This thriller twists and turns but all characters orbit around Freya, a newcomer to the small island where Low has lived her whole life, yet never really fit in. Low's family is polyamorous, so there are numerous parent figures in her life and some siblings, too. She is too tall, too quiet, and maybe too gloomy until she meets Freya and starts learning pottery at her studio.

Enter Jamie, another newcomer, looking for peace and tranquility to hopefully start a long-awaited family. She owns a shop that sells local artisan's work, Freya's included. She and Freya and she become friends, which sends Low into a tailspin of jealousy. This is the 'three little schoolgirls' conflict where someone is always on the outside and the person in that position changes at the whim of Freya who we learn pretty quickly is not someone to fool with.

My thanks to Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful and magnetic, former social media influencer, Freya; A forlorn woman lamenting her childless marriage with her college sweetheart, Jamie.; and a tall and gangly teenager-the town's misfit-Low. Their lives intertwine on an island in the Pacific Northwest. All of them looking for a friend. A best friend. These are the main characters in the fast-paced, juice-packed story brought to us by Robyn Harding.

Freya, Jamie, and their respective husbands, Max and Brian will enjoy an adventurous night together. Why not? What's wrong with it? They're modern. It's all good.

Let me tell you, there will be drugs, there will be sex, there will be action. This book is the real deal. Perfect for an easy, peasy Sunday read. Don't miss out!

The Swap is a book about complex female relationships and obsession. When 2 couples decide to trade spouses for the night, their relationships begin to unravel. Enter Low, an 18-year-old girl who is very good at getting what she wants. As Low inserts herself into the lives of both couples, chaos ensues with very troubling consequences.

This was a total page-turner for me and I read it very quickly, enthralled right from the first page. Harding’s character development is outstanding and her writer deftly takes readers inside the minds of multiple narrators. The relationships in this have so many levels to them. It was truly fascinating to read. I also loved the remote Pacific Northwest island setting, which seemed to be a character in and of itself. This is an absolute must-read for fans of psychological fiction.

This is a psychological thriller. It’s a darker book with a lot of complex characters. For me the book got stranger as it went on. It kept me reading to find out what happened but it is a darker book that I prefer.

Nothing is better than a book with a single white female premise except a book with two! The characters in this book were so well developed and left you wondering what they would do next. Great read that I recommend to any thriller lover!

OMG this novel is sooooo good and filled w/drama, but bat s#*t crazy women!!!!! I knew I would enjoy this book but I was unprepared for how deep into this book I wld get. I was absorbed in this novel from the first story. If you haven't read any of @rhardingwriter books you need to go pick one up right now!!!! Thank you to @netgalley & @gallerybooks for my honest review

Low (short for Swallow) had no idea the impact Freya would have in her young life when she first saw her posting a flyer at her high school, nor did Brian and Jamie when they met Freya and her husband, Max. While both relationships were toxic, they were all drawn into Freya’s web. A web of narcissistic behavior and full of lies and deceit. As Low and Jamie vie for Freya’s friendship, and when Brian And Jamie spend a fateful night with Freya and Max, things start to spiral out of control until the story reaches its chilling end.

The Swap is a fast-paced thriller about toxic relationships. The characters are twisted, while the story is intriguing. When two couples choose to swap partners for a night of sexual debauchery, what they don't realize is it will change everything! The twists are outstanding! Highly recommended to readers who enjoy a good thriller with a dose of women's fiction. Be sure to check out The Swap today!

2.5 Stars

Obsession. It can be Dangerous, Addictive and So Very Wrong.

I will have you
Yes, I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you
Like a butterfly
A wild butterly
I will collect you and capture you
You are an obsession
You're my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
You are an obsession
You're my obsession
Obsession, Animotion, November, 1983

Unfortunately for me, “The Swap” by Robyn Harding just didn’t work. From the first chapter all the way to the end, I was shaking my head in bewilderment. From the writing style to the characters, I was left wanting. To me, the characters were completely and utterly despicable and I couldn’t fathom why anyone would ever like any of them, let alone be obsessed with the main character. Obsessed, I was not.

As you know, I have to like the characters in order to like the book and therefore, I chalk this up to my being the wrong reader for this novel. I loved Ms. Harding’s prior novel “The Arrangement” and had high hopes for this novel, however, “The Swap” just didn’t live up to those expectations.

This was a buddy read with Kaceey. We had completely different opinions on this one as she absolutely loved this novel.

Thank you to Gallery Books / Scout Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Goodreads on 5.29.20.

HUGE thank you to @netgalley @simonandschuster @scout.press and the talented @rhardingwriter for an ARC of The Swap. The Swap follows two couples, Max and Freya, and Brian and Jamie, as well as high school graduate Low, all of which live on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. A night of fun leads the five of them on a rollercoaster through their personal lives.

