i cannot decide if the absurdity of this book was a low point or a high point for me. in terms of character development and emotional reconnection, this book was amazing. but in terms of realism concerning family dynamics, i found it to be lacking - and i don't mean the freaky friday stuff. the grandparents plot felt very out of left field to me, and the lack of closure on mara and grier's newfound relationship was also disappointing. however, siri and jamie were wonderful characters to get to know, and their conclusions very much pleased me.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for my arc of this title.

One sentence review: I really enjoyed this book that is a hybrid retelling of the Parent Trap and Freaky Friday.

Better Together by Christine Riccio tells the story of Jamie, an aspiring stand up comic, and Siri, a ballerina who just suffered a career ending injury. They are two sisters who have been separated for 15 years but meet up again at a Discovery Retreat. Here they put together a Parent Trap scheme that gets morphed by some glitter magic, into a Freaky Friday scenario.

My thoughts:

- I thought the story was really fun. The Parent Trap has always been a favorite of mine so I enjoy retellings of it.
- I was really amused by the creative euphemisms for swearing in the book. Some might find it annoying but I thought it was pretty funny.
- I enjoyed the sapphic relationship in the book and actually would have liked to see more on that front.
- I did feel like the story got a little long towards the end. I would have liked to see a little quicker of a resolution.

I think this book would appeal to fans of The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday. There is some magic in the book related to glitter bombs, if this is something that might annoy you, then I'd stay away.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the review copy of Better Together by Christine Riccio. This book sounded intriguing because it was dubbed as a cross between The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday. I love both of those things. Apparently, and unfortunately, a cross between them is not my cup of tea.

There were definitely things I enjoyed about this book. I liked the emphasis toward the end on mental health, and parts were definitely funny. However, I had a difficult time cheering for the two main characters. Thankfully, some of the side characters (Zarar and Dawn) were written so beautifully and were wonderful role models for Siri and Jamie. Zarar was the only reason I wanted to continue reading the book at some points.

Honestly, I can definitely see how this book would be a great option for a high school student. The parts of the plot and characterization that were jarring for me, could be more entertaining for someone that is actually in the demographic for which this book was written. IF I taught high school instead of middle school, I would consider adding this to my classroom library.

This somehow managed to be both too long and yet not cover everything. The names and the Thrones references were just cringy. It started off ok and I had decent hopes but after the summer camp it just went downhill for me, the glitter bomb - the switch - the side characters - the ending, just all go from one extreme to the next. There either is so much detail (that isn't needed and most of the time makes no sense) and you're completely bored or everything is glossed over and 'solved'. Dawn was honestly the best character in the story and I would have liked to read more about her.

Overall, this was a cute Freaky Friday meets The Parent Trap story. However, not being in the target age group, I was occasionally frustrated with the choices of the main characters. I found the approach to parenting highly unlikely and I definitely needed to suspend my belief in order to continue with the narrative.

Better Together by Christine Riccio is such a fun concept and is handled flawlessly. The story is engaging with a good balance of laughter and seriousness led by the sisters who are an intriguing pair that look a bit alike but have vastly different personalities and interests. The parents are both incredibly involved in their careers to the point where they have no idea of the reality around them. And the grandparents are just the opposite of the parents, but they feel it is not their place to involve themselves in their children’s lives. All characters are fairly well-developed with the sisters’ personalities, flaws, and scars taking front and center. I just wish that the book ended at the end of Chapter 99 or with the events from that chapter, and that the whole story had been streamlined a bit. At times, the story lost my attention and I just felt like, “Alright already. Just get back to the story.” It is a surprisingly longer-than-expected read that had it’s ups and downs for me, as the reader, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a story that goes down the luck trail where magic is sure to happen.

I really try to not bail on ARCs from Netgalley, but I just can't read this one. The story is unoriginal and the writing is not good enough to save it. The characters are not remotely likable. Siri and Jamie felt like the same miserable person. At 25% in I can't bring myself to care what happens to either of them. Don't waste any time or money on this book.

I was so excited to get this book. I loved Christine Riccio's first book and was really looking forward to reading another book by her, but this book was just not for me. I ended up DNFing it at 40%. To me it felt like the quirkiness of the characters was forced and it was just way too much. I didn't connect with any of the characters and the plot just wasn't exciting to me.

I’m not sure where to start this review. Better Together is Christine Riccio’s second book. I really enjoyed her first book Again but Better! It was super cute. I couldn’t wait to read Better Together and see what Riccio had in store for readers. Sadly, the book fell flat for me. That may not be the case for you, so I encourage you to give it a chance if you’re interested in it.

Now, you’re probably wondering why I wasn’t a fan of this book. There are several reasons. The way the two main characters are written felt over the top. Riccio purposely makes them opposites in every single way to the extreme. One curses a lot. The other uses weird placeholders like “excrement” and “intercourse” instead of using curse words. Every time Siri cursed I cringed. It was too much for me. Another reason why it was hard for me to connect to the story is the fact that I didn’t like one of the main characters. Her character annoyed me to no end. My third main issue with this book is the premise. This story is inspired by The Parent Trap. The movie is cute and well-loved. But, writing a whole new story with that plotline is hard to do. I couldn’t believe how each parent handled their divorce and splitting up the girls. I don’t want to spoil anything, so let me just say that I don’t think this plot was executed well. It didn’t work for me.

I hate writing negative reviews because I understand how much work goes into writing a book. You put your heart and soul into it. Better Together wasn’t the book for me, but it may be for you. If the synopsis sounds good to you, then I encourage you to pick up the book!

This was quite an interesting book. I grew up loving the Parent Trap, so I was really excited to read this. I felt like the beginning stretched out to be way longer then necessary, but then I realized that it was necessary to build up the climax, so I understood why the author wrote it this way. I love Jamie, haha, she's my favourite sister. The way she does not give a crap about what others think, and is always walking around with bright colours, hahhaaa. I LOVE ZARAR. He is perfect for Jamie; never gives up on her and is always there. My heart broke for Siri, when she has to give up dance for an injury, and is forced to find a new pathway. Dawn is also the perfect best friend for Jamie, and perfect "more than friends" for Siri. The story line of this book was quite interesting; first two parents splitting apart, and taking one child each. All forms of communication are cut out. Many years later, Siri and Jamie run into each other at a retreat camp, and realize they're siblings? They decide to do the cute switcheroo, and more than enough chaos end up taking over. Definitely an interesting summer read!

Such a fun and lighthearted read! I had such a great time reading and understanding the stories behind Siri and Jamie. Since this is essentially a retelling of the Parent Trap, the characters are truly the star of the show, and getting to know more about them is such a drama-filled story full of romance, laughs, and emotion.

While this story is advertised as "Freaky Friday meets The Parent Trap", the plot just felt almost too familiar despite all the amazing and interesting details added. However, even without a super exciting plot, I quickly fell in love with the characters and became very emotionally invested in their relationships with themselves and others.

While I don't think this will be one of my favorite stories for years to come, it is a super fun story that I would recommend for anyone looking for some new characters to become invested in with a twist on a classic.

This has a cute Freaky Friday concept mixed with Parent Trap. Jamie’s a struggling stand-up comic who keeps freezing on stage and just got evicted from her apartment. Nineteen-year-old Siri’s suffered an injury that ended her promising ballet career. The two sisters meet for the first time in years at a wellness retreat. Jamie, the oldest, recognizes the sister she left behind years ago. But Siri was so young that she forgot Jamie existed.

The two girls agree to change lives, and with the help of some happy haunted magic dust, end up looking like each other too. Both girls have to confront what happened so long ago and how it shaped their lives.

I love how therapy positive this book is. Even resistant characters end up seeing the benefits of working through family trauma.

The characters leap off the page. Jamie is bold, abrasive and afraid to really care about anyone. Siri is kind and falls in love with her whole heart. Each sister finds the possibility for romance in the other’s world and have some super cute moments along the way.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unspoilery Blurb
Siri is a professional dancer who recently injured her back and learned she cannot dance again, and Jamie is a wannabe stand-up comedian. The two sisters were separated at birth when their dad moved to California with Jamie and left Siri in New Jersey with her mom. The two sisters have had no contact since then.

That is until they run into each other, quite literally, at a retreat in Colorado. After much yelling and debating, the girls decide to switch places and confront their parents about their history. With the help of some accidental magic, Siri and Jamie embark on their journeys of self- discovery in hopes of finding the family they lost.


Unspoilery Review
So that book was pretty good! When I started the book, I really wanted to like it. But I actually kind of disliked the beginning. The characters were just so hard to like and understand at first and the Parent Trap Confrontation plot was a little insane sounding- especially with the magic.

