An interesting summer read. The same intense storytelling from the author's last release but elevated! So glad I was approved by the publisher. Thanks netgalley for sharing this title.

So I wasn’t completely sure what to expect going into this book. It was such a roller coaster. All of these characters are messed up (some more than others) it’s hard to say who is right or wrong. This domestic thriller is fast paced with short chapters and multiple POVs. Reading The Swap has made me want to pick up more books by Robyn Harding. TW: parental neglect/abuse, murder, domestic violence. *Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for honest review.

I definitely wouldn’t call this a mystery/thriller. Initially, going into this book and thinking of it as a thriller really raised my expectations to a point which this book could not reach. It could be labeled as a drama, or simply fiction, and then maybe readers will know what to expect more.

The characters in this book are very unlikable and very, very crazy. I personally found the plot to be pretty boring, and soon, quite predictable. I found myself rushing when reading to get to the end to find out how this big mess finally ends.

I did, however, enjoy the writing, and found that the book was pretty easy to read, which I look for in books. It "saved" the book for me (read: the only reason I did not DNF). I also liked the ending and how it tied everything together.
But overall, not a big fan.

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Not exactly a psychological thriller but a good read. Low is a confused sexuality teenager who at first sight is attracted to an older woman who she starts to become instantly obsessed with. Freya, the older woman, starts to have a friendship with Low after Low becomes a pottery student of hers. Low is very jealous of any friends that Freya may have and starts to stalk her whenever possible. Low has a crazy home life due to her parents being Polyamorous. Low has no friends either besides Freya. A night that Freya and her husband Max planned to spend with her friend Jamie and husband Brian ended up changing all their lives in just one night and there's no going back. I have to stop there or it will become a spoiler 😉

Mix alcohol, a healthy dose of mushrooms, an instant connection with your best friends husband and what do you get?
THE SWAP by Robin Harding.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my third and least favorite RH book. I loved HER PRETTY FACE, felt intensely meh 😒 about THE ARRANGEMENT and now we have THE SWAP.

This book to me is less about swapping and more about self- esteem. Or the lack of it. And honestly, I don’t feel like that makes for a thrilling concept.

Wow! What a drama this one was! This is the newest release by @rhardingwriter and it was fantastic. It recently released in June, so you should be able to find it...make sure you do! It was a 4-star read for me!

This book had it all...sexual shenanigans, girl drama, stalking...you name it, it was there! At first, I really wasn’t sure what in the world I was reading, but a quarter of the way in, it started to shed some light. It ended way differently than I expected...in ways I would never have anticipated.

This is a great one to add to your tbr list so run grab it today! Thanks @netgalley for the arc! @gallerybooks #netgalley #theswap

I feel like I've been on a stalker kick lately with my reading.

This story is about a lonely teenager with strange parents and living on a tiny island that is akin to the boringest of small towns.

Low needs friends and because her family is a bit strange, she has none at school, so she tries to do things to keep her mind of how lonely she is. In this, she meets Freya, just as glamorous as her name would imply, but their relationship/friendship takes a turn when Jamie and her husband move to island. Jamie and Freya become friends and where does that leave Low?

As desperation to feel needed, wanted seeps deeper into her bones, Low is left with no choice but to take matters into her own hands and see to it that she's happy. Freya is all that matters in that happiness and Low will stop at nothing to see them together in one way or another. Will Low get the relationship she wants with the glamourous Freya or does fate have something else in mind?

Seriously this one really was hard to put down. We get very disconnected / delusional stream of thought from the main character Low, but that’s the point as she became a social pariah growing up due in part to people’s perspective of her parent’s polyamory. Part of me wanted to think of her as part serial killer from the first few chapters, which merely added to the suspense.
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There’s a lot of drama and desperation from almost every character in the book, and you really stop to think about if people really cycle through the complexity of the thoughts and consequences of actions. Or even their lack of awareness of their actions when they are solely focused on their part or peoples perceptions.
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The reality of these particular 5 characters all falling together is a little bit of a stretch; especially pertaining to their personalities, which didn’t unfold perfectly. However one could argue thats what’s great about it, making each more relatable on their own.
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I really thought I was going to guess the ending, but I was shocked and happy that I didn’t see any of it coming. This suspense will really take you on a ride and just when you think everything is peachy keen, boom.

Rating: 4.5/5

Excellent book! Robyn Harding is one of my favorite authors! You can't go wrong with any of her books. I'm looking forward to her next novel and will definitely read it!

What would you do if you where an awkward Girl, a senior in high school who had no friends you just did not fit in who also lived on an Island in the Pacific Northwest with parents that are better suited in the 60's who believe in a hippy communal life style that is open to many partners which is not uncommon on this island. This is the life Low short for Swallow named after the type of bird during her being born.

Low's life is about to change when she notices a beautiful lady passing through her school she knows that this lady is someone different she definitely not from the area, there seems to be something different about her. Low jumps at the chance to meet this person when she signs up for pottery classes. This lady happens to be Freya she appears everything Low needs and Freya seems genuine about it. Everything is perfect for Low until she follows Freya one day and notices that she may not be Freya's only friend. And things get even a little more bazaar when two of the couples decide to swap partners ( The Swap ).

If you did not have alot of friends or any for that matter when you got one how far would you go to keep that person all for yourself ? This story is crazy it has more twist and turns that a steep canyon road. It will keep you guessing till the very end. The closes I could compare would be something like the build up to the end of "Scott Turow's Presumed Innocents". I would give this book 4 1/2 stars and contemplated giving it 5. I will be curious to see if someone turns this into a movie. I definitely recommend this book you will not want to put it down.

Wow! As my first Robyn Harding book, it took me by surprise at how hooked I was from the very first page! It was just the right amount of drama, scandal, and secrets to keep you engrossed and turning the page. I did find it a little unsettling that everyone was so enamored by this selfish, horribly annoying woman, but I guess it shows how you can sometimes see someone else’s life as “perfect” and exciting.
All in all a great thriller of lust, manipulation, and obsessions! 4.5 stars!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was an excellent and unique story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Swap follows the lives of two women: teenager Low and young business owner Jamie. Low and Jamie live on an isolated island in the Pacific Northwest, which is where they both meet the once-famous social media influencer Freya. Low has lived on the island her entire life and has never quite fit in, but when she meets Freya through a pottery class, she quickly feels a sense of belonging and becomes enamored with Freya. Meanwhile, Jamie and her husband recently moved to the island to live a slower, healthier life, and when Jamie and Freya meet for a cup of coffee, the two become inseparable. While Low and Jamie don't know each other just yet, Freya brings the two together in an unforgettable way.


Jamie and Freya are quick friends, which makes Low incredibly jealous as she feels left out and discarded by Freya. One night, Jamie and Freya, along with their husbands, have a double date at Freya's home over alcohol and psychedelic mushrooms. While Jamie is high and drunk, Freya suggests the two swap partners. What should have been a harmless fling upends the lives of Jamie, Freya, and Low, and threatens to destroy the lives of everyone involved.


The Swap is a psychological thriller about toxic relationships, manipulation, desire, and lust. Robyn Harding knows how to write a riveting story that sucks readers in quickly (I finished this book in 3 days!). What really captivated me about this book was how fast-paced it was - the relationships between Low, Jamie, and Freya develop quickly, but it's like they are on a roller coaster full of euphoric highs and depressing lows. One thing I really enjoyed about The Swap was its portrayal of modern, young women because it brings a sense of familiarity and "relatability." While I wouldn't consider this book an intense thriller, it was definitely dark and suspenseful, which I loved. I think The Swap the perfect book for readers who love sinister characters and a unique setting.


Thank you, Gallery Books, for the advanced copy of this book!


4/5

Not for me I’m sorry. All of characters were just to rotten so I kinda just didn’t care. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

The Swap is billed as a thriller, but I found it to be more of a domestic drama. The story opens with Low, an awkward teenager whose life is made even more complicated by her family’s unconventional makeup. Her polyamorous household and much younger sibling have made her feel excluded not just from her peers but also from her own family, making her vulnerable to new in town Freya.
Freya, at least on the surface, seems too good to be true. An influencer who has declined in popularity due to an incident involving her husband, she is polished, cosmopolitan, and creative. Low latches onto Freya, her desire to be around her quickly evolving into obsession. In turn, Freya becomes friends with a local woman, Jamie, who is just as emotionally weakened as Low due to her ongoing struggle with infertility.
As the title implies, events lead up to a night of partner swapping, catapulting all involved into devastating consequences. Jamie and Low, for differing reasons, come to feel used and manipulated by Freya.
This story went from crazy to crazier. The events, if listed in bullet point format, would sound ridiculous and contrived, yet they work naturally into the plot. Freya becomes increasingly unlikable as her true self is revealed in bits and pieces through her interactions with Freya and Low, and, to a lesser extent, with her husband, Max. The ending is inevitable yet intense and will stick with the reader long after finishing.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary advance copy. This had no impact on my review.

That was something!

Like a train wreck, I couldn’t look away. No need to summarize this as there’s plenty of that. I love the stories by this author and this was the craziest so far. The characters ran the gamut, all of them interesting in their own way. There were plenty of twists to keep things spicy. The ending was off the charts.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Gallery Books for a copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you to Net galley and the publisher for a copy for an honest review.

I really tried to read this book and thought it had a good plot however it was just horrible. I thought maybe I was in a funk so I would put it down and pick it back up but nope, this book was strange and not for me.

Another hit book for this author. Read it in two days. Suspenseful left you wanting to know what happens next. Two couples start off as friends but the one person in the friendship is controlling and manipulative. This book was a great interesting read leaning the reader wanting more

This is not any swap. This is swapping spouses for one night and it causes lots of problems. There’s a lot to take in here and a lot of fallout for the actions as they spin out of control. The best description I’ve read of these characters is “they are disturbing, morally gray characters”, and of course, those make the best fodder for a book. You know its going to end badly, you just don’t know how badly.

A complicated set of relationships that intertwine in such a way that I was surprised by how much I liked that book.

I don’t approve of the characters but was intrigued by them. The writing is so intricate that it goes beyond the character’s action and focuses on the motivation.

I wanted to slap Low for being a stupid teenager; yell at Freya for being narcissistic; hug Jamie for being so sad and comfort Max for being so broken. Brian was just lazy and unlikeable.

Freya pits her friends against each other so that she is always the center of attention. She is cunning, egotistical and just plain evil. Low is only 18 but has never had a true friend. She doesn’t always agree with Freya’s ideas and actions but conforms so the friendship between the two remains intact. Low works for Jamie but isn’t particularly fond of her. Both are jealous of each other and compete for Freya’s attention.

I didn’t think I would like this book at all but was pleasantly surprised.


I received an ARC from Gallery Books through NetGalley. This in no ways affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.