Have you ever read a book that you hate for loving so much? The Swap is well written and fast paced. The story was intriguing and different than the ones currently being told by authors of this genre. Plot wise it was five stars. Character wise… everyone was terrible! Ok that’s not entirely true, there is one character; a nice young man named, Thompson who shows up near the end. His presence, however, is not enough to remove the grime that the others characters feel like they have left on your skin. Even the parents and husbands of our main characters were slightly unlikable. What parent allows their teenage daughter to pursue a relationship with a married woman twice her age?? There are many questionable parenting and relationship decisions in this book; A book I mistakenly thought was about a pair of couples who get a little drunk and decide to partake in a little partner swapping followed by the fallout that will no doubt occur once they sober up. While this does happen but the story gets much messier than you could begin to imagine.

Told from the POVs of our 3 main characters; high school student Low, desperate for a baby Jamie and narcissistic instablogger Freya. For reasons lost on me Low and Jamie passively aggressively battle each other to be Freya’s best friend. To be honest I’m not sure why anyone would want to be friends with any of them. Despite their dysfunction, Low and Jamie would have been better off had it not been for Freya’s manipulations. I would love to go into detail about Freya’s sociopathic behaviour but Robyn Harding tells the story much better than I can.

This book is filled with some dark and twisted subject matter including obsession, abuse and in my opinion sexual assault. It will leave many shaking their heads and I’m sure will lead to many a discussion between book clubs and bibliophiles alike.

I read this one in an afternoon. It was good. At first i identified with Low and Jamie. But then Low's actions were a little odd towards the end of the book and i didn't anymore. How can one night change everything. For 2 couples and 1 teenager. It was twisty and complicated (but not complicated at the same time). I dont like POV of more than 2 people but this one worked. I wished that i could have heard more from Max. He is a Yukoner !!! But his character was strong and silent.

It was a really good book will recommend. I hope that my next read will be as good as this one.

Thanks NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC !

This was WILD.

I truly loved every part of this book. Low, Freya, and Jamie had such an interesting and deliciously twisted dynamic. Low and Freya in particular were a truly wild time. Low was such an unexpected narrator, and it was bizarre to be in her head sometimes. It could sometimes feel like you're watching a train crash in real time, but you can't look away. I really did like that Harding included perspectives of the other adults as well, which definitely added something extra to the overall narrative.

Really, there isn't a lot I can say without spoiling the story but dear god this was sO GOOD. The ending was a total gut punch in all the right ways. This was my first Harding book but I think I'm going to dive into her backlist, and I am extremely excited for whatever other twisted stories she comes up with next.

The premise of this book is that a teenager is obsessed with an adult woman she meets. That woman is self absorbe and annoying. Not only is the teenager obsessed with her, but another woman is too. The character in question treats everyone like garbage and I can't imagine either of them would want to spend any more time with her, let alone be obessed with her. The character was so unlikeable I just couldn't understand why anyone would pay any attention to her at all.

The Swap is one of those books where you don't like a single one of the characters, they're all frustrating and mostly unlikable in one way or another. Some of them have enough redeeming qualities, but a few are just downright detestable. The story zigs and zags and I couldn't put it down. Loved the ending! Highly recommend this book.

If you’re looking for a binge worthy book you won’t be able to put down, read The Swap, a story of toxic relationships, manipulation and obsession.
Set in a small island town, this story follows Low, a lonely teenager with a unique family, looking for a place to belong. Jamie and Brian, an ordinary couple hoping to one day become parents. Freya, a once famous media influencer and her husband Max, a troubled former hockey player.
As Low and Jamie fall under Freya’s charms, one night of a drug induced couples swap throws friendships into a tail spin and changes their lives forever.
I honestly couldn’t put this book down. The characters were perfect and the story unpredictably twisted and screwed up.

To say I am obsessed with Robyn Harding's writing is an understatement. Her books always have me on the edge of my seat and this one was no exception! What a wild ride! That's the best way to describe it...this book was wild! Harding writes some really interesting characters and this book had a handful of them that were so crazy! They were not likeable characters, mostly narcissistic and troubled, but the plot of this book made it so that you didn't even care. This story was full of scandal and people making terrible decisions. I can't explain too much without giving away the entire plot. The story centers around two couples with less than perfect relationships who engage in one scandalous night of partner swapping. Then there is one strangely odd teenager, somehow sucked into the drama and obsessed with one of the older females, who has in her power, the potential to destroy everything. Robyn Harding is a master of building suspense! The story had twists and turns which I'm a fan of and an epic ending. I was sucked into this story from the first page and would recommend it, without a doubt. Five huge stars from me! Congrats Robyn Harding on another fabulous book and thanks to the team at Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for sending this my way. This one releases on June 23rd, so mark your calendars!

This was the first Robyn Harding book I have read and wow what a wild ride. This book sucked me in right from the start. I was hooked. I couldn’t put it down. The title of this book intrigued me....I had an idea it was about a partner swap but little did I know the plot was going to dig into the negative side of the social media influencing world, or the main characters dark obsession with her friend. I needed a book like this to get me out of my reading slump and now I will be hunting down every book this author has written. If you enjoy thrilling suspense this novel is for you. You won’t be disappointed!

