Miranda Rijks delivers a gripping psychological thriller with The House Swap, a novel packed with suspense, unexpected twists, and a steady pulse of tension that keeps readers turning the pages. From the very first chapter, the story plunges into action and rarely lets up, maintaining a fast-paced rhythm that fans of the genre will appreciate.

What truly sets this book apart is its intricate web of deception, just when you think you’ve figured it out, Rijks throws in another curveball. The characters are layered, and the dynamic between them adds to the growing sense of unease. The dual settings are both atmospheric and cleverly used to enhance the tension, making the reader feel as though danger lurks behind every corner.

A compelling read that’s hard to put down, The House Swap earns a solid four stars for its engaging plot, well-timed reveals, and immersive sense of place. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers and mind games, this one is sure to satisfy anyone looking for a twisty escape.

This was a fun and thrilling read. Swapping houses with strangers may seem like a fun time until you find out that those people you swapped with have unbelievable secrets.

I’m not really sure what I thought. I didn’t love it, it didn’t grip me or wow me and the story is perhaps quite forgettable. It was ok. The twists weren’t that shocking and quite predictable. However it was an easy read, I liked the switching between POV and how the stories eventually interlinked

The House Swap by Miranda Rijks is an intriguing psychological thriller that offers a solid premise but doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential. The story of two families exchanging homes—one from London and the other from the south of France—sets the stage for mystery and suspense, but the execution feels uneven at times.

The atmospheric settings, contrasting the London townhouse with the French chateau, are well-drawn and create a vivid backdrop that adds to the story’s mood. The characters are complex, each carrying secrets that gradually unfold. However, some character motivations felt a bit underdeveloped, making it harder to fully connect with them.

Pacing is a mixed bag here. While the slow buildup allowed for tension to simmer, it occasionally dragged, causing the story to lose momentum before picking up again toward the climax. The twists are there and satisfy to a degree, but some may find them predictable or not as surprising as hoped.

Overall, The House Swap is a decent read for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy a slow burn and atmospheric storytelling, but it may not stand out strongly in a crowded genre. It’s engaging enough to finish, though it leaves a few “what ifs” and missed opportunities lingering.

my rating: 3.5 stars
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Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing eArc in exchange for my honest review!

The House Swap is about two families, the Browns and the Lesters, who decide to swap houses. What initially seems innocent soon turns into a nightmare.

I wanted to read this book because the premise of swapping houses reminded me of an old Indonesian reality show where two families did the same thing.

This is my first book by Miranda Rijks, and I have to say… it did not disappoint. I truly enjoyed reading it and second-guessing every character along the way. As someone who rarely reads thrillers, I found the twists pretty good and genuinely surprising.

However, I did find the characters a bit flat, and I think the story would benefit from a little more development. I also felt that the multiple POVs didn’t add much to the narrative, they could have been more distinct or impactful.

It’s still a good read overall.

This story had a fun set up, kind of like a thriller version of the movie "The Holiday". However, this ended up being a bit of a slow burn for me and I wasn't rooting for any of the characters. Thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Two couples swap houses for two weeks. One is in London and the other in the south of France. It seems like the perfect way to enjoy a holiday at a low cost. But, nothing is really as it seems and as the couples settle into their new surroundings, secrets that have been so carefully hidden begin to emerge.

This is the first book I’ve read by Miranda Rijks and, overall, I enjoyed it. The premise was interesting, the locations were wonderful, and the characters…difficult to understand. The relationships were off-putting and some of the behaviors were confusing and childish.

The pace of the book was a little slow and the psychological thriller aspect wasn’t very suspenseful. Mostly it was just a story about two couples who are grappling with problems related to their relationships and their finances.
There are several minor twists that helped ramp up the story during the latter half.

With all that said, I still enjoyed The House Swap. It was a good escape from the early summer heat and definitely a book that could be enjoyed near a pool or while traveling. It was a 3.5 stars read for me. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

Domestic/Psychological thriller is not a genre I’ve read much of, but the premise of a house swap gone wrong hooked me. Unfortunately, I don’t think the genre is really for me, although this was nice and fast-paced.

So many sketchy people, I was still guessing who was responsible for what until the end. Also very messy family dynamics, and messy rich people drama! We do spend a lot of time in the POV of the teenage son, and those were the weakest parts for me, simply because I rarely enjoy teen POVs.

I purely selected this book due to the front cover and this book didn’t disappoint, I was hooked from the very outset!

What a compelling premise and addicting read! Think The Holiday, but fairly devoid of romance, and rife with psychological intrigue.

