The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers follows 2 old friends, estranged since high school. who are reconnecting in the margins of various books in a little free library. The kicker is, they don't know they're talking to one another.

I really appreciated how grief was handled in this book (and as a very specific side-bar, that therapy was represented well and no one slept with their therapist). I think the author did a nice job of highlighting realistic, problematic core beliefs that were impacting her characters, without hitting you over the head with them. I also really enjoyed the literary refences throughout the book.

Thank you to Tessa Bickers and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of The Book Swap in exchange for an honest review.

"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is a poignant tale of healing and rediscovery through the magic of books. Erin Connolly, grappling with grief, accidentally donates her cherished annotated copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird" only to find it returned with new notes and an invitation from a mysterious pen pal. As they exchange thoughts in the margins of beloved classics like "Great Expectations," a transformative friendship blossoms, revealing shared histories and unexpected connections. Bickers skillfully weaves literary references into a narrative that explores forgiveness, second chances, and the profound impact of literature on our lives. This novel is a heartfelt ode to the power of books to guide us through life's challenges and to connect us with others in meaningful ways.

Was not my personal favorite, but classic literature lovers will enjoy pointing out the references! I love the idea of traveling annotated books!

Thank you for Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early. As a few of the other reviews mention this book has a lot more depth than you may think when initally reading the synopsis. When i first discovered Book Swap I was expecting a light romance read. While the book has romantic tropes it also dives into the issues of mental health (through multiple characters) and bullying. While i enjoyed the book having more substance than just being a surface level romance I struggled to get through some parts at ths beginning where it felt like the main characters were complaining about trivial things. I think once you become invested in the main characters it becomes easier to sympathize with the struggles they’ve experienced it just took me longer than I would normally want. I would still recommend reading if you enjoy romance with deeper character development and of course if you are a lover of characters who have their own love story for books. A great debut novel. I will continue to look out for books by Tessa Bickers in the future!

5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Graydon House for my ARC.

This was a really beautiful, heartwarming and heartbreaking novel. It’s built around a romance shared between notes in the margins of exchanged books, but it’s so much more than a love story — or better put, about all kinds of love (romantic, familial, friendship). This book is complex and unique, and is sure to make you tear up. I loved the personal journeys each of the main characters went through and was so satisfied with the ending. What a great story!

TW: Mental illness, suicide, cancer, among many others

Author: Tessa Bickers
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Literary Fiction

WOW!!! I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of "The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers through NetGalley. (Thank you)

Our MC: Erin Connolly's story, starts with the accidental donation of her favorite book to a #LFL.
The novel captures the charm of little free libraries and the serendipity they can bring into our lives.

Bickers skillfully blends references to classic literature with a contemporary storyline, making the book a treasure trove for literature lovers. The interactions in the margins of books like "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Great Expectations" add depth and a sense of intimacy to the narrative that allowed you to really see into their relationship.

The novel also handles themes of grief, forgiveness, and personal growth with sensitivity.
Erin's journey from tragedy to finding new connections and confronting her past is compelling and relatable. The mystery element surrounding her pen pal adds an intriguing layer to the plot, keeping readers engaged till the very end, even though we know who he is the whole time!

Overall, "The Book Swap" is a heartfelt, enchanting read that celebrates the power of books to connect and heal. If you love little free libraries and stories that intertwine literature with personal journeys, this book is a must-read.

This is a sweet and surprising novel that deals with far more than just the typical romance tropes. Journey through the classics with Erin as she uses books with notes written in the margins from a "mystery man" in response to hers. This book deals with grief and the complexities surrounding it, mental health, bullying, loss, forgiveness, and the ultimate goal to live life on your terms. While at times Erin can be unlikable, as someone who also suffers abandonment issues, I know I can be as well. This is a great debut, and I could barely put it down once I started it. Thank you for this ARC Harlequin, Tessa Bickers, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

If you're a book lover and a fan of You've Got Mail, you'll really enjoy this book! It kept me interested from the time I picked up the book until the very end. While I definitely think the characters could have worked out their issues if they were just honest and spoke to each other for 20 minutes as adults, it does showcase that we aren't always ready to hear what we need to hear. However, I loved that these characters were able to fall in love (again) through just their written words and love of the classics.

