Tessa Bickers's debut novel "The Book Swap" is packaged with a cover that makes it seem like another light and fluffy romcom, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a story with much more substance. The story centers around two thirty-somethings who exchange notes within the margins of books in a little library and the lives that they lead outside of their mysterious, sweet, and candid literary rendezvouses.

I was initially interested in the book because I do love stories that center around people who love books, and the idea of a plot built around that and references to some of my favorite books was very appealing. Using the little library as the central setting for the "meet cute" in this story was a different twist and interesting, as these are a common sight in many communities.

I liked that the characters were flawed and multi-faceted in ways that felt genuine and not forced. For instance, no one was clumsy or awkward as a character flaw. No one was described drop-dead gorgeous. The characters came off as very normal people navigating everyday issues and situations like family drama, grief, questioning career choices, infidelity, divorce, dissatisfaction with one's level of success achieved, balancing passion with financial stability, navigating friends' pregnancies. In particular, I liked reading about how both main characters were navigating dissatisfaction in their careers and looking for ways to pursue their passions, in spite of the fear that comes with it.

There are some darker themes in the book, particularly around the supporting characters. One of the aspects of the book that I appreciated was that not all of the conflict is resolved in a neat, happy way in the end. It felt more realistic and relatable that way.

Those looking for spice or sap won't find a lot of it in this book, which I found refreshing. In fact, it was a rather slow build and really didn't place the main characters together much. It almost felt a bit like "Sleepless in Seattle" or "You've Got Mail" where the romance is happening in a detached way, and the story really revolves more about the characters' lives and evolution.

There were a few elements that I found a bit distracting. One was that the female lead often imagines her deceased best friend being in the room with her, having full and real conversations. It seemed a bit unnecessary, and I was never sure whether that should be concerning or just a strange plot device. For being very central to the story, that character got very little development in flashbacks beyond just the catalyst event, and I wish we would have gotten more development to help us to understand why the friendship was so meaningful and what had been lost in her death. There are also a quite a few characters- siblings and their families, best friends, romantic partners, parents, coworkers, bosses, etc. For a book this size, it was a bit of a bloated cast that perhaps could have been edited or slimmed down. I found myself needing to flip back or forward to remember who some of the people were.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think that fans of classic books and slower-paced romantic comedies like the ones I mentioned would also enjoy it. Looking forward to future books from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced read.

I had to DNF this at 20%. I just couldn't get into the book or care about the characters fully. The writing style was off for me. There was a lot of repetitive words in a short amount of paragraphs (flat, for example).

What to expect:
📚grief over death of a friend
📚Little Free Library visits
📚making connections through notes in the margins
📚references to the classics (i.e. To Kill a Mocking Bird, Jane Austen, etc.)
📚set in England
📚swoony book dedication
📚dual POV

This was more "women's fiction" than romance than I expected, but I still fully enjoyed it! There were many heavy topics discussed throughout the full book. Erin quits her toxic job and is on a journey moving on from past guilt, parental abandonment, betrayal, and self-discovery with a new career. Meanwhile James is also on a journey of self-discovery, while overcoming childhood trauma, managing life with a parent with bipolar disorder, and learning to be more open and vulnerable with loved ones. I would have loved a little more romance, but the book dedication did melt my heart so it was enough closure. CWs listed below, stop reading here if you think those are spoilers. But be prepared for a heavy read if you choose not to review.

I love how the past and present wear connected. This was a book filled with beautiful literary references to tell a beautiful story between two people who thought they were strangers. I love the second chance romance trope. Would definitely recommend.

Grieving and forgiveness are strong themes of this story. Forgiveness of both oneself and others. There's also joy and growth. I love how Erin and her Mystery Man are able to use books and writing to each other in the margins to connect and see other perspectives. I also loved the dual POV. Along with the fun of the book exchange, we get to see what real life looks like for each of them - and how hard it can be even when we want it to be something different and are actively trying to get there. It's a great book to tGrieving and forgiveness are strong themes of this story. Forgiveness of both oneself and others. There's also joy and growth. I love how Erin and her Mystery Man are able to use books and writing to each other in the margins to connect and see other perspectives. I also loved the dual POV. Along with the fun of the book exchange, we get to see what real life looks like for each of them - and how hard it can be even when we want it to be something different and are actively trying to get there. It's a great book to discuss.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy. All opinions are my own.alk about!

Does a fast Omri. I enjoyed the characters in the story. The romance, so sweet and satisfying. I love how the book was centered on a book swap between the characters, and they really got a sense of who they were without seeing face-to-face. The Author did a great Bible found family, but also included a heartwarming romance.

I'm so glad I didn't listen to the negative reviews and read this for myself!

While this book is not the cute romance it portrays itself as, the story is still amazing! At it's core its a book about growth, the challenges of being an adult and navigating the complications of life (aging/sick parents, death of friends, sibling relationships beyond childhood).

I ADORED Erin and James' stories and how they intertwined. It was also a beautiful story of how two friends dealt and navigated the death of a close friend so differently and how that ultimately affected their adult view of relationships.

The "book swap" aspect of the book was so sweet. It was giving off the same vibes as the movie "serendipty" (although the premise of the book swap was different).

I think this book was a great read that just needs a newly updated synopsis to portray the book in the most accurate light so that it finds the right readers. :)

"You've Got Mail" but with books.

Tessa Bickers debut novel, "The Book Swap", is a delightful book about falling in love through books for people who love books.

Erin Connolly's life has been rocked by tragedy. As she's trying to cope, she accidentally leaves her treasured, annotated copy of "To Kill A Mockingbird" in a free library. Desperate to get it back, she returns to the library to find it has been returned and new notations have been added by a Mystery Man. The Mystery Man invites her to meet him in the pages of another book which he has left behind. And so the conversation begins. Erin and the Mystery Man exchanging books and building a relationship in the margins. Then comes the question, do they leave this in the margins or do they reveal themselves and embrace the risk that comes with it.

"The Book Swap" was a creative take on the "You've Got Mail" concept in making the books the medium for the conversation. Once I got into the characters stories, I could not put this one down. Great for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Beth O'Leary, Abby Jimenez, Katherine Center, and Sally Thorne.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this book prior to publication.

This was very cute! I really enjoyed the premise of the book and loved the second chance romance aspect. I feel like my main issue was how cheesy it was and that the FMC was a little too selfish (yes, that was discussed later but I wish it was earlier)

Not the romcom I expected but i enjoyed it nonetheless. I loved the notes in the books I think that was the sweetest.

Thank you for the arc netgalley

DNF at 52%

I really tried to stay with this book but I was expecting a cute rom-com and that isn't what this book is. A lot of heavy topics and not as light hearted as expected.

I really loved this one. Books with grief tend to speak to me, especially when they're so real and hopeful like The Book Swap. Definitely recommend this one.

First off this book made me cry. Second off I would gladly read it again to cry a second time. It was a mix of happy tears and sad tears dealing with the topic of letting go of someone. Erin is mourning the loss of her best friend and her new Pen Pal helps her to find happiness again. Their journey through books and the way they open up and find themselves was so well written. I loved everything about their story.

This title was sadder and more melancholy than the cover suggests. While I appreciate the effort to tackle challenging subjects, it just didn't really work to place it in the middle of a romance novel.

"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is a delightful and heartwarming tale that explores the magic of literature and friendship. The concept of a book exchange brings a charming sense of community, as characters connect through their shared love of reading. Bickers’ engaging writing style and relatable characters make it easy to become invested in their journeys. The themes of discovery and transformation resonate throughout, creating an uplifting atmosphere. Overall, this novel is a cozy celebration of books and the bonds they forge, perfect for any bibliophile.

This was a great book. I love books about books lol. This made me laugh and it was such a cute book. I would highly recommend reading it.

BOOK SWAP has a charming “You’ve Got Mail” vibe, and I found myself rooting for them right off the bat. The struggles that come with exposing and addressing old hurt, viewed through the lens of adulthood made this book so relatable.

This was so, so cute. It’s one of those books that you start reading and then just can’t put down because it’s adorable.

I loved the secondary love story in this, the platonic one with Bonnie. It really enriched the power of this story for me. Such a joyful read.

The Book Swap is a debut book by Tessa Bickers that I totally enjoyed! Erin meets her Mystery Man when she accidentally leaves her favorite annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird in a Little Free Library. The book ends up back in the LFL a week later with new notes in the margins. From there starts a swapping of classic literature between two lonely souls communicating between the pages of these books. This novel was totally enjoyable and deals with such issues as second chances, mental health, death of a friend, bullying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grayson House for the advanced digital copy of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of The Book Swap. It was a light, quick read with an enjoyable premise but in that I felt like it was rushed. This was a slow start for me and by the time I got into it, it didn’t feel like much had happened.