The Romantic Comedy Book Club
For those feeling nostalgic for the likes of Sweet Valley High or Liv and Maddie, The Holiday Swap combines the delightful antics of identical twin sisters with the twisted dramatics of a daytime soap opera. Seriously, I was waiting for someone to say they had amnesia at one point! In this wonderful holiday switcharoo, Maggie set the perfect scene for romance as she welcomes us into the small town of Starlight Peak, a magical oasis of camaraderie, scenery, and tradition.
Meet Cass and Charlie, identical twins who have been pulling off their own version of Sister, Sister since they could walk. Prone to switching places when problems arise, Charlie needs her sister to step up to the challenge one more time when an onset accident causes her to lose her sense of taste and smell. As a celebrity chef in the mist of competing for her own show, Charlie promises her sister that she will provide everything needed in exchange for Cass posing as her to get through the holiday special currently being filmed. In return, Charlie would return to their hometown and take over the family bakery while their parents are on vacation. Having helped with the recipes alongside her parents for most her life, Charlie doesn’t need her senses to do what comes natural. In traditional holiday romance fashion, what should be a simple changing places situation turns complicated when a handsome physician assistant and sexy firefighter get thrown into the mix.
Unlike other romantic comedies I have read, I felt like this one only skimmed the top of who the characters were and didn’t really go below the surface. For that reason, I felt like a simple spectator to the story, unable to have an emotional connection with the characters.
I did enjoyed that while the men of interest were a part of the story, like Elsa and Anna in Frozen, Maggie kept the story about the sisters, their relationship, and how much they loved and protected each other.
A delightful serving of double trouble, this simply sweet strangers to lovers, mistaken identity romantic comedy is a great read for the holiday season.