“The Book Swap” by Tessa Bickers is a gem for book lovers. It’s a tale that will linger in your heart long after you've turned the last page. Tessa Bickers has crafted a beautiful ode to literature, reminding us that sometimes, the best stories are the ones we write together, one margin note at a time. Bickers' writing style is reminiscent of Jojo Moyes and Alice Hoffman, making this novel a must-read for fans of heartwarming contemporary fiction.

Meet Erin Connolly. She is still reeling from a recent tragedy, but knows she needs to start living again. But how? When she accidentally donates her heavily annotated copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It’s a book containing a memento she can't bear to part with, and it’s sent to a local community library. She's devastated. Yet, fate intervenes. The book reappears a week later, complete with fresh notes in the margins and an invitation from a newfound pen pal hidden within a copy of *Great Expectations*. Thus begins a life-changing conversation, written only in the margins of beloved classic books, between Erin and her Mystery Man. As they follow each other through the pages of their favourite novels, they open up, forging a friendship that might just become something more.

From the very first page, I was drawn into Erin's world: a place where grief and hope collide. Bickers masterfully weaves together the magic of classic literature with the raw emotions of her characters. Erin's connection with her Mystery Man, forged through the margins of beloved books, is both heartwarming and poignant. Their exchanges are like whispered secrets shared across time and space, and I found myself rooting for them with every turned page.

The concept of a book exchange as a catalyst for connection is utterly charming. As Erin and her pen pal delve into the worlds of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Great Expectations”, and other literary gems, they reveal their vulnerabilities, fears, and dreams. Bickers captures the essence of what it means to be a book lover, from the way stories shape us, heal us, to the way it connect us to others.

The pacing is spot-on, with just the right blend of romance, mystery, and nostalgia. The backdrop of the community library, where books come alive through handwritten notes, adds an enchanting layer to the narrative. And the shared history between Erin and her pen pal, a secret they both unknowingly carry, adds depth and tension.

Bickers' prose is elegant and evocative. She paints scenes with vivid strokes, making the fictional town and its inhabitants feel real. Whether it's the scent of old books, the rustle of pages, or the quiet moments spent reading under a tree, every detail resonates. Her love for literature shines through, and I found myself reaching for my own dog-eared copies of classics, wondering what secrets they held in their margins.

“The Book Swap” is more than a romance; it's a celebration of resilience, forgiveness, and the transformative power of storytelling. It reminds us that books are not just ink on paper—they're vessels of connection, solace, and hope. As Erin and her Mystery Man navigate their shared past and uncertain future, we're reminded that sometimes the most profound conversations happen in the margins, where hearts intersect.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me, thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Erin is still in mourning for her best friend Bonnie; to the point where Bonnie “exists” in her room so Erin can vent to her about how her life is going wrong.

James lives two lives; half the time he has a successful career in London, but the other half is spent in his home town of Frome helping his father care for his mentally ill mother.

Erin and James (and Bonnie) were friends in school, but an ugly event has torn them apart. This wouldn't sound like a good start for a romance, but weirdly it is. What starts out as a heartbreaking/unique take on “you've got mail” with Erin and James anonymously communicating via notes written in the margins of books they borrow from a little free library, becomes a journey to forgiveness and self discovery.

I loved the twists and turns in this book that kept me guessing to the end. I was a little put out by the huge margins in the book, until I realized it was on purpose (given the mode of communication between the main characters). I also loved the secondary characters (and hope this is the start to a series of novels…Cassie and Joel next, please)

I liked this book, wish i could say live but i liked it could have loved but aomethings just didnt do it for me. It was a very slow burn the ending was great but it took along time to get there and I didn't get enough after (i know it may not make sense but i hate spoilers) the characters were good and I loved the youve got mail like premise-I'm a sucker.for a good classic rom.com, plu ls little libraries are my favorite, ao its a fun one to pick your favorite and visualize it while sitting on the bench nearby and watching people pick out books, could it happen, love by little free library
Overall, an okay read. Good characters, with a good story but I wish it had a more fulfilling end!

