Doubleday | May 2018 | 320 pgs
Source: Library
Caroline and Francis are working on their marriage and have planned for a short getaway as a reconnection of their relationship. And instead of staying in a hotel or a resort, Caroline's plan is a house swap with someone for a week so they can stay at the owner's house and vice versa. Since all the transactions were made online and keys arrangements were made individually, each party didn't get a chance to meet in person and it was fine with Caroline.
Flashback to two years earlier alternatively, the reader gets to know that Caroline is cheating on Francis and her lover, Carl, is a colleague who is a few years her junior but have actually separated in the present time. Francis, on the other end, has a pill addiction and Caroline isn't aware of his habits until she found his hidden stash one day. Caroline decided to keep mum for a while and Francis is suspicious of Caroline's movements as she always claim to have a party or a girls' outings at times, leaving their young son Eddie to him or with her mother. Like Caroline, Francis remains quiet and hope that his suspicion is all speculations.
As much as Caroline and Francis prefer to keep on with the pretense and "enjoy" their current status, things or circumstances start to pop up unexpectedly and this is when a strange woman starts to barge into Caroline's life now and then and trying to be friends. Caroline also begins to see bits of items in the rental house that remind her of the memories she'd had with Carl. Caroline knew no one but Carl who will understand the sentiments of these items which they'd once shared, so she starts questioning about the strange things that start to appear around her and wonder if Carl is back into her life again after what'd happened then.
The House Swap has an intriguing plot but the beginning was a slow burn but once it hit the second quarter mark it read like a breeze. I didn't particularly like any of the characters here (with the exception of little Eddie, poor boy); and what seemed like a domestic thriller read more like a drama as it shifted back and forth surrounding mostly on Caroline's life and how 'Away' (present) and 'Home' (flashback) affect her emotionally. Francis, her husband, may seem like an important role in this story but unfortunately there isn't enough backstory about him and how/why he is addicted to taking pills. The ending wasn't what I'd suspected, although I thought it was a bit far-fetched. Still, it was overall an average read to me.
Flashback to two years earlier alternatively, the reader gets to know that Caroline is cheating on Francis and her lover, Carl, is a colleague who is a few years her junior but have actually separated in the present time. Francis, on the other end, has a pill addiction and Caroline isn't aware of his habits until she found his hidden stash one day. Caroline decided to keep mum for a while and Francis is suspicious of Caroline's movements as she always claim to have a party or a girls' outings at times, leaving their young son Eddie to him or with her mother. Like Caroline, Francis remains quiet and hope that his suspicion is all speculations.
As much as Caroline and Francis prefer to keep on with the pretense and "enjoy" their current status, things or circumstances start to pop up unexpectedly and this is when a strange woman starts to barge into Caroline's life now and then and trying to be friends. Caroline also begins to see bits of items in the rental house that remind her of the memories she'd had with Carl. Caroline knew no one but Carl who will understand the sentiments of these items which they'd once shared, so she starts questioning about the strange things that start to appear around her and wonder if Carl is back into her life again after what'd happened then.
The House Swap has an intriguing plot but the beginning was a slow burn but once it hit the second quarter mark it read like a breeze. I didn't particularly like any of the characters here (with the exception of little Eddie, poor boy); and what seemed like a domestic thriller read more like a drama as it shifted back and forth surrounding mostly on Caroline's life and how 'Away' (present) and 'Home' (flashback) affect her emotionally. Francis, her husband, may seem like an important role in this story but unfortunately there isn't enough backstory about him and how/why he is addicted to taking pills. The ending wasn't what I'd suspected, although I thought it was a bit far-fetched. Still, it was overall an average read to me.
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I had a bit of trouble with this one, and, I really had been looking forward to it.
I had really forgotten about this book after being very intrigued earlier this year. And now, well, I may just skip it. I'm kind of weary of these types of books, at least for now.
Sure are an awful lot of domestic dramas these days. I agree with Kay that there have been many versions in the last couple of years and mostly with characters that don't inspire much sympathy. Makes it difficult to find much fresh in the plots.
Another book with unlikeable characters? Why?!? ;D
Diane - Yes, I'd been looking forward to this too and was so glad to be able to borrow it after having waited for some time. Hopefully her next book will be better.
Kay - It has an intriguing setting, isn't it? I can't imagine having a house swap with strangers. Yikes!
I've noticed there are more domestic thrillers now; some are good but some are just meh. Yep, I'm kind of weary of them too but if the plot and writing is good then I won't think too much of those unlikeable characters. :p
Jenclair - Exactly! I suppose it's the trend nowadays. After a certain book's success, more and more books began to have unlikeable characters in their stories. Personally, I'd rather have an unreliable than an unlikeable character. :p
Lark - Yep, seems like there's a trend. Don't you miss those characters that you loved in reading a book? :D
Not sure about this one, I must admit. Appreciate the review though.
I have been curious about this one as the premise sounds so interesting. It's too bad it ended up being only an average read for you. I hope your next book was much better!
Verushka - It's a hit or miss but I'm glad to read it as I was initially intrigued by the premise.
Wendy - It has an interesting premise, isn't it? Hoping her next book will be better.