I thought this was a romantic comedy book and it was very much not. It’s a story of grief over loss and dealing with mental illness and everything in between. It was hard for me to connect with the characters and get into the book as I wasn’t in the mindset for this type of book. The summary is misleading to the nature of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and harlequin for the ARC.

"The Book Swap" is a book lover's dream, brimming with references to beloved classics such as "The Great Gatsby," "Great Expectations," "Wuthering Heights," "Mansfield Park," and more. Through these literary touchstones, the novel explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring power of storytelling to heal and connect.

Don't let the cover fool you with this one, this isn't just a cute little romance involving a free little library. These main characters go way back, and not in the best way. They both are reeling from years of trauma and tragedy, some of which was (unintentionally) inflicted at the other's hand. Somehow karma or the universe or bestie intervention beyond the veil leads them to the same free little library, where they unknowingly reconnect in the margins of books, back to where they first connected as kids just in different volumes. Can the spark of connection survive off the page with all of their history in the way?

I loved this book because it in no way brushes aside the MCs mental health, their history or challenges. It embraces the messy middle to portray the reality of loving someone who struggles with mental health and doesn't have a perfect, happy shiny life.

The Book Swap…

Is so much more than a romance. If anything, it’s an exploration on what it means to be yourself beyond your traumas and the expectations set by yourself and others.

James and Erin feel like normal people I’d meet in real life, and the progression of their story is sweet. The way they communicate through the margins of a borrowed book feels fantastical in a real sense. It comes across a tad insta-lovey which makes the third act conflict feel unreasonable since their relationship realistically should not have progressed so fast with nothing more than some notes to go off of.

I do think this book could benefit from a content warning at the start, especially since mental health is heavily discussed, as are the stresses surrounding being a caretaker. I did enjoy the time I spent with the book, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re in the market for a bookish/classics influenced British romance that reads like women’s fic, this is the book for you!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC and I look forward to seeing this on shelves come early Sept!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ LIKE - Would recommend

Tessa Bickers has written a love story to mental health that unfolds through the pages of classic literature. She helps her characters embrace their pasts in order to create the future they dreamed of.

Erin is stuck. She is stuck in a thankless job that keeps her in a flat with a useless roommate. After she quits her job unexpectedly, she decides a good old fashioned de-cluttering will make her feel better. She decides to donate a stack of books to a free little library near her flat. There’s just one problem…she gave away her favorite book with a note from her favorite person in it. When she returns to retrieve it, the book is gone…

James is stuck. He gave up on his dreams for financial stability. He would love to leave his job to pursue writing, but they keep promoting him. As he is wandering around the new neighborhood his promotion helped him afford, he stumbles across a free little library. Inside he finds a well loved and heavily annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. James decides to give the book a try.

James and Erin start communicating in the margins of classic novels. They begin separate journeys of self-discovery and personal growth. Will their paths converge in the real world or is this fantasy exactly what they need?

Firstly, I’d love to thank NetGalley and Tessa Bickers for the eARC of The Book Swap. Secondly… I loved this story!! The characters were well thought out and had so much depth. The plot wasn’t something altogether new but it felt fresh and had so much meaning behind it!! I would highly recommend The Book Swap for anyone who needs to feel a good emotional story!

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.

I thought this was a nice book! I wasn’t expecting it to be so emotional and deep, but I thought the author did a good job working through the main characters feelings and they both had a good amount of growth. At times I was definitely frustrated with the main female character, but I’m glad there was some redemption in the end. I just felt the main female character, Erin, was extremely selfish at times. The only other thing I wish was a little bit different would be a little bit more romance between the two main characters.

Heartbreaking but sweet and uplifting. I think it’s a good book to honor the love of books and the love of life. It made me emotional but also felt healing.
I would say it felt a little slow at parts and maybe dragged a bit, but overall a lovely story that has some great heart behind it!

Erin and James are two old friends who find each other through their love of classic books after both experienced loss and struggle to find their place in the world. They go on a journey of finding themselves through writing to each other in the margins.

I enjoyed this debut novel from Tessa Bickers.

Thank you to Harlequin publishing and NetGallery for this arc!

This book comes out on September 3, 2024.

When I started The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers I expected a light fun romcom. We all know & love them. An easy pallet cleanser. This book took me by surprise as so much more than that.

When we meet Erin she’s deep in the grief of losing her lifelong best friend, Bonnie. She’s bending over backwards for a toxic boss & when she finally reaches her breaking point, quits during a team meeting. It’s what Bonnie would tell her to do. After all, since Bonnie’s death, Erin has been trying to live her life to make Bonnie proud, when in reality she’s miserable. Pan to James. When Erin runs into him at Bonnie’s annual memorial it’s clear there’s history there. She can’t stand to be near him. As this story unfolds we find out the shared history of Erin/Bonnie/James. How they became friends & how the friendship fell apart.

