All they want for Christmas is a different life.

When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell–both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie’s identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family’s bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won’t get the memo that they’re over.

With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven’t done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician’s assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins’ identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?

This is a sweet, cute, typical Christmas romcom with twin sisters who switch places. It reminded me of the movies, The Parent Trap and The Princess Switch. Again, another predictable Hallmark romcom-type story, but it was very enjoyable. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. It was a quick, lovely, and quirky romance story with dual POVs from both sisters. 

I really enjoyed the sister dynamic and how they were there for each other. Once they switched places, it was funny and entertaining as they both struggled to play the role of their sister and live her life. Plenty of mistakes and mishaps were made that made me laugh out loud. One of the sisters made quite a few big (and questionable) decisions on her sibling’s behalf without consulting her about them, so that felt a little icky, but it made for some engrossing familial drama and tension between the two women. Of course, in the typical fashion of these types of stories, everything works out in the end, but to get there was a delightful ride. 

I also really enjoyed the two men who were the love interests. They were both completely different from each other, which helped to set them apart, but they were both what each sister needed in her life. They were mature, established men who really cared about these women and only wanted the best for them. This is a closed-door romance, which I prefer and enjoy, so no spice (and don’t remember any language either). All the characters were likable, relatable, and easy to connect with.  

I enjoyed the baking environments, and each setting was unique to set them apart from each other, where it didn’t feel that similar (big city vs. small town). I also loved the small town vibe with the bakery. All of the food descriptions made my mouth water. Anything with food in it, and I’ll love it. 

If you’re looking for a sweet, cute, and funny fluffy holiday read, then pick up this light-hearted romance book. It’ll give you all the Christmas cheer and put you into the holiday spirit. It’s a perfect novel to read by the fire or Christmas tree while sipping on a hot chocolate, curled up in a warm, soft blanket. 

Now, I want to read more books by Maggie Knox. Definitely recommend!