I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I just couldn’t get into it. I found the main character too whiny and could not connect with her. I DNF’d the book about 10% in.

This book started out a little heavy, with the emotional roller coaster of grief taking center stage, but it turned into a story of communication, trust, and the sweetness of love. Themes of romance, personal growth, and forgiveness are sprinkled throughout, and emotions run high. This is a light and easy bookish read to enjoy on the beach this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Tessa Bickers, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest opinion. Four stars!

The book had a lot of promise - friends from high school re-kindling, growing old, dealing with heavy life stuff…but the plot lacked and took a while to get there. Loved the literary references and idea of the book! I just reviewed The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers. #TheBookSwap #NetGalley

"'You know the last time we were here? When you couldn't even remember you had those book ideas at school. It make me sick. That you could forget it so easily.'"

'The Book Swap' is a breezy, women's literature novel that gives the feeling no unlike drowning in a tepid bath. The story focuses on Erin and James, who we learn for a variety of reasons stopped speaking to each other during school, which was a missed opportunity at romance. As fate would have it, they begin exchanging books with one another anonymously, which is about as romantic as your high school english literature class. There's simultaneously too much and not enough plot, and it never builds to any romantic tension, so instead it's just a wash of characters who feel half baked around our main couple.

What Bickers Delivers:
• Second Chance Romance with realistic trauma
• Mental health awareness, bipolar disorder is a major plot point for the novel
• Half baked, rushed ending that tells more than shows in the writing with weird timeskips

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers.

By the synopsis I thought this book would be a little more lighthearted. It deals a lot with depression, death of a best friend, bipolar disorder, bullying and low self-esteem. I enjoyed the parts where Erin and James interacted in the margins of books. Being able to write your true feelings and thoughts without judgment was freeing for these characters. I loved James' devotion to his parents and his friends Joel's realization that money wasn't everything. The memories of being bullied were so hard to relive with James. The thought that kids could bet another kid up, spit on them and then pee on them is heartbreaking. I can't imagine living through that or having those memories live in your head.

I am giving this book a 3.5.

I loved the concept of this book for sure and loved the literary references. Parts of it were really good. But the plot was thin and boring, and characters not entirely likable. Some heavy stuff here. Oddly, my favorite "characters" was s ghost.
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I honestly could not finish this book. I tried forcing myself to get half way through but I think it was the tropes and how I was unable to connect with the main female character. Both characters were very messy in their life and relationships which I could go around because it is human and normal, but I was unable to get hooked into the storyline. I am sure this story is probably for some people, it just happens that I am not one of them.

thank you for the opportunity of providing my honest feedback.

i think this book was kind of boring, and it had a very slow beginning. at some points i even wanted to dnf.

if you’re a fan of slow burn romances, this book is for you. it was definitely slow burn. im talking the slowest burn ive ever read in a standalone book.

The Book Swap is a friends-to-enemies-to-secretly lovers tale of two book lovers who rediscover one another and their life's purpose through the pages of classic novels, like "Great Expectations," "Mansfield Park," To Kill a Mockingbird," and "Beloved."
❤️ Things I loved:
- Erin and James, the lead characters are super easy to root for. I enjoyed that the story was told from each of their perspectives
- The writer/passion for books love story focus - Writing in the margins of the books their thoughts and asking questions to one another. The whole "Eileen" community book stand - enjoyed this.
- Interwoven tales of family hardships (on both sides)
- The moral/lesson learned of the ability to grow and heal
- I liked the focus on James' friendship with his bestie. You don't always see male friendship take any sort of real estate in female-oriented romance books, (except Chloe Liese), but this did a solid job
😕 Things I liked less
- Grief was everywhere. I could have done with fewer dialogues between Erin and her dead friend in Erin's apartment. The first time you are introduced to Bonnie, Erin and James' friend, having a non-real conversation with Erin, it's a "gotcha" moment when you learn she's dead and it's akin to "The Sixth Sense" chills but after that, I was over it. Erin had plenty of people in her life to help her heal. Not sure talking to a dead person was needed and added any real value to the book, apart from showing that we need to live our life for ourselves, not for someone else's version of the ideal
- It's a small point but Erin's new best friend, Cassie getting together with James best friend. Not sure things need to be that tidy
- Erin's sister Georgia got on my nerves. Conversely, Eliot, James' brother - I felt that relationship more
- not enough romance in real life happening between Erin and James. Their whole relationship is clandestine and not physical - more cerebral and emotional. They only kiss in the last few pages. I could have done with them hooking up prior. That's my 2 cents.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC

The synopsis pulled me in. There were some tough topics, but the story was good and I enjoyed it. Thanks!

I loved loved loved this book! I laughed, I cried, I felt.

This book is not your typical romance and it was centered more on the character development and relationships rather than the romance. It centers around two characters in dual POV. The main characters being Erin and James. They both have tremendous self road blocks that are keeping them stuck in place. While at tumultuous times in their lives they both find great joy in books which is where this little library comes into play. James grabs one of Erin's books in the take a book leave a book library. They're both big on writing in the margins, which starts this book swap where neither are privy to the other's identity. Through this they begin seeing a new side to life and each start a road to self discovery. This deep connection also brings the two closer.

This book also contains some of the more intense realities of certain mental illnesses so be warned before going in.

That being said, I absolutely loved watching Erin and James grow. Their development felt real because of the constant set backs and self doubts while trying to push through and still become the person their each aspiring to be. I felt connected to both because I could see myself in both characters. Their flaws were real and it made them better people.

The love story was also so beautiful. It felt like a background piece to the growth but it was a great addition. I felt the emotion behind the two.

The side characters! The side characters were great. Joel had to be my favorite. I was always waiting to see what he would say or do next. But each side character has a piece of my heart too.

A fantastic read! Highly recommend.

I did not expect this book to make me as emotional as it is! I expected it to be a light and fluffy romance, but I was so surprised in a great way. There are heavy topics and themes throughout but it is done with such care, this was an amazing book.

We love a bookish themed romance story. I liked everything about this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted arc.

The Book Swap is a heartfelt exploration of grief, connection, and the transformative power of healing. Erin Connolly inadvertently donates her cherished copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, leading to an unexpected connection through annotated notes with a mysterious pen pal. This unique form of communication allows Erin to navigate her sorrow and rediscover hope.

The plot is so refreshing - I was expecting more of a rom-com, but this story was much more. It's heartfelt, with deep-rooted emotions that will tug at the heartstrings of all readers. The story captures the essence of human connection through the love of books, showcasing how literature can heal wounds and open doors to new possibilities. This beautifully written novel will resonate with anyone who believes in the enduring power of stories and words.

The premise of this book sounds lighter than it is. The romance is sweet, but fair warning the content can be heavy at times (mental/physical illness, grief, etc.). I still think it was a good read, but slower and heavier than expected.

Loved the premise, the plot, everything!!!! I was new to the author and thought they did great. Can’t wait to read more in the future!

I thought the synopsis of this book sounded promising.

However, I found that the plot moved slow and was predictable at times. Erin the female MC was hard to like and root for.

Great concept, ok execution.

Thank you to Harlequin trade publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review.

I'll start my review off by saying this book was a lot heavier than I anticipated it being. It deals with mental health, death, and a terminal illness. None of those things are a bad thing, but I thought it was going to be a lot more light hearted.
Now, on to the good stuff. This book is incredible. I found myself so excited to dive back into it every time I had to leave it. The references to classic works and the pivotal role Perks of Being a Wallflower played in it reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place. Both of these characters are deeply flawed, and we see them work on processing through different things from their past that they have to get through in order to move forward in the life that they desire. I think I hated James and Erin at different times in the book and I'm glad I did, because in the end I was so in love with these characters because of how hard they worked to push through their stuff.
Set aside a weekend and pick up this book, I highly recommend it.

I found the switches between characters sometimes to be abrupt. At the beginning I didn't realize that we had switched to the other character in the second chapter. I think there just needs to be a label on the chapters.
I liked these characters and their love of books. I liked how they came together and overcame their differences.
The topic of grief is hard, and this beautifully illustrates how hard it can be. But how parts of life can be a chance to move on.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

A sweet romance story where 2 people begin chatting by commenting and asking questions written in books shared in a community free library. A nice story.