This one just didn’t do it for me. For most of the book our two main characters weren’t together in person. While, I enjoyed the witty banter over the phone, I also just want the two people who are supposed to fall in love to spend time together. This felt more like a book about two people with separate lives, in different countries, still managing to fall in love than it did an actual romance.
My other main issue with this book was the conflict between the two main characters: Cassie desperately wants a baby whereas James doesn’t want any children. I feel that this is actually a fairly common issue between couples and I would’ve liked this to be explored more *spoilers* instead of Cassie somehow ending up pregnant after spending one weekend with James and then James deciding he does want to settle down and have a child or two simply because Cassie got pregnant.
The only saving grace was the characters: I really enjoyed Cassie, but the supporting characters were so wonderful!
This was a well written book, but it wasn’t a believable romance for me.

This was such a sweet fun read. It got me interested from page one, and I couldn't stop turning the pages. The characters were great, the romance was sweet, and overall the story was one that I would recommend. Slow burn can be sweet, or torture, and in this one, it was just the perfect pace, with so much more going on to entertain. Beautiful!

This is a lovely light hearted read, I have never read a book by Jo Lovett but I will be reading more of her books in the future. He needs to escape, she needs an adventure! It is a lovely romance and really shows the characters growth as the story progresses. it is about 2 people, James and Cassie, that need to leave their old lives behind, Cassie living in a little island home off the coast of Maine and James living in London, they couldn't be anymore different and they start as enemies (maybe a too strong a word to use) and eventually turn to lovers. This book is a slow burn and I did want to give up at the start, basically because I didn't like James as a character but I really am pleased that I gave the story chance to develop Thank you to NetGalley fot this opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

This book was ok. I liked the idea of this though it took a bit of time to continue reading towards the end.

This was a three star rating.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read and review this.

This book was such a delight! Cassie is a wonderfully quirky character, and James starts out as a real pill but transforms over the course of the book to be a great guy. I was curious how the house swap premise would work, but Lovett pulled it off really well. The characters' connection felt real, even from across the ocean. I also loved the contrasting settings of London vs an island off Maine.

I do think the "surprising discovery" will turn some people off -- it's a small twist on a trope many people don't like, but the foundation is laid well and I liked how it was handled. A heartwarming story I powered through!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book! I fell in love with the settings of rural Maine and central London. I also loved the dual perspectives and the characters development that occurred throughout the book. This would be such a good summer read!

This is definitely a super Hilarious, Rom-Com that I have read in a long time!!
I loved the chemistry between the characters! The author does not miss one beat with these characters! She has them so well developed that they just mesh and they could be your nosy next door neighbor or your chatty Kathy person!
Cassie & James who swap houses across the continent are the exact opposites and their homes and friends reflect that very thing.
Just wait to you read all of these madcap adventures the two end up getting into and they meet in person more than once!

I definitely would recommend this book because I would rate this book ten stars if I could! I laughed out loud that my husband was shocked a book got me laughing!

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

If like me you’ve watched The Holiday more times than you are prepared to admit to, then you are going to fall head over heels in love with Jo Lovett’s irresistible romantic read, The House Swap.

When Cassie and James meet on a home-swapping website, it feels like the stars have aligned for them. With his last relationship having ended acrimoniously, James realises that he needs to get out of London – fast! When he spots Cassie’s cosy but ramshackle beachside cottage in Maine, it seems like the answer to all of his prayers – although when he gets to her beautiful island home, he is stunned when he finds himself sharing his new digs with eleven chickens, three alpacas and neighbours who wouldn’t know boundaries if they hit them straight in the face! Life on the island is as far removed from his life in Holland Park as it is possible to get – and he certainly isn’t backwards in coming forwards when it comes to voicing his complaints to Cassie!

Cassie has made herself at home in James’ luxurious Central London penthouse – and she clearly is not the only one! Cassie is less than impressed when she finds James’s ex waltzing through the front door wondering where her former beau has disappeared off to! As the insults and complaints begin to fly between Cassie and James, so does the sexual tension! However, with the time to swap back fast approaching, they quickly realise that they are not quite ready to give each other up just yet!

But when Cassie makes a startling discovery, the two of them begin to wonder whether they’ve got the courage to admit the truth about their feelings for one another. Or whether they are about to let their insecurities get in the way of a love that could last a lifetime…

A delightful romantic comedy that is simply terrific, The House Swap is a joyous romp sprinkled with humour, charm and plenty of heart. Cassie and James are two brilliant characters readers will warm to and fall for. Their banter is delicious, the chemistry between them red-hot and their romance will leave readers with a great big smile on their face.

