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The Book Swap
Newly-separated Laura is back home living with her mum. She spends her days reading and escaping from the realities of her new life alone - until that life suddenly becomes more complicated than she could ever have imagined.
When a novel received from an online book swap contains a chilling note, Laura has to overcome her own fears to help a stranger.
First, she must uncover just exactly who is it that needs to be saved, and from what.
When a novel received from an online book swap contains a chilling note, Laura has to overcome her own fears to help a stranger.
First, she must uncover just exactly who is it that needs to be saved, and from what.
188 pages, ebook
First published August 26, 2022
772 people are currently reading
3304 people want to read
About the author
J.E. Rowney
40 books827 followersWriter.
Visit my website for previews, further information.
http://www.jerowney.com/
"I always dreamed of being a writer, until I realised that I was. Then I started to write."
Visit my website for previews, further information.
http://www.jerowney.com/
"I always dreamed of being a writer, until I realised that I was. Then I started to write."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
August 10, 2022
Laura is 30 years old, recently separated from her husband and back home living with her mom. Her pleasures at the moment consist of reading, mostly thrillers, and watching lots of mindless tv. She belongs to an online book swap club and one day she receives a book with a note in it which says "Help Me".
This is a very short book and probably should've been a lot shorter since I think most people would crumple up the note and toss it in the garbage and then sanitize their hands. But no, Laura and her new friend Carley, about whom Laura knows next to nothing, go off on a Scooby Doo adventure trying to find the author of the note. There was a bit of excitement at around 75% but other than that it was pretty mundane with much repetition of facts. I did enjoy Laura's mother Catherine who is very kind and loving and who just wants to help Laura get back on her feet (and out of her house probably!). The other positive is that it really is very short and can be read in a few hours. Having enjoyed the author's previous book "Other People's Lives", I'm quite disappointed in this one. Even so, the writing wasn't bad but I don't feel like there was enough of a story there.
Thanks to BooksGoSocial via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own. Available August 26, 2022.
This is a very short book and probably should've been a lot shorter since I think most people would crumple up the note and toss it in the garbage and then sanitize their hands. But no, Laura and her new friend Carley, about whom Laura knows next to nothing, go off on a Scooby Doo adventure trying to find the author of the note. There was a bit of excitement at around 75% but other than that it was pretty mundane with much repetition of facts. I did enjoy Laura's mother Catherine who is very kind and loving and who just wants to help Laura get back on her feet (and out of her house probably!). The other positive is that it really is very short and can be read in a few hours. Having enjoyed the author's previous book "Other People's Lives", I'm quite disappointed in this one. Even so, the writing wasn't bad but I don't feel like there was enough of a story there.
Thanks to BooksGoSocial via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own. Available August 26, 2022.
July 15, 2023
3.5⭐
Publication date ~ August 26, 2022
Page Count ~ 315
Audio length ~ 4 hours 55 minutes
Narrator ~ Tessa Wood
POV ~ single 3rd
What a totally implausible and outrageous plot that was executed well enough.
Laura is in the process of a divorce and living with her mom, Catharine. The only thing keeping her from falling into a deep depression is the book swap she belongs to. She excited to dive into the thriller that has just arrived in the mail. When a note slips out of the pages that says "help me" she just knows she has to find out who wrote it. Why? ~ I'm not really sure as most probably wouldn't even think twice about it. But it does get Laura off the couch and back on track to living a more confident life.
Laura and Carley (the stranger that sent her the book) set off to track down who wrote the note. The police are not taking them seriously, which totally makes sense because she doesn't have much to go on.
A super fast paced, under 200 page, read that has a couple suspenseful moments, but is otherwise a very unlikely story. The ending was nice and now I want a lemon muffin.
This is my 2nd book by this author. I did enjoy Other People's Lives more than this one, but I do look forward to her next book.
*Thanks to BooksGoSocial, J.E. Rowney and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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Publication date ~ August 26, 2022
Page Count ~ 315
Audio length ~ 4 hours 55 minutes
Narrator ~ Tessa Wood
POV ~ single 3rd
What a totally implausible and outrageous plot that was executed well enough.
Laura is in the process of a divorce and living with her mom, Catharine. The only thing keeping her from falling into a deep depression is the book swap she belongs to. She excited to dive into the thriller that has just arrived in the mail. When a note slips out of the pages that says "help me" she just knows she has to find out who wrote it. Why? ~ I'm not really sure as most probably wouldn't even think twice about it. But it does get Laura off the couch and back on track to living a more confident life.
Laura and Carley (the stranger that sent her the book) set off to track down who wrote the note. The police are not taking them seriously, which totally makes sense because she doesn't have much to go on.
A super fast paced, under 200 page, read that has a couple suspenseful moments, but is otherwise a very unlikely story. The ending was nice and now I want a lemon muffin.
This is my 2nd book by this author. I did enjoy Other People's Lives more than this one, but I do look forward to her next book.
*Thanks to BooksGoSocial, J.E. Rowney and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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August 9, 2022
The Book Swap is a light hearted mystery about the lengths one will go to help a stranger. This is definitely not a thriller. If you go into it with the hopes of twists and turns, you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a mystery that displays human compassion and triumph over adversity, this could be for you. This is a fast read and kept me interested as the story unfolded. Thank you BookSirens for my ARC.
August 23, 2022
A prolific author J E Rowney’s The Book Swap is a standalone thriller that begins with a book swap. Laura has recently moved back in with her mother after a marriage separation and has joined an online reader’s book exchange. Her life gets complicated when she discovers a note in a book asking for help. Laura is curious about who wrote the note and what type of help they need. With encouragement from her mother and assistance from another book club member, Laura must battle her anxieties in order to solve the mystery. Overall, a disappointingly if very gentle crime thriller that lacks sufficient tension and grit, so only a two star rating. With thanks to BooksGoSocial and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
July 28, 2022
Damn. Am I disappointed?
You guess.
This thriller is really short and will not take up much of your time.
The characters keep making poor life decisions and we are okay with that as with most thrillers. But as adult characters, they sound more like teen characters. I hope there was more to the characters and the plot. I was desperately hoping for a plot twist. And here's how I got disappointed.
Our main character finds herself getting comfort in books when her life crumbles. One day she finds a note in one of the books from her book swap book club. Yes, she feels she has to help this unknown stranger somewhere far away. That's the story.
I will recommend this book for the beginners and for the casual thriller readers who would like to pick up a short book.
Thank you, BooksGoSocial, for the advance reading copy.
You guess.
This thriller is really short and will not take up much of your time.
The characters keep making poor life decisions and we are okay with that as with most thrillers. But as adult characters, they sound more like teen characters. I hope there was more to the characters and the plot. I was desperately hoping for a plot twist. And here's how I got disappointed.
Our main character finds herself getting comfort in books when her life crumbles. One day she finds a note in one of the books from her book swap book club. Yes, she feels she has to help this unknown stranger somewhere far away. That's the story.
I will recommend this book for the beginners and for the casual thriller readers who would like to pick up a short book.
Thank you, BooksGoSocial, for the advance reading copy.
August 3, 2022
This is my fourth read by the author and, honestly, the nicest thing to say about it is that it’s such a quick read.
Rowney understands the market well enough to tap into the neverending fountain of psychological thrillers with female protagonists, but her stories are very much toward the bottom of that seemingly bottomless barrel.
And so, her latest one is likely the lesser of the three I’ve read and one of those ‘quit wasting time on this author’ sort of things too. With a paperthin (oh yes, pun this mutha) plot and cardboard stock characters, Rowney has woven a tale of a woman who finds a note saying Help Me tucked into a book she received from a stranger through the eponymous book swap.
This woman, mind you, is no one’s idea of savior, least of all herself. She’s an about-to-be-divorced-and-didn’t-see-it-coming 30-year-old who lives with her mothers and wallows in depression. Also, she reads. Lots of thrillers. Which apparently is what gives her the idea to go investigate the origin of the note.
She gets a pal and together they set off Nancy Drewing the situation, which of course ends up remarkably implausibly easy to do, because…well, that’s the strength of the writing and also the page count restrictions at play. And then, ta da, voila, happy ending for all. And how cute is that?
Well, not cute at all, unless you’re really in the mood for mindless reading. Ideally, a book should challenge at least slightly more than this. Readable and quickly so, but really not worth the time. Pass. Thanks Netgalley.
Rowney understands the market well enough to tap into the neverending fountain of psychological thrillers with female protagonists, but her stories are very much toward the bottom of that seemingly bottomless barrel.
And so, her latest one is likely the lesser of the three I’ve read and one of those ‘quit wasting time on this author’ sort of things too. With a paperthin (oh yes, pun this mutha) plot and cardboard stock characters, Rowney has woven a tale of a woman who finds a note saying Help Me tucked into a book she received from a stranger through the eponymous book swap.
This woman, mind you, is no one’s idea of savior, least of all herself. She’s an about-to-be-divorced-and-didn’t-see-it-coming 30-year-old who lives with her mothers and wallows in depression. Also, she reads. Lots of thrillers. Which apparently is what gives her the idea to go investigate the origin of the note.
She gets a pal and together they set off Nancy Drewing the situation, which of course ends up remarkably implausibly easy to do, because…well, that’s the strength of the writing and also the page count restrictions at play. And then, ta da, voila, happy ending for all. And how cute is that?
Well, not cute at all, unless you’re really in the mood for mindless reading. Ideally, a book should challenge at least slightly more than this. Readable and quickly so, but really not worth the time. Pass. Thanks Netgalley.
August 7, 2022
Laura is newly separated from her husband and she moves back in with her mom Catharine. She’s in a book club that swaps books and in her latest book she received was a mysterious note. She goes on a quest to find who wrote it and then I just didn’t care what happened in the end. I DNF at 55%. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published August 2022.
April 19, 2023
As someone who likes to buy secondhand books at charity shops and find random things left between the pages by previous readers, I found The Book Swap plot rather implausible. It was a quick read - not exactly a thriller, more of a light mystery.
August 10, 2022
Laura is newly separated and has moved back in with her mother. She has spiraled into depression due to the impending divorce, and is on leave from her job, whiling away time with daily reading and game shows. She is part of an online book swap, and a moment of happiness comes in the form of a new book from a mystery member of the group. A note falls out of the book which contains only two words: “Help me.” Laura decides that she must help whomever sent the note in the book, but how and where does she go about solving the mystery?
“The Book Swap” was a fun short novel, good character building, and in many places it was exciting to read. The questions of how, where, and with whom are settled in the book, but the question I kept asking was “why?” Why was she so obsessed with finding the one who wrote the note, why did she not think it might be a prank, why did she put herself in danger, why did someone give out an address with no business doing so, etc. I know we are always asked to accept that which may not be realistic in fiction, but I could not wrap my head around the reason she would actually go looking, or the way she did it, or the possibility that a person might actually be found. The story was mostly anti-climactic with no plot twist, and the ending is wrapped up in a neat little bow.
I’d like to thank BookSirens, J.E. Rowney, and Little Fox Publishing for the ability to read and review this ARC.
“The Book Swap” was a fun short novel, good character building, and in many places it was exciting to read. The questions of how, where, and with whom are settled in the book, but the question I kept asking was “why?” Why was she so obsessed with finding the one who wrote the note, why did she not think it might be a prank, why did she put herself in danger, why did someone give out an address with no business doing so, etc. I know we are always asked to accept that which may not be realistic in fiction, but I could not wrap my head around the reason she would actually go looking, or the way she did it, or the possibility that a person might actually be found. The story was mostly anti-climactic with no plot twist, and the ending is wrapped up in a neat little bow.
I’d like to thank BookSirens, J.E. Rowney, and Little Fox Publishing for the ability to read and review this ARC.
August 5, 2022
Book: The Book Swap
Author: J.E. Rowney
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: August 26, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
This title sounded like an interesting story.
Laura is not a happy camper ~ she is miserable that her marriage has failed.
She loves to read and participated in an online book swap.
(I did laugh when Laura looks at the cover of a psychological thriller and determines it is
going to be good as there is a yellowed-windowed house in ominous darkness’
Yep! that seems to be what illustrators believe a good thriller cover MUST look like!!)
Back to this story .When Laura gets a book from an anonymous sender and finds a note stating "help me"; she is determined to find the person who wrote the note. With help from the book swap coordinator she finds Carley, the woman who sent the book, but the note was written by the previous owner. Laura and Carley become amateur sleuths and set out to find this person who needs help!
I did read a few so so reviewed so went into this without a high expectation ~ I actually liked it better than I thought.
However, I would like for the author to have added some resources for help rather than using a note in a book or bottle!!
Want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 26, 2022
Author: J.E. Rowney
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: August 26, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
This title sounded like an interesting story.
Laura is not a happy camper ~ she is miserable that her marriage has failed.
She loves to read and participated in an online book swap.
(I did laugh when Laura looks at the cover of a psychological thriller and determines it is
going to be good as there is a yellowed-windowed house in ominous darkness’
Yep! that seems to be what illustrators believe a good thriller cover MUST look like!!)
Back to this story .When Laura gets a book from an anonymous sender and finds a note stating "help me"; she is determined to find the person who wrote the note. With help from the book swap coordinator she finds Carley, the woman who sent the book, but the note was written by the previous owner. Laura and Carley become amateur sleuths and set out to find this person who needs help!
I did read a few so so reviewed so went into this without a high expectation ~ I actually liked it better than I thought.
However, I would like for the author to have added some resources for help rather than using a note in a book or bottle!!
Want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 26, 2022
July 15, 2023
Quick read suspense thriller
I couldn't resist a book swap book, book. What I didn't expect and enjoyed was this thriller.
A young woman received a book with a note tucked inside saying help me. The police fob her off so she goes with her bookswap friends to find the original book owner.....
If you enjoy a quick read, mystery thriller you'll really enjoy this book.
The characters were well defined and the plot was good with a small twist.
A most enjoyable read
Kerry Kennedy Author
I couldn't resist a book swap book, book. What I didn't expect and enjoyed was this thriller.
A young woman received a book with a note tucked inside saying help me. The police fob her off so she goes with her bookswap friends to find the original book owner.....
If you enjoy a quick read, mystery thriller you'll really enjoy this book.
The characters were well defined and the plot was good with a small twist.
A most enjoyable read
Kerry Kennedy Author
August 23, 2022
The Book Swap
⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Mystery
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 8/26/22
Author: J.E. Rowney
Publisher: Little Fox Publishing
Pages: 188
Goodreads Rating: 3.36
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Little Fox Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Newly-separated Laura is back home living with her mum. She spends her days reading and escaping from the realities of her new life alone - until that life suddenly becomes more complicated than she could ever have imagined. When a novel received from an online book swap contains a chilling note, Laura has to overcome her own fears to help a stranger. First, she must uncover just exactly who is it that needs to be saved, and from what.
My Thoughts: The premise of the plot was what attracted me to this book, other than the beautiful book cover. This was super short and I read in one sitting. I felt it needed something a little more. Since I read the author’s previous book, I had high expectations for this book, while not a bad book, I was just hoping for more. The story is narrated it the third person perspective. The author’s writing style was creative, plot was intriguing, and kept me engaged from cover to cover. While I did like the premise, I kept asking myself why would she go looking for the author of a random note with no other threats. The ending was wrapped up good.
⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Mystery
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 8/26/22
Author: J.E. Rowney
Publisher: Little Fox Publishing
Pages: 188
Goodreads Rating: 3.36
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Little Fox Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Newly-separated Laura is back home living with her mum. She spends her days reading and escaping from the realities of her new life alone - until that life suddenly becomes more complicated than she could ever have imagined. When a novel received from an online book swap contains a chilling note, Laura has to overcome her own fears to help a stranger. First, she must uncover just exactly who is it that needs to be saved, and from what.
My Thoughts: The premise of the plot was what attracted me to this book, other than the beautiful book cover. This was super short and I read in one sitting. I felt it needed something a little more. Since I read the author’s previous book, I had high expectations for this book, while not a bad book, I was just hoping for more. The story is narrated it the third person perspective. The author’s writing style was creative, plot was intriguing, and kept me engaged from cover to cover. While I did like the premise, I kept asking myself why would she go looking for the author of a random note with no other threats. The ending was wrapped up good.
August 7, 2022
Anyone else get so frustrated when a book has amazing unrealized potential?!
No? Ok, then how about when you buy a bag of chips and open it only to discover that it’s more than half full of air? Right?
OK. That’s what I’m feeling right now. THAT disappointment.
The protagonist opens up book mail to discover she’s been gifted a psychological thriller by someone in her book club. When she gets into the book, she discovers a little note tucked inside that reads “Help me!”
Sounds great right?
Well, I read and read and then I came to the epilogue.
My heart rate didn’t increase. I didn’t resort to biting my fingernails. I wasn’t frantically trying to guess who wrote the note. There was NO sense of urgency. No fear.
