Summary: Meet Charlie and Cass Goodwin, identical twin sisters who swap lives in this sweet Christmas-themed romantic comedy.
Charlie Goodwin hosts a TV baking competition in Los Angeles called Sweet & Salty. Although she is content with the fast-paced lifestyle of LA, she simply cannot stand her co-star Austin – a self-serving jerk who constantly finds ways to put Charlie down. Cass Goodwin, on the other hand, still lives in their quaint little hometown, Starlight Peak, where she helps run their family’s beloved bakery. Although Cass loves her small town life, she finds herself in a bit of a pickle. She’s fallen out of love with her headstrong real estate agent boyfriend Brett, but he refuses to accept their breakup.
When Charlie suffers a head injury on the set of Sweet & Salty and loses her sense of taste and smell, things start to get a tad complicated. How the heck will she judge a baking competition without being able to taste!? In a panic, she asks Cass to switch places with her for a few days. Cass agrees, and as their lives converge, things get really complicated–especially with their love lives. Cass (as Charlie) falls for Miguel, a handsome physician’s assistant. And Charlie (as Cass) falls for Jake, a firefighter and frequent visitor of the family bakery. As the days inch closer to Christmas, their lie grows bigger and more difficult to hide.
Review: Although the book doesn’t feel as Christmassy as I’d hoped, it definitely emanates a cozy, romantic vibe, just like your average Hallmark Christmas movie. I’ve also seen comparisons to Gilmore Girls! Starlight Peak is a bit like Stars Hollow; both feature lots of small-town gossip as well as an interesting cast of characters. And the Goodwin’s family-owned bakery is a town staple, much like Luke’s diner in Stars Hollow.
My favorite part of the story is the juxtaposition between Cass’s life and Charlie’s life. The book portrays Cass and Charlie as individuals with unique interests and personalities, but also highlights the connection they have as sisters. For instance, both twins love to bake but put their love of baking to use in very different ways. Charlie goes off to do ‘bigger and better things,’ while Cass chooses to live a more simple life by staying in her hometown. Despite the separation, the sisters continue to feel connected in some way – even sharing physical sensations like headaches.
And when they swap lives, their connection grows even stronger because of their newfound abilities to understand each other’s day-to-day struggles. The Holiday Swap successfully takes on the classic storyline of two people swapping lives only to learn a lesson in the end about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes–à la Freaky Friday or Wish Upon a Star.
Despite the rather serious kerfuffle the twins find themselves after Charlie’s concussion, the story remains lighthearted. Cass and Charlie’s dilemma is complicated enough that you’ll be invested in the outcome, but not so complicated that you’ll feel stressed or uneasy reading about it. The plot starts to lose its momentum at the halfway point, but when drama ensues towards the end, things start to get interesting again!
In essence, The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox is worth including on your Christmas TBR. It’s got a healthy dose of romance and a generous serving of delicious baked goods. It’s a comfort read that will surely get you into the Christmas spirit!
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