I was so engrossed that I read this book in two sittings-- once staying up until almost 4:00 AM on a work night. (Whoops.) Here's my take on the premise: Freya Light, a glamorous but tumultuous Instagram star, moves into a scenic Pacific Northwest island town populated by locals that believe in free love and a few shady compounds. Freya's a narcissist that craves adoration and quickly finds it in two women: one an obsessive teen and the other, a woman trying to rebuild a life after a battle with infertility. Both of them bask in Freya's light right up until they see just how dark her other side can be. The pacing, the characterization, and the stakes were all just right.

The only thing that put a sour taste in my mouth was the depiction of bipolar disorder (both direct and implied). That's usually something that will cause me to instantly DNF a book, but I was already hooked by the time I got to it in this one enough that I kept going.

I like to try and know as little about the plot of a thriller as possible before I dive in. What I thought I knew going in to this book, was far from what the book was. Low is a teenager straight out of high school and obsessed with a former social influencer named Freya, who had just moved to her small island. I loved how this story was told from multiple characters POV and the short chapters really made this a quick read. I highly recommend this to people who are looking for a fast paced thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the opportunity to read this early.

Thank you Scout Press and Netgalley for the free early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up

I always talk about how it’s hard for me to read digital copies of books because I tend to be less motivated to pick them back up and/or I read them in bed and fall asleep. That was certainly not the case here! I flew right through The Swap. It was impossible to put down right from the beginning.

Robyn Harding is the master of ending chapters on a cliffhanger and/or with the most ominous sentence possible. Between the way the chapters ended and the fact that they were all super short, I just couldn’t stop. I literally felt like the Energizer Bunny and just kept going and going and going and going…

At first when I realized one of the characters was a social media influencer, I was a little nervous. I feel like it’s becoming a popular topic in books and after coming off of Pretty Things, I was worried it was too soon. Luckily for me, I always find Harding‘s writing so compelling, that I was never bored by the topic.

Multiple POVs are explored, but we never get to see inside the mind of one of the main characters, Freya. It’s frustrating, not ever knowing what she’s REALLY thinking, but it works so well with the story as you try to figure out who she’s actually playing for a fool.

Additionally, Robyn Harding has a way of writing characters that feel SO real. Sometimes they can feel a little YA because of the age, but I can always relate to her teenage characters. Sometimes more than I’d like to admit.

I loved the way this one ended, and the way such an innocent, reoccurring object could become so morbid.

I think this could have easily been a five star read, but I tend to get caught up comparing an author’s book to previous works. And since this didn’t feel QUITE on the same level as Her Pretty Face, I had to rate it just slightly less at 4.5 stars. But it is my new second favorite out of Robyn Harding’s books and I will continue to devour anything and everything she writes!


Also, are these progressive island communities in Canada a real thing? I have to know!

I absolutely loved this book! It was so original and unique and the plot is unlike anything I've ever read before. Freya and Low BOTH were two of the craziest, most manipulative characters I've ever read about before and the obsession in this book is taken to the NEXT level. If you want to read a book that deals with lies, secrets, betrayal, polygamy, obsession, etc...then this is THE book for you! I highly recommend this one to all of my thriller lover friends.

What a fascinating thriller! I was already a fan of the author's after reading her previous novel Her Pretty Face and this one is just as good, if not better. The pacing between the two points of view is absolutely perfect for making the story impossible to put down and it builds to a stunning conclusion.

I really connected with both Low and Jaime, the POV characters, as they tried to survive the emotionally toxic roller coaster of being Freya's 'friend'. Freya herself is an interesting character, complex and dangerous in her own way. A lot of thrillers will make the 'bad' character one-dimensional but I found myself intrigued by her enough that I wished I knew what was going on in her head too. Especially after the finish!

For me, the ending was a total bombshell. It blew me away and was absolute perfection. It makes you wonder who the bad person really is here, or if we all possess our own badness but it takes a special circumstance for it to come out. I would totally recommend this book to any thriller reader but it's a great summer read for anyone too!

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher Gallery/Scout Press, and the author Robyn Harding for the opportunity to do so.

Really interesting book! Not a thriller, but just as engrossing. Although all the main characters were unlikable, I felt that I had to keep reading to f’ing our what was happening.

WOW! What a twisty, turny roller coaster ride. Edge of your seat, emotions churning, hold on cuz it's quite a ride! My first book by Robyn Harding and won't be my last! Evocative of Megan Miranda and Mary Kubica whom I love. Really need to read more from Harding.

Low is obsessed with Freya. But Freya is not who she seems. Jamie and Freya's lives become entangled with disastrous results. The book blurb intrigued me but, for me, the characters were too much of a stereotype and I couldn't engage with the story. I'm sure some people would love the tension but the characters just didn't work for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book and give my honest opinion.

Harding does a great job of writing a dark, edgy read with some topics that aren't part of every day conversations but make for a great story line. This book covers polyamorous relationships and lifestyles, the struggle with infertility, obsession, secrets in a marriage and the dark sides of people. I found Freya an extremely unlikable character from the start; she's self obsessed, loves attention and isn't above playing those close to her to get what she wants. Low wants to fit in, to have something all her own and finds herself under Freya's spell, in some dangerous ways. Jamie feels she's found her best friend in Freya but soon learns their friendship could come at the cost of another relationship. The storyline Harding creates will suck you in, keep you guessing and at the end, leave you speechless.

Well, she has done it again. Another winner. Good story flow, interesting characters,awesome storyline. All the makings of a good read. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher of this book for the arc. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

Oh. My. God.

