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reneerubiano's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
birdie126's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So I picked this up thinking it would be a cutsy rom com, and boy was I surprised. This story covers south in terms of death, chronic illness, bullying, mental health and forgiveness. I feel like the beginning of this story was really slow off to start and honestly I haven’t read most of the classics these characters were so attached to but I had a really good time reading it, I think the look we get at Erin and James in forgiving and understanding others and even themselves is really well written and it’s really nice to see it portrayed in a way that feels realistic, it doesn’t just happen overnight it takes a lot of trial and error and it’s hard. I’m not gonna lie Erin wasn’t my fav MFC in the world but honestly I think that fits in for the story? The way she was dealing with things wasn’t healthy the grudges she was holding against her family and her friends wasn’t good for her, she was kinda being a crappy person but you can’t have growth if your already great. I love that we got to see her have the conversation with her mom and see that yes I’m trying but it’s not instantly better. This book made me feel a lot more things than I was ever imagining, as for the romance part of it, it really does feel like a sub-plot but I don’t think the impact would have been the same if it was this instalove everything’s better now connection, it’s a slow burn for sure and I would count it as a second chance romance. I’m so excited for this to debut and can’t wait to see what else Tessa writes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Bullying
Moderate: Death and Cancer
ameliabiblio's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Book Swap is so well-written and well-thought out. I’ve become a little tired of books purposefully withholding important information (what James actually did to Erin), but the reveal was so perfectly timed that any annoyance I had was washed away. I literally gasped. The actual incident is also well-chosen because you can understand both why Erin was so upset and why James did what he did.
The two main characters have a lot of growing to do in this book. I think Erin more so than James, but that’s just my opinion. I really like where they end up, but I wish the growth was a little more gradual over the course of the book rather than spurred on by some explosive moments near the end.
The romance was also so cute. I adored the idea of two people falling in love by writing in the margins of books and the execution did not disappoint. Having Erin and James have such an important history between them also made it all the sweeter.
The main reason this is not five stars (besides the fact that I feel like in general, it was just missing that last little oomph that pushes a book into a five-star read for me) was the drawn-out ending. I am not a fan of third act break-ups, so havingJames and Erin implode again when they were just about to reconcile was a little too much for me.
Overall, though, I really did enjoy this book and can’t wait to read whatever Bickers writes next!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Grayson House for the ARC.
The two main characters have a lot of growing to do in this book. I think Erin more so than James, but that’s just my opinion. I really like where they end up, but I wish the growth was a little more gradual over the course of the book rather than spurred on by some explosive moments near the end.
The romance was also so cute. I adored the idea of two people falling in love by writing in the margins of books and the execution did not disappoint. Having Erin and James have such an important history between them also made it all the sweeter.
The main reason this is not five stars (besides the fact that I feel like in general, it was just missing that last little oomph that pushes a book into a five-star read for me) was the drawn-out ending. I am not a fan of third act break-ups, so having
Overall, though, I really did enjoy this book and can’t wait to read whatever Bickers writes next!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Grayson House for the ARC.
smkraatz's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's review against another edition
4.5
An annotated book left in a community library—like a Little Free Library—leads two people stuck in limbo to connect through the pages. The margin notes become questions, and soon the two are having full conversations nestled among the passages of literary classics.
When their identities are revealed and they discover their shared past, will they be able to reconnect or will their blossoming relationship be confined to the notes in the novels they’ve already traded?
In turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, The Book Swap put me in my feels and put the characters through the emotional wringer along the way. Thankfully, this one has a happy ending for the couple that made me feel cozy and like I was wrapped in a warm hug.
I received an advance copy from Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.
TW: grief, death of a friend by cancer, manic depressive swings (secondary character), bullying, abusive language, cheating (secondary characters), divorce (parents)
amysuereads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
y3ti's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
For fans of YOU’VE GOT MAIL, MEET ME IN THE MARGINS, and TOMORROW AND
TOMORROW AND TOMORROW
TOMORROW AND TOMORROW
georgie123's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
‘it’s sophie kinsella meets beth o’leary via emily henry’
i knew from that quote that this book would speak to me in the perfect way.
erin and james are both so complex and unique and REAL, which is something i always look for in a good book. this was so emily henry in the best way possible and im so happy i picked it up at the hachette roadshow last month.
thank you tessa bickers for reminding me how much i love books! sometimes i forget that reading is my favourite hobby but this really helped me to see it.
i knew from that quote that this book would speak to me in the perfect way.
erin and james are both so complex and unique and REAL, which is something i always look for in a good book. this was so emily henry in the best way possible and im so happy i picked it up at the hachette roadshow last month.
thank you tessa bickers for reminding me how much i love books! sometimes i forget that reading is my favourite hobby but this really helped me to see it.
slodder's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
daniallreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my favorite book of the year! *hugs the book forever*
Thank you Graydon House and HarperCollins for gracing a group of us book nerd to read this story early! Tessa Bicker's new book comes out September 3rd! (pstttt, pro-tip request it on NetGalley now & enjoy it EARLY!)
"The Book Swap" is labelled as a romance and I can't think of a better way to describe the beauty that is everything about this story. This is a love letter to everything that is reading, writing and building a story. It's a love letter to the people who help you understand grief and help you heal. It's a love letter to friends who will always have a place in our heart. It's a love letter to families who are trying to navigate through the struggles that surround life. It's a love letter to ourselves for being bold and making sure that we achieve our dreams however big or small.
I am still in "awe" about how this romance about two friends annotating books hit me so hard in the feels. I seriously could live in this book forever. *happy sigh*
This story is the best kind of blend of finding that special someone who makes you shine and grabbing your independence by the throat to achieve your full potential. Oh, add in a friend group that you would die to be adopted into then Tessa says "hey throws in a sprinkle of bookish whimsy"... The most perfect book.
Listen to your resident rom-com loving goofball and just do everything in your power to read this book.
📚 Dual POV
📚 Grief
📚 Mental Health
📚 You've Got Mail Vibes
📚 Emotional AF
📚 Second Chance
📚 Pen Pals
📚 Love for LFLs
📚 Friendship
📚 Debut
Thank you Graydon House and HarperCollins for gracing a group of us book nerd to read this story early! Tessa Bicker's new book comes out September 3rd! (pstttt, pro-tip request it on NetGalley now & enjoy it EARLY!)
"The Book Swap" is labelled as a romance and I can't think of a better way to describe the beauty that is everything about this story. This is a love letter to everything that is reading, writing and building a story. It's a love letter to the people who help you understand grief and help you heal. It's a love letter to friends who will always have a place in our heart. It's a love letter to families who are trying to navigate through the struggles that surround life. It's a love letter to ourselves for being bold and making sure that we achieve our dreams however big or small.
I am still in "awe" about how this romance about two friends annotating books hit me so hard in the feels. I seriously could live in this book forever. *happy sigh*
This story is the best kind of blend of finding that special someone who makes you shine and grabbing your independence by the throat to achieve your full potential. Oh, add in a friend group that you would die to be adopted into then Tessa says "hey throws in a sprinkle of bookish whimsy"... The most perfect book.
Listen to your resident rom-com loving goofball and just do everything in your power to read this book.
📚 Dual POV
📚 Grief
📚 Mental Health
📚 You've Got Mail Vibes
📚 Emotional AF
📚 Second Chance
📚 Pen Pals
📚 Love for LFLs
📚 Friendship
📚 Debut
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer