This swap is for people who love books, thoughts in the margins, and the strange intimacy of reading alongside someone you’ve never met.

For this swap, you and your partner will read and annotate a book, then send the book to your partner so they can see your thoughts, reactions, and observations as they read it themselves.

Think of it as a quiet conversation that unfolds across the pages.

How it works

Choose a book

Paperback only (so it’s easy to post). Maybe something from a charity shop or a little free library if you don't like the idea of drawing/writing in a book.

Something you think someone else would enjoy.

New or used is fine.

Read the book before sending it

As you read, annotate the pages with your thoughts.

You might include:

reactions to characters favourite quotes questions or theories things that made you laugh parts that annoyed you connections to your own life little doodles or symbols

Keep it natural and conversational.

How to annotate

You may write:

lightly in pencil in the margins

on sticky tabs

on small notes tucked between pages

Include a short note

Add a small letter explaining:

why you chose the book

what you hoped your partner might enjoy about it

anything they should know before reading (but no major spoilers)

Send the book to your partner

Your partner will receive a book that already has a reader inside it.

Here are some ideas of how to annotate if you're new to it (like I am)

Simone And Her Books

How I annotate my books

How To Annotate Books For Fun

Why I started annotating books

Rate a 5 if you receive: one annotated book, a short explanatory note

Book choice does not affect rating but please check you partners profile to make sure you're not sending anything with triggers or that they wouldn't like.

I'm going to make the sending time longer than normal to give everyone a chance to sign up, then see who their partner is, then plenty of time to read the book, more than once maybe, and annotate it.

Bonus for packaging and extras but the book, and your thoughts, are the stars of this show.

Please have a well-filled-out profile and no recent, unexplained 1's or 3's. If your rating is less than 4.9 and you'd like to join, drop me a message and let's talk.

As always I will Angel if needed but if you are likely to have any problems sending please let your partners, and me know in advance.