What do you think?
Rate this book
The Holiday Swap
Step inside The Lookout… if you dare.
When my husband Robin’s wealthy boss offers to swap homes for the week, it seems too good to be true.
The Lookout is everything we could never a stunning glass house perched high on the cliffs above the sea.
Everything is perfect… until Robin’s old friend Pete turns up drunk in the middle of the night.
The next morning, I wake to find blood in the kitchen. Pete has vanished. And Robin swears he can’t remember a thing.
As I try to piece together what happened that night, I realise this was never an innocent house swap. Someone wanted us at The Lookout. And they’ll stop at nothing to make sure I never uncover the truth.
Because our week by the sea was never just a holiday. Everyone had an agenda. Everyone was keeping secrets and everyone was lying.
Even me.
The Holiday Swap is the explosive new thriller by Amazon bestselling author A J McDine. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Claire Douglas and Andrea Mara.
What readers are saying about The Holiday Swap:
‘A gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked… I was constantly second guessing.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I had to look away at times, such was the tension… another brilliant book.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The original, entertaining plot kept me guessing... the perfect summer read for all thriller addicts.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The ultimate claustrophobic whodunit thriller.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
When my husband Robin’s wealthy boss offers to swap homes for the week, it seems too good to be true.
The Lookout is everything we could never a stunning glass house perched high on the cliffs above the sea.
Everything is perfect… until Robin’s old friend Pete turns up drunk in the middle of the night.
The next morning, I wake to find blood in the kitchen. Pete has vanished. And Robin swears he can’t remember a thing.
As I try to piece together what happened that night, I realise this was never an innocent house swap. Someone wanted us at The Lookout. And they’ll stop at nothing to make sure I never uncover the truth.
Because our week by the sea was never just a holiday. Everyone had an agenda. Everyone was keeping secrets and everyone was lying.
Even me.
The Holiday Swap is the explosive new thriller by Amazon bestselling author A J McDine. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Claire Douglas and Andrea Mara.
What readers are saying about The Holiday Swap:
‘A gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked… I was constantly second guessing.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I had to look away at times, such was the tension… another brilliant book.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The original, entertaining plot kept me guessing... the perfect summer read for all thriller addicts.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The ultimate claustrophobic whodunit thriller.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2026
About the author
A.J. McDine
16 books439 followersA J McDine writes fast-paced, character-driven psychological thrillers packed with secrets, lies and seriously dark twists.
A former journalist and police press officer, she spent years writing about other people’s dramas before turning her attention to fiction.
Her thrillers explore ordinary people plunged into extraordinary situations – and the devastating consequences of the secrets they keep.
She lives in Kent with her husband, fellow psychological-thriller author A J Wills.
Yes, they’re married. Yes, they’re both AJs. And yes, their internet search history is dodgy as hell.
When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, planning her next trip abroad or plotting her next juicy twist.
Her novels include:
The Holiday Swap
The Greek Island
The Baby
The Husband Before You
The Photo
Everyone Has Secrets
The Invite
Should Have Known Better
No One I Knew
The Promise You Made
When She Finds You
The Girl in the Window
A former journalist and police press officer, she spent years writing about other people’s dramas before turning her attention to fiction.
Her thrillers explore ordinary people plunged into extraordinary situations – and the devastating consequences of the secrets they keep.
She lives in Kent with her husband, fellow psychological-thriller author A J Wills.
Yes, they’re married. Yes, they’re both AJs. And yes, their internet search history is dodgy as hell.
When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, planning her next trip abroad or plotting her next juicy twist.
Her novels include:
The Holiday Swap
The Greek Island
The Baby
The Husband Before You
The Photo
Everyone Has Secrets
The Invite
Should Have Known Better
No One I Knew
The Promise You Made
When She Finds You
The Girl in the Window
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
August 14, 2026
The author is a hit or miss for me, but I struggled to stay invested in this one. Somewhat repetitive with uneven pacing, there were times I felt like the story was moving in circles, with not much really happening. The plot was predictable and lacked any real suspense or major twists. An easy read, but a bit underwhelming.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you enjoy a quick, twisty read, this thriller is for you! I could have easily devoured this in a single sitting. It immediately hooked me and kept me engaged until the surprising, satisfying conclusion. AJ McDine is an auto-read author, and this book solidifies it. The original, entertaining plot kept me guessing throughout. This is the perfect summer read for all thriller addicts. Thank you, NetGalley and Cherry Tree Publishing for my ARC.
August 1, 2026
Thank you AJ McDine for sharing your latest thriller with me. The Holiday Swap is a bingeable story that I almost finished in one go. Short chapters that end with the reader needing to keep going to find something out always have me hooked.
A house swap between friends, what could go wrong? Plenty of course. Robin and Jenny are enjoying living a life of luxury for a change. Robins boss has offered his home on the Kentish coast to the couple for a week to get away and relax. Only things couldn’t be that easy right. All 3 parties are keeping secrets from each other and it could be deadly.
The author gives us some characters in this story that really are despicable, awful people. They can be fun to read about. There are plenty of twists and turns as this turns into an offer that they will wish they didn’t accept.
Out now and available on Kindle Unlimited so go grab a copy and enjoy.
A house swap between friends, what could go wrong? Plenty of course. Robin and Jenny are enjoying living a life of luxury for a change. Robins boss has offered his home on the Kentish coast to the couple for a week to get away and relax. Only things couldn’t be that easy right. All 3 parties are keeping secrets from each other and it could be deadly.
The author gives us some characters in this story that really are despicable, awful people. They can be fun to read about. There are plenty of twists and turns as this turns into an offer that they will wish they didn’t accept.
Out now and available on Kindle Unlimited so go grab a copy and enjoy.
Want to Read
October 13, 2026Coming Dec 03, 2026
Our week by the sea was never just a holiday. Everyone had an agenda. Everyone was keeping secrets and everyone was lying.
Our week by the sea was never just a holiday. Everyone had an agenda. Everyone was keeping secrets and everyone was lying.
August 11, 2026
✨Netgalley eArc Review✨
Holiday Swap by A.J. McDine
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)️
Thank you to @ajmcdineauthor and @netgalley for this eARC!
Holiday Swap follows married couple Robin and Jen, who have been struggling financially, when Robin’s wealthy boss and friend, Scott, offers them the perfect escape: swap homes for a week. His luxurious house sits privately on the cliffs overlooking the sea, and Jen hopes the getaway will give them a chance to reconnect and finally share a secret she’s been keeping.
But their relaxing vacation takes a turn when Robin’s old friend Pete unexpectedly shows up. After a night of drinking and some very strange tension, Jen wakes up to blood in the kitchen, Pete missing, and Robin claiming he can’t remember what happened after she went to bed.
Suddenly, Jen is left trying to piece together the night before. And the more questions she asks, the more secrets begin to unravel. Maybe this house swap wasn’t such a generous offer after all.
I read this book in ONE sitting! Once the mystery pulled me in, I couldn’t put it down. The short chapters and fast pacing made it so easy to keep telling myself, “just one more chapter.”
Even though Pete was a complete jerk, I loved what his character brought to the story. His presence immediately raised the stakes and added this creepy, uncomfortable tension where you just knew something wasn’t right.
Give me a thriller filled with secrets, suspicious characters, and twists around every corner, and I’m happy! I did guess the majority of the twists, but surprisingly, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. At that point, I was too invested and needed to know exactly how everything would play out.
This was my first A.J. McDine book, and it ended up being the perfect thriller to kick off my vacation.
If you’re looking for a quick summer thriller you can devour by the pool or on the beach, add this one to your list!
Holiday Swap by A.J. McDine
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)️
Thank you to @ajmcdineauthor and @netgalley for this eARC!
