ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – The E-book Swap by Tessa Bickers – Brief E-book and Scribes

The E-book Swap by Tessa Bickers shall be revealed by Hodder & Stoughton on fifth September in hardcover, eBook and audiobook. My due to the creator for very kindly sending me a duplicate of her great novel.

A REASON TO LIVE.
Nonetheless grieving the loss of life of her greatest buddy, Erin is aware of she wants to begin residing – however has no concept how. Then she loses her favorite e book, a closely annotated and containing her buddy’s remaining phrases to her.

A REASON TO LOVE.
When James finds Erin’s note-filled e book in his area people library, it sparks a life-changing dialog. He writes his personal message again, and shortly they’re locked in an nameless e book alternate, with no concept who the opposite individual within the margins may be.

A REASON TO FORGIVE?
However Erin and James have a shared historical past that neither of them realise. How will Erin react when she discovers the opposite author isn’t a stranger in any respect – however the individual she as soon as swore she’d by no means forgive?

A narrative of second possibilities and new beginnings, it is a love letter to books – and a love letter to like.

I all the time discover books about books fairly laborious to withstand and as quickly as I clocked The E-book Swap I used to be drawn to it. Reader, I liked it.

The story is advised in alternate chapters by Erin and James. They’re each having a little bit of a troublesome time with jobs and household life for one cause or one other. Having a significant clearout, Erin is horrified to grasp that she has donated her treasured copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to the area people library, a kind of little bookshelves that you just discover out and about, the place people can swap books. Stuffed with her notes on the textual content and containing a memento from her late greatest buddy, Bonnie, Erin desperately needs to get it again. James finds the e book and makes his personal notes, leaving a brand new e book and a message for the mysterious ‘Margins Lady’. So begins a stunning bookish communication between them.

In traditional romance novel type, issues don’t go to plan and some handy, however beautiful, twists of destiny result in a rocky street for the pair, particularly given their shared previous. This isn’t a lightweight and fluffy romcom because it covers some actually severe points like terminal sickness, psychological well being, bullying and the consequences of childhood traumas, however once I say it’s a real pleasure to learn I imply it. It’s totally heart-warming and transferring, but additionally an uplifting depiction of the depth of actual friendship.

I actually liked the forwards and backwards of the e book swaps and the way Erin and James bought to know one another once more by their annotations and questions for one another. All through I used to be rooting for them and I favored each characters very a lot. They’re sophisticated and flawed as all of us are, however in the end likeable. I need to admit to quite a mushy spot for James!

I believed this was a superb debut novel by Tessa Bickers. It’s plotted superbly, the writing is emotive and genuine, and the characters are all completely drawn and slot collectively very effectively. Once I bought to the top I might actually think about this being dramatised for movie or TV. It’s a complete triumph!

Tessa Bickers studied journalism at Bournemouth college, and went on to co-present a breakfast radio present within the South West. Transferring into celeb information, she’s interviewed among the largest names in present enterprise, together with Leonardo DiCaprio and the solid of Intercourse and the Metropolis. Tess began her artistic profession as a singer-songwriter and after a number of failed X Issue auditions she went on to carry out at Glastonbury Pageant, and Secret Backyard Social gathering along with her band Tess and the Tellers. Nowadays she’s changed her guitar with a keyboard, and songs for books. THE BOOK SWAP is her debut novel, publishing in 2024.