The book jacket reveals the outline of this riveting novel: a taciturn, gangly, self-deceiving loner named Low Morrison becomes obsessively drawn to a spectacularly beautiful and self-absorbed former Instagram influencer, Freya Light. The reckless Freya, along with her ex-hockey star husband, involve a more innocent couple in an ill-advised wife swap. But, unbeknownst to them, Low has been stalking and knows all. This is a suspense novel, so we know things won’t end well. But every time you suspect that this is it — the denouement comes <i>now</i> — the plot dances away. Over and over, I felt this. And I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Robyn Harding never puts a foot wrong in this intense book, and I can’t wait to read another. Highly, highly recommended.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Gallery Books and Gallery/Scout Press in exchange for an honest review.

This was so hard to put down! The characters are very well developed and written. I don’t think I liked any of them really yet I just had to keep reading. Freya was enigmatic initially but as I read more I thought she was extremely manipulative. Low was obsessive, despite what she may say and she is very manipulate as well. Jamie was weak but sensible, straight arrow- she was being played by 2 manipulative women. Brian and Max add some color to the book but other than the swap their role is minor. I like how the book is narrated by each of the 5 characters. Reading Low’s account, Freya seems like a despot and by Jamie’s account she seems like a typical ‘mean girl’. It’s interesting to note how the characters of Low and Freya only get darker as you read along. This isn’t a typical thriller, it’s a tale about obsessive manipulative characters that is very well written. The writing is easy and engaging. I started this book a few days ago but had to stop after a few pages. I finally picked it up again today and didn’t stop till I finished. Good read overall.

Low, an awkward loner of a teenager, finds solace and friendship when Freya Light offers pottery classes in her studio to anyone in the high school. As their friendship develops, Low becomes increasingly dependent on Freya, going so far as to tell her the secret of her family and their “sex cult.” The only thing standing between Low and Freya, however, is Jamie. Jamie is a newcomer to the island who also finds solace and friendship in Freya. As Low and Jamie fight for Freya’s affection, one wild night involving a couples swap changes everything. As Freya leads each character in the book on an emotional rollercoaster, it becomes difficult to determine who to root for as Harding weaves a wonderful tale of love and friendship and the lengths one will go to save them.

I read THE PARTY by Robyn Harding and though I did not love the book Ms. Harding's writing style appealed to me just not the story. I wanted to give Ms. Harding another chance with THE SWAP and I am very glad I did. Perfect reading for being quarantined, quick and compelling.

This is a book filled with dysfunction; all the characters have a story and are equally messed up; except Jaime's husband Brian, he's the seemingly normal guy who gets caught up in the chaos. That's OK though because it makes for interesting reading. Freya, with many many issues who lives and breathes for Instagram followers, Jamie, who only wants to be a mother at any cost and Low, a member of a unique family, low self-esteem and an immense crush on Freya and Freya's husband Max.

As the name implies, there is a swap and it entwines all these characters in a crazy ride.

I was totally absorbed in this book and where it would all end. Pick it up, you won't put it down until you turn the last page.

Well, this one one heck of a ride! The Swap is definitely different than many of the books in this category. I could not put it down!!!

I thought this book was going to go one way, but it went in a completely different direction and it was kind of brilliant how it played out!

This is the story of obsession, manipulation, abuse, and longing. There was literally never a dull moment in this entire book - the relationships between Low’s family, Freya, Max, Jamie, Brian, Maggie, and even Thompson were all so screwed up (and entertaining)!

I did find that there was one plot hole that kind of bothered me, but it didn’t ruin the story. It was just something that niggled in the back of my mind for a couple chapters and was never addressed.

Go get this book when it comes out June 23! You will not regret it.

This is a quick mystery read full of obsession and relationship drama. Twisted and multiple narrators who make the reader question what is the true motivation for their actions. This was a great read and I enjoyed it more than the first novel I read by Harding. Thanks netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Swap is the newest by @rhardingwriter .. I loved The Arrangement and couldn’t wait to read this one! This story moved so fast and I couldn’t put it down. There is a lot of deception, obsession and a lot of lies in this one. I can’t give anything away, as per usual with all of my reviews, but everyone in this story is crazy, and just when you think you know how it’s going to end it turns on it’s head! This ones out June 23! Thanks @netgalley for my copy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is the first Robyn Harding book Ive read. while not an all-time favorite I would read more books by the author. The characters were intriguing and dysfunctional and the plot was interesting enough to keep me engrossed.


Thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest feedback.

Original story and characters, although I've never read a book where I liked the story, but disliked the characters so much. All of them are completely horrible people, but maybe that's why I liked the story so much? Loved the ending. Usually a nicely cleaned up ending can seem boring, but because the characters were so unlikeable, it felt perfect.

Robyn Harding's latest novel The Swap is definitely one to add to your TBR without delay.  It was literally unputdownable and it even had me waking up in the middle of the night to put my glasses on to get in just a few more pages because I had to see how this book played out.  Although I haven't read The Party (something I need to fix) - I have read her other two books (The Arrangement and Her Pretty Face)  but I think this one is her best yet.  You've got an awkward teenager raised in a sex cult, a narcissistic social media influencer with a hot husband, a young adult author and his wife, magic mushrooms and a husband swap.   This cannot end well! I'm not going to give any details and you have to go into this blind. This was absolutely a 5 star for me - I couldn't read it fast enough! Coming out June 23rd - not to be missed.   Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book,