Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Book Swap was, in many ways, so different from what I was expecting that I had to give myself time before writing my review, because I truly couldn't gather my thoughts.
When I saw the cover and read the synopsis, I anticipated a fun contemporary romance that was for the book lover in all of us, and while it was that in many ways, it was a deep exploration of two broken people finding love and hope in each other. I will say, however, that there are a few heavy, potentially triggering topics in the book that could have done with a proper trigger warning. For example, the MMC's mother is bipolar, and there are a few moments that depict her in times of mania, where she has suicidal ideation and verbally/emotionally abuses the MMC. In addition, there are multiple mentions of cancer, death of a loved one, chemo, parents cheating on each other... Just a lot of heavy things that I was not expecting when I picked it up and would have appreciated a little bit of a heads up.

Aside from that, I truly did love how it felt like a love letter to books and the written word. Both the MCs, a pair who were once close friends, find themselves, through a shabby free library, beginning an exchange with one another that leads to shared notes, dreams, hopes, and fears. In the margins, they write their every thought and feeling, allowing each other to learn who the other is through underlined quotes and anonymity.

However, as with romance books, the road to their reunion is not simple. nor was it perfect, but it was honest, and I that is what I found myself loving. Because that is what it is to give your all to another- it is messy, but there is beauty in the mess.

There was a lot about this book that I personally resonated with, which makes this review feel too personal to keep going.
I'll end it with- I sobbed my way through the last 10% with a mixture of happy/sad tears and was grateful I chose not to wear any eye makeup today because that would have been all over my face.

“The Book Swap” by Tessa Bickers is an enchanting debut romance novel which is great for book lovers and lovers of second chances involving following one’s dreams and heart. Set around a Little Library in London which two book lovers exchanging messages through margin notes in classic novels, this is an uplighting and heartwarming book with very believable characters. I appreciated the realistic portrayals of mental health challenges, bullying and difficulties of caregiving for parents. I only wish that the book had been extended a bit. Looking forward to more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC.

“Books teach us, and I want to make sure I'm learning everything they're offering. I write in the margins to remember the book. To keep the words in my heart.”

The cover of this book seems like your traditional rom-com, but it is so much more. This book is finding your second chance at love and healing. As a reader, we find solace and inspiration in books. This story encaptures that feeling.

After Erin accidentally donates her favorite book, it comes back to her with some notes added, along with an invitation
Erin and James find a connection for their love of books. With their favorite books, they start an untraditional pen-pal relationship. They have deep and honest conversations that they write within the book. As they begin to open up to one another, feelings start to develop.

Unbeknownst to each other they have a shared history. Erin has to decide to face the past and move on while embracing her future.

Please be aware that this book includes topics of mental illness, bullying, and death.

Thank You To NetGalley, Tessa Bickers, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eArc of this book. All opinions are my own.

My goodness! This debut was nearly perfect! Heartbreakingly honest, romantic, sad, and hard to put down. These characters are dealing with tough challenges, grief, mental illness, complicated families, and painful histories but they manage to get through to the other side with the support of others and a love of literature. It was so moving and hard to believe this was Bickers‘ first novel. I can‘t wait for the next! Releases 9/3.

Thank you NetGalley, Tessa Bickers, and Graydon House Books for the advanced reader copy of this novel. I was very excited to jump into the story of Erin and James.

While I did enjoy the premise of this book, I felt like the chapter read very disjointed. I never found myself excited to jump back into their story, and I had a hard time following the storyline along. Erin was not a likeable FMc for me, but I did enjoy reading James POV.

Thank you again for the arc of this novel, out September 3rd!

“None of us know how to handle something we've never been through before. All we can do is learn from it. Use it to better ourselves.”

This book. THIS. BOOK.

I thought this was going to be a cutesy romcom. I didn’t know I was going to bawl my eyes out almost every chapter (and there are 34 of them)!

I want people to know this going in, as I do believe the blurb is misleading and can greatly impact the rating of the book:
While, yes, this is a romance novel, it is so much more. This book deals with grief. In various forms: loss, heartbreak, broken trust, mental illness, deterioration of friendships. It deals with healing. It deals with bullying and loneliness. It deals with career dissatisfaction. It deals with mending relationships. And all in a way that feels more like literary fiction than your standard romance.

What drew me into wanting to read the book:
✨romance through book annotations
✨Little Free Library representation
✨To Kill a Mockingbird listed as the FMC’s favorite book

What made me love the book:
❤️mental health representation
❤️dealing with grief in various forms
❤️The Perks of Being a Wallflower references
❤️heavily character driven

Other Items of Note:
📚dual POV
📚zero spice (in case that’s what you were looking for)
📚incredibly slow burn romance
📚single timeline with flashbacks

I do think this book would benefit from having a trigger warning list or at minimum including some elements in the blurb so readers have a better understanding of what to expect.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC of this book and thank you to The Hive at Harlequin Trade Publishing for a physical ARC.

I loved this book! It discussed some pretty heavy topics. Like dealing with grief, suicide, and depression. I teared up but I also laughed! I personally love books about books. I found Erin’s character to be so relatable and really enjoyed of her character growth. The slow burn romance between Erin and James was honestly such a sweet story. They found each other again in a very difficult time in each other’s lives. This was their shot at a second chance. I read this book in 2 days because it was just that good. I was so engaged with the story. I originally thought this would be a lighthearted romance but was pleasantly surprised that it was centered around heavy topics. It was a very heartfelt and emotional read ❤️

I'd give this 3.5 stars more than 3! I thought it was very well written with very deep and complex characters, and the tie ins to the classic books was so fun. I also thought it did a great job at portraying mental health - especially with bipolar disorder and depression. It just felt very realistic and the way it was handled was very well done! And the way it handled grief also resonated with me, maybe not as much as other books l've read with that topic but I thought it made a lot of sense for Erin and her relationship with Bonnie.
The reason for 3.5 is I couldn't really connect with the main characters, and I thought their conflict wasn't super believable. Also I got kinda confused at times with everything going on.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the eARC!

I am a sucker for second chance romance and this one was done so well. As an avid reader of classics back in high school and college, I loved the premise of this story. Both Erin and James were not without their faults, but the growth we get to witness in the both of them was lovely. All of the little notes in the margins also enhanced the romance between the two MC’s. I think Tessa Bickers has a bright future in front of her.

Tessa Bickers' The Book Swap is a heartfelt tribute to the power of literature and human connection. Through the clever use of annotated classics, Bickers crafts a moving story of healing, second chances, and the unexpected friendships that can change our lives. A must-read for book lovers who believe in the magic of shared stories.

After a tragedy, Erin Connolly accidentally donates her treasured, annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to a local library. When the book returns with new notes and an invitation to meet a secret pen pal through the pages of Great Expectations, Erin's life takes an unexpected turn. As they bond over classic books, Erin must confront her past and decide if she's ready for a new beginning. This story is a book lover's dream, with nods to beloved classics like To Kill a Mockingbird and Wuthering Heights.

When Erin finally quits her job it sends her down a rabbit hole of love notes in margins and a blast from the past.

I absolutely adored the little margin notes and the love story that developed through the books Erin and James swapped in their little library and could have taken a whole book focused on just the romance story. I also would’ve loved to delve deeper into Erin’s grief, past, and growing as a person. I almost feel like the two big focuses of the book could have been split into two separate books and gone deeper on each topic. I would’ve loved a story that started earlier and focused on Erin grieving her best friend.

While each of the characters developed and grows throughout the book, I felt like even close to the middle Erin was a bit too dramatic about the wrong things (don’t get me wrong, she totally has a reason to be dramatic about several things in her life).

Overall, I loved the romance and pen pal letters, and I loved watching Erin work through her grief and finally start living.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy of this title.

I loved the premise of this book. Two "strangers" end up reading the same book from a little library. When James reads the shared copy, he meets the girl in the margins, Erin. She leaves notes, thoughts, and questions throughout the book. Curiosity and a sense of familiarity leads him to write back and suggest meeting in a different book next time.
What starts as superficial conversation leads to deeper questions for one another. The familiarity they feel is revealed when they realize they were high school friends and shared a mutual crush on one another. James was severely bullied and in an attempt to save himself, he ends up betraying Erin, ruining their friendship. Desperate to not lose her again, James and Erin are forced to face the past.

I really loved James' character. He is so endearing and strong despite having everyone turn against him. His loneliness allows him to forgive easily. The kid who was bullied ends up being a strong, successful adult and I love the author for that. Erin on the other hand was shallow, judgemental, and selfish. The best part of the book was her being told so. James deserves better than Erin, but he makes lemonade out of lemons.

This is a debut novel and I loved the authors pacing, character development, and writing style. Told first person and dual POV, this novel will tug at your heart strings and make you want to visit your nearest little library.

