This had one of the cleverest “meets” I’ve read in a romantic comedy this year. I thought the author did a great job of making it authentic but interesting, as it allowed me to immediately get to know the characters.
For once, I actually related more to the male character (James) than I did to Cassie. There were several reasons for this.
One, I understood the need to get away. I haven’t had an embarrassing experience like James (and thankfully no relationship that went south like his), but the feeling of being claustrophobic in a big city was very familiar.
I also could empathize with his bewilderment at the rural aspects of his new home. When my husband and I moved from NYC to upstate NY, we were equal parts thrilled to be out of the city but also found it difficult to fit in to established norms of a small town. This was repeated when we moved to WV.
Interestingly, at least to me, I could relate to Cassie in that we just moved from rural back to urban. Her observations about access to stores, restaurants, etc. were similar to what we have been feeling lately. However, I didn’t feel that her singular personal focus actually fit her character. (You’ll understand that if you read it).
While I liked each of the characters individually (although James started off as kind of a jerk), I didn’t get much from them as a romantic couple. The author has a lot of conversations between the two, but I really didn’t feel any chemistry.
All of a sudden, they were both questioning their feelings for each other. Huh?
I think that maybe had to do with the way the author time jumped through the plot. It felt similar to fast forwarding through a movie. For example, one minute Cassie has barely moved in and the next she’s going to dinner parties with the neighbors. It felt disjointed.
I also think this contributed to the failure (again, solely my opinion) of the romance. James and Cassie were at pretty much polar opposite ends of a very important aspect in a relationship, each for their own reasons.
As you can read in the blurbs and other reviews, the subject of their opposition is highly personal and could be difficult for some people to read – but it certainly wasn’t a lighthearted romance issue.
So, I’m left torn. I liked the individuals and the descriptions of the respective houses and locations. I really liked the Maine townspeople (and animals). But the main character romance could have used some juicing up.
I’d still recommend it for the initially stated unique set-up and some genuinely amusing moments.

Reminiscent of "The Holiday" this is a great quick read that follows the escapades of Cassie and James as they initially swap lives and then swap hearts. This is a great feel good story that left me wanting me and interested in finding my own house swap!

Interesting story idea but this one was far too slow to keep my interest. I liked the characters but it felt like nothing was happening in the story. It was good but not great. I’m interested to read more by this debut author

I love the premise of this novel. Man and woman strangers switch homes and live there all while they fall in love as they take peeks into each other’s lives. It reminded me of the movie The Holiday, and a little of the books The Switch and The Flatshare, both by Beth O’Leary.

I liked seeing how James and Cassie eventually started falling for eachother. I just didn’t care for some moments between them in about the first 1/3 of the novel. I love a good enemies to lovers and banter, but the kind of frosty attitudes I felt between them didn’t always sit well with me.

One other thing I liked was seeing the MCs fall in love with the other person’s home and surrounding neighbors/friends. I especially liked how James transformed from an almost uptight city business man into a softer small town guy.

The writing felt a little too casual or juvenile or something at times. Like it almost could have been a ya romance. So it didn’t completely pull me in. But it was still a sweet story with a nice ending.

I think lovers of adult contemporary romance and the switcheroo trope like The Holiday and The Switch will enjoy this novel.

Have you ever picked up a book at the perfect time? I think that is what happened when I picked up The House Swap by Jo Lovett. After a lot of heavy non-fiction books, I needed a book that I could simply enjoy. The House Swap was perfect, especially since it reminded me of one of my all-time favorite rom-com, The Holiday.

In the book, our two characters swap houses. James, the British commitment-phobe, swaps houses with Cassie, a Maine resident who wants nothing more than to be a mother, when his casual fling expects a whole lot more. While they are totally different on paper, Cassie and James and grow and change as they step into each other's lives and homes.

This is definitely a slow-burn kind of book. I loved how the friendship and relationship grow at a steady pace throughout the first part of the book. In fact, the first 75% of the book is a five-star read! However, the last 25% of the book really didn't sit as well with me. There was something about James' change that I found inauthentic. I don't know...if you've read this we need to talk. Overall, I would highly recommend this book! Definitely a fun, four-star read!

I really enjoyed this book. This was a good read, but predictable at times. What I loved was how much I disliked the character of James at the beginning, but credit to the writers amazing talent that she creates characters and develops them so well that you end up in their side too.
It’s a super fun, light hearted read which I would recommend to anyone who to be happy and wants to escape reality for some pure escapism in the best way

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Content warnings: Miscarriage, IVF, surprise/magic baby, addiction

For what it's worth, I really wish we could normalize including when infertility is a major plot point of a book in the blurb. Don't worry, it's not going to give the plot away, and readers should get the heads up!

This story had so much potential but fell completely short for me. There were so many tropes that could have been wonderful, but I didn't connect with the writing style, characters, or plot. The story felt all over the place with no real purpose or structure, there was no chemistry between Cassie and James, and the portrayal of the other characters just felt off. I'm sad to say that nothing about this worked for me, I had really high hopes for this one!

Liked but didn't love. The characters were great and I enjoyed their long distance relationship, but the plot felt a little slow to me.

James and Cassie are two polar opposites that are involved in a “house swap”. One being in London and one being in Maine. How different can you get! The book was a bit predictable on how opposites attract, but it was still an enjoyable read. They did have a similar background where they did not have the best family support.
The book did deal with loss where Cassie suffered a miscarriage, one of the reasons she wanted to flee her home. I really felt for her having been in that position as well years ago. I really enjoyed Cassie’s character.

James was really unlikable in the beginning and as we got farther along it was like a switch flipped ands suddenly he was all for becoming part of the community he wanted to little to do with at the start. Cassie was lovely and I'm glad her chapters weren't surrounding her books was writing and instead focused on the strain of trying to get pregnant while befriending every person she comes across. I love how their calls and texts went form rude complaints to staying up later everyday to to talk to each other.
I was low key expecting some smut or a little more heat between our love interests. Not that every book like this should have some and it's nice to take a break from those scenes.
I am really glad I picked this up.

The House Swap by Jo Lovett reminded me of my favorite movie The Holiday in the best way possible! Londoner James swaps homes with Cassie who lives on a small island off the coast of Maine. He's fleeing a bad relationship and she needs to be in London to research settings for her books. They both learn about their neighbors, selves and each-other in this adorable enemies to lovers tale.

This was a cute romcom but nothing really stood out to me. If this is your preferred genre I'm sure it won't disappoint. If you're like me and only read a light romance once in a while you may want to hold out for something more special.

The concept of this book appealed to me, and the cover certainly drew me in! James and Cassie have never met before. Each of them thinks that they need a getaway from where they are now for various reasons and finds each other on a house swapping website. James lives in a posh London flat and appears to be entirely concerned with his career and money. He's sullen and unapproachable, and he prefers to be alone! Cassie, who lives in Maine, America, on the other side of the world, is an entirely different person than James.Overall it was really good but the ending was too fast?

Cassie and James were two of my favorite characters, with unique careers and quite different perspectives on life. I appreciated the slow-burn in this; Cassie and James meet via a house swapping service and agree never to see each other again until the exchange is completed; yet, because their individual residences for the next several months are so different from what they anticipated, they reconnect via notes (though this was mainly on Cassie's side), messages, and phone calls.

**First of all, thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review**

I haven't read nothing from Jo Lovett, and I have to admit it has been a nice surprise!
The story is entertaining and well written, with two main characters that start from two diametrically opposite points of view and characters that seem impossible to meet. I was so thriller, in fact, to see how this "House Swap" will go ( especially regarding James! ) and I have to say that, as Cassie will gradually notice, he's been even more charming and lovable than the beginning -that was REALLY funny, by the way-.
I've really appreciate his personal growth, and how he decided to face his demons and be better, do better, opening himself to others! The relationship with Cassie did help, yes, but the most has done by his change of living situation and I think it's good because it's more relatable and concrete.
I have to admit I haven't seen the same development on Cassie's side, and this is a pity, even if she made some steps ahead too.
Their relationship had sparkles from the beginning and I've loved their interactions SO much, I read waiting for their next meeting or call because I had to! Nontheless, I think the author could push more and create more dialogues and confrontations, that could -maybe- have avoided some silly choices from both sides and helped to dealt the (really interesting) main themes in a more proper way. It seemed a little bit too fast and I felt that lack in my personal involvement in the story. Plus, the last section of the book was easily predictable and I would have appreciate to see more in the epilogue that would explain how things were going.

Anyway, it is a good book for sure, so if you're looking for a light, romantic and entertaning book, The House Swap is a reading you should take into consideration!

Very cute rom com with lovely characters, but I felt like it was a little predictable. Enjoyed the story but preferred something more like The Flat Share.

First, thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Total chick-lit, beach read. Story was cute and fun, even if I didn't care for some of their choices, it was an enjoyable and easy read

The House Swap is such a fun concept. Loved the descriptions of life in London vs life in Maine. The story was sooooo slow, and there seemed to be way too many tangent story lines.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC for an honest review.

Firstly, thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Jo Lovett for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I found both characters extremely likeable which always helps with story development.

This was a super fun, light hearted read which I would recommend to anyone who loves an enjoyable solid read.

I would definitely read more from this author.

DNF at 10%

As a massive fan of The Holiday, I wanted to love this book; however, I couldn't get into the storyline or the characters. I know I didn't make it very far, and I tried to plow through, but by chapter four, I was done.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a pre-release copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*

Cute and fun! Not my favorite but it was definitely enjoyable and definitely a book that I would recommend to a romance lover like myself.