"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is an emotionally charged narrative about loss, rediscovery, and unexpected connections. The story follows Erin Connolly, who, in the wake of a personal tragedy, mistakenly donates her cherished copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird," only to find it returned with new annotations—and an intriguing invitation hidden within the pages of "Great Expectations."

Bickers weaves a beautiful story of healing and connection, as Erin engages in a profound dialogue with a mysterious pen pal through their shared love for classic literature. This unique form of communication not only opens a pathway to friendship but also evokes the potential for something deeper, as both individuals navigate their personal histories revealed through the annotations.

This novel is a heartfelt exploration of personal grief and the power of words to transcend barriers. As a quick yet emotional read, it prompts laughter and tears, making it an ideal choice for those who appreciate a moving "tear-jerker." My enjoyment of the book was so profound that I even acquired a special edition copy from LitJoy.

"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is a delightful, feel-good read that’s perfect for book lovers. The story is full of charm, heart, and just the right amount of quirky fun. I loved the mix of friendship, romance, and the joy of discovering new books through a shared love of reading. Huge thanks to the publisher for the ARC! I’ve already picked up a copy for my library system. If you're a fan of sweet, lighthearted stories with a touch of magic and a whole lot of heart, this one’s definitely worth checking out. Highly recommend it!

After tragically losing her best friend, Erin has no idea how to live her life and move past the grief. To make matters worse, she accidentally donates her beloved and heavily annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to her local little free library. Crushed to lose one of her last remnants of her best friend, Erin goes by every day in hopes someone will return her book. She's surprised when it reappears with another set of annotations in the margins and a note at the end pointing her to another book.

Erin and Mystery Man become pen pals, bonding over their shared love of classic literature and leaving notes for each other in the margins. When Erin realizes she may have a complicated history with the Mystery Man, she is at a crossroads of a painful past and an optimistic future.

I'm usually not much of a romance person, but I found the main plot of this book to be more about moving on from grief rather than romance. I loved all of the references to classic literature and how it can truly be life-changing. I also appreciated that the secondary characters in the book were much more than just sidekicks, but each had their own stories too. I absolutely recommend this to anyone who likes Emily Henry or more literary romance books.

4/5

This book felt like a warm hug and a quiet cry all at once.

I picked up The Book Swap because I loved the idea of falling for someone through shared notes in the margins of favorite books—and it delivered. Erin’s grief felt so real, so heavy. After losing her best friend, she’s just trying to figure out how to live again. When her beloved annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird ends up in a little free library, and then mysteriously comes back with new notes scribbled in the margins... I was hooked.

The pen-pal vibe through classic novels was so nostalgic and intimate—it reminded me of why I fell in love with reading in the first place. And as someone who’s dealt with personal loss, watching Erin try to carry her grief while slowly letting someone else in really hit home.

James (though we don’t know it’s him at first) was such a gentle presence. His struggles, the slow unraveling of his connection to Erin, and the tension of their shared past made the story feel layered and honest. Their bond felt earned, not rushed, and that made it even more beautiful.

The pacing was a little slow in parts, but it worked because the story isn’t just about romance—it’s about growth, forgiveness, and how books can bring people back to themselves.

If you’ve ever loved and lost, or found comfort in the pages of a book, this story will resonate deeply. It’s one I’ll think about every time I see a note in the margin.

<i>"Books teach us, and I want to make sure I'm learning everything they're offering. I write in the margins to remember the book. To keep the words in my heart."</i>

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for this review!

I know, I know. I am WAY behind on this beauty, but sometimes life just LIFES way too hard. So, I'm planning on spending the next 6 or so months trying to play catch up on some of the books just chilling on my NetGalley (and physical) shelf. Starting with this one!

This hit me WAY harder than I was anticipating. At this point, I've read enough Abby Jimenez and Katherine Center to handle the heavy topics that get sprinkled into these romantic comedies, but I wasn't prepared for this one. My heart broke multiple times for James, especially LITTLE James. Not giving anything away, but that sweet angel baby 😞

Needless to say, I was EXTREMELY happy to see the happy ending when it came!

📚 London, England
❤️ Second Chance Romance
📚 Managing Grief
❤️ Navigating Family Struggles
📚 Classic Books
❤️ Talking in the Margins
📚 Book Lovers
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Stopppp this was so cute! As a book lover (and Little Library lover) this made me so happy. A really heartwarming and sweet read. Thank you so much for the arc!