Holiday Swap follows married couple Robin and Jen, who have been struggling financially, when Robin’s wealthy boss and friend, Scott, offers them the perfect escape: swap homes for a week. His luxurious house sits privately on the cliffs overlooking the sea, and Jen hopes the getaway will give them a chance to reconnect and finally share a secret she’s been keeping.
But their relaxing vacation takes a turn when Robin’s old friend Pete unexpectedly shows up. After a night of drinking and some very strange tension, Jen wakes up to blood in the kitchen, Pete missing, and Robin claiming he can’t remember what happened after she went to bed.
Suddenly, Jen is left trying to piece together the night before. And the more questions she asks, the more secrets begin to unravel. Maybe this house swap wasn’t such a generous offer after all.
I read this book in ONE sitting! Once the mystery pulled me in, I couldn’t put it down. The short chapters and fast pacing made it so easy to keep telling myself, “just one more chapter.”
Even though Pete was a complete jerk, I loved what his character brought to the story. His presence immediately raised the stakes and added this creepy, uncomfortable tension where you just knew something wasn’t right.
Give me a thriller filled with secrets, suspicious characters, and twists around every corner, and I’m happy! I did guess the majority of the twists, but surprisingly, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. At that point, I was too invested and needed to know exactly how everything would play out.
This was my first A.J. McDine book, and it ended up being the perfect thriller to kick off my vacation.
If you’re looking for a quick summer thriller you can devour by the pool or on the beach, add this one to your list!
July 30, 2026
That was So good! I love that it's a very easy book to get into right away and that strange things start popping up right away. Eerie and unsettling...SO spooky. It just goes to show you- sometimes when something feels "too good to be true"- that's because it is.
September 7, 2026
NetGalley ARC:
I usually love her books, but this one left me a bit underwhelmed. It was a very slow pace, seemed a bit repetitive in parts and there was no real ‘shock’. Won’t stop me from reading future books but just didn’t feel as invested in this one.
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
I usually love her books, but this one left me a bit underwhelmed. It was a very slow pace, seemed a bit repetitive in parts and there was no real ‘shock’. Won’t stop me from reading future books but just didn’t feel as invested in this one.
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Would you swap your home with a billionaire? What if it costs you everything? A.J. McDine’s The Holiday Swap is the ultimate claustrophobic whodunit thriller. You won't look at vacation rentals the same way again!
The Holiday Swap by A.J. McDine (her twelfth novel) is a fast-paced domestic psychological thriller centered on a financially struggling couple, a luxury house swap, and a dark web of secrets.
The Hook
A financially broke couple steps into a billionaire’s luxury cliffside mansion for a dream house swap, only to wake up to a blood-spattered kitchen, a missing guest, and a husband who claims he remembers absolutely nothing.
Elevator Pitch
The Holiday Swap is a claustrophobic, high-stakes psychological thriller where financial desperation meets deadly deception. When a struggling couple accepts an invitation to swap their modest home for a tech tycoon's isolated, glass-walled coastal fortress, a midnight visit from an old friend turns fatal. With blood on the floor and a husband feigning amnesia, the trip morphs from a dream vacation into a meticulously engineered trap where everyone is lying to survive.
Setting & Vibe
~Setting:
"The Lookout," an ultra-modern, isolated luxury smart-home made of glass and steel, perched precariously on a jagged cliffside overlooking a volatile, crashing sea.
~Vibe:
Hitchcockian, clinical, and dripping with an eerie sense of being constantly watched.
Genre & Themes
~Genre: Domestic Thriller / Psychological Suspense / Locked-Room Mystery.
~Themes: The corrupting power of wealth, the fragility of marital trust, the desperation of financial ruin, and the impossibility of running from your past.
Standout Characters
~Jen: The Narrator (The Wife): A desperate but sharp protagonist fiercely trying to protect her family while navigating a maze of gaslighting, murder, and greed.
~Robin (The Husband): A man drowning in debt whose convenience-based "amnesia" makes him deeply untrustworthy.
~Scott Masters (Robin's boss and owner of the cliffside holiday home): A ruthless CEO of tech millionaire company 21 SocialScript.
Author Writing Standout
A.J. McDine excels at weaponizing the setting itself. The Author transforms the beautiful, transparent glass architecture of the house into a suffocating cage, turning high-tech luxury into an instrument of pure psychological torture with behind-the-scenes plotting, dark secrets, greed, and deception.
Takeaway
Desperation makes people incredibly easy to manipulate, and the grander the gift, the more dangerous the hidden strings attached to it.
Title Significance
The title, "The Holiday Swap," serves as a dark irony. A "swap" implies an equal exchange between two willing parties; however, in this book, it represents a predatory transaction where a wealthy elite trades temporary luxury for absolute control over a vulnerable couple’s lives.
Metaphor
The luxury house is a high-tech aquarium. The characters believe they are looking out at a beautiful view, but in reality, they are completely exposed inside a glass box, swimming in circles while a predator watches them from the dark.
Why You Should Read
Read this if you love unputdownable, single-location thrillers with a relentless pace, unreliable narrators, and a plot that forces you to constantly shift your suspicions.
My Thoughts
A simple house swap by the sea turns deadly! What is hidden in the house?
A masterclass in building tension, drawing readers into a whirlwind of intrigue and suspense. Each character comes with their own hidden agendas, creating a web of complexities that keeps you on edge. The pacing is relentlessly brisk, plunging us directly into the heart of the central crisis, leaving no room for lulls or filler—every page pulses with purpose.
McDine skillfully weaves a sense of claustrophobia within the confined setting, amplifying the internal paranoia that arises from layers of deception and duplicity. As the plot unfolds, you find yourself constantly reevaluating the motivations of the characters, questioning their true intentions at every turn. Just when you think you have it figured out, the final shocking pages deliver a twist that leaves you breathless and reevaluating everything you thought you knew.
If you love fast-paced domestic suspense, unputdownable twists, and isolated beach settings, pack your bags for The Holiday Swap. Just don't look down.
Verdict: 5 / 5 Stars.
"A gripping, binge-worthy popcorn thriller that will make you think twice before ever booking a vacation rental or accepting a favor from your boss."
Recs or Read-Alikes
~The Guest List by Lucy Foley
~Never Lie by Freida McFadden
~Our Perfect Holiday by Daniel Hurst
~The House Swap by Miranda Rijks
~The House Swap Keri Beevis
QA with the Author
Stay tuned for a fun #LitLiftMiniAuthorChat with AJ McDine coming August 1st!
Special thanks to Cherry Tree Publishing and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 30, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
July Must-Read Books
July Newsletter
Aug featured #LitLiftMiniAuthorChats
The Holiday Swap by A.J. McDine (her twelfth novel) is a fast-paced domestic psychological thriller centered on a financially struggling couple, a luxury house swap, and a dark web of secrets.
The Hook
A financially broke couple steps into a billionaire’s luxury cliffside mansion for a dream house swap, only to wake up to a blood-spattered kitchen, a missing guest, and a husband who claims he remembers absolutely nothing.
Elevator Pitch
The Holiday Swap is a claustrophobic, high-stakes psychological thriller where financial desperation meets deadly deception. When a struggling couple accepts an invitation to swap their modest home for a tech tycoon's isolated, glass-walled coastal fortress, a midnight visit from an old friend turns fatal. With blood on the floor and a husband feigning amnesia, the trip morphs from a dream vacation into a meticulously engineered trap where everyone is lying to survive.
Setting & Vibe
~Setting:
"The Lookout," an ultra-modern, isolated luxury smart-home made of glass and steel, perched precariously on a jagged cliffside overlooking a volatile, crashing sea.
~Vibe:
Hitchcockian, clinical, and dripping with an eerie sense of being constantly watched.
Genre & Themes
~Genre: Domestic Thriller / Psychological Suspense / Locked-Room Mystery.
~Themes: The corrupting power of wealth, the fragility of marital trust, the desperation of financial ruin, and the impossibility of running from your past.
