The Book Swap
A perfectly uplifting novel about book lovers, for book lovers
Published on 28. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-3997-0608-7 (ISBN)
Description
Fall in love between the pages . . .
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, heavily annotated and containing her friend's final words to her.
When James finds Erin's note-filled book in his local community library, he writes his own message back, and soon they are locked in an anonymous book exchange . . .
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. Fans of Emily Henry, Beth O'Leary and Sarah Adams will be hooked!
READERS LOVE THE BOOK SWAP . . .
'Wow, definitely one of my absolute favourites! I loved everything about it - the characters, the issues it deals with, the books . . . everything' ?????
'Plotted beautifully, the writing is emotive and authentic, and the characters are all perfectly drawn . . . a total triumph!' ?????
'A touching debut novel about love, loss, and healing through books . . . perfect for readers who love emotional stories with a mix of romance and personal growth' ?????
'I hadn't anticipated the depth of emotion, the range of themes and the fabulous awareness of who we are as humans . . . simply glorious to read' ?????
'Reminds me of one of my favourite films, You've Got Mail . . . [and] Erin and James are well-rounded characters with realistic issues that are holding them back' ?????
AND YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHORS LOVE IT TOO . . .
'Catnip for any book geek' CESCA MAJOR
'It's You've Got Mail, but make it even more bookish' NIAMH HARGAN
'A gorgeous debut from tremendous Tessa Bickers' SALLY PHILLIPS
'What a gorgeous, life-affirming, bookishly beautiful novel this is!' CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN
'If you love books and you love love, you are going to adore The Book Swap' JULIE COHEN
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, heavily annotated and containing her friend's final words to her.
When James finds Erin's note-filled book in his local community library, he writes his own message back, and soon they are locked in an anonymous book exchange . . .
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. Fans of Emily Henry, Beth O'Leary and Sarah Adams will be hooked!
READERS LOVE THE BOOK SWAP . . .
'Wow, definitely one of my absolute favourites! I loved everything about it - the characters, the issues it deals with, the books . . . everything' ?????
'Plotted beautifully, the writing is emotive and authentic, and the characters are all perfectly drawn . . . a total triumph!' ?????
'A touching debut novel about love, loss, and healing through books . . . perfect for readers who love emotional stories with a mix of romance and personal growth' ?????
'I hadn't anticipated the depth of emotion, the range of themes and the fabulous awareness of who we are as humans . . . simply glorious to read' ?????
'Reminds me of one of my favourite films, You've Got Mail . . . [and] Erin and James are well-rounded characters with realistic issues that are holding them back' ?????
AND YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHORS LOVE IT TOO . . .
'Catnip for any book geek' CESCA MAJOR
'It's You've Got Mail, but make it even more bookish' NIAMH HARGAN
'A gorgeous debut from tremendous Tessa Bickers' SALLY PHILLIPS
'What a gorgeous, life-affirming, bookishly beautiful novel this is!' CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN
'If you love books and you love love, you are going to adore The Book Swap' JULIE COHEN
Reviews / Votes
Both a gorgeous romance between two broken people, and a love letter to books and reading. If you loved The Flatshare you will love this heartfelt debut from Tessa Bickers about two people with tragic pasts, brought together through notes scribbled in the margins of their favourite reads. This debut is catnip for any book geek. I just loved it * Cesca Major * A gorgeous debut from tremendous Tessa Bickers. It's ahhh but it's also hahahahaha. I loved it. Can't wait for the movie * Sally Phillips * It's You've Got Mail, but make it (even more) bookish. A really heartfelt love story about the power of friendship, family, and the written word. Bookworms everywhere will adore this * Niamh Hargan * If you love books and love love, you are going to adore The Book Swap - a gorgeous novel about a couple falling in love and finding themselves in the notes they scribble for each other in beloved books. It's heartwarming and hopeful and a testament to the power of a good read * Julie Cohen * Moving and romantic. Tessa Bickers writes with a fresh and warm-hearted voice, and what a romantic concept! * Lia Louis * A soul-warming tale, perfectly balanced. I cried not once but several times. It's Sophie Kinsella meets Beth O'Leary via Emily James and I loved it . . . it deserves to be a smash * Freya Berry * Funny, heartbreaking and achingly romantic. Relatable, multi-layered characters with complicated back stories - highly recommend * Lorraine Brown * It's a love story and a love letter to reading, and it shows you just how powerful books are . . . What a gorgeous, life-affirming, bookishly beautiful novel this is! * Cressida McLaughlin * Poignant . . . simply a beautiful story about love, friendship and the restorative power of forgiveness * Jessica George * Bickers charms in her depiction of how James and Erin bond through literature, and how literature changes their lives. This will have bookworms swooning * Publishers Weekly * Sensitively written, deeply moving and yet still an accessible, uplifting and enormously enjoyable read . . . a tale that stays with the reader long after it is finished * My Weekly * Heartwarming * Bella * A lovely read * Closer * An exploration of friendship, love, loss, this is a book lover's dream romcom * Heat * This gorgeous story is both a romance and a literary love letter * Fabulous * Celebrating the power of love and literature, this swoon-worthy story is perfect for book-lovers and hopeless romantics alike * Woman's Own *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hodder & Stoughton
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
240 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3997-0608-7 (9781399706087)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2024
Hodder & Stoughton
€4.49
Available for download
Person
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.