The French-English homes made for atmospheric settings for the secrets and underhand dealings of these families. I went in not knowing what to expect, and thoroughly enjoyed the journey, with unpredictable twists and startling encounters.

The story was well paced, with an easy and engaging writing style. Rijks is a new to me author, and I look forward to picking up more of their books. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a satisfying domestic psychological thriller.

Thank you Inkubator books for this ARC. Opinions expressed are my own.

Two families trade homes for what should be a relaxing vacation, but they find themselves entangled in life-altering secrets instead.

I had my suspicions about how the families might be connected, but the twists still caught me off guard. The suspense builds at a great pace which made some of the final scenes more impactful.

That said, I did find some of the characters lacking depth, which made them harder to remember or connect with emotionally. When things went wrong for them, I wasn’t as invested as I wanted to be. Additionally, the dynamic between key characters involved in the final reveal felt disconnected and I wasn’t entirely clear on the motive.

Still, The House Swap is a solid, twisty thriller that I think many readers will enjoy. This was my first Miranda Rijks book, and it definitely won’t be my last!

The Lesters and the Browns do a house swap in France and London
The Lesters are looking to show their son around and also attend a doctor's appointment while the Browns are looking for peace and quiet
Neither couple gets what they are looking for. Both couples get more than they bargained for.
Mrs Lester is acting particularly strange
while Mrs Brown keeps getting hurt in her exchange house
Was this a good idea or will the couples wish they had never participated in this house exchange

I always enjoy a good psychological thriller by Miranda Rijks. Her books are fast paced, have twists with a bang, and overall have interesting storylines. The one thing I really enjoyed in this book over some of her other books was the atmosphere. C’mon, a creepy chateau……. sign me up!

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this eArc of The House Swap. This wasn’t my first or last book I’ll be reading by Miranda.

4/5 stars! I went into this story thinking what if "The Holiday" had been a winter thriller instead of a holiday romcom, and I think that sums things up pretty well. This was so well written. You get perspectives from member's of both family and can't quite guess what is coming around the corner. I enjoyed it.

This book had me completely hooked from the very first chapter. What starts off as a seemingly innocent house swap between two families quickly spirals into something much darker and more unsettling—and I loved every twisty moment of it.

Miranda Rijks does such an incredible job building the tension slowly but relentlessly. I kept thinking, Okay, now I know where this is going… and then I’d turn the page and realize I didn’t. At all. Both families—the Browns and the Lesters—seemed perfect on the surface, but the more you get to know them, the more the cracks begin to show, and you start to question everything they say and do.

The dual settings—an eerie, isolated chateau in the south of France and the buzzing, shadowy corners of London—were brilliantly used. Each location added to the growing sense of unease, and the fact that both places held secrets made it feel like there was nowhere safe, nowhere to hide.

The missing person angle had me absolutely on edge. I felt the panic, the confusion, the rising dread, and it all just built to a climax that was intense and satisfying. I didn’t see the full picture until the very end—and that final reveal? Chilling.

If you enjoy stories that unravel bit by bit and keep your mind racing with suspicion, The House Swap delivers that in spades. I tore through this in a day—it’s sharp, suspenseful, and so disturbingly believable. A true page-turner.

The perfect house swap where two families get an opportunity to spend time in areas so unlike where they normally live: London ~ Provence. The families discover they are not in their usual element: the haves and the have-nots seem to have traded lifestyles and not everyone is happy.
     As we discover, there appears to be more trading in this story than just houses. It's the slow evolution of the background of these two families that keep the pages turning. Murder, deceit, ghosts, young love and long hidden secrets keep the reader engaged with a surprising final twist.

Two families change homes for their vacation. One family goes to London. They want to have time with their son The other family goes to France to an old chateau. The past comes back to haunt each family.
You will not figure out the twist in this mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Inkubator Books.

Spooky!! This was fun. Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed the suspense build up in this book quite a bit. A house swap... what could go wrong! Nice work, Miranda Rijks.

This author never fails to hit the mark! Lot of angst here. Two couples agree to swap houses for vacation. One from England the other from France. Both were looking forward to lazy days away from work but the reality was anything but relaxing. Things started happening right away. Little things at first but they soon escalated. Lots of twists and turns that you will never figure out but everything comes out in the end. Such a.great book! I highly recommend.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this remarkable ARC for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars!

I first received The House Swap by Miranda Rijks as an advance ebook copy from netgalley. (However, I did not download it in time and it was archived. My HUGE mistake. I really wanted to read this, so I made sure to purchase for my kindle.)

I had it figured out. No I didn't. Maybe I sort of did? Nope. Kept me guessing to the end. I really enjoyed The House Swap.

Definitely recommend adding to your TBR pile!