The Night Bus

by Tessa Bickers

One book. Two strangers. An unforgettable journey as they rewrite the ending.

Daisy Douglas has spent her life behind the scenes: at work, in her relationships, and now, in planning a wedding she isn’t sure she even wants. As an entertainment journalist, she can spot the start of a story a mile away. So when her routine 4 a.m. bus ride to the newsroom takes a surprising turn, she notices.

For months, the same man has boarded at the same stop, reading the same tattered copy of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando over and over as if his life depends on it. When a broken-down bus and a shared walk through the quiet early-morning London streets finally throws them together, Tom reveals the heartbreaking truth as to why he can’t be without his novel.

Determined to help him find the answer to the riddle hidden in its pages, Daisy joins Tom on his strange literary quest—one that leads them to places neither of them ever expected. But as their friendship deepens, she starts to wonder if what they’re both looking for might not be in the book after all.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Rom Com, Adult, London

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2026

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I’m in the minority here, but I LOVED this book!

Imagine you’re an entertainment journalist. You need to be up and out already at the crack of dawn! So, Daisy is on the bus, en route to work, EVERY DAY at 4am!
Now, imagine her surprise when she realizes that the same guy has been getting on her bus, every day, with the SAME BOOK…for weeks… maybe months! I mean… how many times can you read the same thing??

Then, one day, the bus breaks down. They all get off…waiting for a replacement bus to come. There’s a group of very drunk guys who are harassing Daisy… she ignores them, but they are getting louder! And they are BIG!
Then, just when she’s getting really anxious, book guy comes to her rescue! Well, kind of! He asks them to leave her alone. They kind of laugh.😆. Then, Daisy grabs his book and beats them all in the head with it… and they RUN!

This begins a very sweet and innocent friendship! They see each other every morning on the bus, but now Daisy gets to know Tom. He shares with her that he’s heart broken over the loss of his ex-girlfriend… who he still loves… and would do anything to get her back!

She shares that she’s engaged, to be married in a few months.

They devise a plan to get the girl (Sophie) back so they can live happily ever after. But instead, they end up forming a wonderful relationship… only friends, but oh so sweet!

I’ll stop right here, as I don’t want to give anything away… but this was just sweet… and special… and heart-warming!

All the stars for me, as it brought out ALL the emotions! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫💫💫💫💫🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨✨✨✨✨

#TheNightBus by @TessaBickers and narrated beautifully by @NaomiFrederick.

** This one releases TODAY, so please keep your eyes 👀 open for it! Today… 5/19/26! **

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @HarlequinAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!

And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷

[cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not gonna lie, I always get a little disappointed when I open a book and realize it’s written in third person. It takes a very specific writing style for me to fully connect, and unfortunately this one just didn’t quite get there. 🥲

This had so much potential, and I was invested, but I kept waiting for it to turn into something deeper than what I was actually getting. The slow burn was very slow… but then I realized barely any time had actually passed despite how many chapters I’d read. 😭 Somehow it managed to feel dragged out and rushed at the same time.

I did really enjoy Daisy and Tom’s friendship developing, and honestly their real first proper meet-up? That was actually so funny. Him intervening to help her fend off three drunk men but then she ends up smacking them around with a book?? 💀 Hilarious.

But Tom’s shift from being so consumed by his past relationship to suddenly falling for Daisy felt a bit too quick to fully buy into, especially given how intense his earlier emotions seemed.

And Zack. I cannot stress this enough. AWFUL. Manipulative, emotionally abusive, and somehow still being treated like he deserved grace???? had me genuinely irritated. Every time he showed up I was immediately annoyed and quite literally wanted to drop kick him in the face. I also kept wanting Daisy to fully stand up for herself 😭 like sis can you not see the plethora of red flags this man is emitting and that you deserve better?!?!?! UGH. SO BLIND.

I also felt like heavier themes like grief and emotional fallout were touched on, but not explored with the depth they deserved. I stayed invested (mostly out of frustration and curiosity), and I was definitely anxious about how everything would wrap up. thankfully it did give a satisfying ending after all the chaos though. Overall, it just wasn’t quite the emotional experience I wanted it to be.

things to know about the book ↓

🚌 strangers to lovers
🚌 love triangle
🚌 slow burn
🚌 toxic relationship
🚌 friendship to something more
🚌 dual POV (in third person)

spice rating: 🌶️
swearing: yes

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing & Tessa Bickers for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

3.5 Stars

I adored The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers so I was so excited to get my hands on this one. I will say, The Book Swap is still my favorite, but I did really enjoy this one.

The book had a rough start for me. Tom sounded like a bunch of red flags to start off, I understand he was meant to sound like he was coming from a good place and his heart was broken, but yikes man. That was not the best introduction to the main male lead. He had fewer red flags than Zack, but it took me awhile to warm up to him. The way my body curled in on itself anytime Zack, Daisy’s once therapist now fiancé, was on the page….