Heart-warming, hilarious and feel-good, romantic comedy fans will certainly not want to miss Jo Lovett’s The House Swap.

City hotshot James needs a change after a relationship goes sour and Cassie needs to leave the comfort of her little island to research her new book. When Cassie and James find each other on a home swap website, it feels meant to be.

Soon, James is living in Cassie’s cute but ramshackle house off the coast of Maine, and Cassie’s living in James’s super smart London penthouse. It’s the perfect solution.

Except it turns out it’s difficult to switch homes without getting involved in each other’s lives. Cassie’s unimpressed when James’s ex turns up, and James is furious when he discovers that the internet connection is going to be an issue and he’s going to have to help organise Cassie’s neighbour’s eightieth birthday party.

But as the insults fly, so do the sparks, and when the time finally comes to swap back, Cassie and James find they aren’t ready to give each other up – until a shocking discovery brings the pair crashing back to reality and forces them to decide what life they really want.

This is an easy and light hearted read. It’s sweet and adorable at the same time.

The plot is obviously predictable and the ending is slightly too good to be true, but the characters are so enjoyable, that you don’t mind it! Cassie is amazing right from the start. Her outgoing and friendly personality is what makes you love her throughout the book. James starts off as unlikable, but as the story progresses, his attitude changes and we get to discover a different side of him.

What I liked the most about this book was that in spite of it being cute, sweet and all things nice, it also had a message. Through the traumas and struggles that Cassie and James were facing, the author was able to highlight the importance of family, friendship, learning and discovering one-self through various life experiences.

Overall, a good read. Highly recommended for a light weekend read!

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

I was really excited to read this book, and I definitely did like it, but not as much as I hoped for. It's about Cassie, who lives off the coast of Maine with coastal views, and James, who lives in a Holland Park penthouse. When they swap places, it is really interesting and also entertaining, as they were both wholly unprepared for the life swap that came with the house swap.

This book was lighthearted and comedic and romantic, and I liked both characters, but I wasn't overly attached to them. Cassie is warm and friendly, and James goes through a growth, but I am not a huge fan of the "man is 'fixed' by a woman" trope.

Overall, the book was a fun read, but I don't think it's one I would read again.

This is the perfect book slump book! I felt myself falling into one and this book was the absolute perfect cure! A cute, fun read.

I truly did love this book and felt like I was in the holiday (a favourite winter movie of mine)! Two strangers, James and Cassie, decide they need a break from their current lives and find each other on a house swapping website. James lives in London, Cassie in Maine. Cassie needs time away to research and work on her writing and James needs a break from his personal problems. Throughout their journey both characters are able to find new beginnings, forgiveness, and ultimately reach a level of acceptance and love.

James was exactly the jerk, snob character that I often find myself hooked on in this genre, which is beautifully balanced by Cassie’s bright eyed writers gaze! The dialogue in this book had me laughing out loud and the characters held a piece of my heart!

I definitely recommend this read to anyone that wants to have a good laugh, a reading slump cure, or yet another reason to be a hopeless romantic!

There are hints of The Holiday here, as Cassie and James find each other on a house swap site. Cassie lives off the coast of Maine with coastal views and James is a city boy, living in a Holland Park penthouse. However James’s place comes complete with a concierge and spurned lovers. So James is looking for a bolthole to escape to, whereas Cassie could do with some inspiration from her writing. Maybe also some excitement which her island doesn’t provide. It sounds perfect.

James finds himself in a sweet little cottage that’s a little bit dilapidated and comes with free chickens and alpacas! Also the neighbours are disturbingly friendly, dropping round with no notice whenever the mood takes them. Meanwhile Cassie ends up counselling James’s ex and trying not to tell her where he’s gone. Neither is happy. As they talk on the phone, they voice their annoyance, but with that tension comes a bit of a spark. Will they be able to go back to normal when the swap is over, or is there unfinished business between them.

This was a lighthearted comedy romance. I loved Cassie, because she’s warm and friendly, and exactly the person you’d want as a friend. James isn’t quite as likeable in the first third of the book, he’s uptight and really work focused. This is a bit of a transformation story - unable to commit, rich and unpleasant man is changed by the right woman, magically. I did like that he went through some personal growth and change, but I didn’t quite trust him. This was light and really was a nice read, but it won’t be one I love and read again.

