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The Phone Swap
An enemies-to-lovers romance from the author of BETTER LEFT UNSENT
Allie Lake is a scientist is on a held-up flight travelling home from a job when she is seated next to troubled movie star Milo Ford. She is in no mood to talk to him, whoever he might be. Her most recent project at a research station has just come to an end and she's about to move in with her sister and her love life is non-existent. As for Milo, he wants nothing more than to be at home hiding out with a little normality. Instead, he has to go and film a movie in the Romanian mountains... all the while, the press are getting closer, circling his most closely guarded secret.
Post-flight, they both quickly realise they've accidentally swapped phones with their fellow passenger. Easily rectified, except Milo's about to be on a remote set for a month... and Allie has no idea who Milo is, only that he is the keeper of her entire digital life.
As they trade back and forth on each other's phones, they can't help but notice there's more to their chat than practicalities...
Allie Lake is a scientist is on a held-up flight travelling home from a job when she is seated next to troubled movie star Milo Ford. She is in no mood to talk to him, whoever he might be. Her most recent project at a research station has just come to an end and she's about to move in with her sister and her love life is non-existent. As for Milo, he wants nothing more than to be at home hiding out with a little normality. Instead, he has to go and film a movie in the Romanian mountains... all the while, the press are getting closer, circling his most closely guarded secret.
Post-flight, they both quickly realise they've accidentally swapped phones with their fellow passenger. Easily rectified, except Milo's about to be on a remote set for a month... and Allie has no idea who Milo is, only that he is the keeper of her entire digital life.
As they trade back and forth on each other's phones, they can't help but notice there's more to their chat than practicalities...
Audible Audio
Expected publication August 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 677 reviews
January 14, 2026
˖᯽ ݁˖· ─ 3/5 stars
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!
Let me start with the format of the book, it could use some work. For me personally, the format just didn’t let me immerse myself into the book enough. I understand a lot of the book is texting but at the beginning especially we really didn’t even get to learn the characters. Only texting and going to her diary which still didn’t let you see what was happening for both characters.
Now for the actual story, I didn’t mind it! It’s a simple phone swap trope and did have cute moments. I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope so when that happened it kind of just made me want to rush past it. But it ended pretty fast considering it’s a novel and gave us some cute moments afterwards which is why I changed my rating from 2 to 3 stars.
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!
Let me start with the format of the book, it could use some work. For me personally, the format just didn’t let me immerse myself into the book enough. I understand a lot of the book is texting but at the beginning especially we really didn’t even get to learn the characters. Only texting and going to her diary which still didn’t let you see what was happening for both characters.
Now for the actual story, I didn’t mind it! It’s a simple phone swap trope and did have cute moments. I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope so when that happened it kind of just made me want to rush past it. But it ended pretty fast considering it’s a novel and gave us some cute moments afterwards which is why I changed my rating from 2 to 3 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley & Simon & Schuster for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this. I was so excited and intrigued by the idea of this book, a scientist & a celebrity accidentally swapping each others phones on a plane and slowly falling in love, but it just fell flat for me. The first part of the book, where they're communicating through text and nothing bad has happened yet, is so cutesy and loveable. But parts 2 & 3 was when everything went downhill.
I didn't like the MMC at all. He made so many bad decisions and was so immature and stubborn, and I get that he had addictions but I also didnt like him 2 years into his recovery, either. I dont think it was a good idea for the FMC to fall in love with him because he reminds her of her dad multiple times. The miscommunication made me so mad because if the characters would literally just try for even a second to communicate so much would be fixed, and I get that's the point of miscommunication, but at the same time it was just way too much. It was written so poorly. The characters were both way too stubborn and immature. The only parts of this book I liked that were its saving grace from being a 1 star is that I liked all the scientific stuff I thought it was cool and I could tell that the author tried and I do think some people would vibe with this book. Unfortunately it was just not a book that was meant for me in my current head space.
I really wanted to like this. I was so excited and intrigued by the idea of this book, a scientist & a celebrity accidentally swapping each others phones on a plane and slowly falling in love, but it just fell flat for me. The first part of the book, where they're communicating through text and nothing bad has happened yet, is so cutesy and loveable. But parts 2 & 3 was when everything went downhill.
I didn't like the MMC at all. He made so many bad decisions and was so immature and stubborn, and I get that he had addictions but I also didnt like him 2 years into his recovery, either. I dont think it was a good idea for the FMC to fall in love with him because he reminds her of her dad multiple times. The miscommunication made me so mad because if the characters would literally just try for even a second to communicate so much would be fixed, and I get that's the point of miscommunication, but at the same time it was just way too much. It was written so poorly. The characters were both way too stubborn and immature. The only parts of this book I liked that were its saving grace from being a 1 star is that I liked all the scientific stuff I thought it was cool and I could tell that the author tried and I do think some people would vibe with this book. Unfortunately it was just not a book that was meant for me in my current head space.