Daisy had a complicated life with a lot of unhealthy relationship attachment styles. This made the book quite uncomfortable at times. I wish we had gotten more of it though, there was a lot of good substance there. I wanted more with and about her brother. I wanted more with Clara.

Overall, this book was serendipitous and sweet. Adding Orlando by Virginia Woolf to my TBR. Never fall in love with your therapist, folks.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5 ⭐️
0/5 🌶️

I went into this one fully convinced it was going to be some kind of slightly paranormal, time-loop, Groundhog Day-ish romance. Like the same man reading the same battered copy of Orlando every single morning on the same 4 a.m. bus route? Tell me that doesn’t sound like the setup for something weird and magical. Unfortunately, it was not that book. And honestly… I kind of wish it had been.

The story itself wasn’t bad, just painfully dull at times. Daisy is intentionally written as someone who fades into the background, but that energy unfortunately bleeds into the entire story. Everything felt very muted and low-stakes, even when it was trying to be emotional. Meanwhile, her fiancé made my skin crawl from the very beginning. Every interaction with him felt controlling and manipulative, and I spent most of the book wondering how Daisy couldn’t see the giant red flags waving directly in her face. Girl, if you have to hide a major secret from the man you’re about to marry, that is not “cold feet.” That is your body trying to save you.

Tom also frustrated me endlessly. His whole relationship backstory just made him feel kind of pathetic? She cheated on him, dumped him out of guilt instead of honesty, and somehow he’s the one trying to reinvent himself so she might want him again someday? I needed him to stand up immediately.

And then there’s the missing brother subplot, which felt completely unnecessary. The story already had enough material with Daisy processing her father’s abusive, controlling behavior and realizing how it shaped her adult relationships. We really didn’t need a random “missing in America” side quest just so the brother could return with sudden clarity about a man who died 15 years ago.

Naomi Frederick’s narration was lovely and honestly probably the reason I finished it. But overall, I kept waiting for the story to become more interesting than it actually was. If it had leaned into the strange, almost magical setup it teased at the beginning, I probably would’ve forgiven a lot more.

Thanks to Tessa, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Night Bus” by Tessa Bickers is a closed-door love triangle romance that follows two strangers who meet on a night bus and the trajectory their lives take as they help one another.

Thirty-one-year-old Daisy Douglas has worked at Entertainment Now! for the past five years. Her father died fifteen years ago in a car accident, after which her brother Dan took on the “man of the house” role. Her father’s treatment of their mother and children, combined with his death, led Daisy into therapy with Zack Crossley. Now, Zack is no longer her therapist, he is her fiancé.

Thirty-two-year-old Tom Riley had been in a relationship with Sophie since he was seventeen, until four months ago, when she abruptly ended things after reading a book on what he calls “The Worst Day.” Trying to understand why, Tom revisits old photos and identifies the book as “Orlando,” by Virginia Woolf. Unable to sleep and determined to win Sophie back, he reads “Orlando” repeatedly from cover to cover.

Every morning, Daisy takes the 4 a.m. N73 bus to work. Tom, unable to sleep due to heartbreak, begins riding the same bus. Though they initially only notice each other in passing, their connection begins when Tom intervenes to stop Daisy from being assaulted, and Daisy defends them both by hitting the attackers with Tom’s book. From there, a friendship develops. When Daisy realizes that Tom’s obsession with “Orlando” stems from his inability to understand it, she offers to help him win Sophie back. In exchange, Tom offers to be the photographer for her wedding.

Bickers’ novel contains several endearing moments as the two strangers gradually form a bond. However, the idea that either character could plausibly fall in love with the other in such a short time, and that Tom’s feelings for Sophie would fade so quickly, feels unconvincing. While the trauma within the Douglas household has clearly shaped Daisy’s life, its eventual revelation is underdeveloped and somewhat dismissed, with much of the emotional weight shifted onto Dan rather than Daisy herself.

Zack, meanwhile, is portrayed as an abusive partner who manipulates Daisy emotionally while controlling her time and finances. A brief scene involving another therapist raises serious ethical and legal concerns but is cut short and never revisited. The therapist is depicted as somewhat lackadaisical despite the gravity of the situation. Zack ultimately faces no consequences and is free to continue his behavior unchecked. Daisy’s continued defense of him, especially near the end, where she still credits him with saving her from a dark period, comes across as frustrating and underexamined.

As someone who has facilitated support groups for individuals dealing with addiction and mental illness across various age groups, I found the portrayal of these themes lacking in care and nuance. The novel would have benefited from a more thoughtful and responsible depiction of trauma and abuse, one that centers victims rather than appearing to justify or excuse the actions of the perpetrator.

