Such a cute premise! I’ve always thought those little free libraries are so happy and adorable, so what a perfect way to tell a love story. The nod to classic lit was also fun- multiple references to books I have read, as well as new ones to add to the list. It wasn’t always cheery though… definitely some heavier topics intertwined to ultimately tell a story about forgiveness and self-reflection.

Tessa Bickers's debut, *The Book Swap*, initially appears to be a lighthearted rom-com but reveals surprising depth. The story centers on two strangers in their thirties who exchange notes in a little library, gradually building a connection. I was drawn to the premise due to my love for books and enjoyed how the plot focused on flawed, relatable characters facing real-life issues like family drama, career dissatisfaction, and loss.

Rather than focusing on romance, the story is more about personal growth, reminiscent of *Sleepless in Seattle* or *You’ve Got Mail*. There’s a slow burn and minimal spice, which I found refreshing. However, the subplot involving a deceased friend felt underdeveloped, and the large cast of side characters occasionally felt overwhelming.

Overall, it’s a heartfelt, slower-paced read that fans of character-driven stories will appreciate. Looking forward to Bickers's future work. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.

This turned out to be one of my favorite books of the year. I even went and bought a physical copy of the book. Love when authors mention books in their books. I even want to read some of the books that Tessa mentioned in the book. My only question is what popular book was the author talking about? LOL

I definitely plan on reading her future books. I can't believe this was her debut.

This was my absolutely fave quote in the book “They say it takes one moment to change your life.” What a way to start the book. I was instantly hooked.

Love the dual points of view. I loved reading both of the main characters thoughts. Especially James. To read what he went through during school was heart breaking. I am not for bullying. At first I was mad that he turned around and did it to Erin and I know its not right but it made sense. I loved getting a little back story on both of them.

What are the odds that James would pick up Erin's book from the little free library? I loved how they both interacted throughout the exchange of books and notes.

Not sure if there plans to be a sequel but I wish there would have been a little epilogue to how Erin and James are doing say a year later etc I am curious to know what happened after the book ended.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. I thought this was just a rom com but pleasantly surprised it did tackle heavier issues. I found the characters enjoyable and relatable, and I would recommend it to my friends. Do check trigger warnings though, it deals with bullying and mental health

Thank you to netGalley and Harlequin Trade publish for an advance copy of this book. Would give this a 3.5 rounded to 3. The beginning was a slow burn but as the book continued I really fell in love with the characters. Really cute book incorporating a little free library, friendship drama, forgiveness and complex relationship development. Would be interested in reading anything else this author puts out!

real bummed bc the cover is pretty misleading. i am a huge fun of enemies to lovers, bestfriends to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, literally all rom coms. but this was not any of those. had to really push through to finish this book. the characters werent super likable which always takes me out of a book and the relationships in the book. banter is one thing, but when they're all kind of rude to one another??? not my cup of tea. i had a hard time keeping track of what was going on with the POV jumps. the cover look really warm and fun and this was not that. super disappointed :(

The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
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Erin and James are both struggling. They are each stuck in jobs that bring them no joy, with their own family drama. James stumbles upon an annotated book in a little free library and decides to respond to the notes and put it back with an offer to read another book together. The book swap, unknowingly, connects Erin and James who have history of their own.
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What I liked:
-I loved how both Erin and James had their own emotional back stories. They each had to confront hard stuff from their pasts and determine how they could handle things better moving forward. I love a good personal growth arc, and The Book Swap gave me two for one.
-The book swapping was so much fun and it made me wish I could do that too, but I’m terrible at annotating. I do good for a chapter or two and then get sucked in and forget. 😂
-Books about people vibing together over books are always awesome.
-I love when people can have a friendship or relationship with someone and it helps them learn to be a better person. Both Erin and James learned from each others notes and were able to see things differently through each others POVs and I loved that.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Where do I even start?
Let's start with the simplest.

I don't think this book is really a romance. There is a main couple, but their romance doesn't seem to be the main focus.
I think it focuses more platonic love. Love between friends (new, old, and passed) and family.

The Book Swap had a lot of great gems in it. Tessa Bickers asked us to redefine what success means and to accept that there are many different versions of success and that they are all valid.

This book also touched lightly on men's mental health.

I think the biggest thing was the exploration of grief and expectations we place upon ourselves.

The idea of this book is so cute! Swapping a book through a Little Free library with a stranger and exchanging notes? Every book lovers dream. love story! Unfortunately the book was a little slow for me, but it was still really cute!

The Book Swap
By Tessa Bickers
Narrated by Cameron Krugh Stone and Fran Burgoyne
4 ⭐️

I read this just at the right time. It’s been a rough week and this contemporary read let me escape into Erin and Jame’s London and home town. The power of books is celebrated from start to finish in their story. Mental health is a strong theme along with the power of proper communication (there’s miscommunication but not how it typically occurs and no 3rd act breakup to speak of). The audiobook has duel narrators for each POV. I enjoyed their performance just as much as I enjoyed the story. I recommend it. It’s not too heavy but not fluff either. For anyone whom might want to know: kiss only spice level and there’s like 2.

This audiobook is available on hoopla.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Bickers, and Graydon House (Harlequin Trade Pub) for an eARC copy of this story.

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

During an impromptu cleaning spree, Erin accidentally donated her treasured copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to her local little library. Desperate to get the book back, she begins frequenting the destination in hopes it will one day reappear. To her surprise, the book turns up, along with notes in the margin. Intrigued by the comments, she replies. Will corresponding with a stranger through a secret book swap be the start of something special, or will it uncover unhealed trauma???

