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The Book Swap
“A love letter to books and reading. This debut is catnip for any book geek. I just loved it.” —Cesca Major, author of Maybe Next Time, a Reese’s Book Club Pick
A story of second chances and new beginnings, this is a love letter to books—and a love letter to life
Still reeling from a recent tragedy, Erin Connolly knows she needs to start living, but has no idea how. When she accidentally donates her favorite book—a heavily annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird containing a memento she can’t be without—to a local little community library, she’s devastated. But then the book turns up a week later, back in the library with fresh notes in the margins, along with an invitation in a copy of Great Expectations to meet her newfound pen pal.
A life-changing conversation, written only in the margins of beloved classic books, begins between Erin and her Mystery Man. Following each other through the pages of their favorite novels as the book exchange continues, they both begin to open up, falling into a friendship…and maybe something more.
But Erin and her pen pal have a shared history that neither of them has guessed. Faced with painful reminders of the past—and the one person she swore never to forgive—Erin finds herself at a crossroads. One that could change her life forever.
A book-lovers dream! References to the following classics can be found in The Book Swap:
• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
• GREAT EXPECTATIONS
• WUTHERING HEIGHTS
• MANSFIELD PARK
• THE GREAT GATSBY
• MIDDLEMARCH
• BELOVED
• ON THE ROAD
• THE BELL JAR
A story of second chances and new beginnings, this is a love letter to books—and a love letter to life
Still reeling from a recent tragedy, Erin Connolly knows she needs to start living, but has no idea how. When she accidentally donates her favorite book—a heavily annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird containing a memento she can’t be without—to a local little community library, she’s devastated. But then the book turns up a week later, back in the library with fresh notes in the margins, along with an invitation in a copy of Great Expectations to meet her newfound pen pal.
A life-changing conversation, written only in the margins of beloved classic books, begins between Erin and her Mystery Man. Following each other through the pages of their favorite novels as the book exchange continues, they both begin to open up, falling into a friendship…and maybe something more.
But Erin and her pen pal have a shared history that neither of them has guessed. Faced with painful reminders of the past—and the one person she swore never to forgive—Erin finds herself at a crossroads. One that could change her life forever.
A book-lovers dream! References to the following classics can be found in The Book Swap:
• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
• GREAT EXPECTATIONS
• WUTHERING HEIGHTS
• MANSFIELD PARK
• THE GREAT GATSBY
• MIDDLEMARCH
• BELOVED
• ON THE ROAD
• THE BELL JAR
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2024
773 people are currently reading
60.5k people want to read
About the author
Tessa Bickers
1 book242 followersTessa Bickers studied journalism at Bournemouth university, and went on to co-present a breakfast radio show in the South West.
Moving into celebrity news, she's interviewed some of the biggest names in show business, including Leonardo DiCaprio and the cast of Sex and the City. Tess started her creative career as a singer-songwriter and after a few failed X Factor auditions she went on to perform at Glastonbury Festival, and Secret Garden Party with her band Tess and the Tellers.
These days she's replaced her guitar with a keyboard, and songs for books. THE BOOK SWAP is her debut novel, publishing in 2024.
Moving into celebrity news, she's interviewed some of the biggest names in show business, including Leonardo DiCaprio and the cast of Sex and the City. Tess started her creative career as a singer-songwriter and after a few failed X Factor auditions she went on to perform at Glastonbury Festival, and Secret Garden Party with her band Tess and the Tellers.
These days she's replaced her guitar with a keyboard, and songs for books. THE BOOK SWAP is her debut novel, publishing in 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,228 reviews
August 11, 2024
Unfortunately this is a DNF for me @58%.
I really tried to stay with it but the writing is very disjointed. I had a hard time following along with what was actually going on? The POV jumps and time jumps - I never knew what I was supposed to be imagining going on?
The characters were not likable at all. I will admit, I was mislead by this cover and expected warmer, more comforting types of characters and instead found them jarring, rude and just all around rough.
This is not a light meet cute romcom- it's a group of friends that are kind of assholes to each other and it deals with heavier topics. The cover is pretty deceiving - I was expecting one thing and got something else entirely.
This sounds so cute! 🥰
↬ ಇ The FMC, Erin is going through an extremely hard time after the death of her best friend. On top of that she loses her favorite book To Kill a Mockingbird that is heavily annotated and has her best friends last gift inside.
↬ 𐙚 The MMC, James finds her book at his local community bookshelf and it sparks an interest in him. Sending a message to her in his favorite book Great Expectations for her to find him and her book.
A huge thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House and Tessa Bickers for the complementary digital copy -all thoughts/opinions are my own. 💐💖
I really tried to stay with it but the writing is very disjointed. I had a hard time following along with what was actually going on? The POV jumps and time jumps - I never knew what I was supposed to be imagining going on?
The characters were not likable at all. I will admit, I was mislead by this cover and expected warmer, more comforting types of characters and instead found them jarring, rude and just all around rough.
This is not a light meet cute romcom- it's a group of friends that are kind of assholes to each other and it deals with heavier topics. The cover is pretty deceiving - I was expecting one thing and got something else entirely.
↬ ಇ The FMC, Erin is going through an extremely hard time after the death of her best friend. On top of that she loses her favorite book To Kill a Mockingbird that is heavily annotated and has her best friends last gift inside.
↬ 𐙚 The MMC, James finds her book at his local community bookshelf and it sparks an interest in him. Sending a message to her in his favorite book Great Expectations for her to find him and her book.
A huge thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House and Tessa Bickers for the complementary digital copy -all thoughts/opinions are my own. 💐💖
June 16, 2024
˗ˏˋ꒰ 🌇 ꒱ 2 stars
“‘I want you, Erin. I've only ever wanted you.’”
: ̗̀➛ thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review!!
: ̗̀➛ edit: I keep thinking about it, and i think honestly i never really enjoyed reading this. so the rating is being lowered to 2 stars, sorry guys!
: ̗̀➛ with that said, i’ll be very honest. i think this book was kind of boring, and it had a very slow beginning. at some points i even wanted to dnf.. but i pushed through!!
: ̗̀➛ i also came into this book thinking it’d be a cute, simple romance novel — no, it was not. so that slightly disappointed me too, though i guess that was my fault 😭.
: ̗̀➛ another reason this book wasn’t my favorite is i never really liked erin, the fmc. on the other hand, i was always rooting for james. yes, i sympathized for erin’s struggles, i just never really liked her character.
: ̗̀➛ if you’re a fan of slow burn romances, this book is for you. it was definitely slow burn. im talking the slowest burn ive ever read in a standalone book.
“‘I'm in you. Around you. Part of you. Like... like the Snowman.’
I frown, not following.
‘You know in The Snowman where he's just a heap of clothes and a pile of melting snow at the end, but he isn't gone. Not really. The snow keeps falling. The boy's got a constant reminder of their time together.’
I nod.
‘I don't want to be snow though,’ she says, screwing up her face. ‘I'll be the sun. Every time the sun is shining, that's me.’”
: ̗̀➛ ok guys i feel like ive been slamming this book for too long 😭. now we can talk about all the things i liked about this book!!
: ̗̀➛ i enjoyed watching erin finding her calling. although i don’t think i’d ever enjoy a job like hers, it had such cute moments and i loved how we could see erin finally loving her work. i hope that when i get a job, im lucky enough to find one i love, too. 🤞
: ̗̀➛ the same with james. i liked reading about how he rediscovered his passion for writing. both erin and james were kind of… inspiring(?) in the aspect that they both found their dream jobs and went for it.
“I know that while I'm not okay at all, one day I will be. And for the days that I'm not, there's always the sunshine.”
: ̗̀➛ the book also had a large theme of grief and loss. it made me so sad to see the characters struggling with it, but so optimistic as they continued their journey with their loss. also bullying and mental illness were big, too.
: ̗̀➛ despite my dislike for erin, i really loveddd the side characters. i need more cassie and joel!! and georgia pleaseee 🙏. and jordan 🥹.
“‘I'm so proud of you. Don't forget to make all your dreams come true!’”
: ̗̀➛ oh i forgot to mention something earlier, in reasons i disliked the book. erin literally like… hallucinates her dead best friend???? ik it’s like a coping thing but it just came off really weird to me. especially added with the fact that they had full on conversations, in which erin was completely aware of the fact she speaking to a figment of her imagination..
: ̗̀➛ i feel like we should’ve been given more flashbacks of scenes where bonnie was still alive, so we could’ve actually gotten to know her, connect with, and care about her character. again and again and again we are told stuff about bonnie, but what’s much more effective is to show us.
: ̗̀➛ another complaint: this book was advertised as having tons of references to classic books. yes, it did mention them, but not as much as i thought coming from the little blurb about the book. eventually (which occurred pretty fast), erin and her mystery man’s conversations in the margins of books shifted from talking about the book to talking to each other.
: ̗̀➛ honestly, i did not love this book. but, i genuinely think that other readers could really enjoy it. so maybe give it a shot. who knows, maybe you’ll love it? <3
: ̗̀➛ wait i just learned this is a debut novel!! for a debut, i think it’s good?
“Meet me in happy ever after?”
˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ pre-review
ahh guys my first arc!!!!!!! ill be reading this sometime april, im so excited!! 😁
“‘I want you, Erin. I've only ever wanted you.’”
: ̗̀➛ thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review!!
: ̗̀➛ edit: I keep thinking about it, and i think honestly i never really enjoyed reading this. so the rating is being lowered to 2 stars, sorry guys!
: ̗̀➛ with that said, i’ll be very honest. i think this book was kind of boring, and it had a very slow beginning. at some points i even wanted to dnf.. but i pushed through!!
: ̗̀➛ i also came into this book thinking it’d be a cute, simple romance novel — no, it was not. so that slightly disappointed me too, though i guess that was my fault 😭.
: ̗̀➛ another reason this book wasn’t my favorite is i never really liked erin, the fmc. on the other hand, i was always rooting for james. yes, i sympathized for erin’s struggles, i just never really liked her character.
: ̗̀➛ if you’re a fan of slow burn romances, this book is for you. it was definitely slow burn. im talking the slowest burn ive ever read in a standalone book.
“‘I'm in you. Around you. Part of you. Like... like the Snowman.’
I frown, not following.
‘You know in The Snowman where he's just a heap of clothes and a pile of melting snow at the end, but he isn't gone. Not really. The snow keeps falling. The boy's got a constant reminder of their time together.’
I nod.
‘I don't want to be snow though,’ she says, screwing up her face. ‘I'll be the sun. Every time the sun is shining, that's me.’”
: ̗̀➛ ok guys i feel like ive been slamming this book for too long 😭. now we can talk about all the things i liked about this book!!
: ̗̀➛ i enjoyed watching erin finding her calling. although i don’t think i’d ever enjoy a job like hers, it had such cute moments and i loved how we could see erin finally loving her work. i hope that when i get a job, im lucky enough to find one i love, too. 🤞
: ̗̀➛ the same with james. i liked reading about how he rediscovered his passion for writing. both erin and james were kind of… inspiring(?) in the aspect that they both found their dream jobs and went for it.
“I know that while I'm not okay at all, one day I will be. And for the days that I'm not, there's always the sunshine.”
: ̗̀➛ the book also had a large theme of grief and loss. it made me so sad to see the characters struggling with it, but so optimistic as they continued their journey with their loss. also bullying and mental illness were big, too.
: ̗̀➛ despite my dislike for erin, i really loveddd the side characters. i need more cassie and joel!! and georgia pleaseee 🙏. and jordan 🥹.
“‘I'm so proud of you. Don't forget to make all your dreams come true!’”
: ̗̀➛ oh i forgot to mention something earlier, in reasons i disliked the book. erin literally like… hallucinates her dead best friend???? ik it’s like a coping thing but it just came off really weird to me. especially added with the fact that they had full on conversations, in which erin was completely aware of the fact she speaking to a figment of her imagination..
: ̗̀➛ i feel like we should’ve been given more flashbacks of scenes where bonnie was still alive, so we could’ve actually gotten to know her, connect with, and care about her character. again and again and again we are told stuff about bonnie, but what’s much more effective is to show us.
: ̗̀➛ another complaint: this book was advertised as having tons of references to classic books. yes, it did mention them, but not as much as i thought coming from the little blurb about the book. eventually (which occurred pretty fast), erin and her mystery man’s conversations in the margins of books shifted from talking about the book to talking to each other.
: ̗̀➛ honestly, i did not love this book. but, i genuinely think that other readers could really enjoy it. so maybe give it a shot. who knows, maybe you’ll love it? <3
: ̗̀➛ wait i just learned this is a debut novel!! for a debut, i think it’s good?
“Meet me in happy ever after?”
˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ pre-review
ahh guys my first arc!!!!!!! ill be reading this sometime april, im so excited!! 😁
September 4, 2024
What a delightful surprise "The Book Swap" turned out to be! From the moment I delved into its pages, I found myself swept up in a whirlwind of emotions, much like the protagonist, Erin Connolly.
At first glance, I expected a lighthearted rom-com, but oh, how wrong I was! Tessa Bickers weaves a tale that delves deep into the human experience, tackling themes of grief, loss, and the journey to healing with a deft hand. This book made me feel so many different emotions, it's simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.
The blossoming relationship between Erin and her Mystery Man, fostered through the annotated pages of beloved classics, captured my heart. It was a slow burn, yes, but oh-so-rewarding! And let's not forget the dynamic between Erin and her sister Bonnie—so authentic and touching, it resonated deeply with me. And as a lover of classic literature myself, I relished the nods to timeless literary works scattered throughout the story. It added a layer of depth and resonance that I truly appreciated.
My only tiny gripe? I yearned for an epilogue, a glimpse into Erin and James' happily ever after. But perhaps that's just the hopeless romantic in me wishing for a little more closure.
"The Book Swap" is a great tale that will tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh, and leave you contemplating life's many mysteries. A must-read for anyone who treasures the power of books and the magic they hold within their pages.
At first glance, I expected a lighthearted rom-com, but oh, how wrong I was! Tessa Bickers weaves a tale that delves deep into the human experience, tackling themes of grief, loss, and the journey to healing with a deft hand. This book made me feel so many different emotions, it's simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.
The blossoming relationship between Erin and her Mystery Man, fostered through the annotated pages of beloved classics, captured my heart. It was a slow burn, yes, but oh-so-rewarding! And let's not forget the dynamic between Erin and her sister Bonnie—so authentic and touching, it resonated deeply with me. And as a lover of classic literature myself, I relished the nods to timeless literary works scattered throughout the story. It added a layer of depth and resonance that I truly appreciated.
