This is quite a fun rom-com involving twin women who's lives have separated and who are almost estranged. Both have lied about the wonderful lives they have in London and in Wales; the realities are somewhat different. One twin invites the other to house sit for her - she has important stuff to tell her, but bottles it at the last minute so, in the tradition of a good British farce, she departs for London as her sister is arriving in Wales.

The result is an interesting look at lives, at truths, at how we portray ourselves, and above all at relationships and families. The characters are endearing, and there was none of the frustrating 'surely she must see that' that happens so often in this type of book. I enjoyed reading it very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lovely and enjoyable. Uplifting and kept me reading till the last page. Read over a week it helped me relax after work and had me laughing and kept my concentration.

Very easy going book to read about twins who don't speak about their lives truthfully to each over but end up finding out the truth when they swap houses. very enjoyable book to read

I found the first half of the book a bit of a slog.. felt like a lot of to and fro without any actual development of characters or plot. I put it down for long periods between readings.

Luckily the second half of the book picked up pace and the slightly expected rom-com storyline unfolded.

Having read another twin swap/house swap novel quite recently, this one was just slow to get going. Good holiday read by the pool or a fire. Some funny bits, nothing too taxing on the brain.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.

House Swap is the story of two sisters, twins to be exact. Once very close, now Katy and Rachel communicate only through emails. Katy left their village in Wales three years ago and moved to London to find a job. Her twin sister Rachel believes that Katy is living her best life with a prestigious job and a fantastic flat. On the other hand, Rachel remained in the family home with her husband and building their perfect family. Or that’s what Katy believes. Both sisters are lying to each other, telling stories of the lives they wish they had, but that are very far from the truth. And when they swap houses, they start to figure out the truth…

I would describe House Swap as a funny, engaging, and enjoyable novel. I read it in two sittings, engrossed in the story of these two twins and their complicated, yet amusing, lives. I laughed a lot reading their adventures, but there are also some emotional moments. The relationship between the two sisters is central to the story, but there is also romance, friendship, and stories of second chances.

Katy and Rachel are fantastic protagonists. I really liked these two characters, although I had a little preference for Katy. I found her witty, funnier, strong, and determined. Rachel is more serious, afraid to fail and to disappoint those around her. As each sister starts to figure out the truth about the other, things get more complicated, a little more entertaining, and I loved how they developed as characters and how the story ended.

House Swap is a very exciting and captivating story, one that I couldn’t stop reading and I highly recommend. And it is out now!

The story alternates between the points of view of sisters and twins, Katy and Rachel, who at first glance seem polar opposites.

With both leading completely different lives we learn more about each sister and how they drifted apart along with the grief they are still experiencing over the loss of their Grandma. It’s definitely a heartwarming story but alongside this it was also actually very funny in places. Some of the comments made from each sister had me chuckling at times and felt very authentic as to what we would all be thinking in those situations.

It’s a sort of ‘will they, won’t they’ love story but between sisters as just when you think they are going to meet again they some how manage to avoid each other. It’s absolutely one of those stories that will have you shouting internally for them just to talk to each other, as it would have saved a lot of trouble!

Overall, this was an uplifting exploration of the love of a family and that no matter what, they will always love you, if you just learn to let them in.

This book started off being quite funny in the emails that Rachel and Katy sent to each other, as estranged twins each wanted the other to think they were doing better than they were. The story had me gripped even though I found it very exasperating at times that they wouldn’t tell the truth to each other. It is a nice rom com about family and friends which I enjoyed.

Headlines:
Broken bonds
Tangled webs
New paths

House Swap was a witty contemporary fiction about twin sisters, estranged and worlds apart...or so it seemed. Katy and Rachel were a hot mess individually and even more of a hot mess of sisterly disconnection. At first, I didn't really like either of them; it's hard to watch the veiled sparring but equally I was laughing along with the house of cards being built.

This house swap when it played out was a catastrophe in the making but all the time, as a reader, I was willing this to be the thing that repaired their connection. Secrets were part of the daily menu and as these two found out more about the reality of each others' lives, it was funny and poignant watching the pennies drop.

I enjoyed the reluctant communications that began to reveal affection and love. I also enjoyed the side stories going on in each location, what was happening in the respective neighbour situations. The miscommunications were sometimes tough to read but author never pushed to the point of frustration.

House Swap was a story that most will find some identifiable features in. Whether thats wanting to be or appear successful, wanting relationships to work or being in frustrating relationships, this book serves a slice of reality while keeping a light and witty narrative. This was an enjoyable escape for the weekend.

Thank you to Headline Eternal for the review copy.

I knew I was going to love this book and I did I loved every page. A brilliant read you love. The writing style was amazing. Funny rom com book you love with great twist. Two different characters between the sisters. They so different with different lives. Rachael and Katy I loved them both very different from each other and such determined woman they know what they both want strong female leads in this story. Everyone going to love the House swap.

This is the type of book that hooks you in and you need to keep reading. I had no idea where the story was going and just had to find out. I couldn’t really relate to the characters since they lied about everything, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. The conversations flowed well and I liked the plot. I would recommend this book, thank you #netgalley

House Swap by Olivia Beirne ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date 4th Nov

Blurb
Twins Katy and Rachel don't know much about each other's lives anymore.

