THE BOOK SWAP is the debut title of author Tess Bickers, who previously worked in media and entertainment.
BOOK SWAP is a friends-to-lovers story where the main characters meet in school, become friends, and fall for and out with each other. James, Erin and Bonnie become friends in school after the girls save James from some bullies. Their friendship grows stronger with time, and so does the bullying for James. Amidst all the school drama, James and Erin's bond grows stronger with their mutual love for reading and books. By the end of the school year, the bullying has won and the trio are no longer friends. A fallout means resentment and anger are still keeping the friends apart. A chance book swap at a free public library in London sees James and Erin swapping notes via the books from the library. The BOOK SWAP makes them fall for each other all over again. When they realise it's them behind the mystery exchange, their lives explode once again. Will the BOOK SWAP save their lost love and friendship or lose it all to anger and betrayal?
My thoughts -
1. The idea behind the story is interesting and so are the friendships. It is something that gives the story its emotional hold.
2. James and Erin both hold in their hearts, a lot of unresolved family issues. James is liked and comes across as relatable despite the issues, while Erin is challenging to like.
3. There's a lot of personal drama along with the excitement of exchanging notes via the library books. This drama and book swap is what as a reader kept me going.
4. This is a dual POV and there's not much about Erin that makes her a favorite and at times even intolerable. It's the same kind of issue and yet James is more likeable and one I could root for even if it was him wanting his future with Erin.
5. I believe one of the redeeming qualities of Erin is her love of books and reading and how she actually uses that passion to finally find her calling. Overall, with a lot of angst, liberally paced with book love and family drama, The BOOK SWAP is a story you will enjoy on a lazy day.
A story of second chances and new beginnings, this is a love letter to books—and a love letter to life
Still reeling from a recent tragedy, Erin Connolly knows she needs to start living, but has no idea how. When she accidentally donates her favorite book—a heavily annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird containing a memento she can’t be without—to a local little community library, she’s devastated. But then the book turns up a week later, back in the library with fresh notes in the margins, along with an invitation in a copy of Great Expectations to meet her newfound pen pal.
A life-changing conversation, written only in the margins of beloved classic books, begins between Erin and her Mystery Man. Following each other through the pages of their favorite novels as the book exchange continues, they both begin to open up, falling into a friendship…and maybe something more.
But Erin and her pen pal have a shared history that neither of them has guessed. Faced with painful reminders of the past—and the one person she swore never to forgive—Erin finds herself at a crossroads. One that could change her life forever.
A book-lovers dream! References to the following classics can be found in The Book Swap.
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