I received a copy of this book from Galley/Scott Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for a wild ride of book, look no further! The Swap brings you on a twisty, dark adventure you won’t ever forget. To say this storyline is original is a complete understatement... I think it’s best to go into this one a bit blind. I was pleasantly surprised at all the different directions the plot went. Just know there’s people behaving badly, unique family situations, swingers (yup you read that right), obsessions and a whole bunch of scandal!!!

This one is full of awful characters so if you’re like me and like to have one character to root for it won’t even matter because you’ll be so wrapped up in the story you’ll enjoyed hating on them! This is my 2nd book by Robyn Harding and wow her books are so addicting! I’m obsessed with her writing!

This is a MUST READ this summer! Coming out June 23rd! Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the gifted book to review.

Well...huh! I have no idea where to start with this review, and that's not a bad thing. This was quite a wild ride! Jamie and Low are both seeking Freya's friendship, which I didn't quite understand, because from a reader's standpoint, MAN, is she unlikable, Like really and truly a terrible person! Low, a teenager with no friends and a weird home life, sees Freya as a beautiful obsession. Married Jamie sees Freya as a best friend, the woman she herself wants to be. Seeking Freya's approval leads Jamie and Low to do some questionable things, including the titular "Swap."
I really enjoyed this book, and had a hard time putting it down Robyn Harding is a fantastic author. This was my first book of hers, but it certainly won't be my last!!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review

I'm not going to lie I thought I was going to get bored when I started reading this but it's actually a really twisty suspenseful story. I enjoyed it and the ending was great the best resolution possible for the story!

This is a well paced book and it had me hooked within the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the fact that there was a minimal amount of supporting characters and strong main characters. While there were things told from different perspectives you didn't feel like you read the same thing over again but in a different view, the changes kept the flow of the novel going. Excellent read and will be highly recommended to people.

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
The Swap
by Robyn Harding

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Get ready for drama, secrets, manipulation, jealousy and obsession!!!
Young teenage girl Low is mesmerized by beautiful social media influencer Freya and her gorgeous hockey star husband with a past. Insert Jamie and her husband Brian and you have yourself a page turning twisted psychological thriller.
The characters are all so easy to despise, which is a good thing. The writing was fast paced and I couldn’t wait to see how all the craziness would end.
Now the ending ~ I’m gonna go with “Wow, wasn’t expecting that” and say no more ... #readthisbook to find out 😉

PUB DAY JUNE 23 2020

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔
@netgalley & @simon&schustercanada for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Much appreciated 😊

Canadian author Robyn Harding is one my all-time favourite authors. Each and every spring I look forward to her latest suspense filled thriller. Harding's books are the type of reads you can get absolutely lost it in. They are compulsive page turners that you can not put down. "The Swap", coming out June 23rd, does not disappoint. It's a gripping tale about toxic relationships, sexual shenanigans, and explosive secrets.

Freya, an ethereal beauty and once-famous social media influencer who now owns the local pottery studio, has recently moved into Low's small town island community. After signing up for a pottery class, awkward teenage Low quickly falls under Freya’s spell and the two build a seemingly close relationship.

Enter Jamie. Desperate for a baby, she and her husband have moved to the island hoping that the healthy environment will result in a pregnancy. Freya and Jamie become fast friends, as do their husbands, leaving Low on the outs.

After a boozy dinner party with Freya, Jamie and their husbands, Freya suggests swapping partners. What should have been a single night of debauchery amongst consenting adults ends up leaving rippling chaotic effects. And provides a disgruntled Low the perfect opportunity to unleash her resentment.

"The Swap" is an excellent read indicative of Harding's addictive writing style. I could have easily consumed the full book in a matter of hours (alas, life and working from home during this quarantine got in the way). There are dark turns, plenty of juicy secrets, and drama around each and every corner. However, I don't believe this newest release is her best. All three female leads are difficult to root for. Yes, literary characters should be flawed just as we, in real life, so often are. But Freya, Low, and Jamie are each incredibly self-possessed, often mean-spirited, and catty to all hell. Their personas work well to highlight the obsessive and sometimes dark nature female friendships can carry. However, the novel offers little to no enjoyable characters to balance these three women. This may have been intentional on Harding's part in effort to delve deep into the toxicity of relationships, both marital and congenial. If so - kudos to the author for reflecting back to readers the darker side of human relationships.

Thanks to the wonderful people at Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy in lieu of an honest review.

A highly entertaining story of obsession. Interesting characters. Like how we see the story from every character's point of view.

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars ✨
I loved this book! It was reminiscent of Gone Girl and Apple TV’s Servant while remaining unique and fast paced. The Swap follows two couples leading up to and follow a seemingly unplanned couples swap. Through the different narratives of those involved, we slowly learn the true nature of that fateful night and its implications. This book with definitely keep you on your toes and flipping pages until the very end! I absolutely recommend adding this book to your summer TBR!

A special thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The cruelty of adolescence has inflicted itself on Low Morrison. It doesn't help that she has hippie polyamorous parents, a name that becomes a suggestive punchline, and that she's unusually tall.

At her high school, Low sees a magnetically beautiful woman post a flier for pottery lessons. Intrigued, Low signs up for one of Freya Light's classes where she completely falls under Freya's spell. Freya, a former social media influencer, basks in the attention that she craves and has been missing.

But then Freya crosses a line when she starts telling Low her darkest secrets and deepest desires. Freya and her husband, Max, moved to escape a scandal that not only ruined Max's professional hockey career, but hers as well. Low mistakes the oversharing as friendship—she becomes even more enamoured with Freya and is dangerously teetering on obsession.

Jamie Vincent and her husband, Brian, have moved to the island to start a family. Her friendship with Freya makes Low feel threatened. The couples get together one night to do magic mushroom and the evening ends in a partner swap. But what they don't know is that Low saw everything that happened in the glass house and she's not afraid to use it to her advantage.

As events spiral out of control, Harding delivers a thrilling tale about how toxic relationships can be.

The Swap is a deep dive into obsession, desire, and jealousy. But be careful, this book has some teeth and will sink them into its reader. Harding's writing is sharp, evocative, and riveting.

The narrative shifts among the main characters with the exception of Freya which only adds to her appeal and perceived perfection. But what hides behind the celestial exterior is a dangerous darkness. Robyn's character development is nothing short of flawless. Her cast are insidious and electric, both likeable and loathsome.

It is hard to resist the allure of a Robyn Harding book. In this novel, she expertly builds tension and resentment through venomous relationships. Prepare to be shocked and consumed—this is an absolute must-read that will be one of the best books of the summer.

Congratulations, Robyn on another remarkable work.

Loved The Swap so much!! Huge Robyn Harding fan and will read everything that comes out now! This was a great story of obsession, stalkers, and cults. This may be one of my favourite thrillers that has a cult in it so far. Such great plot twists and some that I didn't see coming. Highly recommend!

This isn’t a story about swapping partners...or not really.

This is a story about the desire to be needed and wanted by others at the heart of it but plays out in jealousy and obsession. When 17 year old Low becomes enamoured by Freya, a former social media influencer and artist, she thinks she has finally lost her outcast reputation. They begin spending time together and Freya teaches Low the art of pottery and treats her like the adult she wants to be.

When Freya becomes friends with Jamie, the store owner who carries her pottery pieces, and Low begins to be less a part of Freya’s life, she doesn’t take it well. Jamie and Freya become fast friends and spend their time on forest walks, coffee dates and lunches sharing their life stories and wishes and wants. They discover that their husbands enjoy each other’s company as much as Freya and Jamie do and the four arrange some couples time together. Low hangs on to the edges of this structure and vows to find her entitled place once again.

Oh yeah and there is a bunch of twists and turns and debauchery going on! Nothing is a simple as it seems but I don’t want to give any of the story away. I read it in one day which doesn’t happen often for me and couldn’t put it down. Mark your calendars for June 23, 2020 when this book drops. You’ll want to get your hands on it.

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected Pub Date; June 23, 2020
Robyn Harding returns with “The Swap”, a crazy and deeply disturbing story of swapping mates, obsession and desperation like no other.
Low (short for Swallow) Morrison is the oldest daughter of hippie parents who live a polyamorous life on a small plot of land with their partners. Needless to say, she’s used to being judged and ridiculed, even in her sexually-liberal small town. When Low meets Freya, a former model and Insta influencer who runs her own pottery studio, she immediately signs up for pottery lessons, falling quickly and dangerously under Freya’s spell. Low has finally found the kindred spirit she has been waiting for- until Jamie comes to town.
Jamie is desperate for a baby, and after many years of trying, she has just about given up. When she meets Freya, the two also quickly become fast friends and soon Freya and her husband, and Jamie and her husband are at a party, doing mushrooms, and swapping partners.
Jamie is embarrassed and jealous, and Freya is desperate for the sole attention of Freya once again. The lengths both women go to to ensure Freya remains theirs, and only theirs, is the start (and end) of something neither of them would ever expect.
This novel is not for the faint of heart. Each and every character is dangerously twisted and even a little psychopathic, all of them have deep, dark and scary-as-hell skeletons that plague them. Combine that with the free-love practices of most of them, and you can’t help but be pulled in. Although the believability of the plot leaves something to be desired (if there is a small town out there with that many psychopaths, and that many free-love touting citizens—outside of Derry, Maine, that is--- than I don’t know that I’d like to visit) it is still one hell of a ride.
None of the characters are likable, and yet, all of them are. Low garners the reader sympathy right off the bat, a young woman desperate for a normal life and yet living the exact opposite. Jamie is a married woman who wants a child more than anything, and will go to great lengths to get one. Freya, on the other hand, is psychopathic right from the beginning, leaving broken hearts and manipulated souls wherever she goes. She would make a great cult leader.
This book was entertaining as hell and I loved every ounce of crazy. The twists and turns were expected and thrilling, and the ending brings about a satisfying, yet twisted, conclusion.
Harding delivers a knock-out, psychopathic punch with “The Swap” and I recommend it to those who are looking for insight into how the other half (the crazy, partner-swapping, free-loving other half) lives.