DNF

Based on the description, I knew this book would either really work for me or very decidedly not. There's something about the voice that really doesn't click with me, and the assessments of online dating as a whole and her clients seem rather shallow based on the two chapters I read. I keep waiting for a book to actually have a nuanced portrayal of online dating, and I'm still waiting.

An amusing, well-written romcom for the modern era. I quite enjoyed this, and read it quite fast. I'd be interested in reading more by the author.

This book was fun and fast-paced. I was hoping for more romance though. I love second chance romance and was really hoping to see more about Blanche and Henry's relationship. I should have paid better attention to the women's fiction tag. With that being said, there was a lot to like about this book. The secondary characters were good, although I would have liked to know more about Isla and her illness origin story.
Overall solid story and I would recommend to someone looking for fiction with a strong romantic element.

AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 4

Blanche spent much of her college years being known as the Love Guru in her sorority, for her ability with matchmaking, even though she’s never managed to parlay those talents into a relationship of her own. Now out of school, she’s managing a bookshop a dating site that caters to the women of Washington, D.C., helping them to tweak their profiles to meet a man. She also handles those ‘pesky’ introductions and screenings, fending off inappropriate responses, photos and other such nonsense. Her business is well-regarded, and the quick interactions with men and women are clever and often funny. Until Blanche sees a familiar name cross her desk – her old crush, Henry.

Determined to find him a match and ignore her own feelings, Blanche is working to find Henry a match, but her own memories and lingering feelings don’t allow her to stop reviewing their past. On different ends of the political spectrum their interactions were full of snark, bickering and loaded with sexual tension. But, part of her job is to see her client’s find their happy endings, and while she’s flirting and messaging back and forth with Henry, she’s also desperately trying to convince herself that her own feelings are dormant, and despite her facility with matching others, she’s not worth the men who cross her desk. Alternatingly funny, poignant and the occasional moments of “I know this won’t end well”, the story is a perfect light-bite, a read in one sitting or listen on the road, book that will leave you smiling.

Narration for this story is provided by Ava Erickson, who perfectly captured Blanche and her voice. Since this is all from Blanche’s point of view, while other characters appear, it isn’t a story full of character voices that would demand a series of specific voices to fit each new appearance, yet Erickson did manage to include some variation to distinguish new arrivals. A bit careful in the performance, her flow does take some time to get used to: there’s a tendency to include slightly awkward pauses, that once acclimated lessen in significance. A clever story with plenty of clear description, a sense of the actual person that is Blanche and her own interior monologue that is far more interesting than the blurb would lead you to believe.

I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Hachette Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9Wf/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

This was a fun romantic comedy that I flew through relatively quickly.

The story centers around Blanche who runs a bookstore by day, and has an interesting side hustle by night: running online dating profiles for women who need a little help getting a date. It's a fun job; she creates their profiles, finds their matches, messages back and forth with handsome men, then sends the happy women on their way. All is going well, until a man she had a one-time fling with shows up as a match for a client. Despite her feelings, she has to flirt with him and message him while pretending to be another woman. Disaster obviously awaits.

This book was definitely funny with some great dialogue. Blanche was super witty and had some great one liners and comebacks that made the story easy and enjoyable to read. I was definitely engaged and eager to see what would become of the disaster she had gotten herself into.

Though I found the book to be fast and really fun, I had to detract from my rating a bit for one particular reason: politics. I was surprised (and not in a good way) to see that this book was heavy on the political opinions right from the get go. Regardless of what the opinion is, I don't want or expect to see it in my chick lit / romantic comedy reads, which I read for fun and escapism. I was really taken aback by it and found that it took me out of the story a bit at times. Without this aspect, I definitely would have rated this one 4 stars. Regardless, I will read other books by Schultz because aside from that, I really did find this book to be funny and light.

