I went into The Book Swap thinking it would be a cute romance book, but it covers some deep subject matter and the romance definitely felt like it was on the back burner. The first 25% just felt like the characters were trauma dumping, and I didn’t feel a connection to any of them. There are lots of literary references but they are all to classics that I haven’t read, however I can see how someone who has read them and enjoyed them, will appreciate it. Overall, I was disappointed because the premise of this book is SO good and was super intriguing to me, hence why I requested it, but unfortunately it just wasn’t excuted well in my opinion and ultimately just didn’t suit my reading tastes.

I think this is more a love letter to books and the growth and healing that can come from finding the right book at the right time than a romance. There were romantic elements and they were falling in love over their notes, but the romance was really secondary to the growth and healing both characters were experiencing. This book definitely made me want to read all the mentioned classics again or for the first time, and also made me want to start a free little library!

I received an uncorrected proof, and I've gotten those before but this was DEFINITELY uncorrected. Potentially format just a little more before sending these out. Every word starting with the letter "f" was split, and the paragraphs ran together.

The Book Swap, a debut novel by author Tessa Bickers. Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy to read.
I went into this novel expecting a romcom or at least a romance. The book was more of a look into the mental health and family issues of the two main characters. I didn't enjoy it. Our two main characters have little to no interaction for most of the book. It was well written but just not what I was expecting when I read the description of saw the cover.

The Book Swap, a debut novel by author Tessa Bickers. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC.

From the cover and the blurb I went into this book expecting a rom-com meets Jane Austen and other classics. However, it is more so a mixture of slight romance with heavy subject matters; please check the trigger warnings before reading.

The fmc, Erin, loses a book that was annotated and very special to her. Erin is also navigating the loss of her best friend. The mmc, James, finds Erin’s special book and writes his own annotations on the margins. They then continue interacting via the margins of beloved classics novels.

James and Erin both have their own respective issues and are figuring out their paths towards healing. The romance is very slow burn. I would say the book focuses more on navigating grief and trauma than romance (but when it’s there it’s very cheesy and rom-com)

Overall, this wasn’t a bad book at all. For a debut novel, it was written well! My only real critique would be that the blurb isn’t as accurate as the true plot.

Thank you, NetGalley + Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read & review this ARC!

a 3.5 star read for me. a debut from Bickers, this book was more than just a breezy love story. it gave a window into two flawed humans processing their own grief & loss on a journey to becoming the kind of people that could be healthy in their own relationships with themselves/others.

some things that weren’t my favorite - the slow burn was burning, but in a way that was too slow in moments. at times I had difficulty connecting with the main characters or just didn’t like them

some things I really adored - the dual POV, the literary classic references, the neighborhood library, the depth of the themes of friendship/family, the letters.

Thank you netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this expecting a romance, but I feel that this book is more about the process of grief and finding oneself, with a subplot of romance. This is an emotional read, for sure. It wasn't what I was expecting but I still enjoyed it.

3/5 ⭐

let me start off by saying I had high hopes for this book! after finishing it, I definitely have mixed feelings. because the first half was not good, but the second half was AMAZING!

erin is still grieving the lost of her best friend while trying to find her place in the world. james similarly is coping with his own sense of loss and struggle while figuring out his life too. but what they don’t expect is a little library in between their neighborhoods where they start swapping books after leaving notes in the margins. and what begins as just notes on the books quickly turns into getting to know one another more deeply through the pages of these books.

they both share broken hearts, but with the help of their third wheel, they’re able to not only find a way back to each other but also figure out the directions of their lives and mend their family relationships too!

hugeee thank you to Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for this arc of The Book Swap!

Publication date is Sept 3rd, 2024📖

I really liked the premise! It was a super cute romance. I wish there was more time with the actual romance, however, what they did have was very sweet. The side characters are all fleshed out, but all super villainous when I don’t know if the author meant for that? I felt it made me root really hard for the main characters cause they had such awful people surrounding them! I read it in a day cause I couldn’t put it down!

3.5/5 stars

"The Book Swap" is a heartwarming story that also tackles heavy topics. While I enjoyed the overall story, I wished there was more emphasis on the conversations between the characters happening in the actual annotations of the books. It would have added a unique and immersive element to the reading experience if they got to know each other more through their annotations as opposed to using the books to ask questions in the back. Despite this, the book still managed to captivate me with its emotional depth.

This book was so beautiful! The idea of a romance though book swapping at a free little library ❤️

Tropes: second chance romance, secret identity, first love, emotional scars, Lack of communication.

I devoured this book when I finally started it, I loved the characters, I loved the premise of the book, I loved the growth she was finally able to make. My heart broke several times and some things hit way to close to home 😭

Lovely book highly recommend.

This book had be crying on the plane! I was not expecting it to be so poignant and sweet. Erin the FMC is relatable and real; her reactions to things sometimes felt out of proportion but in the end she had such a great arc. Erin's sister was one of my favorite characters and I was not expecting it. James similarly to Erin you just wanted to be ok but he needed to shake off the past and the preconceived notions he had in his head for his life! I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy and put it on my shelf.

It's a book about books and so much more. Yes, please! I loved the concept of this story. The characters face a lot of scenarios throughout, and I enjoyed getting to know them. It had just the right pace. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Book Swap is more than just a book about books. The main characters, Erin and James, are unknowingly swapping books with each other through a Little Free Library. Their main form of communication is through the margins in the books they’re swapping, but their past issues may get in the way of their budding romance.

The Book Swap tackles tough issues like trauma, bullying, mental illness, loss and grief, difficult family relationships, and facing the consequences of the choices you make, all while sprinkling in a little bit of romance. The author handled these tough issues so well and intertwining James and Erin’s slow burn friends to enemies to lovers romance into these issues was the cherry on top. The book features very well written, well rounded characters who are full of depth that you will fall in love with instantly. This is definitely one I will be recommending to everyone!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to review this ARC!

I can’t believe this book is a debut. While being a romance novel, it is so much more than that. This book discusses love, friendship, familial relationships, bullying, grief, mental health, & chasing your goals. I’d expect a book trying to handle all of those topics to fall short on at least one, but the author nailed all of them. I recommend anyone reading this to go in with little information & let this book surprise them. Every character was so well rounded & executed & the main form of communication between the two characters was the perfect plot point for a book lover like myself.

Every star!! Can I give more than 5? Is that possible? I LOVED this book! It is so emotional and moving and I cried, a lot, but in the best way !!! This is very much a story of dealing with loss and hurt and your past, and I was here for it all! It was done in such a beautifully moving way. I loved the characters and watching them go through their struggle and finding their way. Beautiful!

Show me a book about books and I’m there, ready to read it.

Though marked as a “romance”, this is more of women’s fiction with some romance. It’s a book of trauma, growth, and healing.

I loved the nods to so many classics but I had a difficult time connecting with the characters.

I enjoyed this, but didn’t love it.



Thank you to Graydon House and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you Netgalley for sharing this wonderful book with me in exchange for an honest review.

The cover of this book (which isn't yet available on Goodreads) reminded me a lot of Book Lovers by Emily Henry or The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams. I expected a cutesy romance, but this was so much more. Despite the romance themes I thought I would get, this book had *some* romance, but it was more about growth after trauma and mental illness. I adored the book references and thought this was such a unique story, so I would highly recommend it! My only issue with this book is that I really hated some of the side characters and I wish her friends had been a little more supportive, or nice even. I also wish we had more Erin and James, but I was content with what I got. Now I need to live out my dream and open a little free library!

Not a light and fluffy rom com. This book deals with grief, loss, finding yourself

Slow burn
Classic books
Death of a loved one

this book was intense and slow burn


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I think this is a good book but it just wasn’t a book for me unfortunately. I couldn’t get into the story and connect to the characters so I didn’t finish this book but I think that’s more of a me problem than the books fault.

A book about books?! I’m in. James and Erin have a history that neither wants to be reminded of so it’s no surprise that these two are not besties. Erin has a beloved book To Kill a MockingBird which she received as a gift and has all her thoughts in the margins. She mistakingly gives it away in a little library and is beside herself when she can’t find it. Lo and behold who should pick it up?! Bingo. James. He reads her notes and is overwhelmed by how her comments seem to resonate with his own. A book swap begins. Back and forth new books with comments are left in the little library for each to find. A touching romantic story about grief, growth, and a love of literature. I was all in on this one, my only criticism was it could have been 100 pages shorter. 3.75 stars for me!