My only tiny gripe? I yearned for an epilogue, a glimpse into Erin and James' happily ever after. But perhaps that's just the hopeless romantic in me wishing for a little more closure.
"The Book Swap" is a great tale that will tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh, and leave you contemplating life's many mysteries. A must-read for anyone who treasures the power of books and the magic they hold within their pages.
September 3, 2024
3 stars for the "Book Swap", which was just okay for me. This one is NOT a rom-com at all - it's more of a grief study with a "second chance" for the two MC's, Erin & James, who reconnect through classic books found at a little free library (that was my favorite part). Both MC's are hot messes from grief & trauma and both are sort of "failures to launch", especially Erin whose act was really wearing on me toward the ending. There's TW's too - bullying, deaths, mental health struggles & more. It's quite readable but if you are looking for fun, look elsewhere!
December 8, 2024
How can I not be attracted to a book that boasts one of its “characters,” as a Little Free Library named Eileen? What role will “she” play in this story that also gives a strong statement to the importance of reading and how books can play an important role in people’s lives?
This is a debut novel. And, this is a story of overwhelming grief and loss, finding forgiveness, acceptance of self and others, complicated families, the possibility of second chances, the love of reading and how it can change a life; and, a Little Free Library named Eileen, that becomes an unknowing conduit to love.
“Brighter days are coming, Eileen. I promise.”
The story begins with a simple statement that may not be as simple as it seems.
“They say it takes one moment to change your life.”
Readers may think it starts when Erin mistakenly leaves her favorite book, “To Kill a Mockingbird” filled with her notes in the margins in a Little Free Library, for an unexpected James to pick up and respond to with his own thoughts and notes in the margins. But it really starts earlier than that, with a lot of life lessons along the way.
Through P.O.V. shared by both Erin and James we learn about their lives, their wants, their needs, and; what it will take to find their way to a happily ever after.
“If I were to have a vision for my life in the future, it would be to continue what I’ve started here. To teach people to love books the way I do.”
Will Erin and James gain self-discovery, and thus find what may have always been there for them to have? Will they inhabit the life they want to truly live? And, will they find a way to happily ever after and a happy ending/perhaps a new beginning? What is it that both Erin and James need and want for themselves and what will it take to find it?
It is up to readers to choose patience and hopefulness, in order to enjoy the journey of Erin and James.
This is a debut novel. And, this is a story of overwhelming grief and loss, finding forgiveness, acceptance of self and others, complicated families, the possibility of second chances, the love of reading and how it can change a life; and, a Little Free Library named Eileen, that becomes an unknowing conduit to love.
“Brighter days are coming, Eileen. I promise.”
The story begins with a simple statement that may not be as simple as it seems.
“They say it takes one moment to change your life.”
Readers may think it starts when Erin mistakenly leaves her favorite book, “To Kill a Mockingbird” filled with her notes in the margins in a Little Free Library, for an unexpected James to pick up and respond to with his own thoughts and notes in the margins. But it really starts earlier than that, with a lot of life lessons along the way.
Through P.O.V. shared by both Erin and James we learn about their lives, their wants, their needs, and; what it will take to find their way to a happily ever after.
“If I were to have a vision for my life in the future, it would be to continue what I’ve started here. To teach people to love books the way I do.”
Will Erin and James gain self-discovery, and thus find what may have always been there for them to have? Will they inhabit the life they want to truly live? And, will they find a way to happily ever after and a happy ending/perhaps a new beginning? What is it that both Erin and James need and want for themselves and what will it take to find it?
It is up to readers to choose patience and hopefulness, in order to enjoy the journey of Erin and James.
March 27, 2024
This is somewhat a romance, but I think it is more about trauma and growth. This book covers topics of bullying, family issues, terminal illness and death, and even toxic workplaces.
I really wanted to love this book, but I will admit I had trouble fully connecting with the characters. I think that both main characters seemed to be stuck in the past and also some of the supporting characters were super mean and rude at times like the FMC’s best friend. The chemistry between the characters is super slow too.
It referenced a lot of classic books, some that I have read, but a lot that I haven’t. I think the target audience of this book may be someone who really enjoys classic literature. If you do, you will probably really enjoy this, it has tons of references.
I do believe that this author is a good writer and I would def try again, this book just wasn’t my favorite. I am sure plenty will enjoy it though!
Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to love this book, but I will admit I had trouble fully connecting with the characters. I think that both main characters seemed to be stuck in the past and also some of the supporting characters were super mean and rude at times like the FMC’s best friend. The chemistry between the characters is super slow too.
It referenced a lot of classic books, some that I have read, but a lot that I haven’t. I think the target audience of this book may be someone who really enjoys classic literature. If you do, you will probably really enjoy this, it has tons of references.
I do believe that this author is a good writer and I would def try again, this book just wasn’t my favorite. I am sure plenty will enjoy it though!
Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2024
I got teary-eyed a few times, which truly means a lot. This book was beautiful! There were so many moments where I laughed, but also moments where I cried. Deep meanings within this book about grief, a loved one having depression, loss of friends, changing careers, and just truly finding out what you want to do in your life to make yourself happy.... but also learning to forgive. It's such a beautiful story and so well written. I was truly invested in all of the characters' lives and how they were woven together so neatly. I will absolutely be checking to see if this author has more books as I plan to devour all of them now! Perfect, deeply moving, and a beautiful ending to wrap it all up!
I received this from NetGalley and Graydon House to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this from NetGalley and Graydon House to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
June 10, 2024
This is my favorite book of the year! *hugs the book forever*
Thank you Graydon House and HarperCollins for gracing a group of us book nerd to read this story early! Tessa Bicker's new book comes out September 3rd! (pstttt, pro-tip request it on NetGalley now & enjoy it EARLY!)
"The Book Swap" is labelled as a romance and I can't think of a better way to describe the beauty that is everything about this story. This is a love letter to everything that is reading, writing and building a story. It's a love letter to the people who help you understand grief and help you heal. It's a love letter to friends who will always have a place in our heart. It's a love letter to families who are trying to navigate through the struggles that surround life. It's a love letter to ourselves for being bold and making sure that we achieve our dreams however big or small.
I am still in "awe" about how this romance about two friends annotating books hit me so hard in the feels. I seriously could live in this book forever. *happy sigh*
This story is the best kind of blend of finding that special someone who makes you shine and grabbing your independence by the throat to achieve your full potential. Oh, add in a friend group that you would die to be adopted into then Tessa says "hey throws in a sprinkle of bookish whimsy"... The most perfect book.
Listen to your resident rom-com loving goofball and just do everything in your power to read this book.
📚 Dual POV
📚 Grief
📚 Mental Health
📚 You've Got Mail Vibes
📚 Emotional AF
📚 Second Chance
📚 Pen Pals
📚 Love for LFLs
📚 Friendship
📚 Debut
Thank you Graydon House and HarperCollins for gracing a group of us book nerd to read this story early! Tessa Bicker's new book comes out September 3rd! (pstttt, pro-tip request it on NetGalley now & enjoy it EARLY!)
"The Book Swap" is labelled as a romance and I can't think of a better way to describe the beauty that is everything about this story. This is a love letter to everything that is reading, writing and building a story. It's a love letter to the people who help you understand grief and help you heal. It's a love letter to friends who will always have a place in our heart. It's a love letter to families who are trying to navigate through the struggles that surround life. It's a love letter to ourselves for being bold and making sure that we achieve our dreams however big or small.
