3I want to start off by saying this book has a lot of potential. I enjoyed the overall story line. I thought it was clever and honestly so cute. I enjoyed the use of classical novels and the characters using them to describe their lives and show what they relate to by writing in the margins, underlining and highlighting their favorite parts. It was heartwarming and fun. The story line is incredibly quick, and maybe this is because i read a lot of fantasy, but i believe this book goes by to quick. Yes this is a slow burn but it feels as though the author got bored of writing a scene and abruptly ends it. I feel as though she could write so much more or let scenes drag on for a bit longer.

I enjoyed the idea of the characters but in the end they fell flat for me. For some reason i has a hard time distinguishing who was who at times. Like id forget I'm reading James POV and think its Erin. They felt like they were the same characters just in different fonts and tragic back story. They have their differences, don't get me wrong, but they felt so similar. I understand how the author may have wanted this so that the characters have something to bond over but for me it felt like i was reading one POV the whole time and not two. I am aware that maybe I'm not meshing well with this authors writing style, and that is totally fine. For a debut novel, this book is good. I know many others will enjoy this novel, however this book really missed the mark for me.

I do look forward to see what she writes next.

I also just want to point out that the formatting on Kindle is not well done. I'm not sure if this is purposeful but iv never received and eARC formatted like this. I can only hope that the formatting will get better in time. The formatting really made the story come as confusing or jumpy. There is no clear page breaks. I thought it was something worth noting here. (This is not the authors fault and im not knocking any stars for this!!!! )

I will say that this book is really good at showing Mental Illnesses and they toll they can take on not only the self but others around you and how draining being a care taker can be. This story really revolves around love, loss, trauma, and grief. I was really pulled in by the last page of chapter one. I had to reread the first chapter to make sure i was correct in reading it right. I genuinely think the author has something good going here but something is missing.
Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

3.5 ⭐

“Today should never have been the day I changed my life.”

As if losing her friend Bonnie wasn’t stressful enough, now Erin has lost her precious annotated copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. Little does she know that James has discovered it and it helps him through his struggles. He decides to write a response in the margins of Great Expectations and before long these ‘strangers’ are supporting each other through grief, loss and finding a way forward together. Serendipity has something else in store for these two…something they never suspected!

I remember my mom trying to calm my anxiety and telling me that a stranger is simply a friend that I hadn’t met yet. Many days this perspective carried me through my struggles. I love that books carry these two through their difficult days and offer second chances and forgiveness. Bickers’ debut is really a love letter to books and a celebration of the power of stories.

If you like supporting debut authors and don’t mind a slow burner or some cheesy dialogue to counterbalance discussion surrounding mental illness, trauma, and grief, you’ll enjoy this ‘bookish’ book. Bickers has great promise!

I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Four stars

"The Book Swap" intertwines the magic of literature with the complexities of human connection in a heartwarming tale of love, loss, and redemption.

Erin, still reeling from the loss of her best friend, seeks solace in the pages of her favorite book, "To Kill A Mockingbird." However, when she loses this cherished possession, it sets off a chain of events that leads her to James. Their initial encounter through a community bookshelf sparks a touching exchange of annotated books, each filled with personal reflections and messages.

What begins as a simple exchange of books transforms into a journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and, ultimately, love.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

3 ⭐️
0 🌶️

I didn’t love this, but I didn’t hate it either. If you’re a big rom-com fan and love movies like You’ve Got Mail, I think you’d really like this. Just for me, it wasn’t a hit.

The characters kind of fell flat, there was a whole lot of tell don’t show, and I’m just not the biggest fan of social media/pop-culture references in books.

I did love all the classic book references and the secret letters - one of my fave tropes, though! Again, I think it came down to the general cheesiness of some of the dialogue and how everything conveniently wrapped up. I just didn’t think it was very realistic, but HEY, if you love cheesy, rom-com-style books that also touch on deeper topics like grief and mental illness, I think this one will be a winner for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The book Swap is centered around books which was instantly what drew me in. Erin loses one of her prized possessions a heavily annotated copy of to Kill a Mockingbird while trying to live with the grief of losing her best friend. James finds this copy and decides to write a response in the margins of Great Expectations. this sparks a friendship written in the margin of books and it blossoms into something more. What happens when they realize they are not strangers at all but have a shared history and that history includes something Erin claimed she would never forgive.

This book is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. Seeing Erin try to deal with a world that she no longer feels she fits into because of the lost of her best friend and seeing her read about the memories of her lost friend is heart-wrenching especially for anyone who has ever lost a friend. On the other side James is trying to find a way to deal with his own trauma. Both have experienced tragedies and are just trying to find their own way in the world.

This story was very much a slow-burn but it lead to complex characters with amazing growth. Although there are many hard topics covered in this book it is a truly beautiful story of loss, grief, growth and romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn to this book because it was centered around books! The plot was so cute. I really felt for Erin's character - she is still grieving for her best friend and seems alone in the world with no one to really lean on. It was heartbreaking to read about her memories with her best friend and how much she missed her. James has his own struggles with himself and his family that he's dealing with from his past and present. They're both finding their way in life and have a shared tragic history. The author does a great job of creating well-thought-out and 3-dimensional characters with their own flaws. This was a definite slow burn, but I appreciated how the characters changed and had some self-reflection before being ready for a relationship with each other.

A great book for book lovers of the classics. The book swaps were so adorable. I like how the characters' personalities were still able to shine when they were writing notes in the margins of these classic books. Tessa Bickers' writing is so descriptive and creative (I don't know why I'm stuck on this, but the costume memorial party to dress up as things starting with a b was genius), and I can't wait to read more from this author.

I adored this book. It was the perfect mix of cute romance and heartful emotions that show the complexity of life and love

For the romantic who wants to find love in a Barnes and noble. Or wander the aisles holding a popular booktok book hoping to start a conversation. This book was a love letter to those people, and was a great breath of fresh air between hardcore fantasy series

A lovely and tender read about grief, guilt, and growth.

Erin and James used to be friends until James makes a terrible mistake. Many years later, Erin still recoils when she sees him and James wonders if she will ever be able to forgive him. But Erin has other things to think about like finding a job and finding out more about the Mystery Man leaving notes for her in the margins of her favorite novel.

I adored this! There are a lot of heavy topics covered throughout (bullying, death, mental health) but the central plot of the book swaps helps give the story a lighter and sweeter tone. I would have loved to spend more time with Erin and her Mystery Man. 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Oh my gosh, I adored this book! It was so sweet and just what I needed. Easy to read in one sitting. Huge thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy. Publication date September 3, 2024.

I loved this book. I loved reading about a love story that developed just by swapping books in the little free library. It was romantic and I had tears in my eyes in a lot of parts. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers. I laughed, and I cried and I loved this book.