If you're a book lover and a fan of You've Got Mail, you'll really enjoy this book! It kept me interested from the time I picked up the book until the very end. While I definitely think the characters could have worked out their issues if they were just honest and spoke to each other for 20 minutes as adults, it does showcase that we aren't always ready to hear what we need to hear. However, I loved that these characters were able to fall in love (again) through just their written words and love of the classics.

“The Book Swap” by Tessa Bickers is a gem for book lovers. It’s a tale that will linger in your heart long after you've turned the last page. Tessa Bickers has crafted a beautiful ode to literature, reminding us that sometimes, the best stories are the ones we write together, one margin note at a time. Bickers' writing style is reminiscent of Jojo Moyes and Alice Hoffman, making this novel a must-read for fans of heartwarming contemporary fiction.

Meet Erin Connolly. She is still reeling from a recent tragedy, but knows she needs to start living again. But how? When she accidentally donates her heavily annotated copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It’s a book containing a memento she can't bear to part with, and it’s sent to a local community library. She's devastated. Yet, fate intervenes. The book reappears a week later, complete with fresh notes in the margins and an invitation from a newfound pen pal hidden within a copy of *Great Expectations*. Thus begins a life-changing conversation, written only in the margins of beloved classic books, between Erin and her Mystery Man. As they follow each other through the pages of their favourite novels, they open up, forging a friendship that might just become something more.

From the very first page, I was drawn into Erin's world: a place where grief and hope collide. Bickers masterfully weaves together the magic of classic literature with the raw emotions of her characters. Erin's connection with her Mystery Man, forged through the margins of beloved books, is both heartwarming and poignant. Their exchanges are like whispered secrets shared across time and space, and I found myself rooting for them with every turned page.

The concept of a book exchange as a catalyst for connection is utterly charming. As Erin and her pen pal delve into the worlds of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Great Expectations”, and other literary gems, they reveal their vulnerabilities, fears, and dreams. Bickers captures the essence of what it means to be a book lover, from the way stories shape us, heal us, to the way it connect us to others.

The pacing is spot-on, with just the right blend of romance, mystery, and nostalgia. The backdrop of the community library, where books come alive through handwritten notes, adds an enchanting layer to the narrative. And the shared history between Erin and her pen pal, a secret they both unknowingly carry, adds depth and tension.

Bickers' prose is elegant and evocative. She paints scenes with vivid strokes, making the fictional town and its inhabitants feel real. Whether it's the scent of old books, the rustle of pages, or the quiet moments spent reading under a tree, every detail resonates. Her love for literature shines through, and I found myself reaching for my own dog-eared copies of classics, wondering what secrets they held in their margins.

“The Book Swap” is more than a romance; it's a celebration of resilience, forgiveness, and the transformative power of storytelling. It reminds us that books are not just ink on paper—they're vessels of connection, solace, and hope. As Erin and her Mystery Man navigate their shared past and uncertain future, we're reminded that sometimes the most profound conversations happen in the margins, where hearts intersect.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me, thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Erin is still in mourning for her best friend Bonnie; to the point where Bonnie “exists” in her room so Erin can vent to her about how her life is going wrong.

James lives two lives; half the time he has a successful career in London, but the other half is spent in his home town of Frome helping his father care for his mentally ill mother.

Erin and James (and Bonnie) were friends in school, but an ugly event has torn them apart. This wouldn't sound like a good start for a romance, but weirdly it is. What starts out as a heartbreaking/unique take on “you've got mail” with Erin and James anonymously communicating via notes written in the margins of books they borrow from a little free library, becomes a journey to forgiveness and self discovery.

I loved the twists and turns in this book that kept me guessing to the end. I was a little put out by the huge margins in the book, until I realized it was on purpose (given the mode of communication between the main characters). I also loved the secondary characters (and hope this is the start to a series of novels…Cassie and Joel next, please)

I liked this book, wish i could say live but i liked it could have loved but aomethings just didnt do it for me. It was a very slow burn the ending was great but it took along time to get there and I didn't get enough after (i know it may not make sense but i hate spoilers) the characters were good and I loved the youve got mail like premise-I'm a sucker.for a good classic rom.com, plu ls little libraries are my favorite, ao its a fun one to pick your favorite and visualize it while sitting on the bench nearby and watching people pick out books, could it happen, love by little free library
Overall, an okay read. Good characters, with a good story but I wish it had a more fulfilling end!