September 29, 2025
I have loved Lia Louis' books since I read Emmie Blue. The perfect blend of emotional torment and romance. This book felt a little bit different. Allie is definitely suffering from massive mistrust, but the cause of it is blended. First, we have the issues she has in the relationship with her perhaps kooky sister, and then we have Milo.
I don't know if I could call this the 'enemies to lovers' that it's marketed as, because while there is definite enmity between these two, it's nowhere near as acrimonious as it could be. There is UST, there is attraction, and there is mistrust, which is earned because of a mistake.
I loved reading about Allie and Milo, but I have to be honest, I would have liked to read a bit more about the time they spent apart, between their first almost meeting and the actual meeting. I am very much an "I like to know the background" person, and I wanted more of theirs. We find out certain things, like Allie's father, but it whizzes by in a blur.
Overall, a lovely book, but not as emotional and tear-jerking as past works. A fun read that hits different to Louis' previous books.
I don't know if I could call this the 'enemies to lovers' that it's marketed as, because while there is definite enmity between these two, it's nowhere near as acrimonious as it could be. There is UST, there is attraction, and there is mistrust, which is earned because of a mistake.
I loved reading about Allie and Milo, but I have to be honest, I would have liked to read a bit more about the time they spent apart, between their first almost meeting and the actual meeting. I am very much an "I like to know the background" person, and I wanted more of theirs. We find out certain things, like Allie's father, but it whizzes by in a blur.
Overall, a lovely book, but not as emotional and tear-jerking as past works. A fun read that hits different to Louis' previous books.
November 17, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
2.75 stars. I liked it enough to read it to the end but... but... but...
Part One: 3.5 stars - Totally loved it!
Really connected with the characters and enjoyed the developing love story. Also, loved the twisty turny stuff.
Part Two: 3 stars - Liked it but starting having issues with Milo's behavior. It was clear that he wasn't telling Allie the truth about his behavior. I also had major issues with Iris and Jameson.
Part Three: 2 stars - Had major issues with everyone's behavior. Frankly, it appeared to me that Milo had too many similarities to Allie's dad and, even though he is sober and working his AA program at the end of the story, their HEA didn't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Profanity and PG-13 kissing.
My recommendation is to read: "Dear Emmie Blue", "Eight Perfect Hours", and "Better Left Unsent". All three are so good that I own the e-books and the audiobooks and are regular re-reads for me.
2.75 stars. I liked it enough to read it to the end but... but... but...
Part One: 3.5 stars - Totally loved it!
Really connected with the characters and enjoyed the developing love story. Also, loved the twisty turny stuff.
Part Two: 3 stars - Liked it but starting having issues with Milo's behavior. It was clear that he wasn't telling Allie the truth about his behavior. I also had major issues with Iris and Jameson.
Part Three: 2 stars - Had major issues with everyone's behavior. Frankly, it appeared to me that Milo had too many similarities to Allie's dad and, even though he is sober and working his AA program at the end of the story, their HEA didn't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Profanity and PG-13 kissing.
My recommendation is to read: "Dear Emmie Blue", "Eight Perfect Hours", and "Better Left Unsent". All three are so good that I own the e-books and the audiobooks and are regular re-reads for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to tag and provide an honest review. I love the premise of this book. The characters are from two different worlds and somehow cross paths. It's easy to fall in love with them and their supporting characters too. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
The layout was a little confusing with texting and diary entries. But it gave us an insight to Allie's history with her family and lack of trust in people.
I read for enjoyment and this is my first time reviewing a book. It's a romance trope I enjoy and while the miscommunication can be frustrating, to me it adds to the trope.
The layout was a little confusing with texting and diary entries. But it gave us an insight to Allie's history with her family and lack of trust in people.
I read for enjoyment and this is my first time reviewing a book. It's a romance trope I enjoy and while the miscommunication can be frustrating, to me it adds to the trope.
December 26, 2025
Okay I loved this one!! Milo and Allie both were such likable, flawed characters who had so much growth during the course of this book. I loved the connection to animals, and Milo’s references to recovery. I thought Jameson and Iris were great friends for each of them and overall, a good winter read (especially as a good portion is while they’re in the arctic!)
Thank you Net Galley for my ARC
Thank you Net Galley for my ARC
January 24, 2026
This was a cute late night read! A little bit of enemies to lovers, a little bit of star crossed lovers, and some puffins! I loved following the story of Allie and Milo, and their reminders of what can appear on the surface isn’t always the truth. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!
November 17, 2025
3.5 stars
This was a very cute rom-com of a book! An unexpected phone swap on a flight leads to a heartwarming romance between Milo, a movie star, and Allie, a scientist.
Part 1 alternates between their post-phone-swap messages and Allie’s diary entries as they plan to meet up for the swap back. Parts 2 and 3 take place in the present and alternate between Allie and Milo’s POVs as they navigate their relationship following a major loss of trust.
