What do you think?
Rate this book
The Swap
"No list of thrillers is complete without Robyn Harding", proclaims Real Simple. Now the USA Today best-selling author of The Party delivers a riveting tale about the toxic relationship between two couples after a night of sexual shenanigans and the manipulative teenager with an explosive secret at the center of it all.
Low Morrison is not your average teen. You could blame her hippie parents or her looming height or her dreary, isolated hometown on an island in the Pacific Northwest. But whatever the reason, Low just doesn’t fit in - and neither does Freya, a once-famous social media influencer who now owns the pottery studio in town.
After signing up for a class, Low quickly falls under Freya’s spell. And Freya, buoyed by Low’s adoration, is compelled to share her darkest secrets and deepest desires. Finally, both feel a sense of belonging...that is, until Jamie walks through the studio door. Desperate for a baby, she and her husband have moved to the island hoping that the healthy environment will result in a pregnancy. Freya and Jamie become fast friends, as do their husbands, leaving Low alone once again.
Then one night, after a boozy dinner party, Freya suggests swapping partners. It should have been a harmless fling between consenting adults, one night of debauchery that they would put behind them, but when one of the women becomes pregnant, Low finds the perfect opportunity to unleash her growing resentment.
Robyn Harding brings her acclaimed storytelling, lauded as "fast-paced, thrilling, gut-wrenching" by Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times<‘i> best-selling author of Daisy Jones and the Six, to this dark and suspenseful thriller for fans of Megan Miranda and Lisa Jewell.
Low Morrison is not your average teen. You could blame her hippie parents or her looming height or her dreary, isolated hometown on an island in the Pacific Northwest. But whatever the reason, Low just doesn’t fit in - and neither does Freya, a once-famous social media influencer who now owns the pottery studio in town.
After signing up for a class, Low quickly falls under Freya’s spell. And Freya, buoyed by Low’s adoration, is compelled to share her darkest secrets and deepest desires. Finally, both feel a sense of belonging...that is, until Jamie walks through the studio door. Desperate for a baby, she and her husband have moved to the island hoping that the healthy environment will result in a pregnancy. Freya and Jamie become fast friends, as do their husbands, leaving Low alone once again.
Then one night, after a boozy dinner party, Freya suggests swapping partners. It should have been a harmless fling between consenting adults, one night of debauchery that they would put behind them, but when one of the women becomes pregnant, Low finds the perfect opportunity to unleash her growing resentment.
Robyn Harding brings her acclaimed storytelling, lauded as "fast-paced, thrilling, gut-wrenching" by Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times<‘i> best-selling author of Daisy Jones and the Six, to this dark and suspenseful thriller for fans of Megan Miranda and Lisa Jewell.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2020
739 people are currently reading
26477 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Harding
20 books5,538 followersRobyn Harding is the bestselling author of several books and has written and executive produced an independent film. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her family and two cute but deadly rescue chihuahuas.
To learn more about Robyn's books visit: http://www.robynharding.com. Or follow her on Instagram: @rhardingwriter
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobynH...
To learn more about Robyn's books visit: http://www.robynharding.com. Or follow her on Instagram: @rhardingwriter
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobynH...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,548 reviews
November 2, 2020
Women’s eternal sisterhood orders them to share everything, including swapping their husbands, right? I hooked you with this sentence, didn’t I?
This is an equation with multiple variables.
FREYA: is the center, short time actress, long time instagram influencer, blond, petite, cute, sexy.
Freya meets with Low( outcast teenage, short for Swallow, yes, she is living with polygamous, hippie family but her name comes from bird, stop blurting out wrong ideas!) Low falls in love with Freya.
Freya married with ex-hockey star Max. Of course Max loves her wife even though it’s one of the most painful experience to love Freya (you’re gonna understand what I mean during your reading.)
Freya befriends Jamie who is trying to get pregnant and lately became a victim of surrogate mother scam, opening a unique antique shop at the island. She attaches with Freya deeper than she thinks.
Of course Jamie’s nerd, sci-fi novels author husband Brian is attracted by Freya, She is easy going, friendly, genuine woman, isn’t she?
Everybody loves Freya… Everybody worships the ground she walks. If she becomes cult leader, they follow her without thinking a second as her brainwashed admirers.
As Freya becomes besties with Jamie, poor Low gets resentful and jealous to be left behind, delivering Freya those magical mushrooms for couples’ gathering night.
Two couples are ready to be stoned. (Because Freya told them it would be fun and no one could reject anything she offered, right?) And Jamie gets dizzy and passes out but when she opens her eyes, she finds Max climbs on her. Yes, she is in bed with Freya’s husband and Max tells her Jaime’s husband is also having sex with Freya. Welcome to the swingers’ world!
So Jamie climbs out the bed, running out from the room, going downstairs and finding the guest bedroom, stopping her husband before doing anything. NOPE! WRONG SPOILER! She doesn’t do anything to stop Max! And the next day, she thinks it was all dream because everybody acts like nothing has happened. A few days later, she gathers her strength to ask her husband if he had an affair with Freya and he says “no”! She must trust her husband, doesn’t she? But don’t worry, only one person knows the truth. Dear female Joe Goldberg a.k.a Low watched them outside during their special gathering!
Maybe the couples can forget everything and move on their lives. But where does Brian really go in the middle of the day? Why is Max’s face and body covered in bruises like he’s been abused? And why Freya keeps her pregnancy secret from Jamie?
I’m stopping here not to blurt out more about the secrets, schemes, lies and twists.
This book made me going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. It was mysterious, fast pacing, entertaining! And I like the author’s provocative approach to the marriage institution, infidelity, monogamy. This book questions dangerous territories as like: masochism, unhealthy relationship patterns, violence, abuse, narcissism, infertility, sociopathic behavior, social media voyeurism, obsession.
The pacing, the story’s progression, final twists, powerful ending are the strengths of the book.
But the characterization really failed me. I couldn’t get why all those people are deeply enchanted with the magic of Freya. I got Low’s crush part because she was young, inexperienced and neglected. She tried to find her place in the world and she struggles with her sexual awakening and her preferences. But those three adults acted like moron from the beginning and they were so easy to manipulate and deceive. I didn’t like any of them. I wanted to roll their hairs and hit their heads to the wall!
So at the end: I’m giving 3.5 stars and rounding them up to 4 because the author chose a hard subject and even though her characters deserved to get so many awards for being the worst despicable and brainless literature characters, I still enjoy the writing, thrilling revelations and satisfying ending.
I truly loved this book more than Arrangement and I plan to read more works of this author.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for sharing this one of the most anticipated ARCS in exchange my honest review.
blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
This is an equation with multiple variables.
FREYA: is the center, short time actress, long time instagram influencer, blond, petite, cute, sexy.
Freya meets with Low( outcast teenage, short for Swallow, yes, she is living with polygamous, hippie family but her name comes from bird, stop blurting out wrong ideas!) Low falls in love with Freya.
Freya married with ex-hockey star Max. Of course Max loves her wife even though it’s one of the most painful experience to love Freya (you’re gonna understand what I mean during your reading.)
Freya befriends Jamie who is trying to get pregnant and lately became a victim of surrogate mother scam, opening a unique antique shop at the island. She attaches with Freya deeper than she thinks.
Of course Jamie’s nerd, sci-fi novels author husband Brian is attracted by Freya, She is easy going, friendly, genuine woman, isn’t she?
Everybody loves Freya… Everybody worships the ground she walks. If she becomes cult leader, they follow her without thinking a second as her brainwashed admirers.
As Freya becomes besties with Jamie, poor Low gets resentful and jealous to be left behind, delivering Freya those magical mushrooms for couples’ gathering night.
Two couples are ready to be stoned. (Because Freya told them it would be fun and no one could reject anything she offered, right?) And Jamie gets dizzy and passes out but when she opens her eyes, she finds Max climbs on her. Yes, she is in bed with Freya’s husband and Max tells her Jaime’s husband is also having sex with Freya. Welcome to the swingers’ world!
So Jamie climbs out the bed, running out from the room, going downstairs and finding the guest bedroom, stopping her husband before doing anything. NOPE! WRONG SPOILER! She doesn’t do anything to stop Max! And the next day, she thinks it was all dream because everybody acts like nothing has happened. A few days later, she gathers her strength to ask her husband if he had an affair with Freya and he says “no”! She must trust her husband, doesn’t she? But don’t worry, only one person knows the truth. Dear female Joe Goldberg a.k.a Low watched them outside during their special gathering!
Maybe the couples can forget everything and move on their lives. But where does Brian really go in the middle of the day? Why is Max’s face and body covered in bruises like he’s been abused? And why Freya keeps her pregnancy secret from Jamie?
I’m stopping here not to blurt out more about the secrets, schemes, lies and twists.
This book made me going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. It was mysterious, fast pacing, entertaining! And I like the author’s provocative approach to the marriage institution, infidelity, monogamy. This book questions dangerous territories as like: masochism, unhealthy relationship patterns, violence, abuse, narcissism, infertility, sociopathic behavior, social media voyeurism, obsession.
The pacing, the story’s progression, final twists, powerful ending are the strengths of the book.
But the characterization really failed me. I couldn’t get why all those people are deeply enchanted with the magic of Freya. I got Low’s crush part because she was young, inexperienced and neglected. She tried to find her place in the world and she struggles with her sexual awakening and her preferences. But those three adults acted like moron from the beginning and they were so easy to manipulate and deceive. I didn’t like any of them. I wanted to roll their hairs and hit their heads to the wall!
So at the end: I’m giving 3.5 stars and rounding them up to 4 because the author chose a hard subject and even though her characters deserved to get so many awards for being the worst despicable and brainless literature characters, I still enjoy the writing, thrilling revelations and satisfying ending.
I truly loved this book more than Arrangement and I plan to read more works of this author.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for sharing this one of the most anticipated ARCS in exchange my honest review.
blog
January 5, 2022
Thank you for reading THE SWAP. I had so much fun writing this dark and twisted tale. I hope that shines through in the story.
April 23, 2020
Hot damn! This book was fantastic!
Take a night out at a friend’s house, mix in some "shrooms and do a little spouse swapping and you have one heck of a mess - an enchanting, toxic, burning down like a house on fire mess.
Low Morrison lives on an island off the Pacific Northwest. She lives with her hippie polyamorous parents and younger brothers. She does not quite fit in and for once in her life finds purpose and a connection when she signs up to take pottery classes from Freya. Low soon becomes friends with Freya.
Freya, the beautiful pottery instructor is married to an ex-hockey player and was once an Instagram influencer. She now fills her days making pottery and teaches classes. Freya did not want to move to the island, but her husband insisted after the event that ended his career. She does not quite fit in either. She soon makes friends with Low.
Jamie and her husband moved to the island for quiet time. He is an Author and needs the solace to write and possibly, just possibly this will help them have a baby. Jamie sells Freya's pottery in her store and she and Freya become friends.
Low does not like that Freya and Jamie have become friends. She wanted to keep Freya to herself. But Freya and Jamie are around the same age and both are married. It makes sense that they would have more in common.
Things take a turn when Freya suggests swapping partners after an evening doing 'shrooms with Jamie and Brian. What could go wrong?
Friendship is a wonderful thing - except for when it is not. Not when it is toxic and unhealthy. I loved how this book showed how low self-esteem, loneliness, isolation, and a need for companionship can make people easily overlook, forgive, excuse, or ignore when someone is mistreating them. Plus, it also shows how vapid, self-absorbed, and manipulative some can be.