I received an ARC through Edelweiss and NetGalley via MIRA and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Unapologetically Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Tessa’s writing in her first book, The Book Swap. And this one just cemented it for me ❤️

Tessa is able to bring out so much emotion with such simple, uncomplicated words. It’s effortless! The characters she creates are so relatable, they speak to your own feelings, insecurities, hopes and fears. You’re sucked into their story, into their lives, and are grateful to go along for the ride.

Daisy tugged so much on my heartstrings. She is someone who is just trying to live a small life, stay in the background, stay safe and don’t take risks. Something we all can relate too. She’s battled with a difficult childhood, family secrets that no one talks about, and struggles with what love looks like.

Tom just broke my heart. He’s so heart broken at the start of the story, over his ex. Its devastated him. He’s also battled with “playing it safe” in a way. Twisting his life and his career to fit into a box that provides a sense of security financially and for his relationship. When all that fails, it causes him to take a look at things in a different way. To reexamine himself, and start to rethink about what exactly it is that makes him happy.

I loved these two together!! Such a unique meet-cute, avoiding near death on the side of the road, defending someone with a book and then holding hands with a stranger. There ease together is what everyone searches for. That feeling like you’ve known the other person for years, when you’ve just met them. I loved how they knew one another, what the other would think and say, who they were, how they would react. I loved the friendship that built at first, and the foundation that that laid for their relationship. I loved the slow burn of it too.

The ending!!! When she ran …I’m not gonna lie, Tessa, you had me worried!!! But in the end, you did me right girl!!

Beautiful writing! Emotional storytelling! Lovable characters! What more could you ask for?

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the hive for the physical arc of this book!

I couldn’t put it down but I also really struggled with some of it! I think I had a really hard time with the FMC being engaged to her therapist and both he MMC and FMC trying to make their other relationships work when they were in love and didn’t realize it. A lot of it worked in the book but was actually just so toxic all around from all sides. I do think some of that toxicity and morally grey is why it was hard to put down tho!

This books follows tom and daisy as they get kicked off the early morning bus they both always take and form a friendship based on their struggling relationships. What they find is really strong foundation of friendship. I think the friendship foundation also really keeps the readers intrigued too!

Overall there’s a lot of mixed feelings on this and also a lot of beautiful moments!

[Moira · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the access to this eARC!

I really enjoyed this book! I was a little nervous at first when I found out one character is in a relationship and the other wants to get back into one with someone else that there might be some weird cheater vibes. That was not the case though! I feel like more than a romance, this book was a great picture of what it means to change and grow as a person, or how stagnant that growth can be when we get to set in our ways.
I enjoyed learning about Tom and Daisy as people, and I feel like all of the little conflicts or personal life struggles along way were very much resolved my the end. I do wish Zack got punched in the face, but I guess that is too much to ask.
The writing style and vibes of the story reminded me a bit of the Fitzpatrick Christmas series, so if you have read and enjoyed those books, you’ll probably enjoy this!

Rip to Daisy’s perfect potatoes, but good on her for listening to her inner voice and following her heart (you too, Tom).

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a book center around two people who are already in relationships who become close to each other can very easily make you dislike the characters. But that was not the case here! The characters were lovable and I enjoyed their journey. Would recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[Alexia | Books4Dreamz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since a book kept me up until 3 a.m. because I simply couldn’t put it down—and a romance, at that! So. believe me when I say: this is romance perfection. I needed to know that Daisy and Tom would find their way to each other. I fell in love with them as they were falling in love with each other and they’ve now earned a permanent place on my list of favorite fictional characters. Their connection felt incredibly real and deeply human.

This book is sweet, relatable, funny and refreshingly modern. It balances cozy comfort with meaningful depth, tackling heavier themes with honesty and care. At its heart, it’s a story about self-belief, trauma, choosing your own path and finding a partner who helps you grow into your happiest, fullest self.

It’s the kind of book that makes you giddy, has you rooting hard for the good guys, fuming at the bad ones and ultimately wraps around your heart like a warm blanket.

Huge thanks to Quercus Books for the gifted ARC.

[Mélanie | melaniereads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶
🎧 Audio + 📱 Kindle
Release: May 19, 2026

Read if you like ✨️:
- strangers to friends to lovers
- slow burn
- 4am bus meet-cute
- photographer mmc
- entertainment journalist fmc
- toxic relationships
- family trauma & family dynamics
- 3rd person dual POV

This was my first book by this author, and it won't be my last! I'm really glad I requested this, I really enjoyed it!

Daisy and Tom take the same 4am bus every day (night) but are virtually strangers, until an incident gets them to talk for the first time. When Daisy asks Tom why he reads the same book all the time, he explains his girlfriend left him and he thinks the reason why can be found in this book. Daisy decides to help him try to get his girlfriend back, and they quickly strike a friendship!

This book was sweet, but it also had deep, emotional moments. I felt for the characters and I really enjoyed seeing their growth, especially Daisy. As a reader, we quickly get a bad feeling about her fiancé, and her journey felt slow, but in character for her, too. Our Daisy needed a bit of a push from her friends and family, but don't we all, sometimes?

I really liked (most of) the cast of secondary characters, especially Martha (Tom's young half sister) and I would have gone to war for this child.

I also got to enjoy this on audio, and I thought the narrator did a fantastic job! I was really captivated when I was listening, and I didn't want to put my headphones down!

Thank you to Harlequin for the e-ARC and ALC.

[Once.Upon.A.Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Tessa Bickers has such an easy writing style, but somehow she still manages to make every emotion hit hard. I loved The Book Swap, and this one made me even more excited to keep reading her books.

The story follows Daisy, who takes the same 4am bus every morning for work, and starts noticing the same guy getting on every day carrying the same book. I was hooked by that setup immediately.

Daisy and Tom both felt very real to me. They are both people who have spent a lot of time playing it safe and trying not to mess up their lives any further. Daisy especially broke my heart at times because she is so used to staying small and avoiding risks. Tom is dealing with heartbreak and trying to figure out what actually makes him happy anymore.

I loved the way their relationship developed. This is definitely a slow burn, but the friendship between them made the romance feel even better. They were comfortable together so quickly, and I loved all the small moments between them. Their meet-cute was also adorable and unexpectedly emotional.

The audiobook narration was really well done and helped bring out all the softer emotional moments in the story.

And the ending absolutely made me cry. Exactly the kind of emotional romance I love.

Thanks to Mira, Harlequin Audio, NetGalley and Tessa Bickers for the gifted copy. I always appreciate it! I received an ARC and an ALC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Victoria Sedillo · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, thank you NetGalley, MIRA/Harper Collins, and Tessa Bickers for this ARC!

I really liked the IDEA of this book when I requested to read. And well, I still like the idea more than I enjoyed reading this book.

This was a book that had so much potential with the concept. 2 strangers meet and help each other and through it they would fall in love.

The writing is soft and genuine. It does a good job at exploring past wounds and different ways to grow from them. The topics of fear and loneliness are handled with care. But it’s very very slow.
It wasn’t a building tension or yearning kind of slow. It’s the kind that circles the same thing over and over and kept me wondering if this is going to move along.
I put the book down a lot because I was getting bored and skimmed parts because they were so repetitive that wasn’t important to the story.
The romance is definitely the secondary topic in this novel. Which I wouldn’t mind if I felt fulfilled in the end, but instead I was left underwhelmed.
I didn’t feel any depth or chemistry between Tom and Daisy.
I will say what I did thoroughly enjoy is the last like 5 percent? Which I wish we got more of that. Her leaving him at the altar the way she did?! YES! I wish it would have happened sooner and we got more of the emotion and the aftermath rather than the end.

This is a book where it has so many good ideas and nuggest but they don’t all connect and left me very underwhelmed. If I was a person who could DNF a book, I honestly probably would have. I wanted to so many times for majority of the book.

Not to mention the 3POV didn’t help the story.

2 stars

[Mostly Bookish Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Night Bus was such a heartfelt and quietly emotional contemporary read.

Daisy and Tom are both struggling in different ways, and I loved how their connection slowly developed through their repeated encounters on the London night bus. The story felt less focused on romance alone and more about healing, self-discovery, and figuring out what truly makes you happy.

Both characters felt realistic and flawed, and their emotional journeys kept me invested throughout. But honestly, Martha completely stole my heart. Her relationship with Tom added so much emotional depth and warmth to the story, and some of the sibling moments genuinely made the book feel extra special. Clara also brought such a fun, quirky energy that balanced the heavier emotional moments perfectly.

The atmosphere of late-night London mixed with books, longing, and emotional vulnerability gave this story such a comforting but bittersweet feel.

A lovely contemporary fiction read for anyone who enjoys character-driven stories with emotional depth, heartfelt family connections, and hopeful themes.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to The Hive and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted books!

I expected this to be a cute contemporary romance, but it ended up being much more emotional and thoughtful than I anticipated.

I really loved watching Daisy and Tom’s friendship develop. I liked that their connection grew naturally over time instead of feeling insta-lovey. But fair warning…this is an EXTREMELY slow burn. There were definitely points where I wanted to scream at both of them to just be honest already. Daisy being engaged basically the whole book, while Tom was still so stuck on his ex, definitely made things messy and frustrating at times.

Honestly though, I think I loved their individual growth throughout the story more than the actual romance. The book touches a lot on loneliness, unhealthy relationships, and how much one small connection can change things.

Also, Tom’s little sister Martha completely stole the show for me 🥹 She brought so much warmth and humor to the story, and some of her scenes ended up being my favorites.

[Mallory Moureau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Tessa Bickers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️ rounded up
This book covers a few tough topics (controlling partner, toxic parent, manipulation, self doubt).

Our characters meet during a 4am bus ride and find themselves connecting despite our FMC being engaged and our MMC heartbroken over a recent breakup and trying to win her back.

During their talks, the FMC agrees to help the MMC in his efforts to win back his ex.

I honestly struggled with the fact that she was engaged (although it’s easy to see he is total trash) and he’s pining for his ex.

I appreciate that life is messy but I was sad at how far things went before they took a turn (vague to avoid spoilers). The toxicity and manipulation/isolation was difficult to stomach.

I did enjoy how things ultimately ended.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book.

I am not a huge fan of romance novels. But I will sprinkle them in here and there as a palate cleanser after reading thrillers. I really enjoyed the plot of this book. Them meeting on a bus at 4am. How they get to know each other. All very cute. I also liked the characters. They each made me feel something. Some I wasn’t a fan of at first (Tom). But as the story progressed I loved. Others that seemed to get worse (Zack). And some that I loved and also couldn’t stand at times (Daisy). I don’t want to say too much about the story because I don’t want to spoil anything. But one other thing I liked was the mystery of why Tom’s girlfriend broke up with him out of the blue and the mystery of Tom’s book. And I have to say “Jesus Christ my sausages” is one of my new favorite phrases. I laughed so hard. Thank you for the advanced copy.

[bexbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy takes the 4 a.m. bus as a part of her daily routine. Each morning she notices Tom is on the same route everyday and he is always reading the same book. She is intrigued by him but they never speak until the bus breaks down one morning and the two form a connection that becomes a beautiful friendship.

This is definitely a slow burn romance because of the start both of the main characters are in relationships so there isn't any instant connection that they act upon. I really loved how that genuine friendship of the two of them have helps them both realize different things about their relationships and how it never feels like there's an ulterior motive that either one of them has. They truly do just want the best for each other.

I have not read anything by this author before but after this I will definitely be picking up more of her writing. It's beautiful and lyrical and so captivating. She has a very impressive way of truly creating characters that feel real and relatable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

[Heather Houghtaling · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was such a cutie book. I was cheering Tom on so hard when he was at the wedding 😭 when she grabbed his hand and just ran, I audibly gasped. Fuck the therapist fiance. I love that we didn’t really get closure from Zack because we didn’t need it. He was literally her therapist and a piece of shit. I love that she gave no explanation, just grabbed tom and ran. I adored this audiobook. Thank you author & publisher for this ALC 💓

[Amy Houle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this book.

I enjoyed reading this book. There were a few moments where I was like come on get on with it. But for the most part this book was paced perfectly.

Daisy and Tom’s friendship development was enjoyable, especially their first meeting.


Zack was awful. I absolutely hated him (but I do believe that was the point!)

Heavier themes like grief and emotional fallout were touched on but not explored deeply. I found the ending satisfying.

[Kayla’s Book Binge · Rating 3 out of 5]

The slowest of slow burns. Put your comfy shoes on cause you’ll be waiting a while.

I wanted these characters to self reflect in every single chapter and they always got close and then it fizzled out. I really don’t believe Daisy ever saw what was wrong with Zach and their relationship. I kept waiting for her to have that AHA moment so many times throughout the book that when the scene happened it didn’t land for me. I needed her to have a confrontation with Zach and we didn’t get it.

I started the book being icked out by Tom but by the end I actually did enjoy his character and found him interesting. I never really connected with Daisy like that though.

You could throw the red flags directly in these people’s faces and they still wouldn’t see it. I had to do some deep breathing exercises especially anytime Zach spoke.

Although this book had its moments of enjoyment it always ended up falling short.

Thank you for this arc!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've read this author before, but I'm glad I picked this one up! It was a sweet, slow burn romance. Emphasis on the slow burn. I kept waiting and waiting for these two to just realize their feelings and get together! The main characters were great and I like the way they evolved as the story went on. There was one particularly atrocious character that I hated. Overall, a cute read!

[Nikole Clow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had The Night Bus on my radar for the last few months so when a copy arrived on my doorstep, I of course needed to start reading. And I can say that The Night Bus did not disappoint. A contemporary story with a beautiful friendship, budding romance, and what it means to stand up for yourself and to do what you love.