I am still in "awe" about how this romance about two friends annotating books hit me so hard in the feels. I seriously could live in this book forever. *happy sigh*
This story is the best kind of blend of finding that special someone who makes you shine and grabbing your independence by the throat to achieve your full potential. Oh, add in a friend group that you would die to be adopted into then Tessa says "hey throws in a sprinkle of bookish whimsy"... The most perfect book.
Listen to your resident rom-com loving goofball and just do everything in your power to read this book.
📚 Dual POV
📚 Grief
📚 Mental Health
📚 You've Got Mail Vibes
📚 Emotional AF
📚 Second Chance
📚 Pen Pals
📚 Love for LFLs
📚 Friendship
📚 Debut
April 27, 2024
Thank You To NetGalley, Tessa Bickers, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for granting me access to an e-Arc of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Erin-our FMC-deals with the grief of losing her best friend and quitting her job. Erin decides to donate old books to a little community library. Days later she realizes that she accidentally put her favorite copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, with a card that the friend she lost gave her as her last gift. When she goes back to get it, it is gone. Days later she passes the community library again and inside is her book and the card, but that isn’t everything. The margins of her book have little notes from the person who borrowed it from the community library.
James-our MMC- lives in London but comes home to care for his mother who needs constant supervision during her “manic” spells. James was bullied all through school, and he lost the two people who were there for him, Erin and her friend Bonnie. Years later James starts questioning what’s important in life..money or passion. One day as he was walking by the community library he decides to pick up a book “To Kill A Mockingbird”.
We follow the story of Erin and James relationship and how it builds through the notes left in the margins of books. However, will their love for books and their relationship outlast the history and past they have, once they realize who they are writing to. I enjoyed reading this book! Any book about books is a win for me! Cute and Cozy!
Erin-our FMC-deals with the grief of losing her best friend and quitting her job. Erin decides to donate old books to a little community library. Days later she realizes that she accidentally put her favorite copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, with a card that the friend she lost gave her as her last gift. When she goes back to get it, it is gone. Days later she passes the community library again and inside is her book and the card, but that isn’t everything. The margins of her book have little notes from the person who borrowed it from the community library.
James-our MMC- lives in London but comes home to care for his mother who needs constant supervision during her “manic” spells. James was bullied all through school, and he lost the two people who were there for him, Erin and her friend Bonnie. Years later James starts questioning what’s important in life..money or passion. One day as he was walking by the community library he decides to pick up a book “To Kill A Mockingbird”.
We follow the story of Erin and James relationship and how it builds through the notes left in the margins of books. However, will their love for books and their relationship outlast the history and past they have, once they realize who they are writing to. I enjoyed reading this book! Any book about books is a win for me! Cute and Cozy!
August 18, 2024
I wanted to like this book more so badly. I loved the premise—You’ve Got Mail but instead of emails they’re writing in the margins of classic books exchanged through a little free library. This honestly sounded like it was going to be my new favorite book. I think what fell short for me was ultimately how it was marketed vs the intensity of this story. I went on expecting a romcom, but instead found a very heavy book about grief, bullying, mental illness, cancer, strained family relationships, death of a loved one, and toxic work environments with a bit of romance thrown in. It was a bit overwhelming to be honest. The heaviness and focus around these topics really took away the feeling that I was reading a romance book at all.
While I enjoyed aspects of this story, it’s always challenging when a book doesn’t meet your expectations. I really liked the themes around feelings lost in life, making big changes to follow your dreams, and rebuilding trust in relationships (both on a friendship and family level). I think if you go into this expecting more of a general fiction book with characters tackling some of the challenges around grief and uncertainty, you’ll like this one, but I would really encourage potential readers to check trigger warnings before picking this one up. It was a good book—just not the book I thought I was picking up.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While I enjoyed aspects of this story, it’s always challenging when a book doesn’t meet your expectations. I really liked the themes around feelings lost in life, making big changes to follow your dreams, and rebuilding trust in relationships (both on a friendship and family level). I think if you go into this expecting more of a general fiction book with characters tackling some of the challenges around grief and uncertainty, you’ll like this one, but I would really encourage potential readers to check trigger warnings before picking this one up. It was a good book—just not the book I thought I was picking up.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2024
From the very start, this story was a challenge to follow. Even halfway through, I found myself struggling to grasp what was happening. The narrative structure was super disjointed, with sporadic flashbacks and timeline shifts, making it difficult to initially tell whether a scene was set in the past or present.
At the heart of the story are two grieving characters, Erin and James, who communicate through the margins of classic novels in a community library. Their shared history is heartbreaking, and while I couldn't care less about classic literature, it was touching to see them connect through a mutual interest, unaware that they actually know each other in real life.
I really sympathized with James and the burdens he carries—losing a friend, the complicated history with Erin, his past experiences with bullying, and caring for a parent with bipolar disorder. I wanted to give him a hug. Despite these hard-hitting elements, which are usually things I love in a story, the writing and incredibly slow-moving plot made it difficult to truly feel invested.
(heat level: closed door)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
At the heart of the story are two grieving characters, Erin and James, who communicate through the margins of classic novels in a community library. Their shared history is heartbreaking, and while I couldn't care less about classic literature, it was touching to see them connect through a mutual interest, unaware that they actually know each other in real life.
I really sympathized with James and the burdens he carries—losing a friend, the complicated history with Erin, his past experiences with bullying, and caring for a parent with bipolar disorder. I wanted to give him a hug. Despite these hard-hitting elements, which are usually things I love in a story, the writing and incredibly slow-moving plot made it difficult to truly feel invested.
(heat level: closed door)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
August 22, 2024
I was disappointed in this one. The premise was interesting, and the cover was beautifully done. However, what with the frequent f-bombs and steamy sex scenes, I had to push myself to finish it. I did so because it was an accepted Netgalley request, in exchange for an honest review.
Steaminess Level:
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥, almost ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
(Check my profile for my “Steaminess Level Chart!)
Steaminess Level:
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥, almost ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
(Check my profile for my “Steaminess Level Chart!)
Read
November 10, 2024Erins leven kwam drie jaar geleden stil te staan, toen haar beste vriendin Bonnie overleed. Ze zit vol verdriet en schuldgevoelens en houdt iedereen op afstand, maar als ze per ongeluk haar lievelingsboek vol aantekeningen in een minibieb zet, James dat boek vindt en hij terugschrijft, verandert alles. In de kantlijnen van hun favoriete boeken ontstaat een bijzondere band en in hun geheime boekenclub durven ze goudeerlijk te zijn en zich kwetsbaar op te stellen. Wat ze niet weten, is dat ze een pijnlijk verleden delen. Kunnen ze opnieuw beginnen?
Door de wisselende perspectieven leer je Erin en James steeds beter kennen en het is vlug duidelijk dat ze allebei een flinke rugzak met zich meedragen, gevormd zijn door het verleden en snakken naar verandering. Je leeft al snel met James mee en krijgt respect voor hem omdat hij zich openstelt en zijn gevoelens en worstelingen worden verklaard, maar het is lastiger om echt hoogte te krijgen van Erin, die wat star overkomt en niet zo vergevingsgezind is, waardoor ze een hoge muur om zich heen heeft opgetrokken en niet ziet dat er mensen om haar heen staan die om haar geven.
Door het bespreken van de klassiekers krijgen ze nieuwe inzichten, kijken ze met een frisse blik naar hun levens en gaan hun innerlijke vuurtjes weer branden, ze delen hun wensen en geheimen en gaan intensievere verbindingen aan met hun naasten. Het duurt weliswaar vrij lang voordat vragen over het verleden worden beantwoord en er nieuwe ontwikkelingen in hun levens komen, maar de kracht van verhalen komt echt tot zijn recht als ze voor geluk kiezen, hun prioriteiten op orde krijgen en door kleine veranderingen steeds dichter bij het waarmaken van hun dromen komen.
In haar soepele en warme schrijfstijl verweeft de auteur de twee verhaallijnen sterk met elkaar en ze schuwt zwaardere thema’s zoals verlies en rouw, pestgedrag, een lastige thuissituatie, ziekte, mentale gezondheid en je leven (tijdelijk) op pauze zetten niet, terwijl ze daar luchtigere passages en humor tegenover zet door te focussen op verbondenheid, hechte vriendschap, tweede kansen, het luisteren naar je hart en een zoektocht naar geluk. De liefde voor boeken spat van de pagina’s af, beide personages maken uiteindelijk een krachtige ontwikkeling door, de conversatie-in-boeken zorgt voor een unieke dynamiek en dit hartverwarmende, ontroerende en gelaagde verhaal is dan ook zeker een aanrader!
3.5⭐️
Door de wisselende perspectieven leer je Erin en James steeds beter kennen en het is vlug duidelijk dat ze allebei een flinke rugzak met zich meedragen, gevormd zijn door het verleden en snakken naar verandering. Je leeft al snel met James mee en krijgt respect voor hem omdat hij zich openstelt en zijn gevoelens en worstelingen worden verklaard, maar het is lastiger om echt hoogte te krijgen van Erin, die wat star overkomt en niet zo vergevingsgezind is, waardoor ze een hoge muur om zich heen heeft opgetrokken en niet ziet dat er mensen om haar heen staan die om haar geven.
Door het bespreken van de klassiekers krijgen ze nieuwe inzichten, kijken ze met een frisse blik naar hun levens en gaan hun innerlijke vuurtjes weer branden, ze delen hun wensen en geheimen en gaan intensievere verbindingen aan met hun naasten. Het duurt weliswaar vrij lang voordat vragen over het verleden worden beantwoord en er nieuwe ontwikkelingen in hun levens komen, maar de kracht van verhalen komt echt tot zijn recht als ze voor geluk kiezen, hun prioriteiten op orde krijgen en door kleine veranderingen steeds dichter bij het waarmaken van hun dromen komen.
In haar soepele en warme schrijfstijl verweeft de auteur de twee verhaallijnen sterk met elkaar en ze schuwt zwaardere thema’s zoals verlies en rouw, pestgedrag, een lastige thuissituatie, ziekte, mentale gezondheid en je leven (tijdelijk) op pauze zetten niet, terwijl ze daar luchtigere passages en humor tegenover zet door te focussen op verbondenheid, hechte vriendschap, tweede kansen, het luisteren naar je hart en een zoektocht naar geluk. De liefde voor boeken spat van de pagina’s af, beide personages maken uiteindelijk een krachtige ontwikkeling door, de conversatie-in-boeken zorgt voor een unieke dynamiek en dit hartverwarmende, ontroerende en gelaagde verhaal is dan ook zeker een aanrader!
3.5⭐️
April 17, 2024
This was a tough read for me and took me forever to get through. Don’t let this cover fool you! It is not a cozy read at all and there is barely a romance. Story unfortunately couldn’t live up to the appealing synopsis.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2024
I hate Erin. Too much “woe is me” and no sympathy or understanding for anyone else. The only reason I trudged onward was for James and Bonnie and Erin never deserved either of them.
January 20, 2025
This is a book lover's second chance romance. I liked it, despite the lack of mystery or paranormal elements. I know, I'm surprised too.
James and Erin were friends with possibilities in high school. They have a mutual friend, Bonnie, who dies of cancer. They both have less than ideal home situations and an unfortunate event separates them. Now they are both in London, leading lives that don't make them happy—jobs they hate, partners who don't really fit, too far from family.
In a fit of determination to change her life, Erin clears her book shelf and takes a load of books down to a nearby Little Free Library. The next day, she discovers that her beloved, much annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird is missing. She haunts the library until it is returned and is delighted that this borrower has replied to her, also in the margins and has left a book for her to do the same.
Pretty obvious where it was headed, but it was a good journey. Lots of learning about themselves and their families. How to live a happier life. How to truly communicate. Good things to think about. Not my usual fare, but a worthwhile read.
James and Erin were friends with possibilities in high school. They have a mutual friend, Bonnie, who dies of cancer. They both have less than ideal home situations and an unfortunate event separates them. Now they are both in London, leading lives that don't make them happy—jobs they hate, partners who don't really fit, too far from family.
In a fit of determination to change her life, Erin clears her book shelf and takes a load of books down to a nearby Little Free Library. The next day, she discovers that her beloved, much annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird is missing. She haunts the library until it is returned and is delighted that this borrower has replied to her, also in the margins and has left a book for her to do the same.
Pretty obvious where it was headed, but it was a good journey. Lots of learning about themselves and their families. How to live a happier life. How to truly communicate. Good things to think about. Not my usual fare, but a worthwhile read.
Read
April 3, 2024First off, I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was very different from what I expected…I thought it would be a really fun lighthearted romcom read but I was so wrong. It touches on ideas of grief, bullying, mental illness, and it’s definitely not just a light and happy read.
I found it a bit hard to get through this book. There were just so many other side plots when I just wanted to know about all the book swaps and how their relationship progressed. It felt a little unnecessary to me to have so much happening on the side. I found myself confused at times, especially because of how certain important things just weren’t explained until much later on in the book. It just wasn’t really something I found myself enjoying and wanting to read on.
It’s not a bad book, it just wasn’t what I was expecting and I found it a bit unfocused for my liking.
Note: This review has temporarily been posted without a rating, as I am aware that certain publishers/authors do not want any ratings under 4 stars to be posted before the book is released.
This book was very different from what I expected…I thought it would be a really fun lighthearted romcom read but I was so wrong. It touches on ideas of grief, bullying, mental illness, and it’s definitely not just a light and happy read.
I found it a bit hard to get through this book. There were just so many other side plots when I just wanted to know about all the book swaps and how their relationship progressed. It felt a little unnecessary to me to have so much happening on the side. I found myself confused at times, especially because of how certain important things just weren’t explained until much later on in the book. It just wasn’t really something I found myself enjoying and wanting to read on.
It’s not a bad book, it just wasn’t what I was expecting and I found it a bit unfocused for my liking.
Note: This review has temporarily been posted without a rating, as I am aware that certain publishers/authors do not want any ratings under 4 stars to be posted before the book is released.
August 7, 2024
The Book Swap is a charming debut romance novel, centered around our FMC Erin and a mystery man as they build a connection through writing in the margins of books from their local little community library.
While this book is labeled as a romance and it definitely has romance elements, I feel moreso than a traditional romance, this is a love-letter to classic literature, and perhaps that is why it missed a bit for me. While it is no secret that I love to read, classics for the most part have unfortunately never really been my thing, so a lot of the references in here were lost on me. I loved the idea of them building a relationship through writing in the novels of shared books, and still do. The concept is absolutely adorable. Many of these conversations were directly related to the classic they were reading/writing in, however, and I think in order to get full enjoyment from that, you need to understand the context of the classic they're quoting, and I just didn't 90% of the time.
