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atamano's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Blood
katievallin's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
jcreads85's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4/5
I first want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing for approving my request to read this eARC via NetGalley of Tessa Bicker's "The Book Swap". I am glad I was approved. And if you like the premise, and anything jumps out for you from this review you should check it out when it is released September 3, 2024.
Now, this book is very well written. So well in fact that it was just too heavy for what it was advertised as being - a funny, heartwarming, contemporary romance of second-chance love. I don't know what subgenre of romance this would fall under, per se, but wouldn't recommend if you are looking for 'fluff' and a break from reality. I like romance books with substance – such as written by Emily Henry and Lyssa Kay Adams, just to name a few - but when they are too far removed from the romance, can we just label them as contemporary drama? Or, where do they fall? If ya'll could let me know and also label them on Goodreads and The StoryGraph, I'd greatly appreciate it.
To be honest, I almost DNF'd the book after the first chapter. The first chapter mentions the toxic workplace (triggers below), which is currently one of my only 'NO THANK YOU' triggers. It actually brought on a stress nightmare and a day full of anxiety. So, I typically avoid that topic in my chosen reading. I decided to persist as Erin rage quits the job the same chapter so pushed on and hoped for the best.
I know I was drawn to the book as a modern day "Diving Rivals", but was hoping for something lighter, and certainly something more in the adult fiction category of spice. This would be a 0/5 on the spice scale. Implied relations and one kiss with the MC, James, just doesn't cut it for me. So, closed door romance all the way through. I know many do appreciate a good closed door, so this may be for you!
I requested this book for the idea of mystery pen-pals, presented here as mystery annotators labeled Mystery Man and Margins Girl. We do get dual point of view (my absolute fave). And I appreciated the unique mystery romance through the exchanging of books via a free little library in a public park. That aspect almost had me wishing I had a mystery pen-pal, and am considering annotating myself (but how do ya'll write up your books?!?).
What this book has going for it is time. The story itself takes place over a year and six months. So, maybe believable to most in how we get our two main characters back together. I won't deny there is personal growth on both sides, and quite a bit of positive change in the areas of family relations and career exploration. Allowing passage of time within the tale itself lends well to these developments. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel that it overcame 15 years of baggage, including grudges, PTSD and a general lack of copying skills.
Erin is actually the worst in those aspects. She seems to lack emotional intelligence or any kind of coping skills for stressful, life changing events. And she tied way too much of her identity to others. This is probably why I preferred James, though he himself has not addressed his own backstory of drama. Both should have been in therapy immediately following their respective experiences in high school (FYI - in England and much of the world high school is referred to as college). Not sure why it was 15 years before anyone – family or friend or self – to take any steps towards an intervention...
Again, I'll reiterate that this book is very well written, and plays out strongly as a small town (with a lil city moments thrown in) drama. The cast of characters feels diverse (definitely some great side characters) and the flashbacks to what happened in 10th grade and since felt natural, though the general chatter implying something happened versus just revealing what had was repetitive.
In the end though, if I'd been friend or family member to either James or Erin I would place great caution on the happy ending ideal they still seemed to believe was their desire and fate. There really was just too many ugly years, not enough therapy, and a tendency for the parties to tie their happiness to others for me to genuinely believe they should have ended up together.
And just so we are all clear on what I mean when I say heavy, I'm going to write out some trigger warnings for you all here:
Graphic: Chronic illness (bipolar disorder), death, grief, terminal illness, mental illness, cancer, bullying, unaddressed trauma, panic attacks, PTSD, estranged family, hallucinations
Moderate: Infidelity/adultery, pregnancy, medical content, therapy, emotional abuse
Light: Toxic workplace
I first want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing for approving my request to read this eARC via NetGalley of Tessa Bicker's "The Book Swap". I am glad I was approved. And if you like the premise, and anything jumps out for you from this review you should check it out when it is released September 3, 2024.
Now, this book is very well written. So well in fact that it was just too heavy for what it was advertised as being - a funny, heartwarming, contemporary romance of second-chance love. I don't know what subgenre of romance this would fall under, per se, but wouldn't recommend if you are looking for 'fluff' and a break from reality. I like romance books with substance – such as written by Emily Henry and Lyssa Kay Adams, just to name a few - but when they are too far removed from the romance, can we just label them as contemporary drama? Or, where do they fall? If ya'll could let me know and also label them on Goodreads and The StoryGraph, I'd greatly appreciate it.
To be honest, I almost DNF'd the book after the first chapter. The first chapter mentions the toxic workplace (triggers below), which is currently one of my only 'NO THANK YOU' triggers. It actually brought on a stress nightmare and a day full of anxiety. So, I typically avoid that topic in my chosen reading. I decided to persist as Erin rage quits the job the same chapter so pushed on and hoped for the best.
