The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers

3-3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed certain aspects of this book. Obviously, as a reader, the fact the two main characters, Erin and James, are swapping books and sharing their thoughts and feelings on them is so fun. Seeing some classics and popular quotes was great, especially with the way the author then moved the story along with these books. The fact they also help each other through some life-changing decisions and reigniting their true passions through books gave me all the feels.

I wish there had been a lot more of the book swaps and going into depth a bit more at times as that was such a clever idea and made for some wonderful moments between the two characters even when they hadn't yet met each other. Their relationship was already developing on such a deep level through their love of books and being truly honest in what they were dealing with in life. This was really special and kept me interested in the story as it progressed. However, as we got further into the book, you'd just get a title and then very random conversations outside of the books themselves.

So, as the book swaps got less detailed and more side stories with side characters began happening, I started to lose a bit of interest. I understand the author threw in some heavy situations with the sub-characters to help make a point of how so many of us struggle alone and don't confide in each other. How there are many different types of grief, loss and disappointment. This was certainly powerful and tear-jerking, however it seemed to clash with the initial funny moments of the book swap. It also made the book very heavy very quickly which is not what I was expecting and seemed to clash with the storyline at times.

The last maybe 50 pages of the book was also very rushed with the climax as well as threw in some very heavy revelations. Some of the revelations also made me dislike Erin, as she suddenly became very self-centered and made me rethink a lot of her situations in the book. We get a 6 month time jump to "fix" things, but it felt very abrupt and as if things were brushed aside. I also feel like Erin should have redeemed herself due to some of the things she did, but she barely did anything. Even though she was in the wrong, she never explicitly apologized to James.

I saw such potential with this book and especially with the author's writing style. I am excited to see what else she writes as with some more experience, and I bit more editing, I believe another book could be great.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.

Synopsis: 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.