DNF 25%

I wanted to like this book, but it just wasn’t for me. It was alright, but I got 25% of the way in and wasn’t invested. James was unlikeable from the start, and I found him quite high maintenance. Cassie was nice but just didn't grab me as a character.
The writing was good and I liked the style, the story itself just didn't pull me in enough to keep reading.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cassie lives on a remote island in Maine, in a house with gorgeous sea views. She cares for her alpacas and chickens and hangs out with her neighbours all the time. James on the other hand lives in a modern, swanky penthouse in Central London, ignores his neighbours and has never touched a farm animal in his life. Cassie is looking for some city-living inspiration for her new book, and James is desperatly in need of a getaway after a relationship ends badly. Fate somehow connects the two when they both find themselves on a house swap website, so swapping houses is the perfect solution for both of them. However, the swap turns out to be even more meaningful than either of them expected and ends up changing both their lives completely.

"He broke into a smile when he saw her, and it was like the whole evening had brightened up."

This book was absolutely ADORABLE! It was honestly a delight to read and after finishing it, my heart felt so full. Some things were pretty predictable, of course, but honestly who cares! I'm such a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope and a slow-burn romance so this was exactly the feel-good book I needed in my life.

It did bother me just a teeny bit that both characters just had their individual trauma solved so quickly by the end of the book. It just doesn't sit right with me that they did it all on their own and so suddenly, when the author could've maybe de-stigmatized going to therapy by making her characters do so. Another thing that bothered me a little was how James suddenly changed his mind about a certain topic (I'm trying not to spoil anything) at the end... I don't know if that was so realtistic, but I guess it was necessary for the happy ending. Anyway, I was able to push these tiny annoyances aside, though, so I definitely still enjoyed it!

"Sometimes love isn't enough, is it."

Okay, now it's time to talk about the characters. First off: Cassie. Oh, how I adored her from the start! She is so outgoing, friendly, funny and just very relatable. Her outlook on life kind of inspired me in a way, and when I grow up (lol) I wanna be just like her. James on the other hand, I was not a fan of at the start. His behaviour towards Cassie and her neighbours just felt so off-putting to me. But don't worry, he made up for that plenty by the middle of the book and definitely entered my "I LOVE THIS CHARACTER" shelf by the end. What I also love is how both Cassie and James had their own (totally opposite) personalities, character development and a proper backstory. They also both had a maturity about them that made it very easy for me to connect to them. And honestly even all the side characters were great (except for Emily and Simon, obviously).

This book made me laugh and cry and it was such a heartwarming, lighthearted and quick read. I absolutely flew through it! If you're a fan of books like The Hating Game, The Flatshare and movies like The Holiday, definitely give this one a try!

Content warnings: IVF, miscarriage, struggling to conceive, addiction.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Jo Lovett for giving me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“He leaned down and kissed her, gently at first, and then very urgently, like the world was ending."

Overall rating: ★★★★

3.95/4 ⭐️

It follows two characters, James and Cassie, who decided to swap house for a change of scene.

James, who lead a very busy life in London. Cassie, a writer who wanted to place her next book in London.

Obviously they didn’t start on a good foot. It all started with a lot of grunting and sassy comments.

After months of talking on the phone they realized their chemistry 😉

What will happen? It kept me wondering for sureee

Gorgeous grumpy James and very sweet Cassie

Hold on to your panties because he can BAKE 🥰

🏷 slow burn
🏷 annoyed at first sight
🏷 ANIMALS 💕✨🧚🏻‍♀️🥺

Trigger warning : miscarriage/ abusive ex/ cheating/

ARC received by Netgalley for a honest review (less)

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I liked the idea of two strangers swapping houses for few months. Cassie and James meet on a website for swapping houses and they agreed for a few months they will be swapped houses. They had very different reasons to leave their houses, Cassie needed to go to London to make research for her book and James needed to leave his house to escape from his ex-girlfriend.

Cassie and James began to talk on the phone and they become friends. I loved that Cassie and James confided in each other, Cassie confessed to James that she really wants to become a mother and James told Cassie about his problematic past.

“I love you, Cassie Adair. He brushed her tears away with his thumbs. You’ve been driving me insane since the moment we first spoke on the phone and I don’t think I can live without you”

I loved the slow burn romance between James and Cassie and how their relationship developed through the book. I loved how James changed and accepted his past. I liked the friendship between Cassie and her neighbors. I enjoyed The House Swap and I recommend it to everyone who wants to read a fun rom-com.

Cassie is a Glaswegian writer who relocated to a small island in Maine several years ago after a very sad life event. She is a successful children's book author and has been asked to come to London to talk about setting some of her stories there. She doesn't want to leave her island, but when her agent pushes, she decides to go. The problem is where will she stay. James is a very successful venture capitalist who is being stalked by his ex-girlfriend. He wants to leave for awhile and decides that there are some people he would like to meet up with in the Boston area, so decides he will go to the U.S. He just needs to find a place to stay. The both turn to Swapbnb. James will swap his swanky flat in Central London for Cassie's rambling house in Maine and vice versa. This sounds like a great trade, but Cassie and James couldn't be more different. Cassie is outgoing, friendly and helpful, while James is uptight and doesn't even know his neighbours. How is this going to work and how will two people who swap homes with an ocean in between going to get to know each other.

