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ashleybarnes's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers really surprised me. I expected a sweet romance set around a book mistakenly discarded in a community library featuring some literary classics. And while that is a central part of the plot, the book tackles bigger themes of grief, mental illness and where to find happiness.
In the opening chapters, Erin quits her job and says goodbye to a toxic boss. She decides to turn her life upside down and Marie Kondo’s her apartment - taking her beloved, annotated copy of To Kill A Mockingbird to a community library in error. When she finds the book again, someone has responded to her through more notes, questions and annotations - which begins a delightful back and forth with a mystery man.
I found Erin tough to like as the FMC. She undergoes some growth throughout the book and embarks on finding her calling after being inspired by her pen pal. The book had quite a few secondary characters and quite a lot happening outside of the main plot of the book exchange. I did like James more, but was confused by parts of his personality and actions.
The book spans quite a bit of time, and there were many moments where I wanted it to be faster paced or was confused for a moment of where we were in the timeline.
I was definitely touched by parts of this book, and appreciated that it didn’t shy away from tough topics.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, and Grief
Minor: Suicide