If you’re looking for a page-turner, this would be the book to pick up. If you’re looking for dysfunctional people, yep, reach for this book. If you’re hoping to ignore non-fun activities (such as housework), start reading The Swap.

This story of manipulation, obsession, and dependency will have you turning pages almost immediately. You might also be saying, “What? Where is this story heading, anyway?“ But, you’ll continue flipping through the pages as you ponder that question.

There’s aren’t too many characters to keep track of. There’s

Low, which is a nickname for Swallow, a name her very non-conventional family gave her. She is a loner, unhappy, and has extremely low self-esteem.

Freya Light – a charismatic, beautiful lady who recently moved to Hawking, an island in the Pacific Northwest. She may be good at disguising certain things, but . . . well, keep an eye on her.

Max, Freya’s husband who is an ex-hockey player, with a couple of secrets.

Jamie Vincent is a shopkeeper who is new to the island. She and her husband have tried unsuccessfully to have a baby and to adopt, all to no avail. They have moved to try to relax and recover mentally.

Brian is Jamie’s husband. He has suffered quietly, hoping to control his disappointment for his wife’s sake.

You will be taken on a wild ride by everyone above. And when you think the story is heading in one direction, you’ll probably only discover that you’re just experiencing a U-turn.

My Thoughts

While the story felt a little far fetched, it also felt a little too real. Now if that’s not contradictory, I don’t know what is. But I think you’ll understand if you read this.

I have enjoyed several really good books lately, but without a doubt, I finished this the fastest. I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough or find enough reading time. I kept being drawn back to the book like a magnet.

What Concerned Me
My first thought would be the ending, but my second thought is that it ended just right. (Looks like you’re going to have to read this one and help me with my review!)

What I Liked Most
The writing was excellent and the story moved along at breakneck speed. The characters’ actions were, for the most part, believable. And while you may not always care for the people, I think you will find enough truth to not question the way they react to things.

This is my first book by Robyn Harding, but I guarantee you it won’t be my last.

My thanks to Gallery Books, NetGalley, and Robyn Harding for an ARC and the ability to post a review stating my opinion.

✭✭✭✭✩

I've currently been in love with Thrillers, and this one totally exceeded my expectations. This was such a dark tale that I adored reading.

Low is basically alone, and she wishes that something would change. Between being constantly judged and put down by her peers, she's a child of polyamorous parents. This causes her character to have some depth, not really having anyone close to her. The lives on a pretty small island, in the Pacific, I believe it was somewhere in the North?

*Freya jumps into the scene* She's a drop-dead gorgeous pottery instructor who is married to a man who used to play hockey. ( supposedly super popular ) Pottery is basically her past time and she's more than willing to teach anyone who's interested. She's an Instagram influencer, basically worshiped from the moment she looks at someone. She, much like Low, doesn't fit in. She was basically forced by her husband. Soon, they become friends. *cough* Low starts to catch feelings.

*switches to Jamie slide* She and her husband just recently moved to the island, seeking peace. Her husband is an author who needs *whispers* the silence, they're also hoping for a baby, after falling prey to a surrogate scam. Anywho, she ends up selling Freya's pottery pieces in her antique store, and they become friends.

*cough* But then Low is just a bit jealous.... because she doesn't want Freya to be friends with anyone else. *le gasp* Even though they have more in common like dude come on.

Pretty much everyone in the book is just desperate for Freya's attention and approvals, so when she suggests that they have some "magic mushrooms" for couples' night, they all agree. I mean, what sounds better than just listening to some Instagram famous, pottery gorgeous girl? *cough* apparently nothing.

Then they do a giant switcheroo, and Jamie's husband is sleeping with Freya. Jamie also slept with Max? Like damn.

But they all end up not bringing it up. Everyone's hiding from each other, there's this giant suspense between Max getting bruises and marks everywhere, and Freya hiding her pregnancy.

I loved how fast the pace of this book was, especially for a thriller, it was so adrenaline rushing to see the plot race on. Even though the characters made me want to strangle them, the plot and the themes surrounding the characters were so entertaining.

I feel like the twists and the traits of the characters were the things that I enjoyed most about this book. This book has explored abuse, unhealthy relationships, sociopathic behavior, jealously, obsession, and much more.

