Now THIS is the perfect thriller. Set in Provence and London, The House Swap by Miranda Rijks sizzles with tension, atmosphere and suspense. The titillating surprises kept coming which made me reel with delicious unease. What fun to be so caught off guard in a thriller!

Nestled in lavender and vineyards with glorious views, the French chateau owned by the Lesters, a couple with a teen son, was vastly different from the swanky London flat drenched in marbled luxury, owned by the Brown couple. At first, the idea of a swap seemed fabulous, an escapist holiday for all involved with good food and wine, theater, socializing and bike rides. Well, almost all. But secrets flooded every nook and cranny...and not just the houses themselves. Characters began to question their swap decisions as darkness crept in, leaving a bad taste in their mouths. Who could they trust? The escape they craved became nightmares.

The author has an astounding knack for building suspense with her words. I enjoyed every second. I live part time in the Mediterranean and can relate to the rustic rural way of life, surrounded by surreal beauty.

If this thrillery thriller is on your list, you are in for a treat.

My sincere thank you to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this engrossing novel.

I really enjoyed this book. Part escapism, part thriller, the perfect way to pass a wet afternoon in winter.

The characterisation was good and you did get a feel for the individuals, a fair few of whom are very shallow.

The settings between London and France added interest although the nieve view of Knightsbridge prices made me chuckle.

If anything made me rate this a 4 ( ideally 4.5) it was the level of coincidence in relation to individuals nefarious plans but it in no way detracted from a very enjoyable read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC which was very much appreciated.

This book had me gripped from page one. It was a compelling story but actually I would describe it as a slow burner as I actually didn’t have a clue what the mystery was for a long time which was part of its gripping nature. You just keep waiting for something to happen but in the meantime the characters and their stories are building steadily. As you learn a bit more about them each time you become more intrigued in what is going on. It becomes clear it’s about relationships and communication, or lack of it. These relationships in the book reach a climax resulting in a thriller fast paced ending which had me turning the pages faster than my eyes could read the words. A very good, unputdownable read, perfect for a Sunday afternoon or a cosy evening. I would definitely read more by this author!

I usually love anything and everything by this author. This one however was pretty slow to start and lost me a little towards the end. Two couples that do not know each other do a house swap for the summer. Each family has severe secrets that they are hiding from eachother that bleeds into the summer vacation resulting in some pretty crazy results. Predictable and ending was a little disappointing to me but otherwise not a horrible read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

For a book that purports to be a thriller, I wasn't feeling very thrilled while reading which considering the potential this book could have had was very disappointing. So much of it was just the telling of mundane things that were going on that did nothing for the actual plot. The Browns attend a wine tasting at the vineyard next door to the chalet, Mrs. Lester goes out and buys expensive clothing that she knows they can't afford, only to return it the next day. Rafael makes friends with the neighbor, only to bail one day when he is hanging out with a group of people who are only a year or so older than he is. Elodie wanders around the village while Lewis is off one one of his many bike rides. Susan is acting shady while her husband is dealing with potentially life altering medical issues. See what I mean? So much that seemed to be thrown in just for the sake of adding to the word count.

Sadly, neither the house swap itself, nor the characters could save this one. To begin with, if this was a new venture that Elodie and her business partner Niall were undertaking, you would have thought they would do a more thorough job at vetting the houses. While Susan, Piers and Rafael get to spend two weeks in a lavish townhouse full of expensive things, Lewis and Elodie are meant to stay in a "chateau" that in reality is anything but. There is work being done on the outside, meaning work crews and loud noises, not to mention the constant references to the inside smelling "dank", hardly a fair trade if you ask me, even if it did have impressive views.

The characters were all barely likeable, each one whining about one thing or another, to the point that when the secrets started coming out, not only was I left less than impressed, it really felt like this was a case of too little, too late. I wish there had been more sprinkled out throughout the entire book, not just crammed into the last few chapters. As it was by the time I was finished, I felt as though the whole thing had been rather anti-climatic.

After seeing all of the higher reviews, I'm just going to chalk this up to being a case of me not being the right kind of reader for this book. I would give this author another chance down the road to see if maybe this was just an off book for them.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Two families, the Browns and the Lesters, organize a house swap for their holidays. The two families do not know each other, minus a brief run in at a wedding that neither of the parties really remembers. The Browns have a stunning and chic London townhouse. The Lesters have a chateau in the south of France. However, once the Browns show up at the chateau, they quickly see it is not as beautiful as the pictures made it out to be. The Browns also feel restless after a break in. In London, the Lesters son disappears without a trace. Both of these families are hiding dark secrets. But secrets don't always stay hidden!

This was my 7th read by Miranda Rijks - I always really enjoy her novels and can count on her for an exciting thriller. The House Swap did not disappoint! When I read the premise of the book, I immediately thought of the house swap in the movie The Holiday, which I absolutely love! Obviously this is MUCH darker, but I was excited to find a book with a connection to the movie. I have yet to read a thriller with this premise!

There was a lot of tension in this book, as well as many twists and turns. Miranda Rijks did a great job at creating an engaging and twisted story. Let's just say there is a LOT to unpack with both of these families. I also loved the setting! Definitely recommend.

Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The House Swap by Miranda Rijks is the first book from the author that I have read, and I was intrigued by the blurb and couldn’t wait to get stuck in.
Two families decided to have a house swap. Elodie and Lewis Brown have a Townhouse in an upcoming area of London and The Browns have a chateau in France, The Browns have a hectic life and want a peaceful holiday to rekindle their marriage and the Lesters want to show their son Ralf their old haunts in London.
But both families are hiding dark secret
When the Browns get to the Chateau, they find out that it is different than expected and full of building works. And there is a mysterious break-in during the night.
Back in London Ralf goes missing. What the heck is going on?
I was intrigued by the blurb, and I wasn’t disappointed. The is a well written psychological thriller about two families that seem normal but got a lot to hide. This is full of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed it I can’t wait to read more from this author. 5 stars from me.

Thankful to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for providing me an ARC of this book 💕

I would describe this as a "book you'll want to pick up if you want a break from some heavy reading". Very perfect for a palate cleanser. It's fast-paced, easy to read, has relatable issues, has a little bit of suspense but will definitely make your heart stop, and it's predictable yes, but satisfying. The overall storyline is nothing I haven't seen before but, the idea of house swapping is new for me. I didn't even know it exists. (I live in the Philippines)

Overall, I gave this a 3.5 ⭐

The idea of swapping houses seems the stuff of nightmares, strangers moving into your house and the secrets they might discover. Elodie is a real estate hotshot keeping herself and her hot but profligate husband Lewis in a life of luxury, she needs a holiday and when it is suggested by her business partner, Niall, that she tries out a house swap, she jumps at the chance. Elodie and Lewis have a sumptuous townhouse in fashionable Knightsbridge, just around the corner from Harrods. The swap is to be with a British couple, Piers and Susan who have a French chateau in Provence and their teenage son, Raf.

We are treated to three POVs those of Elodie, Piers and Raf. What at first seems an ideal holiday solution quickly turns into a nightmare. The French chateau looks much better in the carefully curated pictures, it is in fact mostly rundown and worse the builders are in, disturbing the tranquil holiday Elodie craves. Meanwhile in London, Piers and Raf find some news that brings their world crashing down and Raf vanishes.

I felt the first 60% of the book was way too slow and uneventful but the pacing really picks up as the story nears the end.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. The expected publication date is 4 December 2024.

The idea of swapping houses fascinates me. I could never do it. I like seeing the new and unconventional ways people travel these days but I'm a hotel girlie.

I have to admit I haven't always been a big fan of this author's writing style. It's been a few years and I've seen some hype around her latest works so I decided to try again. The writing style is still not particularly my style. It's very wordy and overly-descriptive. It feels longer than it is. That being said, it had a great payout and things really heated up at the bottom end of the book. So while it took a little longer to get through, it was worth the time and I really enjoyed the characters, warts and all. They felt real in a surreal experience.

The Browns and Lesters are doing a house swap. It's a new thing Elodie Brown is considering for her successful real estate business so she decided to be the guinea pig because she desperately needs a vacation anyway.

Upon arrival at "Chateau Lester", the Browns are a bit disappointed. It's somewhat run-down and loud work is being done unexpectedly. The Lesters on the other hand are living luxuriously at the Brown home.

Right from the start, things are going wrong for both couples but they're stuck in each other's houses and at a loss for what to do. No hotels have availability so they're making the most of it.

Eventually, these mishaps start to seem less unfortunate and more planned. Who would want to hurt them and why? Are the couples, and their homes, hiding more than we realize?

With long chapters rotating between Elodie and Piers, with a few from Raf thrown in here and there, it's sure to keep you up late turning the pages.

The House Swap is a domestic psychological thriller of 2 families that decide to do a house swap. Ive read a fee of Miranda Rijks' books before and I really enjoy both her writing style and the pacing of her books. I also really like her character developments as well has her plot twists. This book is no exception and will keep you turning the pages until the very end.


4.25 for Storygraph rounded down to 4 for Amazon and Netgalley

A tremendous read with great characters and many twists and turns as the story unfolded. Great characters which made for a real page turner. Quite shocking at times as secrets unfolded as the truth gradually unfolded.

The house swap locations are London and France.
Two family swap homes for a month long vacation
One family is Rich, one family is struggling to make ends meet.
It's a bit of a slow burn that begins to unfold about one third the way in.
I did enjoy the twists, affairs and crazy ending.
3.5 stars

Two families choose to go on a holiday by switching houses! One family from France travels to London, while the one from London travels to France. It sounds like the perfect getaway, however both families get more than what they bargained for....


Overall, I did enjoy this book. At no point did I feel that the book was slow. One of my primary criticisms of this book, was the elements of the thriller itself. I felt as though the mystery and suspense did not present itself the reader had read a significant chunk of the book. This made me wonder what the mystery was and if I should be feeling suspense or not. Once the suspense was disclosed, it felt as though the remaining portion of the book was sped up.

In terms of characterization, I also did not feel drawn personally to any of the characters. Many of the characters, I felt, had elements that could be seen in many other popular thrillers out there, so I was really wondering what was "new" about this story.

Ultimately, I did enjoy reading this, and I appreciate the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Quick and easily bingeable thriller! What initially drew me to this book was the setting, two couples agree to a house swap for their holiday, both eager to spend time in those locations. Of course, nothing is as it seems. Once the Browns arrive in France, the chateau is not as luxurious as was promised, and things continue to decline from there. Both families seem to be harboring secrets that are threatening to change everything.

Definitely recommend this book! Great for a weekend read or a quick holiday getaway. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

I thought this was a very good book. Right from the start it kept me gripped all the way through till the end with some very surprising twists. Look forward to reading more books by this author.

I received a free copy of, The House Swap, by Miranda Rijiks, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. House swaps sounds like a great idea, it worked in The Holiday. This house swap is a little different to couples, one in France and one in London decide to swap homes. This was a pretty good read, kept me interested til the last page.

Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for my advanced ecopy in exchange for a review. This book is set between France and London following two couples who have swapped houses for a holiday in each others countries. Elodie and Lewis who live in France swap with Piers, Susan and their son Raf for the summer. What should be an exciting and relaxing holiday for the families end up becoming very strange when things start to happen in the French Chateau, people breaking in and injuring themselves, When lies start to appear things are not all they seem and gradually we start to realise that these two couples might not be strangers after all. I will be recommending this book to others.

I love this author definitely one of my favourite authors so when I seen this I could not wait to read. I definitely was not disappointed I absolutely loved it. Hooked from page one until the very last page. It was full of twists and turns the story was unique and so well written with such well developed characters. The suspense throughout was amazing I didn’t know what was going to happen next and wow what an ending it was I loved it. Overall I devoured this book and loved it. This authors book gets better and better and think this one is my favourite so far. I can’t wait to recommend this to everyone and tell them how great it is. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this awesome thriller.

Hooked from page one. The description of the families and the house swops drew me in and the undercurrent of something sinister gently building. One by one as the book unfolds reveals another secret.