CW: terminal illness, bipolar disorder, bullying

I am absolutely a sucker for You've Got Mail/Shop Around the Corner stories in which the MCs fall in love through their correspondence, unaware that they are rivals or enemies IRL. Megan Bannen recently did a great job of capturing the right notes of the trope in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy.

The Book Swap tries to recreate that magic, but the romance is weighed down by both MCs' emotional baggage (mostly grief and guilt, with a bit of career crisis thrown in for good measure). Debut author Tessa Bickers gets high marks for realistically showing how Erin and James individually work through their pain and emerge on the other side. The notes that they leave each other in the Little Free Library books are most interesting when they actually discuss their reactions to classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Great Expectations. Eventually, however, they give up the literary pretense, and just start writing personal questions and heartfelt responses, which tend towards cliched exhortations to "follow your dreams."

I'm not going to spoil the revelations of the MCs' shared past, except to say that IMO the author doesn't establish the previous bond between them emphatically enough, so its severance feels like a shame more than a tragedy. The book barely squeaks by with 4 stars for several reasons. I liked both MCs and the evolution of their relationships with their respective BFFs. I thought the family dynamics, especially James's, were insightfully portrayed. Although the romance didn't quite work for me, I respected the journey each MC took to get to their HEA. Ignore the light & fluffy vibes promised by the book cover, and proceed with caution if you are not in the mood for some pretty heavy shit.

Advanced reader copy received through Net Galley in exchange for objective review.

I really enjoyed this book. I was a little hesitant after the first chapter, however it really grew on me. I loved that these characters were each dealing with major personal struggles and that this story showed them growing from them and then falling in love. I also love that this really was romance and did not have any smut like other stories I have read.

4.5 stars

This was such a cute read, from a debut author no less!

I love me a Little Free Library story!!! I will definitely keep an eye out for any future publications from Bickers. This is the perfect summer romance book to pick up.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel by Tessa Bickers. It had a lot more meat to it than your typical rom-com. It's actually more of a romantic drama than a rom-com. As an avid reader, I also enjoyed the references to different classic novels. Overall, I really enjoyed this book!

The book for all book lovers and ones who have let a book slip away and then wish they could have it back. I loved this book so much! A great read for summer

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Both Erin Connolly and James Parr are at a crossroad in their lives. Erin, still grappling with the devastating loss of her childhood best friend to cancer, is struggling with her mental health and a toxic work environment-- as well as the realization she had no idea how to be happy in her current life. James travels back and forth between his London home, where he works as a very successful business man despite his dream of becoming a writer, and his hometown of Frome where he helps his mother during the violent bouts of her uncontrolled bipolar disorder. Both are desperate for a change, for some way to move forward in their lives, but lack the impetus to make it happen.

In a fit of Marie Kondo inspiration, Erin accidentally donates a deeply beloved and incredibly annotated copy of <I>To Kill a Mockingbird</I>, and, when she realizes her accident it's too late. However, a few days later, the book reappears with additional annotations. What follows is an exchange of classic literature and a connection between two lost souls that may help them both into the next chapter of their lives.

As many other reviewers have noted-- THE BOOK SWAP is not a romance. Is there romance? Yes. However, it's a slow burn that <spoiler>doesn't come together until the literal last pages of the book.</spoiler> The primary focus of this books is the character's grappling with grief and loss, mental illness (specifically depression and bipolar disorder), forgiveness, bullying, cheating, an unexpected pregnancy, and quarter-life crisis'. There's a lot packed into the book folks. And a lot of it is handled thoughtfully and realistically, however, I struggled to connect with the FMC, Erin.

Erin is an inherently selfish and obtuse. She refuses therapy and help from her sister (who happens to BE a therapist) despite struggling with occasionally debilitating depression and hallucinating her dead best friend. Erin also refuses to listen to other people's points of view, and while this is addressed during the course of the story, it's hard to sympathize with someone who has ruined several relationships because she lacks basic empathy and the ability to listen while she's hurting (and she hurts for YEARS).

Overall, this book was SO CLOSE to being on the same par as Elenor Oliphant Is Completely Fine or Meredith, Alone-- but it just missed the mark for me.

I assumed that the book thing would happen immediately but I’m happy it didn’t. It starts off with background on both characters. Erin and James. Erin just quit her job after her best friend Bonnie died and she decided to Marie Kondo her life and get rid of everything that did not bring her joy. She put all her books in a little library. James has moved away from home and came back for an old friends funeral it’s Bonnie’s funeral. Someone asks him if he’s packed yet to go back and he responds saying he never really unpacked and she says of course you didn’t. Unpacking would be like committing to staying and the only way he can get through it is to remind himself it isn’t permanent. As someone who moved away from home at the age of 18 and has never moved back in, I felt that deep in my core. There’s one thing I don’t like about Erin which is made clear in the book. She very much has a victim mindset, and her sister tries to tell her to look at the ways she can change herself and Erin takes that as she’s attacking her. Part of therapy is both acknowledging the harm other people have done to you and how that affected and still affects you but also how you react to that. How you continue to do things. However, she grows. Everyone in this book grows and I love that so much. They go to therapy, they learn and they grow. Erin hears people out and apologizes and James actually apologizes I love it. Georgia is everyone’s big sister. Jesus Christ this book made me go through all the stages of grief in two days. It was amazing. Have tissues. It’s so much more than a love story and it needs to be read.

I received a copy of this ebook arc through NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. I gave this book 4 stars.

This book is written through dual points of views, Erin and James. They were childhood friends who both went through some traumatic during school, along with their best friend Bonnie.

The book begins with Erin and James both older and grown up, living separate lives and no longer in touch. They are both feeling pretty depressed and down due to different reason, and both lacking confidence in themselves.

While this book is a slow burn romance, it is very much contemporary as well. While both characters move forward, they both find some peace and life again in unusual places.

This book was a little slow paced. At first I didn’t think I’d enjoy it, but I ended up really rooting for the characters. It also started out pretty sad and down. But I was invested in seeing where each of these characters ended up. I was expecting a romcom but it was much more of a contemporary romance.

I do recommend this book! Just keep in mind it’s slower paced but rewarding.

4/5

I first want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing for approving my request to read this eARC via NetGalley of Tessa Bicker's "The Book Swap". I am glad I was approved. And if you like the premise, and anything jumps out for you from this review you should check it out when it is released September 3, 2024.

Now, this book is very well written. So well in fact that it was just too heavy for what it was advertised as being - a funny, heartwarming, contemporary romance of second-chance love. I don't know what subgenre of romance this would fall under, per se, but wouldn't recommend if you are looking for 'fluff' and a break from reality. I like romance books with substance – such as written by Emily Henry and Lyssa Kay Adams, just to name a few - but when they are too far removed from the romance, can we just label them as contemporary drama? Or, where do they fall? If ya'll could let me know and also label them on Goodreads and The StoryGraph, I'd greatly appreciate it.

To be honest, I almost DNF'd the book after the first chapter. The first chapter mentions the toxic workplace (triggers below), which is currently one of my only 'NO THANK YOU' triggers. It actually brought on a stress nightmare and a day full of anxiety. So, I typically avoid that topic in my chosen reading. I decided to persist as Erin rage quits the job the same chapter so pushed on and hoped for the best.

I know I was drawn to the book as a modern day "Diving Rivals", but was hoping for something lighter, and certainly something more in the adult fiction category of spice. This would be a 0/5 on the spice scale. Implied relations and one kiss with the MC, James, just doesn't cut it for me. So, closed door romance all the way through. I know many do appreciate a good closed door, so this may be for you!

I requested this book for the idea of mystery pen-pals, presented here as mystery annotators labeled Mystery Man and Margins Girl. We do get dual point of view (my absolute fave). And I appreciated the unique mystery romance through the exchanging of books via a free little library in a public park. That aspect almost had me wishing I had a mystery pen-pal, and am considering annotating myself (but how do ya'll write up your books?!?).

What this book has going for it is time. The story itself takes place over a year and six months. So, maybe believable to most in how we get our two main characters back together. I won't deny there is personal growth on both sides, and quite a bit of positive change in the areas of family relations and career exploration. Allowing passage of time within the tale itself lends well to these developments. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel that it overcame 15 years of baggage, including grudges, PTSD and a general lack of copying skills.

Erin is actually the worst in those aspects. She seems to lack emotional intelligence or any kind of coping skills for stressful, life changing events. And she tied way too much of her identity to others. This is probably why I preferred James, though he himself has not addressed his own backstory of drama. Both should have been in therapy immediately following their respective experiences in high school (FYI - in England and much of the world high school is referred to as college). Not sure why it was 15 years before anyone – family or friend or self – to take any steps towards an intervention...

Again, I'll reiterate that this book is very well written, and plays out strongly as a small town (with a lil city moments thrown in) drama. The cast of characters feels diverse (definitely some great side characters) and the flashbacks to what happened in 10th grade and since felt natural, though the general chatter implying something happened versus just revealing what had was repetitive.

In the end though, if I'd been friend or family member to either James or Erin I would place great caution on the happy ending ideal they still seemed to believe was their desire and fate. There really was just too many ugly years, not enough therapy, and a tendency for the parties to tie their happiness to others for me to genuinely believe they should have ended up together.

And just so we are all clear on what I mean when I say heavy, I'm going to write out some trigger warnings for you all here:

Graphic: Chronic illness (bipolar disorder), death, grief, terminal illness, mental illness, cancer, bullying, unaddressed trauma, panic attacks, PTSD, estranged family, hallucinations
Moderate: Infidelity/adultery, pregnancy, medical content, therapy, emotional abuse
Light: Toxic workplace

The book covers bullying, infidelity, death, mental health disorders and a few more things. The premise is semi intriguing, the romance aspect was unsatisfying. The main characters don't get together until the end, and the romance wasn't a strong point. Erin's relationships were enjoyable, but not enough to justify the book.
I just reviewed The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers. #TheBookSwap #NetGalley

I was immediately sucked into this emotional story that also revolves around a love of books. Reader beware - from the cover this looks like a light-hearted rom-com and it is definitely not. Even a different font might have helped separate it from that sub-genre. This is an emotional ride all the way through including the death of a 20-something.

This is a beautiful story that revolves around friendships, sisterhood, family, obligations, trauma, grief, forgiveness, and love. It is also a love story about the power of books and how they can have different meanings for different people, but they are able to give us what we need at that moment.

Erin and James form a friendship based on annotations in the margins of a book that were never meant to be seen. Each of them need someone that they can open up to and there is something freeing about the anonymity. Erin has recently lost her best friend to cancer and James is having to help care for his mother as she suffers from bi-polar disorder. Both are in jobs they don't love and generally just stuck. They need to let go of grudges and open themselves up to experiences. Of course, that isn't as easy to do and involves some painful experiences. Reading this journey took me through all of the emotions and there were definitely some moments of tears. A great debut novel.

<I>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.</I>

This book was amazing and I devoured this book in just a few sittings! I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is an impressive debut novel following Erin and James, two book lovers stuck in a niche of their own making and connected through notes left in books.

Erin, still grieving the loss of a close friend, accidentally donates her favorite annotated book to the community library. James discovers it and, moved by her annotations, responds within the book itself. Erin is dissatisfied with her job, while James, burdened by caring for his bipolar mother, has abandoned his dream of writing. Unbeknownst to them, they share a history and harbor unresolved issues that prevent them from moving forward. As their correspondence progresses from discussing books to sharing personal revelations, they motivate each other to step outside their comfort zones.

The book is written in the first person and alternates between the two protagonists. It is wrongly marketed as a rom-com, so I expected some light reading. However, it is better classified as romance fiction or literary fiction as it explores heavy-handed themes such as grief, bipolar disorder, depression, bullying, and toxic environments. It also explores fallible human nature, healing, forgiveness, redemption, and pursuing dreams.

The book started slowly for me, but once it gained momentum, I couldn't put it down. I loved the concept of exchanging notes through books, the dynamics between the characters, and the author's thoughtful handling of mental illness. The side plots enrich the story, and I particularly enjoyed the interactions with side characters such as the protagonists' families, Erin's friend Cassy, and James' friend Joel.

Truth be told, Erin irritated me at times with her immaturity, selfishness, and poor behavior toward her friends and mother. James wasn't perfect either, being too judgmental at times, and his behavior in school was inexcusable. I don't want to say too much about it to avoid spoilers, but being bullied isn't reason enough to act as he did, though who are we to judge?? Nonetheless, I appreciated how both characters developed and grew throughout the book, and the ending moved me to tears.

While the novel references classic works like "Great Expectations," "Wuthering Heights," "Mansfield Park," and "To Kill a Mockingbird" (which I also enjoyed), it doesn't delve deeply into them—and rightly so, as it isn't the book's focus. Overall, I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to fans of slow-paced friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, and slow-burn romance stories that aren't afraid to tackle weighty themes. It delves into the complexities of the human psyche, provokes thought, and definitely touched me deeply.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

What a cool concept for a book. In this book we meet Erin and James. Both characters have a lot of growing to do, and end up helping each other (without realizing it) along the way!

Erin- She’s lost her best friend Bonnie
She quits her job
She is navigating her life after the death of her best friend.

James- The nicest guy
His Mom has some mental health issues that affect the entire family
James is always there to pick up the pieces

James and Erin are actually writing each other back in the margins of classic novels. They become friends (and pen-pals) through their writing. They start to help each other navigate their lives.
But Erin and James have a rocky past with each other.
I was routing for these two!

From Friends, to Enemies, to Lovers.

This was such a heartfelt story about friendship, love, and finding yourself. The characters learn to put the past in the past and move on. This was a slow read for me, but I absolutely loved the concept and the characters!
Thank you to Netgally for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

First off, trigger warnings: cancer, bipolar, depression, family drama, toxic work environments.

This book was such a cute concept but very much a slow burn. Erin (female main character) was pretty selfish and immature for the heavy topics that her and James navigated together. I really enjoyed the swapping of annotated books but that was about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

📘💛The Book Swap📚♥️

SUMMARY:

Erin is recovering from a recent tragedy and accidentally donates her favorite book that she has annotated. It is returned a week later to a local community library with new annotations in it, along with an invitation in a new book to meet her pen pal. Life changing conversations happen in the margins of books that they swap and annotate. Erin then finds herself at a crossroads as she opens up to this mystery man, and finds out that they have shared a painful past.

REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with this ARC!

I saw the cover and thought 🤩🤩📚 super cute!!! (Yes I judge books by the cover how can I not) anywho, this book pulled at my heart strings quite a bit. I was definitely expecting an easy going romantic comedy style book, but this went an entirely different direction, as it explored heavy topics of grief, mental illness, bullying, etc.

While these topics were heavy, they were very well written and I found myself engrossed in the novel the more that I read. I was slow to getting into the read, but it was well worth it after a few chapters!

The FMC is a bit immature and hard to root for, but also that’s what makes the book that more real and human. The MMC is a gem though, and I absolutely loved reading his POV.

For those who love slow burns that reference pop culture and other literary works, this one is for you!

✨slow burn
✨dual POV
✨explores grief and trauma
✨reconnecting from the past / second chances

Books about books give me all the feels. I thought this would be a cutesy, lighthearted romance with little depth, but was pleasantly surprised with the depth, weightiness and connection to so many layered and complex emotions. Highly recommend - it tears you apart and puts you back together again!

You're telling me this is a debut novel? Can't wait to see what the authors next one is like!

This book felt like a movie. I felt like a was reading a really good romcom. I enjoyed that it focused on many different types of love throughout the story instead of just romantic, but that didn't take away from the romantic love at all!

Honestly, I just wanted to hug every character. Such a good depiction of "everyone's going through their own shit and no one's got it figured out."

Might even be a 4.5?

this was much different from romance books read recently and brought a lot of deep emotions. i didn’t connect with the characters immediately but by the end was rooting for them.

A solid three because the concept was cute but, overall, the book was ok. I didn’t really love the characters and I felt like James and Erin were a bit whiny. I thought it was going to be more cutesy and sweet/lighthearted but instead you have a depressed woman who lost her best friend three years ago and hasn’t recovered and a man who was horribly bullied when he was younger with a mom with bipolar disorder. It was more serious than I was expecting and I believe the characters could have used more developing. Essentially there were two things that defined each character and that’s what the author stuck with. I wanted more quirks and a deeper dive into what makes each character happy or ticked off.

I did like Erin’s growth and how she found her career. For that and the other reasons why I liked this novel, I would probably give this author another chance.