The characters seem so strange, but I feel like that's what makes it so unique. However, I feel like this lacks in realism. I feel it unlikely that basically every character is so. . . influenced by Freya. We get that she's hot, but what else is so great about her character that no one else has? I feel like Low was taken advantage of, taking note of her inexperience with love, and just beginning to come to terms with her sexuality. Not to mention she's always been neglected by friends and parents, it just doesn't sit right with me. All of the characters fell into this trap of lies that only unwinded more, the deeper they got stuck into it. I feel like the characters should have had at least a little resistance to Freya, a normal person would question things, and not be so easily persuaded. ( I do understand that this is a factor why the pacing was so fast ) but it drew me out of the story when I realized how dumb the characters were.

However, I ended up loving the book. I adore the way the story was developed, it was so intriguing and made me feel so many emotions. I really enjoyed this dark Thriller. I look forward to reading more of this author's works. I can tell how talented she is. I would recommend this read to anyone who is looking for a suspenseful and fast-paced book.

( A big thanks to Galley/Scott Press and NetGalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ) All my comments and opinions of this book are my own.

Angry teenager fixates on angrier ex model with hockey player husband on Orcas islands. Her family is very non traditional with an open marriage and several parents, but she wants to escape it. When the model befriends her, she becomes totally entranced. She takes up pottery with the model’s friend. When her potter and husband end up in tryst with the first family, her jealousy takes over. Some very clever plotting as mayhem ensues. So unrelentingly angry that at times it’s hard to continue, but it is worth it to get to a wonderful end.

Ok, so as per usual, Robyn has put together another fast-paced, well written, page-turner which did not disappoint. I was completely invested from the first page and I read this in 3 sittings. I found it to be absorbing, interesting, and perfectly executed. I enjoyed the island setting and especially Low's character. I work with high school kids and I feel like Robyn always writes them realistically - especially The Party- but I have noticed she does it in each book save The Arrangement which didn't involve anyone of that age.

So, let's talk about Low. I have a feeling some people aren't going to like her because well, she is a bit of a stalker...but I see her with compassion because she doesn't have a lot of friends (ok, she's an outcast) or a fully formed pre-frontal cortex and this is a bad combination with her "genetic makeup." I will put it that way in the spirit of writing a review without spoilers. She gets attached to a new person in town and becomes very jealous when that new person makes a more age appropriate friend. Let's also add to this mix that Low's parents are quite untraditional and uninvolved.

Meanwhile we have a drug-induced marriage-swapping situation where everyone agrees to never speak of it again and that nothing is gonna get weird...right...because that always works out.

So- pretty much everyone in this book plays a part in betrayals, deception, and double-crossing behavior. I'm not sure why the adults think it's a good idea to confide in and involve the child in the story, but they do and it just makes the web more complicated. I love that Robyn is always able to surprise me with things that I don't see coming and that her ideas are so realistic and original, like, this could totally happen. I always love her books. I've been very lucky to get ARCs of the last 3 and then rave about her to my friends so that they rush out and get her books. She has become a must-read author for my crowd. I loved this one and I will always read whatever she writes. Thank you, Net Galley for the approval. I loved this book.

Freya, a former social media influencer, has moved to an isolated island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband Max, a former hockey player, to start over.

Jamie and her husband, Brian, have just moved to the island for a fresh start after struggling from infertility. When Jamie meets Freya, they immediately become friends.

Low, a self-conscious high school senior, signs up for a pottery class Freya is hosting, and immediately feels a connection with her and wants to spend as much time as possible with Freya.

When Freya invites Jamie and Brian over for a couples night with her and her husband, not only is Low jealous when she finds out, but the consequences of that night change all of their lives forever.

THE SWAP was so addictive! I read this book in one day and almost in one sitting. Overall, I thought it was pretty predictable, but the addictive nature of this book made me unable to put it down!

THE SWAP features short chapters with alternating characters and some unreliable narrators, which I always love. It deals with friendship, and when friendship becomes obsession.

This is my second book by Robyn Harding. I previously read and loved THE ARRANGEMENT, and my love for this book has quickly made Harding an auto-buy author for me!

I’ll keep this short, but if you’re a fan of domestic thrillers and looking for a binge read, this one is for you!

Read this book. It is jam packed full of goods! You won't believe these women and then their men - um what?! The desperation and the poor decisions but then the loyalty and friendships but then the back stabbing. Robyn Harding does a great job filling the pages with so much yummy and somehow writes it just right so that it isn't too over the top. Impressive. If you think by the title of this book that it's going to be predictable...think again! Pick up this book and read it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review!

After signing up for a class, Low quickly falls under Freya’s spell. Both share their darkest secrets and desires and feel they found each other, until Jamie walks into their life. Freya and Jamie become fast friends, as do their husbands, leaving Low alone once again. After a boozy dinner party, Freya suggests swapping partners. What should have been a harmless fling upends their life and gives Low the perfect opportunity to unleash her growing resentment.

Okay, this book was weird. I’m not quite sure how else to put it. The obsession between all the characters and Freya is fascinating. Freya is your typical snobby girl who thinks everyone should love her, which they do! They fight for her affection, but Freya is just a really terrible person!! Jamie is sometimes a likable character, but I felt her character was just portrayed as being the jealous best friend. Low is creepy as well and I felt that’s all her character development really was. I was hoping all the characters in the story would have been more. The only “likable” character was Freya’s husband, Max.

This book was a super fast read and I had it finished within 24 hours. It switches back between the various character’s POV and the secrets and obsessions they hide. When I finished the book I wasn’t quite sure if I liked it or hated it! I think this book is all about obsession and how quickly people want to be the sole person in someone’s life or jealous and rage will occur.

I was a huge fan of “The Arrangement” by this author, but sadly this book does not compare for me. I felt this lacked and was just creepy as hell!! Overall, I felt this book was “meh” and nothing really to rave about.
Pub: 6.23

Robyn Harding hit the ball out of the park with The Swap!! Very well written and a great story line. Obsession, sex, drugs, deceit and oh, so much more. This book had me up late into the night reading and it was so worth it!! Without any hesitation, I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!! Can’t wait to read more by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery/Scout Press and Robyn Harding for the opportunity to read The Swap in exchange for my review.

WOW! Couldn't put this book down; captured me from the start.
Low, short for Swallow, is a senior in high school, a real loner with a very unconventional family life. She signs up for pottery lessons from Freya, a new resident married to an ex-hockey player, Max. Freya has psychological issues and preys upon Low's poor self esteem and lack of friends. When Freya befriends Jamie, another woman new to town, Low is actually jealous of the friendship. Freya pits the women against each other, each desperate for her friendship. Freya is constantly hurting the people in her life if they say or do something she doesn't like.
One night, Max and Freya invite Jamie and her husband, Brian, over for a night to let loose with some drugs and fun. The night spins wildly out of control and the results from that night have a rippling effect on all of them. Soon lies are revealed, deceptions uncovered, and the truth could destroy not only Jamie and Brian, but Max and Freya as well. Through all the turmoil, there is always Low, lurking in the background trying to understand where she fits into all the drama.
This psychological thriller was great. The characters, plot and ending were well written and kept me wondering how things would end.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Holy sociopath biatch genes...What did I just read?!

A group of friends get together, do shrooms and decide to swap partners. It sounds downright scandalous and salacious! But there's so much more more to this story than polyamorous relationships. The characters are devious, the suspense is palpable and the twists keep on coming until you reach the breathtaking conclusion!

Based solely on the blurb, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. But this story is full of surprises and once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Sleep?! Forget about it...I had to finish this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Robyn Harding does it again.

Love. Lust. Friendship. Foe. Drugs. It’s a wild combination. For an even wilder book!

This is a non stop jaw dropping read. In true Harding fashion, you’re pulled right in and can’t stop reading until the last page. This was my second book by the author- and won’t be the last.

Another juicy page-turner from Robin Harding. This is my kind of book, filled with terrible but fascinating female narrators, romantic intrigue not too heavy on the bodice-ripping, and many, many bizarre and interesting folks and situations -a polyamorous love commune! an evil and manipulative "influencer!" an obsessed and possibly sociopathic teenager! This book expertly does what so many other domestic suspense novels try and fail to do -- delivers thrills and mystery and an impending sense of doom until the final denouement. And here I must say -- Robin Harding NEVER disappoints with her endings. Thank you Robin Harding for always delivering this - it is one reason I enjoy reading her thrillers so much. This ending is a doozy. I also must thank Robin Harding again, because this book has convinced me that it may in fact be a good thing that I'm not a massive "social influencer" getting gorgeous clothes, lifestyle goods, and island vacations for free.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster, NetGalley and Robin Harding for this juicy and super fun book.