2.5 - ⭐⭐💫

The Book Swap is an adult contemporary fiction story following two ex-friends/lovers as they grapple with their changing lives but find solace with a love of words.

Erin has spent the last few years pushing through tragedy and the unbearable load of work when, in a moment of frustration, she accidentally donates a tattered annotated copy of To Kill A Mockingbird which houses a prized possession of hers, to a community library. Thinking all has been lost she is surprised to find her book returned a week later...with responses to every one of her annotations and an invitation to continue to discuss in another book.

James is a young man with a well paying job but no enthusiasm. He spends his time racing to work and to his family home to support his father with a mother struggling to manage her mania when he is prompted by a memory of a passion he used to have...writing. When he comes across a tattered copy of a classic he remembers fondly he gets an idea...will Erin and James find a connection outside of words or will their hopes and dreams be lost among the pages?

This book was not for me.

The premise grabbed my attention but I felt the story was very disjointed and the characters weren't always likeable.

Erin is still grieving the loss of her best friend and there are aspects to that that need unpacking throughout the novel. I felt her relationship with her family didn't have enough depth for me to really empathize with the level of anger she felt for them...and also her ex boyfriend who she has hated for years over something he did as a teenager. She attempted to make good situations out of bad but something felt like the bad was caused by her rose coloured glasses.

James is a character really struggling to make a decision and he takes it out on his family more often than not. I do not get why he roasts his dad's choice to not continue a music career BUT I do understand why he did the things he did as a teenager. I also felt there was a soft side we do get to hear about him that stuck with me.

This book has reference to spice but it is not detailed at all. It is just a quick reference of her saying, "Sure. Why not!" I would say maybe 0.5 out of 5 spicy peppers. I also wasn't a fan of it being with some random guy when we're supposed to root for these two together. This is a sort of second chance romance that they don't know initially about. At the same time I felt nothing for their connection.

Overall, this book is a much darker book than I initially anticipated. It deals with grief, family dysfunction, feeling stuck, and more. I wouldn't call it a romance though there are elements of romance explored...but not enough for me. I just couldn't find a way to connect and empathize with the characters.

Thank you so much for Harlequin Trade Publishing for this arc!

I loved this book so much! Little free library, notes in the margins of books, falling in love in the pages. This was a wonderful story about finding yourself, grief, love, old secrets. I laughed several times as well. I will definitely be recommending this one to friends!

THE BOOK SWAP is a romance about two estranged friends who unknowingly find themselves swapping books and notes in the margin. erin and james are both dealing with a lot in their lives, so they find comfort in each other as they share their thoughts on books and life. but it turns out they also share a lot of history which makes things complicated when they realize who "mystery man" and "margin girl" were.

i was a little iffy about this book when i first started, because i found erin to be a bit immature and hard to connect with. but i'm really glad i pushed through, because the more i discovered about erin and james's history, the more i understood each of their perspective's and why they acted the way they did. this book deals with a lot of heavy topics such as grief, terminal illness, and mental health, but it does do delicately and with love, and i really enjoyed it.

read if you like:
- secret identity
- second chance
- books about books

thanks to netgalley and graydon house for the advanced copy! THE BOOK SWAP comes out september 3.

The Book Swap was a surprising read for me and one that I very much enjoyed. While I was expecting it to be much heavier on the romance between our FMC and MMC, it was much more a story about grief and the ways we deal with it in life.

Our FMC, Erin is dealing quitting her job in the midst of handling her grief around her best friend dying a couple of years prior. In an effort to improve her life, she decides to Marie Kondo her life and ends up accidentally putting her beloved copy of To Kill a Mockingbird in her local Little Free Library that has the last card her best friend had given her. When she realizes, she rushes back to the LFL only to find out someone has already taken in.

Queue our MMC, James, coming on the scene. He ends up being the person that grabs the book and is surprised to find the margins completely full of little notes and laugh out loud comments that has him wanting to know more about the original owner. He ends up writing his own notes in the margins and returns it the LFL where Erin is surprised to find it waiting for her a few weeks later. Her and James end up book swapping through their favorite stories and learning more and more about each other. What neither of them knows... is that they actually attended the same high school and were best friends until they had a falling out over reasons that Erin never forgives James for.

Erin and James both have their share of family issues that they are dealing with, on top of trying to decide what their path in life should be. I loved the relationship between Erin and her sister and seeing James let his friends and family in instead of trying to carry all of life's burdens on his shoulders. while there is love that grows between them, I think this story is much more about growth and I thought both character arcs were well done. I just wish we would have gotten to see their love story a little bit longer as it did feel rushed in the end.