The text messaging and diary entries were a unique and fun way to get to know the characters and watch their relationship develop. However, it felt like Milo’s overuse of exclamation points and emojis distracted from the actual dialogue. Jameson and Iris were absolutely wonderful and I really enjoyed how much we got to know them in addition to the main characters.
The biggest issue I had with this book was miscommunication trope. I am simply not a fan of it and found it to be very frustrating. It seemed to drag on forever and just wasn’t very believable given the ages of Allie and Milo. This was still a very sweet romance that I really enjoyed overall.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very cute rom-com of a book! An unexpected phone swap on a flight leads to a heartwarming romance between Milo, a movie star, and Allie, a scientist.
Part 1 alternates between their post-phone-swap messages and Allie’s diary entries as they plan to meet up for the swap back. Parts 2 and 3 take place in the present and alternate between Allie and Milo’s POVs as they navigate their relationship following a major loss of trust.
The text messaging and diary entries were a unique and fun way to get to know the characters and watch their relationship develop. However, it felt like Milo’s overuse of exclamation points and emojis distracted from the actual dialogue. Jameson and Iris were absolutely wonderful and I really enjoyed how much we got to know them in addition to the main characters.
The biggest issue I had with this book was miscommunication trope. I am simply not a fan of it and found it to be very frustrating. It seemed to drag on forever and just wasn’t very believable given the ages of Allie and Milo. This was still a very sweet romance that I really enjoyed overall.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Sweet, Low-Stress Read
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Phone Swap.
This was such a super cute read! It was definitely a little longer than it needed to be, but the charm of the story and the genuine sweetness of the characters made up for it. I loved that both leads were a little flawed in real, relatable ways—it added heart without adding heaviness.
Overall, it’s a quick, easy, low-stress book that’s perfect when you want something light and feel-good. I’d definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a breezy, comfort-read vibe
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Phone Swap.
This was such a super cute read! It was definitely a little longer than it needed to be, but the charm of the story and the genuine sweetness of the characters made up for it. I loved that both leads were a little flawed in real, relatable ways—it added heart without adding heaviness.
Overall, it’s a quick, easy, low-stress book that’s perfect when you want something light and feel-good. I’d definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a breezy, comfort-read vibe
January 28, 2026
First off, I would like to thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of The Phone Swap. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Phone Swap was my first read from Lia Louis. I was so intrigued by the plot that I felt I had to read it. I honestly can’t say what my expectations were having not read one of their books previously, but I was pleasantly surprised! The words flowed well, the plot kept me wanting more and even gave me a few surprises. The chemistry between the main characters was palpable from the page.
If you’re looking for a fun, entertaining read, definitely consider this!
The Phone Swap was my first read from Lia Louis. I was so intrigued by the plot that I felt I had to read it. I honestly can’t say what my expectations were having not read one of their books previously, but I was pleasantly surprised! The words flowed well, the plot kept me wanting more and even gave me a few surprises. The chemistry between the main characters was palpable from the page.
If you’re looking for a fun, entertaining read, definitely consider this!
January 22, 2026
The premise for the plot sounded super interesting and the first 50-70 pages got me hooked, but then it started to fall flat for me. I lost interest around 40 percent in and it was a bit of a struggle to finish.
I could easily put this book down.
I’m not saying it was a bad read but mostly it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the eARC. I’m glad I could try this author!
I could easily put this book down.
I’m not saying it was a bad read but mostly it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the eARC. I’m glad I could try this author!
February 23, 2026
*NetGalley ARC Review*
Sweet romance between a celebrity and scientist that happens over an accidental phone swap on an airplane. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, perspectives from multiple characters, the science, the plot, and the variety of settings! Very easy read and it kept me engaged and wanting more the whole time!
Sweet romance between a celebrity and scientist that happens over an accidental phone swap on an airplane. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, perspectives from multiple characters, the science, the plot, and the variety of settings! Very easy read and it kept me engaged and wanting more the whole time!
February 21, 2026
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released on August 25th and you don’t want to miss it!
The Phone Swap by Lia Louis was such a delightful surprise. I loved this book, especially because it didn’t feel like the set up of your traditional romance.
The story begins when Milo, a movie star and Allie, a scientist accidentally swap phones on a flight. Part one unfolds through text message exchanges and was completely swoon worthy. I was hooked immediately, even though I had no idea where the story was headed. It made me think a lot about how much you can learn about someone just by seeing what’s on their phone without actually knowing them.
As the story progresses, we follow the emotional ups and downs of Milo and Allie’s relationship. Much of the book takes place in the Arctic, where Allie is on a research mission. Lia Louis does an incredible job making you feel like you’re really there. The setting felt vivid, immersive, and completely believable.
