This is my first read by Robyn Harding. I was hooked from the very beginning. The writing is great. The whole book flows well and seamlessly which makes it hard to put down. The characters are developed and feel real. I was not expecting that ending. I really enjoyed the pottery aspect. This book was SO. GOOD. I can't say enough about it - just go read it if you haven't already!

This was my first Robyn Harding novel, but I've seen friends reading her books for a while. I'm so grateful I got to read an advanced copy of this book, because I have instantly become a Robyn Harding fan.

The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest United States and it centres around two couples and a young teenage girl. Low, a highschool senior, has never fit in with her peers. She's awkard, intense... different. One day she sees a beautiful blonde twenty-something advertising pottery lessons on her high school bulletin board. Freya is an instagram-famous hockey wife who recently moved to the island from LA after her husband Max's career ended in flames. Freya is gorgeous but manipulative she quickly has Low devoted to her. Finally there is Jamie and Brian, the nice normal couple who become "couple friends" with Freya and Max. After one crazy night of drugs and secrets, all the dysfunction begins to seep out and unravel. The four adults are embroiled in a scandal and at the centre of it is obsessive, lonely Low... and she's not going anywhere.

From the first chapter of this book I was hooked and I read it in 24 hours. Freya was awful and despicable and I was so addicted to finding out what her evil manipulative mind would do next. The ending was climactic and pure insanity, just how I like my psychological thrillers. If you're looking for a great freaky page turner with a cast of screwed up characters, definitely pick this up when it publishes on June 23rd! Its the perfect summer poolside thriller!

As far as thrillers go, this books is perfect - it has a unique plot, great setting, plenty of twists and chapters that kept me reading through a rainy Canadian long weekend.
Relationships collide and contort in Harding's novel - a former celebrity couple trying to start over, a lonely, gawky teenager, and a couple looking for a fresh start all get caught up in an evening's hedonistic debauchery. The consequences have devastating effects and soon secrets become power as the characters struggle to overcome their own shortcomings and desires for friendship.
I loved the shifting perspectives, and I really loved that Harding did not rely on the overused unreliable narrator mechanism to give her book tension. Initially, I felt that I could have used more character development, but as the novel progressed, that feeling subsided.
Hands down the best thriller I have read this year - I will be recommending this to all of my friends!
Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I were to try and squeeze "The Swap" into one image in my mind, I would describe it as layers upon layers of neatly defined, vibrant lines flowing together, apart, together in a constantly twisting maze. But that image isn't right, because none of the characters in "The Swap" are one-dimensional. Each one is beautifully crafted, their individual and connected situations suited perfectly to their complicated, broken personalities. Ms Harding had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, braced for the surprise(s) I knew had to eventually come, captivated by the story's switching directions and consequences. Highly recommend.

Wow wow wow. What an exciting book! The characters were amazing and they all came together to make an incredible cast of characters. The author blew me away with the storyline and the twists in the book. I loved how the book began with the narration and not a dialogue between characters. I was fascinated with Low and Freya’s characters. Their characters balanced each other out nicely. The book sailed along and I didn’t want to put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen although in the back of my mind I already knew. I have read a couple of other books by this author and this one is the same caliber of book, High excitement and so much suspense. I can’t say much about the book as I don’t want to post any spoilers. If you like a fast moving story with unique and dangerous characters than this book is for you. I would like that thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this book.

Obsession is a major theme in this book. Freya is the central character. She wants to be adored by the masses. She is done with her ex hockey player husband whose past mistakes have landed her here on this island. Low and Jamie come into Freya's life wanting to be fawned over by her. She makes them feel something deep within themselves that they never knew was there. They want to be this woman's besti, sister, or take whatever they can get from her. Freya doesn't hesitate in giving them what they want.

Having read The Party and Her Pretty Face, I was happy to see this new book from Robyn Harding and couldn't wait to get my hands on it I enjoyed reading this and at times I found myself annoyed and angry at the characters. Low, Freya and Jamie bugged me to no end but I did feel sorry for them at different times. Based on that I feel the author did a good job of developing their characters. In terms of a decent thriller to read this Summer, this one should be near the top of your list. It will have you thinking and shaking your head all the way through.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishing company and the author for this digital ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Have you ever read a book that you hate for loving so much? The Swap is well written and fast paced. The story was intriguing and different than the ones currently being told by authors of this genre. Plot wise it was five stars. Character wise… everyone was terrible! Ok that’s not entirely true, there is one character; a nice young man named, Thompson who shows up near the end. His presence, however, is not enough to remove the grime that the others characters feel like they have left on your skin. Even the parents and husbands of our main characters were slightly unlikable. What parent allows their teenage daughter to pursue a relationship with a married woman twice her age?? There are many questionable parenting and relationship decisions in this book; A book I mistakenly thought was about a pair of couples who get a little drunk and decide to partake in a little partner swapping followed by the fallout that will no doubt occur once they sober up. While this does happen but the story gets much messier than you could begin to imagine.