Tessa Bickers’ The Book Swap is a remarkable read!!!
Despite this being her debut novel, she managed to pen a complex story. Expertly weaving together the past and present through dual POVs, she demonstrates the importance of friendship, family, and finding one’s purpose.

If you consider yourself to be a bibliophile, this is a must read! Special thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Tessa Buckers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Book Swap is a sweet story about people coming together after working through the issues in their past. It’s set in both London and the town of Frome so the settings are delightful.

The reason for a lower rating is that the pace was very slow for me and there were A LOT of issues covered so at times the book felt very scattered.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for an ARC of this book! This is my honest review.

"The Book Swap" is a heartwarming and enchanting tale of second chances, healing, and the power of literature. Following Erin Connolly, a woman struggling with grief after a personal tragedy, the novel explores how books and unexpected connections can guide us toward new beginnings.

When Erin accidentally donates her treasured, heavily annotated copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird"—a book she holds dear for its sentimental value—she’s devastated. But to her surprise, the book reappears at her local community library, now with fresh notes in the margins, along with an invitation to meet the mysterious person behind them. This sparks a unique, life-changing exchange between Erin and her pen pal, whose thoughts, reflections, and notes in the margins of classic novels like "Great Expectations", "Wuthering Heights", and "The Great Gatsby" help Erin begin to heal and move forward.

As Erin and her Mystery Man continue their written conversations, a deep and unexpected friendship forms, leading them to confront their shared pasts and their own emotional baggage. Along the way, they explore themes of forgiveness, self-discovery, and the joy of reading. Yet, when Erin’s past resurfaces in a way she wasn’t prepared for, she faces a crossroads, forced to reckon with old wounds and make choices that could shape her future.

With its references to beloved literary classics, "The Book Swap" is a celebration of books and the way they can connect us to others. The story delicately handles sensitive topics such as grief and forgiveness, while also offering a touching romance and a journey of personal growth. Fans of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" and "The Rosie Project" will find much to love in this novel.

Charming and emotional, "The Book Swap" is a delightful read for book lovers and anyone seeking a story about life’s second chances. It’s a love letter to books, friendship, and the unexpected paths that lead us toward healing and new beginnings. Highly recommended.

The Book Swap is a heartfelt and charming story that unfolds through the lives of Erin and James, whose friendship has been fractured by the heartbreaking loss of a mutual friend. Their journey is both touching and filled with unexpected life challenges, making their characters even more relatable and complex.
At the center of their story is a little free library, a place that becomes a meaningful symbol and a source of shared joy. The concept of swapping books adds a lovely, bookish touch to the narrative, and the story is brimming with literary references. The witty banter and back-and-forth exchanges between Erin and James are fun to read, building a playful, emotional tension that’s as endearing as it is entertaining. And the ending? So incredibly cute!
Although the story had many adorable, lighthearted moments, it didn’t shy away from exploring the harder sides of Erin and James’ personalities.
The Book Swap is a cozy read filled with laughter, tears, and the satisfying journey of personal growth. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming story with bookish vibes, but I’d suggest checking out the trigger warnings beforehand for any sensitive themes.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the gifted ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The premise is interesting and comforting... a second chance between best friends after the grief of losing another best friend? I love a good second chance romance, but unfortunately this didn't hit for me. The grief aspects were handled with reverence, but I would have loved more flashback scenes with Bonnie, the late FMC's best friend. She was my favorite and the character I found the most interesting, and I could have gotten to know her more. The FMC is not the most likable, but I appreciated her character growth.

And the initial romance between the two MCs felt a little rocky when it would flashback and describe it. When I read the synopsis, I pictured this great lost love. But I didn't feel that by the end of the book. Also, this is among slowest of slow burns. If you are wanting some heat to your book, this is not it. (and coincidentally, if you are not, this is a great pick!)

I smiled, but I did not swoon. I would absolutely read this author again, but going in knowing some things.

4/5 ⭐️

This story between Erin and James was wonderful. The heartbreaking loss of a mutual friend and James just wanting to win Erin’s friendship back was so good. There were so many more problems that came up within their lives and it helped connect to the characters on a whole other level.

I loved the premise of swapping books at a free library and it made me so happy.

This book was so good and so cute! I loved all the bookish feels! The banter and back and forth was so good! I got kinda lost on the storyline between the passed best friend, the MMC, and FMC but I still really enjoyed the overall story! And the ending was SO freaking cute! Would recommend!

When I saw that The Book Swap was based around a little free library, I knew it was one I had to pick up. I dove in eagerly and found it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

This book is filled with many wonderful book references, lots of classic, but some not. It definitely gives readers multiple avenues to connect and relate. It had its funny moments too. I was laughing out loud at a few things!

I really wasn’t prepared for how heavy this book was going to be. A huge portion of it focused on grief and loss, as well as mental health. As much as I still would have read the book, had I known these elements were so big, I would have maybe chosen another time to read it.

This book tugged on my heartstrings and had me sobbing at points. I don’t think it’s a book to go into lightly.

I had a love/hate relationship with the female MC. There were many layers to this character and a lot of her actions and justifications annoyed me. In the end I did see some things from her point of view, though that didn’t make it any less annoying in the moment. I did love her growth though. From beginning to end the transformation is visible and a great thing to watch unfold.
To be fair, the male MC had his moments too. Not saying he was flawless by any means.

Would I recommend this book? Yeah, I would, but I would also highly recommend checking out the trigger warnings too!

Thank you to Harper Collins for the gifted eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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).