I know I was drawn to the book as a modern day "Diving Rivals", but was hoping for something lighter, and certainly something more in the adult fiction category of spice. This would be a 0/5 on the spice scale. Implied relations and one kiss with the MC, James, just doesn't cut it for me. So, closed door romance all the way through. I know many do appreciate a good closed door, so this may be for you!
I requested this book for the idea of mystery pen-pals, presented here as mystery annotators labeled Mystery Man and Margins Girl. We do get dual point of view (my absolute fave). And I appreciated the unique mystery romance through the exchanging of books via a free little library in a public park. That aspect almost had me wishing I had a mystery pen-pal, and am considering annotating myself (but how do ya'll write up your books?!?).
What this book has going for it is time. The story itself takes place over a year and six months. So, maybe believable to most in how we get our two main characters back together. I won't deny there is personal growth on both sides, and quite a bit of positive change in the areas of family relations and career exploration. Allowing passage of time within the tale itself lends well to these developments. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel that it overcame 15 years of baggage, including grudges, PTSD and a general lack of copying skills.
Erin is actually the worst in those aspects. She seems to lack emotional intelligence or any kind of coping skills for stressful, life changing events. And she tied way too much of her identity to others. This is probably why I preferred James, though he himself has not addressed his own backstory of drama. Both should have been in therapy immediately following their respective experiences in high school (FYI - in England and much of the world high school is referred to as college). Not sure why it was 15 years before anyone – family or friend or self – to take any steps towards an intervention...
Again, I'll reiterate that this book is very well written, and plays out strongly as a small town (with a lil city moments thrown in) drama. The cast of characters feels diverse (definitely some great side characters) and the flashbacks to what happened in 10th grade and since felt natural, though the general chatter implying something happened versus just revealing what had was repetitive.
In the end though, if I'd been friend or family member to either James or Erin I would place great caution on the happy ending ideal they still seemed to believe was their desire and fate. There really was just too many ugly years, not enough therapy, and a tendency for the parties to tie their happiness to others for me to genuinely believe they should have ended up together.
And just so we are all clear on what I mean when I say heavy, I'm going to write out some trigger warnings for you all here:
Graphic: Chronic illness (bipolar disorder), death, grief, terminal illness, mental illness, cancer, bullying, unaddressed trauma, panic attacks, PTSD, estranged family, hallucinations
Moderate: Infidelity/adultery, pregnancy, medical content, therapy, emotional abuse
Light: Toxic workplace
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, and Pregnancy
beate251's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC.
Erin, Bonnie and James were great friends in school until something happened that made Erin hate James. We get halfway through the book before we learn what he did and why.
Then Bonnie died from cancer three years ago and Erin has been inconsolable with grief ever since. One day she tidies up and mistakenly leaves her favourite, heavily annotated book in one of these small free libraries that aren't more than three shelves under a wooden roof, standing somewhere on the roadside. When she races back to get it, it's gone, but some weeks later it reappears, with someone having added fresh notes in the margins. So begins a You've Got Mail-style correspondence over several exchanged classics between apparent strangers. Erin calls him Mystery Man and James calls her Margins Girl. Before they realise who they are corresponding with, they forge a deep connection through the questions they ask each other and which reveals their traumas and what they really want to do in life.
Lovers of classic literature will adore this book. I liked it but for me there was a bit too much trauma and therapy speak in this book for my liking - it's all about doing what you love, following your dreams and living your life to the full. The actual romance seems to come second.
But it's a love letter to books, and as such it really works.
"Sometimes redemption isn’t just about saying sorry, it’s about how you recover from the mistakes you make. Bettering yourself is the best kind of apology you can make."
Erin, Bonnie and James were great friends in school until something happened that made Erin hate James. We get halfway through the book before we learn what he did and why.
Then Bonnie died from cancer three years ago and Erin has been inconsolable with grief ever since. One day she tidies up and mistakenly leaves her favourite, heavily annotated book in one of these small free libraries that aren't more than three shelves under a wooden roof, standing somewhere on the roadside. When she races back to get it, it's gone, but some weeks later it reappears, with someone having added fresh notes in the margins. So begins a You've Got Mail-style correspondence over several exchanged classics between apparent strangers. Erin calls him Mystery Man and James calls her Margins Girl. Before they realise who they are corresponding with, they forge a deep connection through the questions they ask each other and which reveals their traumas and what they really want to do in life.
Lovers of classic literature will adore this book. I liked it but for me there was a bit too much trauma and therapy speak in this book for my liking - it's all about doing what you love, following your dreams and living your life to the full. The actual romance seems to come second.
But it's a love letter to books, and as such it really works.
"Sometimes redemption isn’t just about saying sorry, it’s about how you recover from the mistakes you make. Bettering yourself is the best kind of apology you can make."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Pregnancy