ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers

The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers will be published by Hodder & Stoughton on 5th September in hardcover, eBook and audiobook. My thanks to the author for very kindly sending me a copy of her wonderful novel.

A REASON TO LIVE.
Still grieving the death of her best friend, Erin knows she needs to start living – but has no idea how. Then she loses her favourite book, a heavily annotated and containing her friend’s final words to her.

A REASON TO LOVE.
When James finds Erin’s note-filled book in his local community library, it sparks a life-changing conversation. He writes his own message back, and soon they are locked in an anonymous book exchange, with no idea who the other person in the margins might be.

A REASON TO FORGIVE?
But Erin and James have a shared history that neither of them realise. How will Erin react when she discovers the other writer isn’t a stranger at all – but the person she once swore she’d never forgive?

A story of second chances and new beginnings, this is a love letter to books – and a love letter to love.

I always find books about books pretty hard to resist and as soon as I clocked The Book Swap I was drawn to it. Reader, I loved it.

The story is told in alternate chapters by Erin and James. They’re both having a bit of a tough time with jobs and family life for one reason or another. Having a major clearout, Erin is horrified to realise that she has donated her precious copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to the local community library, one of those little bookshelves that you find out and about, where folks can swap books. Full of her notes on the text and containing a keepsake from her late best friend, Bonnie, Erin desperately wants to get it back. James finds the book and makes his own notes, leaving a new book and a message for the mysterious ‘Margins Girl’. So begins a lovely bookish communication between them.

In classic romance novel style, things don’t go to plan and a few convenient, but lovely, twists of fate lead to a rocky road for the pair, especially given their shared past. This is not a light and fluffy romcom as it covers some really serious issues like terminal illness, mental health, bullying and the effects of childhood traumas, but when I say it’s a true joy to read I mean it. It’s utterly heart-warming and moving, but also an uplifting depiction of the depth of real friendship.

I really loved the back and forth of the book swaps and how Erin and James got to know each other again through their annotations and questions for each other. All the way through I was rooting for them and I liked both characters very much. They’re complicated and flawed as we all are, but ultimately likeable. I must admit to rather a soft spot for James!

I thought this was a brilliant debut novel by Tessa Bickers. It’s plotted beautifully, the writing is emotive and authentic, and the characters are all perfectly drawn and slot together very well. When I got to the end I could really imagine this being dramatised for film or TV. It’s a total triumph!

Tessa Bickers studied journalism at Bournemouth university, and went on to co-present a breakfast radio show in the South West. Moving into celebrity news, she’s interviewed some of the biggest names in show business, including Leonardo DiCaprio and the cast of Sex and the City. Tess started her creative career as a singer-songwriter and after a few failed X Factor auditions she went on to perform at Glastonbury Festival, and Secret Garden Party with her band Tess and the Tellers. These days she’s replaced her guitar with a keyboard, and songs for books. THE BOOK SWAP is her debut novel, publishing in 2024.