So I picked this up thinking it would be a cutsy rom com, and boy was I surprised. This story covers south in terms of death, chronic illness, bullying, mental health and forgiveness. I feel like the beginning of this story was really slow off to start and honestly I haven’t read most of the classics these characters were so attached to but I had a really good time reading it, I think the look we get at Erin and James in forgiving and understanding others and even themselves is really well written and it’s really nice to see it portrayed in a way that feels realistic, it doesn’t just happen overnight it takes a lot of trial and error and it’s hard. I’m not gonna lie Erin wasn’t my fav MFC in the world but honestly I think that fits in for the story? The way she was dealing with things wasn’t healthy the grudges she was holding against her family and her friends wasn’t good for her, she was kinda being a crappy person but you can’t have growth if your already great. I love that we got to see her have the conversation with her mom and see that yes I’m trying but it’s not instantly better. This book made me feel a lot more things than I was ever imagining, as for the romance part of it, it really does feel like a sub-plot but I don’t think the impact would have been the same if it was this instalove everything’s better now connection, it’s a slow burn for sure and I would count it as a second chance romance. I’m so excited for this to debut and can’t wait to see what else Tessa writes

I liked the overall concept of this story more than I enjoyed reading it.

I liked James and reading his side of things way more than I liked Erin. Once we found out what their big fight was about, I lost any interest. I thought the moment she found out it was him she'd been swapping notes with was a rushed moment. She went from 0 to fuming so quickly then they were gone.

I thought there were too many side characters and in a way it seemed like the two main characters hardly interacted with each other at all. There was only like one flashback to the good part of their friendship, the vague notes in the books, and they were ready to talk about being in love?

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was drawn to this title for its theme of grief, and I was certainly able to relate to Erin on a very personal level. While some of her thoughts felt incredibly intimate and comforting to me, I did struggle to engage with her and with the MMC, James. I found the start of the book to be rather slow, and I kept wanting to put the book down. It wasn't my cup of tea, but I think it's great for a reader looking for a slow burn romance with some emotional depth.

Very calm, very cute. This book was a really good just romance where I can just feel the love and root for the couple.

First off, thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me this arc. This book may not have been my cup of tea, but a book is always loved by someone. ❤️

Erin Connolly, a victim until the very end.

I think this may be my first ever 1 star read. Don’t get me wrong, the author is amazing at what she does. I loved James so so much and I usually would not give a bad review just because I disliked a character but Erin is a different breed.

Everything bad that happens to Erin is somebody else’s fault. She never takes a second to reflect and just immediately wallows in her victimhood. Even so, this book was a good 3 star read for me. That was until this:

“Bonnie had never rejected me before — and she was the one person who I thought never would.” The girl had CANCER and was DYING and you got so butt hurt that she needed a little space, that you abandoned her for MONTHS?

And then James shows up at the hospital and is clearly upset and instead of asking why he’s there, she runs after him and tells him to move his car because her sister is in the hospital. GIRL, PLEASE USE YOUR CONTEXT CLUES! Somebody speeds into a HOSPITAL parking lot, usually that indicates an emergency does it not?!

I wish I could say she had a redemption arc but unfortunately Miss Connolly will always be a victim in her pretty little head. She apologized to everyone she’s ever blamed just for her to turn around and do it again.

In conclusion, if Erin has no haters, it’s because I’m dead.

Thank you for this ARC!

I was initially attracted to this book because it's description mentioned a pen pal potential romance via the margins of a well loved book. The characters are united after one accidently donates one of her favorite books during a clean out. The book finds its ways back to her with new notes and a friendship begins to emerge.

I enjoyed the book, though the cute cover and book description did not clue in very deeply the trauma and grief elements involved. I don't think that detracted from the experience, it was just a bit of a surprise.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.

This was not the fluffy, cute rom-com that I was expecting from the cover or the brief description. There were a lot more elements of grief, trauma, bullying, and mental illness than I anticipated. So, I guess a little more life-like?

I was frustrated with the character development at first, but then finally there was some growth. That had more to do with the story than the author’s ability though!

Parts were definitely charming and overall a satisfying read.

This book had such a beautifully sweet and touching storyline. I have always wondered about the notes left in the margins of books and the curious items that I have found used as bookmarks over the years. This book took that idea and added to some the fun, romance, expectation, and subtle longing of letter writing to build a mystery, tension, and the room for the characters to connect through. If you liked the classic movies Little Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Ole Summertime, and You've Got Mail then you love this book because it offers that same sense of connection, ironic humor, and a hidden identities. With that said, I found this book a little slow for me, but again all three of the films I compared this to, they all share that same character development, slow build-ups and burn romance. The author had a great writing style and the weaving in of classic literature gave this a connection to my own reading history that help me throughout the whole read.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Books and NetGalley for the ARC that I read.