★★★★★ 4
The Holliday but make it sapphic
Format: Paperback
Ok, sapphic twist on The Holiday was just what I needed. I loved all the sweet little details between the couples and all the family drama.
June and Tatum swap homes with Eleanor and leave their small town for a big adventure in New York, hoping to sell June's perfume business. Tatum needs to escape her family, and wouldn't you know it, she has always had a huge crush on June.
Eleanor needs to get out of New York stat when she finds out her fling is actually engaged, she gets fired from her job, and she is just an all-around mess. She jumps at the chance to swap homes and for a girl with a lot of romantic issues, meeting Tatum's sibling Carson is quite the distraction.
In New York, Eleanor's neighbor Dawn is an old famous actress, and she was one of my favorite characters. She was full of life but needed to be reminded how much of a badass she is. June and Tatum are able to get her to be social while she forces them to evaluate what is holding them back.
My second favorite character is Carson. The romance between them and Eleanor was so swoony, and I felt like they are the kind of person you want to orbit because being near them would make you happy. I think them as a couple was the best part of the book, and the way Eleanor gets to join in on the crazy family reunion Tatum has to skip out on.
Tatum was probably the hardest character for me to love. They felt extremely juvenile for their age, and I kept thinking she was 18-20, only to be reminded she was an adult almost in their 30s. I also felt a little less invested in her love story with June and while I liked them both fine, Carson and Eleanor were top tier for me.
If you are looking for a romcom with heart, this one will check those boxes.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2025
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