Willow’s musical dream goes bust and she decides to move to the country to get away and regroup. She loves baking and farmers market but isn’t too keen on her landlord. He’s grumpy and she’s sunshine. Reid, a chef that found his dream but doesn’t want it anymore, just wants to be left alone. He renews her creativity and she has to choose between her new life and the one she left behind. A true rom-com. Great dialogue and story.

An adorable read with cottagecore vibes and tension that pays off! So fun and perfect for a spring/summer read in nature.

I love a grumpy sunshine romance where the grumpy person is secretly a softie, and not just for the sunshine person. Reid is battling a mental load from his father’s death, leaving his chef career and just trying to find his way in the world. He doesn’t know he needs more sunshine in his life until Willow shows up.

Willow has also had a tough break in her music career, and she’s hoping some time away will heal the hurt. I love that she was so eager to try new things instead of wallowing on her time off, she made the best of her situation. She leans away from her people-pleasing attitude to figure out what’s best for her (which might be a certain chef-turned-landlord next door).

The pacing was great, and I love the banter and conversations between Willow and Reid. They can be vulnerable and honest with each other while also calling each other out on their wrongdoings. There’s tender moments of sweetness, burning spice, and a little bit of angst to round it out. I just know this couple would be the cutest one at the farmer’s market or bakery!

Swap and Smell the Roses is book 1 in The Swap series by Karen Booth.
I love her Never Too Late series, so I was ecstatic to get my hands on her new upcoming series!
And it did not disappoint.
This book was such a lovely change of pace.
Willow and Reid were fantastic and I enjoyed their chemistry, it is fantastic, their dialogue and banter is also great.
Swap and Smell the Roses is a wonderful and completely entertaining romance.
I can’t wait for book two.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Swap and smell the roses is your classic grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract book. I thought it was funny, sweet and sexy as well as the growth between the characters and individually was great. I did have a hard time connecting with some of the new lingo that was incorporated into the book that people use today, but it didn’t take away from the overall story. I think Swap and smell the roses is a perfect light summer read for anyone to enjoy.

Swap and Smell the Roses is my first from Karen Booth and I honestly can't wait to read more from this talented author. Booth sets the stage for Willow Moore as she struggles with her music career and decides to switch apartments with her bestie Bailey, sending her to the small town of Old Ashby, Connecticut. Right from the start, I could only imagine how much Willow would miss the sights and sounds of her beloved New York City, fearing almost by the minute her 8-week 'sentence' to live in the 'country' as a way to help out Bailey with a competitive writing course.

But then there was Reid Harrow. The landlord of the cottage Willow was now living in and as grumpy as Bailey described. Even from their first meeting when Willow interrupted his daily Tai Chi, sparks were still evident as she couldn't keep her eyes off the beautiful man. Of course, what follows is a bit of crazy, a whole lot of mixed signals together with that undeniable attraction that is bound to muddy the waters.

These two are truly adorable together. I loved Reid's constant frustration with the people-pleaser Willow and how all of the strife he held close to vest only made his temporary tenant much more curious about her landlord. She has such a good heart that it was not a surprise she charmed most of the town's residents including her new boss Faith becoming a true asset to the popular bakery. I really loved how Willow took any obstacle before her and conquered it in only the way she could. Her penchant for trying new things and trying hard to embrace former hurts and disappointments definitely affected Reid in ways he could have never imagined. To say she was the perfect balm to his closed-off persona is an understatement, especially as they embark on a fling that will undoubtedly make them feel more than they ever thought possible. I'm just glad Reid started to figure out his own issues in time to realize just how special Willow would be to him for not only the rest of the 8 weeks but forever.

This is a great story with wonderful characters and a realism to how Booth portrays what both Willow and Reid have had to deal with in their careers. With Bailey's book next, I'm thrilled we'll get more from this couple and get to witness how things are going for them. Speaking of Bailey, I have a hunch we'll be seeing more of Willow's brother Gabe since both he and Bailey seem to be harboring their own secrets that don't include Willow, much to her chagrin.

