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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
In Norse mythology, Freya is the goddess of fertility, as well as the most beautiful diety. In The Swap, Freya is the daughter of an Icelandic mother, and a sensual, beautiful artist who moves to the island with her husband, Maxime Beausoleil, after his career as a professional ice hockey player comes to a tragic and notorious end. So too does Freya's lucrative and ego-feeding status as a social medial influencer. She loses the lucrative endorsement deals, luxurious trips, and free products she has become accustomed to receiving, as well as the adoration of her followers. Max is a large, brooding presence in the life to which Freya is now consigned -- in a gorgeous, cedar-and-glass home situated on a rocky cliff above the sea.
Low lost at least one previous friendship as a result of questionable behavior. Since then, she has been a loner both at school and in her commune-like home, where she feels left out and ignored. Her parents have incorporated other partners into their unconventional marriage, and Low is mortified when she learns that her mother is pregnant with a third younger sibling. The island, with its rugged coastline boasting waterfront mansions, is a summertime escape for the wealthy, but is populated full-time by organic farmers, artisans, and locals employed in the hospitality industry. In the eclectic community, alternative lifestyles are accepted. Nonetheless, Low finds her parents' lifestyle embarrassing.
One day at school, Low notices Freya speaking with the principal and placing a flyer on the bulletin board. She immediately sensed that Freya was "different. She exuded glamour, significance, and a palpable sense of cool." Low quickly signs up to take pottery lessons from Freya.
Brian and Jamie Vincent have moved to the island for "a fresh start." Jamie left her stressful marketing career to open a gift shop, and Brian sold a series of young adult fantasy novels, permitting him to leave his job as a teacher. They liquidated most of their assets, including a Seattle home and stock portfolio, to put their painful past behind them. Infertility has thus far rendered Jamie's dream of carrying a baby impossible. When Freya brings her handmade bowls, vases, and platters to Jamie's store, hoping she will stock them, the women strike up a friendship. Indeed, Freya becomes the only friend Jamie has on the island, and Freya convinces Jamie to give Low a part-time job in the store.
Low's obsession with Freya manifests quickly. She becomes unreasonably jealous that Freya and Jamie have also commenced a friendship. She wants Freya to herself. One evening, as she lurks outside Freya and Max's showcase home that boasts massive windows, she is able to observe the two couples' activities. After Freya and Jamie share intimate secrets, Freya convinces her that the four of them should consume "'shrooms." Jamie agrees, even though she had a bad experience with mushrooms in college. But Brian is game, and Jamie is so desperate to maintain her friendship with Freya that she will do anything to win Freya's approval and affection. Jamie has found Max attractive since meeting him, and becomes convinced that Brian and Freya are engaging in sexual activity, so she agrees to sleep with Max. She instantly regrets her decision.
That evening sets in motion a series of reactions and events that are the focus of a story inspired by author Robyn Harding's awareness that some people with whom she is acquainted are "in open relationships." That knowledge "piqued" her curiosity, causing her to wonder, "How would that work? Or, (more appropriately, for a thriller) how would that not work?" Although her characters only swap partners once, the ramifications are far-reaching and permanent. Harding employs multiple points of view to convey the details: alternating first-person narratives from Low, Jamie, Max, and Brian. Jamie and Brian relate the ways in which their relationship changes after that fateful night. Each harbors secrets from the other and experiences guilt, frustration, and anger, in part due to erroneous assumptions about the state of their marriage and each other's desires. Low lurks in the pottery studio and the home Freya shares with Max, determined to be in Freya's good graces and presence. Part of her preoccupation with Freya is incited by her exploration and discovery of her sexual orientation. She ponders whether she is in love with the much-older Freya. Low learns damaging secrets about Freya and Max, and is willing to use that information, if necessary, in order to stay close to Freya. Freya's relationships with both women are on-again, off-again, with each reveling in the fact that, at least for the moment, she is Freya's very best friend. Freya recognizes how insecure and needy both Jamie and Low are, and revels in using and manipulating them for her own purposes and gratification. Recognizing Low's talent not just as a potter, but also as a photographer, Freya permits Low to serve as her unpaid personal photographer when she decides to resurrect her social media accounts in an attempt to repair her image and standing as an influencer. Low's parents are not as indifferent as she believes, and they become concerned about the amount of time and effort that Low is devoting to Freya.
None of Harding's characters are particularly likable, even though, as she was crafting the novel, she wanted Jamie to be. But Harding acknowledges that Jamie "is going through so much drama and strife. It brought out the worst in her." There is more to it, however. Jamie is not empathetic because she is weak and clingy. She calculates her self-worth according to her inability to conceive a child, and whether Freya has, on any given day, deigned her worthy of being Freya's friend. Freya is a devious, scheming narcissist who in incapable of feeling true compassion, but manages to convince those in her orbit to comply with her wishes by employing charm, false praise, and the threat of abandonment. The exclusion of Freya's point of view from the narrative invites readers to draw their own conclusions about the source of her dysfunction and motivations.
Low, meanwhile, is a disturbed young woman whose upbringing in a nontraditional environment and unconventional appearance have compromised her ability to gauge and navigate social relationships, and inhibited her development of healthy friendships. Her moral ambiguity contributes to her issues. Her fascination with Freya is grounded in her insecurity and desire to emulate Freya's self-assured glamour and style. Max is also troubled -- his anger issues, exacerbated by hormone use, have brought tragic consequences that he must live with on a daily basis. His marriage to Freya is teetering on collapse. Brian is easily the most likable, relatable character. He is struggling to pursue his dream of being a writer, and genuinely cares for Jamie and their marriage. He wants to make her happy, but makes one terrible decision that has far-reaching ramifications. His consternation about how to make things right between them again is the most heartrending aspect of the tale.
The Swap is an engrossing and entertaining look at the lives of five flawed people who make terrible choices. It's a compelling consideration of the fallout from their bad decisions, and whether good can ultimately flow from her characters' actions. The story moves at a steady pace. Although the back and forth nature of Freya's relationships with Low and Jamie grows tiresome, those plot developments propel the story forward and illustrate the dysfunctional, toxic nature of their purported friendships. Harding's creative and deftly-timed plot twists and disclosures are surprising, and the conclusion is shocking, but decidedly satisfying.
The Swap is dark and atmospheric. Harding tackles unsettling themes by creating captivating, unbalanced characters, particularly the diabolical Freya. Psychological thriller fans will enjoy the twisty, evil story and find much to discuss with fellow fans.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Low lost at least one previous friendship as a result of questionable behavior. Since then, she has been a loner both at school and in her commune-like home, where she feels left out and ignored. Her parents have incorporated other partners into their unconventional marriage, and Low is mortified when she learns that her mother is pregnant with a third younger sibling. The island, with its rugged coastline boasting waterfront mansions, is a summertime escape for the wealthy, but is populated full-time by organic farmers, artisans, and locals employed in the hospitality industry. In the eclectic community, alternative lifestyles are accepted. Nonetheless, Low finds her parents' lifestyle embarrassing.
One day at school, Low notices Freya speaking with the principal and placing a flyer on the bulletin board. She immediately sensed that Freya was "different. She exuded glamour, significance, and a palpable sense of cool." Low quickly signs up to take pottery lessons from Freya.
Brian and Jamie Vincent have moved to the island for "a fresh start." Jamie left her stressful marketing career to open a gift shop, and Brian sold a series of young adult fantasy novels, permitting him to leave his job as a teacher. They liquidated most of their assets, including a Seattle home and stock portfolio, to put their painful past behind them. Infertility has thus far rendered Jamie's dream of carrying a baby impossible. When Freya brings her handmade bowls, vases, and platters to Jamie's store, hoping she will stock them, the women strike up a friendship. Indeed, Freya becomes the only friend Jamie has on the island, and Freya convinces Jamie to give Low a part-time job in the store.
Low's obsession with Freya manifests quickly. She becomes unreasonably jealous that Freya and Jamie have also commenced a friendship. She wants Freya to herself. One evening, as she lurks outside Freya and Max's showcase home that boasts massive windows, she is able to observe the two couples' activities. After Freya and Jamie share intimate secrets, Freya convinces her that the four of them should consume "'shrooms." Jamie agrees, even though she had a bad experience with mushrooms in college. But Brian is game, and Jamie is so desperate to maintain her friendship with Freya that she will do anything to win Freya's approval and affection. Jamie has found Max attractive since meeting him, and becomes convinced that Brian and Freya are engaging in sexual activity, so she agrees to sleep with Max. She instantly regrets her decision.
That evening sets in motion a series of reactions and events that are the focus of a story inspired by author Robyn Harding's awareness that some people with whom she is acquainted are "in open relationships." That knowledge "piqued" her curiosity, causing her to wonder, "How would that work? Or, (more appropriately, for a thriller) how would that not work?" Although her characters only swap partners once, the ramifications are far-reaching and permanent. Harding employs multiple points of view to convey the details: alternating first-person narratives from Low, Jamie, Max, and Brian. Jamie and Brian relate the ways in which their relationship changes after that fateful night. Each harbors secrets from the other and experiences guilt, frustration, and anger, in part due to erroneous assumptions about the state of their marriage and each other's desires. Low lurks in the pottery studio and the home Freya shares with Max, determined to be in Freya's good graces and presence. Part of her preoccupation with Freya is incited by her exploration and discovery of her sexual orientation. She ponders whether she is in love with the much-older Freya. Low learns damaging secrets about Freya and Max, and is willing to use that information, if necessary, in order to stay close to Freya. Freya's relationships with both women are on-again, off-again, with each reveling in the fact that, at least for the moment, she is Freya's very best friend. Freya recognizes how insecure and needy both Jamie and Low are, and revels in using and manipulating them for her own purposes and gratification. Recognizing Low's talent not just as a potter, but also as a photographer, Freya permits Low to serve as her unpaid personal photographer when she decides to resurrect her social media accounts in an attempt to repair her image and standing as an influencer. Low's parents are not as indifferent as she believes, and they become concerned about the amount of time and effort that Low is devoting to Freya.
None of Harding's characters are particularly likable, even though, as she was crafting the novel, she wanted Jamie to be. But Harding acknowledges that Jamie "is going through so much drama and strife. It brought out the worst in her." There is more to it, however. Jamie is not empathetic because she is weak and clingy. She calculates her self-worth according to her inability to conceive a child, and whether Freya has, on any given day, deigned her worthy of being Freya's friend. Freya is a devious, scheming narcissist who in incapable of feeling true compassion, but manages to convince those in her orbit to comply with her wishes by employing charm, false praise, and the threat of abandonment. The exclusion of Freya's point of view from the narrative invites readers to draw their own conclusions about the source of her dysfunction and motivations.
Low, meanwhile, is a disturbed young woman whose upbringing in a nontraditional environment and unconventional appearance have compromised her ability to gauge and navigate social relationships, and inhibited her development of healthy friendships. Her moral ambiguity contributes to her issues. Her fascination with Freya is grounded in her insecurity and desire to emulate Freya's self-assured glamour and style. Max is also troubled -- his anger issues, exacerbated by hormone use, have brought tragic consequences that he must live with on a daily basis. His marriage to Freya is teetering on collapse. Brian is easily the most likable, relatable character. He is struggling to pursue his dream of being a writer, and genuinely cares for Jamie and their marriage. He wants to make her happy, but makes one terrible decision that has far-reaching ramifications. His consternation about how to make things right between them again is the most heartrending aspect of the tale.
The Swap is an engrossing and entertaining look at the lives of five flawed people who make terrible choices. It's a compelling consideration of the fallout from their bad decisions, and whether good can ultimately flow from her characters' actions. The story moves at a steady pace. Although the back and forth nature of Freya's relationships with Low and Jamie grows tiresome, those plot developments propel the story forward and illustrate the dysfunctional, toxic nature of their purported friendships. Harding's creative and deftly-timed plot twists and disclosures are surprising, and the conclusion is shocking, but decidedly satisfying.
The Swap is dark and atmospheric. Harding tackles unsettling themes by creating captivating, unbalanced characters, particularly the diabolical Freya. Psychological thriller fans will enjoy the twisty, evil story and find much to discuss with fellow fans.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Kinda creepy. I love a weirdo in a book. This one has a few.
Mix alcohol, a healthy dose of mushrooms, an instant connection with your best friends husband and what do you get?
THE SWAP by Robin Harding.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my third and least favorite RH book. I loved HER PRETTY FACE, felt intensely meh
THE SWAP by Robin Harding.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my third and least favorite RH book. I loved HER PRETTY FACE, felt intensely meh
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes