Synopsis from Edelweiss:

A hypnotic domestic noir novel in which a house swap becomes the eerie backdrop to a crumbling marriage, a torrid affair, and the fatal consequences that unfold

Be careful who you let in…

When Caroline and Francis receive an offer to house swap—from their city apartment to a house in a leafy, upscale London suburb—they jump at the chance for a week away from home, their son, and the tensions that have pushed their marriage to the brink.

As the couple settles in, the old problems that permeate their marriage—his unhealthy behaviors, her indiscretions—start bubbling to the surface. But while they attempt to mend their relationship, their neighbor, an intense young woman, is showing a little too much interest in their activities.

Meanwhile, Caroline slowly begins to uncover some signs of life in the stark house—signs of her life. The flowers in the bathroom or the music might seem innocent to anyone else—but to her they are clues. It seems the person they have swapped with is someone who knows her, someone who knows the secrets she’s desperate to forget..

About: The House Swap is a thriller written by Rebecca Fleet. It will be published on 5/22/18 by Pamela Dorman Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, 304 pages. The genres are thriller, fiction, and suspense. This book is the author’s US debut. Please see below for more information about the author.

My Experience: I started reading The House Swap on 4/9/18 and finished it on 5/8/18. The title House Swap reminds me of a TV show I used to watch years ago called The Wife Swap. That is the main reason why I wanted to read this book. I like the title. I like how the secrets slowly seeping out letting readers know what’s all going on; however that’s also the downside because the mystery is achingly slow in revealing why Caroline seems to be so distracted. Francis’ past & present isn’t so interesting to read as Caroline’s. The story is easy to read but it moves slowly. Caroline is not a good person to read about because she bitches at her husband for his entertainment while she’s fine to continue with hers. Surprisingly Eddie is the easiest kid in the world while his mom and dad living the life, he happens to be sleeping like a rock.

This book is told in the first person point of view following Caroline and Francis as she and her husband move into another person’s home to stay for a week through the House Swap registry.They needed a getaway to patch up their tense marriage without their son, Eddie as the buffer. House Swap provided the perfect opportunity for a budget friendly getaway. This book is told in two timelines, home in the past and away in the present day. There is a mysterious narrative in italicize who seems to be talking about Caroline. In the past, Caroline’s marriage was irreparable. Caroline’s heart and mind strays to another, younger someone and Francis has an addiction problem. Their son Eddie is young. In the present, the couple seems to be working on fixing their marriage. Francis is understanding and seems to be trying while Caroline has a hard time focusing on Francis when she started to notice little signs in the house that reminds her of her past. There’s also that neighbor from their getaway house, Amber, that seems to remind Caroline of her past also.

This book is a good read if you enjoy slow burning mystery. I didn’t read the synopsis so I didn’t know what to expect when reading this book, and so when the first twist comes, it was so unexpected and comes out of nowhere. I like the subsequent twists that followed. I’m not sure I love the ending. It’s bittersweet. Francis is a good guy to forgive & forget as well as the mystery person. I have a feeling that if Caroline walks away with someone other than Francis, she would be ecstatic. I do like the concept of House Swap. I hope you enjoy your read if you decide to read this book!

Pro: mystery, suspense, easy to read

Con: Francis’ POV lacks entertainment

I rate it 4 stars!

Buy it here for free shipping: Book Depository or Penguin’s Website

About the Author:

Rebecca Fleet was educated at Oxford and works in marketing. She lives in London. This is her US debut. Twitter: @RebeccaLFleet (Info obtained from Penguin’s website and photo obtained from the author’s twitter).

***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Rebecca Fleet, publisher Pamela Dorman Books, and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine