Hi everyone! I was hoping to tell you all about The Swap last week but it ended up being two weeks packed in one and I did not get around to writing at all. Now that I finally have sometime, let me tell you about my latest thriller read. This is my first book by Robyn Harding and I hope to pick up more of her works in the future. If you liked Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, then this book is perfect for you – it is almost half the length with twists and a pace never slows down.
Low Morrison is not your average teen. You could blame her hippie parents or her looming height or her dreary, isolated hometown on an island in the Pacific Northwest. But whatever the reason, Low just doesn’t fit in—and neither does Freya, an ethereal beauty and once-famous social media influencer who now owns the local pottery studio.
After signing up for a class, Low quickly falls under Freya’s spell. And Freya, buoyed by Low’s adoration, is compelled to share her darkest secrets and deepest desires. Finally, both feel a sense of belonging…that is, until Jamie walks through the studio door. Desperate for a baby, she and her husband have moved to the island hoping that the healthy environment will result in a pregnancy. Freya and Jamie become fast friends, as do their husbands, leaving Low alone once again.
Then one night, after a boozy dinner party, Freya suggests swapping partners. It should have been a harmless fling between consenting adults, one night of debauchery that they would put behind them, but instead, it upends their lives. And provides Low the perfect opportunity to unleash her growing resentment.
Content Notes: Depictions of murder, domestic abuse, difficulty conceiving, extramarital affairs, psychedelics, Internet scams, cyberbullying.
Thoughts on The Swap
The Swap is a fast-paced thriller that I read in about two sittings. Let’s talk about the characters first and then I will dive into two key trains of thought that I jumped on for this book.
On the Characters
The Swap revolves around two couples and a teenager, Low. Low is lonely and a misfit and when she meets Freya, she finds a friend. However, their age difference is such that such a friendship is a little bit illogical and Freya does not realize how much she means to Low. When Freya befriends Jamie, Low isn’t happy about the time that Freya is no longer spending with her. The Swap is partly a tale about possessive friendships and the miscommunication that can happen when people are not clear about their intentions and hopes. What started out as a pottery lesson for Low ends up causing huge mayhem in the lives of Freya, Low and Jamie.
Another side of The Swap is a commentary on different kinds of marriages. Low’s parents have a very open view about love and do not conform to society’s views of monogamy. Freya believes in having fun, in spite of her official commitment to her husband. Jamie is committed to her marriage but Freya’s influence is such that she regrets her decision. Freya has a tendency to twist people’s words and emotions and it was quite frustrating to see Jamie struggle with the consequences of such interpretations.
On Social Media
With social media becoming an integral part of our lives, it is not surprising that it has started to feature more and more in fiction now. In the last year and a half, I have read a bunch of books that had influencers as main characters in some capacity including Followers and The Authenticity Project. The Swap is another book that falls in that category – Freya used to be a huge social media influencer but after an unfortunate accident with her husband, she received a lot of bad publicity and had to shut down her account. After moving to the new town, she is rekindling her image as an influencer, yet the love-hate messages continued no matter what she tried to do.
At the same time, Low, who has stayed away from social media for all her life, finds herself turning to social media and giving herself a new identity by being a local photographer. She uses this as a way to get closer to Freya. I understand building partnerships on social media and promoting other accounts but using it as a way to get closer to someone, almost like a stalker, was very awkward to read about. It made me think about how cautious we need to be when we make friends on the Internet but also in-person.
On A Unique Family Setting
I have never read about a family which is so open about loving and being committed to multiple people, and having kids with them. Low’s childhood must have been a hard one, and as seen from her portrayal of friendships, or lack thereof, she is a misfit in her little town partly because of her family. The Swap shows her struggle with her sexual orientation and identity. At the same time, being surrounded by multiple adults all the time, she gets along easier with adults. This makes her overthink her friendship with Freya and she starts to obsess and dream about living a life with her. Freya herself has many faults and gives wrong signals all the time. I think she took advantage of Low’s background and used it to get her way with Low and Jamie.
I really enjoyed The Swap and the plot of the thriller kept me hooked to it. There was no lull where I was waiting for action. The ending was a satisfying one and if you are looking for a quick book, I recommend this one!
** The Swap is now available in stores. Be sure to check your local library and support them. **
Amazon Print
Amazon Kindle
Cover image: Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash
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