A perfect beach read for the summer of 2024, do not hesitate to pick up Swap and Smell the Roses. It's well-written and flows easily with each turn of the page. Truly enjoyable from start to finish and worthy of a huge 4 stars!

The premise of this story drew me in, but I could not get into the story. I do not enjoy the writing or connect to the characters.

so i liked the premise (small town MMC, big city FMC, forced proximity, sunshine x grumpy) and i liked Reid’s back story with his father and Willows backstory with her music - but I feel like everything happened WAY too fast with them (yes it’s a book I know but some things could have waited I feel) + some things that happened (ie bailey not really being there for willow and reid’s dad and you know who) felt too convenient- it didn’t mesh for me. The ending didn’t really satisfy me- all the playing and writing that willow did just for it to end like that? And we didn’t really get any closure on what Reid decided to do about the garden either.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I previously read a Harlequin title from Karen Booth, and while I didn’t much care for it, I was open to trying her again. And Swap and Smell the Roses sounded charming. While the trope of a big-city girl exchanging that life for a small town has been done before, I loved the charm Booth infused in this story, particularly the cottagecore vibes.
Willow is an easy protagonist to root for. I really appreciated her reflections on the music industry, both good and bad, and enjoyed seeing her ingratiating herself in rural Connecticut.
Looking back on my initial review of the prior Booth title, a big turnoff for me was the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, so I was a little wary that this had a similar premise. But while Reid had his rough edges that made him hard to like at first, I found myself warming to him. And Reid, like Willow, had his own dreams he put aside for his own reasons. With these serving as a vehicle for their connection and them helping each other realize their dreams again.
Overall, I really enjoyed this, and with this being a “life swap” book, I can’t wait to see what happened to her friend Bailey! I recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick, light contemporary romance.

This started out with Willow leaving New York to stay in a small town in Connecticut for the summer. Landlord Reid is definitely a grumpy MMC. The story moved along well and had a good build-up. However, towards the end, I was kind of over it. The story kind of fizzled out for me. I didn’t care for the best friend or the brother, and they seemed to lead into Book 2. They were a bit rude in their own world. I didn't feel they were painted in a good light. I didn’t hate it, but not for me.

Great read. Willow and Reid .set when she homosexuals with her best friend and moves to Connecticut for two months with Reid as her landlord. They don't get on at first but will she win him over? I liked how it was told from both points of view and look forward to the next books in this series.

Made it 25% in, Start of Chapter 5

DNFing because I just don’t enjoy any of these characters. Both Reid and Willow seemed immature to me and the way they interacted wasn’t what I expected or really wanted to read. This was definitely just a “me problem” though and shouldn’t put anyone off on trying this out themselves! No issues with the writing style or skill!

Reid and Willow were grumpy/sunshine. There was humor and Reid’s reluctance to having a crush on Willow was next level self control. Willow’s many attempts to break Reid’s grumpiness succeeded. Both were going through some emotional turmoil and helped each other. A short read that brought tension, angs, humor and all the goodness.

I received a copy of this book as an e-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

Aspiring musician Willow has decided to call it quits after completely bombing on stage one night. Her best friend, Bailey, lives in a sleepy town in Connecticut, and has been accepted to a screen writing seminar for the summer in NY, which is where WIllow lives. They decide to swap homes for the summer, so they can both get the clarity they need.

Once Willow shows up to the town of Old Ashby, she meets Reid, Bailey's landlord, who is as grumpy as he is hot. And you can guess how it goes from there.

Look, the premise of this book as been done before and it's a cute premise. However, this book just didn't work for me -- though it probably could work for other people. There are a lot of sex scenes that are spicy, if you like that. Reid is the quintessential grump with a heart of gold. Unfortunately, the writing style was overly simple for me, and I felt like I was reading Taylor Swift fan fic or something. The characters are a bit overly-tropey and one dimensional. The plot is very straightforward and predictable. There's a big helping of instalove. I got half way through the book and decided to speed-read skim the rest because I wanted to know how it turned out, and it was what I thought it would be. Now, if you love swapping places romances, dual perspective, instalove, and spicy scenes, you might really enjoy this. The two stars isn't that it's bad, it just feels like it's still in development and could have used some more refining for my tastes.

