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The Holiday House Swap
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Expected 20 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
13 days and 08:04:16
25 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
Two homes, two holidays, and one spontaneous switch changes everything for women in this warm and festive holiday rom-com perfect for readers of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch and A Winter Wish.
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
★★★★ | 4 stars
this was such a cute book! it gave me major 2000s winter romcom vibes (its based off of The Holiday), and i absolutely loved the cozy atmosphere from both towns. each story and each house had its own charm, and the setting made this such a fun and fast paced read.
as always, with a book that has more than one romance, i definitely found myself more invested in one couple than the other. sam and arden’s romance was my favorite. their relationship felt really natural and believable, and i just thought they were so cute together. sam especially was such a sweetheart, and i loved his character.
as for phoebe and jonathan, i had a little more trouble connecting with their romance. there were moments i really enjoyed, but the pacing made it difficult for me to fully get invested. their relationship was super drawn out for 85% of the book and then suddenly rushed in the end.
overall this was such a sweet and cozy binge read. the wintery 2000s romcom atmosphere really made the book for me, and i had such a fun time getting to experience each story and each house. definitely a cute choice if you’re looking for something cozy, romantic, and full of winter vibes
thank u to Forever & Lauren Appelbaum for the arc <3
this was such a cute book! it gave me major 2000s winter romcom vibes (its based off of The Holiday), and i absolutely loved the cozy atmosphere from both towns. each story and each house had its own charm, and the setting made this such a fun and fast paced read.
as always, with a book that has more than one romance, i definitely found myself more invested in one couple than the other. sam and arden’s romance was my favorite. their relationship felt really natural and believable, and i just thought they were so cute together. sam especially was such a sweetheart, and i loved his character.
as for phoebe and jonathan, i had a little more trouble connecting with their romance. there were moments i really enjoyed, but the pacing made it difficult for me to fully get invested. their relationship was super drawn out for 85% of the book and then suddenly rushed in the end.
overall this was such a sweet and cozy binge read. the wintery 2000s romcom atmosphere really made the book for me, and i had such a fun time getting to experience each story and each house. definitely a cute choice if you’re looking for something cozy, romantic, and full of winter vibes
thank u to Forever & Lauren Appelbaum for the arc <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free copy of, The Holiday House Swap, by Lauren Appelbaum, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Two people are swapping there house for the holiday. Seattle versus Florida. I liked Arden and Sam, but did not care for Phoebe and Jonathon, at all.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so excited for this book, so I'm disappointed to say it fell flat for me. The concept was so cool, and I loved the idea of swapping houses with someone and exploring the place where they live. However, juggling two separate love stories is what didn't work for me. Arden and Sam were by far the stronger couple. I enjoyed their story's development a lot more than Phoebe and Johnathan. As for the latter, they had absolutely no chemistry. I couldn't believe that either one of them actually had feelings for each other, and their story felt quite rushed. I also thought both FMC's were, in their own way, without actually working through a lot of their issues. Phoebe was especially obtuse, and I wanted to shake her through the entirety of the book. I liked the Jewish representation from the Keller family, and I would have loved more of the Hanukkah celebrations, but that was a nice holiday touch. I thought it was cute at times, and it definitely was a quick read, just not my favorite from Applebaum. Thank you to Forever for the ARC to read and review!
July 23, 2026
I picked up this book when I noticed it was set in Seattle but ended up falling in love with it. Seeing a book based in Seattle and seeing the small details that remind me of home was really special. This is an amazing dual pov romance. The two fmc switch houses for the holidays only to find the love in the most unexpected way. Such an amazing holiday read!!
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July 13, 20263 stars; review to come October 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really didn't expect to love this as much as I did. I read the first chapter as just a taste while I was finishing another book. Long story short, I haven't finished the other book. I put it aside to read this. Loved all the characters. They felt real and complex and relatable. Each chapter left me wanting to read more about that character. But then the next chapter I was obsessed about that character. (2 FMC and 2 MMC in book). So I was constantly sucked in to reading one more chapter. You know how that goes! Apparently I loved this book and highly recommend it! Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC. All opinions are my own and freely given.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review
The Holiday House Swap by Lauren Appelbaum
Release Date: October 20, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏠 House Swap
🎄 Christmas Romance
🕎 Hanukkah
🦩 Flamingo Cottage
🌃 Seattle City
🏝 Flordia
This book starts off with a quote from the movie, The Holiday so I know it's going to be good! That is one of my favorite Christmas movies. The beginning of this book Phoebe gets fired from her job for posting marketing content online. She signed the non compete clause causing her to be in hot water with her boss. Phoebe clears her desk out and walks out of the downtown Seattle office and says goodbye to the place she has spent 3 years in. On the way home she finds out her younger sister is engaged causing her to do a spiral so she looks up last minute getaways. She found a house swapping service and decided she was in! Phoebe decided the Flamingo Cottage in Florida was meant for her.
Arden was busy wrapping and putting together all the gift boxes for all the staff members at the school when her phone rang and Principle Blake name pops up on the screen. He called her to ask if she could drop all the gifts at the coffee shop down the street. Since she was always running around doing things for him she relented and quickly changed out of her flannel pajamas for him. She wasn't even his assistant so when she met him and he asked her to make a reservation for dinner that night so he could meet up with his ex wife she lost it and stormed out of the Cafe. She had been daydreaming all morning about them together at the Staff Christmas Party and giggling about white elephant gifts. She had been pining for him for too long so she went home and decided not to go to the party but instead doomscroll on Instagram when a message popped up....Is the Flamingo Cottage still available? Arden didn't care where this person lived but it was time for her to let loose and go on vacation. House Swap here we come!
I was so excited to get this ARC. This book was like a warm hug on a cold day. I absolutely loved the premise of this book with the house swap and how Arden falls for Phoebe's brother and she is an only child and he keeps inviting her to his family events. I love their dynamic. I also thought it was super cute that Phoebe ran into Jonathan her best friend from college who she hadn't seen in 8 years since she moved for a job. It made me feel like wow what a small world and I love when worlds collide. Like they were destined for a second chance and to actually be honest with each other this time about their feelings for each other. I loved that this book was a fresh start for Phoebe and Arden and how this house swap was the beginning of something new and exciting. Where dreams come true and love is found. I absolutely loved this book and I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. I've driven to Seattle countless times and I love nothing more than reading a book where I've been to all the places described in the book. The iconic Seattle is so magical in this book and it makes me want to go back. I could tell the author was from Seattle as all the places existed in real life and everything was so descriptive and it transported me there. Lauren Appelbaum does a wonderful job with telling both stories in the same timeline and the end felt like a cozy reunion with everyone there. This book maked me long for cozy sweaters, Christmas Markets, Hot cocoa and Hallmark movies by a roaring fireplace. I am so beyond happy I got to read this book. It will stay with me forever. This is a book I could read every Christmas season.
The Holiday House Swap by Lauren Appelbaum
Release Date: October 20, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏠 House Swap
🎄 Christmas Romance
🕎 Hanukkah
🦩 Flamingo Cottage
🌃 Seattle City
🏝 Flordia
This book starts off with a quote from the movie, The Holiday so I know it's going to be good! That is one of my favorite Christmas movies. The beginning of this book Phoebe gets fired from her job for posting marketing content online. She signed the non compete clause causing her to be in hot water with her boss. Phoebe clears her desk out and walks out of the downtown Seattle office and says goodbye to the place she has spent 3 years in. On the way home she finds out her younger sister is engaged causing her to do a spiral so she looks up last minute getaways. She found a house swapping service and decided she was in! Phoebe decided the Flamingo Cottage in Florida was meant for her.
Arden was busy wrapping and putting together all the gift boxes for all the staff members at the school when her phone rang and Principle Blake name pops up on the screen. He called her to ask if she could drop all the gifts at the coffee shop down the street. Since she was always running around doing things for him she relented and quickly changed out of her flannel pajamas for him. She wasn't even his assistant so when she met him and he asked her to make a reservation for dinner that night so he could meet up with his ex wife she lost it and stormed out of the Cafe. She had been daydreaming all morning about them together at the Staff Christmas Party and giggling about white elephant gifts. She had been pining for him for too long so she went home and decided not to go to the party but instead doomscroll on Instagram when a message popped up....Is the Flamingo Cottage still available? Arden didn't care where this person lived but it was time for her to let loose and go on vacation. House Swap here we come!
I was so excited to get this ARC. This book was like a warm hug on a cold day. I absolutely loved the premise of this book with the house swap and how Arden falls for Phoebe's brother and she is an only child and he keeps inviting her to his family events. I love their dynamic. I also thought it was super cute that Phoebe ran into Jonathan her best friend from college who she hadn't seen in 8 years since she moved for a job. It made me feel like wow what a small world and I love when worlds collide. Like they were destined for a second chance and to actually be honest with each other this time about their feelings for each other. I loved that this book was a fresh start for Phoebe and Arden and how this house swap was the beginning of something new and exciting. Where dreams come true and love is found. I absolutely loved this book and I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. I've driven to Seattle countless times and I love nothing more than reading a book where I've been to all the places described in the book. The iconic Seattle is so magical in this book and it makes me want to go back. I could tell the author was from Seattle as all the places existed in real life and everything was so descriptive and it transported me there. Lauren Appelbaum does a wonderful job with telling both stories in the same timeline and the end felt like a cozy reunion with everyone there. This book maked me long for cozy sweaters, Christmas Markets, Hot cocoa and Hallmark movies by a roaring fireplace. I am so beyond happy I got to read this book. It will stay with me forever. This is a book I could read every Christmas season.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Two women, desperate for change for very different reasons, decide to swap homes over the Christmas holiday. They live at maximum distance apart – the heart of Seattle versus a small town in Florida and make this decision on very little information. For that fact alone, the reader must suspend reality and embrace the fictional fantasy. Nonetheless, this novel makes for mildly enjoyable seasonal entertainment.
Phoebe Keller comes from a wealthy and competitive family. When she is unceremoniously fired from her job in marketing, she is challenged to face the disappointment of her parents and siblings. To provide a momentary escape, she arranges to swap homes with Arden Torres, a kindergarten teacher, who has a crush on the married principal of her school. Recognizing the need for distance and letting go, Arden undertakes a solo trip to Seattle to develop confidence in her ability to be independent.
As the story unfolds through a variety of holiday-themed parties and events, each woman finds herself attracted to a man with the possibility of long-term relationships. The tension within the story arises from each one – both men and women—fearing vulnerability and heartbreak. Rest assured there are feel good endings for all involved.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
Phoebe Keller comes from a wealthy and competitive family. When she is unceremoniously fired from her job in marketing, she is challenged to face the disappointment of her parents and siblings. To provide a momentary escape, she arranges to swap homes with Arden Torres, a kindergarten teacher, who has a crush on the married principal of her school. Recognizing the need for distance and letting go, Arden undertakes a solo trip to Seattle to develop confidence in her ability to be independent.
As the story unfolds through a variety of holiday-themed parties and events, each woman finds herself attracted to a man with the possibility of long-term relationships. The tension within the story arises from each one – both men and women—fearing vulnerability and heartbreak. Rest assured there are feel good endings for all involved.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cute, cozy and reminiscent of “The Holiday” with Kate Winslet, what’s not to like?
Overall, I enjoyed this romance about two women who swap houses for a vacation after things in their lives have them both feeling shaky. There’s definitely a lot of convenient happenings and run in’s, but it fit the cozy, holiday vibe and I felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie in book form. No major plot twists, not overly spicy, and the relationships were fairly fast paced. I enjoyed that both Christmas and Hanukkah were represented.
I think I had one minor complaint in the story itself; no self-respecting cat mom is going to go off for 10 days and not tell the person who’s coming to their house that there’s a cat they need to take care of while they’re gone. That just really bugged me even though it was a minor thing.
I think what I would have actually liked more with this book was to focus on one couple at a time. I would have liked more depth in each story and they could have been written into two books that were focused on each couple, with connections at the end and I would have liked that better but that’s a personal opinion as I tend to prefer one romance couple to focus on at a time so I can feel more invested in them.
If you like comfy, low stakes drama and easy stories, I think you’ll like The Holiday House Swap by Lauren Applebaum. It’s 3 stars from me!
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the advanced e-copy!
Overall, I enjoyed this romance about two women who swap houses for a vacation after things in their lives have them both feeling shaky. There’s definitely a lot of convenient happenings and run in’s, but it fit the cozy, holiday vibe and I felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie in book form. No major plot twists, not overly spicy, and the relationships were fairly fast paced. I enjoyed that both Christmas and Hanukkah were represented.
I think I had one minor complaint in the story itself; no self-respecting cat mom is going to go off for 10 days and not tell the person who’s coming to their house that there’s a cat they need to take care of while they’re gone. That just really bugged me even though it was a minor thing.
I think what I would have actually liked more with this book was to focus on one couple at a time. I would have liked more depth in each story and they could have been written into two books that were focused on each couple, with connections at the end and I would have liked that better but that’s a personal opinion as I tend to prefer one romance couple to focus on at a time so I can feel more invested in them.
If you like comfy, low stakes drama and easy stories, I think you’ll like The Holiday House Swap by Lauren Applebaum. It’s 3 stars from me!
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the advanced e-copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Super cozy love stories set during the holidays? Sign me up!
The Holiday House Swap follows two women who need to get out of town, so they swap houses for the holidays. Arden heads from small-town Florida to Seattle, and Phoebe heads the opposite direction. Phoebe has lost her job and can’t bear to tell her parents, and Arden realizes the man she has a crush on doesn’t like her back (and uses her as his personal assistant). In their new surroundings, they find love in the most unexpected places.
Arden and Sam’s meet cute made me chuckle — I do love spicy hot chocolate, but Arden does not. Sam had to save Arden from having a coughing meltdown over her mistaken order. I was really invested in their romance and how they would figure things out when they lived on opposite coasts.
Phoebe and Jonathan frustrated me a bit. Phoebe, get out of work mode and stop blocking good people, and Jonathan, just tell her how you’ve felt for the last 8 years! I did like that they were a second chance romance and neither had really found love since they went their separate ways because they were always meant to be, even if they didn’t actually date in college.
This was a really cozy, satisfying read. If you love The Holiday, be sure to check this one out!
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an advance copy of this book!
The Holiday House Swap follows two women who need to get out of town, so they swap houses for the holidays. Arden heads from small-town Florida to Seattle, and Phoebe heads the opposite direction. Phoebe has lost her job and can’t bear to tell her parents, and Arden realizes the man she has a crush on doesn’t like her back (and uses her as his personal assistant). In their new surroundings, they find love in the most unexpected places.
Arden and Sam’s meet cute made me chuckle — I do love spicy hot chocolate, but Arden does not. Sam had to save Arden from having a coughing meltdown over her mistaken order. I was really invested in their romance and how they would figure things out when they lived on opposite coasts.
Phoebe and Jonathan frustrated me a bit. Phoebe, get out of work mode and stop blocking good people, and Jonathan, just tell her how you’ve felt for the last 8 years! I did like that they were a second chance romance and neither had really found love since they went their separate ways because they were always meant to be, even if they didn’t actually date in college.
This was a really cozy, satisfying read. If you love The Holiday, be sure to check this one out!
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an advance copy of this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 ⭐️
A very cute and cozy Christmas read! This follows the same premise of the popular movie The Holiday, except both women live in the same country, just different states. I thoroughly enjoyed both locations of the homes even though they’re drastically different!
I enjoyed reading about Arden and Sam’s story much more than Phoebe and Jonathan’s. I think it’s because I just didn’t like Jonathan’s character. He wasn’t likeable to me and something about him just felt off. Arden and Sam were fantastic though. Yes - their connection was paced quite quickly but it worked for me as a reader. Sam was probably the character I enjoyed the most. He was humble and honest with his feelings. The sibling relationship between Sam and Phoebe was written so well. A sibling dynamic can be tricky to portray when the siblings are very close, but this was done perfectly.
Overall an enjoyable read with all the Christmas and Hanukkah vibes! Really enjoyed the representation of families celebrating differently.
Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC! I will continue to ready anything Lauren Appelbaum writes.
A very cute and cozy Christmas read! This follows the same premise of the popular movie The Holiday, except both women live in the same country, just different states. I thoroughly enjoyed both locations of the homes even though they’re drastically different!
I enjoyed reading about Arden and Sam’s story much more than Phoebe and Jonathan’s. I think it’s because I just didn’t like Jonathan’s character. He wasn’t likeable to me and something about him just felt off. Arden and Sam were fantastic though. Yes - their connection was paced quite quickly but it worked for me as a reader. Sam was probably the character I enjoyed the most. He was humble and honest with his feelings. The sibling relationship between Sam and Phoebe was written so well. A sibling dynamic can be tricky to portray when the siblings are very close, but this was done perfectly.
Overall an enjoyable read with all the Christmas and Hanukkah vibes! Really enjoyed the representation of families celebrating differently.
Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC! I will continue to ready anything Lauren Appelbaum writes.
July 18, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
The Holiday is one of my favorite movies of all time so a book inspired by it?! Yes please! This book had everything, the home exchange, being hung up on someone you can’t have who is stringing you along, and a gorgeous brother!
My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this book! Arden was by far my favorite, she was an introverted teacher who just needed to get away from that red flag user who was just stringing her along. Phoebe was not my favorite, I don’t think I jived well with her personality, her density drive me absolutely up the wall. Like come on girl, see the big picture. Overall, I liked her side of the story, she just wasn’t my favorite. I thought that the ending was cute, how they were all brought together but I felt like we could have used an epilogue to see where everyone was in the next 6 months.
Great for the upcoming holiday season, I’ll definitely be recommending!
Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the advanced e-copy!
Tags
-Holiday Romance
-Dual POV (First Person)
-Zero Spice
The Holiday is one of my favorite movies of all time so a book inspired by it?! Yes please! This book had everything, the home exchange, being hung up on someone you can’t have who is stringing you along, and a gorgeous brother!
My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this book! Arden was by far my favorite, she was an introverted teacher who just needed to get away from that red flag user who was just stringing her along. Phoebe was not my favorite, I don’t think I jived well with her personality, her density drive me absolutely up the wall. Like come on girl, see the big picture. Overall, I liked her side of the story, she just wasn’t my favorite. I thought that the ending was cute, how they were all brought together but I felt like we could have used an epilogue to see where everyone was in the next 6 months.
Great for the upcoming holiday season, I’ll definitely be recommending!
Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the advanced e-copy!
Tags
-Holiday Romance
-Dual POV (First Person)
-Zero Spice
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of The Holiday House Swap is so fun and it started out so strong! Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Arden and Sam's story. Their connection felt so real and genuine following a meet-cute in a Seattle coffee shop after Arden impulsively escaped her home during the holidays to get over her unrequited workplace crush. Arden had a lot of relationship misgivings to work through, but could they make a long distance relationship work?