Blanche Carter is the manager of Literature and Legislature--a book store in Washington DC. She also runs a side business to help women connect with men. As part of Blanche's services, she takes control of the client's dating profile and begins the small talk with potential dates until the meet up. Then they switch back. This has never been an issue until klutzy Ansley picks an old flame, Henry--who is Blanche's best friend, Isla's brother-in-law. Henry and Blanche had a one night stand on New Year's three years ago. Henry is the adviser to House Representative Byrd. Blanche helps Ansley become comfortable around men Ansley finds attractive by guiding and talking Ansley through her dates. Until finally Ansley is ready to meet Henry. Unlike with her other clients, Blanche doesn't pretend to be Ansley when chatting online with Henry. Blanche blurs the lines between Blanche and Ansley. The more Blanche chats with Henry the more she falls in love with him. Blanche decides to distance herself from Henry by expanding her own love life through a gorgeous book store customer that Ansley spilled hot coffee on--Cliff. But Cliff is not what he appears to be. Can Ansley and Henry find the sparks or are the sparks only online with Blanche and Henry?

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises.

You guys!! Switch and Bait was a hilarious and fun novel. Blanche was sassy and smart and did not hold back. I found her and Henry to be refreshingly honest and their chemistry so sexy. I could not get enough!! It is the perfect Summer beach read - light and delicious! 

I found both Blanche and Henry to be sexy and honest and just great together. Their banter was delicious and the back and forth was such a delight. I loved that the author was able to seamlessly jump into their flashback scenes providing their history without having it drag on. The extended cast of characters were amazing ( hello Gordon!!) and I look forward to more from this author in the future.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. 4 stars, ~ Ratula

Blanche Carter has always had a knack for helping others make a love connection, she enjoyed doing it so much that she decided to try her hand at making a living off of it, and so far it has been quite profitable. It brings her so much joy to pair people up and watch the fireworks happen, but with all her experience she has yet to create her own fireworks with someone, which really isn't that concerning to her since she swore off relationships a while ago. She goes above and beyond for her clients, even if it means it means being a little traumatized by the occasional photo of someone sans their unmentionables, the way she looks at it, it's all part of the job. But when she is sifting through male dates options for a new client and runs across a unforgettable man from her own list of past suitors, she has a hard time convincing herself that she is over him. And then before she realizes the gravity of her actions she begins to flirt with him via messaging... full well knowing this situation isn't going to end well for all involved!

Switch and Bait is a comical little page-turner that is sure to have readers giggling throughout... Blanche is a hoot! This first time read left me dazzled, a mere two pages in and I found myself pulled right into Blanche's world and completely at her mercy, the feisty matchmaker puts on one heck of a show!! She was brutally honest, determined, sarcastic, and I had a delightful time watching her surrender to her own rules and finally make a love connection of her own. If you are looking for a light and heartfelt read to settle down with this summer I highly suggest you pick this one up, Ms. Schultz's well crafted story line and endearing characters are sure to treat you to a good time!!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

I enjoyed the author's debut novel very much and her sophomore effort did not disappoint. All of the characters are well-developed and her protagonist has a balance of wit and humility that I find endearing. This is a great read for the airplane, beach, or just a lazy afternoon. There are lots of LOL moments and the end will leave you with a warm heart. I look forward to whatever Ms. Schultz has in the works for book three!

Switch and Bait was a fun read—the characters were written well, and had such depth I felt like I knew them. It was a clever premise, and I can’t wait for your next book!

I think this was meant to be funny but all the snark was a miss for me and made the heroine unlikable. The politics laced in the dialogue were a miss and a turn off for me.

YES, pick up this book. Buy it, rent it, borrow it, whatever, but read it. So good! The characters, the plot, the twists, all of it was just wonderful. I absoluely loved where the story started, and the few flashbacks that were told to fill in the gaps. Blanche and Henry have known each other for years, but haven't seen each other in a while. Things change and people change though, right? Things really change when Blanche tries to set up her latest matchmaking client with Henry. The client was so hilarious and loveably awkward, and it was so nice to see a character in a book like this who wasn't brimming with confidence. No worries, Blanche can help with that by pretending to be her client until the two lovebirds can meet face to face. The romance was impecibly written with enough for you to think something was about to happen, but not enough for anything to actually happen (obviously). I loved the supporting characters and the subplots they had. They didn't fade into the background, but didn't stand out too much to overshadow the MCs.
An easy 5/5 rating. If there was a higher rating, it would get that. I would highly recommend to my girlfriends. Can't wait to be able to buy this to put on my bookshelf to go back and reread!