House Swap

Content warnings: stalking, miscarriage, difficulty conceiving, swingers, drug addiction & overdose, grief

Cassie and James swap houses -- hers in rural Maine, his in Central London.

Cassie lives in rural Maine and grew up in Scotland. When her publisher asks her to write a book set in London, Cassie admits that she hasn't spent much time in the city. Her friends recommend a house swap website to find a place to stay in London.

James is dealing with his stalker ex-girlfriend and the people he laid off at work calling and emailing him and he wants to get away from his London life. His company has business opportunities in Boston, so he looks for a house swap in the US.

The swap happens and both parties are disappointed with their new digs at first. James is annoyed by the overly-friendly neighbors, the chickens and alpacas on Cassie's property, and the spotty WiFi. Cassie has a run-in with James' ex-girlfriend and is shocked by the lack of hospitality at James' flat. James leaves no food, no towels, and no sheets for Cassie as he's already ordered all of these things for himself in Maine.

Cassie and James' house swap lasts several months, so they both have the interesting opportunity to return home and see how the other is occupying their space and interacting with their neighbors. They find the differences between their lives and the life their tenant is living fascinating. They also frequently chat on the phone about issues that come up with their respective homes.

Fiona McNeill reads Cassie with a Scottish accent which immediately makes her feel more authentic. Frazer Blaxland reads James with an English accent.

Recommended for romance readers who like British characters or characters in their late thirties.

Jo Lovett is a romance writer and mother of five. She lives in London.

Publisher: Bookouture (print); Quest (audio)

Narrators: Frazer Blaxland & Fiona McNeill

Running Time: 9 hours, 26 minutes

Length: 340 pages

Release Date: April 14, 2021 (print); December 30, 2021 (audio)

Representation: elderly character, lesbian

I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.