Phoebe is a workaholic and I could not match her vibe at all. Johnathan was her college best friend who loves her unconditionally, and they run into each other again at the Christmas market while she is in Florida on a house swap escaping her family and recently being fired from her job. Phoebe can't see past her work proposal and keeps hurting her future with Johnathan with her single focus.
This is a cute read. There is a lot of time I wanted to shake some sense into Phoebe, but beyond that, it was worth it for the HEA for both couples. 3.5 Stars!
I loved Arden and Sam's story. Their connection felt so real and genuine following a meet-cute in a Seattle coffee shop after Arden impulsively escaped her home during the holidays to get over her unrequited workplace crush. Arden had a lot of relationship misgivings to work through, but could they make a long distance relationship work?
Phoebe is a workaholic and I could not match her vibe at all. Johnathan was her college best friend who loves her unconditionally, and they run into each other again at the Christmas market while she is in Florida on a house swap escaping her family and recently being fired from her job. Phoebe can't see past her work proposal and keeps hurting her future with Johnathan with her single focus.
This is a cute read. There is a lot of time I wanted to shake some sense into Phoebe, but beyond that, it was worth it for the HEA for both couples. 3.5 Stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
A delightful holiday read that is perfect for fans of The Holiday!! 🎄🏡
Two women, Phoebe and Arden, decide they need a change in life. One is dealing with unrequited love and the other was just fired from her job. Cue the house swap! Arden heads to Seattle, where she meets Phoebe’s brother, who takes it upon himself to show her around town. Phoebe heads to Florida, where she unexpectedly runs into a man from her past.
From there, we get two charming love stories filled with second chances, fresh starts, choosing what actually makes you happy, and of course lots of holiday cheer! I also loved that we got both Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations throughout the story.
The romances move pretty quickly and there are definitely some convenient holiday-rom-com moments, but honestly that worked for the cozy, feel-good vibe. This really does feel like a holiday movie in book form and will be such a fun December read (or October for the true holiday fanatics).
Thank you to Forever for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.
A delightful holiday read that is perfect for fans of The Holiday!! 🎄🏡
Two women, Phoebe and Arden, decide they need a change in life. One is dealing with unrequited love and the other was just fired from her job. Cue the house swap! Arden heads to Seattle, where she meets Phoebe’s brother, who takes it upon himself to show her around town. Phoebe heads to Florida, where she unexpectedly runs into a man from her past.
From there, we get two charming love stories filled with second chances, fresh starts, choosing what actually makes you happy, and of course lots of holiday cheer! I also loved that we got both Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations throughout the story.
The romances move pretty quickly and there are definitely some convenient holiday-rom-com moments, but honestly that worked for the cozy, feel-good vibe. This really does feel like a holiday movie in book form and will be such a fun December read (or October for the true holiday fanatics).
Thank you to Forever for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley for the invite to read this. Arden and Phoebe are both in a bit of a rut. Phoebe has just been let go from her job, where as Arden realizes she's been strung along by her boss Peter in hopes of something more. They decide to do a house swap so that they get a change of scenery for the holidays. Phoebe goes to Florida and Arden goes to Seattle. While they are house sitting, they take chances, realize what matters and is important to them, and fall in love. Both have to decide if what they are feeling is real and if it is worth the risk. This was a heartwarming and enjoyable read as the story is fast paced and reads like a cute Christmas holiday movie. Both Arden and Phoebe are likeable characters and I was rooting for them both to be happy. I also liked how their stories weaved together connecting all the characters and how both couples got an HEA. If want a cozy read filled with friendships, family, and holiday vibes, this is a great easy read for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Holiday House Swap had all the ingredients for a cozy holiday romance: festive settings, a charming house-swap premise, and plenty of seasonal atmosphere. The dual locations added a fun contrast, and it was easy to picture yourself escaping into the story with a cup of hot cocoa.
That said, I found myself wanting a stronger emotional connection to the characters. While the romance had sweet moments, the pacing felt uneven, and I never became fully invested in the relationship or the individual character arcs. The premise was stronger than the execution for me, leaving me wishing for a little more depth and chemistry.
Overall, this is a light, easy holiday read that will likely appeal to readers looking for festive escapism and a low-stakes romance, even if it didn’t completely win me over.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
That said, I found myself wanting a stronger emotional connection to the characters. While the romance had sweet moments, the pacing felt uneven, and I never became fully invested in the relationship or the individual character arcs. The premise was stronger than the execution for me, leaving me wishing for a little more depth and chemistry.
Overall, this is a light, easy holiday read that will likely appeal to readers looking for festive escapism and a low-stakes romance, even if it didn’t completely win me over.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the gifted ARC!
This was such a fun and festive holiday romance! I really enjoyed the house swap premise and getting to follow both Phoebe and Arden as they stepped into completely different lives for the holidays. I loved getting both of their POVs and seeing how their stories unfolded in their new surroundings.
One of my favorite parts was getting to experience both Christmas and Hanukkah throughout the story. I loved seeing the different holiday traditions and celebrations woven into the romances, and it really added to the cozy holiday feel of the book. I also really enjoyed the contrast between Seattle and Florida. As someone who lives in Florida, I especially loved the idea of a holiday romance that gives us some Florida sunshine instead of snow! 😂
This definitely gave me *The Holiday* vibes with the whole house-swap premise, and I could totally see this as a similar holiday movie. I would love that so much! If you’re looking for a festive romance to get you in the holiday spirit, this was such an enjoyable one!
This was such a fun and festive holiday romance! I really enjoyed the house swap premise and getting to follow both Phoebe and Arden as they stepped into completely different lives for the holidays. I loved getting both of their POVs and seeing how their stories unfolded in their new surroundings.
One of my favorite parts was getting to experience both Christmas and Hanukkah throughout the story. I loved seeing the different holiday traditions and celebrations woven into the romances, and it really added to the cozy holiday feel of the book. I also really enjoyed the contrast between Seattle and Florida. As someone who lives in Florida, I especially loved the idea of a holiday romance that gives us some Florida sunshine instead of snow! 😂
This definitely gave me *The Holiday* vibes with the whole house-swap premise, and I could totally see this as a similar holiday movie. I would love that so much! If you’re looking for a festive romance to get you in the holiday spirit, this was such an enjoyable one!
September 6, 2026
This is a very cute book. Phoebe, who lives in Seattle and just got unexpected fired from her job decides to impulsively swap places with Arden, a teacher who is in love with her boss and lives in a small town in Florida for the Hanukkah/Christmas season. During their holiday house swap, Arden falls for Phoebe's brother Sam, while Phoebe reconnects with an old college friend.
If you are getting The Holiday vibes, you are one hundred percent correct. I love that movie and I can tell this author did too. This book is not a blatant rip-off, not by any means, and you can tell that the author loved by Phoebe and Arden by the care and work she did into fleshing them both out into distinct and unique individuals. I did feel like some of the pacing was slow however, and Phoebe self sabotaged herself a lot, but overall, I really enjoyed this. It's a fun, cozy, holiday read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
If you are getting The Holiday vibes, you are one hundred percent correct. I love that movie and I can tell this author did too. This book is not a blatant rip-off, not by any means, and you can tell that the author loved by Phoebe and Arden by the care and work she did into fleshing them both out into distinct and unique individuals. I did feel like some of the pacing was slow however, and Phoebe self sabotaged herself a lot, but overall, I really enjoyed this. It's a fun, cozy, holiday read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a sweet holiday read! And, the movie The Holiday is my favorite movie to watch every year, and this book definitely has similar vibes, so it was an overall great time!
Two women struggling during the holidays switch homes to escape, but they end up finding their HEA alone the way.
Arden meets her new friend, Pheobe's brother, Sam and they hit it off right away and spend the week exploring and getting to know one another. While Pheobe is reunited with her best friend from college, Jonathan, who lost touch eight years ago when she broke his heart. Both couples get to spend the week together and realize the love that has grown, it makes it difficult to figure out the next steps of their relationships. Each couple also has their own dose or miscommunication, however everyone is able to work though.
It ends with each couple happy and together and planning their futures together. This was such a sweet holiday read!
Two women struggling during the holidays switch homes to escape, but they end up finding their HEA alone the way.
Arden meets her new friend, Pheobe's brother, Sam and they hit it off right away and spend the week exploring and getting to know one another. While Pheobe is reunited with her best friend from college, Jonathan, who lost touch eight years ago when she broke his heart. Both couples get to spend the week together and realize the love that has grown, it makes it difficult to figure out the next steps of their relationships. Each couple also has their own dose or miscommunication, however everyone is able to work though.
It ends with each couple happy and together and planning their futures together. This was such a sweet holiday read!
September 27, 2026
3.5/5 ⭐️s
The Holiday House Swap is great for The Holiday fans as you see Arden and Phoebe swap houses for the holiday season. Arden is trying to get over a man who doesn't see her in that way and honestly uses her and Phoebe just lost her job and is not sure what to do next coming from an overachieving family who would be disappointed in her firing. The switch is just what they both need.
Now I love the holiday and I enjoyed seeing Arden checking off her list and meeting sweet Sam and I also was happy Phoebe ran into her college BFF and maybe love? They both had great journeys to finding what their true happiness is and how they can have faith to have it all and believe in themselves. They both had some growing to do for sure, the characters were in their mid-twenties, I give them that but man sometimes they were so dumb in the love department.
Overall it was a sweet and cozy romance following two couples finding their HEA when they lest expect it.
The Holiday House Swap is great for The Holiday fans as you see Arden and Phoebe swap houses for the holiday season. Arden is trying to get over a man who doesn't see her in that way and honestly uses her and Phoebe just lost her job and is not sure what to do next coming from an overachieving family who would be disappointed in her firing. The switch is just what they both need.
Now I love the holiday and I enjoyed seeing Arden checking off her list and meeting sweet Sam and I also was happy Phoebe ran into her college BFF and maybe love? They both had great journeys to finding what their true happiness is and how they can have faith to have it all and believe in themselves. They both had some growing to do for sure, the characters were in their mid-twenties, I give them that but man sometimes they were so dumb in the love department.
Overall it was a sweet and cozy romance following two couples finding their HEA when they lest expect it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was written for folks who like the movie “The Holiday”. It’s the same premise and set up: two women in crisis swap houses in December and have romances in their new locations. In this case, Phoebe leaves Seattle to swap with Arden in a small Florida non-beach town. Phoebe runs into an old friend in Florida while Arden befriends Phoebe’s brother. This is a quick and easy read thats not very deep. There is one non-descriptive open door scene that’s easy to skip. However, since the rest were totally closed door, I’m not sure why the author added this one non-spicy scene. Might as well made the whole story closed door 🤷♀️. This is a solid library/KU read.
Thank you, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Thank you, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Review: The Holiday House Swap 3.5 stars
A cute holiday romance perfect for fans of The holiday + Hallmark Christmas/ Hanukkah movies. This story follows two women in their thirties who need a change of pace during the holiday season. They decide to swap houses and each discover themselves and fall in love in a new city. Phoebe and Jonathan were my favorite couple and I liked how their love story developed over the course of the book. I didn’t feel as connected to Arden and Sam. I feel like their story needed more time to really develop but thats just my opinion, they did have some cute moments together. Overall a quick romance read with dual POV and a HEA. This book releases in October just in time for the holiday season.
Thank you to Forever Publishing for a chance to read and review!
A cute holiday romance perfect for fans of The holiday + Hallmark Christmas/ Hanukkah movies. This story follows two women in their thirties who need a change of pace during the holiday season. They decide to swap houses and each discover themselves and fall in love in a new city. Phoebe and Jonathan were my favorite couple and I liked how their love story developed over the course of the book. I didn’t feel as connected to Arden and Sam. I feel like their story needed more time to really develop but thats just my opinion, they did have some cute moments together. Overall a quick romance read with dual POV and a HEA. This book releases in October just in time for the holiday season.
Thank you to Forever Publishing for a chance to read and review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This definitely was The Holiday in book form (which I loved!) ... only set in Seattle and Florida. Both Arden and Phoebe (the FMC's) are needing a quick exit from their lives/change of pace for the holiday season. I much preferred Arden's storyline more than Phoebe's for a variety of reasons, mainly that while she was hung up on a crush that was never going to go anywhere positive for her, it was easy to root for her and Sam to work out. Phoebe, on the other hand, I got why she hadn't been lucky in love fairly quickly and felt for Jonathan (her love interest) despite what looked like a second chance at turning their college friendship into more.
BTW, love the cover art, especially Arden's pink cottage!
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the ARC edition of this book.
BTW, love the cover art, especially Arden's pink cottage!
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the ARC edition of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Holiday is a top 5 Holiday movie for me, so when I saw this book was a similar idea, I jumped at the chance to read it!
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
When Phoebe suddenly gets fired and Arden realizes the crush she’s had for a long time is never going to crush on her back, the two decide to swap houses for the holiday season.
𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
The concept of this one was super cute, but overall it just fell a bit flat for me. I did really enjoy all of the holiday flair, but neither FMC really drew me in. Phoebe in particular was a struggle for me & I sort of wanted to shake her a few times.
I think overall this is a cute story, but definitely not a favorite for me.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
🎄The Holiday inspired
🎄two FMC swap houses
🎄unexpected romance
🎄Christmas / Hanukkah celebrations
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗:
When Phoebe suddenly gets fired and Arden realizes the crush she’s had for a long time is never going to crush on her back, the two decide to swap houses for the holiday season.
𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
The concept of this one was super cute, but overall it just fell a bit flat for me. I did really enjoy all of the holiday flair, but neither FMC really drew me in. Phoebe in particular was a struggle for me & I sort of wanted to shake her a few times.
I think overall this is a cute story, but definitely not a favorite for me.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁:
🎄The Holiday inspired
🎄two FMC swap houses
🎄unexpected romance
🎄Christmas / Hanukkah celebrations
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Holiday House Swap is a cozy holiday romance about second chances and finding unexpected connections during the most magical time of year.
The house swap premise immediately pulled me in, and I loved the idea of two women stepping into completely different lives and discovering something they didn't know they needed. The holiday settings create a warm and festive atmosphere, and the contrast between the two homes added a fun element as both Phoebe and Arden navigated unfamiliar surroundings.
