Thankful to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for providing me an ARC of this book 💕

I would describe this as a "book you'll want to pick up if you want a break from some heavy reading". Very perfect for a palate cleanser. It's fast-paced, easy to read, has relatable issues, has a little bit of suspense but will definitely make your heart stop, and it's predictable yes, but satisfying. The overall storyline is nothing I haven't seen before but, the idea of house swapping is new for me. I didn't even know it exists. (I live in the Philippines)

Overall, I gave this a 3.5 ⭐

The idea of swapping houses seems the stuff of nightmares, strangers moving into your house and the secrets they might discover. Elodie is a real estate hotshot keeping herself and her hot but profligate husband Lewis in a life of luxury, she needs a holiday and when it is suggested by her business partner, Niall, that she tries out a house swap, she jumps at the chance. Elodie and Lewis have a sumptuous townhouse in fashionable Knightsbridge, just around the corner from Harrods. The swap is to be with a British couple, Piers and Susan who have a French chateau in Provence and their teenage son, Raf.

We are treated to three POVs those of Elodie, Piers and Raf. What at first seems an ideal holiday solution quickly turns into a nightmare. The French chateau looks much better in the carefully curated pictures, it is in fact mostly rundown and worse the builders are in, disturbing the tranquil holiday Elodie craves. Meanwhile in London, Piers and Raf find some news that brings their world crashing down and Raf vanishes.

I felt the first 60% of the book was way too slow and uneventful but the pacing really picks up as the story nears the end.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. The expected publication date is 4 December 2024.

The idea of swapping houses fascinates me. I could never do it. I like seeing the new and unconventional ways people travel these days but I'm a hotel girlie.

I have to admit I haven't always been a big fan of this author's writing style. It's been a few years and I've seen some hype around her latest works so I decided to try again. The writing style is still not particularly my style. It's very wordy and overly-descriptive. It feels longer than it is. That being said, it had a great payout and things really heated up at the bottom end of the book. So while it took a little longer to get through, it was worth the time and I really enjoyed the characters, warts and all. They felt real in a surreal experience.

The Browns and Lesters are doing a house swap. It's a new thing Elodie Brown is considering for her successful real estate business so she decided to be the guinea pig because she desperately needs a vacation anyway.

Upon arrival at "Chateau Lester", the Browns are a bit disappointed. It's somewhat run-down and loud work is being done unexpectedly. The Lesters on the other hand are living luxuriously at the Brown home.

Right from the start, things are going wrong for both couples but they're stuck in each other's houses and at a loss for what to do. No hotels have availability so they're making the most of it.

Eventually, these mishaps start to seem less unfortunate and more planned. Who would want to hurt them and why? Are the couples, and their homes, hiding more than we realize?

With long chapters rotating between Elodie and Piers, with a few from Raf thrown in here and there, it's sure to keep you up late turning the pages.

The House Swap is a domestic psychological thriller of 2 families that decide to do a house swap. Ive read a fee of Miranda Rijks' books before and I really enjoy both her writing style and the pacing of her books. I also really like her character developments as well has her plot twists. This book is no exception and will keep you turning the pages until the very end.


4.25 for Storygraph rounded down to 4 for Amazon and Netgalley

A tremendous read with great characters and many twists and turns as the story unfolded. Great characters which made for a real page turner. Quite shocking at times as secrets unfolded as the truth gradually unfolded.

The house swap locations are London and France.
Two family swap homes for a month long vacation
One family is Rich, one family is struggling to make ends meet.
It's a bit of a slow burn that begins to unfold about one third the way in.
I did enjoy the twists, affairs and crazy ending.
3.5 stars

Two families choose to go on a holiday by switching houses! One family from France travels to London, while the one from London travels to France. It sounds like the perfect getaway, however both families get more than what they bargained for....


Overall, I did enjoy this book. At no point did I feel that the book was slow. One of my primary criticisms of this book, was the elements of the thriller itself. I felt as though the mystery and suspense did not present itself the reader had read a significant chunk of the book. This made me wonder what the mystery was and if I should be feeling suspense or not. Once the suspense was disclosed, it felt as though the remaining portion of the book was sped up.

In terms of characterization, I also did not feel drawn personally to any of the characters. Many of the characters, I felt, had elements that could be seen in many other popular thrillers out there, so I was really wondering what was "new" about this story.