Standout Characters
~Jen: The Narrator (The Wife): A desperate but sharp protagonist fiercely trying to protect her family while navigating a maze of gaslighting, murder, and greed.
~Robin (The Husband): A man drowning in debt whose convenience-based "amnesia" makes him deeply untrustworthy.
~Scott Masters (Robin's boss and owner of the cliffside holiday home): A ruthless CEO of tech millionaire company 21 SocialScript.
Author Writing Standout
A.J. McDine excels at weaponizing the setting itself. The Author transforms the beautiful, transparent glass architecture of the house into a suffocating cage, turning high-tech luxury into an instrument of pure psychological torture with behind-the-scenes plotting, dark secrets, greed, and deception.
Takeaway
Desperation makes people incredibly easy to manipulate, and the grander the gift, the more dangerous the hidden strings attached to it.
Title Significance
The title, "The Holiday Swap," serves as a dark irony. A "swap" implies an equal exchange between two willing parties; however, in this book, it represents a predatory transaction where a wealthy elite trades temporary luxury for absolute control over a vulnerable couple’s lives.
Metaphor
The luxury house is a high-tech aquarium. The characters believe they are looking out at a beautiful view, but in reality, they are completely exposed inside a glass box, swimming in circles while a predator watches them from the dark.
Why You Should Read
Read this if you love unputdownable, single-location thrillers with a relentless pace, unreliable narrators, and a plot that forces you to constantly shift your suspicions.
My Thoughts
A simple house swap by the sea turns deadly! What is hidden in the house?
A masterclass in building tension, drawing readers into a whirlwind of intrigue and suspense. Each character comes with their own hidden agendas, creating a web of complexities that keeps you on edge. The pacing is relentlessly brisk, plunging us directly into the heart of the central crisis, leaving no room for lulls or filler—every page pulses with purpose.
McDine skillfully weaves a sense of claustrophobia within the confined setting, amplifying the internal paranoia that arises from layers of deception and duplicity. As the plot unfolds, you find yourself constantly reevaluating the motivations of the characters, questioning their true intentions at every turn. Just when you think you have it figured out, the final shocking pages deliver a twist that leaves you breathless and reevaluating everything you thought you knew.
If you love fast-paced domestic suspense, unputdownable twists, and isolated beach settings, pack your bags for The Holiday Swap. Just don't look down.
Verdict: 5 / 5 Stars.
"A gripping, binge-worthy popcorn thriller that will make you think twice before ever booking a vacation rental or accepting a favor from your boss."
Recs or Read-Alikes
~The Guest List by Lucy Foley
~Never Lie by Freida McFadden
~Our Perfect Holiday by Daniel Hurst
~The House Swap by Miranda Rijks
~The House Swap Keri Beevis
QA with the Author
Stay tuned for a fun #LitLiftMiniAuthorChat with AJ McDine coming August 1st!
Special thanks to Cherry Tree Publishing and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 30, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
July Must-Read Books
July Newsletter
Aug featured #LitLiftMiniAuthorChats
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and A.J. McDine for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller where every chapter ends with "okay... just one more," this book is for you.
First Impressions
This book hooked me almost immediately. The chapters are short, the pacing is fast, and there was always another mystery waiting around the corner. It gave me Freida McFadden vibes, not because the stories are the same, but because it's one of those books that's incredibly easy to binge.
Right away, you know something isn't adding up. Robin keeps dodging questions about money, the house they're staying in has rooms that are clearly hiding something, and everyone seems to know more than they're saying.
I spent most of the book thinking...
What Worked
The pacing was easily my favorite part. Almost every chapter ended with some new piece of information that made me want to keep reading. I never felt like the story dragged, and even though everything takes place in essentially one location, it never felt repetitive.
There was also one particular character that made me uncomfortable every time they showed up. Every interaction with them felt tense, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
One quote perfectly captures how quickly things spiral:
By that point, I couldn't stop turning the pages.
What Didn't Work
My biggest issue was that I guessed a lot of the twists before they happened.
That didn't ruin the book for me. I still wanted to know how everything would play out, but I never had one of those "I did NOT see that coming" moments.
The ending also felt a little anticlimactic. After all the tension that had been building, I expected one final twist that would've completely blown me away.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I had a good time with this one. It's one of those popcorn thrillers that's easy to fly through over a weekend. The short chapters, constant cliffhangers, and steady suspense kept me turning the pages.
It may not have completely surprised me, but it definitely kept me entertained.
If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller where every chapter ends with "okay... just one more," this book is for you.
First Impressions
This book hooked me almost immediately. The chapters are short, the pacing is fast, and there was always another mystery waiting around the corner. It gave me Freida McFadden vibes, not because the stories are the same, but because it's one of those books that's incredibly easy to binge.
Right away, you know something isn't adding up. Robin keeps dodging questions about money, the house they're staying in has rooms that are clearly hiding something, and everyone seems to know more than they're saying.
I spent most of the book thinking...
"...what is actually going on here?"
What Worked
The pacing was easily my favorite part. Almost every chapter ended with some new piece of information that made me want to keep reading. I never felt like the story dragged, and even though everything takes place in essentially one location, it never felt repetitive.
There was also one particular character that made me uncomfortable every time they showed up. Every interaction with them felt tense, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
One quote perfectly captures how quickly things spiral:
"If only I could turn back the clock. I'd never have agreed to the house swap."
By that point, I couldn't stop turning the pages.
What Didn't Work
My biggest issue was that I guessed a lot of the twists before they happened.
That didn't ruin the book for me. I still wanted to know how everything would play out, but I never had one of those "I did NOT see that coming" moments.
The ending also felt a little anticlimactic. After all the tension that had been building, I expected one final twist that would've completely blown me away.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I had a good time with this one. It's one of those popcorn thrillers that's easy to fly through over a weekend. The short chapters, constant cliffhangers, and steady suspense kept me turning the pages.
It may not have completely surprised me, but it definitely kept me entertained.
August 29, 2026
★★★☆☆
I always love a good holiday swap setup, but after finishing my second novel by A.J. McDine, I have to admit this one left me feeling a bit meh.
The story follows Jen and Robin, a broke couple who jump at the chance to swap houses for a week with Robin's wealthy boss. They head to The Lookout, a glass house perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Right from the beginning, the premise sets up plenty of suspicion—after all, why would a wealthy couple want to swap homes with an employee? The setup quickly unravels when Robin's friend Pete arrives drunk in the middle of the night. Jen wakes up the next morning to blood in the kitchen, Pete missing, and Robin unable to remember anything, kicking off a frantic attempt to figure out who set them up and what secrets everyone is hiding.
The short chapters made this an easy read to get through, but the overall pacing felt quite uneven. The narrative often looped in circles without actually driving the investigation forward, leading to a storyline that felt predictable rather than genuinely suspenseful. I found myself reading on mainly to see if my theories were right, but when the conclusion finally landed, it was distinctly anticlimactic. After all the buildup, that final, jaw-dropping twist just never arrived.
A big part of why the tension fell flat was the characters. Frankly, almost everyone in this story is a terrible person. Jen in particular does some astounding mental gymnastics to convince herself she is the good guy, operating on truly backwards morals where lying to the police is fine, but making a simple trade to protect her own freedom is off the table. Because of that, I never managed to connect with her POV.
The dynamic between Jen and Robin was equally unconvincing. They are supposed to be in a solid, happy marriage, yet their complete lack of basic communication drove me up the wall. The fact that Jen was terrified to tell Robin about her pregnancy felt utterly unbelievable based on how he was written; he might have panicked over their bank balance, but nothing suggested he would react in a way that warranted genuine fear.
I was also disappointed by how little the setting was used. A stunning, isolated cliffside house overlooking the sea has so much potential for eerie atmosphere, yet it barely factored into the tension at all.
It had a promising foundation, but between the predictable twists, unlikable characters, and missed atmospheric opportunities, it ended up being an underwhelming read.