So I picked this up thinking it would be a cutsy rom com, and boy was I surprised. This story covers south in terms of death, chronic illness, bullying, mental health and forgiveness. I feel like the beginning of this story was really slow off to start and honestly I haven’t read most of the classics these characters were so attached to but I had a really good time reading it, I think the look we get at Erin and James in forgiving and understanding others and even themselves is really well written and it’s really nice to see it portrayed in a way that feels realistic, it doesn’t just happen overnight it takes a lot of trial and error and it’s hard. I’m not gonna lie Erin wasn’t my fav MFC in the world but honestly I think that fits in for the story? The way she was dealing with things wasn’t healthy the grudges she was holding against her family and her friends wasn’t good for her, she was kinda being a crappy person but you can’t have growth if your already great. I love that we got to see her have the conversation with her mom and see that yes I’m trying but it’s not instantly better. This book made me feel a lot more things than I was ever imagining, as for the romance part of it, it really does feel like a sub-plot but I don’t think the impact would have been the same if it was this instalove everything’s better now connection, it’s a slow burn for sure and I would count it as a second chance romance. I’m so excited for this to debut and can’t wait to see what else Tessa writes

I liked the overall concept of this story more than I enjoyed reading it.

I liked James and reading his side of things way more than I liked Erin. Once we found out what their big fight was about, I lost any interest. I thought the moment she found out it was him she'd been swapping notes with was a rushed moment. She went from 0 to fuming so quickly then they were gone.

I thought there were too many side characters and in a way it seemed like the two main characters hardly interacted with each other at all. There was only like one flashback to the good part of their friendship, the vague notes in the books, and they were ready to talk about being in love?

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was drawn to this title for its theme of grief, and I was certainly able to relate to Erin on a very personal level. While some of her thoughts felt incredibly intimate and comforting to me, I did struggle to engage with her and with the MMC, James. I found the start of the book to be rather slow, and I kept wanting to put the book down. It wasn't my cup of tea, but I think it's great for a reader looking for a slow burn romance with some emotional depth.

Very calm, very cute. This book was a really good just romance where I can just feel the love and root for the couple.

First off, thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me this arc. This book may not have been my cup of tea, but a book is always loved by someone. ❤️

Erin Connolly, a victim until the very end.

I think this may be my first ever 1 star read. Don’t get me wrong, the author is amazing at what she does. I loved James so so much and I usually would not give a bad review just because I disliked a character but Erin is a different breed.

Everything bad that happens to Erin is somebody else’s fault. She never takes a second to reflect and just immediately wallows in her victimhood. Even so, this book was a good 3 star read for me. That was until this:

“Bonnie had never rejected me before — and she was the one person who I thought never would.” The girl had CANCER and was DYING and you got so butt hurt that she needed a little space, that you abandoned her for MONTHS?

And then James shows up at the hospital and is clearly upset and instead of asking why he’s there, she runs after him and tells him to move his car because her sister is in the hospital. GIRL, PLEASE USE YOUR CONTEXT CLUES! Somebody speeds into a HOSPITAL parking lot, usually that indicates an emergency does it not?!

I wish I could say she had a redemption arc but unfortunately Miss Connolly will always be a victim in her pretty little head. She apologized to everyone she’s ever blamed just for her to turn around and do it again.

In conclusion, if Erin has no haters, it’s because I’m dead.

Thank you for this ARC!

I was initially attracted to this book because it's description mentioned a pen pal potential romance via the margins of a well loved book. The characters are united after one accidently donates one of her favorite books during a clean out. The book finds its ways back to her with new notes and a friendship begins to emerge.

I enjoyed the book, though the cute cover and book description did not clue in very deeply the trauma and grief elements involved. I don't think that detracted from the experience, it was just a bit of a surprise.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.

This was not the fluffy, cute rom-com that I was expecting from the cover or the brief description. There were a lot more elements of grief, trauma, bullying, and mental illness than I anticipated. So, I guess a little more life-like?

I was frustrated with the character development at first, but then finally there was some growth. That had more to do with the story than the author’s ability though!

Parts were definitely charming and overall a satisfying read.

This book had such a beautifully sweet and touching storyline. I have always wondered about the notes left in the margins of books and the curious items that I have found used as bookmarks over the years. This book took that idea and added to some the fun, romance, expectation, and subtle longing of letter writing to build a mystery, tension, and the room for the characters to connect through. If you liked the classic movies Little Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Ole Summertime, and You've Got Mail then you love this book because it offers that same sense of connection, ironic humor, and a hidden identities. With that said, I found this book a little slow for me, but again all three of the films I compared this to, they all share that same character development, slow build-ups and burn romance. The author had a great writing style and the weaving in of classic literature gave this a connection to my own reading history that help me throughout the whole read.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Books and NetGalley for the ARC that I read.

I am so honored to be a part of The Hive influencer program and to get this arc. It was such a fun and quick romance read that had me interested in the characters the whole time. I am excited to read more of Tessa's books in the future

Firstly, thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for this ARC. It is a privilege to be able to read books before they hit the shelves- especially as someone with such a small social media following.
To find my review on my platform, you can go to https://www.Instagram.com/bigmama_reads
Or
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602792202

After quitting her job and doing a thorough declutter, Erin finds she donated her favorite annotated book to a free little library. She soon finds that someone has returned it with notes of their own. Through the margins of books, Erin and her pen pal are brought together. Will romance spark in the pages? You'll have to read to find out!
This book has some heavy themes which should be noted at the beginning incase of triggers.
This book was super cute even though it took a bit for me to get into it. 4.5/5 stars for the pacing but I can't wait to have a physical copy on my shelf.

It was cute, but it just wasn’t for me. I’m not a slow burn romance lover, but there will definitely be people that LOVE this book.

I adored that this book was about characters who loved books! I love reading that kind of trope and when people communicate in ways besides face to face. Although I did like the book, there were parts that were a bit slow for me. I did appreciate the grief and mental health representation. It is relatable and tugged at my heart strings. Parts of the book made me choked up. Overall, this was a good book.

"The Book Swap" is an absolute gem for all you book lovers out there! Erin Connolly, still trying to find her way after a tough time, accidentally donates her annotated copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Total nightmare, right? But then it reappears with fresh notes and a mysterious invite tucked in "Great Expectations." Cue an epic pen pal romance that unfolds in the margins of classic novels. As Erin and her Mystery Man bond over their favorite books, they dig deep into their pasts and face some serious feels. It's cozy, emotional, and packed with literary love—perfect for anyone who adores a good story and the magic of books. 📚❤️

I loved this book! This is the kind of romance I don't feel weird recommending to my mother, or reading where someone could look over my shoulder.

My outward facing review is here (GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6487762796). I tagged this one as: would-read-again, and great-covers.

The actual grammatical English is perfect and I appreciate it. No copyedit notes or confusion regarding the mechanics of the writing itself.

My only note/request to the publisher is to put the book in the e-reader format next time, please, as opposed to PDF? That way we can read in night node, adjusting formatting, etc.

Can't wait to read more from Tessa Bickers.

Thanks for the ARC!

ARC Review:

When I applied for The Book Swap, I was going into it thinking it would be a simple romance novel, but I was so wrong. Not only is it a romance but it also touches on subjects like grief, bullying, and mental health. We follow Erin and her journey of self-discovery and her struggle to overcome her grief. When the death of her best friend tilts her world off its axis, she finds herself bumping into their old best friend James. As Erin goes through the struggle of starting from scratch after quitting her toxic workplace, she finds comfort in a "stranger" by passing notes through books in her local library. Only her stranger is from her past... While James is at a loss after losing both his best friends, he finds himself taking comfort in writing to his mystery person. As words are swaps between pages of a book, Erin and James work their way back to each other and figure out how to heal their broken hearts.
This was a well told story of how we can find acceptance and love with a complete stranger or your best friends.
Thank you so much Netgally and Harlequin Publishing for my arc of The Book Swap!