At first I was a little scared of this book's subtitle (utterly gorgeous feel good romance) as it felt like that was setting the bar higher than could ever be achieved. I'm not sure it cleared the 'utterly gorgeous' tagline, but it was definitely feel good and an enjoyable rom-com. I found both characters to be believable, albeit with a much higher income bracket than the vast majority of people I know. The timeline of their relationship ('enemies' to friends to in love) didn't feel too rushed and the cast of characters at both locations were entertaining without being overwhelming.
I found both characters' growth to be organic without falling into the 'love has cured me' shortcut too much. The exception was with James' changing thinking around having a child - I wanted to buy his change of mind, and the author clearly tried to show the extended time for him to get there, it just still seemed fast on the page.
Banter between characters and their internal dialog along with the supporting characters fed the 'com' part, but it was definitely not slapstick or laugh out loud (not that I wanted it to be).

Based on my personal experience, Cassie's experience with IVF felt based in reality, but may be triggering to some readers.

Additional CW for: miscarriage, fertility, family addiction, death of a sibling

Cassie needs to go to England for her job and James just needs out because of a crazy ex girlfriend. Their perfect solution is SwapBnB. Cassie will stay in a swanky London apartment and James will come to her house on a cozy island, but they pair couldn't be more different. James is broody and not very neighborly so how will he fit in with the people in this quaint little town? Cassie loves being back in London and takes the time to meet the neighbors that James neglected for all these years, forming friendships and having fun.
The pair are forced to communicate about things going on at their respective houses and at first, they aren't very cordial, but as time goes on, the two begin to form a friendship that is heartwarming. James doesn't form attachments due to trauma in his past and Cassie desparately wants a baby and is willing to do it all alone. Each of them are in very different places in life, but they could be just what the other needs. As they talk more and see one another, they realize this spark between them isn't something they should ignore, but how can it work when they live on opposite sides of the world?
I really felt the changes that each of the characters made in this story and enjoyed their back and forth through texts and phone calls. I love it when someone comes into your life you aren't expecting and it just throws you for a loop. I especially love it when the male falls hard and has no idea what to do about it. This book had all of the things that I love and just the right amount of drama.
Thank you to Netgalley, Jo Lovett and Bookcouture for an early copy of this book.

Cassie and James' story ends beautifully, but the beginning rubbed me the wrong way several times over. Cassie comes off as a highly neurotic and frankly annoying person and James is a jerk to most of the people he interacts with in the beginning chapters, especially the man who's job he destroys. He never makes amends for that or owns up to the fact that his career is built on exploiting and profiting off people at the expense of the environment or their livelihoods...and Cassie doesn't challenge him on that, despite her personal stake in keeping the island as authentic as possible. Their friendship blooms well, I think, but not well enough to compensate for the intrusive nature of Cassie's community in Maine and the glaring personality differences in the couple.

This book sounded like so much fun. But from the off I struggled to like James. I didn't really want to see him get a happy ending and that kind of spoiled it for me.

Not for me sadly!

I had high hopes for this book but I think it fell a little flat. It was cute don’t get me wrong but it always left me wanting more!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the Digital Arc for my honest review.

I was interested in this book as the trope of swapping sounded good to me! The book overall was alright.
A cute light hearted RomCom. Easy light read. Not my favourite of Rom Coms that I’ve read but it was still a decent read. I didn’t really feel like I connected to the characters very well. I ended up not really liking James. But I still found myself enjoying most of the book. This will be great for a summer read.

Novelist Cassie needs a place to stay in London while researching her next book. Investor James needs a quiet place near Boston to regroup after a bad break-up. When they swap homes, they don't expect to get caught up in each other's lives. But her quirky neighbors claim reclusive James as one of their own. His phone calls to Cassie become a daily event, and they remain entangled even after returning to their old lives. Despite the differences between them, could Fate have more in store for them?

This enemies-to-lovers story is a fun escape. It's sweet and emotional, with a caring heroine and grumpy hero. If you like small-town romance, this is a good choice.

Content warning: past miscarriage/stillbirth (not dramatized).

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book was what I needed at this particular moment in time. Wholesome, honest and sincere, with a cast of side characters that honestly outshone the two main characters, The House Swap is a sweet story with a complicated under layer, which is arguably one of my favourite features in a romance.

Cassie is definitely my favourite of the two main characters, her eccentricities made her really loveable and her IVF storyline was refreshing to read about as often, especially in romance, you wouldn’t hear about a woman embarking on that journey alone. It took me a bit longer to warm to James but eventually I did really end up liking him.

I did have some issues with the pacing of the plot; sometimes I felt as though we were jumping from scene to scene without any sort of transition and I feel a few more transitory paragraphs could’ve made the story flow a little better.

I also felt like some plot points were just... dropped? Like how James’ ex was stalking him at the start of the book and then just kind of disappeared once she no longer served the story? I am quite picky on issues with continuity though, so I’m sure this wouldn’t be as much of a problem for other people.

Overall I did enjoy this story, the ending wasn’t to my personal taste but I really do believe that the majority of people will really enjoy where the author took this book.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: ★★★

When I first read the synopsis of this book, being the great The Holiday fan that I am, I screamed: YES!!! It's absurd to me that there aren't more books with the same premise, because what could go wrong, right?

Right.

I think my expectations ruined a bit the book for me. It's not like I think that it's bad, per se, hence my 3 stars, because it was a fun, entertaining read, but I felt like I needed a bit more flavor, you know?

It's a light, cute book, and I'm sure people who are looking for romcoms to spend an afternoon under the covers, maybe this is the book for it. Nothing life-changing, just a great time to pass the time.

Entertaining RomCom for a light summer, beach read.
The story revolves around a banker,James, who decides to swap houses with a writer, Cassie. They both need a change of scenery and time away.
Though the story line is a bit cheesy and quirky, it was a sweet read.
Thank you to NetGallery, Bookouture and author, Jo Lovett for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have not yet had time to read this novel before the archive date. I am looking forward to reading it and once I do, I will come back and leave a proper review!

This was unfortunately a no from me.

I had high hopes for this book, the house swap trope sounded great, similar to The Holiday. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I liked Cassie a lot more than James. He was just written as a horrible person so well in the first section of the book, that I couldn't get past it. It also seemed jumpy from sub-plot to sub-plot, which made it a difficult read. The plot has real potential, but unfortunately, I didn't think it lived up to much of it.
I also could, unfortunately, tell the author hadn't spent much time in Maine since right towards the beginning, she described it as pristine white beaches with bright blue water... if you have ever been to Maine, that's not it!

Overall, I was fairly disappointed,

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

I started this book absolutely hating one of the main characters and was worried that I wouldn't love the book because of that.

BUT that's just part of the fantastic journey of this story!! You actually fall in love with all of the characters, even the ones who you can't stand. I actually found myself getting very emotional at times, and that never happens when I'm ready your basic everyday rom com.

And this is everything but that. It centers on Cassie, a woman living on a remote island off the coast of Maine, and James, a finance dude living in London. They decide to swap home for 6 months, as she needs to visit London for work, and he needs to escape from everything for a while. It takes James a bit to get adjusted, but Cassie spreads sunshine and kindness wherever she goes. These two DO NOT hit it off, to say the least, but they find themselves in constant contact as they settle in to each other's homes. And then eventually, they realize that they actually enjoy each other, and.......NO SPOILERS, but it's absolutely wonderful.

This lively cast of characters support the two main ones, and provide absolute joy and delight on every page. I highly recommend this book to people who love love. Warning: There is a discussion of a lost pregnancy, for anyone who may be triggered by that.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

CW: addiction, infertility struggles

This is a cute, fun story about these two very different people from two very far apart countries who needs to swap house for different reasons. James is this very serious city boy from London who just needs an escape from his old life and Cassie is this Glaswegian living in an island in Maine who needs to take necessary step towards her goal in life.

As they swap houses for the next six months, their old lives interfere with each other’s and they don’t get off on a good start as James’s stalker ex comes annoying Cassie and loner James gets a taste of the island life and having to socialize with the neighbors. They then constantly text and call each other to work out each of their problems and from there, their friendship start to bloom.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I loved the near-enemies to lovers, opposite attract kind of romance between James and Cassie! I also really love their friendships with each other’s neighbors.

I have to admit that I struggled getting through until 30% of this book because James was such AN ASS. I was fuming with anger with how curt and cold he was to everyone and I was annoyed reading his POV but as headjusted to the island life, he started opening up and I found him to be more likeable. I loved his genuine care for the alpacas and chickens and for Cassie’s neighbors especially Laura! He’s also such boyfriend material with how he can bake a mean cake 🙈 Cassie was such quirky character and I loved her to bits!! I felt so sad for her during her pregnancy journey even though it’s not something I want myself.

I enjoyed most of the middle part of the book but towards the last 25%, it felt a bit dragging? And too insta-love like. For some reason, I can’t find it in myself to feel that James was genuine but I just went along with the story for enjoyment’s sake.

Another personal issue for me was that this book’s smut was fade to black but that’s just me. I just wished we had more descriptions because with the sexual tension and chemistry they had, it would’ve been amazing to read about.

Overall, this was a quick, lighthearted read that I enjoyed mostly! I highly recommend when you just want to escape for a little while and read a really good, sweet romance!

I ended up DNFing at 16%. I didn't like James character and I couldn't get into the writing because of it.

This book was such a cute read and I absolutely loved it! The banter between the two main characters Cassie and James made this story very relatable and loveable. More often then I think we like to admit, first impressions tend to play an important role in creating friendships or relationships. The first impression of Cassie and James was not off to a good start, with both characters living very different lives and having very different personalities. Through their adventure of a house swap, James learns how to open up to others around him and create relationships with neighbours and other people in the community, where Cassie learns to take a few risks to try and accomplish her goals and dreams. Between the two exploring their new lives in their new homes, they both try to make the best of their new found life and how they each fit into it. I absolutely loved this story and all the characters you meet along the way!

Cassie is a children's book writer with writer's block. Her editor suggests that she come to live in London and see if new scenery can shake something loose. Cassie is hesitant because she's built her life in America for the last five years. Returning overseas might help her write her last few books but it also might bring up all of the feelings for the reasons she left. But it will be closer to an in vitro clinic and she wants a baby terribly. So she lists her house on a swap site.
James has been dating a woman for nine months but doesn't think it's very serious. She, however, does. And has created all sorts of expectations around that assumption. Expectations that, when not fulfilled at her birthday, cause her to become The Vengeful Ex. It's time for James to get out of town. So he lists his house on the same swap site and they come to an agreement for the course of several months.
During that time, they don't see each other in person very often but they do exchange emails and phone numbers and slowly grow closer together. However, there are large jumps in time that make it hard to really see any true connection between the two with most of the relationship being off-page.
I very much appreciated that the h/h were a little older (in their mid- to late-thirties.) It's more believable that they could be so successful in their jobs. I wish there had been more in the description about Cassie's search to have a baby. That is a HUGE plot point and takes over most of the back half of the book. There were also a number of smaller plot points that, had there been fewer, they could have been explored better making the book richer. Things like Jame's dead sibling and parent, his failing relationships with his only remaining family, Cassie's friendships on both sides of the ocean, James's friendships (or lack there of), Cassie's struggles with her writing, the difference between James and Cassie on listmaking the man James had made redundant, his ex-girlfriend's apparent in ability to let go, etc. Each of these was brought up and I thought "This will be a fun plot point later" and then it was resolved in almost buried single sentences. Even James's aversion to children which was built up and built up was resolved really quickly. If plot moppets could be anything other than children, these were all plot moppets, introduced solely to show one aspect of a character or relationship then moved quickly off page.
Overall a fast read but so much concentration was put on having children (with most of the "interesting" plot points going to that) that any other development for characters, place, relationship, or literally any other plot point was left behind.

Three stars
This book comes out April 18th, 2021
ARC kindly provided by Bookouture and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Being The Holiday one of my favorote movies, I was really excited for this book that has a similar premise.
At first it was a little slow start for me but as I continued reading, it started to being easier to read.
I over all enjoyed Cassie's quirkyness and how James charachter was developing.
This book is ideal for someone searching a cute, quirky slowburn with lower steam level

CW: Grief, infertility, and miscarriage

Such a fun read! Loved the slow burn of the story and the slight enemy-to-lovers trope. Also a reference to miscarriage and the desire to have a baby. Both the characters in the story have moments of self realisation.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Jo Lovett for an ARC of The House Swap! The premise of this book reminds me of one of my favourite Christmas movies, The Holiday🤍

After a huge falling out with his psycho stalker ex girlfriend, James decides he needs to get out of the city of London for a while. His friends tell him about a site called SwapBnB which is exactly what it sounds like, a house swap.

Cassie lives on an island somewhere in Maine. She’s an author and her next series of books is set to take place in London. Her publishers push her to move to London for a period of time so she can research the city where her characters live. Her publisher tells her about a site called SwapBnB and that’s where Cassie meets James.

Cassie and James swap houses for 6 months. The two of them couldn’t be more different. From their lifestyle to the decor of their homes, they’re opposites. Their differences cause a lot of tension at first but before long they’re talking on the phone every day, giving each other updates on their neighbours and their lives.

Cassie and James develop a deep and meaningful friendship through their daily phone calls and they begin to fall for each other. But can they make their relationship work after they swap back houses?

I honestly found James to be very unlikable and I was surprised the author made him out to be such a meanie. For me, he never really redeemed himself but his character did show a lot of growth by the end of the book. I really loved Cassie’s character from beginning to end.

This book was a light and easy read. I loved the premise but wasn’t crazy about the love story between James and Cassie since James was such a tool in the beginning.