Thank you to the author, Cherry Tree Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.
I always love a good holiday swap setup, but after finishing my second novel by A.J. McDine, I have to admit this one left me feeling a bit meh.
The story follows Jen and Robin, a broke couple who jump at the chance to swap houses for a week with Robin's wealthy boss. They head to The Lookout, a glass house perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Right from the beginning, the premise sets up plenty of suspicion—after all, why would a wealthy couple want to swap homes with an employee? The setup quickly unravels when Robin's friend Pete arrives drunk in the middle of the night. Jen wakes up the next morning to blood in the kitchen, Pete missing, and Robin unable to remember anything, kicking off a frantic attempt to figure out who set them up and what secrets everyone is hiding.
The short chapters made this an easy read to get through, but the overall pacing felt quite uneven. The narrative often looped in circles without actually driving the investigation forward, leading to a storyline that felt predictable rather than genuinely suspenseful. I found myself reading on mainly to see if my theories were right, but when the conclusion finally landed, it was distinctly anticlimactic. After all the buildup, that final, jaw-dropping twist just never arrived.
A big part of why the tension fell flat was the characters. Frankly, almost everyone in this story is a terrible person. Jen in particular does some astounding mental gymnastics to convince herself she is the good guy, operating on truly backwards morals where lying to the police is fine, but making a simple trade to protect her own freedom is off the table. Because of that, I never managed to connect with her POV.
The dynamic between Jen and Robin was equally unconvincing. They are supposed to be in a solid, happy marriage, yet their complete lack of basic communication drove me up the wall. The fact that Jen was terrified to tell Robin about her pregnancy felt utterly unbelievable based on how he was written; he might have panicked over their bank balance, but nothing suggested he would react in a way that warranted genuine fear.
I was also disappointed by how little the setting was used. A stunning, isolated cliffside house overlooking the sea has so much potential for eerie atmosphere, yet it barely factored into the tension at all.
It had a promising foundation, but between the predictable twists, unlikable characters, and missed atmospheric opportunities, it ended up being an underwhelming read.
Thank you to the author, Cherry Tree Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you're looking for a feel-good romance that lets you escape for a while, **The Holiday Swap** is definitely one to add to your reading list. It had me smiling, laughing, and completely invested from the very beginning.
I love a story that drops you into a new setting and makes you feel like you're right there with the characters, and this one did exactly that. The vacation vibes, unexpected moments, and slow-building romance made it so easy to keep turning the pages. It was one of those books where I kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter," and before I knew it, I'd read way more than I planned.
The characters felt relatable and easy to connect with. They weren't perfect, which made them even more enjoyable to read about. Watching them navigate new experiences, step outside their comfort zones, and slowly let their walls down made the romance feel genuine and believable. I found myself rooting for them the entire time.
One thing I really appreciated was how balanced the story felt. It wasn't just about the romance—it also explored friendship, personal growth, taking chances, and realizing that sometimes the best things happen when life doesn't go according to plan. Those moments gave the story a little more depth without taking away from the fun.
The writing flows effortlessly, making it an easy book to get lost in. It has plenty of lighthearted moments mixed with heartfelt conversations, and the pacing kept me interested all the way through. It never felt rushed, and every chapter left me wanting to see what would happen next.
If you enjoy charming romances, vacation settings, lovable characters, and stories that leave you with a smile, I definitely recommend picking this one up. It's the kind of book that's perfect for a relaxing weekend or whenever you're in the mood for something uplifting.
Overall, **The Holiday Swap** was a fun, heartwarming read that reminded me why I love romance books so much. It delivered sweet moments, great chemistry, and characters I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. By the time I reached the final page, I had a smile on my face and was wishing the story wasn't over.
This was such an enjoyable escape, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy romance that leaves you feeling good long after you've finished reading.
I love a story that drops you into a new setting and makes you feel like you're right there with the characters, and this one did exactly that. The vacation vibes, unexpected moments, and slow-building romance made it so easy to keep turning the pages. It was one of those books where I kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter," and before I knew it, I'd read way more than I planned.
The characters felt relatable and easy to connect with. They weren't perfect, which made them even more enjoyable to read about. Watching them navigate new experiences, step outside their comfort zones, and slowly let their walls down made the romance feel genuine and believable. I found myself rooting for them the entire time.
One thing I really appreciated was how balanced the story felt. It wasn't just about the romance—it also explored friendship, personal growth, taking chances, and realizing that sometimes the best things happen when life doesn't go according to plan. Those moments gave the story a little more depth without taking away from the fun.
The writing flows effortlessly, making it an easy book to get lost in. It has plenty of lighthearted moments mixed with heartfelt conversations, and the pacing kept me interested all the way through. It never felt rushed, and every chapter left me wanting to see what would happen next.
If you enjoy charming romances, vacation settings, lovable characters, and stories that leave you with a smile, I definitely recommend picking this one up. It's the kind of book that's perfect for a relaxing weekend or whenever you're in the mood for something uplifting.
Overall, **The Holiday Swap** was a fun, heartwarming read that reminded me why I love romance books so much. It delivered sweet moments, great chemistry, and characters I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. By the time I reached the final page, I had a smile on my face and was wishing the story wasn't over.
This was such an enjoyable escape, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy romance that leaves you feeling good long after you've finished reading.
July 27, 2026
There’s something deliciously unsettling about a thriller that takes a fantasy we all secretly nurse — a free luxury holiday — and turns it inside out. The Holiday Swap does exactly that, and it does it with the kind of creeping tension that feels like sand slipping through your fingers: quiet at first, then suddenly you realise you’re in far deeper than you meant to be.
The setup is irresistible. A broke couple, a too-generous offer, and a glass house perched on the cliffs like a promise. From the moment they arrive at The Lookout, you can feel the story tightening, the way a smile can hide a trap. A.J. McDine leans into that unease beautifully. Every detail of the house feels both aspirational and vaguely wrong, as though the walls themselves are waiting for the right moment to whisper.
When Robin’s old friend Pete crashes into the night — drunk, chaotic, out of place — it’s the first crack in the glossy surface. By morning, there’s blood in the kitchen, Pete has vanished, and Robin’s memory has simply… stopped. From there, the novel becomes a slow, spiralling unravelling of trust. The more our narrator digs, the more it becomes clear that this wasn’t a holiday offered out of kindness. It was curated. Engineered. And every person orbiting The Lookout has a motive they’d rather keep buried.
What I loved most is how McDine plays with the idea of secrets — not just the ones being kept from the protagonist, but the ones she’s keeping herself. The narrative has that addictive, layered quality where you’re never entirely sure whose version of events you’re meant to believe. It’s atmospheric without ever losing pace, and the final reveals land with the kind of sharp satisfaction that makes you sit back and exhale.
Twisty, tense, and wonderfully deceptive, The Holiday Swap is a perfect pick for readers who enjoy domestic suspense with teeth. Fans of Freida McFadden, Claire Douglas, and Andrea Mara will feel right at home — though after reading this, they may think twice before accepting a house swap.
With thanks to AJ McDine, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The setup is irresistible. A broke couple, a too-generous offer, and a glass house perched on the cliffs like a promise. From the moment they arrive at The Lookout, you can feel the story tightening, the way a smile can hide a trap. A.J. McDine leans into that unease beautifully. Every detail of the house feels both aspirational and vaguely wrong, as though the walls themselves are waiting for the right moment to whisper.
When Robin’s old friend Pete crashes into the night — drunk, chaotic, out of place — it’s the first crack in the glossy surface. By morning, there’s blood in the kitchen, Pete has vanished, and Robin’s memory has simply… stopped. From there, the novel becomes a slow, spiralling unravelling of trust. The more our narrator digs, the more it becomes clear that this wasn’t a holiday offered out of kindness. It was curated. Engineered. And every person orbiting The Lookout has a motive they’d rather keep buried.