It was like I was on an easy rider bike, my hair flowing behind me, an open road….and nobody to race me.
I hate this word, but it sums it up….”MEH”......
It was a quick read. So, there's that.
I was gifted this advance copy by BooksGoSocial through NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
No? Ok, then how about when you buy a bag of chips and open it only to discover that it’s more than half full of air? Right?
OK. That’s what I’m feeling right now. THAT disappointment.
The protagonist opens up book mail to discover she’s been gifted a psychological thriller by someone in her book club. When she gets into the book, she discovers a little note tucked inside that reads “Help me!”
Sounds great right?
Well, I read and read and then I came to the epilogue.
My heart rate didn’t increase. I didn’t resort to biting my fingernails. I wasn’t frantically trying to guess who wrote the note. There was NO sense of urgency. No fear.
It was like I was on an easy rider bike, my hair flowing behind me, an open road….and nobody to race me.
I hate this word, but it sums it up….”MEH”......
It was a quick read. So, there's that.
I was gifted this advance copy by BooksGoSocial through NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 4, 2025
I easily read this book in a day. It’s is more of a cozy mystery than a psychological thriller. Even the dialogue is a bit silly at times. There was something about the writing, though, that made me keep reading. Good for a lazy day.
August 2, 2022
Shama Lama Ding Dong! 😳😯🤯
I'm gonna warn you right now, you will not look at anonymous book swapping or thrift book shopping the same way again after reading this novel. The writing was really good, the characters kept me intrigued, the build up was enjoyable. I definitely had fun reading this but there are some places it didn't deliver.
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Laura has recently moved back with her mother after a recent separation. She's thrown herself into her one escape - books. She's part of a Facebook community of talking about & swapping books anonymously to one another. When she receives a book from a random sender, a note is left inside. Determined to find out what it means, and putting her grief and depression to the side, she imparts on a back track journey to find the original owner. But where it leads to, is far more than she'll be prepared for.
Sadly, while this book had such a great plot outlined, it fell flat. I kept waiting for the "more" - the real humdinger! But the ending just didn't clinch it for me. I was unfortunately disappointed. The lead up & suspense was greatly built and fun, but the execution for the conclusion needed more. I just found a lot of parts predictable and I'd consider this more of a fun, ironic type mystery rather than a thriller. Which isn't a bad thing. All that aside, I still enjoyed the quick read & the looming mystery created.
Thank you to NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for this ARC.
Release Date: August 26, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
I'm gonna warn you right now, you will not look at anonymous book swapping or thrift book shopping the same way again after reading this novel. The writing was really good, the characters kept me intrigued, the build up was enjoyable. I definitely had fun reading this but there are some places it didn't deliver.
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Laura has recently moved back with her mother after a recent separation. She's thrown herself into her one escape - books. She's part of a Facebook community of talking about & swapping books anonymously to one another. When she receives a book from a random sender, a note is left inside. Determined to find out what it means, and putting her grief and depression to the side, she imparts on a back track journey to find the original owner. But where it leads to, is far more than she'll be prepared for.
Sadly, while this book had such a great plot outlined, it fell flat. I kept waiting for the "more" - the real humdinger! But the ending just didn't clinch it for me. I was unfortunately disappointed. The lead up & suspense was greatly built and fun, but the execution for the conclusion needed more. I just found a lot of parts predictable and I'd consider this more of a fun, ironic type mystery rather than a thriller. Which isn't a bad thing. All that aside, I still enjoyed the quick read & the looming mystery created.
Thank you to NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for this ARC.
Release Date: August 26, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
August 29, 2022
Ignore the cover. It is so misleading! I think this book was a cozy trying to be a thriller and anyone looking at the cover is going to think they are in for a solid thriller and be disappointed. This book was not that! Instead, this story does a very good job in that very small area between the two. A woman suffering from depression on the cusp of an unexpected divorce receives a book in the mail from a social media reading group. (Hey! I belong to a few of those!) Inside is a mysterious note. And, like anyone trying to avoid the things they must face, she begins to investigate. Had this been a thriller, things would have gotten quite a bit darker on the path Laura followed. Instead there was an interesting mystery for her to solve as she comes to find peace with herself. I thought the connection with internet book groups was also a fun little addition.