That being said, Siri and Jamie grew so much throughout this book and I loved that which meant that the story really picked up for me after the first like 80 pages and after I suspended my disbelief over the magic. Also this book is targeted for New Adult, so readers in their early 20s, and the writing style is super conversational and more YA feeling.

Siri was such a fascinating main character! She is dramatic, upset, and angsty when we meet her, and I loved seeing her find happiness and a purpose. I felt so bad for all her back pain and being forced to quit ballet, but I am proud of her growth and all her cooking was amazing! I feel like Siri was pretty annoying at the beginning of the book which felt unnecessary to me, but I did appreciate watching her grow throughout the book.

Jamie is so fearful of relationships and emotions. It was fascinating to see how Jamie’s assertive, emotionless approach to things contrasted with Siri’s instability. Jamie was so full of life at the beginning of the book, but it almost seemed fake and superficial. As the story proceeded, it was wonderful to see Jamie begin to let people in and consider her own emotions. She came so far throughout the book, and in her stand up routine, and I am proud of her for admitting her pain and her desires.

Some of my favorite parts about this book were watching the girls struggle to form a relationship, seeing them challenge themselves to stand up for themselves, the positive discussions about the importance of mental health, the quirky conversations, and the food. This book wonderfully discussed using therapy and open discussion to improve ones emotional health and in turn their outlook on life and relationships with others. Also, even though there wasn’t a ton of food in this book, there was enough that I was constantly getting hungry!

Some of my least favorite parts of this book were how awful their parents are, all the deception, and the unexplained magic. It took a lot for me to consider the parent’s perspectives and motives because I think they were just horrible people who totally screwed up their daughters’ lives. That being said, I did love that this book shows Siri and Jamie confronting their parents about everything they have put them through and what they need from them in the future. Also, I couldn’t decide what to think about the magic in this book because it just feels too convenient at times, but it did add a layer to the book that made it enjoyable.

Overall, this was a really fun, quirky, exciting book. I began this book expecting it to be a typical, parent trap-like story, but it was so much more than that. There was so much sass, emotional growth, and drama in this book. Also the bit of magic was a lot of fun, and I think it added something special to the story- although I did think it was concluded weirdly at the end.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting story about finding family, growing emotionally, finding your purpose, and forgiving yourself and others.

The cover doesn't convey the actual plot. The plot was stuffed with lots of unnecessary dialogue and fluff scenes that made this book too long. There was too much resolution after the climax that made the end drag on. The magic subplot was unnecessary; the original Parent Trap is proof that readers can suspend their disbelief enough without the use of magic. Scenes where both girls were present would switch POV for no real reason.

Better Together is a blend of Freaky Friday and Parent Trap with maybe some Sister Sister. Jamie and Siri's parents split and each took a child never to see or communicate again. When they meet randomly fourteen years later on a Rediscover Yourself Retreat in Colorado, their worlds shake up in completely different ways. Jamie has felt a little lost on her mission to becoming a stand-up comic and Siri has recently come off a severe injury ending her hopes to be a prima ballerina. With a little magic and a twist of fate, they switch places to confront their parents.
I started reading the e-arc and switched to the audio. I'm so glad I did! The narrators, Brittany Presley and Karissa Vacker, are perfectly suited to the dual POVs. This novel is a great read/listen for sisterly bonds that defy logic and the journey to rediscovery.
Thank you to @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy and @macmillan.audio for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This was not my favorite story.
I had a really difficult time connecting the characters story and journey. I love the cover though.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for media coverage. I will be interviewing Christine on Better Together on www.pop-culturalist.com. This book is a Parent Trap X Freaky Friday book. Siri and Jaimie are not twins in this one, but they're sisters. Their parents are divorced at a young age and they wind up attending the same retreat. I won't be giving any spoilers until after the release date on GoodReads, but if you're a fan of Christine or The Parent Trap then this is for you!

I thought this sounded cute but I really could not get into it unfortunately and I did not finish it.

Dnf

I wanted to love this one but I just couldn't stand the main characters at all and every time I tried to pick this book up I would get more annoyed with them. I even looked up other reviews to see if things got better as you read but everything I was seeing just made me less inclined to pick it up. I like the concept it was just the characters that really held me back from enjoying the book.

The plot and cover sparked my curiosity, and this was my first Christine Riccio book, but it didn't seem to work for me. The writing style was hard for me to get in to. It felt more of a fan fiction book on Wattpad. It wasn't a bad read at all but it was not a five star book as well.