This book easily became one of my top 5 favorite books. I absolutely loved the ride Harding took me on throughout the book. I thought I knew what was happening but OH MY GOD I DID NOT. It was one of those books where I had to sit, and not talk for a good 10 minutes afterwards because I had to process everything. My husband said he’s never heard me say “oh my god” under my breath so many times

Did someone say toxic relationships?

The new thriller by Robyn Harding serves a full house of them. These crazy characters and the chaos they create were all over the map. Something very addictive here and I just couldn't stop turning the pages...

Scandalous liaisons, twisted obsession and some twists and turns that were truly over the top and out the door. All in a wildly inappropriate kinda way...

A couple of scenes at the end did catch me off guard. Some unexpected turns for sure!

This was one of those guilty escapes where you can just enjoy some crazy scenarios and thank your stars these crazies aren't in the neighborhood!

A perfect distraction from all the things going on!!!

Robyn Harding just does not disappoint! Ever! Started this book and could not put it down! I wasn’t sold on the premise initially, a “couple swap” seemed far fetched? However, Harding’s plot development, in depth characters and ability to keep the book moving at a fast, but thorough pace make this book a five star! The main characters in this book are so well written that by the time I was finished I was sure I “knew them” at some point. Thank you so much for the advanced copy! I will definitely be recommending to all family and friends! Once again, Robyn Harding knocks it our of the park!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

WOW. What a ride. I thought this was going to be some kind of guilty-pleasure-beach-read, but it actually ended up being really twisted and spooky. Really well done.

At first I thought it was a book about a complicated teen, then I thought it was about swingers, turns out it is and isn't about both. Explosive is definitely the right word here, including wow! Holy cr*p! And What the heck did I just read?? Needless to say, I loved it! Thank you so much!

Holy cow, this one grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let you go!

I loved reading Split Level, about swinging in the 70's and then this, about swinging in today's age. Though the swinging was only a small part, it played such a large role in the entire plotline. I loved it and devoured it, just like Low devours Freya's beauty and never wants to let go.

In fact, I found myself drawn to Freya, too. Was it her beauty or her fame that made me fall in love with her, too? I don't know. I kept questioning why I loved her so much when it was so obvious how toxic she was. But, like the others, I was drawn to her nonetheless and found myself falling for her just as they did.

I finished this in two days and want more. I need more. This was just too good to out down!

The Swap is one of those books that you just cannot stop reading until you read the final page. It is like watching a train wreck, you are absolutely horrified by what you are seeing, but you are unable to turn around and walk away.

This book has everything: highly unlikable characters that you end up obsessing about; toxic relationships that are full of lies, secrets, and obsessive behavior; that one, spur of the moment decision that causes lifetime changes to everyone’s lives involved; social media mania; and domestic violence that comes from an unexpected source.

This is my second book by Robyn Harding, and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves fast-paced, well written, and addictive thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery/Scout Press, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

*** 4 Stars ***
Expected Publication: June 23, 2020

Meet Low, an awkward teenager. Her home life is unique with her parents being polygamous, living with multiple adults and her mom is pregnant with a baby on the way. She is desperate to get away.
Enter Freya a stunning lady, Instagram influencer with a hot husband, Max. They have wealth and beauty, seemingly perfect from the outside. Freya teaches pottery classes which draw Low in and she quickly becomes obsessed..
Jamie and Brian are a couple struggling to have a child and Jamie owns a gift shop in the town that happens to sell Freya's pottery/works. Jamie and Freya quickly become friends.
What good can come from a couple swap while high on mushrooms? Hahaha!! This book had so much drama. It was super dark and twisted. It had me telling my husband constantly, "Omg and now she did this and then this happened"... with a lot of eye rolling from him of course. This is a great fast paced mindless read and feel it would be a PERFECT beach, summer read!

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Outstanding! This book is so interesting that I stayed up late to finish it.

Freya is one of the most evil characters I’ve encountered in a book but she’s really interesting and keeps you guessing. Although the plot of this book is outlandish at times, most of the characters are so down-t0-earth and honest.

This is easily one of my favorite thrillers this year. Thanks for the ARC.

The Swap is an accurate title for this book. Two couples swap partners and the aftermath doesn’t end. A teenager struggles with these consequences too.

What a read! Swallow, or Low as she is know to everyone, is an 18-year-old high school senior misfit with no friends and who is bullied because it is known that her parents are "hippies" and "swingers." Low starts taking pottery classes with Freya who seems to get everyone under her magic spells as soon as she meets them. Low thinks Freya is her BFF until Freya meets Jamie, who runs a gift shop in town, and they hit it off. Poor Low feels left out and more or less stalks Freya. Freya is married to hunky ex-hockey player Max who has problems of his own. Freya and Max get together with Jamie and her author husband Brian and lots of things happen. Freya ends up pregnant and has a baby girl which she is not happy about. I really enjoyed this book and read it in record time because I just could not put it down. I was blown away with the ending. Thank you NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Publishing for the ARC of this unputdownable book in exchange for an honest review.