Daisy is one of the main characters who always takes the 4:00am bus to work. She loves her job, but wants to be more involved in investigative work. She loves her fiancé, but even she can feel that something is not always right and she's not fully happy. Then there's Tom, who takes the 4:00am bus for enjoyment and is seen over the months reading one book over and over again. He's hoping the key is in the book as to why his ex-girlfriend broke up with him. So when one bus ride goes wrong and brings these two people together, it makes for an interesting and adventure-filled story.

In a majority of the books I read, you do not see the love interests become friends first. In The Night Bus, Daisy and Tom start out as friends, and they mesh together so naturally that their friendship compliments one another. But when that friendship starts to potentially turn into something more, it's hard to express those feelings when one is engaged and one is trying to win back his ex-girlfriend. Even so, their friendship was my favorite part of this book. It's the type of friendship that one rarely finds, a friendship that brings you your best friend, and it was a joy to see their friendship develop and blossom over time. Plus, what starts their friendship was unexpected and made for a good laugh.

Tessa Bickers touches on some heavy topics in this book, a main one being the portrayal of a toxic relationship. I thought Bickers explored this topic very well and illustrated the many ways a relationship can be toxic - emotionally abusive, manipulative, and controlling (in a bad way). What was also explored was how one can feel powerless, like they are meant to rely solely on this person, and how one may be hesitant to do anything and stand up for oneself. There were times I wanted to reach through the book to hug Daisy and tell her everything will be okay, but thank goodness for her close friend, Clara, who sees the signs but also tries to respect Daisy's wishes. It was hard sometimes to read Daisy going through this and not fully realizing the situation she's in, but it becomes worth it when she finally finds her voice.

Overall, The Night Bus kept me hooked to the page, rooting for Daisy and Tom from their very first meeting. I enjoyed that while the romance is a main point of the story, it's not necessarily the full plot, but finding one's happiness and voice is more of in line with the story. I'm looking forward to reading another Tessa Bickers story!

[Cassie (eclectically.bookish.cassie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Daisy and Tom ride the same bus before dawn each morning. They never interact, but they've noticed one another. She's engaged to be married to someone she probably shouldn't be (the author will convince you, I promise). He's heartbroken over his ex-girlfriend. When unusual circumstances on the bus have them teaming up in an altercation, they become friends and Daisy offers to help Tom win Sophie back while he offers services as a wedding photographer. But can they really stay just friends?

Tessa Bicker's debut, The Book Swap, was a favorite read of mine the year it was published so I was really looking forward to this. While it didn't hit quite as close to home and there were a few parts I struggled with, I still really liked this one. One thing to note is that both of these titles look like contemporary romance novels based on the cover styles. In my opinion, they are not. They are contemporary fiction with a romantic subplot. This one is less about Tom and Daisy and sparks flying than it is about each of them pulling through difficult circumstances. Daisy's career is stalled and her fiancé isn't encouraging any advancement. Tom's is thriving, but at the expense of his romantic relationship. Both have complicated family dynamics. Both have felt misunderstood. And both seem to understand, see, and accept the other for who they are in ways they've not experienced before. Both need to learn to take responsibility for their own lives and futures.

The dialogue was springy and fun. I loved the addition of Tom's younger sister, Martha. Give me a spunky 6-year-old character any day. Daisy was frustrating at times, especially in how dense she could be, even as friends and family tried to help her along in life; however, I can also see why she was this way and was pleased when she finally broke out of her daze. Tom was a delight.

Daisy's friend Clara says, "don't even get me started on whatever weird, beautiful thing is going on with that golden retriever man of yours" and that sort of sums up this book. It's a weird and beautiful friendship that Daisy and Tom have and it stays that way for too long, all while Daisy is still engaged. I don't think lines are completely crossed, here, but it's discomforting (even as I wanted to give Daisy's fiancé a piece of my mind many times over) and a very slow burn for the romance subplot. It's also a slow burn for Daisy to return to her own voice and agency, but I shed a few tears at her final recognition and growth.

Even with my qualms, I still overall enjoyed this one and will keep looking forward to anything Tessa Bickers writes in the future.

Big thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for the digital review copy and the opportunity to serve as an early reader.

[MJLovestoRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Bus is the kind of story that is a slow-burn for most of the book but then picks up speed towards the end. Which I really loved. Tessa Bickers does a wonderful job in giving us all the good, bad and ugly that plague her two characters and it's quite the journey for both of them. Daisy and Tom are basically stuck in both past and present. Their unlikely friendship while aboard a 4am bus was completely unexpected but thoroughly welcomed, especially by me! I could tell they had a kindred spirit about them as Daisy attempts to help Tom win back his former flame Sophie using a book he has read several times as a guide to how to make her love him again. And in the process, Daisy not only succeeds with her mission with Tom but she discovers that perhaps her impending wedding to the predictable and subtly controlling Zach may not be what she ultimately needs.

I will admit that there is a bit of repetition with Tom and the woes of his doomed relationship that had me skimming a bit at first. Thankfully for him, his step-sister Martha is a bright light during his maudlin days and provides honest wisdom and advice that Tom can't help but take to heart. He has his other issues with his father and the presumed gold digger that is his dad's younger wife. But as the book progresses, his growth as a more confident brother, son and even professional photographer clearly help with his decisions about Sophie.

With Daisy, her own path to inner growth is a slow one. She can't seem to get out of her way when it comes to Zach, knowing marrying her former therapist will not be met with enthusiasm. In fact, that revelation comes later on in the book and to say her family and close friends are shocked would be an understatement. I just wanted her to put herself first and come to grips with not only her late father's controlling ways but that she has never really been allowed to do and be what she has desired. It's only when she's with Tom as they go through a myriad of ideas and events on how to win Sophie back. that Daisy becomes her true self.

I was thrilled when Daisy finally had that moment of clarity as Tom, of course, comes to her rescue on her wedding day (!) and she finds her way out of everything that was holding her back. Bickers really digs deep into the fears and insecurities of both characters quite well and as the book comes to a close, I was beyond happy at how Daisy and Tom found true love all because of a crazy 4am bus.

I would not hesitate to read this talented author again in the future. She takes great care of her characters without too much interference, making for a really sweet read.

4 big stars!

[Megan megmakestimetoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I loved The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers so I was excited to read her second novel, The Night Bus. Bickers has such a cozy way of writing, you get drawn in from the first page. She also accomplished something difficult here, she made both main characters deeply sympathetic and easy to root for, even though they are both in relationships with other people when they meet. Maybe this is because it is easy for the reader to see how poorly matched they are with their partners. In fact, all of the other characters seem to be silently shouting at Daisy and Tom that they disapprove of their partners.
As a therapist I had a really difficult time with Daisy's relationship. It is so gross and unethical to date a patient. I could see all of the threads of how he wove this unhealthy relationship and presented it to her as a cozy sweater. Did others not see this? Was he not a noticeable red flag? I did appreciate the twist with Daisy's brother Dan that shed some light into way Daisy was so enmeshed in this relationship. But, I have to say, I was really frustrated with her denial. I also thought the dichotomy of how she saw herself and how Tom (Clara, and the rest of the world) saw her was very stark. It didn't seem as realistic to me. Tom's romanticizing of his relationship with Sophia made much more sense, considering they started dating so young. Some of the "light stalking" of her was extremely creepy and a bit pathetic for an in-demand fashion photographer. So some of these details just took me out of the book.
However, all of the parts of the book about Daisy and Tom, them connecting on the bus, through the confrontation with the drunk guys, their work "investigating" Orlando, were great! this was the core of the book- two people who generally felt lost and unloved, connecting and truly seeing and accepting the other for who they were, where they were. And that is beautiful. I also loved their best friends. I think a sophomore effort is always tricky, especially when the first book is so magical. Bickers does has a beautiful way of describing the flaws of people in a romantic way that shows how loveable the characters are. For that reason, she will continue to be a must read for me. Thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade/MIRA for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Liis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rollercoaster of emotions this book made me go through should send me to therapy. As much as I want to sit with it and write a review full of praises, I think this is one of those instances where my mid read note/review/rant should make it to Goodreads. I will be asking all of my contemporary besties to read the book with me when it comes out. Enjoy my crashout.

Ok this is just rude (affectionately!!!). I am (unreasonably) mad that I like this book so much. Seems like a stupid thing but HA! it is not! The men in this book made me want to exclusively date women. The best thing Zack ever did was stop being a therapist. I got whole body shivers (the bad kind) every time Zack was mentioned or showed off on page. Zack wasn’t even a main character but my dislike for him knows no bounds. Fuck you Zack!

Tom was introduced and immediately turned out to be a useless soggy carpet of a man. What do you mean she broke up with you and you decided to sing to her from your car in the middle of the night. Brother???? Get ice cream?? Go to therapy?????? You are a 30+ year old man this is why women complain about dating omfg I cannot with you.
But the absolute worst thing Tom ever did was make me start rooting for him at around 50% mark. I had to get up and take a walk. I made tea. I sat back down AND I STILL LIKED HIM!!!! This is what they mean when they talk about character development. Omg Tom I need to go tell my friend that I am a big liar and never trust me until I have finished a book. I feel like I need to go and apologise to the author for something I said about a character around the first 70 pages in private DMs she will never see.

Daisy, baby, you can do many things wrong but I forgive you. You are doing your best with the resources you got given and those resources were a blank white page I’m afraid. All the other women in this book were great, I love you all. Except for Sophie, she managed to disappoint me in the last 15 percent.

Thank you Quercus Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

Thank you Tessa Bickers for the crashout on a Saturday evening.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️2.5

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 💙

The premise of this book intrigued me from the start because I honestly had no idea what to expect going into it. The beginning was super interesting for me because I love to go into books being completely blind and not knowing what to expect. So I was trying to figure out what was going to happen.
I genuinely thought this was going to turn into something magical.

I listened to this book on audio, and I honestly think the audiobook was one of the reasons I stayed so engaged with the story. This book is SUPER slow, and the audiobook made it easier to get through. This book was a slow burn, and the characters take time getting together since at the beginning of the book they don’t even know each other, and then waiting for them to interact with each other took a really long time.

I loved Daisy and Tom’s friendship development. I liked that their connection grew naturally over time instead of it being like insta love. The friendship foundation between them was probably my favorite part of the entire story.

For both of the characters, I honestly felt more connected to Daisy’s storyline than Tom’s. I also loved Daisy’s work and found her job really interesting. Tom was difficult for me because he spent so much of his life and identity wrapped up in one relationship that I honestly wished he had more time to figure out who he was on his own before fully diving into a relationship with Daisy. It felt a little too quick for me personally.

One thing I really appreciated was how realistically the author portrayed toxic and emotionally unhealthy relationships. It honestly stressed me out seeing both Daisy and Tom stuck in situations that were clearly affecting them so much. Especially Daisy with her fiancé. Watching her stay in a relationship that made my skin crawl since her fiancé Zach was so horrible. I freaking hated him so much and I loved that in the end Daisy got away from him.

Overall, this book was really cute. I still don’t fully know how I feel about this book because there were things I really enjoyed and others that bothered me.

[Simon S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Bus is a sweet and funny story of rediscovered self and found love.

Daisy works the graveyard shift as a journalist for an entertainment network, heading to work through the streets of London on the near-empty N73 bus in the small hours, endlessly scrolling her phone as a distraction from thinking about her upcoming marriage to Zack.

She begins to notice a new passenger who, like her, always sits in the same seat. Each morning he carries the same book, which over the weeks he rereads several times. Daisy’s journalistic instincts — long confined by her unsatisfying entertainment news career — are aroused: what’s his story?

He’s Tom, recently dumped by his girlfriend Sophie completely, as he sees it, out of the blue and without a clear explanation — just an unhelpful “it’s this book I’ve been reading…” Suffering from acute insomnia, he finds comfort in the darkness and quiet of London at this hour.
When events bring them together and Tom helps Daisy out of a difficult situation, she vows to help him search the text for clues that might help him win Sophie back...

I enjoyed Bickers’ debut, The Book Swap, and I think this one is even better. There’s less plot convenience here, which suggests a growing confidence as a writer.

This is less of an ensemble piece than The Book Swap, in which we learned a great deal about the protagonists through their circles of friends and family. Here, we spend more time inside their heads as they reconsider their choices and decisions in light of what they learn about themselves.

As with her last book, Bickers really captures the wonder, joy, and relief of “finding your person” — the small ways in which we can feel loved and known. That kind of happiness is still there in my own marriage, and any book that celebrates it hits me right where it counts.

Although anyone who has read “the book” in question will probably guess the reason for Sophie’s decision, and the antagonist — such as he is — is revealed very early (he may as well be named Red Flagg), this was a delightful read.

[Becky Passner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Bus - Tessa Bickers
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Night Bus by Tessa Bickers was such a thoughtful, emotional read. I went into it expecting a romance, but it ended up feeling just as much like a story about identity, loneliness, and learning how to move forward when your life no longer fits the shape you thought it would.

The story follows Daisy and Tom, who always take the same late-night London bus route. They begin to become friends while working through different relationship problems. Their connection builds slowly over time, and I really appreciated that the book let their friendship develop naturally instead of rushing straight into romance. It can be hard to write a story where both characters are in existing relationships at the beginning where you continually like the main characters, but Tessa Bickers walks that line beautifully.

So much of Daisy’s journey is about realizing how much of herself she’s been shrinking to make other people comfortable, and watching her slowly start to confront that was one of the strongest parts of the book. And seeing Tom work to rediscover what real happiness is in his life inspired me to do some soul-searching of my own.

The romance is definitely a slow burn, but that means the emotional connection feels genuine. A lot of the story is built in conversations, small moments, and the comfort they slowly begin to find in each other’s company. It gives the book a very reflective tone that fits the late-night setting perfectly.

The atmosphere of the book also deserves a shout-out. There’s something about the quiet bus rides through London at night that gives the whole story this slightly in-between feeling, like both characters are suspended between who they were and who they might become.

This is a character-focused story with a lot of heart. It’s messy, introspective, hopeful, and ultimately very human.