The looming deadline of the swap kept the pacing moving, and the chapter endings made it difficult to put the book down. The story delivers the comforting feeling you want from a festive read, and exactly the kind of happily ever after you're hoping for.
The house swap premise immediately pulled me in, and I loved the idea of two women stepping into completely different lives and discovering something they didn't know they needed. The holiday settings create a warm and festive atmosphere, and the contrast between the two homes added a fun element as both Phoebe and Arden navigated unfamiliar surroundings.
The looming deadline of the swap kept the pacing moving, and the chapter endings made it difficult to put the book down. The story delivers the comforting feeling you want from a festive read, and exactly the kind of happily ever after you're hoping for.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A super easy and breezy Christmastime read. I love that it’s based on the movie ‘the Holiday’. Every college age girl around 2006-2008 was obsessed with this movie.
I got to read this for Christmas in July early from NetGalley. Which was perfect. I feel ready for more cozy Christmas reads when the season gets here.
Both story lines with Phoebe and Arden are sweet but I tended to like Arden’s story with Sam best. The echos of the movie that the author sprinkled in were cute. It won’t take the place of the original movie for me. To love this fully, I need more grit in a book. But I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend reading for the holiday season.
I got to read this for Christmas in July early from NetGalley. Which was perfect. I feel ready for more cozy Christmas reads when the season gets here.
Both story lines with Phoebe and Arden are sweet but I tended to like Arden’s story with Sam best. The echos of the movie that the author sprinkled in were cute. It won’t take the place of the original movie for me. To love this fully, I need more grit in a book. But I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend reading for the holiday season.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is definitely for the 2000’s romcom lovers like myself. One of my favorite Christmas movies is, The Holiday, so of course I enjoyed this book with a similar premise. Two women swap houses around the holidays. Phoebe lives in Seattle and has recently been fired from her job. She doesn’t want to admit this to her family while her younger sister is celebrating a recent engagement. Meanwhile, Arden in Florida is desperately in love with her boss who is hoping to get back together with his ex. The two women decide to swap houses and end up both finding love. This is a cute, quick read for those wanting to get into the holiday spirit.
Thank you Forever and Lauren Appelbaum
Thank you Forever and Lauren Appelbaum
September 24, 2026
The Holiday House Swap by Lauren Appelbaum
3.5 stars
Rated: R - for some mature scenes
If you are a fan of The Holiday, then this book might be a cozy holiday read for you. You can tell that the author drew inspiration from the movie as some of the elements and themes were similar (Jewish friend, house swapping, cute brother, etc.).
While it didn't feel like a fresh take in the romance department, it was an enjoyable read. I did struggle in the middle of the book to distinguish the character and setting as the voice for both of the main female characters felt similar. There was not as much to separate their internal dialogue as I would have liked.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it for fans of The Holiday, but I'm not sure it's one I would revisit every year like I do the movie.
3.5 stars
Rated: R - for some mature scenes
If you are a fan of The Holiday, then this book might be a cozy holiday read for you. You can tell that the author drew inspiration from the movie as some of the elements and themes were similar (Jewish friend, house swapping, cute brother, etc.).
While it didn't feel like a fresh take in the romance department, it was an enjoyable read. I did struggle in the middle of the book to distinguish the character and setting as the voice for both of the main female characters felt similar. There was not as much to separate their internal dialogue as I would have liked.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it for fans of The Holiday, but I'm not sure it's one I would revisit every year like I do the movie.
July 29, 2026
Review of ARC received from NetGalley
4.5 stars! I really loved this book. I’m always a sucker for a dual POV, and I thought the author did a great job with it. The banter between the main characters was so fun and had me smiling more than once. I also really liked that the story included both Hanukkah and Christmas, it made the holiday aspect feel a little different from the typical Christmas romance. The story kept me hooked the whole time without feeling too predictable. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cute, cozy holiday read!
4.5 stars! I really loved this book. I’m always a sucker for a dual POV, and I thought the author did a great job with it. The banter between the main characters was so fun and had me smiling more than once. I also really liked that the story included both Hanukkah and Christmas, it made the holiday aspect feel a little different from the typical Christmas romance. The story kept me hooked the whole time without feeling too predictable. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cute, cozy holiday read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a cute dual-line romance centered on two women who were facing unexpected changes and needed a break (which has described most of us at some point). It’s a romance, so we know how it ends, but neither was a straight line to the end and reading through how the female main characters each worked through various life challenges was refreshing and realistic.
Side note: I feel like I could plan a trip to Seattle complete with a checklist of places to go/things to see and appreciated the detail incorporated regarding that setting.
Side note: I feel like I could plan a trip to Seattle complete with a checklist of places to go/things to see and appreciated the detail incorporated regarding that setting.
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