The Book Swap

A REASON TO LIVE.

Still grieving the death of her best friend, Erin knows she needs to start living - but has no idea how. Then she loses her favourite book, heavily annotated and containing her friend's final words to her.

A REASON TO LOVE.

When James finds Erin's note-filled book in his local community library, it sparks a life-changing conversation. He writes his own message back, and soon they are locked in an anonymous book exchange, with no idea who the other person in the margins might be.

A REASON TO FORGIVE?

But Erin and James have a shared history that neither of them realise. How will Erin react when she discovers the other writer isn't a stranger at all - but the person she once swore she'd never forgive?

Both a gorgeous romance between two broken people, and a love letter to books and reading. If you loved The Flatshare you will love this heartfelt debut from Tessa Bickers about two people with tragic pasts, brought together through notes scribbled in the margins of their favourite reads. This debut is catnip for any book geek. I just loved it Cesca Major
A gorgeous debut from tremendous Tessa Bickers. It's ahhh but it's also hahahahaha. I loved it. Can't wait for the movie Sally Phillips
It's You've Got Mail, but make it (even more) bookish. A really heartfelt love story about the power of friendship, family, and the written word. Bookworms everywhere will adore this Niamh Hargan
If you love books and love love, you are going to adore The Book Swap - a gorgeous novel about a couple falling in love and finding themselves in the notes they scribble for each other in beloved books. It's heartwarming and hopeful and a testament to the power of a good read Julie Cohen
Moving and romantic. Tessa Bickers writes with a fresh and warm-hearted voice, and what a romantic concept! Lia Louis
A soul-warming tale, perfectly balanced. I cried not once but several times. It's Sophie Kinsella meets Beth O'Leary via Emily James and I loved it . . . it deserves to be a smash Freya Berry
Funny, heartbreaking and achingly romantic. Relatable, multi-layered characters with complicated back stories - highly recommend. Lorraine Brown
It's a love story and a love letter to reading, and it shows you just how powerful books are . . . What a gorgeous, life-affirming, bookishly beautiful novel this is! Cressida McLaughlin
Poignant . . . simply a beautiful story about love, friendship and the restorative power of forgiveness Jessica George
Bickers charms in her depiction of how James and Erin bond through literature, and how literature changes their lives. This will have bookworms swooning Publishers Weekly
Funny, heartbreaking and achingly romantic. Relatable, multi-layered characters with complicated back stories - highly recommend Lorraine Brown

Tessa Bickers studied journalism at Bournemouth university, and went on to co-present a breakfast radio show in the South West. Moving into celebrity news, she interviewed some of the biggest names in show business, including Leonardo DiCaprio and the cast of Sex and the City.

Tessa started her creative career as a singer-songwriter and, after a few failed X Factor auditions, she went on to perform at Glastonbury Festival and Secret Garden Party with her band Tess and the Tellers. These days she has replaced her guitar with a keyboard, and songs for books.

THE BOOK SWAP is her debut novel, publishing in 2024.

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