I haven’t read a romance novel for a while so when I saw The House Swap with a premise similar to that of the film The Holiday, I had to give it a try.
The House Swap is a novel by Jo Lovett, published in 2021.
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Plot
When Cassie needs a place to stay in London to do research for her upcoming book, she decides to do a house swap. James is looking to escape his ex and so they agree to do a temporary switch. Cassie would stay in James’ London penthouse while James would be located in Cassie’s home off the coast of Maine complete with animals and sporadic wi-fi.
The two soon end up getting involved in each other’s lives and what starts as irritation soon develops into something more.
The House Swap Book Review
The House Swap is a lighthearted story that is easy to read. The story is told from both viewpoints and I found James’ character irritating at first and I’m never a fan of the “crazy ex-girlfriend” trope. However, he did start to redeem himself throughout the novel. I thought Cassie’s desire to commence IVF was interesting and I really liked the main characters were in their mid to late 30s as so many romances feature women in their 20s.
However, despite touching on heavier issues, I felt the story was a bit superficial. I didn’t feel any real chemistry between the two main characters. I actually preferred it when they were bickering! There was just a bit too much of a personality change in James to feel authentic and the ending was cliched and predictable. I love a happy ever after ending but I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed.
A light and easy read but nothing special.
What to read next
If you’re looking for a witty romantic read, I would recommend The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary and Book Lovers by Emily Henry.
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I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information please see my disclosure policy.