Trading Up Christmas

Three years have passed since Emily Spengler's husband died. She teaches second grade in the small Washington town of South Woodbourne and is preparing for her daughter Heather's Christmas visit. Heather is a Boston College student who has her own plans for the holidays.

To help with Heather's Christmas plans, Emily phones Faith Kerrigan, her friend and a divorced event planner based in San Francisco. Faith agrees to help and shares ideas on how to handle Heather's holiday wishes. The distance between their lives adds urgency to the planning.

In Boston, Charles Johnson is trying to finish his latest novel and misses deadlines. His brother Ray suggests he go someplace quiet to concentrate on his writing. The idea sets in motion a plan that will intersect with Emily's holiday arrangements.

Emily and Charles find each other on a house swapping website and agree to swap homes for the week. The arrangement sends Emily to Charles's Boston apartment and Charles to Emily's Washington home during the lead-up to Christmas.

Deciding to surprise her daughter, Emily travels to Boston for Christmas. Heather, however, has already planned to travel with her boyfriend Jason to Phoenix and stay at his grandparents' home. This creates a twist in the holiday plan.

As part of the house swap, Charles arrives in Washington and discovers Emily's home full of Christmas decor, stirring memories of past holidays. The festive scene contrasts with his own reluctance toward the season. The week of swapping is in motion.

Emily arrives in Boston and learns that Heather has left for Phoenix with Jason. The surprise visit is derailed by Heather's existing travel plans. Emily must adapt to Heather's absence and the Phoenix trip.

Faith flies to Washington to surprise Emily, only to discover Charles is already there. The unexpected overlap of their lives creates an awkward but pivotal moment. Faith remains in Emily's home for the time being.

During the week, Faith stays at Emily's place and Charles grapples with Emily's situation. Emily triggers the apartment alarm, and Ray arrives with a police officer, offering to show Emily around and take her to dinner. The week deepens the unfolding relationships.

Faith reads Charles's draft and offers suggestions that could help him finish his novel. He is reluctant at first but eventually accepts her input and works through writer's block. The collaboration helps him complete the finishing draft.

Noticing Heather's homesickness, Jason buys plane tickets to Boston so she can spend Christmas with her mother. The plan keeps Heather connected to her family during the holidays.

Heather arrives in Boston to join her mother for Christmas. Ray gives Emily a pair of earrings as a Christmas present, and they decide not to complicate things further given Emily's imminent departure or ongoing changes.

On Christmas Day, Charles drives Faith to the bus station to prevent her from spending Christmas on a bus. They share a kiss as the bus departs, hinting at a renewed connection between them. The celebration in Washington brings the week toward a close.

In Boston, Emily, Heather, and Jason arrive at Ray's apartment with a Christmas tree, and the four of them spend Christmas together. The holiday brings the families closer and creates a new sense of togetherness.

One year later, Ray and Emily are married and living in Washington. Faith and Charles are also married and expecting a child, and they visit for Christmas to celebrate the new life and the extended family.