Rachel thinks that Katy is a high-flying event planner in London, while Katy thinks that Rachel lives in idyllic marital bliss in the countryside.

Each sister believes the other has created a perfect life - but the truth is that neither twin has the life she pretends she does.

And when these sisters unexpectedly swap houses for a week, they're in for a big shock.

But it might just be the wake-up call they've both been waiting for. . .

This is a well written, lighthearted read with lots of funny and heartwarming moments. It’s an enjoyable book although slightly frustrating (so many times I was left thinking ‘just blinking talk to each other!!’) with a few far fetched parts.

Thanks very much to netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely adore Olivia Beirne books and this has been a book that I have devoured in just one sitting.

I have loved Katy and Rachel, twins who feel the other has made a life without them. This has been a book I have found myself fully invested in.

Beirne has a real talent for transporting the reader. I feel as though I have been with the characters and this is a book that has provided me with a number of laugh out loud moments.

This is a hilarious tale of family dynamics with a gorgeous boy next door added in for an extra element. I have loved everything about this book. I am a huge fan of Olivia Beirne and this is a definite must read. I cannot wait to see what’s coming next.

An easy read on family problems.
Two sisters who were very close growing up are now estranged, they both think each other has a great life until they accidently exchange living accommodation then they realise life is not as they thought and both have been keeping secrets.
Katy does not live in a London rooftop flat with views of the shard, but a shed at the bottom of her boss`s garden.
Rachel is not happily married but separated from her husband and pregnant after a one nights stand.
The journey starts to bring them back together.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kindly gifted e-arc from NetGalley and Headline Review. What a lovely, charming read! I read this in one go. This is a charming story about two estranged sisters that re-find one another through discovering they’d both been hiding more than they bargained for. There’s also a really sweet romantic comedy element to this. If you like authors like Beth O’Leary I think you’ll really enjoy this.

Katy and Rachel are twins, but neither is honest with the other and they mainly communicate via email.

Katy is an events organiser in London and lives in her boss Fiona's garden cabin, whilst Rachel has a supposedly idyllic life in Wales; however, neither is telling the truth about their respective lives.

When Katy goes to Wales to look after Rachel's house for a week, her twin decides on a whim to go to London and moves into Katy's cabin.

As the truth about both their lives slowly emerges, the sisters have a chance to reconnect and get their relationship back.

Is Katy as happy in London as she claims? What was she running from when she left Wales?

Why hasn't Rachel told Katy she is pregnant and no longer with her husband? Why won't she speak to their father?

I enjoyed this book, which was easy to read and had believable and relatable characters. Rachel in particular has all sorts of hang-ups, mainly around her pregnancy and feelings of guilt. Katy is sweet but deludes herself about needing to fit in at work and doesn't want to admit she still has feelings for her ex-boyfriend Isaac.

The story has a lot to say about family and what that is. It isn't necessarily what you think it should be. In the end, family is shown to be the people who care about you and have your back, no matter what, and they don't have to be related to you.

This book is an ideal beach or weekend read, and I would be happy to read more by Olivia Beirne.

I was sent an advance review copy of this book by Headline, in return for an honest appraisal.

Wow.. what a wonderful story that touches you in so many ways. An uplifting story that tells the tales of two sisters who are both broken, but not willing to help each other as they don’t want to get in the way. Whilst I loved the book and the characters in it, I did want to scream and say to both sisters sort it out!! But it’s a very believable and relatable story that ensures you want to find out more. I would love to read more books about Rachel and Katy, their chapters and stories are just so easy to fall in love with.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the opportunity to read this wonderful story!

An enjoyable book with well developed characters . Identical twins Katy and Rachel have each been jealous of each other’s “perfect Lives” or so they think. A house swap provides the reality of how the other lives with surprising consequences. A book about family, misunderstandings and love and all written in a well paced humorous way . Loved it !
Thank you to Netgalley, Headline books and Olivia for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

The book started brilliantly, it was filled with humour and hilariousness, just what I like, however then it went a bit downhill and I had a feeling it simply can’t decide, what it wants to be about – if it wants to makes us laugh, or cry, if it wants to be a light or a bit darker read. I appreciate the fact that the author wanted to add depth and some seriousness to her story, but sadly she wasn’t able to find the happy medium, the perfect balance.

It is a story showing that grass isn’t always greener on the other side, proving that there is nothing better than simply talk to each other. It was a tale of family, loss and love, with a great bunch of characters that often – sometimes too often – make a lot of weird decisions, and some brilliant moments, also pulling on your heart – strings.

Very enjoyable! Some of the characters were a little stereotyped at times — especially Katy's colleagues — and the ending was a little too neatly wrapped up, but it was a fun read.

A novel about sisters, friendship and family.

Katy and Rachel are not only sisters, they're twins.
Twins who should have an unbreakable bond. But when their family falls apart both sisters follow their own direction and communication is made up of emails and text messages. While living one reality they tell each other something completely different.

Beirne gives us realistic characters with real-life situations and as the reader, we get emotionally involved.

The two descriptions of the sisters had the reader very aware of their individual characteristics.

My favourite of the two sister's was Katy, I found her funny and such a 'go getter'

This novel had me feeling warm and emotional inside; a really uplifting read.