Tessa Bickers’ debut novel The Book Swap is a delight for book lovers, especially those who like to write in the margins of their most beloved novels, but it isn’t as lighthearted as one might expect from the bright pink cover.
The couple at the heart of the book–Erin and James–grew up together and were incredibly close friends alongside Bonnie, a larger than life woman whose life was tragically cut short by cancer. In many ways, the novel is a study of grief as the two try to process all that they lost, not only when Bonnie passed but when Erin and James stopped speaking because of a schoolyard incident that neither has ever spoken of again.
Where does the rom and com come in? Erin mistakenly donates a favorite book to a free library in her neighborhood. Home from London to help care for his mother, James finds the book and writes responses to her marginal notes. He leaves it back in the library, hoping he may find some connection to this mystery girl, unaware that they share a history.
The back and forth between a slew of classic novels develops their relationship until the balance shifts. I don’t want to give anything away, but I would say I’d hoped for more than I got in the ending.
Still, if you’re a lifelong reader with a romantic streak, The Book Swap will be right for you.