This was a great story. There was so much to like. First, the characters were great. Cassie is the kind of person that everyone wants to be friends with. She is so upbeat and friendly, as well as generous and caring. James starts off as an unlikable, rich, businessman that was too busy for everyone, but as the story goes on, he changes. He gets to know Cassie's neighbours and we see a different side of him. Daily phone calls and messages between the two of them allow them to really get to know each other on a different level. They are both in their thirties, so they are not looking for a fling, in fact, Cassie really wants a child. The secondary characters are wonderful. It is through them that James is able to grow and change. Both of them have some baggage, but James has kept his a secret and has been unable to heal. This was a story of friendship, personal growth, family and determining what you really want in your life. This is up-lit at its best. I really enjoyed this story and recommend it to anyone who wants love, friendship, new beginnings and happy endings.

A well written book, easy to read with great flow to the story. Cassie and James were great characters. The different locations became real to the reader and the supporting cast were fun and quirky. Loved it !
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a light hearted, well written book with a good story line
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookoutre, and Jo for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

What a sweet vacation or beach read! Cassie lives on a remote island off of Maine, while James has a modern condo in London. James wants to escape London and his ex girlfriend who has become unhinged, while Cassie needs to do research on London for the next installment of her book. The two do a house exchange, and while they are very different personalities, changes start to occur for both of them. Recommended and thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 stars ⭐

✦ ✧ ✦ ✧

James and Cassie, two thirty-somethings, decide to put their houses up on a housing swapping website, which is where they meet each other. James is looking for a place to stay after a bad break up and Cassie wants to research for her new book and step outside of the comfort zone that is her small island. Soon, James is living in Cassie’s cute but ramshackle beachside cottage, and Cassie’s living in James’s luxurious London apartment. It’s the perfect solution. Well, at least that’s what it seems at first, until it leads to a rocky relationship between the two. But as the tension wears off and gives space to friendly chatter, a beautiful friendship begins to form and then, something more.

✦ ✧ ✦ ✧

At first, James was really cold and off-putting and I really did not like him. Eventually, though, he warmed up to Cassie and they slowly started talking more and more and he became a lot kinder and understanding and less judgmental and presumptuous. On the other hand, I liked Cassie from the beginning. She is going through a bit of a hard patch in her life because she really wants to get pregnant and has been undergoing IVF treatments which, unfortunately, haven’t been working. When you initially put the main characters together, you can’t really see how they would end up falling for each other because they have such different life ambitions and personalities. However, both of them change and grow a lot throughout the story, especially James, and it made them a great couple. Something that I think a lot of people will like about this romance novel is that the protagonists are in their late thirties instead of their twenties, which, in my experience, you don’t see a lot. It was nice reading this romance from a perspective of two people who are in completely different phases of their life than what I’m used to.

The side characters added a lot to the story too, both Cassie and James’ neighbours. They gave a light-hearted tone to contrast the sadder moments and it all fit really nicely. Arguably not as important, but Cassie’s alpacas were super cute 🥺

Another aspect that is worth pointing out is that this book doesn’t have any explicit sex scenes. HALLELUJAH!!! The romances I’ve been reading have been full of them, so it felt really good to “detox” from all of that and read a romance that’s more focused on the emotional side, rather than the characters thinking about sex ALL. THE. TIME. (obviously, I’m not trying to shame any one, it’s just that I read way too many books with explicit sex scenes followed very closely by one another)

That being said, I wasn’t a huge fan of how everything wrapped-up. Without wanting to give away spoilers, the romance wraps up in a way that you could probably predict because it’s the only way to make it work, really. Personally, I do not like the trope used. The ending is still heartwarming but too picture-perfect in my opinion. The main conflict is resolved way too quickly and easily for its importance.

In addition, it took me quite a long time to get into this book because the romance is definitely very slow-burn. Also, although I like Cassie and James, I don’t love them and their story isn’t very memorable for me.

All in all, The House Swap is a romance novel that is able to tackle more serious topics such as grief and miscarriage, but does so whilst deliving a cute, slow-burn romance with a grumpy-on-the-outside-but-soft-on-the-inside hero and a strong, lovable heroine.


Content warnings: infertility, miscarriage, addiction issues (mentioned), death of loved ones (sibling and parent), childhood abandonment.