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
August 7, 2022
OMG! What a story!! This book had a twist that I didn't see coming! The note provoked kindess from Laura to find who the note in the book was from but her need to find who wrote it sent her on a real journey! Meeting Carley on the way, can they find out who wrote the note and who they need to save?
I loved Laura's personality and her ability to trust Carley, their friendship throughout and their sense of trust in themselves and each other.
I loved, loved, loved the writing of this and I felt I was really involved with Laura and Carley's adventure. Definitely a page turner and one book I'd recommend! Will check out more from JE Rowney!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved Laura's personality and her ability to trust Carley, their friendship throughout and their sense of trust in themselves and each other.
I loved, loved, loved the writing of this and I felt I was really involved with Laura and Carley's adventure. Definitely a page turner and one book I'd recommend! Will check out more from JE Rowney!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 27, 2022
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this book, it had an original story line and some great characters and it was a quick and easy read.
August 2, 2022
Laura is newly separated. She has moved back in with her mother, Catharine, and has taken a leave of absence from work in order to deal with her marriage falling apart. Laura finds solace in reading books. She receives a book from her book swap group that includes a mysterious note. Now, Laura is on a mission to find and help the person that left the note, and in the process finds herself.
This was my first introduction to this author, and to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. While this is an easy, short read, there was no suspense, the character development was lacking, and it was just all so reptitive. I understand reading these books there has to be some suspension of belief, but this was very farfetched. I was along for the ride up until a certain point (which I won’t mention because I don’t want to spoil the book), and then the book lost me. Laura felt more like a child than an adult and her mother Catharine felt like she was all over the place.
Two stars since I didn’t figure out the who and the why.
This was my first introduction to this author, and to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. While this is an easy, short read, there was no suspense, the character development was lacking, and it was just all so reptitive. I understand reading these books there has to be some suspension of belief, but this was very farfetched. I was along for the ride up until a certain point (which I won’t mention because I don’t want to spoil the book), and then the book lost me. Laura felt more like a child than an adult and her mother Catharine felt like she was all over the place.
Two stars since I didn’t figure out the who and the why.
July 31, 2022
As someone who considers themselves a bookworm I was instantly intrigued just by the title alone, THE BOOK SWAP.
What it’s about: Our protagonist Laura is going through a hard time. Her marriage is coming to an end, she’s depressed and back to living with her Mother. Her only solace is getting lost in the pages of books. She joins a book community that does anonymous book swaps and one day when she opens her latest swap finds a note inside that says ‘Help me’.
Sounds pretty good right? I thought so too which is why I immediately downloaded it from Netgalley and dived in. This is marked as a thriller but as the story progressed it felt more like a cozy mystery for me. It’s was on the lighter side of suspense, pretty quick read and the big reveal at the end wasn’t as shocking as I hoped. I still enjoyed some aspects of the story and was curious how it would all come together. So if you’re looking for a quick read with a low angst mystery this is for you. 3 Stars!
[Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the complementary copy]
What it’s about: Our protagonist Laura is going through a hard time. Her marriage is coming to an end, she’s depressed and back to living with her Mother. Her only solace is getting lost in the pages of books. She joins a book community that does anonymous book swaps and one day when she opens her latest swap finds a note inside that says ‘Help me’.
Sounds pretty good right? I thought so too which is why I immediately downloaded it from Netgalley and dived in. This is marked as a thriller but as the story progressed it felt more like a cozy mystery for me. It’s was on the lighter side of suspense, pretty quick read and the big reveal at the end wasn’t as shocking as I hoped. I still enjoyed some aspects of the story and was curious how it would all come together. So if you’re looking for a quick read with a low angst mystery this is for you. 3 Stars!
[Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the complementary copy]
February 10, 2023
This was an interesting story filled with mystery but it was also about finding one’s self. Laura is lost after her separation and she needs to get back in touch with you she is and what she wants.
I enjoyed newly found friendship between Laura and her traveling companion. The story carried on at a nice pace and the ending was one that I definitely didn’t expect!
I enjoyed newly found friendship between Laura and her traveling companion. The story carried on at a nice pace and the ending was one that I definitely didn’t expect!
July 27, 2022
This is another ARC I received and I read it in an afternoon and a morning. It's The Book Swap by JE Rowney which I got via Netgalley. It will be published on 26 August.
Laura, the main protagonist, is currently separated from her husband but not yet divorced. She moves in with her mother and can't really function because she is quite emotional. Every small thing might turn her into a sobbing waterfall. She receives a book from an online book swap and in it she finds a note that says 'help me'. Although she is barely capable of helping herself she is determined to help whoever wrote that small note.
The author very capably described the main characters and their habits and flaws. Laura is all over the place emotionally and the decisions she makes are because of that. The friendship and trip that came within two days came across as quite quickly. It could happen of course, but the speed it happened with, is perhaps not that realistic. The ending, from where the two women get to the house, could have been described more elaborately. It was good now, but it could have been more.
All in all, a great thriller you could easily read within a day with a nice twist at the end! It will definitely not disappoint!
3,5/5⭐
Laura, the main protagonist, is currently separated from her husband but not yet divorced. She moves in with her mother and can't really function because she is quite emotional. Every small thing might turn her into a sobbing waterfall. She receives a book from an online book swap and in it she finds a note that says 'help me'. Although she is barely capable of helping herself she is determined to help whoever wrote that small note.
The author very capably described the main characters and their habits and flaws. Laura is all over the place emotionally and the decisions she makes are because of that. The friendship and trip that came within two days came across as quite quickly. It could happen of course, but the speed it happened with, is perhaps not that realistic. The ending, from where the two women get to the house, could have been described more elaborately. It was good now, but it could have been more.
All in all, a great thriller you could easily read within a day with a nice twist at the end! It will definitely not disappoint!
3,5/5⭐
July 28, 2022
I was very hopeful for this book.. I have liked one of the author’s previous novels so I thought this would be a given.
This is a very short book and it is absolutely preposterous. Laura is getting divorced, currently living with her mother and receives a book from an online book group with a note saying “Help Me” in the pages.
From here Laura and the woman who sent the book go on a tour to try and find the person who sent it.
Laura is written like she is not old enough to use a kettle let alone go away with a stranger to solve a crime.
Laura’s mother Catharine, is completely unable to stick to an opinion, wanting her daughter to get out there and then informing her how ridiculous and dangerous it is.
The book is a short list of characters changing their mind in a millisecond and being overdramatic at every possible thing. Each short chapter ends with a cliffhanger.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys a short, fantastical, thriller.
This is a very short book and it is absolutely preposterous. Laura is getting divorced, currently living with her mother and receives a book from an online book group with a note saying “Help Me” in the pages.
From here Laura and the woman who sent the book go on a tour to try and find the person who sent it.
Laura is written like she is not old enough to use a kettle let alone go away with a stranger to solve a crime.
Laura’s mother Catharine, is completely unable to stick to an opinion, wanting her daughter to get out there and then informing her how ridiculous and dangerous it is.
The book is a short list of characters changing their mind in a millisecond and being overdramatic at every possible thing. Each short chapter ends with a cliffhanger.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys a short, fantastical, thriller.
August 9, 2022
Es mi primera vez leyendo a la autora y confieso que estoy un poco decepcionada. La premisa me pareció interesante y el título me enganchó enseguida, pero desafortunadamente tuve muchos problemas con esta historia.
Lo que más me molestó fue el pobre desarrollo de los personajes. Habría sido una gran oportunidad para abordar temas tan importantes como la depresión y siento que no fue explotado a fondo. La protagonista me resultó muy plana y sin ningún matiz interesante en su personalidad.
Carente de acción en casi todo el libro, llegaba incluso a parecerme aburrido, en absoluto lo que esperas de un thriller. A pesar de eso, tengo que admitir que es una lectura muy sencilla, así que realmente lo recomiendo si estás buscando algo ligero.
El final a pesar de ser bastante conveniente, no me pareció predecible. Realmente no lo esperaba, así que puntos extra por eso.
La trama está bastante bien, creo que el mayor problema aquí es la construcción de los personajes, así que quiero darle otra oportunidad a la autora.
- - - - -
It is my first time reading the author and I confess that I am a little disappointed. I found the premise interesting and the title hooked me right away, but unfortunately I had a lot of issues with this story.
What bothered me the most was the poor character development. It would have been a great opportunity to address issues as important as depression and I feel that it was not fully exploited. The protagonist was very flat to me and without any interesting nuance in her personality.