The Book Swap has a sweet concept that book lovers will appreciate—strangers connecting through shared stories and unexpected notes. The idea is charming, and there are some genuinely heartwarming moments. However, the plot felt a bit uneven, and the pacing dragged in places. The romance was cute but lacked the emotional depth I was hoping for. It’s an easy, cozy read perfect for a weekend afternoon, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression. Worth a read if you’re in the mood for something light and bookish.

"The Book Swap" is cute and emotional and left me wanting to visit my local Little Free Libraries. I adore the idea of two people communicating through notes in the margins of books, and falling in love this way. I don't usually gravitate towards second-chance romances, but I was moved by this one and I might look out for them in the future. I loved watching the characters of this book slowly heal from tragedy and find their way back to love. I enjoyed this emotional, sweet read and plan to read any future books by Tessa Bickers.

Absolutely adored this book!!! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would in a heartbeat! This story was everything I wanted and more: heartfelt, hopeful, and filled with emotions that lingers well after I finished the last page.

The meet cute was perfect and totally believable. I could absolutely see this kind of story unfolding in real life, especially with the way it all began through something as charming and nostalgic as a little free library. The idea of writing in the margins of books? Pure magic. I loved how Erin and her mystery man connected through stories they both loved, it gave their bond such a beautiful foundation. The use of classic books added such a thoughtful and meaningful touch. The conversations they had in the margins felt intimate and vulnerable, like a secret world shared just between the two. And when their real life started to intertwine… I couldn’t read fast enough!!! I would absolutely recommend this book to my friends and followers!

Hopeful, reminiscent, heart-wrenching, and romance - this book had it all. Erin's choices in life, from the donation of a book to the reaction to betrayal to dealing with tragedy, come to a crossroads in the margins of the books she reads. I alternately disliked and liked characters as I met them and learned more about them, felt the struggles of Erin and her Mystery Man (this is a dual narrator storyline), and enjoyed the inclusion of several classic titles and a little free library.

I loved this book! It was a little too long / could have used a bit of editing, but the heart of the book is in the right place and what devoted reader hasn't imagined falling in love through notes in book?

This was a cute and heartwarming read, James and Erin truly helped each other heal from their heartbreaks. They were definitely cute together and the pen pal dynamic of the book was super cute!

This was such a great book! Great book references throughout the book. The ranging was just perfect!! I loved being able to read it early! Thank you!

Anything that has to do with books is an immediate yes for me. I loved everything including the "problem" and couldn't recommend this enough.

I love the idea of losing your favorite book with all your notes in the library only to have someone pick it up and add their own notes.
A book about books and many other issues.

This unfortunately just was not for me! I ended up dnfing because I just felt very confused and like we were jumping around a lot and not getting explanation for some things! I think that the premise of this has a lot of potential and wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it just wasn’t for me!!

This was such a cute book! I loved that it was not just a sweet little romance, facilitated by a little free library, but it also touched on grief, friendships, forgiveness, family issues, etc. I really didn’t know what to expect with this book, but somehow still got so much more than expected!

Erin has recently lost her best friend. She knows she needs to keep on living. Erin accidentally donates her favorite book to the local free library. A week later her favorite book shows back up in the free library with notes added to the margins and an invitation to Great Expectations. Erin forms pen pals with a mystery reader. They swap books and share notes about their favorite books. This book was so good. Both characters face hardships in their own lives but form a friendship through books and find themselves again as adults.

In The Book Swap we follow Erin as she navigates her life in the wake of the death of her best friend, and James who is struggling helping his father with his mother’s mental health issues. When Erin trying to turn over a new leaf brings a bunch of books to a Tiny community library, she later discovers that she’s mistakenly donated one of her favorite books that has one of the last gifts she received from her deceased best friend in it. James returning home from a long stay with his parents find the book and connects with the annotations in it and decides to annotate back to Erin along with leaving a book for her. The two bond through book all the while not knowing that they share a painful past.

Really enjoyed this one and its examination of grief, and trauma. Both James and Erin have a lot of stuff going on and watching them navigate it was very compelling and worth the read.

This was not the lighthearted romcom I expected. The story follows two strangers who swap books and form a connection, but it takes a more emotional and sad turn as their struggles come to light. While the writing was good and the characters were well-developed, the tone was heavier than I anticipated. It’s a touching story, but if you’re looking for a fun romance, this might not be the right pick.