Freya and Max moved to a remote island town after a terrible media scandal. Freya is a social media influencer past her prime and now spends her time working on pottery.

Jamie and Brian moved after several years of unsuccessfully trying to have a baby. They both need a fresh start. Jamie opens a small pottery store while Brian works on his children’s book. They think the small island is exactly what they need.

Jamie’s pottery store is where she meets Freya and they become instant friends. Freya also catches the eye of recent high school graduate, Low, who signs up for Freya’s pottery class and is completely enamored by her.

And during one night of bad judgment, Freya and Jamie swap husbands. By morning, Jamie regrets it, but does Brian? There are irreversible consequences to their actions, ones none of them expected. And when Low discovers what her unrequited lover has been up to behind closed doors, jealousy and obsession take over.

The Swap by Robyn Harding is a story all about obsession, narcissism and pure jealousy. This is told through the perspectives of our 5 main characters, randomly jumping between everyone. This wasn’t a fast-paced thriller, or a mystery, but a high-stakes drama about a group of seriously effed up people. I knew murder would be involved but I wasn’t quite sure how. The pacing and tone of this one reminded me a lot of Her Pretty Face, which I enjoyed. But like with that book, I wanted more out of this one too. An enjoyable and quick read, but not a new favorite. 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Robyn Harding for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one and found it to be a quick read. My main issue was that I had a really hard time connecting with any of the characters, so I did not feel invested in the story. I originally liked Low’s character, but then she became really creepy and I no longer saw her as the protagonist. I found the ending to be kind of anti climatic too.

I really enjoy Robyn Harding's writing style. Her books are always hard to put down, and I love that she's not afraid to tackle taboo situations. That being said, this book fell flat for me. I had a very hard time connecting with any of the characters, as I found them all to be irritating. There also seemed to be too many story lines, so the ending felt crazy and disjointed. I have better hopes for her next book.

Dark, twisty, and unexpected, this book was so much more than I thought it would be. While most of the characters were unlikeable, I found myself rooting for Low much of the time, especially when Freya was treating her like dirt. Freya had some major issues, clearly.

Oh my gosh! Robyn Harding is amazing! I’ve read everything by her and her books just keep getting better! Her taboos subjects are so juicy and the twists are crazy every time. I highly recommend this to thriller lovers

I have read other Robyn Harding books and am always pleasantly surprised with her multiple narrators and interesting plot lines. Despite some unconventional narratives, Robyn always seems to nail down the thriller. Take The Swap, which tells the story of the unlikely intersection between three women on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest.

There's Low -- a teenager, with hippie parents who lives on a commune with a brood of siblings and her parent's "lovers." Then there's Freya, a once-famous social media sensation, who is married to a fallen-from-grace professional hockey player. Freya and her husband moved to the island for a fresh start, and she now runs a local pottery studio. Rounding out the three is Jamie, a boutique business owner who's desperate to start a family. Jamie hopes that the healthy environment (ie. less stress) on the island may lead to a healthy pregnancy.

One fateful night, Freya and Jamie and their husbands "swap" spouses for the night. And what seems as a fun night of debauchery turns into a night no one will forget. As always, I truly enjoyed the different perspectives Robyn brings to the table with her stories. She truly captured three different personas and was able to tell a seamless, suspenseful story. This book did not disappoint!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC. I don’t like to be too negative about books, but I couldn’t get into this at all. None of the characters were likable and none of the relationships between them were believable. Why would either Low or Jamie have become so obsessed with Freya? There was not enough background or depth given to any of the three women to make the whole plot make sense. No one would have put up with any of the stuff that Freya did; much less keep going back for more. I will say it was an easy read, so at least I didn’t have to slog through too much to finish it.

I wasn't entirely sure who to root for in this novel, as the initial protagonist (Low) certainly has her own set of problems. I found it really hard to understand why both Low and Jamie were so obsessed with being friends with Freya in spite of how capricious she was about their friendships? I was definitely expecting a twist, and kept wondering who the villain was going to turn out to be. Fortunately, the ending was satisfying with how things got wrapped up.