Lacking action in most of the book, it even seemed boring to me, not at all what you'd expect from a thriller. Despite that, I have to admit that it's a very easy read, so I really recommend it if you are looking for something light.
The ending, despite being quite convenient, did not seem predictable to me. I didn't really expect it, so extra points for that. The plot is pretty good, I think the biggest problem here is the construction of the characters, so I want to give the author another chance.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early access in exchange for my honest review.
To be published August 2022.
Lo que más me molestó fue el pobre desarrollo de los personajes. Habría sido una gran oportunidad para abordar temas tan importantes como la depresión y siento que no fue explotado a fondo. La protagonista me resultó muy plana y sin ningún matiz interesante en su personalidad.
Carente de acción en casi todo el libro, llegaba incluso a parecerme aburrido, en absoluto lo que esperas de un thriller. A pesar de eso, tengo que admitir que es una lectura muy sencilla, así que realmente lo recomiendo si estás buscando algo ligero.
El final a pesar de ser bastante conveniente, no me pareció predecible. Realmente no lo esperaba, así que puntos extra por eso.
La trama está bastante bien, creo que el mayor problema aquí es la construcción de los personajes, así que quiero darle otra oportunidad a la autora.
- - - - -
It is my first time reading the author and I confess that I am a little disappointed. I found the premise interesting and the title hooked me right away, but unfortunately I had a lot of issues with this story.
What bothered me the most was the poor character development. It would have been a great opportunity to address issues as important as depression and I feel that it was not fully exploited. The protagonist was very flat to me and without any interesting nuance in her personality.
Lacking action in most of the book, it even seemed boring to me, not at all what you'd expect from a thriller. Despite that, I have to admit that it's a very easy read, so I really recommend it if you are looking for something light.
The ending, despite being quite convenient, did not seem predictable to me. I didn't really expect it, so extra points for that. The plot is pretty good, I think the biggest problem here is the construction of the characters, so I want to give the author another chance.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early access in exchange for my honest review.
To be published August 2022.
August 21, 2022
As a self-proclaimed book nerd and a member of several book swapping groups, this book had my attention from the get-go. What would you do if you received a book from a stranger one day, a note fell out of the book and all it said was Help Me? I personally would have used the note as a book mark, and that would have been the end of that.
I found The Book Swap to be a light hearted mystery about the lengths one will go to help a stranger. This is definitely not a thriller. If you go into it with the hopes of twists and turns, you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a mystery that displays human compassion and triumph over adversity, this could be for you. This is a fast read and kept me interested as the story unfolded. This was the second book I’ve read by this author, and it definitely won’t be the last. I’m a fan
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from BooksGoSocial and NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
I found The Book Swap to be a light hearted mystery about the lengths one will go to help a stranger. This is definitely not a thriller. If you go into it with the hopes of twists and turns, you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a mystery that displays human compassion and triumph over adversity, this could be for you. This is a fast read and kept me interested as the story unfolded. This was the second book I’ve read by this author, and it definitely won’t be the last. I’m a fan
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from BooksGoSocial and NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
November 6, 2024
“The Book Swap” by J.E. Rowney follows a young woman who turns to books as an escape from her lonely life. When she picks up a novel from a book swap, she discovers a chilling note hidden inside, sparking a thrilling mystery. As the story unfolds, suspense builds, weaving a tale of intrigue and unexpected twists. It's a gripping read that keeps you hooked while exploring themes of isolation, connection, and the power of stories. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
August 1, 2022
If you found a note saying "help me" in a second-hand book, what would you do?
With thanks to #NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
The book started off slightly slow, the part that held my attention was the book swap, as I am part of a book swap group. Smiling along at little similarities until the twist hits, a note in the book Laura has been sent. From there the book gripped me and I found it very enjoyable.
With thanks to #NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
The book started off slightly slow, the part that held my attention was the book swap, as I am part of a book swap group. Smiling along at little similarities until the twist hits, a note in the book Laura has been sent. From there the book gripped me and I found it very enjoyable.
March 11, 2023
This had the most ludicrous plot I've ever read. It was quite good to begin but as the main characters started to discover what was happening in the house in Cambridge it just become more ridiculous! The initial idea was great but it just veered into nonsense, and I hate being so negative about someone else's work but it was just a bit silly.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author.
January 24, 2025
really?
May 3, 2024
I almost quit reading this. Don’t recommend.
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