It’s hard to go much further without giving away too many details but I really enjoyed the complex family dynamics. Each of them dealing with their own struggles while finding themselves. Both learning to find forgiveness, including within themselves. Learning to let go of the lives that are safe to find what they truly want.

I absolutely loved this debut. I cannot wait to see what Tessa Bickers comes up with next. Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Tessa Bickers for the opportunity to read The Book Swap ahead of its September 3rd release.

Book Swap

This debut novel is an alternating POV book was a very sweet and cozy read. While there is romance in it, it is so much more. It’s a story about friendship, loss, family dynamics, grief, forgiveness, and mental illness. It covers so many topics beautifully.

I loved the beautiful picture painted of what love really looks like (long suffering and kind) in one of the side characters.

While I did like the other storylines in this book, parts of the book fell flat. For a book that is very realistic and offers a commentary on some difficult subjects, somehow it all magically works out for 3 of the characters quit their jobs with no plan because they aren’t “happy”.

This doesn’t seem to match the rest of the book. Real life is people not having the luxury of rage quitting their jobs- yet 3 characters manage just fine.

But overall a really lovely read and spectacular writing for a debut novel!

Thank you to the Author, publisher, and Author for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for this ARC copy

In true fashion I am drawn to any books with a fun cover, and there was something so idyllic about this little library cover. This was the first time I have read a book by Tessa Bickers, so was not quite sure what to expect. I was expecting more light hearted romance, but the book does cover heavier topics, which is not a bad thing - just not what I was anticipating.

The first half of the book was slower but the second half was great and really adorable. If you love classic books you will enjoy the references especially since the main character. loses her favorite book To Kill a Mockingbird.

Thank you NetGalley, Tessa Bickers, and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

if you’re going into this book thinking it’s a rom com you are going to be disappointed. It’s a romance, but it tackles a lot of really hard topics. I would say it’s more about two individuals healing and growing after life has hit them hard. I think the writing back and forth in the margins of books at a little free library is such a sweet premise. I loved Erin and James’ shared passion for books and how that passion established their relationship and is what brought them back together in the end. There are a lot of references to classic novels and I had only read a few, but I didn’t feel like I needed to have read them to understand the book. This book is raw, real, and heartwarming. I definitely recommend!

Trigger Warnings:
Death / Cancer
Mental Illness
Bullying

This book was just not for me. First of all, it was advertised as a RomCom but there was very little romance or comedy. It felt more like a book about me at mental health issues and unhealthy family dynamics. I did not like either of the main characters even after I realized the error of their ways. They didn’t interact enough for me to want them to be together.
The sentences were choppy and often didn’t flow together, and the plot would jump around too much from one paragraph to another making it difficult to follow. If I had not been given the book as an ARC, I would not have finished it. It was honestly pretty boring.
One of the positives of the books is it’s references to other books during the “book swap.” These sections were just too small to redeem the book in my eyes.

This book was not what I was expecting and a true never trust the cover situation. Was expecting romance and got triggering emotional turmoil. This was not the light hearted read I was hoping for!

I really liked this book by chapter 2, and by chapter 8 I was crying both happy and sad tears. The Book Swap really encompassed everything I love about reading, shoved it into applicable boxes for every life situation, and then made me nostalgic about every good book I’ve ever read. Their story really illustrates how impactful books are to the people who love them.

James and Erin are relatable and complex and full of happiness and grief and healing *AND* have fantastic taste in books. The twists and turns were there but also real—the entire time I felt like these situations and relationships were completely believable.

I got particularly teary when Perks of Being a Wallflower was brought up because that book was so special to me in high school, and I remember having the same teenage passion and articulation for the story that James, Bonnie, and Erin did. Mr. Carter also reminded me of my favorite English teacher, who did so much for me and made my hellish school-life bearable for a few years (I know all book lovers have one of these wonderful teachers!!).

Long story short; I’m not good with words, but I highly recommend this book to my fellow book lovers—it comes out in September and I’m so happy for you all to read it and love it too!!

I really thought by the cover that this was going to be a sweet little rom-com. I was so wrong. Our two main characters seem to be struggling in different ways, processing their personal traumas. I really enjoyed how this book represented mental illness and talked about hard things in a sweet way. I really enjoyed this one!

This was the first I read by this author. I was u see the impression by the cover that this would be a romance. Honestly it’s far from, there are most definitely triggers in this book. There should be warnings for these who have had to deal with bullying, and mental illness. I don’t think I’d recommend this to be honest. It’s not a very light hearted read..

Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it either. I thought the beginning was very interesting, I felt like it had a really good start. I definitely thought the book was solely about romance but it's so much more to it. It talks about grief, mental illness, bullying, trauma, etc. The romance relationship for the FMC and the MMC was taking a bit too long and I really felt no connection with them by the end of the book. The FMC was holding on too long on a grudge and stuck in the past which I thought was a bit too childish for her age. Which I get it, that's her whole persona and all. It just got frustrating for me to understand her. Overall, it was an easy read.