What I loved most is how McDine plays with the idea of secrets — not just the ones being kept from the protagonist, but the ones she’s keeping herself. The narrative has that addictive, layered quality where you’re never entirely sure whose version of events you’re meant to believe. It’s atmospheric without ever losing pace, and the final reveals land with the kind of sharp satisfaction that makes you sit back and exhale.
Twisty, tense, and wonderfully deceptive, The Holiday Swap is a perfect pick for readers who enjoy domestic suspense with teeth. Fans of Freida McFadden, Claire Douglas, and Andrea Mara will feel right at home — though after reading this, they may think twice before accepting a house swap.
With thanks to AJ McDine, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
★★★.5
”If only I could turn back the clock. I'd never have agreed to the house swap.”
Life has been rough for Jen and her husband Robin. Their dream has always been to own a home of their own, but the economic downturn is beginning to catch up with them, and they're struggling to stay afloat. A vacation, something they desperately need to relax and repair their relationship, is the last thing they can afford. Instead, they agree to a house swap with Robin's boss and best friend, Scott. In exchange for their nearly dilapidated Greenwich cottage, they get to stay in Scott's stunning newly built home on the English Channel, perched atop the famous Devon chalk cliffs. It sounds like the perfect escape.
But Jen can't shake the feeling that something is off. Why would Scott offer up his luxurious home in exchange for theirs? Is Robin keeping secrets? Well, he certainly wouldn't be the only one...
I was so excited for another twisty domestic thriller by A.J. McDine, but unfortunately this one didn't quite work for me. The setting was beautiful, with the rugged Devon coastline battered by storms creating a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop. The long-standing friendship between Scott, Robin, and Pete was clearly fractured, and it was obvious there were plenty of dark secrets buried beneath the surface.
My biggest issue was Jen, our main POV. I never really connected with her, which made it difficult to become invested in her story. Robin wasn't much more compelling, and their relationship felt distant and unconvincing. I also found the plot fairly predictable. There were simply too many clues along the way for the reveals to land with much impact. I kept waiting for a heart-pounding final twist, but unfortunately I saw it coming from a mile away.
Thank you to A.J. McDine, NetGalley, and Cherry Tree Publishing for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
”If only I could turn back the clock. I'd never have agreed to the house swap.”
Life has been rough for Jen and her husband Robin. Their dream has always been to own a home of their own, but the economic downturn is beginning to catch up with them, and they're struggling to stay afloat. A vacation, something they desperately need to relax and repair their relationship, is the last thing they can afford. Instead, they agree to a house swap with Robin's boss and best friend, Scott. In exchange for their nearly dilapidated Greenwich cottage, they get to stay in Scott's stunning newly built home on the English Channel, perched atop the famous Devon chalk cliffs. It sounds like the perfect escape.
But Jen can't shake the feeling that something is off. Why would Scott offer up his luxurious home in exchange for theirs? Is Robin keeping secrets? Well, he certainly wouldn't be the only one...
I was so excited for another twisty domestic thriller by A.J. McDine, but unfortunately this one didn't quite work for me. The setting was beautiful, with the rugged Devon coastline battered by storms creating a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop. The long-standing friendship between Scott, Robin, and Pete was clearly fractured, and it was obvious there were plenty of dark secrets buried beneath the surface.
My biggest issue was Jen, our main POV. I never really connected with her, which made it difficult to become invested in her story. Robin wasn't much more compelling, and their relationship felt distant and unconvincing. I also found the plot fairly predictable. There were simply too many clues along the way for the reveals to land with much impact. I kept waiting for a heart-pounding final twist, but unfortunately I saw it coming from a mile away.
Thank you to A.J. McDine, NetGalley, and Cherry Tree Publishing for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
July 30, 2026
Robin and Jen swap houses with Robin’s boss for the week. Built into a cliff on the Kentish coast with all the mod cons and stunning coastal views, it should be relaxing and exactly what they need. But when an old acquaintance of Robin’s turns up with a lack of boundaries and no filter, things turn sour. After waking up to find blood all over the kitchen, Jen is questioning just exactly why they’ve been offered this holiday swap and what exactly is her husband hiding from her? Before long, things have escalated and she finds herself caught up in a cat and mouse game of murder and blackmail and wishing that they’d never left London.
_______________
✨ No Spoilers ✨
When Amanda me and asked if she could send me this ARC, I absolutely jumped at the chance to say yes. I’d read The Greek Island last month and absolutely loved it.
This one was no different and I really enjoyed it, although it did have a slightly slower pace to The Greek Island which I liked. It was a real slow burn, letting the tension and suspense really build.
This is a home based staycation based thriller with lies, twists and secrets all in a stunning mansion on the UK coastline. The description of the house is so visual, I could literally picture everything as well as the coastline and setting.
The characters are given just enough depth to feel like you know them but not enough to confidently stop you guessing and questioning their motives.
The female detective feels authoritative enough but she also manages to have a slightly more human/empathetic edge to her as well which I liked.
All in all, a tense binge worthy thriller with an intriguing plot that kept me turning those pages. This is a perfect holiday read.
AJ McDine is definitely an auto buy author for me now and I have already added two more of her books on my shelves to read which I can’t wait to get stuck into.
_______________
✨ No Spoilers ✨
When Amanda me and asked if she could send me this ARC, I absolutely jumped at the chance to say yes. I’d read The Greek Island last month and absolutely loved it.
This one was no different and I really enjoyed it, although it did have a slightly slower pace to The Greek Island which I liked. It was a real slow burn, letting the tension and suspense really build.
This is a home based staycation based thriller with lies, twists and secrets all in a stunning mansion on the UK coastline. The description of the house is so visual, I could literally picture everything as well as the coastline and setting.
The characters are given just enough depth to feel like you know them but not enough to confidently stop you guessing and questioning their motives.
The female detective feels authoritative enough but she also manages to have a slightly more human/empathetic edge to her as well which I liked.
All in all, a tense binge worthy thriller with an intriguing plot that kept me turning those pages. This is a perfect holiday read.
AJ McDine is definitely an auto buy author for me now and I have already added two more of her books on my shelves to read which I can’t wait to get stuck into.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝐈𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐨𝐟𝐟.
Jen and her husband, Robin, can barely afford to stay afloat, so when Robin's wealthy boss offers them a week in his breathtaking cliffside home as part of a house swap, saying yes feels like the easiest decision they'll ever make. Then Robin's old friend stumbles in drunk in the middle of the night gleefully revealing something Jen would rather keep hidden. Tension mounts, tempers flare, and blood is spilled. What starts as a dream holiday quickly becomes a maze of buried secrets, shifting loyalties, and lies that seem to be coming from every direction.
If there's one thing thriller authors love, it's taking an ordinary "what a lucky break!" moment and quietly turning it into an absolute disaster. This book does exactly that. I loved how the author kept nudging my suspicions from one character to the next without ever letting me get comfortable. Just when I decided I'd figured out who was pulling the strings, another revelation came along and made me rethink everything. The setting deserves its own applause too. That gorgeous house overlooking the sea somehow manages to feel both luxurious and deeply unsettling, proving once again that a spectacular view means absolutely nothing when someone in the house is hiding a body.
This is the kind of thriller that quietly whispers, "Trust me," while stealing your wallet. Every secret has another secret hiding behind it, and every reveal made me rethink what I'd already accepted as fact. I wouldn't survive a house swap for approximately seventeen minutes, and after reading this, I'm perfectly okay with that. Many thanks to the author for this thrilling early copy that will publish July 30, 2026.
Jen and her husband, Robin, can barely afford to stay afloat, so when Robin's wealthy boss offers them a week in his breathtaking cliffside home as part of a house swap, saying yes feels like the easiest decision they'll ever make. Then Robin's old friend stumbles in drunk in the middle of the night gleefully revealing something Jen would rather keep hidden. Tension mounts, tempers flare, and blood is spilled. What starts as a dream holiday quickly becomes a maze of buried secrets, shifting loyalties, and lies that seem to be coming from every direction.
