What a fun book centric book, throw in a little growing up, and a little love story. Can't wait for more!

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.

I expected a pretty basic romance based on the blurb and the title and this novel definitely contained more in depth topics than I expected, I was able to read this debut novel by Tessa Bickers thru NetGalley and it coincided with my love of books. As another reviewer said it covers topics including bullying, family issues, terminal illness and death, and even toxic workplaces. The author made it intriguing since you didn’t find out the real problem between the main characters till well into the book.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Giving someone hope is like giving them the wings they need to fly through life.”

Was a very slow burn on the romance department, but it's so much more than that!! I experienced just about every emotion reading this.

-Dual POV
-Second Chance
-Family Drama
-Self Growth
-Grief/Loss

I'm not one to spoil anything, so thats all you get from me 😉

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for this ARC! 🩷

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this!

This book has everything: self discovery, love, dealing with grief and hardship, forgiveness and friendship.

It took me a little bit to really get into the story, but once I did I blasted through the rest of the book. I loved the story and how the author touched on grief and battling with hardships, with both Erin and James. I loved James so much and I felt so protective over this sweet man 🥺

The last 50 pages had me sobbing because it was so touching and pulled at my heart strings so much 😭

Great book! ❤️

Review published on Goodreads and The StoryGraph on 5/10/2024:
The Book Swap was such an enjoyable read. I grew to love all of the characters and couldn’t stop turning the pages to learn more about them. The two main characters, James and Erin, have such a complicated history, and it was intriguing to piece apart how their relationship fit together in the past and what that meant for them now. And the secondary characters were just as lovely and developed. Having the book centered around literature and how it brings people together was a theme that I particularly loved. Highly recommend this book, be prepared for some tears!

This book was ADORABLE. I swooned over every word through this whole book and could not get enough of it. It had "You've Got Mail" vibes but instead of AOL messenger, it was notes through a Little Free Library.

The pros:
- the character depth. I loved James' character especially and how he grew as an individual. Erin was a bit more frustrating but she redeemed herself in the end.
- the romance. There is NO spice in this book for those wondering. However, it was beautiful to watch it (read it?) unfold.
- the throwback to classic books. I loved all the references of the classic books that both James and Erin read/exchanged. It felt so nostalgic for me.

The cons:
- Sometimes it was confusing when Erin was talking to Bonnie (her dead best friend). At first, I was like "does she have a brain tumor - she's seeing things." But it made sense once i realized it was her coping mechanism.
- Erin's character. She was frustrating throughout the entirety of the book - never giving ANYONE the benefit of the doubt. I truly hated her as a character. But I also think we were supposed to feel that way and then she was redeemed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This isn't a warm cozy, cute, romantic story. Don't let the cover fool you. With that being said, although it's a decent story it did have some hard hitting subjects, like grief, mental illness and loss.
I'm really glad that Erin had the guts to quit her job and find her true passion.

I absolutely ADORED this book. Tessa Bickers' debut novel is a delight. Readers meet Erin Connolly as she processes her grief at the loss of her best friend. Erin is lost - jobless, living with a roommate-with-benefits, and trying to find some kind of purpose in life. After a mix-up at the local little free library, she first loses and then reclaims her favorite book, To Kill A Mockingbird. Only now in her annotated book, there are notes from another reader.

What ensues is a slow-burn love story between Erin and a mystery man. Within the pages of several classics, Erin not only finds herself but exactly what she has been missing in her life. My husband and I always joke that our love language is reading books, and The Book Swap really shows how it can be! If you're a fan of a rom-com with substance to it, this book is for you. Thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for the chance to be an advanced reader!

Rating: ★★★★☆

"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is a delightful and charming read that will resonate with book lovers everywhere. This novel offers a refreshing take on the world of literature, weaving a heartwarming tale that celebrates the power of stories and the unexpected connections they can create.

The story revolves around a group of individuals who participate in a local book swap, each bringing their own personal favorites to share. What follows is a journey of discovery as they explore new genres and authors, finding not only new perspectives on literature but also on life. The characters are relatable and well-developed, each with their own quirks and passions.

Bickers' writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy to lose oneself in the narrative. The book expertly balances light-hearted moments with more poignant reflections on the complexities of relationships and the impact of literature on our lives.

One minor downside is that some plot points feel a bit predictable, and certain characters could benefit from deeper development. Nevertheless, the overall story is a joy to read, and the themes of friendship, love, and the transformative power of books shine through.

In summary, "The Book Swap" is a highly enjoyable read for anyone who appreciates books and the connections they foster. Tessa Bickers has crafted a feel-good novel that will leave readers with a smile on their faces and a renewed appreciation for the magic of storytelling.

4.5 stars
This debut novel tells the story of two strangers connected through comments in the margins of books swapped back and forth in a tiny free library. Erin has recently rage-quit her job and is still mourning the loss of her closest childhood friend. James is stuck between promotions at a job he’s not sure he even wants and going back to his hometown to help his father deal with his bipolar mother.

As they trade insights into various famous novels, they also each begin to examine their own lives and the assumptions they have held as truths. In the end, it’s life off the page that forces them to examine their perspectives on reality.

I enjoyed this book a lot, although I would classify it as women’s fiction or romantic fiction rather than as a romance. Definitely worth putting on your TBR.

I loved the premise of this book, and enjoyed the complexity of Erin and James’ backstories, especially their complicated family lives. However, their inner monologues were often a little self-indulgent or melodramatic, which made me less sympathetic to them as a reader.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

4.5 stars! I genuinely was so pleasantly surprised by the depth of this heartbreaking and heartwarming story. I always screw myself by expecting sweet quick romcom type vibes with cartoon covers but this was incredible!

𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌

📚 The Book Swap : Tessa Bickers 📚

Format: eBook (NetGalley)
Publisher: Harlequin Publishing
Publication Date: September 3, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into this book thinking it was going to be another light-hearted romantic comedy, and I was completely wrong. Tessa Bickers tells a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of two people who were struck by tragedy in two very different ways. The books deals with themes of grief, loss, and finding yourself. It also pays homage to many classic novels.

Erin, one of the main characters, begins the story by quitting her job, and talking to her dead best friend as if she’s still there. Shortly after she quits her job, she decides to Marie Kondo her life and gets rid of things that don’t bring her joy in her bedroom. She accidentally parts with her tattered and annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird that also contains a postcard written to her by her dead best friend, Bonnie. This is how she meets her Mystery Man when she finds her novel returned to the Little Free Library where she donated it. Mystery Man added his on annotations, and this is how their relationship takes off.

James, a former friends of Erin’s is just as lost as she is since the death of Bonnie, and the event that made him lose his friendship with Erin. He’s in a job he hates, but makes him money, and the best part of his life is when he finds the annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird at the Little Free Library.

The relationship between Erin and James blossoms throughout the book with neither of them knowing who the other is. They exchange multiple classics and get to know each other along the way. Eventually both learn to heal and love at the same time.

The only downfall for me was I really wanted an epilogue. I wanted to know more about what happened between Erin and James.

If you like romance mixed with real world problems, then this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for granting me this ARC!

I loved the concept of this book. Secret pen pal book club where you fall in love with the other person’s mind?? Sign me up!
Strong points: the books and the friendships. I loved seeing Erin and James’ notes back and forth as they each took little risks to deepen the relationship. I enjoyed seeing their book choices and analysis, as well as their little jokes and flirtations throughout the margins.
I find a lot of side characters in books to be annoying and clearly only there to help move the plot forward. Georgia, Cassie, Bonnie, and Joel didn’t feel like cookie cutters, and I found their conversations entertaining. I enjoyed that each of them brought different things out of James and Erin. Georgia and Erin in particular had a very believable relationship and sister chemistry. While romantic banter is a must, friendship banter isn’t always pulled off successfully. I believed these people were friends, and the legitimately made me laugh.
Weak points: the big conflict and the whole second half of the book. I feel like the intensity of James’ childhood bullying was somewhat confusing… maybe even unrealistic? I’m not saying bullying always makes sense, but it felt crazy intense, and I don’t get why no one was doing anything about it. The break in James and Erin’s friendship in the past did not sit right with me. It felt forced, and I think there could have been a way to write it differently where he still betrayed the same secret in a less fabricated way.
I found everything about James’ family situation extremely stressful and unresolved. I didn’t feel like the dad or brother’s stories made as much sense to me and it was harder to understand and connect with their characters. Most of the plot wrap up felt a little too convenient (everyone had the exact job openings they wanted when and where they wanted them). The romantic resolution was cute, but I feel like it could have used an epilogue.

I received this book as an ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley! Thank you so much!

This book took me a little while to get into, but once I did I couldn’t put it down! The main character, Erin, has a lot of trauma from past events. We learn more about her past as the story continues, and I appreciate the changes she goes through as she matures and starts seeing other perspectives. The second main character, James, can’t help but be loved by all. He has been dealt a rough hand in more ways than one.

Erin and James work through the story in a unique way— I love the author doesn’t focus on social media like so many other stories these days!

This story brings all the warm and fuzzies while being a great story about growth, change, and following your heart.

Definitely add this to your reading list!

I adored this one! The banter! The swooning! It was perfect. And it's book themed! What's not to love!?

What a good read! I truly enjoyed this book, I thought it was a sweet and unique storyline. Having a second-chance romance through secret notes and a community library is such an eccentric and darling little romance. I loved how both characters had their fair share of flaws as they went through their journey of grief and healing. I thought it portrayed grief in a beautiful and realistic light, I fell in love with and mourned Bonnie right with Erin and James. Some things I thought would have made this book even better would've been more details regarding James and Erin's history. I wanted to know more about how they fell for one another, what it was like when they were kids, if they thought of each other often during their years apart, etc. I think there was various areas that could've used some more descriptive details about how the characters were feeling, what was going on for them, or any resurfacing experiences from the past. Overall, it was a fun story and I'm eager to see it on the shelves! It has been a fantastic opportunity being able to read this arc and learn about James and Erin's stories!
3.5/5 stars

The Book Swap is based upon a storyline that is pure genius!! Imagine You’ve Got Mail but the messages are sent thru margins in a book? The references to the utterly brilliant classics in this book are unbelievable- Great Expectations, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, & Wuthering Heights just to name a few. I could not get enough of this book. If you love books, you will love The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC copy of this book.

(2/5) I struggled to fully read this book. I think this would’ve better been categorized as a contemporary fiction book with a sice plot of romance, because this book was truly just about self improvement. Which brings me to my next point: this book is the epitome of “therapy fixes everything”. It seemed that the entire book was just the mcs realizing they were assholes and needed to improve themselves, which miraculously happened with the help of 1 year of therapy. Also, this book never excited me. I mean, it’s obvious how it was going to end, the main characters easily fixed all of their problems, and there were really no plot points that really immersed me in the story.