Overall, I really liked this one! I read the last 30% on a plane and was definitely trying to hide from my seatmates while I cried through the ending.

3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review!

2.5⭐️

My reading experience started out with a gripping and enticing first line, that then lead to a lot of vile language and not very likable characters.

There are gay & lesbian side characters. Casual sex as a way to avoid things, and wallow in their feelings. A lot of unhealthy ways to deal with grief throughout this book. Along with two disgusting sexual descriptions of body parts. Lots of content I don’t normally read and do not like.

Let’s talk a little about the story. I loved the writing in the margins back and forth part, the actual book swap part of this book. It was a great concept; and while I loved it I still think it could have been done better with better characters. This story was also not entirely centered around the book swap. The loss of the main characters best friend years ago seems like a bigger focus and more the center of the whole storyline. I didn’t prefer this. It’s not what I was looking for or expecting going into this book.

This concept just didn’t work for me the way it was executed here. There wasn’t enough of the characters past connection for the couple to really click as a second chance friends to lovers romance, like the author was trying to. I think this concept would have worked better with strangers, or as I said much more of the back story and connection actually there. We were more so told about it. Not as much shown.

So in conclusion, concept of the book was great and it did have some good moments because of that, but I didn’t prefer the way it was executed at all. Along with a lot of cussing, gay side characters, casual sex, bad ways of dealing with grief, etc. Not the book for me and I wouldn’t recommend you read it if any of that stuff is not for you either.

This book was much more than I bargained for. I rooted for the main characters, sobbed for them, laughed with them, got angry with and for them, and I felt all of the things.

Through this story, we follow Erin and James as they cope with discovering themselves and finding a way to truly live and not simply exist. This story covers heavy topics of grief and loss, dealing with mental illness within the family, and severe bullying of school-aged children. It is a second chance romance, but it is so much more. It is tragedy, hope, and unconditional love.

I absolutely loved the way Erin and her pen pal communicate through the margins of classic books swapped back and forth through a little free library.

The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers is a delightful and charming read that celebrates the love of books and the connections they create. The story revolves around two characters, each at a crossroads in their lives, who come together through an unexpected exchange of books. As they swap titles and share stories, they discover more about themselves and each other in ways they never anticipated.

Bickers' writing is warm and engaging, making it easy to fall into the world she creates. The characters are relatable and well-drawn, each with their own quirks and vulnerabilities that make them feel real. The plot moves at a comfortable pace, allowing readers to savor the unfolding relationships and the power of literature to bring people together.

What stands out most about The Book Swap is its gentle exploration of how books can be a source of comfort, inspiration, and even transformation. It’s a story about taking chances, opening up to new experiences, and finding connection in unexpected places. For anyone who has ever found solace in the pages of a book, this novel will resonate deeply.

In short, The Book Swap is a feel-good story that will appeal to book lovers and romantics alike. It’s a perfect read for those looking for something heartwarming and uplifting.

I won't lie, I went into reading this arc with very few expectations. Not that my expectations were low and I expected not to like it, but more that I've had a lot of good arcs to read through lately and this was one that I didn't even really remember requesting, so I wasn't sure what to expect. By the end? Crying one and off through the last few chapters and again in the acknowledgments because I was so moved. It's a book about two people who start writing each other notes back and forth in the margins of books they find and leave for one another at a little community free library. The catch as they know it? They've never met and this all started by chance. The actual catch? They were close friends in high school who had feelings for one another but then parted under horrible circumstances, one of them feeling betrayed. The way the book gives us both perspectives was a bit odd at first, because the parts in the present weren't chronological. One of them would find the newest book and we'd see their reaction, and then next we'd go back and see the person writing in it, etc. But the way the story revealed the past bit by bit, while characters dealt with grief, feelings of failure, family obligation, finding their long ignored dreams, and more, was beautiful. Eventually, I couldn't put it down. In other books and movies, the way it ended would have annoyed me (not enough time with the mains together at the end, etc.) but it felt right this time and didn't bother me at all. Their stories were so separate the entire time, while entirely intertwined, so it just made sense for them to need to figure out their own stuff before they finally made their ways back to one another. Also, the MMC was working on writing again after a long time and the whole writing/reading aspect of the story was timely for me, and inspiring. I was thoroughly impressed by this book and its debut author, and will absolutely read more from them in the future.