If there's one thing thriller authors love, it's taking an ordinary "what a lucky break!" moment and quietly turning it into an absolute disaster. This book does exactly that. I loved how the author kept nudging my suspicions from one character to the next without ever letting me get comfortable. Just when I decided I'd figured out who was pulling the strings, another revelation came along and made me rethink everything. The setting deserves its own applause too. That gorgeous house overlooking the sea somehow manages to feel both luxurious and deeply unsettling, proving once again that a spectacular view means absolutely nothing when someone in the house is hiding a body.
This is the kind of thriller that quietly whispers, "Trust me," while stealing your wallet. Every secret has another secret hiding behind it, and every reveal made me rethink what I'd already accepted as fact. I wouldn't survive a house swap for approximately seventeen minutes, and after reading this, I'm perfectly okay with that. Many thanks to the author for this thrilling early copy that will publish July 30, 2026.
August 15, 2026
I enjoyed this book as always with this author. Robin and Jenny have been offered to stay at The Lookout a property owned by Scott who is Robins best friend and employer. Jenny has reservations from the start, she cannot understand why Scott would want to swap his property for their little cottage for a week. However, she goes along with what Robin wants as they wouldn’t have a holiday otherwise. She wants to announce something to Robin whilst they are away as has reservations on whether he will be happy about it, as he’s being made redundant and money will be tight. When they got to the lookout they were looking around and Jenny found a door tried it and an alarm went off. Desperate to stop it they rang the caretaker of the property, Pete, who was also a friend of Robins and Scott’s. He recently came back from touring different parts of the world. He is a drinker and uses drugs. He was enebriated when he arrived and then started drinking big time with Robin. He wasn’t pleasant the whole time they were together and taunted Jenny as he had guessed her secret. They were both so drunk Jenny went to bed. Next morning when she got up there was no Pete and Robin was nursing a hangover. They feared the worst. Pete had been gone a day and then he turned up again ready for another drinking session. However, this time it got abusive, tempers were frayed, secrets were shared which shouldn’t have been. Twists and turns throughout i enjoyed it. I just love karma. 5stars from me.
August 26, 2026
I received this ARC through Netgalley, Cherry Tree Publishing, and A.J. McDine. I will be giving my honest and unbiased review based on my extensive love of all things psychological thriller and mystery.
The basics: we meet the “happy” couple Robin and Jen. They can’t afford a holiday, though they are desperately in need. Robin presents the brilliant idea, let’s swap houses with my wealthy boss! Jen is correctly confused. What could his wealthy boss possibly want to switch homes for? They get to stay in the lap of luxury in his new mansion on the cliffs overlooking the sea, while he slums it. What are these two up to anyway? As you can imagine murder, mystery, and deception are all lurking close behind.
What I loved: the setting. You get the description of the lookout, and you are automatically locked in and prepared for a murder mystery. The venue is chilling. The perch, the way there is only one viable egress, and that you are very aware something else is going on beneath the surface. The length: this was an incredibly quick, easily digestible read. I love a thriller that can give me everything I need in one day!
Where it lacked: I found it all to be a bit predictable in the end. Though I was still on the edge of my seat wanting to be proven right, I still needed to know, how, when and the full why.
The Holiday Swap is a well written and atmospheric murder mystery and suspense thriller that will keep you on edge. Multiple twists and turns help keep you engaged. And it’s short enough to finish in a sitting. I’d recommend to anyone that is a fan of Freida for sure!
Happy reading!
The basics: we meet the “happy” couple Robin and Jen. They can’t afford a holiday, though they are desperately in need. Robin presents the brilliant idea, let’s swap houses with my wealthy boss! Jen is correctly confused. What could his wealthy boss possibly want to switch homes for? They get to stay in the lap of luxury in his new mansion on the cliffs overlooking the sea, while he slums it. What are these two up to anyway? As you can imagine murder, mystery, and deception are all lurking close behind.
What I loved: the setting. You get the description of the lookout, and you are automatically locked in and prepared for a murder mystery. The venue is chilling. The perch, the way there is only one viable egress, and that you are very aware something else is going on beneath the surface. The length: this was an incredibly quick, easily digestible read. I love a thriller that can give me everything I need in one day!
Where it lacked: I found it all to be a bit predictable in the end. Though I was still on the edge of my seat wanting to be proven right, I still needed to know, how, when and the full why.
The Holiday Swap is a well written and atmospheric murder mystery and suspense thriller that will keep you on edge. Multiple twists and turns help keep you engaged. And it’s short enough to finish in a sitting. I’d recommend to anyone that is a fan of Freida for sure!
Happy reading!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was so excited to receive a message from the author of The Holiday Swap, asking me to proofread and review her upcoming book!
First off, the cover immediately caught my attention. It perfectly matches the description of the book, making it easy to picture the setting from the very beginning.
I really enjoyed the pacing. The story never lingered for too long in one place, and I found myself flying through the chapters, always wanting to know what happened next. The short chapters and constant sense of tension kept the momentum going throughout, making it a real page-turner. There was always another question to be answered or another revelation just around the corner, which made it incredibly difficult to put down.
I also liked how each chapter ended in a way that encouraged me to keep reading. Telling myself “just one more chapter” quickly turned into several, and before I knew it, I’d made my way through the book much faster than I’d expected, which is always a sign that the story has completely drawn me in.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Holiday Swap. It’s a fast-paced, atmospheric thriller with a fantastic setting, plenty of tension and enough twists to keep the reader guessing.
The perfect holiday. A perfect nightmare.
The perfect book to buy the second it’s released.
First off, the cover immediately caught my attention. It perfectly matches the description of the book, making it easy to picture the setting from the very beginning.
I really enjoyed the pacing. The story never lingered for too long in one place, and I found myself flying through the chapters, always wanting to know what happened next. The short chapters and constant sense of tension kept the momentum going throughout, making it a real page-turner. There was always another question to be answered or another revelation just around the corner, which made it incredibly difficult to put down.
I also liked how each chapter ended in a way that encouraged me to keep reading. Telling myself “just one more chapter” quickly turned into several, and before I knew it, I’d made my way through the book much faster than I’d expected, which is always a sign that the story has completely drawn me in.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Holiday Swap. It’s a fast-paced, atmospheric thriller with a fantastic setting, plenty of tension and enough twists to keep the reader guessing.
The perfect holiday. A perfect nightmare.
The perfect book to buy the second it’s released.
July 30, 2026
Jen and husband Robin are struggling for money, so when their wealthy friend Scott suggests a home swap for the week, it seems too good to be true. Scott’s luxury home is everything they could have wanted for a holiday break and overlooking the sea. Everything is perfect until Robin’s old school friend turns up and when Jen wakes the next morning she finds the house covered in blood and his friend disappeared. As they try to piece together what happened, they realise this was never an innocent home swap and that everyone has secrets.
I always enjoy an A.J. Mcdine book, so was excited to see this one and was drawn to the bold cover. I especially liked the premise of this one, as I enjoy mysteries involving houses and liked the idea of the home swap. This ended up being another fun, easy read, with snappy chapters with cliffhanger endings, making you want to read just one more. It was a bit repetitive in places, however it was evenly paced and kept my attention. There were secrets scattered through out and although I found some parts predictable, it was still enjoyable to get there.
Another entertaining, solid domestic thriller by this author overall and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I always enjoy an A.J. Mcdine book, so was excited to see this one and was drawn to the bold cover. I especially liked the premise of this one, as I enjoy mysteries involving houses and liked the idea of the home swap. This ended up being another fun, easy read, with snappy chapters with cliffhanger endings, making you want to read just one more. It was a bit repetitive in places, however it was evenly paced and kept my attention. There were secrets scattered through out and although I found some parts predictable, it was still enjoyable to get there.
