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A review by jcreads85
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4/5
I first want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing for approving my request to read this eARC via NetGalley of Tessa Bicker's "The Book Swap". I am glad I was approved. And if you like the premise, and anything jumps out for you from this review you should check it out when it is released September 3, 2024.
Now, this book is very well written. So well in fact that it was just too heavy for what it was advertised as being - a funny, heartwarming, contemporary romance of second-chance love. I don't know what subgenre of romance this would fall under, per se, but wouldn't recommend if you are looking for 'fluff' and a break from reality. I like romance books with substance – such as written by Emily Henry and Lyssa Kay Adams, just to name a few - but when they are too far removed from the romance, can we just label them as contemporary drama? Or, where do they fall? If ya'll could let me know and also label them on Goodreads and The StoryGraph, I'd greatly appreciate it.
To be honest, I almost DNF'd the book after the first chapter. The first chapter mentions the toxic workplace (triggers below), which is currently one of my only 'NO THANK YOU' triggers. It actually brought on a stress nightmare and a day full of anxiety. So, I typically avoid that topic in my chosen reading. I decided to persist as Erin rage quits the job the same chapter so pushed on and hoped for the best.
I know I was drawn to the book as a modern day "Diving Rivals", but was hoping for something lighter, and certainly something more in the adult fiction category of spice. This would be a 0/5 on the spice scale. Implied relations and one kiss with the MC, James, just doesn't cut it for me. So, closed door romance all the way through. I know many do appreciate a good closed door, so this may be for you!
I requested this book for the idea of mystery pen-pals, presented here as mystery annotators labeled Mystery Man and Margins Girl. We do get dual point of view (my absolute fave). And I appreciated the unique mystery romance through the exchanging of books via a free little library in a public park. That aspect almost had me wishing I had a mystery pen-pal, and am considering annotating myself (but how do ya'll write up your books?!?).
What this book has going for it is time. The story itself takes place over a year and six months. So, maybe believable to most in how we get our two main characters back together. I won't deny there is personal growth on both sides, and quite a bit of positive change in the areas of family relations and career exploration. Allowing passage of time within the tale itself lends well to these developments. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel that it overcame 15 years of baggage, including grudges, PTSD and a general lack of copying skills.
Erin is actually the worst in those aspects. She seems to lack emotional intelligence or any kind of coping skills for stressful, life changing events. And she tied way too much of her identity to others. This is probably why I preferred James, though he himself has not addressed his own backstory of drama. Both should have been in therapy immediately following their respective experiences in high school (FYI - in England and much of the world high school is referred to as college). Not sure why it was 15 years before anyone – family or friend or self – to take any steps towards an intervention...
Again, I'll reiterate that this book is very well written, and plays out strongly as a small town (with a lil city moments thrown in) drama. The cast of characters feels diverse (definitely some great side characters) and the flashbacks to what happened in 10th grade and since felt natural, though the general chatter implying something happened versus just revealing what had was repetitive.
In the end though, if I'd been friend or family member to either James or Erin I would place great caution on the happy ending ideal they still seemed to believe was their desire and fate. There really was just too many ugly years, not enough therapy, and a tendency for the parties to tie their happiness to others for me to genuinely believe they should have ended up together.
And just so we are all clear on what I mean when I say heavy, I'm going to write out some trigger warnings for you all here:
Graphic: Chronic illness (bipolar disorder), death, grief, terminal illness, mental illness, cancer, bullying, unaddressed trauma, panic attacks, PTSD, estranged family, hallucinations
Moderate: Infidelity/adultery, pregnancy, medical content, therapy, emotional abuse
Light: Toxic workplace
I first want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing for approving my request to read this eARC via NetGalley of Tessa Bicker's "The Book Swap". I am glad I was approved. And if you like the premise, and anything jumps out for you from this review you should check it out when it is released September 3, 2024.
Now, this book is very well written. So well in fact that it was just too heavy for what it was advertised as being - a funny, heartwarming, contemporary romance of second-chance love. I don't know what subgenre of romance this would fall under, per se, but wouldn't recommend if you are looking for 'fluff' and a break from reality. I like romance books with substance – such as written by Emily Henry and Lyssa Kay Adams, just to name a few - but when they are too far removed from the romance, can we just label them as contemporary drama? Or, where do they fall? If ya'll could let me know and also label them on Goodreads and The StoryGraph, I'd greatly appreciate it.
To be honest, I almost DNF'd the book after the first chapter. The first chapter mentions the toxic workplace (triggers below), which is currently one of my only 'NO THANK YOU' triggers. It actually brought on a stress nightmare and a day full of anxiety. So, I typically avoid that topic in my chosen reading. I decided to persist as Erin rage quits the job the same chapter so pushed on and hoped for the best.
I know I was drawn to the book as a modern day "Diving Rivals", but was hoping for something lighter, and certainly something more in the adult fiction category of spice. This would be a 0/5 on the spice scale. Implied relations and one kiss with the MC, James, just doesn't cut it for me. So, closed door romance all the way through. I know many do appreciate a good closed door, so this may be for you!
I requested this book for the idea of mystery pen-pals, presented here as mystery annotators labeled Mystery Man and Margins Girl. We do get dual point of view (my absolute fave). And I appreciated the unique mystery romance through the exchanging of books via a free little library in a public park. That aspect almost had me wishing I had a mystery pen-pal, and am considering annotating myself (but how do ya'll write up your books?!?).
What this book has going for it is time. The story itself takes place over a year and six months. So, maybe believable to most in how we get our two main characters back together. I won't deny there is personal growth on both sides, and quite a bit of positive change in the areas of family relations and career exploration. Allowing passage of time within the tale itself lends well to these developments. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel that it overcame 15 years of baggage, including grudges, PTSD and a general lack of copying skills.
Erin is actually the worst in those aspects. She seems to lack emotional intelligence or any kind of coping skills for stressful, life changing events. And she tied way too much of her identity to others. This is probably why I preferred James, though he himself has not addressed his own backstory of drama. Both should have been in therapy immediately following their respective experiences in high school (FYI - in England and much of the world high school is referred to as college). Not sure why it was 15 years before anyone – family or friend or self – to take any steps towards an intervention...
Again, I'll reiterate that this book is very well written, and plays out strongly as a small town (with a lil city moments thrown in) drama. The cast of characters feels diverse (definitely some great side characters) and the flashbacks to what happened in 10th grade and since felt natural, though the general chatter implying something happened versus just revealing what had was repetitive.
In the end though, if I'd been friend or family member to either James or Erin I would place great caution on the happy ending ideal they still seemed to believe was their desire and fate. There really was just too many ugly years, not enough therapy, and a tendency for the parties to tie their happiness to others for me to genuinely believe they should have ended up together.
And just so we are all clear on what I mean when I say heavy, I'm going to write out some trigger warnings for you all here:
Graphic: Chronic illness (bipolar disorder), death, grief, terminal illness, mental illness, cancer, bullying, unaddressed trauma, panic attacks, PTSD, estranged family, hallucinations
Moderate: Infidelity/adultery, pregnancy, medical content, therapy, emotional abuse
Light: Toxic workplace
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Chronic illness, Cancer, Bullying, Grief, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Medical content, Infidelity, and Pregnancy