Ultimately, I did enjoy reading this, and I appreciate the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Quick and easily bingeable thriller! What initially drew me to this book was the setting, two couples agree to a house swap for their holiday, both eager to spend time in those locations. Of course, nothing is as it seems. Once the Browns arrive in France, the chateau is not as luxurious as was promised, and things continue to decline from there. Both families seem to be harboring secrets that are threatening to change everything.

Definitely recommend this book! Great for a weekend read or a quick holiday getaway. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

I thought this was a very good book. Right from the start it kept me gripped all the way through till the end with some very surprising twists. Look forward to reading more books by this author.

I received a free copy of, The House Swap, by Miranda Rijiks, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. House swaps sounds like a great idea, it worked in The Holiday. This house swap is a little different to couples, one in France and one in London decide to swap homes. This was a pretty good read, kept me interested til the last page.

Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for my advanced ecopy in exchange for a review. This book is set between France and London following two couples who have swapped houses for a holiday in each others countries. Elodie and Lewis who live in France swap with Piers, Susan and their son Raf for the summer. What should be an exciting and relaxing holiday for the families end up becoming very strange when things start to happen in the French Chateau, people breaking in and injuring themselves, When lies start to appear things are not all they seem and gradually we start to realise that these two couples might not be strangers after all. I will be recommending this book to others.

I love this author definitely one of my favourite authors so when I seen this I could not wait to read. I definitely was not disappointed I absolutely loved it. Hooked from page one until the very last page. It was full of twists and turns the story was unique and so well written with such well developed characters. The suspense throughout was amazing I didn’t know what was going to happen next and wow what an ending it was I loved it. Overall I devoured this book and loved it. This authors book gets better and better and think this one is my favourite so far. I can’t wait to recommend this to everyone and tell them how great it is. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this awesome thriller.

Hooked from page one. The description of the families and the house swops drew me in and the undercurrent of something sinister gently building. One by one as the book unfolds reveals another secret.

This book was absolutely fantastic! From start to finish, I was completely immersed in the story, and one of the things I loved most was how deeply I got to know the characters.

Miranda Rijs did a great job of making them feel real and relatable, which made me genuinely invested in their journeys. As the plot unfolded, I found that there were multiple moments when my mouth was left agape by the unexpected plot twists

The structure of the book, with each chapter told from a different character’s point of view, was great. It kept the pace quick and the tension high, while also giving me a chance to understand each character's motivations.

Overall, this story was gripping with 3 great plot twists. Highly recommended!

I shared the disappointment of one of the couples, the Browns, in their house swap, when the French chateau they exchanged their trendy London flat for turned out to be partially in disrepair, ongoing renovations, with a stealthy intruder to add. The Lester's delight in their London flat, however, turned sour when their teen son, Rafael, disappears.

It was intriguing to see how the plot advanced and unfolded, though I was hoping for a different plot device - not relying on two of the people knowing each other in the past but keeping it a secret.

Nevertheless, an interesting book, especially in the descriptions of both houses in the two locations.

The House Swap by Miranda Rijks is a gripping psychological thriller that takes the concept of swapping homes to an entirely new and unsettling level. With its well-crafted suspense, intriguing plot twists, and a cast of unpredictable characters, this book keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The premise of the story is deceptively simple: two families agree to swap houses for a short vacation. However, as the story unfolds, what initially appears to be a harmless exchange quickly turns into a psychological game with dark consequences. One family arrives to find their new home already occupied by secrets and lies, and they are drawn into a web of mystery that they can’t easily escape.

Rijks does an excellent job building tension from the very first chapter. The pacing of the novel is steady, with suspenseful moments scattered throughout the story, making it hard to put down. The setting, a seemingly idyllic home swap, turns sinister as the characters uncover hidden truths about the house, the people who once lived there, and the chilling events that unfold during their stay.

The central characters are multi-dimensional, each with their own flaws and secrets. The protagonist, in particular, is a well-crafted character whose internal struggles and motivations add layers of depth to the plot. As she navigates the increasingly disturbing events in the swapped home, the reader is left questioning who to trust and what the true motives of each character are. The author’s ability to create doubt and suspicion around every character keeps the mystery fresh and intriguing.

One of the standout elements of The House Swap is its exploration of trust, deception, and the lengths people will go to in order to protect their secrets. The concept of swapping homes, which seems innocent at first, becomes a metaphor for how easily lives can be upended by the actions of others. The psychological tension between the characters builds slowly, drawing the reader deeper into a labyrinth of suspense and uncertainty.

The twists and turns in the plot are well-executed, and just when you think you have everything figured out, the author delivers another shocking revelation. This keeps the reader constantly on alert, ensuring that the story remains unpredictable and engaging.

Conclusion: The House Swap is a suspenseful, psychological thriller that will captivate fans of mysteries and thrillers alike. Miranda Rijks skillfully weaves a story of tension, secrets, and deceit, keeping readers guessing until the very end. With its compelling characters, twists, and eerie atmosphere, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good psychological suspense novel with a chilling edge.

Eloise Brown works in London real estate with her partner Niall, and one day he has an interesting proposal: their company should consider getting into the house swapping business. Instead of going the hotel or Airbnb route, families could choose to stay in each other’s homes. Eloise isn’t sure, but she agrees to be the guinea pig and give it a try with Niall’s friends, who live in the south of France.

Susan Lester runs a blog about her charming French chateau and the beautiful surroundings, so after seeing pictures, Eloise and her husband Lewis take the plunge and swap houses with Susan, Piers, and their son Raf. Immediately, one family realizes they got the short end of the stick. The house in France is beautiful on the outside, as the pictures online show, but inside, it’s run-down, moldy, oddly decorated and not very comfortable. To make matters worse, the first morning, they are awoken by the construction crew the Lesters have hired for some renovations. This isn’t quite the Provençal vacation they had hoped for.

Meanwhile, the Browns are loving life in London - and why wouldn’t they? They’re in a luxurious townhouse complete with a theater room, a gourmet kitchen and posh furniture. Their only complaint is how expensive the city is; they are as broke as the inside of their house. Susan’s blog doesn’t make them much money, and the garden maintenance company that Piers owns is doing poorly. They are all enjoying this glimpse and living the high life though, and Raf even meets a teenage boy his age next door, giving him something to do as his parents go to museums.

Then, things get weird. Someone keeps trying to break into the house in France, and there is a smell of something rotting. Susan starts posting pictures of the London house on her blog, acting like she owns the place. Lewis is always out in bike rides, leaving his wife bored and alone. Both couples are keeping secrets from each other, and they are growing apart during this adventure. Then, Raf disappears just as everything is coming to a head.

This book was a really fun read, with a lot of surprises sprinkled throughout. There is constant drama (maybe just a tad too much), and a lot to unpack with both of these families. In the end, this is a tale of deception, lies, secrets and danger, and it makes for a very entertaining, if not slightly overdramatized, story that will leave you shocked all the way to the end. 4.5 stars!

(Thank you to Inkubator Books, Miranda Rijks and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on December 4, 2024.)

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with plenty of twists and a creeping sense of unease, The House Swap by Miranda Rijks is a must-read. The premise is simple: Chloe swaps homes with a family she finds online, hoping to escape her stressful life. What could go wrong, right? Well, everything.

The suspense builds quickly as Chloe starts noticing strange things in the house—mysterious objects, unsettling messages, and an overall feeling that she’s not alone, even when no one’s around. I was hooked from the start, eager to see what secrets would be uncovered next.

What I really loved about this book was the atmosphere. The author does an excellent job of creating a sense of growing tension, and just when I thought I had things figured out, there was another twist to keep me guessing. Chloe is a relatable character, and her emotional journey added depth to the story. By the end, I was flipping pages fast, desperate to find out how it all would unfold.

That said, my only issue with the book was the grammar. It was often distracting and felt a bit sloppy at times, which took me out of the story more than I’d have liked. But if you can overlook that, The House Swap is a solid thriller with lots of suspense and mystery.

Miranda Rijks never lets you down providing us with another great book.

The idea of a house swap sets up the scene for two couples looking for a change. The Browns currently live in London and the idea of taking a break in a chateau in France sounds to good to be true. The Lesters will be spending tie in Knightsbridge, a very different environment to what they are used to.

I think this is one of those books that the less you know the better. Lots of drama and the lives of these couples may never be the same again or what they expected them to be. A great thriller that will keep you entertained,

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

I really liked this book! I have never read anything by this author, but this book was a 5 star read to me.

I loved the twists this book took. I had no idea where it was going, so the plot twists were surprising to me, which surprised me since I am an avid thriller reader. Both sides of the story are great, and I also appreciate how one POV was the husband, not 2 wives.