Another entertaining, solid domestic thriller by this author overall and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Holiday Swap by A.J. McDine is a fast-paced thriller that follows Jen and her husband, Robin, whose marriage has been through a difficult time. With finances tight, a vacation seems completely out of reach—until Robin's wealthy boss offers them the opportunity to swap homes for a week. It sounds like the perfect escape, but what begins as a dream holiday quickly turns into anything but.
I really enjoyed the short chapters and A.J. McDine's writing style. It made the story easy to dive into, and the pacing kept me turning the pages. There were plenty of twists and turns throughout, making for an entertaining read.
My only issue was that I found much of the story to be predictable. While that didn't take away from my overall enjoyment, I was hoping for a more shocking ending or one final twist that would leave me completely surprised.
Overall, The Holiday Swap was an enjoyable, quick thriller with strong pacing and plenty twisty moments. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with an easy-to-read writing style and a steady stream of twists, this is one worth picking up.
The Holiday Swap by A.J. McDine is a fast-paced thriller that follows Jen and her husband, Robin, whose marriage has been through a difficult time. With finances tight, a vacation seems completely out of reach—until Robin's wealthy boss offers them the opportunity to swap homes for a week. It sounds like the perfect escape, but what begins as a dream holiday quickly turns into anything but.
I really enjoyed the short chapters and A.J. McDine's writing style. It made the story easy to dive into, and the pacing kept me turning the pages. There were plenty of twists and turns throughout, making for an entertaining read.
My only issue was that I found much of the story to be predictable. While that didn't take away from my overall enjoyment, I was hoping for a more shocking ending or one final twist that would leave me completely surprised.
Overall, The Holiday Swap was an enjoyable, quick thriller with strong pacing and plenty twisty moments. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with an easy-to-read writing style and a steady stream of twists, this is one worth picking up.
July 31, 2026
A house exchange sets the stage for The Holiday Swap, but the location itself feels completely underutilized. The cliffside house overlooking the beach could have added so much atmosphere, yet it barely factors into the story at all. Told entirely from Jen's perspective in the present tense, the narrative moves at a medium pace. Short chapters usually keep a thriller moving briskly, but this plot quickly falls into a trap of deep predictability. I struggled to stay invested when the central conflicts relied on exhausted tropes rather than genuine suspense.
A major source of frustration comes from the marriage dynamic between Jen and Robin. For a couple that is supposedly very happy together, the narrative leans heavily on a husband and wife failing to maintain even a basic level of communication. It is a tired thriller device that drags the momentum down and makes the characters tedious to follow. I enjoy this author's writing style and have liked her other books, but this one missed the mark.
If you like domestic thrillers, house swap settings, and marital secrets, then you might enjoy this book.
Want to see spoilers or trigger warnings? Check out: https://www.spoiltheplot.com/books/th...
A major source of frustration comes from the marriage dynamic between Jen and Robin. For a couple that is supposedly very happy together, the narrative leans heavily on a husband and wife failing to maintain even a basic level of communication. It is a tired thriller device that drags the momentum down and makes the characters tedious to follow. I enjoy this author's writing style and have liked her other books, but this one missed the mark.
If you like domestic thrillers, house swap settings, and marital secrets, then you might enjoy this book.
Want to see spoilers or trigger warnings? Check out: https://www.spoiltheplot.com/books/th...
July 26, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Cherry Tree Publishing for the ARC.
It may have just been me, but I couldn't get into this book.
The short chapters made it a quick read, but I never connected with any of the characters. I also found the plot to be weak at times and, unfortunately, not very believable.
Jen and Robin are struggling financially and agree to a house swap with Scott, Robin's tech-millionaire friend. Of course, both sides have ulterior motives for the swap. When another friend, Pete, unexpectedly shows up at Scott's house, everything quickly spirals out of control.
The bloody kitchen scene was especially far-fetched for me, and I had a difficult time believing how easily Jen and Robin agreed to hide and explain away what really happens to Pete. Their reactions just didn't feel realistic. I also found Jen to be unlikable, and, honestly, most of the characters came across as selfish, which made it even harder to become invested in the story.
While this one wasn't for me, I appreciate receiving the ARC and would certainly give this author another chance in the future.
It may have just been me, but I couldn't get into this book.
The short chapters made it a quick read, but I never connected with any of the characters. I also found the plot to be weak at times and, unfortunately, not very believable.
Jen and Robin are struggling financially and agree to a house swap with Scott, Robin's tech-millionaire friend. Of course, both sides have ulterior motives for the swap. When another friend, Pete, unexpectedly shows up at Scott's house, everything quickly spirals out of control.
The bloody kitchen scene was especially far-fetched for me, and I had a difficult time believing how easily Jen and Robin agreed to hide and explain away what really happens to Pete. Their reactions just didn't feel realistic. I also found Jen to be unlikable, and, honestly, most of the characters came across as selfish, which made it even harder to become invested in the story.
While this one wasn't for me, I appreciate receiving the ARC and would certainly give this author another chance in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this story about two men who are in business together swapping homes for the holidays. Why on earth would you want to swap homes with your boss or your colleague working below you ? Scott the Boss of the company and Robin both have their own secret agenda against each other and their own selfish reasons for the swap. What are they both hiding? What are they both hoping to find in the others home? A holiday thats set for disaster before it has even started. Not only are they keeping secrets from each other but so are Robin and his wife Jen. Why have they got secrets from each other? and how will they react to each other keeping things from the other. You can definitely keep a secret if you are dead though right?
There is a death! But it's not an expected death . . . it keeps you guessing and you definitely need to find out what is going to happen and how the story ends. LOVE a psychological thriller, this was a lovely feel good quick easy read and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this as an ARC, this is my honest review and opinion of the book.
There is a death! But it's not an expected death . . . it keeps you guessing and you definitely need to find out what is going to happen and how the story ends. LOVE a psychological thriller, this was a lovely feel good quick easy read and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this as an ARC, this is my honest review and opinion of the book.
August 6, 2026
Our week by the sea was never just that.
Everyone had an agenda. Everyone was keeping secrets and everyone was lying.
Very fast-paced and atmospheric. What started off as a supposedly well-deserved holiday in a too-good-to-be-true destination very quickly started showing signs of betrayal and secrets lurking just beneath the surface.
And what's better than a potential throw-down in a remote cliffside house!
A.J. McDine has an amazingly flowing writing style that keeps you glued to your screen in a very addictive one-more-chapter manner. The plot was so suggestive and tangled with suspense that I flew through the book in almost one go.
It was a quick and entertaining weekend read. Highly recommend if you need an escape from reality for a few hours. I think it would be perfect for thriller fans who love stories with old friendships gone bad in remote locations aka Lucy Foley style.
Thank you to Netgalley and Cherry Tree Publishing for the chance to read this ARC.
----------
Follow for more of my reviews:
Instagram
TikTok
Everyone had an agenda. Everyone was keeping secrets and everyone was lying.
Very fast-paced and atmospheric. What started off as a supposedly well-deserved holiday in a too-good-to-be-true destination very quickly started showing signs of betrayal and secrets lurking just beneath the surface.
And what's better than a potential throw-down in a remote cliffside house!
A.J. McDine has an amazingly flowing writing style that keeps you glued to your screen in a very addictive one-more-chapter manner. The plot was so suggestive and tangled with suspense that I flew through the book in almost one go.
It was a quick and entertaining weekend read. Highly recommend if you need an escape from reality for a few hours. I think it would be perfect for thriller fans who love stories with old friendships gone bad in remote locations aka Lucy Foley style.
Thank you to Netgalley and Cherry Tree Publishing for the chance to read this ARC.