The side characters truly shine as well. Iris and Jameson are wonderful friends to our main characters, and Polly and Lars add so much warmth and heart to the story. Every character felt likable and well developed, and I found myself rooting for Milo and Allie the entire time.
This book has so much to offer fame, science, puffins, drama, love, and characters who grow and learn so much about themselves along the way. A unique, heartfelt read that I highly recommend.
The Phone Swap by Lia Louis was such a delightful surprise. I loved this book, especially because it didn’t feel like the set up of your traditional romance.
The story begins when Milo, a movie star and Allie, a scientist accidentally swap phones on a flight. Part one unfolds through text message exchanges and was completely swoon worthy. I was hooked immediately, even though I had no idea where the story was headed. It made me think a lot about how much you can learn about someone just by seeing what’s on their phone without actually knowing them.
As the story progresses, we follow the emotional ups and downs of Milo and Allie’s relationship. Much of the book takes place in the Arctic, where Allie is on a research mission. Lia Louis does an incredible job making you feel like you’re really there. The setting felt vivid, immersive, and completely believable.
The side characters truly shine as well. Iris and Jameson are wonderful friends to our main characters, and Polly and Lars add so much warmth and heart to the story. Every character felt likable and well developed, and I found myself rooting for Milo and Allie the entire time.
This book has so much to offer fame, science, puffins, drama, love, and characters who grow and learn so much about themselves along the way. A unique, heartfelt read that I highly recommend.
January 15, 2026
Probably closer to ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thanks Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for letting me read this book as an ARC!
This book had a cute premise and I loved the idea of swapping phones and learning about each other through conversations back and forth. I think this story didn’t play out as well as the author probably intended. The miscommunication trope was way too much of a focus in this book. They had miscommunications 4 or 5 times within the first 50% of the book which became pretty redundant. I felt like everything could have been solved way sooner!
The second half of the book was really cute and a redeeming piece! I wish we had gotten to that part much sooner.
Overall, a good book that was cute but was a bit drawn out at times.
Thanks Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for letting me read this book as an ARC!
This book had a cute premise and I loved the idea of swapping phones and learning about each other through conversations back and forth. I think this story didn’t play out as well as the author probably intended. The miscommunication trope was way too much of a focus in this book. They had miscommunications 4 or 5 times within the first 50% of the book which became pretty redundant. I felt like everything could have been solved way sooner!
The second half of the book was really cute and a redeeming piece! I wish we had gotten to that part much sooner.
Overall, a good book that was cute but was a bit drawn out at times.
July 11, 2026
I’m struggling with my review of this novel because it’s simply not what I was expecting. I adored this author’s previous novel Better Left Unsent, and, after reading the blurb, anticipated more of her charming British humor. The Phone Swap, one of my most anticipated novels of the summer, starts with a great premise where Allie, a seabird biologist, and Milo, a famous actor, accidentally swap phones on a transatlantic flight. Circumstances make it difficult to immediately return the phones, so they begin a sweet romance over text and FaceTime. But both Allie and Milo have issues to work through before they can find their happily ever after.
The Phone Swap has many qualities of another charming romantic comedy. I loved the meet cute, Allie’s unique career, the famous person-normal person trope, and watching Allie and Milo let their guards down over their phones. Unfortunately, the fun banter at the beginning soon became overshadowed by miscommunication and lies. I can appreciate the author’s effort to give these characters back stories with trauma and the desire to withhold their true selves. But the prolonged separation and mutual distrust between the characters made the ending feel rushed and less plausible to me. Ultimately my feelings about this novel are a bit mixed, as it didn't quite match my initial expectations, but romantic dramedy readers will find plenty to enjoy 2.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Phone Swap has many qualities of another charming romantic comedy. I loved the meet cute, Allie’s unique career, the famous person-normal person trope, and watching Allie and Milo let their guards down over their phones. Unfortunately, the fun banter at the beginning soon became overshadowed by miscommunication and lies. I can appreciate the author’s effort to give these characters back stories with trauma and the desire to withhold their true selves. But the prolonged separation and mutual distrust between the characters made the ending feel rushed and less plausible to me. Ultimately my feelings about this novel are a bit mixed, as it didn't quite match my initial expectations, but romantic dramedy readers will find plenty to enjoy 2.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 27, 2026
ARC review via NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️ The first part of the book was cute but hard to get connected to; the texting format gives you a lot of information in a short amount of words but it's not a deep connection to the characters.
I liked the forced proximity but the slow burn to not get clear enough light on the miscommunication was frustrating. Overall I enjoyed the story and liked the conclusion.
3.5 ⭐️ The first part of the book was cute but hard to get connected to; the texting format gives you a lot of information in a short amount of words but it's not a deep connection to the characters.
I liked the forced proximity but the slow burn to not get clear enough light on the miscommunication was frustrating. Overall I enjoyed the story and liked the conclusion.
November 26, 2025
Standard romance, enjoyable enough
December 4, 2025
An easy read celebrity romance. unlikely couple, some great friendships and a miscommunication troupe are featured in this book. it's a cute story. it didn't flow as well as I wished but overall a good read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to NetGalley for a copy. very cute and fun read!
February 19, 2026
~thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review~
Originally rated 3 but changed to 2 😕 the beginning felt so childish to me, the way the characters were acting. Then the middle of the book wasn’t too bad but I also just felt like the characters were immature. And I couldn’t relate to anyone so it felt off to me.
Originally rated 3 but changed to 2 😕 the beginning felt so childish to me, the way the characters were acting. Then the middle of the book wasn’t too bad but I also just felt like the characters were immature. And I couldn’t relate to anyone so it felt off to me.
June 22, 2026
3.5⭐️ rounded up. Did I choose this book because the FMC and I have the same name and there was a puffin on the cover… yes but this was such a cute story! I really enjoyed the style of this story with the 3 parts. The miscommunication was irritating at times but I was still invested in Allie and Milo figuring everything out and being together. I also enjoyed the sub plot with the arctic vibes and I found Allie’s work interesting. Allie and Milo had great chemistry and the slow burn payed off especially after all of the miscommunication. The ending was so sweet and overall I liked the story as a whole. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A character in this story said anything that moved him would always be a five star read so perhaps I should be following his advice here but I do have some grumbles with the middle. It took me a bit to get into this story but then I was very quickly hooked for about the first half and could not it put it down. The main characters were very different, yet both were very dorky but it was sweet. I really liked a plot device the author chose to shake things up but I did think the pacing slowed down. The characters are flawed and raw which makes them feel very human but I wanted more of the romantic comedy I thought this was going to be. They both have various issues and family problems which is the kind of thing that annoys me in books because I don’t want to read about the realities of life. I do hate the miscommunication trope but for the most part your author actually handled that well. What really annoyed me was the constant issues the characters had and the constant talking about them. I kept rolling my eyes at the guy’s best friend constantly calling him Mildred instead of Milo which just seemed weird. The author also kept giving Milo odd unmanly attributes like crocheting and wearing pink.
All that being said it’s a quick read that will hold your attention and you will be rooting for a happy ending. There’s a beautiful quality to the beginning and falling in love which I think gets lost later on. I think this will resonate more with readers that know what to expect here, that it’s a deeper more raw story, than the fun cover and blurb give you the impression of.
As far as content goes it’s almost a squeaky clean story. Allie talks about her alcoholic father and the impacts of that but not in that much detail. There is discussion about addiction but more as in the harsh reality and consequences of it. There’s one scene that mentions Milo being hard but it’s meant more as awkward than anything else but that’s about it for younger or sensitive readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
All that being said it’s a quick read that will hold your attention and you will be rooting for a happy ending. There’s a beautiful quality to the beginning and falling in love which I think gets lost later on. I think this will resonate more with readers that know what to expect here, that it’s a deeper more raw story, than the fun cover and blurb give you the impression of.
As far as content goes it’s almost a squeaky clean story. Allie talks about her alcoholic father and the impacts of that but not in that much detail. There is discussion about addiction but more as in the harsh reality and consequences of it. There’s one scene that mentions Milo being hard but it’s meant more as awkward than anything else but that’s about it for younger or sensitive readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 15, 2026
Lia Louis always comes up with the most heartwarming romcom storylines, and while this was not my favourite from her, I would still recommend Phone Swap for a lighthearted read! The premise is cute: two strangers accidentally swap phones, one is a celebrity and one is a “normal” person (though I would hardly call Allie’s job regular, it sounded so cool!). The story format was unique - with Part 1 reading as text exchanges and journal entries and Part 2 being dual-perspective (each chapter swapping between Allie and Milo).
There was so much yearning and will-they-won’t-they moments. It was clear Allie and Milo cared about each other despite everything happening around them. I am not a fan of the miscommunication troupe, which was frustrating at times when I wanted to yell at Allie and Milo to just stop for a second and talk about what was really going on.
My biggest critique is the pacing and depth.
The Pacing: I found the highs very readable, immersive and exciting, and the lows almost made me want to abandon. I know Lia Louis always delivers so I had the motivation to push through the slow parts.
The Depth: Brushing over Milo’s substance abuse and addiction felt off to me. It was a root of a lot of issues but felt as though it wasn’t taken as seriously? It hard to trust him, and also the connection of this to Allie’s father was a little concerning. In general, the romance had moments of depth, but ultimately it felt like we only scratched the surface. Maybe that’s part of the story though, that we don’t get all the details and have to trust what Allie and Milo built together through all their conversations in Part 1.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There was so much yearning and will-they-won’t-they moments. It was clear Allie and Milo cared about each other despite everything happening around them. I am not a fan of the miscommunication troupe, which was frustrating at times when I wanted to yell at Allie and Milo to just stop for a second and talk about what was really going on.
My biggest critique is the pacing and depth.
The Pacing: I found the highs very readable, immersive and exciting, and the lows almost made me want to abandon. I know Lia Louis always delivers so I had the motivation to push through the slow parts.
The Depth: Brushing over Milo’s substance abuse and addiction felt off to me. It was a root of a lot of issues but felt as though it wasn’t taken as seriously? It hard to trust him, and also the connection of this to Allie’s father was a little concerning. In general, the romance had moments of depth, but ultimately it felt like we only scratched the surface. Maybe that’s part of the story though, that we don’t get all the details and have to trust what Allie and Milo built together through all their conversations in Part 1.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lia Louis, for allowing me to be an ARC for this book. It was a cute closed-door romance novel about two people who swap seats on an airplane and accidentally end up with each other's phones for 21 days. They become close during this time frame, and then some events occur that prevent them from talking to each other for over two years. They are brought back together under strange circumstances, where the MMC and his brother come to where the MFC is on an assignment in the Arctic, and they finally meet face to face. All the unanswered questions become answered, the real question is, will they be able to move past it all and be together or not?
I think overall it was a cute, put-together, unique novel. An awesome book to read during the cold, winter months. I am glad that I got to read it during the winter/Christmas season. It does help set the tone for the book. An accidental phone swap between a scientist and an up-and-coming actor. There is a lot of dialogue within the heads of the two main characters, so you really do get a feel for how they truly feel about what they think happened between them before they went no-contact. I struggle with the miscommunication trope in any book for the simple fact that being adults means we should be able to talk things out. Also, the way things play out makes sense, but it's not really a "oh wow, that's crazy" plot twist. It was still an enjoyable book. I recommend people read it when it does come out! If you are a mood reader like me, I would save it for next winter!
Thank you, NetGalley and Lia Louis, for allowing me to be an ARC for this book. It was a cute closed-door romance novel about two people who swap seats on an airplane and accidentally end up with each other's phones for 21 days. They become close during this time frame, and then some events occur that prevent them from talking to each other for over two years. They are brought back together under strange circumstances, where the MMC and his brother come to where the MFC is on an assignment in the Arctic, and they finally meet face to face. All the unanswered questions become answered, the real question is, will they be able to move past it all and be together or not?
I think overall it was a cute, put-together, unique novel. An awesome book to read during the cold, winter months. I am glad that I got to read it during the winter/Christmas season. It does help set the tone for the book. An accidental phone swap between a scientist and an up-and-coming actor. There is a lot of dialogue within the heads of the two main characters, so you really do get a feel for how they truly feel about what they think happened between them before they went no-contact. I struggle with the miscommunication trope in any book for the simple fact that being adults means we should be able to talk things out. Also, the way things play out makes sense, but it's not really a "oh wow, that's crazy" plot twist. It was still an enjoyable book. I recommend people read it when it does come out! If you are a mood reader like me, I would save it for next winter!
November 29, 2025
4⭐️
This was such a CUTE story!
A phone swap? Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, it isn't for Allie and Milo. Their whole lives are on their phones and they are trying to find a way to get them back. Through this process, they end up communicating with one another and slowly building a trust to protect the phones until they can meet and switch. Well.... That doesn't exactly go the way as planned and their trust for one another just went down the drain. This is a question that they need to answer when they meet each other again after a few years.
I loved the relationship between Allie and Milo. They were so open and honest with one another. And although they were so scared to trust each other, they gave it a shot. They had great communication until they didn't. The process of their relationship felt so realistic and didn't feel rushed at all (which I feel can happen a lot in books). My only negative about their relationship would be the lack of communication when they re-kindled. They had every right to shut each other out but felt them not communicating dragged on a little longer than needed.
Okay, I can't not talk about all the cute animals mentioned in the book! I enjoyed reading all about the birds that were included throughout the book. They added the perfect amount of light-heartedness at times it was difficult for our main characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a CUTE story!
A phone swap? Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, it isn't for Allie and Milo. Their whole lives are on their phones and they are trying to find a way to get them back. Through this process, they end up communicating with one another and slowly building a trust to protect the phones until they can meet and switch. Well.... That doesn't exactly go the way as planned and their trust for one another just went down the drain. This is a question that they need to answer when they meet each other again after a few years.
I loved the relationship between Allie and Milo. They were so open and honest with one another. And although they were so scared to trust each other, they gave it a shot. They had great communication until they didn't. The process of their relationship felt so realistic and didn't feel rushed at all (which I feel can happen a lot in books). My only negative about their relationship would be the lack of communication when they re-kindled. They had every right to shut each other out but felt them not communicating dragged on a little longer than needed.