This was on heck of an absorbing page turner for me! I could not put this book down. There is a lot to digest and ponder in this book. There were also some things I was willing to overlook. I was having too good of a time reading this to care that grownups where turning to a young girl for emotional support, advice, doing their dirty work, etc. But then again, they are all so desperate and wacky that it also made sense. Plus, if Low's parents were not off having sex with everybody and their brother, they might have been more concerned about the amount of time their daughter was spending with those much older than her.
This was a fabulous distraction from current life, and I loved every single page. Heck, I may even take up pottery, what else am I going to do, read? lol.
A fast paced, well written, page turner which did not disappoint. I was hooked from page one and had a hard time putting this book down. I found it to be absorbing, fun, and full of tension. It was basically just what I needed!
I received a copy of this book from Galley/Scott Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Take a night out at a friend’s house, mix in some "shrooms and do a little spouse swapping and you have one heck of a mess - an enchanting, toxic, burning down like a house on fire mess.
Low Morrison lives on an island off the Pacific Northwest. She lives with her hippie polyamorous parents and younger brothers. She does not quite fit in and for once in her life finds purpose and a connection when she signs up to take pottery classes from Freya. Low soon becomes friends with Freya.
Freya, the beautiful pottery instructor is married to an ex-hockey player and was once an Instagram influencer. She now fills her days making pottery and teaches classes. Freya did not want to move to the island, but her husband insisted after the event that ended his career. She does not quite fit in either. She soon makes friends with Low.
Jamie and her husband moved to the island for quiet time. He is an Author and needs the solace to write and possibly, just possibly this will help them have a baby. Jamie sells Freya's pottery in her store and she and Freya become friends.
Low does not like that Freya and Jamie have become friends. She wanted to keep Freya to herself. But Freya and Jamie are around the same age and both are married. It makes sense that they would have more in common.
Things take a turn when Freya suggests swapping partners after an evening doing 'shrooms with Jamie and Brian. What could go wrong?
Friendship is a wonderful thing - except for when it is not. Not when it is toxic and unhealthy. I loved how this book showed how low self-esteem, loneliness, isolation, and a need for companionship can make people easily overlook, forgive, excuse, or ignore when someone is mistreating them. Plus, it also shows how vapid, self-absorbed, and manipulative some can be.
This was on heck of an absorbing page turner for me! I could not put this book down. There is a lot to digest and ponder in this book. There were also some things I was willing to overlook. I was having too good of a time reading this to care that grownups where turning to a young girl for emotional support, advice, doing their dirty work, etc. But then again, they are all so desperate and wacky that it also made sense. Plus, if Low's parents were not off having sex with everybody and their brother, they might have been more concerned about the amount of time their daughter was spending with those much older than her.
This was a fabulous distraction from current life, and I loved every single page. Heck, I may even take up pottery, what else am I going to do, read? lol.
A fast paced, well written, page turner which did not disappoint. I was hooked from page one and had a hard time putting this book down. I found it to be absorbing, fun, and full of tension. It was basically just what I needed!
I received a copy of this book from Galley/Scott Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 4, 2020
Guilty Pleasure
The Swap is a psychological thriller about obsession, desire, and crazies.
Everyone is obsessed with Freya, a beautiful former Instagram influencer, who simply can look at someone and hold them in her thrall. There’s Low, a high school outcast, who after merely catching a glimpse of Freya, becomes instantly obsessed. Then there is Jamie, a woman struggling with infertility, who becomes instant BFF’s with Freya after having coffee. Freya treats both women like garbage, but both remain under her spell until one night of swapping partners mars Freya's perfect persona.
The narrative is uneven and told from the POV’s of Low, Brian, Max, and Jamie, all of whom are one or two dimensional at best. I wish this had been told from only Low’s POV; Max, Brian, and Jamie’s chapters didn’t add much, whereas Low added a good dose of crazy.
The reader never gets into the mind of Freya. We are told over and over again by Jamie and Low that Freya is beautiful and both women love her and seem to want to be her, but at the same time, Freya’s character never exhibits any behavior that makes her the compelling and charismatic character that she is described as being.
This is a messy train wreck that I couldn’t look away from. I had a similar experience with Harding’s The Arrangement, but I enjoyed this book more. This is a fast-paced, easy read that doesn’t require much thought. It lacks the depth and darkness that would have taken it to the next level. Overall, The Swap is mindless entertainment at its best.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
The Swap is a psychological thriller about obsession, desire, and crazies.
Everyone is obsessed with Freya, a beautiful former Instagram influencer, who simply can look at someone and hold them in her thrall. There’s Low, a high school outcast, who after merely catching a glimpse of Freya, becomes instantly obsessed. Then there is Jamie, a woman struggling with infertility, who becomes instant BFF’s with Freya after having coffee. Freya treats both women like garbage, but both remain under her spell until one night of swapping partners mars Freya's perfect persona.
The narrative is uneven and told from the POV’s of Low, Brian, Max, and Jamie, all of whom are one or two dimensional at best. I wish this had been told from only Low’s POV; Max, Brian, and Jamie’s chapters didn’t add much, whereas Low added a good dose of crazy.
The reader never gets into the mind of Freya. We are told over and over again by Jamie and Low that Freya is beautiful and both women love her and seem to want to be her, but at the same time, Freya’s character never exhibits any behavior that makes her the compelling and charismatic character that she is described as being.
This is a messy train wreck that I couldn’t look away from. I had a similar experience with Harding’s The Arrangement, but I enjoyed this book more. This is a fast-paced, easy read that doesn’t require much thought. It lacks the depth and darkness that would have taken it to the next level. Overall, The Swap is mindless entertainment at its best.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
June 25, 2020
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
4.5 Stars!!!!
A dark and intriguing story. A wild ride!!
17-year-old, Swallow (Low) Morrison is graduating in three months but she could care less about prom, parties, or even college. As usual, Low is sitting by herself the day Freya Light walks into the high school and posts an advertisement for pottery classes. Low feels a magnetic pull towards this woman. She texts Freya about the classes. It takes a while but Freya finally responds saying classes start the following Monday.
This woman is going to change her life in a big way.
Soon Mondays are Low’s favorite day of the week. Every Monday she heads to Freya’s after school. Freya is patient and encouraging when teaching pottery to Low. She tells Low how much she enjoys her company.
“Her attention nourished me“
Freya loves the fact that Low so obviously adores her.
Freya and her husband, Max moved to Hawking after a very public incident turned everyone they knew against them. They've had to deal with a lot of online and real-life harassment.
Jamie Vincent and her husband, Brian also moved to Hawking for a fresh start. Jamie and Freya became friends and their friendship quickly became Janie's lifeline. They went out regularly and even their husbands got along. One night while partying a suggestion is made that takes them places they never expected. “ We all knew what we were getting into. At least we thought we did“. There’s some confusion about what actually happened that night. However, there is one person who knows exactly what happened.
It seemed like that night was going to haunt them forever.
Whoa!
I flew through this clever and unique novel.
I thought this was a great read. The story is told from multiple perspectives. We learn a lot about Low and her home life. We also learn about Freya and Jamie and their past and backgrounds. The characters were well-developed and though I may not have liked some of them (and occasionally felt the need to shout at them), they were definitely memorable. There were many intense moments that had my heart beating double time.
A thrilling and intense story about jealousy, sexuality, obsession, and toxic relationships.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
4.5 Stars!!!!
A dark and intriguing story. A wild ride!!
17-year-old, Swallow (Low) Morrison is graduating in three months but she could care less about prom, parties, or even college. As usual, Low is sitting by herself the day Freya Light walks into the high school and posts an advertisement for pottery classes. Low feels a magnetic pull towards this woman. She texts Freya about the classes. It takes a while but Freya finally responds saying classes start the following Monday.
This woman is going to change her life in a big way.
Soon Mondays are Low’s favorite day of the week. Every Monday she heads to Freya’s after school. Freya is patient and encouraging when teaching pottery to Low. She tells Low how much she enjoys her company.
“Her attention nourished me“
Freya loves the fact that Low so obviously adores her.
Freya and her husband, Max moved to Hawking after a very public incident turned everyone they knew against them. They've had to deal with a lot of online and real-life harassment.
Jamie Vincent and her husband, Brian also moved to Hawking for a fresh start. Jamie and Freya became friends and their friendship quickly became Janie's lifeline. They went out regularly and even their husbands got along. One night while partying a suggestion is made that takes them places they never expected. “ We all knew what we were getting into. At least we thought we did“. There’s some confusion about what actually happened that night. However, there is one person who knows exactly what happened.
It seemed like that night was going to haunt them forever.
Whoa!
I flew through this clever and unique novel.
I thought this was a great read. The story is told from multiple perspectives. We learn a lot about Low and her home life. We also learn about Freya and Jamie and their past and backgrounds. The characters were well-developed and though I may not have liked some of them (and occasionally felt the need to shout at them), they were definitely memorable. There were many intense moments that had my heart beating double time.
A thrilling and intense story about jealousy, sexuality, obsession, and toxic relationships.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
April 4, 2021
Obsession
The Swap is an emotionally immersive story that depicts three very distinctive female characters who allow avaricious choices to create a toxic set of relationships. A story that is fascinating and keenly observed, as we wonder what emotional control is evident when relationships become unhinged.
Freya was an Instagram influencer with a huge following, bestowing on her a sense of devotion and importance. Freya is married to Max who was a hockey player until during a match he inadvertently killed a fellow player following a crunching tackle. With their careers over and public hatred targeted at both Max and Freya, they watched their glamourous lives disappear, and they moved to an island in the Pacific North-West to start anew.
Swallow (Low) is a teenager feeling extremely isolated and living with polyamorous parents, and brothers, that she feels disconnected with. Low signs up for pottery classes with Freya as her only student and they develop a mutual appetite for each other’s company.
Jamie and her husband Brian moved to the quiet island area to give Brian an opportunity to focus on completing his new book. For Jamie, it may also provide a relaxed atmosphere that could enable her to become pregnant, something she so desperately seeks. Jamie opens a gift shop and builds a friendship with Freya when selling her pottery pieces. The exclusive relationship between Low and Freya suddenly gets side-lined and Low gradually feels more and more neglected. The foursome of Jamie, Freya and their husbands form a comfortable adult balance with Low removed. On a fun evening, with shrooms and alcohol, the foursome considers the possibility of couple swapping. The ramifications of which are played out in front of a hurt and unwanted teenager, spying from outside the house.
A wonderful play on friendships and relationships is explored with intriguing dynamics that don’t always plot a linear course. What really strikes home are the fragile needs of acceptance, personal attention and exclusivity to make their lives replete if that was ever possible. The unique disposition with each female character is wonderfully developed through desire, envy, obsession, guilt, and loneliness, as each experiences something missing in their lives and then is tantalisingly dangled in front of them. Each of the five characters possesses their own voice in the narration of the novel and the transition from one to the other is cleverly used, especially when shocking revelations are triggered. The deceit and lies become more toxic and the once harmonious lives become fractured.
I highly recommend this book and I would like to thank Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.
The Swap is an emotionally immersive story that depicts three very distinctive female characters who allow avaricious choices to create a toxic set of relationships. A story that is fascinating and keenly observed, as we wonder what emotional control is evident when relationships become unhinged.
Freya was an Instagram influencer with a huge following, bestowing on her a sense of devotion and importance. Freya is married to Max who was a hockey player until during a match he inadvertently killed a fellow player following a crunching tackle. With their careers over and public hatred targeted at both Max and Freya, they watched their glamourous lives disappear, and they moved to an island in the Pacific North-West to start anew.
Swallow (Low) is a teenager feeling extremely isolated and living with polyamorous parents, and brothers, that she feels disconnected with. Low signs up for pottery classes with Freya as her only student and they develop a mutual appetite for each other’s company.
“At home, I was an afterthought. At school, I was a pariah. At Freya’s studio, I was everything. Freya was a best friend, a parent, and a crush all wrapped up in one worldly, glamorous package. Later, people would say I was obsessed with her, but I wasn’t. With Freya, I was home.”Freya is beautiful, hip, confident, while Low is tall, gangly, awkward and not very pretty. As the story develops, Robyn Harding shows how narcissistic characteristics start to dominate and how attitudes and situations are changeable.
Jamie and her husband Brian moved to the quiet island area to give Brian an opportunity to focus on completing his new book. For Jamie, it may also provide a relaxed atmosphere that could enable her to become pregnant, something she so desperately seeks. Jamie opens a gift shop and builds a friendship with Freya when selling her pottery pieces. The exclusive relationship between Low and Freya suddenly gets side-lined and Low gradually feels more and more neglected. The foursome of Jamie, Freya and their husbands form a comfortable adult balance with Low removed. On a fun evening, with shrooms and alcohol, the foursome considers the possibility of couple swapping. The ramifications of which are played out in front of a hurt and unwanted teenager, spying from outside the house.
A wonderful play on friendships and relationships is explored with intriguing dynamics that don’t always plot a linear course. What really strikes home are the fragile needs of acceptance, personal attention and exclusivity to make their lives replete if that was ever possible. The unique disposition with each female character is wonderfully developed through desire, envy, obsession, guilt, and loneliness, as each experiences something missing in their lives and then is tantalisingly dangled in front of them. Each of the five characters possesses their own voice in the narration of the novel and the transition from one to the other is cleverly used, especially when shocking revelations are triggered. The deceit and lies become more toxic and the once harmonious lives become fractured.
I highly recommend this book and I would like to thank Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.
June 23, 2020
Seventeen year old, Low, has never fit in. She's a skinny, six foot tall, red headed loner. Her parents aren't just swingers, on this island that has a lot of swingers, they are polyamorous, commune living, hippies and if Low wasn't already the brunt of jokes, her parent's lifestyle seals the deal. When Low meets beautiful, confident, manipulative, former social media star, Freya, she is primed to fall hard for her. Low wants Freya to want her as much as she wants Freya. A sad, lonely, awkward girl can dream and she dreams of everything Freya.
Freya and her ex hockey player husband, Max, have been exiled to this island because Max broke another player's neck, in a fit of rage, which led to the player's death. Freya lost her massive and lucrative social media following and is not at all happy to be living in their beautiful seaside home. When Low starts taking pottery lessons from Freya, she is a nice distraction from boredom for Freya, for a while. Then Freya meets Jamie, a store owner, someone closer to her own age, and has less time for Low.
"Wild and willing to do anything" Freya sets up an evening of 'shrooms for the foursome of Jamie, her husband, Brian, Max and herself, knowing that her aim is to do a bit of "swapping" despite Jamie not wanting to do so. The night ends with things happening that have Jamie and Brian embarrassed and unable to discuss with each other. And little did the foursome know that Low was outside watching and videoing the "swap". It's not long before Freya announces that she is pregnant and Jamie and Brian, who've been trying to have a baby for years, have even bigger doubts and questions about that night with Max and Freya.
Low isn't going to stay out of this mess, when the angry sparks start flying...in fact, she is going to fuel the fire, thinking that somehow she can divide everyone and have Freya for herself. Did I mention that I think that Low is off her rocker? But Freya is more than her match when it comes to crazy!
Published June 23, 2020
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Freya and her ex hockey player husband, Max, have been exiled to this island because Max broke another player's neck, in a fit of rage, which led to the player's death. Freya lost her massive and lucrative social media following and is not at all happy to be living in their beautiful seaside home. When Low starts taking pottery lessons from Freya, she is a nice distraction from boredom for Freya, for a while. Then Freya meets Jamie, a store owner, someone closer to her own age, and has less time for Low.
"Wild and willing to do anything" Freya sets up an evening of 'shrooms for the foursome of Jamie, her husband, Brian, Max and herself, knowing that her aim is to do a bit of "swapping" despite Jamie not wanting to do so. The night ends with things happening that have Jamie and Brian embarrassed and unable to discuss with each other. And little did the foursome know that Low was outside watching and videoing the "swap". It's not long before Freya announces that she is pregnant and Jamie and Brian, who've been trying to have a baby for years, have even bigger doubts and questions about that night with Max and Freya.
Low isn't going to stay out of this mess, when the angry sparks start flying...in fact, she is going to fuel the fire, thinking that somehow she can divide everyone and have Freya for herself. Did I mention that I think that Low is off her rocker? But Freya is more than her match when it comes to crazy!
Published June 23, 2020
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 30, 2020
2.5 Stars
Contemptuous and maddening! These people either belong in a psych ward or a trashy soap opera.
The characters were not complex or morally grey. They were (purposefully written as) unreasonable and plain despicable, especially Freya. Idk the diagnosis, but there was clearly something wrong with that woman―and Low too, but I think she can grow on you towards the end.
The manipulation, it wasn’t done in a clever way that made the characters interesting and you wanna root for them. It was evil, cunning, self serving, and I wanted to run them over with a truck. I didn’t get the obsession, and I certainly didn’t appreciate them using as part of this sick and toxic drama.
I was scathing for most of it, but I found the last 20% or so to be so thrilling. The book was plot driven I would say and fast paced with lots of exploration around unhealthy relationships, infidelity, infertility, etc. The only thing weak was the characterization.
The reading experience for me was unpleasant. Once I calmed down, however, I can see the appeal and why readers would enjoy such a book the same way you’re hooked on TV shows, such as Riverdale or You. It’s all about indulging in guilty pleasures.
P.S. I want Max to get a spin off and be that hot tortured alpha male hero in a romance book!
(Read as an Audiobook)
Contemptuous and maddening! These people either belong in a psych ward or a trashy soap opera.
The characters were not complex or morally grey. They were (purposefully written as) unreasonable and plain despicable, especially Freya. Idk the diagnosis, but there was clearly something wrong with that woman―and Low too, but I think she can grow on you towards the end.
The manipulation, it wasn’t done in a clever way that made the characters interesting and you wanna root for them. It was evil, cunning, self serving, and I wanted to run them over with a truck. I didn’t get the obsession, and I certainly didn’t appreciate them using as part of this sick and toxic drama.
I was scathing for most of it, but I found the last 20% or so to be so thrilling. The book was plot driven I would say and fast paced with lots of exploration around unhealthy relationships, infidelity, infertility, etc. The only thing weak was the characterization.
The reading experience for me was unpleasant. Once I calmed down, however, I can see the appeal and why readers would enjoy such a book the same way you’re hooked on TV shows, such as Riverdale or You. It’s all about indulging in guilty pleasures.
P.S. I want Max to get a spin off and be that hot tortured alpha male hero in a romance book!
(Read as an Audiobook)
May 27, 2020
Did someone say toxic relationships?
The new thriller by Robyn Harding serves a full house of them. These crazy characters and the chaos they create were all over the map. Something very addictive here and I just couldn't stop turning the pages...
Scandalous liaisons, twisted obsession and some twists and turns that were truly over the top and out the door. All in a wildly inappropriate kinda way...
A couple of scenes at the end did catch me off guard. Some unexpected turns for sure!
This was one of those guilty escapes where you can just enjoy some crazy scenarios and thank your stars these crazies aren't in the neighborhood!
A perfect distraction from all the things going on!!!
Thanks to Gallery Books for my review copy! OUT on June 23, 2020
The new thriller by Robyn Harding serves a full house of them. These crazy characters and the chaos they create were all over the map. Something very addictive here and I just couldn't stop turning the pages...
Scandalous liaisons, twisted obsession and some twists and turns that were truly over the top and out the door. All in a wildly inappropriate kinda way...
A couple of scenes at the end did catch me off guard. Some unexpected turns for sure!
This was one of those guilty escapes where you can just enjoy some crazy scenarios and thank your stars these crazies aren't in the neighborhood!
A perfect distraction from all the things going on!!!
Thanks to Gallery Books for my review copy! OUT on June 23, 2020
July 26, 2020
Good read. I enjoyed it a great deal. The story and characters held my attention. It is a slow burn and reminded me of a naughty Hitchcock story. When I say slow-burn, I mean that the conflict is not immediately apparent. There are five characters, all three women more important than the two men. The women have center stage. Their characters are more fleshed out, more complex and very unique from one another. The Hitchcockian sense comes from a constant undercurrent of impending doom. The female characters are each likable in their own ways but all three walk the line of slipping over the edge of doing something heinous. They are flawed and motivated just right to commit said act. Only a skilled author could pull this off. Each paragraph, each sentence, each word goes toward the five things a scene needs to work. This automictically puts pressure on the text and propels the reader forward. In a way it’s similar to a slow-motion train wreck, but in this case, you really don’t know if the crash is going to happen at all and you turn the page to find out. There is a roulette wheel of options in how the story will end (another reason why I kept turning the pages). The ending was unpredictable and satisfying.
I’m giving this one a four. Even though the story will stay with me for days afterward and I will wonder what the characters are doing now. The males point of views didn’t do it for me. Their voices and clunky interior thoughts didn’t work. One male character referred to the other’s “masculine physic.” I think the author was aware of this weakness and kept these chapters very short--a page and a half. The other detraction for me was the choice to tell the story, more than to show it in scene. Along with the rapid (short chapters of five characters) shifting POV’s kept me from fully immersing into the “Fictive Dream.”
This is a good book well worth the read and I’m definitely going to pick up the author’s next book. I would recommend this book.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
I’m giving this one a four. Even though the story will stay with me for days afterward and I will wonder what the characters are doing now. The males point of views didn’t do it for me. Their voices and clunky interior thoughts didn’t work. One male character referred to the other’s “masculine physic.” I think the author was aware of this weakness and kept these chapters very short--a page and a half. The other detraction for me was the choice to tell the story, more than to show it in scene. Along with the rapid (short chapters of five characters) shifting POV’s kept me from fully immersing into the “Fictive Dream.”
This is a good book well worth the read and I’m definitely going to pick up the author’s next book. I would recommend this book.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
May 29, 2020
2.5 Stars
Obsession. It can be Dangerous, Addictive and So Very Wrong.
Unfortunately for me, “The Swap” by Robyn Harding just didn’t work. From the first chapter all the way to the end, I was shaking my head in bewilderment. From the writing style to the characters, I was left wanting. To me, the characters were completely and utterly despicable and I couldn’t fathom why anyone would ever like any of them, let alone be obsessed with the main character. Obsessed, I was not.
As you know, I have to like the characters in order to like the book and therefore, I chalk this up to my being the wrong reader for this novel. I loved Ms. Harding’s prior novel “The Arrangement” and had high hopes for this novel, however, “The Swap” just didn’t live up to those expectations.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey. We had completely different opinions on this one as she absolutely loved this novel.
Thank you to Gallery Books / Scout Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads on 5.29.20.
Obsession. It can be Dangerous, Addictive and So Very Wrong.
I will have you
Yes, I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you
Like a butterfly
A wild butterly
I will collect you and capture you
You are an obsession
You're my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
You are an obsession
You're my obsession
- Obsession, Animotion, November, 1983
Unfortunately for me, “The Swap” by Robyn Harding just didn’t work. From the first chapter all the way to the end, I was shaking my head in bewilderment. From the writing style to the characters, I was left wanting. To me, the characters were completely and utterly despicable and I couldn’t fathom why anyone would ever like any of them, let alone be obsessed with the main character. Obsessed, I was not.
As you know, I have to like the characters in order to like the book and therefore, I chalk this up to my being the wrong reader for this novel. I loved Ms. Harding’s prior novel “The Arrangement” and had high hopes for this novel, however, “The Swap” just didn’t live up to those expectations.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey. We had completely different opinions on this one as she absolutely loved this novel.
Thank you to Gallery Books / Scout Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads on 5.29.20.
June 7, 2020
4.5*
What do you get when you mix two lonely couples with a misfit teenage girl...THE SWAP! That’s what!💁🏻♀️
Max and Freya. The disgraced hockey player and the beautiful, feisty wife.
Jamie and Brian. The gift shop owner who desperately wants a family. Her husband, a struggling author desperate to make his deadline.
Then there’s Low, the misunderstood high school grad whose parents have a rather unusual marriage arrangement.
One evening will involve a baggie full of magic mushrooms and a peeping Tom. What could possibly go wrong with that combination? By the end of the night their lives will change course completely! No one will come away unscathed.
This book was so much fun! I loved how the author wove the story between the two couples with Low always in the background pulling strings where she can to get what she wants!
There are so many mixed reviews for this one! I am so happy that I came away loving it! My favorite from this author so far! Anxious to see what she conjures up next!
A buddy read with Susanne that left us complete polar opposites! It had to happen at some point!🤣
Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press Publishing via NetGalley and Edelweiss for an ARC to read and review.
What do you get when you mix two lonely couples with a misfit teenage girl...THE SWAP! That’s what!💁🏻♀️
Max and Freya. The disgraced hockey player and the beautiful, feisty wife.
Jamie and Brian. The gift shop owner who desperately wants a family. Her husband, a struggling author desperate to make his deadline.
Then there’s Low, the misunderstood high school grad whose parents have a rather unusual marriage arrangement.
One evening will involve a baggie full of magic mushrooms and a peeping Tom. What could possibly go wrong with that combination? By the end of the night their lives will change course completely! No one will come away unscathed.
This book was so much fun! I loved how the author wove the story between the two couples with Low always in the background pulling strings where she can to get what she wants!
There are so many mixed reviews for this one! I am so happy that I came away loving it! My favorite from this author so far! Anxious to see what she conjures up next!
A buddy read with Susanne that left us complete polar opposites! It had to happen at some point!🤣
Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press Publishing via NetGalley and Edelweiss for an ARC to read and review.
January 18, 2023
Half "utterly idiotic, cop-out, shyt show" stars !!
2022 Runner Up for Worst Read Award
Thanx to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an ecopy. This was released June 2020. I am providing an honest review.
Usually when a book is a mixed experience I will add up and divide the various components and come up with an average. In this case I simple cannot for the last third of this book was below zero stars and I mean way below.
The book starts off as a solid three star domestic thriller of the intertwining of three terrible women (one is a teen) and how their lives interact in a wicked web of lies, deceit and jealousy. One woman is a psychopath, another is a insecure dependent and the teen is manipulative, awkward and starved for attention. The plot is really well structured and although the psychology is pretty flimsy this reader was entertained with hopes that the book will steer the "mean girl" course and there will be some plausible and interesting climax.......is that too much to ask ? Really ?
What we get instead (in the second third) is a Jerry Springer/Maury episode of paternity tests among some fucked up unlikable people with some sex lies and videotape. Ok ok ok the book is now in 1.5 star category. Cringey and icky but perhaps there is hope for a realistic, thrilling and SATISFYING resolution.
Oh no ! The author decides to kick it up a thousand notches and make these unlikable (but somewhat understandable) women into complete utter monsters that makes absolutely no fuckin' psychological sense. Let's throw in as many twists, blood, violence and UTTER FUCKIN QUACKERY in the last third of the book. Absolutely disgusting !
In the end the last third was one of the LAMEST and COPOUT and BULLSHIT pieces of crap that has
met my reading eyes.
So I really cannot give this book more than HALF a star. Utter fail !
2022 Runner Up for Worst Read Award
Thanx to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an ecopy. This was released June 2020. I am providing an honest review.
Usually when a book is a mixed experience I will add up and divide the various components and come up with an average. In this case I simple cannot for the last third of this book was below zero stars and I mean way below.
The book starts off as a solid three star domestic thriller of the intertwining of three terrible women (one is a teen) and how their lives interact in a wicked web of lies, deceit and jealousy. One woman is a psychopath, another is a insecure dependent and the teen is manipulative, awkward and starved for attention. The plot is really well structured and although the psychology is pretty flimsy this reader was entertained with hopes that the book will steer the "mean girl" course and there will be some plausible and interesting climax.......is that too much to ask ? Really ?
What we get instead (in the second third) is a Jerry Springer/Maury episode of paternity tests among some fucked up unlikable people with some sex lies and videotape. Ok ok ok the book is now in 1.5 star category. Cringey and icky but perhaps there is hope for a realistic, thrilling and SATISFYING resolution.
Oh no ! The author decides to kick it up a thousand notches and make these unlikable (but somewhat understandable) women into complete utter monsters that makes absolutely no fuckin' psychological sense. Let's throw in as many twists, blood, violence and UTTER FUCKIN QUACKERY in the last third of the book. Absolutely disgusting !
In the end the last third was one of the LAMEST and COPOUT and BULLSHIT pieces of crap that has
met my reading eyes.
So I really cannot give this book more than HALF a star. Utter fail !
July 1, 2020
Hot Swapping dang!!! These besties are not swapping books!!
ROBYN HARDING joined us for a spoiler-free Q &A in the Behind the Pages group.
YOu can view the thread here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My review
The Swap is one fascinating, delightful wickedly bold and delicious fun, entertaining page-turner!! Put aside some time for this one because once you start, you will not want to put it down. The story is well-paced for a fast read with those chapters that end with a sense of dread and foreboding that made it impossible not to read one more chapter. A few of us in the group read tore through this one in a day.
There is no shortage of stories that explore toxic friendships out there; however, Robyn Harding takes toxic to a whole new level here with these friends and creates a fascinating triangle here with Freya, who has them all under her spell. She creates an exciting twisted story while creating some interesting unlikable characters who are very different from each other. That left me with a creepy feeling right from the start and I had a few questions I wanted the answer to.
The setting here on an isolated island off the Pacific Northwest adds to the character's actions and development. I loved the mention of the Canadian cities that I know very well, and I had to chuckle to myself when one was mentioned.
I loved how the story ended with some things wrapped up while others left me thinking about the story and characters. I highly recommend it.
I received a copy on NetGalley
ROBYN HARDING joined us for a spoiler-free Q &A in the Behind the Pages group.
YOu can view the thread here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My review
The Swap is one fascinating, delightful wickedly bold and delicious fun, entertaining page-turner!! Put aside some time for this one because once you start, you will not want to put it down. The story is well-paced for a fast read with those chapters that end with a sense of dread and foreboding that made it impossible not to read one more chapter. A few of us in the group read tore through this one in a day.
There is no shortage of stories that explore toxic friendships out there; however, Robyn Harding takes toxic to a whole new level here with these friends and creates a fascinating triangle here with Freya, who has them all under her spell. She creates an exciting twisted story while creating some interesting unlikable characters who are very different from each other. That left me with a creepy feeling right from the start and I had a few questions I wanted the answer to.
The setting here on an isolated island off the Pacific Northwest adds to the character's actions and development. I loved the mention of the Canadian cities that I know very well, and I had to chuckle to myself when one was mentioned.
I loved how the story ended with some things wrapped up while others left me thinking about the story and characters. I highly recommend it.
I received a copy on NetGalley
June 25, 2020
3.5! OBSESSED MUCH!
This is a tale of obsession and lies between friends. One woman is the obsession of both another adult woman and a high school girl. Then there is a night of magic mushrooms and husband swapping. What could possibly go wrong with that night?
I found this to be entertaining. The writing quality was excellent. The author uses multiple POVs, although it's primarily the other adult woman and the high schooler. We also get brief POVs from both husbands, which I enjoyed and wish more had been incorporated.
Overall I had a difficult time fully engaging with the characters. This isn't really due to the writing, as it was great. More due to none of the characters being that likeable. That said, however, I do believe this would be an excellent TV series.
My biggest critique and why I didn't rate the book higher is that this was advertised as a suspenseful thriller, however I found it to be a literary drama. In my opinion this was not a thriller and there was little suspense, which was primarily around the ending. My expectations were looking for a suspense thriller and didn't receive that so I felt disappointed. If this were advertised differently I would have rated it higher.
*Thank you to Simon & Schuster in Edelweiss for access to the digital review copy!
This is a tale of obsession and lies between friends. One woman is the obsession of both another adult woman and a high school girl. Then there is a night of magic mushrooms and husband swapping. What could possibly go wrong with that night?
I found this to be entertaining. The writing quality was excellent. The author uses multiple POVs, although it's primarily the other adult woman and the high schooler. We also get brief POVs from both husbands, which I enjoyed and wish more had been incorporated.
Overall I had a difficult time fully engaging with the characters. This isn't really due to the writing, as it was great. More due to none of the characters being that likeable. That said, however, I do believe this would be an excellent TV series.
My biggest critique and why I didn't rate the book higher is that this was advertised as a suspenseful thriller, however I found it to be a literary drama. In my opinion this was not a thriller and there was little suspense, which was primarily around the ending. My expectations were looking for a suspense thriller and didn't receive that so I felt disappointed. If this were advertised differently I would have rated it higher.
*Thank you to Simon & Schuster in Edelweiss for access to the digital review copy!
June 8, 2020
Whew!! That was good! I knew it would be! I loved The Arrangement, so the second I saw Robyn Harding had a new book out- I had to have it!
The Swap...what are we going to swap? Gum, cars, notes........oh...that...what could possibly go wrong with that? Well let me count the ways..this book is sex, drugs and well no rock n roll..but it is so good (even without the rock n roll).
Low is a lonely, odd (in my opinion) teenager that forms a quick obsession with the new woman in town. Freya Light is a new resident to town and the second Low sees her, well she knows she needs to know this woman better. She basically stalks Freya without Freya knowing it. As she gets closer to Freya she gets very possessive of her. This is bad news for Jamie who recently struck up a friendship with Freya...Everybody wants Freya...everybody...
Add in a drug fueled night and a couple swap...and things get really interesting....I must say I didn't like one single character in this book! I love unlikable characters though and it really worked for this story. A big twist at the end left me saying, yep she has done it again. Another page turner that I couldn't put down. Pulled me right out of my recent book slump!
Thank you so much to Gallery Books for this ARC via Netgalley for an honest review!
The Swap...what are we going to swap? Gum, cars, notes........oh...that...what could possibly go wrong with that? Well let me count the ways..this book is sex, drugs and well no rock n roll..but it is so good (even without the rock n roll).
Low is a lonely, odd (in my opinion) teenager that forms a quick obsession with the new woman in town. Freya Light is a new resident to town and the second Low sees her, well she knows she needs to know this woman better. She basically stalks Freya without Freya knowing it. As she gets closer to Freya she gets very possessive of her. This is bad news for Jamie who recently struck up a friendship with Freya...Everybody wants Freya...everybody...
Add in a drug fueled night and a couple swap...and things get really interesting....I must say I didn't like one single character in this book! I love unlikable characters though and it really worked for this story. A big twist at the end left me saying, yep she has done it again. Another page turner that I couldn't put down. Pulled me right out of my recent book slump!
Thank you so much to Gallery Books for this ARC via Netgalley for an honest review!
June 30, 2020
4+ ridiculously entertaining stars!
After reading the countless raving reviews, I just had to read this book. What a deliciously dramatic and shockingly addictive story. I was glued to the pages from start to finish. My curiosity consistently craved “just one more chapter”. This isn’t a super suspenseful or edge-of-your-seat thriller. For me, it was a pure entertainment read. One I sat back to absorb and enjoy instead of analyze and overthink.
This was my first book by this author and I loved her writing! The pace and flow were perfect — I flew through the novel. The characters were a toxic bunch — all of them highly intriguing, unforgettable and unique. The storyline was full of witty and devious inner snark and palpable sexual tension. Once I started this novel, I couldn’t get it out of my mind and had to finish to see how it would all piece together. It is twisted, crazy and compulsively readable!
If you need an escape or distraction and want nothing more than to be extremely entertained, I highly recommend this book. Thank you to my wonderful friend Brenda who surprised me with this exciting novel!
I look forward to devouring this authors’ backlist and to see what she comes out with next!
After reading the countless raving reviews, I just had to read this book. What a deliciously dramatic and shockingly addictive story. I was glued to the pages from start to finish. My curiosity consistently craved “just one more chapter”. This isn’t a super suspenseful or edge-of-your-seat thriller. For me, it was a pure entertainment read. One I sat back to absorb and enjoy instead of analyze and overthink.
This was my first book by this author and I loved her writing! The pace and flow were perfect — I flew through the novel. The characters were a toxic bunch — all of them highly intriguing, unforgettable and unique. The storyline was full of witty and devious inner snark and palpable sexual tension. Once I started this novel, I couldn’t get it out of my mind and had to finish to see how it would all piece together. It is twisted, crazy and compulsively readable!
If you need an escape or distraction and want nothing more than to be extremely entertained, I highly recommend this book. Thank you to my wonderful friend Brenda who surprised me with this exciting novel!
I look forward to devouring this authors’ backlist and to see what she comes out with next!
June 23, 2020
Published today!
A disturbing tale of lust, obsession, loneliness and manipulation!
A teenaged outcast,
A narcissistic blogger,
And a woman desperate to have a baby.
One wild night of debauchery, what could go wrong?!
Wow, this book was like a train wreck that I couldn't look away from! It was filled with despicable characters, who I hated, with emotional and psychological problems. Freya has to be one of the most unlikeable characters that I've ever read about! I loved that we didn't get her POV, so I never really knew what she was thinking!
Told from Low, Max, Jamie and Brian's alternating POVs, Robyn Harding weaved a tale of toxic relationships, obsession, deceit and betrayal. It also looked at how fake and dark social media can be! In The Swap you saw how low self esteem and loneliness made some people vulnerable to manipulation.
The writing was great, it was a fast paced book, which was very entertaining! However, I thought that Max and Brian's chapters were a bit unnecessary, and didn't add much to the story.
If you want to read an addictive and scandalous tale about unlikeable characters behaving badly, and making bad decisions, then you might enjoy this!
Many thanks to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for this Digital Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.
A disturbing tale of lust, obsession, loneliness and manipulation!
A teenaged outcast,
A narcissistic blogger,
And a woman desperate to have a baby.
One wild night of debauchery, what could go wrong?!
Wow, this book was like a train wreck that I couldn't look away from! It was filled with despicable characters, who I hated, with emotional and psychological problems. Freya has to be one of the most unlikeable characters that I've ever read about! I loved that we didn't get her POV, so I never really knew what she was thinking!
Told from Low, Max, Jamie and Brian's alternating POVs, Robyn Harding weaved a tale of toxic relationships, obsession, deceit and betrayal. It also looked at how fake and dark social media can be! In The Swap you saw how low self esteem and loneliness made some people vulnerable to manipulation.
The writing was great, it was a fast paced book, which was very entertaining! However, I thought that Max and Brian's chapters were a bit unnecessary, and didn't add much to the story.
If you want to read an addictive and scandalous tale about unlikeable characters behaving badly, and making bad decisions, then you might enjoy this!
Many thanks to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for this Digital Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2020
This is the second book I’ve read by Robyn Harding.
When I read “The Party”....I said the following at the start of my review....
“I might as well toss a coin! All ratings - thoughts - feelings - opinions - judgements could definitely unite together to chitchat this novel”. 1 star ratings - or 5 star ratings...Robyn Harding gives us books to CHAT ABOUT- to THINK ABOUT!
I DEFINITELY WANT TO DISCUSS THIS NOVEL WITH OTHER READERS!!!!!
BE CLEAR....I’m liking Robyn Harding VERY MUCH....
Her contemporary-life-issue-stories are like *addictive-superfoods* for my critically thinking-cerebral -brain! (yet.... there were a couple of scenes I felt were totally ridiculous and unbelievable).
A few times our VERY INTERESTING characters were complete clueless jerks. Their stupidity was unreal.
Want me to share those scenes? Ha....too many spoilers would come flooding out of me if I did.
THIS BOOK CONTINUES TO ‘WEIGH HEAVY ON MY MIND....
AND....
I finished this novel a couple of days ago......giving me more time to think about it ......almost obsessively competing for my attention with global update news on the coronavirus. (with my own darn worries)
Tidbit thoughts - feelings - and excerpts: ( mixed in below)
FIRST....
.....Something to ponder: ( something ‘I’m’ pondering):
Would you be more concerned about your teenage daughter, (recently turned 18), hanging out with a married woman twice her age?—
or....
more concerned from potential problems (you yourself created), from raising your children in a household with multiple parents in an openly-known free-love-polyamorous-family - (children glimpsing home births of their younger siblings, to boot)?....
Would the multiple parents be hypocrites if they didn’t want their 18 year old daughter to get mixed up with the type of relationship they themselves were living?
How do loving responsible adults raise their kids to be moral responsible adults - when choosing a lifestyle that is not fully accepted by the majority of people?
And what are the risks & repercussions - TO THEM- if any - from children growing up in an alternative free-love-non-monogamous-environment? How are the children affected?
I know people who have raised children in these alternative type families. I ‘have’ wondered about the well being of the kids. Not saying it doesn’t work - just not sure it does, either. I know couples who engage in adult consented swinging - and poly relationships but their children don’t have a clue. (preferring to keep their adult sexual activities away from growing children).
Which is the better choice? To be honest with their kids - or not? Truthfully- I think it’s a delicate subject - and bless those who are successful at these types of families involving growing children.
ENOUGH PONDERING...moving on...
This novel gives us much to chew on
ONE OF THE BIGGEST MORALS OF THIS BOOK....
Ha....as in ‘duh’....
***If YOU ARE GOING TO WIFE SWAP, USE CONDOMS***
Back to our story ( or rather just getting started?/!
....Freya, Max, Jamie, and Brian
had shared an evening of the mushrooms and a couples’ swap.
.... Jamie and Brian weren’t handling their evening of promiscuous non-monogamous social activity very well.
It wasn’t the first time jealousies, guilt, and insecurities, had created tension and resentment, between them.
Brian blamed Jamie for being the instigator of the ‘couples’ swap’—and she blamed him for ruining her friendship with Freya.
Their marriage was at risk.
....Low’s friendship with Freya was odd, complexed, profound, and eternal.
At age 17, Low’s sexuality remained undefined. She had on occasions, feelings for both boys and girls.
.... “I might have been biromantic asexual. Or maybe I was a bisexual late bloomer”.
There is no pressure to label herself. She was raised in a progressive community, in an unconventional family.
She was taught to have an open mind. Her middle-aged polyamorous parents led by example.
Her parents consented shenanigans worked for everyone but Low.
The other people, sex partners, were considerate of everybody’s feelings…warm and affectionate to the kids.
....It wasn’t uncommon for couples to swap partners on the island. “Hawking Shuffle, or the island way”.
....Some people in the community called Low’s family freaky free love hippies. But Low’s parents were not ashamed of who they were.
....At home, Low felt like an afterthought. At school, she was a pariah. At Freya’s pottery studio, she was everything.
Best friend, parent, and crush all wrapped up in one worldly glamorous package.
....Freya was much older than Low— but she felt close to her. She had been lonely and depressed in this small town. She missed living in New York City. But, Low came along.....and Freya felt lighter and happier.
....Low’s romantic feelings may have been ambiguous, but the first time she saw Max, Freya’s tall, fit, handsome masculine husband, she was decidedly hetero..with sexual arousal feelings brewing.
As the story unfolds....Low’s lustful desires evolved. Not sure her maturity evolves....but an obsession towards Freya grows deeper.
.... Jamie Vincent owned a gift store in town. Retail was new to her, and she opened her shop during the fall when the tourist season was down. moving to the island was supposed to be a fresh start… leaving behind a stressful career in marketing.
Her husband Brian, had recently sold a series of young adult novels and was eager to leave his teaching job and write full-time.
Jamie and Brian were just getting over a major loss -
Jamie knew she needed counseling.... but moving and starting a new life seemed more important.
Jamie thought that once she got settled in Hawking, she would seek out mental health services— but there wasn’t a lot to be found in the small town where everyone knew each other.
Freya walked into Jamie’s shop one day - lifting Jamie out of her depressed funk.....
and a friendship began.
On again - off again friendships.....
....Freya and Low ( the tall teenager)
....Freya and Jamie ( same age friend)
....Low ( short for Swallow), and Jamie were both competing for Freya’s friendship
....crazy complex friendships - disrespect for boundaries - betrayals - jealousies- conniving backstabbing relationships rise to the surface.
....Freya and her husband Max both had a scandalous history before they even came to the island.
....Max Beausoleil was a once famous NHL hockey player - ( you’ll learn why he was asked to leave the team and wonder how it affects his marriage and future life)
....Freya always loved to be adored. She craved it. She was beautiful and effervescent- and once a social media celebrity and influencer...before moving to the island with her husband, Max
She could also be a manipulative, selfish, and a wicked human being
.....FANTASTIC CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (doesn’t mean these characters are people you’d ever want to be friends with)
....POTENTIALLY GREAT PLOT.....but in my opinion .....there were too many added ingredients - competing for flavor-highlights from each other.
....A couple of OBVIOUS scenes that just were NOT AT ALL BELIEVABLE....
For example.... I could never see an adult married man asking a 17 year old girl if she thought his eight-month pregnant wife was ready to have a baby. Really? The stupidity of the question was just silly!
There were a few times ( mostly all taking place in the last part of the novel)....that just became absurd —-
THAT SAID.....
THE DELICIOUSNESS & ABSURDITIES combined were page turning addictive.
Crappy silly ending ( where was the editor?)....I would have gladly helped Robyn with a better ending....lol ( I know, I’m full of beeswax)....
BUT.....THE BEST THING GOING FOR THIS BOOK????
.....It was a HUGE SUCCESS in taking my mind off of scary - frightening- worried concerns during these coronavirus unsettling days!
Sooo many books I keep dropping- I can’t seem to focus as easily with every book put in front of me since this global horrific virus outbreak....
But “The Swap” did the trick....
I yelled at the characters, “JERKS”....OUT LOUD, *JERKS*.....but, I was involved - FULLY ENGAGED AND HOOKED.....judging and evaluating like a naughty- happy- critical reader....
Oh.....it was maddeningly at times.....BUT.....heavenly!!!
GREAT DISCUSSION PICK...
Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Robyn Harding ( wishing everyone well - healthy - and safe)
When I read “The Party”....I said the following at the start of my review....
“I might as well toss a coin! All ratings - thoughts - feelings - opinions - judgements could definitely unite together to chitchat this novel”. 1 star ratings - or 5 star ratings...Robyn Harding gives us books to CHAT ABOUT- to THINK ABOUT!
I DEFINITELY WANT TO DISCUSS THIS NOVEL WITH OTHER READERS!!!!!
BE CLEAR....I’m liking Robyn Harding VERY MUCH....
Her contemporary-life-issue-stories are like *addictive-superfoods* for my critically thinking-cerebral -brain! (yet.... there were a couple of scenes I felt were totally ridiculous and unbelievable).
A few times our VERY INTERESTING characters were complete clueless jerks. Their stupidity was unreal.
Want me to share those scenes? Ha....too many spoilers would come flooding out of me if I did.
THIS BOOK CONTINUES TO ‘WEIGH HEAVY ON MY MIND....
AND....
I finished this novel a couple of days ago......giving me more time to think about it ......almost obsessively competing for my attention with global update news on the coronavirus. (with my own darn worries)
Tidbit thoughts - feelings - and excerpts: ( mixed in below)
FIRST....
.....Something to ponder: ( something ‘I’m’ pondering):
Would you be more concerned about your teenage daughter, (recently turned 18), hanging out with a married woman twice her age?—
or....
more concerned from potential problems (you yourself created), from raising your children in a household with multiple parents in an openly-known free-love-polyamorous-family - (children glimpsing home births of their younger siblings, to boot)?....
Would the multiple parents be hypocrites if they didn’t want their 18 year old daughter to get mixed up with the type of relationship they themselves were living?
How do loving responsible adults raise their kids to be moral responsible adults - when choosing a lifestyle that is not fully accepted by the majority of people?
And what are the risks & repercussions - TO THEM- if any - from children growing up in an alternative free-love-non-monogamous-environment? How are the children affected?
I know people who have raised children in these alternative type families. I ‘have’ wondered about the well being of the kids. Not saying it doesn’t work - just not sure it does, either. I know couples who engage in adult consented swinging - and poly relationships but their children don’t have a clue. (preferring to keep their adult sexual activities away from growing children).
Which is the better choice? To be honest with their kids - or not? Truthfully- I think it’s a delicate subject - and bless those who are successful at these types of families involving growing children.
ENOUGH PONDERING...moving on...
This novel gives us much to chew on
ONE OF THE BIGGEST MORALS OF THIS BOOK....
Ha....as in ‘duh’....
***If YOU ARE GOING TO WIFE SWAP, USE CONDOMS***
Back to our story ( or rather just getting started?/!
....Freya, Max, Jamie, and Brian
had shared an evening of the mushrooms and a couples’ swap.
.... Jamie and Brian weren’t handling their evening of promiscuous non-monogamous social activity very well.
It wasn’t the first time jealousies, guilt, and insecurities, had created tension and resentment, between them.
Brian blamed Jamie for being the instigator of the ‘couples’ swap’—and she blamed him for ruining her friendship with Freya.
Their marriage was at risk.
....Low’s friendship with Freya was odd, complexed, profound, and eternal.
At age 17, Low’s sexuality remained undefined. She had on occasions, feelings for both boys and girls.
.... “I might have been biromantic asexual. Or maybe I was a bisexual late bloomer”.
There is no pressure to label herself. She was raised in a progressive community, in an unconventional family.
She was taught to have an open mind. Her middle-aged polyamorous parents led by example.
Her parents consented shenanigans worked for everyone but Low.
The other people, sex partners, were considerate of everybody’s feelings…warm and affectionate to the kids.
....It wasn’t uncommon for couples to swap partners on the island. “Hawking Shuffle, or the island way”.
....Some people in the community called Low’s family freaky free love hippies. But Low’s parents were not ashamed of who they were.
....At home, Low felt like an afterthought. At school, she was a pariah. At Freya’s pottery studio, she was everything.
Best friend, parent, and crush all wrapped up in one worldly glamorous package.
....Freya was much older than Low— but she felt close to her. She had been lonely and depressed in this small town. She missed living in New York City. But, Low came along.....and Freya felt lighter and happier.
....Low’s romantic feelings may have been ambiguous, but the first time she saw Max, Freya’s tall, fit, handsome masculine husband, she was decidedly hetero..with sexual arousal feelings brewing.
As the story unfolds....Low’s lustful desires evolved. Not sure her maturity evolves....but an obsession towards Freya grows deeper.
.... Jamie Vincent owned a gift store in town. Retail was new to her, and she opened her shop during the fall when the tourist season was down. moving to the island was supposed to be a fresh start… leaving behind a stressful career in marketing.
Her husband Brian, had recently sold a series of young adult novels and was eager to leave his teaching job and write full-time.
Jamie and Brian were just getting over a major loss -
Jamie knew she needed counseling.... but moving and starting a new life seemed more important.
Jamie thought that once she got settled in Hawking, she would seek out mental health services— but there wasn’t a lot to be found in the small town where everyone knew each other.
Freya walked into Jamie’s shop one day - lifting Jamie out of her depressed funk.....
and a friendship began.
On again - off again friendships.....
....Freya and Low ( the tall teenager)
....Freya and Jamie ( same age friend)
....Low ( short for Swallow), and Jamie were both competing for Freya’s friendship
....crazy complex friendships - disrespect for boundaries - betrayals - jealousies- conniving backstabbing relationships rise to the surface.
....Freya and her husband Max both had a scandalous history before they even came to the island.
....Max Beausoleil was a once famous NHL hockey player - ( you’ll learn why he was asked to leave the team and wonder how it affects his marriage and future life)
....Freya always loved to be adored. She craved it. She was beautiful and effervescent- and once a social media celebrity and influencer...before moving to the island with her husband, Max
She could also be a manipulative, selfish, and a wicked human being
.....FANTASTIC CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (doesn’t mean these characters are people you’d ever want to be friends with)
....POTENTIALLY GREAT PLOT.....but in my opinion .....there were too many added ingredients - competing for flavor-highlights from each other.
....A couple of OBVIOUS scenes that just were NOT AT ALL BELIEVABLE....
For example.... I could never see an adult married man asking a 17 year old girl if she thought his eight-month pregnant wife was ready to have a baby. Really? The stupidity of the question was just silly!
There were a few times ( mostly all taking place in the last part of the novel)....that just became absurd —-
THAT SAID.....
THE DELICIOUSNESS & ABSURDITIES combined were page turning addictive.
Crappy silly ending ( where was the editor?)....I would have gladly helped Robyn with a better ending....lol ( I know, I’m full of beeswax)....
BUT.....THE BEST THING GOING FOR THIS BOOK????
.....It was a HUGE SUCCESS in taking my mind off of scary - frightening- worried concerns during these coronavirus unsettling days!
Sooo many books I keep dropping- I can’t seem to focus as easily with every book put in front of me since this global horrific virus outbreak....
But “The Swap” did the trick....
I yelled at the characters, “JERKS”....OUT LOUD, *JERKS*.....but, I was involved - FULLY ENGAGED AND HOOKED.....judging and evaluating like a naughty- happy- critical reader....
Oh.....it was maddeningly at times.....BUT.....heavenly!!!
GREAT DISCUSSION PICK...
Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Robyn Harding ( wishing everyone well - healthy - and safe)
June 30, 2020
(This week I challenged myself to read three recent hyped thrillers. The other books I read were The Last Flight and The Wife Stalker )
tw: abuse, infertility
"She looked up at me, a slow smile spreading across her face. She saw me. She really saw me. I was not simply a misfit teenager, tall and awkward and outcast. I was a kindred spirit."
This is a dark story about obsession, infatuation and false idolatry. Name all the synonyms for these words and you nailed it. It follows the perspective of multiple characters but mainly of Low and Jamie competing for the affection of one person. Nope, this is not a love story. This is about toxicity in friendships. How far can you go for a friend? I advise not to read the blurb here because I just checked it for the first time and its too long and quite spoilery.
The Swap is hands down one of the best thrillers I have read for this year. I know I've said it a lot but honestly it really is. It was extremely gut-wrenching! My eyes were glued right from the beginning. I'm not the biggest fan when it comes to the books written by this author but this one changed everything. The writing was compelling and each chapter was short but still has a punch. The way she has written her characters was phenomenal. After the first chapter, I just knew deep down that I will care for these people's lives. They don't play things nicely and they own it up. Flawed but highly interesting.
Just to be petty, there were barely any mystery or twists in this. Usually, that's a deal breaker for me when it comes to thrillers but I'm going to it let slide for now. You can figure things out already halfway in the story. Well, most of it. As for how things were resolved, I was okay with it but not the biggest fan.
This book reminded me of Jennifer Weiner's Big Summer or was it just me? But this was much darker and more manipulative. Thriller reader or not, I'm highly recommending this!
"The microwave dinged, and she turned away from me. If she had thrown scalding oat milk in my face it would have hurt less."
tw: abuse, infertility
"She looked up at me, a slow smile spreading across her face. She saw me. She really saw me. I was not simply a misfit teenager, tall and awkward and outcast. I was a kindred spirit."
This is a dark story about obsession, infatuation and false idolatry. Name all the synonyms for these words and you nailed it. It follows the perspective of multiple characters but mainly of Low and Jamie competing for the affection of one person. Nope, this is not a love story. This is about toxicity in friendships. How far can you go for a friend? I advise not to read the blurb here because I just checked it for the first time and its too long and quite spoilery.
The Swap is hands down one of the best thrillers I have read for this year. I know I've said it a lot but honestly it really is. It was extremely gut-wrenching! My eyes were glued right from the beginning. I'm not the biggest fan when it comes to the books written by this author but this one changed everything. The writing was compelling and each chapter was short but still has a punch. The way she has written her characters was phenomenal. After the first chapter, I just knew deep down that I will care for these people's lives. They don't play things nicely and they own it up. Flawed but highly interesting.
Just to be petty, there were barely any mystery or twists in this. Usually, that's a deal breaker for me when it comes to thrillers but I'm going to it let slide for now. You can figure things out already halfway in the story. Well, most of it. As for how things were resolved, I was okay with it but not the biggest fan.
This book reminded me of Jennifer Weiner's Big Summer or was it just me? But this was much darker and more manipulative. Thriller reader or not, I'm highly recommending this!
"The microwave dinged, and she turned away from me. If she had thrown scalding oat milk in my face it would have hurt less."
June 23, 2020
**AVAILABLE TODAY!**
Gripping from the very first page, The Swap is a diabolically delightful offering from the talented Robyn Harding.
4.5 addictive stars
Two couples. A lonely, bullied teen living in a polyamorous family. A remote Pacific Northwest island. And one wild and crazy night that goes decidedly too far. By far, Harding's best novel to date. I stayed up until 5 AM this morning just to finish reading this crazy ride. I couldn't put it down.
Told from three points of view, those of Freya, Jamie, and Swallow (or Low), all are beautifully fleshed out characters. Exploring topics such as toxic friendships, obsession, alternate lifestyles, social media, and domestic abuse, this story is absolutely riveting.
Although the conclusion is perhaps a bit implausible, and there are a few small details which don't quite add up (which I have no doubt will be cleaned up in the final edits), I still thought it was exceptional.
Highly recommended!
Available June 23, 2020 in the U.S.
**Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for my review copy.
Gripping from the very first page, The Swap is a diabolically delightful offering from the talented Robyn Harding.
4.5 addictive stars
Two couples. A lonely, bullied teen living in a polyamorous family. A remote Pacific Northwest island. And one wild and crazy night that goes decidedly too far. By far, Harding's best novel to date. I stayed up until 5 AM this morning just to finish reading this crazy ride. I couldn't put it down.
Told from three points of view, those of Freya, Jamie, and Swallow (or Low), all are beautifully fleshed out characters. Exploring topics such as toxic friendships, obsession, alternate lifestyles, social media, and domestic abuse, this story is absolutely riveting.
Although the conclusion is perhaps a bit implausible, and there are a few small details which don't quite add up (which I have no doubt will be cleaned up in the final edits), I still thought it was exceptional.
Highly recommended!
Available June 23, 2020 in the U.S.
**Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for my review copy.
April 8, 2022
The Swap is a wickedly delicious and addictive tale of obsession, sex and toxic relationships.
Heading the cast is Freya, a classy, beautiful narcissist and manipulator of the highest order. Previously a social media influencer until her husband Max made a bad mistake. She and Max have retreated to a small island near Seattle, where she has her own pottery studio, but really she wants nothing more to be back in the limelight.
Next are her two 'friends', Jamie, a slightly boring woman who owns the shop where Freya sells her pottery. Jamie and her husband Brian came to the island for a fresh start after getting caught out by a surrogate baby scam. Jamie really wants a child but she and Brian can’t have their own baby.
Then there is seventeen year old Low (short for Swallow – her parents are hippies) is a six foot tall, gangly redhead who doesn’t fit in to her family or the teenage community on the island. When she sees confident, elegant Freya pin up a notice on the school board for for pottery classes she’s hooked. And so begins her obsession with Freya and a toxic relationship that will have Freya playing Jamie and Low off against each other. Her obsession will find her watching outside Freya’s house on a night when the two couples get together for a drug-fuelled evening that will change all their lives.
Told in the voices of Low, Jamie, Max and Brian, we can only guess at Freya’s motives and thoughts. This was a fast paced, absorbing and totally fun read! 4.5★
with thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for a copy to read.
Heading the cast is Freya, a classy, beautiful narcissist and manipulator of the highest order. Previously a social media influencer until her husband Max made a bad mistake. She and Max have retreated to a small island near Seattle, where she has her own pottery studio, but really she wants nothing more to be back in the limelight.
Next are her two 'friends', Jamie, a slightly boring woman who owns the shop where Freya sells her pottery. Jamie and her husband Brian came to the island for a fresh start after getting caught out by a surrogate baby scam. Jamie really wants a child but she and Brian can’t have their own baby.
Then there is seventeen year old Low (short for Swallow – her parents are hippies) is a six foot tall, gangly redhead who doesn’t fit in to her family or the teenage community on the island. When she sees confident, elegant Freya pin up a notice on the school board for for pottery classes she’s hooked. And so begins her obsession with Freya and a toxic relationship that will have Freya playing Jamie and Low off against each other. Her obsession will find her watching outside Freya’s house on a night when the two couples get together for a drug-fuelled evening that will change all their lives.
Told in the voices of Low, Jamie, Max and Brian, we can only guess at Freya’s motives and thoughts. This was a fast paced, absorbing and totally fun read! 4.5★
with thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for a copy to read.
July 22, 2020
A page turner of sorts, but be prepared for the amount of eye rolling you may need to do in order to get through this one.
This came up on my audible recommendations and I wasn’t sure about it after reading the premise but thought I might as well give it a try as had a copy my kindle as well.
While it was quite a page turner in respects of suspense and originality there was a lot of situations where you really do have to suspend disbelief in order to read this one.
The premise is intriguing, Two young couples become friends wile living on a remote island, A night where the couples share more than a couple of glasses of wine and the repercussion is mind blowing to say the least.. And to add to the mix throw in a teenager who becomes obsessed with one of the female characters and you have a plot that will certainly keep you turning the pages.
This novel has it all, a blend of despicable characters that are self obsessed and shallow and each with their own secrets and agendas, a plot that is quite engaging until it becomes slightly ridiculous but still readable if that makes sense.
I do think the author has a talent for keeping the suspense flowing as I just had to finish this one to find out what was going to happen and while I didnt like the ending, it certainly packs a punch.
This wasn't my cup of tea and yet I can see how this novel will be on a lot of readers summer reading lists.
An ok read for me but not one for my favorites list.
This came up on my audible recommendations and I wasn’t sure about it after reading the premise but thought I might as well give it a try as had a copy my kindle as well.
While it was quite a page turner in respects of suspense and originality there was a lot of situations where you really do have to suspend disbelief in order to read this one.
The premise is intriguing, Two young couples become friends wile living on a remote island, A night where the couples share more than a couple of glasses of wine and the repercussion is mind blowing to say the least.. And to add to the mix throw in a teenager who becomes obsessed with one of the female characters and you have a plot that will certainly keep you turning the pages.
This novel has it all, a blend of despicable characters that are self obsessed and shallow and each with their own secrets and agendas, a plot that is quite engaging until it becomes slightly ridiculous but still readable if that makes sense.
I do think the author has a talent for keeping the suspense flowing as I just had to finish this one to find out what was going to happen and while I didnt like the ending, it certainly packs a punch.
This wasn't my cup of tea and yet I can see how this novel will be on a lot of readers summer reading lists.
An ok read for me but not one for my favorites list.
November 27, 2020
Deceitful Drama are the top 2 words that come to mind about The Swap — In a small Pacific Northwest town, Low, an outcast senior in high school, falls under the trance of Freya, a social media influencer who offers pottery classes. Freya recent relocated to the area with her husband Max, in an attempt to escape bad PR following one of his decisions. Jamie is married to Brian and she wants nothing more than to be a mom. She owns a small shop in town and begins to sell some of Freya’s pottery there. The two become fast friends, which Low does not like. She takes matters into her own hands, spying on the couples and happens to see them swapping partners one night. How will Low use this info to drive Freya and Jamie apart? What is the aftermath of their fling?
I didn’t like any of the characters in this story but that didn’t stop me from tearing through the book, dying to find out what happened next! Some elements were a little predictable but others, I didn’t see coming. The Swap is definitely a binge worthy page turner.
I didn’t like any of the characters in this story but that didn’t stop me from tearing through the book, dying to find out what happened next! Some elements were a little predictable but others, I didn’t see coming. The Swap is definitely a binge worthy page turner.
June 24, 2021
1.75
MORE OF LITERARY DRAMA , LESS OF SUSPENSEFUL THRILLER
Do you hear my angry sobs ? Yes I am disappointed. I was so exciting about this book coz of all those 5 star ratings.
What I disliked? ?
• alternate POV :- alternate POV have never been a problem to me , but in this book the I didn't quite understood the sense of giving Jamie, Brian and Max there separate chapters. It would have been good if the story would have been told from pov of three female leads - Low, Jamie and Ferya .
• stupid characters :- in this book you will meet history one of the most stupid and brainless characters ( not one but three) . Max, Jamie and Brian were easy to manipulate right from starting .
• lacks darkness and depth :- it was a mindless thriller , I kept on reading because I wanted to know the ending. There was nothing dark and suspenseful about it, it was a pretty basic read.
• unsatisfying ending :- it was a distasteful and disappointing read with worst ending, you will be left with feeling of more. Some of the events are left unexplained.
Trigger warning:- masochism/ unhealthy relationship/ domestic violence/ narcissistic parents/ infertility/ obsession.
what I liked?
√ fast pacing
√ authors approach towards marriage, infertility and monogamy.
I might have enjoyed this book if it was advertised as drama rather than a suspense book . There was nothing like wow factor in it nor the twists and turns lured me.
If you enjoy drama you can read it.
Recommended to people looking for a book to read on a cozy summer afternoon when you just wanna sit back and enjoy the drama rather than use your feet cells.
January 27, 2023
This is the story of a totally toxic trio gone COMPLETELY off the rails that I absolutely could not put down!
Freya is completely bewitching--blond, glamorous, and fresh off of her semi-famous Instagram, when she sweeps into a tiny coastal town and catches the eye of gangly, uncertain teenager Low (short for Swallow, the name being a byproduct of her hippie-esque and polyamorous parents). With the promise of pottery lessons, artistic Low is instantly captivated by this intriguing stranger. As Low slowly develops a possessive attraction towards Freya and finds her life starting to feel complete, her plans are interrupted by Freya's friend Jamie. Freya convinces Jamie, who is a tad straitlaced and raring for motherhood and Jamie's novelist husband Brian to come over to party and take a walk on the wild side. Jamie and her husband are then also drawn to Freya's rugged and handsome husband Max, former hockey player, and when all parties are intoxicated, the subject of a spousal swap comes up.
After that fateful night, growing suspicion, tension, and questions begin to loom in the minds of our characters as they fight to figure out who they can trust, who has an ulterior motive, and who could even be deadly. As Low hangs in the background with a watchful eye as the drama unfolds around her, will her fascination with Freya eventually become her greatest downfall? And where does that leave Jamie?
The Swap was one of those books I started on a whim even though I have been wanting to read it for quite a while now, because I was desperate for something fast-paced, intriguing, and surprising...and this book DELIVERED! I am a big fan of short chapters if they aren't detrimental to the flow of a story, and Harding utilized them perfectly throughout. This is one of those books I would recommend carving out an afternoon for, because I think it would be most impactful to fly through it, and needless to say, that will be easy to do! I haven't had a book where I tried to bargain how much more I could read before I had to go do something else in quite a while, but this was one of those books.
It was SO hard to put down and I loved that we got chapters from all of the main characters but the narrative never felt cluttered and always kept moving. I was guessing what would happen up until the last page, and who would get their comeuppance and was certainly satisfied with the end! ALL of these ladies are pretty crazy in their own ways, and their husbands are a little unhinged too, so there is plenty of room for speculation as you go. I also adored Harding's voice and her snarky quips at times, and she got me laughing out loud more than once!
I am SO thrilled I got the opportunity to read this book and would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thriller with complicated relationships and a bit of a stalker vibe: you will adore this book! I cannot wait to check out the rest of Robyn Harding's back catalog and if you haven't checked out one of her books yet...make this your first!
4.5 ⭐️
**Special thanks also go out to Kaira Rouda and her team for giving away this copy through her FB page and Bookshop.org for providing the copy of this book!**
Freya is completely bewitching--blond, glamorous, and fresh off of her semi-famous Instagram, when she sweeps into a tiny coastal town and catches the eye of gangly, uncertain teenager Low (short for Swallow, the name being a byproduct of her hippie-esque and polyamorous parents). With the promise of pottery lessons, artistic Low is instantly captivated by this intriguing stranger. As Low slowly develops a possessive attraction towards Freya and finds her life starting to feel complete, her plans are interrupted by Freya's friend Jamie. Freya convinces Jamie, who is a tad straitlaced and raring for motherhood and Jamie's novelist husband Brian to come over to party and take a walk on the wild side. Jamie and her husband are then also drawn to Freya's rugged and handsome husband Max, former hockey player, and when all parties are intoxicated, the subject of a spousal swap comes up.
After that fateful night, growing suspicion, tension, and questions begin to loom in the minds of our characters as they fight to figure out who they can trust, who has an ulterior motive, and who could even be deadly. As Low hangs in the background with a watchful eye as the drama unfolds around her, will her fascination with Freya eventually become her greatest downfall? And where does that leave Jamie?
The Swap was one of those books I started on a whim even though I have been wanting to read it for quite a while now, because I was desperate for something fast-paced, intriguing, and surprising...and this book DELIVERED! I am a big fan of short chapters if they aren't detrimental to the flow of a story, and Harding utilized them perfectly throughout. This is one of those books I would recommend carving out an afternoon for, because I think it would be most impactful to fly through it, and needless to say, that will be easy to do! I haven't had a book where I tried to bargain how much more I could read before I had to go do something else in quite a while, but this was one of those books.
It was SO hard to put down and I loved that we got chapters from all of the main characters but the narrative never felt cluttered and always kept moving. I was guessing what would happen up until the last page, and who would get their comeuppance and was certainly satisfied with the end! ALL of these ladies are pretty crazy in their own ways, and their husbands are a little unhinged too, so there is plenty of room for speculation as you go. I also adored Harding's voice and her snarky quips at times, and she got me laughing out loud more than once!
I am SO thrilled I got the opportunity to read this book and would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thriller with complicated relationships and a bit of a stalker vibe: you will adore this book! I cannot wait to check out the rest of Robyn Harding's back catalog and if you haven't checked out one of her books yet...make this your first!
4.5 ⭐️
**Special thanks also go out to Kaira Rouda and her team for giving away this copy through her FB page and Bookshop.org for providing the copy of this book!**
March 29, 2020
I found this book disturbing on several levels , but mostly because I can actually see this happening. Obsession is the name of the game and no one is safe when it’s a outcast teenage girl who happens to have the obsessive stalker gene. No one is innocent in this novel and that’s what makes it such a good read. Is it love, lust, or obsession - read The Swap if you want to find out. Trust me, you will thoroughly enjoy it.
April 7, 2020
As far as Robyn Harding's upcoming novel
The Swap
is concerned, no one’s talking about a BOOK swap, that’s for sure!!
Low is a lonely high school senior who is either ostracized or ignored by her peers. Living on a small island in the Pacific Northwest with her polyamorous parents and their lovers, she keeps hoping something better will come along and take her away from her boring life.
And then she meets Freya, a beautiful, ethereal blonde offering pottery classes to anyone interested. Low jumps at the chance to spend time with this woman, whom it turns out is married to a handsome former pro hockey player. They spend a lot of time together and Low feels seen, feels appreciated for the first time. Freya tells Low she's the only person who understands her, tells her how special she is to her.
But when Freya meets Jamie, a woman closer to her in age, the two hit it off, leaving a jealous Low to seethe on the sidelines. Jamie and her husband have moved to the island to recover from the anguish of not being able to have a baby.
One wild night when the two couples are enjoying some illegal substances, Freya proposes swapping spouses. They don’t plan to speak about it again—and everything goes off the rails from there.
Harding throws in some good twists so I’ll leave my plot summary here. Suffice it to say there’s all the betrayal, double crossing, manipulation, and melodrama you’d expect, and even some you don’t. She is great at keeping you hooked!!
NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Scout Press gave me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes June 23.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Low is a lonely high school senior who is either ostracized or ignored by her peers. Living on a small island in the Pacific Northwest with her polyamorous parents and their lovers, she keeps hoping something better will come along and take her away from her boring life.
And then she meets Freya, a beautiful, ethereal blonde offering pottery classes to anyone interested. Low jumps at the chance to spend time with this woman, whom it turns out is married to a handsome former pro hockey player. They spend a lot of time together and Low feels seen, feels appreciated for the first time. Freya tells Low she's the only person who understands her, tells her how special she is to her.
But when Freya meets Jamie, a woman closer to her in age, the two hit it off, leaving a jealous Low to seethe on the sidelines. Jamie and her husband have moved to the island to recover from the anguish of not being able to have a baby.
One wild night when the two couples are enjoying some illegal substances, Freya proposes swapping spouses. They don’t plan to speak about it again—and everything goes off the rails from there.
Harding throws in some good twists so I’ll leave my plot summary here. Suffice it to say there’s all the betrayal, double crossing, manipulation, and melodrama you’d expect, and even some you don’t. She is great at keeping you hooked!!
NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Scout Press gave me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes June 23.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
July 7, 2020
Closer to a 3.5 stars
I'm so torn over how I feel about this book. I loved parts of it and I really love the concept of this book, the idea of partner swapping is fascinating to me, especially in a thriller story like this. Robyn Harding's writign style is so good and so addicting I can always finish her books within two days, and I love the multiple POV's but her endings are always so unsatisfying for some reason..? I just feel like all of her books have so much potential and I'm always hoping the next one I read from her will be great, but her writing is still so freaking good. I just wish the endings of her books weren't so underwhelming for me.
Freya is a fascinating character because of how insanely narcissistic and manipulative she is, and Low is a super interesting character because of her obsessive and stalker-like tendencies. I loved the weird toxic friendship dynamic happening between Freya and Low and Jamie in this book, it was so entertaining. I love the fact that Low comes from a polyamorous family, I also find those types of relationships very fascinating to read about as well.
I guess I just expected more from the end of the story, I feel like it never really went there, where I thought it could go.
I'm so torn over how I feel about this book. I loved parts of it and I really love the concept of this book, the idea of partner swapping is fascinating to me, especially in a thriller story like this. Robyn Harding's writign style is so good and so addicting I can always finish her books within two days, and I love the multiple POV's but her endings are always so unsatisfying for some reason..? I just feel like all of her books have so much potential and I'm always hoping the next one I read from her will be great, but her writing is still so freaking good. I just wish the endings of her books weren't so underwhelming for me.
Freya is a fascinating character because of how insanely narcissistic and manipulative she is, and Low is a super interesting character because of her obsessive and stalker-like tendencies. I loved the weird toxic friendship dynamic happening between Freya and Low and Jamie in this book, it was so entertaining. I love the fact that Low comes from a polyamorous family, I also find those types of relationships very fascinating to read about as well.
I guess I just expected more from the end of the story, I feel like it never really went there, where I thought it could go.
April 24, 2021
“Anger is just misplaced fear.”
The Swap (Kindle Edition)
by Robyn Harding
Robyn Harding's the best...the BEST!!!
Five stars!
LONG Review to follow when I feel more energetic. (Had my COVID vaccine today.)
Read it!
My review:
Wow. This was a fun one, to put it mildly. I do not know WHAT to say without giving key points away. I will start with this: Robyn Harding has somehow become my favorite in this genre. Even more than Gillian Flynn. Why? I will tell you.
Her books are so damn engaging. You CANNOT just read two pages and go to sleep. You MUST stay up and devour every word.
With Flynn, who wrote the legendary Gone Girl, which I count as one of my all time faves, I have never liked ANY of the other books by her I have read.
With Harding I have liked them all. But this is her best. Unquestionably.
Harding likes to write about the seemy side of life and I like to read about it. In the Arrangement, it was Sugar Daddies. Here, it's the topic of swinging.
But it is imperative for you to know the book is about so much more then that. It is not salacious or sleazy or anything you might think of when you hear the term "to swing." And it really is a multiple character study. Swinging, though featured, (or at least one night of it) is a symptom of the many diseases these characters have.
And I speak not of the physical. I am talking about emotional diseases. Most of the characters have deep damage in different ways. What this story is really about is how each person came to their life's crossroads and how one night will change all of them in deep and visceral ways.
I found it extraordinary. The prose, the pacing, the characters..all of it was amazing.
And as others have said I could see this story happening. Who has not known a Fraya in their lives? I have. I do not find her character over the top because millions of her exist all over the world waiting and hoping to endear themselves to people in the hopes of spewing their mind games and getting what they want and need which is usually toxicity.
I must say there is one character whom I want to see go on in the story in another book but for spoiler's sake:
SPOILERS:
Robyn or friends or family of Robyn..if any of you ever see this..please write a book about Max. I know many others have asked too. What an intense character. I think I had a crush on him. I really want to see him in another book so much.
I remain concerned that the writer's style will change and I hope not. But I have seen writers whom I love get more and more well known and then change. The Divergent series and the difference in the last book to the first two remains my example of that.
So this one gets a five from me. But before I go I must dissect the characters a bit:
SPOILERS:
Max....sigh.
Fraya..see above. evil.
Jaime..honestly? She started to get on my nerves after a bit. Very whiny. I liked her and felt for her but her worship of her best friend grated on me. Believe me I understand it but I felt she treated Brian very poorly.
Brian....pretty nondescript character. Liked him more as the book went on.
Low..OK...Here is where people might disagree. Was Low disturbed? Yes. Did I kinda sorta like her? Yes, again. I felt for her. And she had this sarcastic and wry sense of humor that I loved. Glad she got a fresh start at the end.
So, if you like psychological thrillers and have not read this one yet....read it! I think you will like.
The Swap (Kindle Edition)
by Robyn Harding
Robyn Harding's the best...the BEST!!!
Five stars!
LONG Review to follow when I feel more energetic. (Had my COVID vaccine today.)
Read it!
My review:
Wow. This was a fun one, to put it mildly. I do not know WHAT to say without giving key points away. I will start with this: Robyn Harding has somehow become my favorite in this genre. Even more than Gillian Flynn. Why? I will tell you.
Her books are so damn engaging. You CANNOT just read two pages and go to sleep. You MUST stay up and devour every word.
With Flynn, who wrote the legendary Gone Girl, which I count as one of my all time faves, I have never liked ANY of the other books by her I have read.
With Harding I have liked them all. But this is her best. Unquestionably.
Harding likes to write about the seemy side of life and I like to read about it. In the Arrangement, it was Sugar Daddies. Here, it's the topic of swinging.
But it is imperative for you to know the book is about so much more then that. It is not salacious or sleazy or anything you might think of when you hear the term "to swing." And it really is a multiple character study. Swinging, though featured, (or at least one night of it) is a symptom of the many diseases these characters have.
And I speak not of the physical. I am talking about emotional diseases. Most of the characters have deep damage in different ways. What this story is really about is how each person came to their life's crossroads and how one night will change all of them in deep and visceral ways.
I found it extraordinary. The prose, the pacing, the characters..all of it was amazing.
And as others have said I could see this story happening. Who has not known a Fraya in their lives? I have. I do not find her character over the top because millions of her exist all over the world waiting and hoping to endear themselves to people in the hopes of spewing their mind games and getting what they want and need which is usually toxicity.
I must say there is one character whom I want to see go on in the story in another book but for spoiler's sake:
SPOILERS:
Robyn or friends or family of Robyn..if any of you ever see this..please write a book about Max. I know many others have asked too. What an intense character. I think I had a crush on him. I really want to see him in another book so much.
I remain concerned that the writer's style will change and I hope not. But I have seen writers whom I love get more and more well known and then change. The Divergent series and the difference in the last book to the first two remains my example of that.
So this one gets a five from me. But before I go I must dissect the characters a bit:
SPOILERS:
Max....sigh.
Fraya..see above. evil.
Jaime..honestly? She started to get on my nerves after a bit. Very whiny. I liked her and felt for her but her worship of her best friend grated on me. Believe me I understand it but I felt she treated Brian very poorly.
Brian....pretty nondescript character. Liked him more as the book went on.
Low..OK...Here is where people might disagree. Was Low disturbed? Yes. Did I kinda sorta like her? Yes, again. I felt for her. And she had this sarcastic and wry sense of humor that I loved. Glad she got a fresh start at the end.
So, if you like psychological thrillers and have not read this one yet....read it! I think you will like.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,548 reviews