----------
Follow for more of my reviews:
TikTok
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jen and Robin go to his boss, Scott's house for some time away. This house is set on top of a cliff and the only way to get there is an elevator. Peter, another friend and co-worker, randomly shows up and Jen's idea of a spending time alone with her husband has gone down the drain. One event leads to another and Scott shows up. What Jen doesn't know is that Robin is trying to find info on Scott and Scott is keeping tabs on the two of them. Scott threatens them both, jeopardizing their future.
I love a locked room mystery and this one is it. Jen and Robin are trapped, basically being held captive in this home. I did get mad at Jen "trying" to help Robin and not letting him be honest, but that was a minor irritation. Peter and Scott were just not likeable characters (the point). This story flowed and was a quick read. It kept me turning the page and wanting more.
I was scared for both Jen and Robin, wondering how they were going to get out of this situation safely. As always, I devoured this book.
I love a locked room mystery and this one is it. Jen and Robin are trapped, basically being held captive in this home. I did get mad at Jen "trying" to help Robin and not letting him be honest, but that was a minor irritation. Peter and Scott were just not likeable characters (the point). This story flowed and was a quick read. It kept me turning the page and wanting more.
I was scared for both Jen and Robin, wondering how they were going to get out of this situation safely. As always, I devoured this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to A.J. McDine, Cherry Tree Publishing, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for the ARC.
My rating: 3.8 ⭐️
It's a fast paced thriller, most of the plot happening in an isolated place. The twists were decent, even if a bit predictable, in my opinion. There is tension towards the end of the book, where the nature makes it more of an atmospheric fear.
It was supposed to be a nice, relaxing house swap for Jen and Robin while Scott, their friend and Robin's boss, stays at their place. But we quickly learn that everyone had their own hidden motive for that swap.
The characters are mostly shown as toxic in their decision-making or how they talk to each other when tensions are high. We are told of their good traits, but they don't show it until the very last few pages. The tension and isolated space contributes to those negative traits being shown more often.
It's a decent read, quick and fast-paced. The chapters are short and you will find yourself flying through them, even if the decisions they make irritate you.
My rating: 3.8 ⭐️
It's a fast paced thriller, most of the plot happening in an isolated place. The twists were decent, even if a bit predictable, in my opinion. There is tension towards the end of the book, where the nature makes it more of an atmospheric fear.
It was supposed to be a nice, relaxing house swap for Jen and Robin while Scott, their friend and Robin's boss, stays at their place. But we quickly learn that everyone had their own hidden motive for that swap.
The characters are mostly shown as toxic in their decision-making or how they talk to each other when tensions are high. We are told of their good traits, but they don't show it until the very last few pages. The tension and isolated space contributes to those negative traits being shown more often.
It's a decent read, quick and fast-paced. The chapters are short and you will find yourself flying through them, even if the decisions they make irritate you.
September 3, 2026
What a gripping, twisty read this one turned out to be! Jen and her husband think they’ve scored the ultimate treat when they land a week’s house swap at a stunning luxury coastal home in Dorset — the property belonging to her husband’s boss, billionaire businessman Scott. It sounds like the perfect getaway, but from the start there’s a sense that everyone involved is hiding something.
As the week unfolds, the secrets start to surface, and it becomes clear this idyllic swap is going to end in tragedy — not everyone makes it out alive. MacDine keeps the tension building steadily, layering in twist after twist as the true nature of these characters, and their connections to one another, comes to light.
This was such an easy, addictive read — the kind of book you race through because you simply have to know how it all unravels. A really enjoyable, twisty thriller.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.
As the week unfolds, the secrets start to surface, and it becomes clear this idyllic swap is going to end in tragedy — not everyone makes it out alive. MacDine keeps the tension building steadily, layering in twist after twist as the true nature of these characters, and their connections to one another, comes to light.
This was such an easy, addictive read — the kind of book you race through because you simply have to know how it all unravels. A really enjoyable, twisty thriller.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Holiday Swap by A.J. McDine is a fast-paced, deeply atmospheric domestic psychological thriller where no one is honest, everyone holds a motive, and a desperate bid for escape turns lethal.
The narrative follows a financially struggling couple who embark on a luxury house swap along the rugged, storm-battered Devon coastline. What begins as an innocent coastal getaway quickly devolves into a nightmare as long-buried secrets and fractured bonds among a group of old friends come to light. McDine excels at relentless, cliffhanger-driven pacing—delivering sharp end-of-chapter reveals that keep you frantically turning pages despite a cast composed entirely of morally grey, thoroughly unlikable characters.
While veteran thriller readers may anticipate several of the core reveals before they land, the sheer momentum and sinister coastal setting ensure an engaging, edge-of-your-seat ride. It stands as a dark, breezy, and wildly addictive tale of deception, earning 4 mad stars.
The narrative follows a financially struggling couple who embark on a luxury house swap along the rugged, storm-battered Devon coastline. What begins as an innocent coastal getaway quickly devolves into a nightmare as long-buried secrets and fractured bonds among a group of old friends come to light. McDine excels at relentless, cliffhanger-driven pacing—delivering sharp end-of-chapter reveals that keep you frantically turning pages despite a cast composed entirely of morally grey, thoroughly unlikable characters.
While veteran thriller readers may anticipate several of the core reveals before they land, the sheer momentum and sinister coastal setting ensure an engaging, edge-of-your-seat ride. It stands as a dark, breezy, and wildly addictive tale of deception, earning 4 mad stars.
July 30, 2026
Although Robin’s boss Scott has just laid him off, he makes a generous offer. He’ll switch houses with Robin and his wife Jen. Scott will stay in London and Robin and Jen will use Scott’s breathtaking, modern cliffside glass house. The first night, Robin’s childhood friend, the obnoxious Pete, shows up and he and Robin get very drunk. The next day, Pete has disappeared and there’s a pool of blood in the kitchen. Everyone in this dark psychological thriller has a secret. As those secrets are slowly revealed, Robin and Jen slowly realize that Scott had a reason for proposing this house swap and Robin and Jen may not be going home.
The Holiday Swap is a fast paced, quick read. None of the characters are very likable but that doesn’t matter as the action moves quickly. The house, a glass box with cutting edge technology, is a character itself. 5 stars,
Thank you to NetGalley, Cherry Tree Publishing and AJ McDine for this ARC.
The Holiday Swap is a fast paced, quick read. None of the characters are very likable but that doesn’t matter as the action moves quickly. The house, a glass box with cutting edge technology, is a character itself. 5 stars,
Thank you to NetGalley, Cherry Tree Publishing and AJ McDine for this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2026
A fast paced psychological thriller with mystery and suspense to keep the pages turning.
Strong characters and great descriptions of ‘The Lookout’ a modern luxury house, set on the cliffside, the sea so close, access to the entry by a small lift. The setting so vividly painted I could hear the sea.. A young couple have agreed to a house swap for a week, a much needed holiday, they are looking forward to a relaxing week though Jen is harbouring a secret she needs to share with her husband Robin.
The swap with Robin’s wealthy boss Scott seems idyllic but quickly turns into a nightmare !
Jen gets the feeling that her husband is hiding something and wonders why his boss was so keen for the swap.
There is death, murder, deception, corruption, greed, secrets and lies as the story unfolds, a quick enjoyable read which keeps the reader guessing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Cherry Tree Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Strong characters and great descriptions of ‘The Lookout’ a modern luxury house, set on the cliffside, the sea so close, access to the entry by a small lift. The setting so vividly painted I could hear the sea.. A young couple have agreed to a house swap for a week, a much needed holiday, they are looking forward to a relaxing week though Jen is harbouring a secret she needs to share with her husband Robin.
The swap with Robin’s wealthy boss Scott seems idyllic but quickly turns into a nightmare !
Jen gets the feeling that her husband is hiding something and wonders why his boss was so keen for the swap.
There is death, murder, deception, corruption, greed, secrets and lies as the story unfolds, a quick enjoyable read which keeps the reader guessing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Cherry Tree Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews