I liked the premised of the book and the idea of a psychological thriller about dating apps. It was a quick and easy read.
However, I was looking for more character development. The story fell flat for me and I wanted more of a psychological thriller. It had a slow start. I almost DNF but the story picked up in the middle.

˙₊➴ ꒰ 2.5-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖

📜┆ ARC ⤿ BooksGoSocial, Bonnie Traymore, R. G. Belsky & NetGalley
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 05/01/25


❝ This little mission of mine has gone way too far. On the plus side, He will never cheat on his wife again. ❞

⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Plot

What started as an innocent date has spiraled into something darker. An encounter awakened a dangerous sense of purpose. Now, there's no turning back.

Most dates end quietly with no sparks and no second thoughts but some men need to be taught a lesson. Sonya became something more than a woman seeking justice. She wanted to protect women from men like them. It feels like a public service. But somewhere along the way, she lost control. As she never meant for anyone to die.

As Sonya flees from the consequences of her actions, death follows her. Meanwhile, Jake’s boss pitches him a story about dating apps, asking him to explore who uses them and whether they’re effective. But Jake digs deeper, uncovering a chilling pattern of how such deaths are linked to MetMee(a dating app) and are all connected in ways he never expected. The further he investigates, the closer he gets to a truth that might be more dangerous than he ever imagined.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Characters

⟡ Sonya Romano, is just a regular dating app user, looking for a real connection. Sonya is introspective and self-aware, juggling her past trauma, pain, and mistakes. Despite feeling cynical about love, she still holds onto an ounce of hope, questioning if it's even possible to find a true connection.

❝ I carry my weighty baggage into my relationships. Tons of it, like I’m going aboard the Queen Mary for a steam across the pond. ❞

⟡ Jake Parker, was a former nominee for a Pulitzer Prize and reporter for the New York Banner but as newspapers have declined with the rise of digital media, he lost his job. Jake ended up working for The American Scene, an online platform focused more on viral stories than “real news” he wished to make. He is charming, passionate, and observant.

❝ No, I think news is about something else altogether than a story about dating apps. News is writing about politics, exposing corruption, and covering major events like plane crashes and mass murders and wars and natural disasters. Those are the kinds of stories I’ve been covering as news for my entire career. ❞

Throughout the story, we get a glimpse of both character’s pasts, thoughts, and perspectives. Where we get to gather how they became the way they are. Despite that, I couldn't help but wish for a bit more character depth and development. Sonya's past offers some explanation for how she became the way she is but it still feels like there's more to uncover as it seems incomplete. For Jake, while he showed his charming and passionate side, I couldn't shake the feeling that he needed more depth to truly understand his character as we only get to see the “charming journalist” that he is. (I like the date scene where they describe each other tho. Wdym Sonya looks like a mix of Sophia Loren and Sophia Vergara and Jake looks like a mix of Jimmy Steward and Ryan Gosling. Searched them up and was stunned! Absolutely gorgeous!)

⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts

❝ Who knows? Maybe I will find love on a dating app. Or maybe I don’t even know what love is. Maybe none of us really do. ❞

Overall, Swipe is a thrilling page-turner dating app mystery. The dating app element adds an exciting twist to the story which brings a modern layer to the suspense.

As the story goes, we get bomb after bomb which made it addicting to read and kept me on the tip of my toes! However, the thrilling aspects of it all lessened when it neared the reveal/ending. The build-up I did enjoy but the reveal for the mystery didn’t give the impact I was expecting (it felt quite predictable or maybe it was just that I was sus of everybody from the very beginning and was hyperanalyzing everything). Despite my concern about character depth and reveal impact, I quite enjoyed the mystery this story had. It felt short with how fast-paced the story went which left me wanting for more(this is a positive). Giving this book a solid 2.5! That epilogue hihi! It was a nice read but I just wanted more and needed more.

Now, will I be using dating apps to find love? No. However, the story and acknowledgment left me with a sense of hope that love has a way of finding us, whether as a lesson or a lasting connection.

➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & authors—BooksGoSocial, Bonnie Traymore, R. G. Belsky & NetGalley—for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5

Easy and fast paced read
Sonya is on a dating app to meet someone. She meets a series of bad dates. She gets revenge.
Jake is a journalist who figures out things aren’t as they seem. This book has some good twists. Some twists you see coming. Some twists you don’t see coming at all.
Good read.

Swipe is a fast-paced thriller that blends the world of online dating with a gripping murder mystery. Sonya is a sharp, determined protagonist, and following her investigation makes for an engaging read as she pieces the case together. The book balances suspense with realistic journalism, keeping the tension high throughout. While some elements of the mystery may feel familiar, the mix of digital-age dangers and classic investigative work adds a fresh twist. If you enjoy crime thrillers with strong female leads and well-executed suspense, this one is worth picking up.

The number of unreliable narrators on this book makes for a real roller coaster of a reading experience. Red herrings are very much the order of the day as the plot progresses and more and more options emerge as to who could be the killer. The concept is terrific and feels very relevant to modern society - all too possible! The authors do a good job of creating characters who you like just enough to want to believe, while knowing that maybe you shouldn’t.

No one is ever who they portray themselves to be on a dating app are they. They only show you what they want you to see. All their shiney parts.

Such a great fast read. Deep diving this author now to see what else they have to offer!

Well written sorry with an interesting plot twist. Just wasn’t the kind of story for me. Some pacing was slow and I felt like some parts dragged and some could be cut out.

This BOOK! Oh how it hooked me almost immediately. Online dating is a scary world I hear horror stories all the time but, this takes the cake. The twists and revelations in this book really came at the perfect times. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen next.. something else shocked me. This is my first book that I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing and when I tell you I could not go to sleep without finishing this book, I’m talking it’s 1030PM and I really am still thinking about it. The writing was really great and although some things come up that you thing might drag the story out.. it’s all relevant. Definitely recommend!

‘And for now. We leave all the other stuff behind’

I really liked the premise of this book, cheating men on dating apps getting murdered is super interesting. Unfortunately for me this fell really flat.

This book was described as ‘twisty’ but I guessed the big plot twist almost immediately (the epilogue twist was also predictable).

The main characters were boring shells of people with little to no development, and who didn’t speak or think like actual humans. The narration style didn’t read well and often felt stilted, there was mostly telling with a sprinkle of showing every now and then. I had hoped in the first 25% the overdone exposition and info dumping was just to get it out of the way but it never ended.

Chapters I believe 25 and 26 are tell the exact same scene from both characters perspective. Something that could be super interesting and I love in theory, ended up being frustrating as between chapters there were differences in dialogue and action that made it confusing to follow. I am unsure if it was meant to show them both as unreliable narrators, but seeing as the rest of the book did not do that I was just lost.

Special shout outs to instead of describing the characters or making them memorable, having them ask which celebrities they look like. Also the Jake Parker smile, and the fact that Jake even in the most inappropriate situations will be thinking about how hot a woman is.

The ending just sort of… happened. A brief moment of suspense and then the major conflict was over in a chapter or less. The aftermath fell flat, but perhaps may have had more impact if any part of this story had me caring about the characters.

I was personally not a fan of this book which is unfortunate because I truly did think it sounded interesting.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial for a digital advanced reader copy via NetGalley of Swipe

This book was so good. I started it late one night and had trouble putting it down. The characters were well described and each one was relatable. I would definitely recommend this book!

What a tangled web we weave! Swipe tells the tale of a woman having bad luck on a dating app. After one guy lies to her about being married, she decides to have it out with him. Did this decision lead to his death?

Jake, the secondary MC, is forced to join a dating app and date several women so he can write an article about it. He gets involved with a few women who just might be sketchy, but his investigative journalism skills may turn his assignment into a true crime piece.

On the whole, this was an entertaining, fast read. I’ve got to say, though, that the idea that someone could be affected by liquid THC as depicted is just farcical.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Sonya's fed up with bad internet dates. But she never meant to kill anyone. After a stressful day at work and a creepy first meetup, Sonya Romano goes on a mission: teach a lesson to the smarmy guys she's meeting on her dating app. But when one of them falls to his death as a result of her confrontation a married man posing as a single guy she realizes she's gone too far! Great read! This book had some crazy twists and turns that I didn’t see coming! It also had great suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, dark secrets, and a fantastic who done it! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I really enjoyed this book. I finished in 2 days. I loved the dating app theme and the dual POV. It definitely kept me guessing. Fast paced and very well written. I will be looking for more from the author.

5/5

I absolutely loved this book,
From the first page I was hooked and couldn't put the book down

I enjoyed the book more because I couldn't guess the ending half way through
I had no idea which way it was going to go

There's definitely enough for there to be a second book.... and I'd love a second book!

Release: Apr 3, 2025
Publisher: booksgosocial

Rating: 4.25 ★ 

Summary:
Sonya Romano is tired of disastrous internet dates, but she never intended for anyone to die. After a rough day at work and an unsettling first date, she decides to start teaching dishonest men a lesson. But when one of them—a married man pretending to be single—falls to his death after their confrontation, she realizes she’s in over her head. Meanwhile, Jake Parker, a former Pulitzer-nominated journalist at his lowest point, is assigned to go undercover and write a clickbait story about dating apps. When another married man is murdered, Jake begins to suspect a serial killer is targeting cheaters. As he gets closer to the truth, Sonya scrambles to cover her tracks. Their paths inevitably cross, and despite a growing attraction, neither fully trusts the other. But what they don’t know is that a far more dangerous predator is lurking nearby—one that could make them the next targets if they don’t uncover the truth in time.

Review:
Swipe is a fast-paced thriller that combines modern online dating culture with a gripping murder mystery. Sonya is a sharp and determined protagonist, and her investigative skills make for a compelling read as she pieces together the case. The book does a great job of weaving suspense with realistic journalism, and the twists keep the story engaging. While some aspects of the mystery might feel familiar, the blend of digital-age dangers and classic investigative work adds a fresh spin. If you like crime thrillers with strong female leads and well-paced suspense, this one is worth a read.

Favorite Quote:
"aside from the psychopaths, most of us are likely doing the best we can with the hand we're dealt."

"Swipe" by R.G. Belsky and Bonnie Traymore is a thrilling ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story perfectly captures the dangers lurking behind dating apps, exploring how something as simple as a swipe can go terribly wrong, leaving you unsure of who is telling the truth. The pacing was spot on, building tension and suspense with every chapter. I was hooked, constantly guessing what would happen next and never quite sure who to trust. It’s an intense, captivating psychological thriller that makes you think twice about the connections you make online.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Page-turner dating app thriller with a slight dark comedy vibe and a little romance. Great ending. Read it in a day!

This was a fast paced twisty page turner, what more could you ask for. I liked the storyline and after watching a lot of true crime documentaries, it’s unfortunate how true to real life this story was. I even liked the main character Sonya and some of her methods of revenge! A very enjoyable popcorn thriller.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Due to the description, title and all somehow I thought this book would be edgier than it was.

Character development is a bit lacking, the protagonist seeks revenge on people who rudely reject her that she meets via a dating app. We are not really provided with a reason she does so, only a nebulous mention of her childhood.

I found this book to be more of a cozy mystery than the edgy book I was expecting, which is not to say there is anything wrong with that type of book, however this novel really would have greatly benefited from stronger character development. I found it hard to relate to the various characters, and ultimately it became a bit of a meet cute book, with a side dose of mystery.