This was such a good and cute little steamy romance! I really enjoyed reading this. It was a great kick off to the spring/summer season. I feel like this is definitely going to be on the top of lists for summer reading for people to enjoy at the beach or whatever it is they do during those warm months. I am not a huge fan of the title, it feels a little... "I'm bad at titles and couldn't think of anything else" speaking from the perspective of someone who is bad at creating titles lol. I think this was a great read and I predict that it's going to be a popular one for sure!

Swapping homes with her best friend sounded like a good idea but when Willow, a city girl through and through, arrives in the Connecticut countryside she has a rude awakening. Or rather is locked out of the cottage and comes face to face with the rudest and hottest landlord she has ever met. Willow quickly realizes she has got to get on Reid’s good side or the next two months are going to be a disaster. But things only get worse. The cottage floods and Willow must temporarily move in with the gorgeous grump. She gets a part time job at the local bakery which ignites friendship and a much better outlook on the summer. Willow has put her dream as a singer/musician aside and as painful as it may be the bakery is the perfect place to keep her mind occupied. When Willow and Reid realize that their chemistry is off the charts they are too busy hiding behind their fears to face the truth about each other and their dreams. Adorable, fast paced and a little steamy, this romcom had an idyllic setting and sweet romance.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a nice beach read with some unresolved issues that may be addressed in the following books?

I am an absolute sucker for the grumpy vs. sunshine trope and this book delivered! You just can’t help but feel for Reid. He doesn’t want to be a grump, but life has thrown him so many curves that he doesn’t know how to be anything but. It was sweet to see him transform into this sweet loving guy.

Can’t wait for the second book in this series!

Tropes: Grumpy x Sunshine, Slow Burn, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers

The tropes for this book were everything I love. I found Swap and Smell the Roses to be an easy read. The MCs were relatable, and I liked them. There was some unaddressed angst that I thought could have been explained more. The secondary characters didn't do anything for me.

This is one of those books that you can't really dislike. It's a fluffy romance that makes you happy.

This was my first read by this author. I will certainly watch for other works. It was an immensely enjoyable book. Loved the characters and the setting. And the development of Willow and Reid kept me hooked

In Karen Booth's charming novel, "Swap and Smell the Roses," Willow Moore's aspirations of music stardom crumble, leading her to seek solace in the serene Connecticut countryside. Trading her bustling Brooklyn apartment for two tranquil months, Willow embraces a life of rustic simplicity, where baking bread, visiting farmers' markets, and indulging in nature's beauty become her daily rhythm. However, her idyllic escape takes an unexpected turn with the presence of Reid Harrell, her enigmatic landlord and former chef. Reid exudes an air of grouchiness and reserve, a stark contrast to Willow's outgoing and loquacious nature. Despite their differing personalities, an undeniable chemistry sparks between them. As they engage in banter and heated arguments, Willow senses a flicker of pain beneath Reid's gruff exterior. She begins to realize that they share a common past of chasing success and the disillusionment that followed. Willow's infectious enthusiasm gradually chips away at Reid's stoic demeanor. Unexpectedly, one of their arguments inspires a creative spark in Willow, reigniting her passion for music. This newfound inspiration awakens something within them both, drawing them into a whirlwind of undeniable passion. As the summer draws to a close, Willow must grapple with her desires and aspirations, including her enigmatic landlord. Reid, too, must confront his past and his longing for a quiet life. Through its exploration of dreams, heartbreak, and the transformative power of unexpected connections, "Swap and Smell the Roses" weaves a poignant tale. It is a reminder that even in the face of shattered aspirations, the path forward may lie in embracing the unknown and following one's heart, no matter where it may lead. With its vivid characters, enchanting setting, and heartwarming message, Booth's novel offers a refreshing and relatable escape for readers seeking a story that celebrates the beauty of second chances and the power of human connection.