Okay, I can't not talk about all the cute animals mentioned in the book! I enjoyed reading all about the birds that were included throughout the book. They added the perfect amount of light-heartedness at times it was difficult for our main characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2026
4.25⭐️
thank you netgalley and simon & schuster for providing this arc!
this book was so lovely! i wasn’t sure what to expect going in as i haven’t read a book by lia louis, but i was so pleasantly surprised by what this book was! the book begins with the phone swap, which i had figured was going to be the specific plot/trope of the whole book but the phone swap only the beginning. what followed was a beautiful romance about second chances and trust and being open and vulnerable. the tension was exquisite and you could still feel the pull these two had for each other throughout and i personally found that draw to be believable. this does hinge on a pretty big miscommunication, but i actually found myself not minding it because of that draw to each other and the way we were able to see that the problem was really other things and the miscommunication was just a convenient excuse for it all, which feels like the correct way to implement a miscommunication.
i absolutely adored the main characters’ best friends and i would definitely not be disappointed if they got their own book one day 👀, but they were such supportive best friends and i loved that there were no petty fights between the main characters and their respective best friends. they could be real with each other and it was listened to. and the ending was such quintessential rom com and i was eating it up! definitely recommend reading!!
thank you netgalley and simon & schuster for providing this arc!
this book was so lovely! i wasn’t sure what to expect going in as i haven’t read a book by lia louis, but i was so pleasantly surprised by what this book was! the book begins with the phone swap, which i had figured was going to be the specific plot/trope of the whole book but the phone swap only the beginning. what followed was a beautiful romance about second chances and trust and being open and vulnerable. the tension was exquisite and you could still feel the pull these two had for each other throughout and i personally found that draw to be believable. this does hinge on a pretty big miscommunication, but i actually found myself not minding it because of that draw to each other and the way we were able to see that the problem was really other things and the miscommunication was just a convenient excuse for it all, which feels like the correct way to implement a miscommunication.
i absolutely adored the main characters’ best friends and i would definitely not be disappointed if they got their own book one day 👀, but they were such supportive best friends and i loved that there were no petty fights between the main characters and their respective best friends. they could be real with each other and it was listened to. and the ending was such quintessential rom com and i was eating it up! definitely recommend reading!!
November 26, 2025
thank you publisher + netgalley for this super cute arc read, in exchange for an honest review <33
okay so my rating may be surprising for the positive review i am about to write… but just hang in there with me.
i really really enjoyed this read, it was cozy and cute and made me giggle tons. i love a second chance romance, and i absolutely adore milo. would i read this again? probably not. but am i really happy to have read this? absolutely 100%. i think if you are looking for something easy and mindless to read, this should be a solid contender!!
with all that said, why three stars??? for one, there was never a moment that i felt deeply moved. there wasn’t any specific detail that felt set apart from other contemp romances. which is totally fine, but i think i look for that specifically when deciding on how i choose to rate a read. secondly, i felt like there was a great opportunity to dive deeper into the experience of grief and addiction, and i felt like it was skimmed over from a very surface level perspective. i expected more from that. and lastly, i was slightly disappointed by the climax and resolution. the resolution felt unrealistic and too clean??? i don’t know if that makes sense but, it just bummed me out.
all in all, i really enjoyed this one and am grateful to have been given the chance to give this a read!!
okay so my rating may be surprising for the positive review i am about to write… but just hang in there with me.
i really really enjoyed this read, it was cozy and cute and made me giggle tons. i love a second chance romance, and i absolutely adore milo. would i read this again? probably not. but am i really happy to have read this? absolutely 100%. i think if you are looking for something easy and mindless to read, this should be a solid contender!!
with all that said, why three stars??? for one, there was never a moment that i felt deeply moved. there wasn’t any specific detail that felt set apart from other contemp romances. which is totally fine, but i think i look for that specifically when deciding on how i choose to rate a read. secondly, i felt like there was a great opportunity to dive deeper into the experience of grief and addiction, and i felt like it was skimmed over from a very surface level perspective. i expected more from that. and lastly, i was slightly disappointed by the climax and resolution. the resolution felt unrealistic and too clean??? i don’t know if that makes sense but, it just bummed me out.
all in all, i really enjoyed this one and am grateful to have been given the chance to give this a read!!
December 8, 2025
Fun and unique read!
I really enjoyed this book! First and foremost, a woman in STEM and a male actor? It’s sad to say this is different from the norm, but it is and it was refreshing! The first thing to pull me, though, in was the format. The first section of the book is filled with text conversations and diary entries, which we later discover have been leaked to the press. I found this to be a fun intro to the characters and the plot. The next sections were engaging and entertaining. I loved all of the characters, main and secondary, and found all of them to have believable plot lines.
The reason behind three stars is that I did find the miscommunication (or complete lack of communication) to be a stale plot point by the end. It began to teeter on the edge of annoying. I also found that there was a missed opportunity to delve into the very serious issues of addiction and domestic violence. While it was discussed in a sensitive way, I thought it could have a greater impact, particularly the DV, as it was only implied and not explicitly addressed.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and would recommend for a fun, quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review an ARC copy!