I also unfortunately did not ever really connect with the main characters. That might perhaps be due to missing context in the notes they were writing, but also I felt that there was SO much going on in the character's lives that it got really hard to follow and stay connected at times, especially to Erin. I very much just wanted to get to the book swapping, but then I didn't understand that a lot of the time either due to lack of classic literature knowledge, so I just stayed kind of confused and zoned out.
I have to point out as well, there are some very heavy topics tackled here, so do not go into this thinking you are getting a fluffy rom-com. Personally, I don't mind that in my romances and usually even prefer it if it is done well, so that didn't bother me. But definitely consider trigger warnings before reading! Some topics include: grief, loss of a loved one, mental health issues, bullying, terminal illness, and more.
While this book sadly wasn't my personal jam, if you are a classic lit lover and a romance lover, I think this stands a good chance at being a major hit for you. I can see how, if I had the context needed to fully understand the references, this would be a big win, and if you are that person I absolutely recommend checking it out.
2.5 rounded down.
Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
While this book is labeled as a romance and it definitely has romance elements, I feel moreso than a traditional romance, this is a love-letter to classic literature, and perhaps that is why it missed a bit for me. While it is no secret that I love to read, classics for the most part have unfortunately never really been my thing, so a lot of the references in here were lost on me. I loved the idea of them building a relationship through writing in the novels of shared books, and still do. The concept is absolutely adorable. Many of these conversations were directly related to the classic they were reading/writing in, however, and I think in order to get full enjoyment from that, you need to understand the context of the classic they're quoting, and I just didn't 90% of the time.
I also unfortunately did not ever really connect with the main characters. That might perhaps be due to missing context in the notes they were writing, but also I felt that there was SO much going on in the character's lives that it got really hard to follow and stay connected at times, especially to Erin. I very much just wanted to get to the book swapping, but then I didn't understand that a lot of the time either due to lack of classic literature knowledge, so I just stayed kind of confused and zoned out.
I have to point out as well, there are some very heavy topics tackled here, so do not go into this thinking you are getting a fluffy rom-com. Personally, I don't mind that in my romances and usually even prefer it if it is done well, so that didn't bother me. But definitely consider trigger warnings before reading! Some topics include: grief, loss of a loved one, mental health issues, bullying, terminal illness, and more.
While this book sadly wasn't my personal jam, if you are a classic lit lover and a romance lover, I think this stands a good chance at being a major hit for you. I can see how, if I had the context needed to fully understand the references, this would be a big win, and if you are that person I absolutely recommend checking it out.
2.5 rounded down.
Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 14, 2024
Have you ever read a book where you just know you should DNF it?!? But you are stupidly too stubborn to DNF because you were sent a review copy and would feel bad for DNFing. Hi yes I’m the problem it’s me.
I don’t even know where to begin with this review. I was pitched a magical realism romcom. Instead I was given an extremely heavy book revolving around topics of suicide, infidelity, depression, and bullying. I will admit I was 100% not in the headspace to read a book like this. But I felt blindsided because the synopsis didn’t indicate to me that type of book.
Overall, all I can say about this book is everyone in it needs therapy. And I in no way shape or form support the release between our two main characters. At least not with how it was ended. Because again everyone in this book needs therapy before any sort of healthy relationship can form.
This book was just not it. And it’s the first book I’ve read in 2024 where I honestly cannot recommend it.
Thank you though to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I don’t even know where to begin with this review. I was pitched a magical realism romcom. Instead I was given an extremely heavy book revolving around topics of suicide, infidelity, depression, and bullying. I will admit I was 100% not in the headspace to read a book like this. But I felt blindsided because the synopsis didn’t indicate to me that type of book.
Overall, all I can say about this book is everyone in it needs therapy. And I in no way shape or form support the release between our two main characters. At least not with how it was ended. Because again everyone in this book needs therapy before any sort of healthy relationship can form.
This book was just not it. And it’s the first book I’ve read in 2024 where I honestly cannot recommend it.
Thank you though to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 8, 2024
I don’t know- I think I was expecting something else. This was a little too solemn/sad. I thought it would be cute/funny
January 5, 2025
Frustrerende personages zo nu en dan, maar zo leuk geschreven dat het me allemaal niet meer uitmaakte. Echt een leuk boek!
September 14, 2024
3.5 ⭐
“Today should never have been the day I changed my life.”
As if losing her friend Bonnie wasn’t stressful enough, now Erin has lost her precious annotated copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. Little does she know that James has discovered it and it helps him through his struggles. He decides to write a response in the margins of Great Expectations and before long these ‘strangers’ are supporting each other through grief, loss and finding a way forward together. Serendipity has something else in store for these two…something they never suspected!
I remember my mom trying to calm my anxiety and telling me that a stranger is simply a friend that I hadn’t met yet. Many days this perspective carried me through my struggles. I love that books carry these two through their difficult days and offer second chances and forgiveness. Bickers’ debut is really a love letter to books and a celebration of the power of stories.
If you like supporting debut authors and don’t mind a slow burner or some cheesy dialogue to counterbalance discussion surrounding mental illness, trauma, and grief, you’ll enjoy this ‘bookish’ book. Bickers has great promise!
I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
“Today should never have been the day I changed my life.”
As if losing her friend Bonnie wasn’t stressful enough, now Erin has lost her precious annotated copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. Little does she know that James has discovered it and it helps him through his struggles. He decides to write a response in the margins of Great Expectations and before long these ‘strangers’ are supporting each other through grief, loss and finding a way forward together. Serendipity has something else in store for these two…something they never suspected!
I remember my mom trying to calm my anxiety and telling me that a stranger is simply a friend that I hadn’t met yet. Many days this perspective carried me through my struggles. I love that books carry these two through their difficult days and offer second chances and forgiveness. Bickers’ debut is really a love letter to books and a celebration of the power of stories.
If you like supporting debut authors and don’t mind a slow burner or some cheesy dialogue to counterbalance discussion surrounding mental illness, trauma, and grief, you’ll enjoy this ‘bookish’ book. Bickers has great promise!
I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 11, 2024
I absolutely loved this story however please be aware that it dives deep into grief, life after the loss of a loved one to cancer, mental health, career and financial pressures, and most importantly being yourself. It’s beautiful and the characters are interesting. Your heart will be breaking and mending all at once.
# The Book Swap
# 10/9/2024 ~ 10/10/2024
# 4.5 / 5.0
# The Book Swap
# 10/9/2024 ~ 10/10/2024
# 4.5 / 5.0
June 24, 2024
“The Book Swap” by Tessa Bickers is a gem for book lovers. It’s a tale that will linger in your heart long after you've turned the last page. Tessa Bickers has crafted a beautiful ode to literature, reminding us that sometimes, the best stories are the ones we write together, one margin note at a time. Bickers' writing style is reminiscent of Jojo Moyes and Alice Hoffman, making this novel a must-read for fans of heartwarming contemporary fiction.
Meet Erin Connolly. She is still reeling from a recent tragedy, but knows she needs to start living again. But how? When she accidentally donates her heavily annotated copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It’s a book containing a memento she can't bear to part with, and it’s sent to a local community library. She's devastated. Yet, fate intervenes. The book reappears a week later, complete with fresh notes in the margins and an invitation from a newfound pen pal hidden within a copy of *Great Expectations*. Thus begins a life-changing conversation, written only in the margins of beloved classic books, between Erin and her Mystery Man. As they follow each other through the pages of their favourite novels, they open up, forging a friendship that might just become something more.
From the very first page, I was drawn into Erin's world: a place where grief and hope collide. Bickers masterfully weaves together the magic of classic literature with the raw emotions of her characters. Erin's connection with her Mystery Man, forged through the margins of beloved books, is both heartwarming and poignant. Their exchanges are like whispered secrets shared across time and space, and I found myself rooting for them with every turned page.
The concept of a book exchange as a catalyst for connection is utterly charming. As Erin and her pen pal delve into the worlds of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Great Expectations”, and other literary gems, they reveal their vulnerabilities, fears, and dreams. Bickers captures the essence of what it means to be a book lover, from the way stories shape us, heal us, to the way it connect us to others.
The pacing is spot-on, with just the right blend of romance, mystery, and nostalgia. The backdrop of the community library, where books come alive through handwritten notes, adds an enchanting layer to the narrative. And the shared history between Erin and her pen pal, a secret they both unknowingly carry, adds depth and tension.
Bickers' prose is elegant and evocative. She paints scenes with vivid strokes, making the fictional town and its inhabitants feel real. Whether it's the scent of old books, the rustle of pages, or the quiet moments spent reading under a tree, every detail resonates. Her love for literature shines through, and I found myself reaching for my own dog-eared copies of classics, wondering what secrets they held in their margins.
“The Book Swap” is more than a romance; it's a celebration of resilience, forgiveness, and the transformative power of storytelling. It reminds us that books are not just ink on paper—they're vessels of connection, solace, and hope. As Erin and her Mystery Man navigate their shared past and uncertain future, we're reminded that sometimes the most profound conversations happen in the margins, where hearts intersect.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Meet Erin Connolly. She is still reeling from a recent tragedy, but knows she needs to start living again. But how? When she accidentally donates her heavily annotated copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It’s a book containing a memento she can't bear to part with, and it’s sent to a local community library. She's devastated. Yet, fate intervenes. The book reappears a week later, complete with fresh notes in the margins and an invitation from a newfound pen pal hidden within a copy of *Great Expectations*. Thus begins a life-changing conversation, written only in the margins of beloved classic books, between Erin and her Mystery Man. As they follow each other through the pages of their favourite novels, they open up, forging a friendship that might just become something more.
From the very first page, I was drawn into Erin's world: a place where grief and hope collide. Bickers masterfully weaves together the magic of classic literature with the raw emotions of her characters. Erin's connection with her Mystery Man, forged through the margins of beloved books, is both heartwarming and poignant. Their exchanges are like whispered secrets shared across time and space, and I found myself rooting for them with every turned page.
The concept of a book exchange as a catalyst for connection is utterly charming. As Erin and her pen pal delve into the worlds of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Great Expectations”, and other literary gems, they reveal their vulnerabilities, fears, and dreams. Bickers captures the essence of what it means to be a book lover, from the way stories shape us, heal us, to the way it connect us to others.
The pacing is spot-on, with just the right blend of romance, mystery, and nostalgia. The backdrop of the community library, where books come alive through handwritten notes, adds an enchanting layer to the narrative. And the shared history between Erin and her pen pal, a secret they both unknowingly carry, adds depth and tension.
Bickers' prose is elegant and evocative. She paints scenes with vivid strokes, making the fictional town and its inhabitants feel real. Whether it's the scent of old books, the rustle of pages, or the quiet moments spent reading under a tree, every detail resonates. Her love for literature shines through, and I found myself reaching for my own dog-eared copies of classics, wondering what secrets they held in their margins.
“The Book Swap” is more than a romance; it's a celebration of resilience, forgiveness, and the transformative power of storytelling. It reminds us that books are not just ink on paper—they're vessels of connection, solace, and hope. As Erin and her Mystery Man navigate their shared past and uncertain future, we're reminded that sometimes the most profound conversations happen in the margins, where hearts intersect.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 9, 2024
I went into this debut book thinking it would be a fun, easy, rom-com read. This wasn’t that book. It dealt with some heavy subject matter, grief, loss, moving on . This book is heartwarming and heartbreaking.
This story was a slow burn . Some trigger warnings are – mental illness, past bullying, death.. This was a good book in its own right but not a book that resonated with me.
This story was a slow burn . Some trigger warnings are – mental illness, past bullying, death.. This was a good book in its own right but not a book that resonated with me.
January 22, 2024
Well this absolutely adorable and I love every single moment of it! It was angsty at times, but by the end, it completely put me back together and then some. :)
November 11, 2024
Thank you the hive and netgalley for the ebook.
Where do I even start?
Let's start with the simplest.
I don't think this book is really a romance. There is a main couple, but their romance doesn't seem to be the main focus.
I think it focuses more platonic love. Love between friends (new, old, and passed) and family.
The Book Swap had a lot of great gems in it. Tessa Bickers asked us to redefine what success means and to accept that there are many different versions of success and that they are all valid.
This book also touched lightly on men's mental health.
I think the biggest thing was the exploration of grief and expectations we place upon ourselves.
Where do I even start?
Let's start with the simplest.
I don't think this book is really a romance. There is a main couple, but their romance doesn't seem to be the main focus.
I think it focuses more platonic love. Love between friends (new, old, and passed) and family.
The Book Swap had a lot of great gems in it. Tessa Bickers asked us to redefine what success means and to accept that there are many different versions of success and that they are all valid.
This book also touched lightly on men's mental health.
I think the biggest thing was the exploration of grief and expectations we place upon ourselves.
September 23, 2024
3.5 stars.
"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is a lot heavier than I expected it to be. That doesn't detract from how good this book is. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I made my heart squeeze and ache the entire time I read it. It's cute, reflective, intimate, and interestingly explores grief. and loss. The strongest parts involve the main characters, Erin and James, who each have quite a bit of individual baggage in their lives. When they begin exchanging books at the little library, they divulge who they really are and who they want to be to each other in the process. These moments made my heart swell. But, as with all books like this, things eventually go wrong. I am glad this was a dual point of view book because without it, I fear James would have been basically erased. His character would have been stronger and more bold. Erin definitely needs to go to therapy, hahaha. The story has quite a few moving parts, which bog it down here and there. My focus felt all over the place, but overall, I found this to be an engaging and compelling read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bickers, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is a lot heavier than I expected it to be. That doesn't detract from how good this book is. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I made my heart squeeze and ache the entire time I read it. It's cute, reflective, intimate, and interestingly explores grief. and loss. The strongest parts involve the main characters, Erin and James, who each have quite a bit of individual baggage in their lives. When they begin exchanging books at the little library, they divulge who they really are and who they want to be to each other in the process. These moments made my heart swell. But, as with all books like this, things eventually go wrong. I am glad this was a dual point of view book because without it, I fear James would have been basically erased. His character would have been stronger and more bold. Erin definitely needs to go to therapy, hahaha. The story has quite a few moving parts, which bog it down here and there. My focus felt all over the place, but overall, I found this to be an engaging and compelling read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bickers, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
October 3, 2024
Bei diesem Buch trifft es mich leider sehr, dass ich es abbrechen musste. Mit „Wir treffen uns im nächsten Kapitel“ von Tessa Bickers erhoffte ich mir einen cozy Wohlfühlroman, der die Liebe zu Büchern aufgreift. Das Buch hat mich mal wieder gelehrt, in eine Geschichte reinzulesen, um zu schauen, ob sie mir denn überhaupt gefallen könnte. Jedoch habe ich mir nur den Klappentext durchgelesen und wurde sehr überrascht, als das Thema Krebs eine große Rolle spielte.
