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!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

I loved this book’s story. Erin and James’ exchange of books and thoughts within the margins was really fun and intriguing to read about. Like them, I couldn’t wait to see the Q&A portions within each book, and it was a lovely way to learn more about both of them. The book exchanges gave slow-burn vibes which I enjoyed.

There are two things that I still have questions about, but they don’t reduce how much I loved reading this book. This is a book I’d re-read, and I’d likely find more details I didn’t notice during the first read. Potential spoiler warning. <spoiler> First, why did James write a letter instead of calling/messaging/visiting Erin if he knew how much it would upset her to find out from others? The bullies had cell phones, but did Erin and James not have phones? Second, why exactly was James bullied so badly in school? Was it only because of his dad’s song? </spoiler>

I thought the banter through the books was so good but took me longer than I thought it would to get through. Definitely a cute little romance book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! I was immediately pulled in by the synopsis - A book centered around books and a romance built through notes in the margins. All thanks to a Little Free Library, Mystery Man and Margins Girl communicate through writing to one another in the margins of some well-known classics and also thoughtfully leave a new book for the other to explore. I was not expecting such an emotional reading experience, because I went into it thinking it was a light, fluffy, rom-com. This was so much more than your typical romance story. The Book Swap went much deeper with characters navigating trauma and grief, healing relationships, and finding one's place in the world. This novel also explored complex family dynamics, mental health, bullying, terminal illness, forgiveness and loss.

I thought the dual POV worked well to explore the history of James and Erin, and I got a good sense of all of their pain and regret. This was a slow burn, heart-wrenching story that hit pretty close to home. I found myself crying a few times as I related to so much of the family dynamics and grief. The romance didn't feel totally realistic, as I struggled to fully see the connection, but the book as a whole was well written. I would definitely seek out more from this author in the future.

loved this romance between james and erin. they both lost someone dear to them. They see each other at Bonnie party to remember her. They are both books of a sort. She is really upset with him for something in her past. He is dealing with family issues and a job that he really doesn't like anymore. They both find their way while writing in the margins of books. They swap books and learn about each other and help them figure life. Very little romance and more dealing with loss and grief. Loved her friends.

- Second chance romance
- Friends to enemies to lovers
- Dealing with depression
- Grief (passing of a close childhood friend)
- Family trauma (mental illness)

Plot: Erin (FMC) is stuck in a job she doesn’t like, struggling with her family and talking/seeing a friend that passed away years ago. Her life isn’t where she wants it to be and she struggles heavily with depression. At a memorial event she runs into James (MMC), former close friend turned into enemy. Then things go from bad too worse. Little does she know she isn’t the only one struggling with this thing called life. James is torn between his soulless job and his mother who struggles with mental illness. Both find an unexpected friendship in the handwritten margins of classic novels. But, the past always catches up to us.

I loved these characters they were so real and raw. Everyone in the story, both main and supporting characters, adds such a different perspective! The growth of the two main characters was really endearing! Also, loved the little quotes from classic novels thrown in.

Definitely would recommend!

I liked the idea of this story, and did try to give it a chance a couple of times, but for some reason I did struggle with it and DNF. Ended up skimming my way through it, and not exactly sure why. Might be my age of 60? Anyway, would still recommend it, just wasn't my cup of tea.

This book was sweet and, at times, very funny. There were some topics which some readers might find quite heavy, such as bullying, mental illness, loss of loved ones, trauma, and poor relationships with one's family (mostly mothers); however, the story itself is light enough to make these things bearable.

I had never read a romance novel before, so I wasn't really sure what I was getting into, and it took be a few chapters to really get a feel for the tropes of the genre (and especially the idea of everything being contingent on such specific coincidences and not immediately questioning the logic of these occurrences), but once I did, I liked the story. It definitely wasn't what I'd immediately think of when I imagine a romance novel. Side characters had a lot of depth, especially Erin's sister Georgia, who was actually my favorite character, and James's parents, and I enjoyed many of these dynamics--sometimes more than the main romance plot itself!

The portrayal of some (POC, LGBT, or neurodivergent) characters irked me a bit, but overall, there was nothing blatantly harmful or hurtful about it; it was just... weird. That's what makes this a four-star instead of five-star book for me.

Book Swap was a real journey of love. There was an element of serendipity throughout the book, but also showing how fated their stories were.

Erin and James both had so many complexities in their lives and yet found peace within sharing books and thoughts, and isn’t that just the best part of reading? It had elements of grief/loss, but you were able to walk their journeys with them - entirely different and complex.

I would love to have a mystery margins friend, especially during hard times!! Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!

i loved the idea of this book and i think the author did a really great job with her writing! unfortunately, this was a DNF for me due to some triggering content, but i really enjoyed what i did read and i'm so thankful for the opportunity to read/review this book!

This was a cute book. It didn’t hold me in to the story but I still enjoyed it. I like where it took place and I love the commentary between the characters. So very happy I got to read this book.

"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is a delightful love letter to books and reading that will warm the hearts of any book enthusiast. Bickers' debut novel is a charming tale that celebrates the magic of literature and the connections it can forge between people.

At the center of the story is Erin Connolly, who, still grappling with a recent tragedy, finds solace in the pages of her favorite books. When she accidentally donates her beloved annotated copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird" to a Little Free Library, she's devastated. However, her despair turns to delight when the book reappears, filled with fresh notes and accompanied by an invitation from a mysterious pen pal.

What follows is a captivating exchange of thoughts and feelings written in the margins of classic novels, as Erin and her Mystery Man navigate their shared love for literature and begin to open up to each other. Bickers beautifully captures the intimacy and excitement of this literary dialogue, drawing readers into the evolving relationship between Erin and her pen pal.

As the book exchange continues, Erin and her pen pal uncover surprising connections and shared history, leading them to confront painful truths from their past. Bickers skillfully weaves together themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the power of human connection, creating a poignant and uplifting narrative that resonates long after the final page is turned.

What sets "The Book Swap" apart is its clever incorporation of references to classic literature, adding an extra layer of enjoyment for bookworms. From "To Kill a Mockingbird" to "Great Expectations," Bickers pays homage to these timeless works while crafting a wholly original and heartwarming story of her own.

In the end, "The Book Swap" is a delightful journey of self-discovery, friendship, and love, proving that sometimes the most unexpected connections can lead to the greatest adventures. Cesca Major aptly describes it as "catnip for any book geek," and I couldn't agree more.

This book gave me big feelings. The mix of grief and love and books and heartbreak was a lot. But Bickers did it well. My one drawback was the fact that we didn’t really get to experience James and Erin together. I know that was the whole point. But I still found myself missing their reconnection and true time together. I would definitely recommend however. 4.5/5 stars! Thank you for the ARC!

This one was definitely very emotional and at times very heavy. I was expecting something fluffier based on the cover and was drawn into a grief journey instead. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once.

Like a lot of other reviewers, this book wasn't what I expected—in the best way. From the cover and description, I was expecting a lighthearted, penpal-esque romcom, but what I got was a beautiful exploration of grief, guilt, and love. It took me a few chapters to settle in because of this, but once I did, both leading characters had me hooked (especially James!) and I loved how present Bonnie was in the story, even after she'd passed away. Bickers does an incredible job navigating the past and present and incorporating these complex characters' relationships throughout.

Some big moments felt a little rushed and clunky, which kept this from being a 5-star review for me. I also wish we would've gotten an epilogue to see Erin and James in their happily ever after. This book was heavy at times (heart-breaking, even!) and these characters deserve their HEA! Still an impressive debut, Tessa Bickers will be a must-read author for me in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book seems like it would be a cute romance with books as a theme, but it actually goes a lot deeper than that, incorporating strong themes of grief and loss, along with heavier real-life themes. The romance is more subtle and slow. If you can enjoy a book that has a hearty dose of heavy, with a slow romance where characters evolve and grow, this is a good book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely a slow burn. I fell in love with both characters. It was a lot deeper of a book than I was led to believe with the synopsis. It wasn’t just the silly romcom that i expected it to be. This could be a healing book for some.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of the Book Swap in exchange for an honest review! Total rating: 3.75 stars. This book is the perfect romantic comedy with undertones of serious issues many people face in their daily lives. If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d recommend this book for you! This Dual POV story follows Erin and James, former best friends that haven’t spoken in years. They both have their own struggles within themselves and their families that they face everyday. One day, while cleaning out her bookshelf, Erin accidentally gives her prized annotated copy of To Kill A Mockingbird away to a little free library where James picks it up. They begin exchanging books with one another anonymously, while communicating in the margins.

I’ll admit that throughout the first few chapters, I wasn’t exactly hooked with this story. I’m not the biggest fan of pop culture references in books, so that was probably the only thing in this book that turned me off of it and I noticed that immediately through the first few chapters. I was very pleasantly surprised as I continued to read that I found myself not being able to put this down. The Book Swap explores many mental health themes and provokes us to look inside ourselves rather than just at other people. It also charmingly relates real world problems with those experienced by fictional characters in the most adored classic books that many people read everyday. I really enjoyed watching both James and Erin find themselves while simultaneously healing their relationship together. I do feel as though some of the relationships in this book were unrealistic, as everyone (except the two main characters) were beyond self-aware and emotionally intelligent.

By the end of this book I was crying for everything Erin and James had lost and then gained throughout the story. It was a very beautiful take on a second chance romance. I think some of the writing could be more developed but for Tessa Bickers’ debut novel this was very good work and I can only see her improving from here.

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 wasn't what I expected and I mean it in the best way possible. It deals with some heavy topics, so be warned. Both characters go through a lot before meeting each other and after their friendship ends. It's a second chance romance, but it's done wonderfully through anonymous book exchanges. The characters have hang ups that they learn to get over in order to move on to their happy. Well done.