Told from the POVs of our 3 main characters; high school student Low, desperate for a baby Jamie and narcissistic instablogger Freya. For reasons lost on me Low and Jamie passively aggressively battle each other to be Freya’s best friend. To be honest I’m not sure why anyone would want to be friends with any of them. Despite their dysfunction, Low and Jamie would have been better off had it not been for Freya’s manipulations. I would love to go into detail about Freya’s sociopathic behaviour but Robyn Harding tells the story much better than I can.

This book is filled with some dark and twisted subject matter including obsession, abuse and in my opinion sexual assault. It will leave many shaking their heads and I’m sure will lead to many a discussion between book clubs and bibliophiles alike.

I read this one in an afternoon. It was good. At first i identified with Low and Jamie. But then Low's actions were a little odd towards the end of the book and i didn't anymore. How can one night change everything. For 2 couples and 1 teenager. It was twisty and complicated (but not complicated at the same time). I dont like POV of more than 2 people but this one worked. I wished that i could have heard more from Max. He is a Yukoner !!! But his character was strong and silent.

It was a really good book will recommend. I hope that my next read will be as good as this one.

Thanks NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC !

This was WILD.

I truly loved every part of this book. Low, Freya, and Jamie had such an interesting and deliciously twisted dynamic. Low and Freya in particular were a truly wild time. Low was such an unexpected narrator, and it was bizarre to be in her head sometimes. It could sometimes feel like you're watching a train crash in real time, but you can't look away. I really did like that Harding included perspectives of the other adults as well, which definitely added something extra to the overall narrative.

Really, there isn't a lot I can say without spoiling the story but dear god this was sO GOOD. The ending was a total gut punch in all the right ways. This was my first Harding book but I think I'm going to dive into her backlist, and I am extremely excited for whatever other twisted stories she comes up with next.

The premise of this book is that a teenager is obsessed with an adult woman she meets. That woman is self absorbe and annoying. Not only is the teenager obsessed with her, but another woman is too. The character in question treats everyone like garbage and I can't imagine either of them would want to spend any more time with her, let alone be obessed with her. The character was so unlikeable I just couldn't understand why anyone would pay any attention to her at all.

The Swap is one of those books where you don't like a single one of the characters, they're all frustrating and mostly unlikable in one way or another. Some of them have enough redeeming qualities, but a few are just downright detestable. The story zigs and zags and I couldn't put it down. Loved the ending! Highly recommend this book.

If you’re looking for a binge worthy book you won’t be able to put down, read The Swap, a story of toxic relationships, manipulation and obsession.
Set in a small island town, this story follows Low, a lonely teenager with a unique family, looking for a place to belong. Jamie and Brian, an ordinary couple hoping to one day become parents. Freya, a once famous media influencer and her husband Max, a troubled former hockey player.
As Low and Jamie fall under Freya’s charms, one night of a drug induced couples swap throws friendships into a tail spin and changes their lives forever.
I honestly couldn’t put this book down. The characters were perfect and the story unpredictably twisted and screwed up.

To say I am obsessed with Robyn Harding's writing is an understatement. Her books always have me on the edge of my seat and this one was no exception! What a wild ride! That's the best way to describe it...this book was wild! Harding writes some really interesting characters and this book had a handful of them that were so crazy! They were not likeable characters, mostly narcissistic and troubled, but the plot of this book made it so that you didn't even care. This story was full of scandal and people making terrible decisions. I can't explain too much without giving away the entire plot. The story centers around two couples with less than perfect relationships who engage in one scandalous night of partner swapping. Then there is one strangely odd teenager, somehow sucked into the drama and obsessed with one of the older females, who has in her power, the potential to destroy everything. Robyn Harding is a master of building suspense! The story had twists and turns which I'm a fan of and an epic ending. I was sucked into this story from the first page and would recommend it, without a doubt. Five huge stars from me! Congrats Robyn Harding on another fabulous book and thanks to the team at Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for sending this my way. This one releases on June 23rd, so mark your calendars!

This was the first Robyn Harding book I have read and wow what a wild ride. This book sucked me in right from the start. I was hooked. I couldn’t put it down. The title of this book intrigued me....I had an idea it was about a partner swap but little did I know the plot was going to dig into the negative side of the social media influencing world, or the main characters dark obsession with her friend. I needed a book like this to get me out of my reading slump and now I will be hunting down every book this author has written. If you enjoy thrilling suspense this novel is for you. You won’t be disappointed!