I really enjoyed this book! First and foremost, a woman in STEM and a male actor? It’s sad to say this is different from the norm, but it is and it was refreshing! The first thing to pull me, though, in was the format. The first section of the book is filled with text conversations and diary entries, which we later discover have been leaked to the press. I found this to be a fun intro to the characters and the plot. The next sections were engaging and entertaining. I loved all of the characters, main and secondary, and found all of them to have believable plot lines.
The reason behind three stars is that I did find the miscommunication (or complete lack of communication) to be a stale plot point by the end. It began to teeter on the edge of annoying. I also found that there was a missed opportunity to delve into the very serious issues of addiction and domestic violence. While it was discussed in a sensitive way, I thought it could have a greater impact, particularly the DV, as it was only implied and not explicitly addressed.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and would recommend for a fun, quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review an ARC copy!
January 12, 2026
The Phone Swap follows Ally, a scientific researcher with a focus on birds, and Milo, a Hollywood actor, who accidentally swap phones while on a flight. As both have time-sensitive work related data on their phones, they reach out to each other to work out a system for getting their data first and their phones once they can, and get to know each other through texts and video calls along the way.
This story was quite cute. I absolutely adored the first 20% of it - the beginning is told through text conversations between Ally and Milo and entries in Ally's digital diary. I loved this format and was sad once it ended and the actual story began.
I did have some pretty deep mistrusts about Milo. I still don't know if I completely like him, but I do understand what it's like to make a mistake out of fear and to regret it. After all, we're all human, and none of us are flawless. I did also like seeing Ally and Sian's story work itself out, as anyone with siblings can relate to sibling misunderstandings and arguments. The ending was cute, and overall I did feel like it was a quick, cozy, heartwarming read. I absolutely ADORED reading about the animals Ally works with - the puffins were so cute, like are you kidding me? Overall, I think I'd give this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Also, I feel like Iris and Jameson deserve a story of their own. I loved their characters and liked their chemistry, and would totally read a sequel focused on them!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story was quite cute. I absolutely adored the first 20% of it - the beginning is told through text conversations between Ally and Milo and entries in Ally's digital diary. I loved this format and was sad once it ended and the actual story began.
I did have some pretty deep mistrusts about Milo. I still don't know if I completely like him, but I do understand what it's like to make a mistake out of fear and to regret it. After all, we're all human, and none of us are flawless. I did also like seeing Ally and Sian's story work itself out, as anyone with siblings can relate to sibling misunderstandings and arguments. The ending was cute, and overall I did feel like it was a quick, cozy, heartwarming read. I absolutely ADORED reading about the animals Ally works with - the puffins were so cute, like are you kidding me? Overall, I think I'd give this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Also, I feel like Iris and Jameson deserve a story of their own. I loved their characters and liked their chemistry, and would totally read a sequel focused on them!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 3.75/5 🌟
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. Well, here it is:
First off, I would say it started off strong, with Part 1 being my favorite. But as it went on, Part 2 felt so long and ongoing. I was really pushing through at this point on. I almost DNF the book, but I ended up finishing it. I think the plot is super interesting and unique, but Allie was such an irritating character, I'm sorry to say. She constantly kept denying her feelings towards Milo when she knew all along that she wanted his attention. She kept giving him attitude and sass when it wasn't necessary. The whole blaming each other for exposing the truth was super ongoing when they both denied the allegations.
Anyways, fast forward. I think the puffin couples were cute, and that story was more interesting than Allie and Milo themselves. But I enjoyed Part 3 the most since it just really got to the point of the whole plot. I just wished they would've ended up going to the awards together since that's what Allie got dressed up for. I loved the whole romance between Iris and Jameson. I was more intrigued about their story, and I hope we get more of them soon. Overall, it's a good read.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. Well, here it is:
First off, I would say it started off strong, with Part 1 being my favorite. But as it went on, Part 2 felt so long and ongoing. I was really pushing through at this point on. I almost DNF the book, but I ended up finishing it. I think the plot is super interesting and unique, but Allie was such an irritating character, I'm sorry to say. She constantly kept denying her feelings towards Milo when she knew all along that she wanted his attention. She kept giving him attitude and sass when it wasn't necessary. The whole blaming each other for exposing the truth was super ongoing when they both denied the allegations.
Anyways, fast forward. I think the puffin couples were cute, and that story was more interesting than Allie and Milo themselves. But I enjoyed Part 3 the most since it just really got to the point of the whole plot. I just wished they would've ended up going to the awards together since that's what Allie got dressed up for. I loved the whole romance between Iris and Jameson. I was more intrigued about their story, and I hope we get more of them soon. Overall, it's a good read.
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