Das Buch hat mich sehr heruntergezogen und getriggert. Ich habe mich anschließend dafür entschieden, es bei knapp hundert Seiten abzubrechen. Die Grundidee ist süß, aber nicht neu. Ich habe schon viele ähnliche Bücher gelesen. Tessa Bickers hat sich meiner Meinung nach stark von Emily Henrys „Book Lovers“ inspirieren und ähnliche Handlungsstränge in die Geschichte einfließen lassen. Auch die typischen Klassiker „Sturmhöhe“ oder „Wer die Nachtigall stört“ sind mit von der Partie.
Das Cover finde ich schön. Es hat mich auf Anhieb angesprochen und dazu gebracht, mir den Klappentext durchzulesen. Ich finde es toll, dass die Gesichter der Charaktere Raum lassen und die eigene Fantasie anregen. Der Schreibstil der Autorin war angenehm zu lesen. Immer etwas abschweifend, aber noch im Rahmen. Die Kapitel haben eine angenehme Leselänge. Über das Setting London hätte ich gerne in den ersten hundert Seiten noch mehr gelesen.
Nun zu meinen Kritikpunkten. Die Charaktere haben mich schlichtweg gelangweilt und nicht interessiert. Ich vermute, dass Erin mit 30 Jahren ein zu normales Leben führt, was mich nicht gut unterhalten konnte. Sie macht nichts, hat keine Hobbys außer Lesen und nörgelt nur rum. Sie hat keine Beziehungen außer zu ihrem merkwürdigen Mitbewohner und zu ihrer verstorbenen Freundin Bonnie. Und mal ehrlich gesagt, wie blöd kann man eigentlich sein, das Einzige, was einem alles bedeutet, einfach wegzugeben? Sicher war es ein Versehen, dass Erin das Buch in den Bücherschrank stellt, aber keiner kann mir erzählen, dass das einem nicht auffällt…
Mit Erin und James konnte ich leider überhaupt nicht mitfühlen. Vermutlich liegt es am großen Altersunterschied. Die Handlung hat sich dadurch sehr für mich gezogen. Die Idee über Bücher zu kommunizieren finde ich soweit ganz süß, aber in einer großen Stadt wie London eher unrealistisch. Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, dass die berühmten Klassiker länger als fünf Minuten im Bücherschrank stehen bleiben würden. Ob Erin und James zeitnah einen anderen Weg gefunden haben, um sich auszutauschen, weiß ich nicht. Positiv in Erinnerung geblieben ist mir die Party für Bonnie. Der Gedanke dieser Party ist sehr schön.
Alles in allem leider ein Fehlgriff für mich. Ich möchte das Buch keinesfalls schlecht reden, da es mich auf Anhieb angesprochen hat. Ich hätte mehr mit den Charakteren mitfiebern können, wenn mich erstens das Thema nicht so getriggert hätte, zweitens mir Erin und James sympathisch gewesen wären und drittens die Handlung mich mehr eingenommen hätte. Leider kein Buch für mich, was aber nicht bedeutet, dass es gar kein Potential hat. Außerdem handelt es sich bei diesem Buch um ein Debütroman.
Die Geschichte hat mein Herz nicht erreicht, weswegen ich es in einen Bücherschrank stellen werde; mit der Hoffnung, dass es jemand anderes lieben wird.
Das Buch hat mich sehr heruntergezogen und getriggert. Ich habe mich anschließend dafür entschieden, es bei knapp hundert Seiten abzubrechen. Die Grundidee ist süß, aber nicht neu. Ich habe schon viele ähnliche Bücher gelesen. Tessa Bickers hat sich meiner Meinung nach stark von Emily Henrys „Book Lovers“ inspirieren und ähnliche Handlungsstränge in die Geschichte einfließen lassen. Auch die typischen Klassiker „Sturmhöhe“ oder „Wer die Nachtigall stört“ sind mit von der Partie.
Das Cover finde ich schön. Es hat mich auf Anhieb angesprochen und dazu gebracht, mir den Klappentext durchzulesen. Ich finde es toll, dass die Gesichter der Charaktere Raum lassen und die eigene Fantasie anregen. Der Schreibstil der Autorin war angenehm zu lesen. Immer etwas abschweifend, aber noch im Rahmen. Die Kapitel haben eine angenehme Leselänge. Über das Setting London hätte ich gerne in den ersten hundert Seiten noch mehr gelesen.
Nun zu meinen Kritikpunkten. Die Charaktere haben mich schlichtweg gelangweilt und nicht interessiert. Ich vermute, dass Erin mit 30 Jahren ein zu normales Leben führt, was mich nicht gut unterhalten konnte. Sie macht nichts, hat keine Hobbys außer Lesen und nörgelt nur rum. Sie hat keine Beziehungen außer zu ihrem merkwürdigen Mitbewohner und zu ihrer verstorbenen Freundin Bonnie. Und mal ehrlich gesagt, wie blöd kann man eigentlich sein, das Einzige, was einem alles bedeutet, einfach wegzugeben? Sicher war es ein Versehen, dass Erin das Buch in den Bücherschrank stellt, aber keiner kann mir erzählen, dass das einem nicht auffällt…
Mit Erin und James konnte ich leider überhaupt nicht mitfühlen. Vermutlich liegt es am großen Altersunterschied. Die Handlung hat sich dadurch sehr für mich gezogen. Die Idee über Bücher zu kommunizieren finde ich soweit ganz süß, aber in einer großen Stadt wie London eher unrealistisch. Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, dass die berühmten Klassiker länger als fünf Minuten im Bücherschrank stehen bleiben würden. Ob Erin und James zeitnah einen anderen Weg gefunden haben, um sich auszutauschen, weiß ich nicht. Positiv in Erinnerung geblieben ist mir die Party für Bonnie. Der Gedanke dieser Party ist sehr schön.
Alles in allem leider ein Fehlgriff für mich. Ich möchte das Buch keinesfalls schlecht reden, da es mich auf Anhieb angesprochen hat. Ich hätte mehr mit den Charakteren mitfiebern können, wenn mich erstens das Thema nicht so getriggert hätte, zweitens mir Erin und James sympathisch gewesen wären und drittens die Handlung mich mehr eingenommen hätte. Leider kein Buch für mich, was aber nicht bedeutet, dass es gar kein Potential hat. Außerdem handelt es sich bei diesem Buch um ein Debütroman.
Die Geschichte hat mein Herz nicht erreicht, weswegen ich es in einen Bücherschrank stellen werde; mit der Hoffnung, dass es jemand anderes lieben wird.
April 14, 2024
This is not a rom com and barely even a romance. I think the blurb and cover are misleading. The Book Swap follows Erin and James as they navigate grief, mental health issues, family drama, toxic work environments all while trying to figure out what they want from life. I wasn’t expecting so many heavy themes but would’ve been ok with them if Erin wasn’t so immature and selfish. I found it hard to root for her. I was also disappointed with how little interaction the main characters had. I loved the swapping annotated books but that doesn’t make up for the lack of face to face interaction. I’m not even quite sure why they want to be together? Calling this a second chance when they didn’t really even have a first chance because they were friends in high school 15 years ago is a bit of a stretch. This just wasn’t for me.
Thank you netgalley for this eARC
Thank you netgalley for this eARC
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