Take a photo of a barcode or cover
anabel_unker 's review for:
The Book Swap
by Tessa Bickers
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Both Erin Connolly and James Parr are at a crossroad in their lives. Erin, still grappling with the devastating loss of her childhood best friend to cancer, is struggling with her mental health and a toxic work environment-- as well as the realization she had no idea how to be happy in her current life. James travels back and forth between his London home, where he works as a very successful business man despite his dream of becoming a writer, and his hometown of Frome where he helps his mother during the violent bouts of her uncontrolled bipolar disorder. Both are desperate for a change, for some way to move forward in their lives, but lack the impetus to make it happen.
In a fit of Marie Kondo inspiration, Erin accidentally donates a deeply beloved and incredibly annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, and, when she realizes her accident it's too late. However, a few days later, the book reappears with additional annotations. What follows is an exchange of classic literature and a connection between two lost souls that may help them both into the next chapter of their lives.
As many other reviewers have noted-- THE BOOK SWAP is not a romance. Is there romance? Yes. However, it's a slow burn that The primary focus of this books is the character's grappling with grief and loss, mental illness (specifically depression and bipolar disorder), forgiveness, bullying, cheating, an unexpected pregnancy, and quarter-life crisis'. There's a lot packed into the book folks. And a lot of it is handled thoughtfully and realistically, however, I struggled to connect with the FMC, Erin.
Erin is an inherently selfish and obtuse. She refuses therapy and help from her sister (who happens to BE a therapist) despite struggling with occasionally debilitating depression and hallucinating her dead best friend. Erin also refuses to listen to other people's points of view, and while this is addressed during the course of the story, it's hard to sympathize with someone who has ruined several relationships because she lacks basic empathy and the ability to listen while she's hurting (and she hurts for YEARS).
Overall, this book was SO CLOSE to being on the same par as Elenor Oliphant Is Completely Fine or Meredith, Alone-- but it just missed the mark for me.
Both Erin Connolly and James Parr are at a crossroad in their lives. Erin, still grappling with the devastating loss of her childhood best friend to cancer, is struggling with her mental health and a toxic work environment-- as well as the realization she had no idea how to be happy in her current life. James travels back and forth between his London home, where he works as a very successful business man despite his dream of becoming a writer, and his hometown of Frome where he helps his mother during the violent bouts of her uncontrolled bipolar disorder. Both are desperate for a change, for some way to move forward in their lives, but lack the impetus to make it happen.
In a fit of Marie Kondo inspiration, Erin accidentally donates a deeply beloved and incredibly annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, and, when she realizes her accident it's too late. However, a few days later, the book reappears with additional annotations. What follows is an exchange of classic literature and a connection between two lost souls that may help them both into the next chapter of their lives.
As many other reviewers have noted-- THE BOOK SWAP is not a romance. Is there romance? Yes. However, it's a slow burn that
Spoiler
doesn't come together until the literal last pages of the book.Erin is an inherently selfish and obtuse. She refuses therapy and help from her sister (who happens to BE a therapist) despite struggling with occasionally debilitating depression and hallucinating her dead best friend. Erin also refuses to listen to other people's points of view, and while this is addressed during the course of the story, it's hard to sympathize with someone who has ruined several relationships because she lacks basic empathy and the ability to listen while she's hurting (and she hurts for YEARS).
Overall, this book was SO CLOSE to being on the same par as Elenor Oliphant Is Completely Fine or Meredith, Alone-- but it just missed the mark for me.