is dealing with their parent's homophobia.
The Bad
At 90% I was so worried how these plot-lines were going to be wrapped up. It didn't feel rushed per-say but I was wishing for something more big and dramatic than what happened.
Tropes:
— Holiday Romance
— Small town vs Big City
— Grumpy x Sunshine
Horn Level: 1/5🌶️
Format: Ebook
The Rating
I give this book a 4/5🌟 rating. This is such a sweet holiday romance with a lot of heart!
Check out my socials here for more reviews!
September 23, 2025
A Tale of Two Cities
I’ve never read that book so it isn’t a reference but it is how I feel about this story. Because it’s two people living lives in different places and it’s switching places that allows them to get some perspective. I wasn’t sure where this was going (cause I don’t read blurbs) I thought it was a sapphic holiday romance, and it was that but so much more. Just not in the way I assumed. It starts off a touch slow, but once it gets going it’s such a heartwarming read. The friends, the relationships, the holiday spirit, the character development. Once Bee and Clover both decided to embrace what they were each experiencing I couldn’t put this down! First read in a while that’s had me burning the midnight oil.
I’ve never read that book so it isn’t a reference but it is how I feel about this story. Because it’s two people living lives in different places and it’s switching places that allows them to get some perspective. I wasn’t sure where this was going (cause I don’t read blurbs) I thought it was a sapphic holiday romance, and it was that but so much more. Just not in the way I assumed. It starts off a touch slow, but once it gets going it’s such a heartwarming read. The friends, the relationships, the holiday spirit, the character development. Once Bee and Clover both decided to embrace what they were each experiencing I couldn’t put this down! First read in a while that’s had me burning the midnight oil.
December 6, 2024
Content warnings: lesbophobia, alcohol, toxic parents.
Rep: Clover is cis, Black, and lesbian (word not used on page but she spent her life pretty closeted and in a comphet relationship), Bee is cis, Black and hetero. Side queer characters. Oodles of POC characters.
This was a great house swap story. I adored everything about this one.
Rep: Clover is cis, Black, and lesbian (word not used on page but she spent her life pretty closeted and in a comphet relationship), Bee is cis, Black and hetero. Side queer characters. Oodles of POC characters.
This was a great house swap story. I adored everything about this one.
December 4, 2025
A cute feel good read but I wasn’t super hooked / invested in these characters. The similarities in the names had the plot crossover a bit confusing. I love a sapphic plot as a queer gal but stating every characters sexuality/ethnicity/pronouns constantly felt a bit like diversity Olympics - some of the character descriptions reminded me of the scene in fleabag where the step mum is introducing her friends purely with their demographics/diversity quotas. I think the representation could have been embedded a bit more subtly/authentically.
3 stars might even be a bit generous but tis the season and I’m riddled with illness and this was a nice bit of brain rot x
3 stars might even be a bit generous but tis the season and I’m riddled with illness and this was a nice bit of brain rot x
November 24, 2024
this book gave me everything!! it gave me mess it gave me friendship it gave me sibling rekindling it gave me love (queer and otherwise!!) it literally gave me everything i loved it a lot 🥲 and i liked that i never reallyyyy knew what was gonna happen like i had hopes! but nothing for sure. LOVED IT
December 16, 2024
FRIENDS: i see five of you have marked this as want-to-read. i have an idea. this book is essentially two interconnected novellas and i read it in order, as it was meant to be read. HOWEVER. i believe an ALTERNATIVE way to read it that could be fun would be to read only the clover chapters but stop before reading chapter 29, then read all the bee chapters up to that point, then finish the book in order. please let me know if you decide to read this in my convoluted way because i think it would be funny -- but i recommend reading it in any order tbh.
ANYWAY. it took me a while to get into this book but after i got into it i really enjoyed it! i liked the clover chapters a lot more for very biased reasons but i also liked bee's character and that she finally got to relax!! and her and beth connecting was nice as well :D
clover's group of friends is so funny i loved them. so accurate to a queer group of friends. and also beth?? we did not see enough of beth. id like to request more beth.
ANYWAY. it took me a while to get into this book but after i got into it i really enjoyed it! i liked the clover chapters a lot more for very biased reasons but i also liked bee's character and that she finally got to relax!! and her and beth connecting was nice as well :D
clover's group of friends is so funny i loved them. so accurate to a queer group of friends. and also beth?? we did not see enough of beth. id like to request more beth.
December 16, 2025
I thought this was a cute, dual-POV winter romance novel between two couples. I thought at first Bee and Clover were going to be the ones together (lowkey the cover confused me but all good) but actually it was Bee and Knox and Clover and Beth that were together. I'm not crazy about insta-love but jeeezzz this is a slow burn. 70% of the book is character development and going through Clover and Bee's time at either Salem or San Francisco. Then the romance happens at the last 30% and really not until the last 15%. Maybe because I read the book super quick and it was an easy read for me, I feel like even though learning about each of the main characters' stories, they felt kind of flat to me. Like they both had interesting stories and upbringings, but idk I personally found it hard to connect with the characters, and I'm not totally happy with how the ending sort of felt abrupt. Like the romance quickly happened and then boom epilogue and story over. Like I felt like there was so much build up and slow burn that it was only like the last 10% of the book that we spent with the characters as couples. I feel like if a slow burn romance is your jam, you'd like this but as a girlie who likes to spend a good amount of time with the characters before and during the relationship, this just wasn't for me. I also didn't care for Bee and Knox (SORRY I'm here for the lesbians!!), I feel like they couldn't have "fallen in love" with each other in around two weeks.....I fear that's a little insta-love for me y'all need TIME.
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