Name: The Book Swap
Rating: 3.833333333333333 (6 reviews)
ISBN: 9781399706070

Tessa Bickers

A Funny and Uplifting Romance for Book Lovers!

The Book Swap

"A love letter to books and reading. This debut is catnip for any book geek. I just loved it." --Cesca Major, author of Maybe Next Time, a Reese's Book Club Pick Still reeling from a recent tragedy, Erin Connolly knows she needs to start living, but has no idea how. When she accidentally donates her favorite book--a heavily annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird containing a memento she can't be without--to a local Little Free Library, she's devastated. But then the book turns up a week later, back in the library with fresh notes in the margins, along with an invitation in a copy of Great Expectations to meet her newfound pen pal. A life-changing conversation, written only in the margins of beloved classic books, begins between Erin and her Mystery Man. Following each other through the pages of their favorite novels as the book exchange continues, they both begin to open up, falling into a friendship...and maybe something more. But Erin and her pen pal have a shared history that neither of them has guessed. Faced with painful reminders of the past--and the one person she swore never to forgive--Erin finds herself at a crossroads. One that could change her life forever. A book-lovers dream! References to the following classics can be found in The Book Swap. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD GREAT EXPECTATIONS WUTHERING HEIGHTS MANSFIELD PARK THE GREAT GATSBY MIDDLEMARCH BELOVED ON THE ROAD THE BELL JAR

Very sweet premise that was executed well, and a good balance of thoughtfully incorporating the two main characters’ traumas and difficulties but still keeping it fun as you would hope for from a romance novel. I also liked how the author wove together the many different plot threads throughout, particularly the main characters’ family relationships which were so well done, and it didn’t feel like they got in each other’s way. My only ding is that the prose was not my favorite, but I think that is mostly personal preference. I also wanted a bit more showing than telling when it came to how reading each other’s annotations influenced the main characters’ development. Overall I really appreciated that this was a romance novel with way more depth and maturity than you’d normally expect in this genre. 

Jessica Gagliardi

wow, this is not a cheesy romance. the romance was actually my least favorite part of this book. if you enjoy the british tv shows fleabag or big mood, then i feel like you would enjoy this book. very dark themes of intense grief, sisterhood, broken families, bipolar disorder, graphic bullying. but it also had the perfect touch of quirky british humor to balance it out. i loved loved loved the sister relationship in this book, it was very much giving claire and fleabag with the perfect older sister vs the fuckup younger sister. what a surprising read. 

big ab

This book was not AT ALL what I was expecting. I thought it would be a fun and cute little romance, two people falling in love through their love of books. Instead, it was tragedy, sorrow, and the drowning, walking-through-molasses feeling of coping with depression. The romance was slow-burn (not my thing) and incredibly angsty. That said, it was well-written and I raced through it. 

Alyssa deRaad

Leyla Gulsen

Going into this book, I was expecting a cutesy romance, but there was so much more. Beyond the romance, the story delves into deeper themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of moving forward after tragedy. The romance is very much a slow burn, almost too slow to be engaged, but it was still a great connection. The nods to classic literature serve as backdrop for the romance, which allows for deeper emotional truths. Also, I enjoyed the relationship of Erin with her sister Bonnie; it adds a layer of authenticity that portrays the difficulties of siblings and their dynamics. 

"The Book Swap" may not fit my romance standards, especially from my expectations being completely different than what it truly was, I do believe others would enjoy this. It's a story that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or found solace in the pages of a book, reminding us of the healing power of literature and the importance of forging connections, even in the midst of pain.

Although I rate this 3 stars, I still liked it, just maybe didn't love it. I may have to sit on this and come back to it later!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House, and Tessa Bickers for granting me this advanced review copy.

You can see a more in depth review of this book on my blog here: https://leylaslibrary.wordpress.com/2...

The Book Swap A Funny and Uplifting Romance for Book Lovers!

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