I received a copy of this book from Galley/Scott Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for a wild ride of book, look no further! The Swap brings you on a twisty, dark adventure you won’t ever forget. To say this storyline is original is a complete understatement... I think it’s best to go into this one a bit blind. I was pleasantly surprised at all the different directions the plot went. Just know there’s people behaving badly, unique family situations, swingers (yup you read that right), obsessions and a whole bunch of scandal!!!

This one is full of awful characters so if you’re like me and like to have one character to root for it won’t even matter because you’ll be so wrapped up in the story you’ll enjoyed hating on them! This is my 2nd book by Robyn Harding and wow her books are so addicting! I’m obsessed with her writing!

This is a MUST READ this summer! Coming out June 23rd! Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the gifted book to review.

Well...huh! I have no idea where to start with this review, and that's not a bad thing. This was quite a wild ride! Jamie and Low are both seeking Freya's friendship, which I didn't quite understand, because from a reader's standpoint, MAN, is she unlikable, Like really and truly a terrible person! Low, a teenager with no friends and a weird home life, sees Freya as a beautiful obsession. Married Jamie sees Freya as a best friend, the woman she herself wants to be. Seeking Freya's approval leads Jamie and Low to do some questionable things, including the titular "Swap."
I really enjoyed this book, and had a hard time putting it down Robyn Harding is a fantastic author. This was my first book of hers, but it certainly won't be my last!!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review

I'm not going to lie I thought I was going to get bored when I started reading this but it's actually a really twisty suspenseful story. I enjoyed it and the ending was great the best resolution possible for the story!

This is a well paced book and it had me hooked within the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the fact that there was a minimal amount of supporting characters and strong main characters. While there were things told from different perspectives you didn't feel like you read the same thing over again but in a different view, the changes kept the flow of the novel going. Excellent read and will be highly recommended to people.

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
The Swap
by Robyn Harding

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Get ready for drama, secrets, manipulation, jealousy and obsession!!!
Young teenage girl Low is mesmerized by beautiful social media influencer Freya and her gorgeous hockey star husband with a past. Insert Jamie and her husband Brian and you have yourself a page turning twisted psychological thriller.
The characters are all so easy to despise, which is a good thing. The writing was fast paced and I couldn’t wait to see how all the craziness would end.
Now the ending ~ I’m gonna go with “Wow, wasn’t expecting that” and say no more ... #readthisbook to find out 😉

PUB DAY JUNE 23 2020

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔
@netgalley & @simon&schustercanada for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Much appreciated 😊

Canadian author Robyn Harding is one my all-time favourite authors. Each and every spring I look forward to her latest suspense filled thriller. Harding's books are the type of reads you can get absolutely lost it in. They are compulsive page turners that you can not put down. "The Swap", coming out June 23rd, does not disappoint. It's a gripping tale about toxic relationships, sexual shenanigans, and explosive secrets.

Freya, an ethereal beauty and once-famous social media influencer who now owns the local pottery studio, has recently moved into Low's small town island community. After signing up for a pottery class, awkward teenage Low quickly falls under Freya’s spell and the two build a seemingly close relationship.

Enter Jamie. Desperate for a baby, she and her husband have moved to the island hoping that the healthy environment will result in a pregnancy. Freya and Jamie become fast friends, as do their husbands, leaving Low on the outs.

After a boozy dinner party with Freya, Jamie and their husbands, Freya suggests swapping partners. What should have been a single night of debauchery amongst consenting adults ends up leaving rippling chaotic effects. And provides a disgruntled Low the perfect opportunity to unleash her resentment.

"The Swap" is an excellent read indicative of Harding's addictive writing style. I could have easily consumed the full book in a matter of hours (alas, life and working from home during this quarantine got in the way). There are dark turns, plenty of juicy secrets, and drama around each and every corner. However, I don't believe this newest release is her best. All three female leads are difficult to root for. Yes, literary characters should be flawed just as we, in real life, so often are. But Freya, Low, and Jamie are each incredibly self-possessed, often mean-spirited, and catty to all hell. Their personas work well to highlight the obsessive and sometimes dark nature female friendships can carry. However, the novel offers little to no enjoyable characters to balance these three women. This may have been intentional on Harding's part in effort to delve deep into the toxicity of relationships, both marital and congenial. If so - kudos to the author for reflecting back to readers the darker side of human relationships.

Thanks to the wonderful people at Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy in lieu of an honest review.