4/5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC of this book.
As much as I enjoyed this title I’m going to get the obvious out of the way: this book NEEDS content warnings and numbers/links to various support helplines. It’s a lovely story but it is HEAVY and people need to be aware what they’re getting into. The depiction of bipolar disorder was done (in my experience with the illness) fairly well but I do feel like it was done to make the mum a bit of villain as we never really see her during her good times.

I did find Erin frustrating (at times), and the reason James was bullied very strange (but also left kinda vague?) BUT the story itself was very well done, and I enjoyed the flashbacks to their schooldays and the way the reason for their estrangement was revealed. It was also lovely to see some very healthy friendships, especially when it comes to James and Joel’s relationship.

All in all it was a lovely, hopeful read that made me want to create a community library in my neighbourhood.

Spoiler: what a lovely surprise this turned out to be!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into the story expecting a cute, light-hearted rom com. Oh, I was so wrong. There was romance, and an adorable one at that, but it was so much more than that. It was a deep dive into the challenges of being a human, into grief and loss and the impact of bullying. It was a story of healing, simultaneously heart-warming and heart-breaking.

Erin, the main character, was dealing with the grief of losing her best friend and quitting her job. She was so miserable and felt so lost, not knowing what she wanted to do or how to trust people.
James, the male protagonist, was struggling to accept the different ways people see success as. At the beginning, he thought is was just making money. But later on, he realised that every person had a different definition for it. For some it may be following their passion, for other it may be taking care of their family.

Their relationship grew through classic books annotated and left at a public library. The way they understood each other and got to know each other again through books absolutely captured my heart. After a complicated past, and cutting off all contact, it was adorable to see them slowly fall in love with each other without knowing who they were. It filled my heart with so much joy.

Another aspect I enjoyed was Erin's relationship with her sister. They were always there to pick each other up when needed, always a pain and full of love. Both Erin and James had such complicated dynamics with their families, but they grew closer as the book progressed. I enjoyed getting to see how their families impacted the protagonists, whether it was James projecting his lost ambitions on his father, or Erin hating her mother even when she longed for her love.

I would totally recommend this story to anyone who believes in the magic that books hold between their pages. It made me laugh and cry and completely warmed my heart.

This was such a fantastic and brilliant read. I had very mixed feelings for the main female character but in the end she redeems herself, I definitely preferred the main male character in this book which is so unlike me. I loved the concept of this story and how it all fell into place. I’m not a big fan of cringey romance and this wasn’t one of those. I loved how it ended too. I felt very sad finishing this book as I loved reading this book.I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy of this book and will be recommending it too everybody.

This book was a lot heavier than I had thought it would be from the cover. It was a nice read but was just a LOT at times, but I suppose that’s my own fault for having misconceptions. Overall it was a good book, but not necessarily my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC.

Erin, Bonnie and James were great friends in school until something happened that made Erin hate James. We get halfway through the book before we learn what he did and why.

Then Bonnie died from cancer three years ago and Erin has been inconsolable with grief ever since. One day she tidies up and mistakenly leaves her favourite, heavily annotated book in one of these small free libraries that aren't more than three shelves under a wooden roof, standing somewhere on the roadside. When she races back to get it, it's gone, but some weeks later it reappears, with someone having added fresh notes in the margins. So begins a You've Got Mail-style correspondence over several exchanged classics between apparent strangers. Erin calls him Mystery Man and James calls her Margins Girl. Before they realise who they are corresponding with, they forge a deep connection through the questions they ask each other and which reveals their traumas and what they really want to do in life.

Lovers of classic literature will adore this book. I liked it but for me there was a bit too much trauma and therapy speak in this book for my liking - it's all about doing what you love, following your dreams and living your life to the full. The actual romance seems to come second.

But it's a love letter to books, and as such it really works.

"Sometimes redemption isn’t just about saying sorry, it’s about how you recover from the mistakes you make. Bettering yourself is the best kind of apology you can make."

3.75 stars

Title: The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers

Release Date: September, 5th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Erin Connolly, still grappling with the aftermath of a recent tragedy, accidentally donates her cherished copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird" to a local library. Devastated by the loss, she's surprised when the book reappears with fresh notes and an invitation from a Mystery Man. Thus begins a life-changing exchange written in the margins of classic novels. As they navigate their shared love for literature, Erin and her pen pal forge a deep connection, unraveling secrets and facing painful memories from their pasts. As their bond deepens, Erin finds herself at a crossroads that could alter her life forever.

This book is like a hidden gem, offering unexpected depth as it dives into themes of grief, trauma, and personal growth, all wrapped up in a heartwarming romance.

While the pace might not be for everyone, the bond between Erin and James, forged through their shared love of literature, shines brightly.

"The Book Swap" is ultimately a celebration of the healing power of stories and the journey toward forgiveness. Recommend for anyone looking for a cute romance but with depth and realistic issues and growth.

Thank you to The Publisher Hodder & Stoughton ,The Author Tessa Bickers & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
Rating:3/5
Release Date: 5 September 2024

Still grappling with a recent tragedy, Erin Connolly realises she must start embracing life again, yet she's uncertain where to begin. When she accidentally donates her cherished, heavily annotated copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird"—containing a priceless memento—to a local community library, she's devastated. However, her despair turns to astonishment when the book reappears a week later, adorned with fresh notes in the margins and accompanied by an invitation, nestled within the pages of "Great Expectations," from her newfound pen pal.

Thus commences a life-altering exchange, conducted solely within the margins of beloved literary classics, between Erin and her Mystery Man. As they traverse the pages of their favourite novels in an ongoing book exchange, they gradually open up to each other, forming a profound friendship... and perhaps something more.

Yet, both Erin and her pen pal are unaware of their shared history, hidden beneath layers of time. Confronted by painful reminders of the past and the one person she vowed never to forgive, Erin finds herself standing at a pivotal juncture—one that could reshape her future forever.

Overall, the read was not a bad one, it just didn’t feel as if it aligned with my expectations. I found it somewhat unfocused and not as enjoyable as I had hoped. I anticipated a light-hearted rom-com read, but it delves into themes of grief, bullying, and mental illness, making it far from a light and happy story, and in turn, I found myself struggling with this book. While I was eager to delve into the book swaps and witness the progression of their relationship, there were numerous side plots that felt unnecessary to me. I found myself wishing for more focus on the central storyline.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and the author, Tessa Bickers, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.