3.5 rounded to 4 stars!

Rom-com of all rom-coms? Sign me up!

It was the cover that drew me in first, and my kudos to the artist. Trading Places follows Evan Bailey and Lexi North, who have the ugliest of meet-uglies when Lexi accidentally rear-ends Evan’s car.

It’s all downhill from there.

Lexi is from a universe that Evan can’t even imagine, rich enough to drop his whole annual salary into something that won’t last two full hours, and her brisk, high-flying attitude has Evan’s hackles standing straight up. He’s not impressed by anything except the legs on the woman who rear-ended him (and he doesn’t want to be impressed, thank you very much), and she’s not taken by anything about the mechanic man, least of all his ponytail.

Evan’s niece, CeCe, sets the ball rolling, challenging Lexi to living two months of their lives, while Evan lives hers. The bet quickly goes viral, and with the pressure from her father, and Evan’s own goal of getting enough money to save his family’s garage while raising CeCe, they both end up giving in.

This book was so much fun! There were places that I spent laughing, and places where I was snorting right alongside the characters.

Lexi’s journey in this is so poignant. I’ll be the first to admit that people rich enough to wipe with diamond-encrusted toilet paper always brings out the skeptic in me, and at the beginning, Lexi was no exception. She had virtually no self-sufficient skills, but she grew endearing anyway, because the struggle with money brought out her potential. She keeps at it, and despite how different Evan’s world is, she learns how to fit in, how to budget, and finds pride in a paycheck.

Evan on the other hand…his insecurity about how he’s a “lesser” man leads him to change in many ways. He begins dipping into the rich life, gets a makeover, and tries to replicate what he thinks Lexi’s type in men is. He was a completely different man by the end of that change, and honestly? I didn’t like him much afterwards — which, I believe, was the whole point. He'd insisted that he wasn't going to change, but the appeal of the dollar pulled him in anyway. For the first time, he didn't have to say no to his niece, he could afford to be lavish, and he had people to do things like cook for him, or teach him golf.

While one can’t fault Evan for wanting to give Lexi and CeCe more, the miscommunication between these two grew old fast. It seemed that everything they learned about the other was through other people, rather than each other, and the ending conflicts went by quickly. Between the outcomes of the bet, and the potential custody battle with CeCe’s father, I was left reeling at the end at just how conveniently everything snapped into place, and everything that had been building slightly flattened.

Nevertheless, this was a fun read, and I’d recommend it to people who are fans of contemporary romance and all the romantic-comedies.

[Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing this book to me in exchange for an honest review!]

I devoured every bit of this... this book gave me the excact vibes I've been looking for since reading It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey. And dare I say... THIS WAS BETTER!

When a spoiled heiress gets in an accident with a mechanic leading to a huge argument and spur of the moment bet, the two of them switch lives for 2 months. This leads to a lot of character growth, self discovery, and a shot at finding family.

Already dying for a sequel/spin-off!

A spoilt heiress and a hard working mechanic, what will happen when their worlds collide? Due to a car accident and a heat of the moment argument a bet is placed and Lexi and Evan are forced to switch lives. This is followed by a lot of mishaps, catastrophes and witty banter between the two. But also a lot of personal growth, self discovery and even maybe a chance at real love.

This books was a quick read that was just okay for me. It had a premise that I thought I’d love, but the execution of it was hit or miss in places.

Lexi is a spoiled heiress who is involved is a car accident with mechanic Evan. Through a turn of events fueled by Evan’s niece, who he is raising, the two of them end up in a bet to trade lives for the summer.

There are some great moments in this book. While first-half Lexi is borderline insufferable, second-half Lexi really shines as she finds a purpose in her days and learns more about who she is without her family’s money. I really enjoyed her growth.

My struggle was with the romance between Lexi and Evan and that I didn’t feel there was much build up to it. Eventually it turned to something more believable, but so much of their story felt disjointed and underdeveloped. There was a lot of Evan’s story that I think deserved a lot more attention and could have made his shifting personality later in the bet feel less completely out of character.

I didn’t dislike this book, but I wasn’t overwhelmed with love for it. It was a book without a lot of potential that I found myself wanting more from.

I really liked the concept of the book. I enjoyed reading about Lexi and seeing her change from how she was before. There were some things I wish would be expanded on.

Book : Trading Places
Author : Emily Duvall
Pub Date : 26 Sept 2023

Thank you NetGalley, Entangled Publishing,LLC, & the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Do you love :
- Enemies to Lovers
- Contemporary Romances
- Books surrounding a rich socialite

Then this book is a must snag!

I have to admit that this book I struggled getting into this one. I had to get through the first few chapters and then I started to really get into this book but it could have been just the timing of when I picked this book up. The storyline was very sweet and I thought the idea of a very rich socialite named Lexi North swapping places with a poor mechanic for a few months was such a fun idea. The characters were well developed and well written and I honestly couldn’t figure out which character I enjoyed more.

I loved seeing the tension and banter between this FMC and the MMC Evan throughout the story. There is a little bit of steam in this book to give it just a pop for spice which was the perfect amount.

I will be on the lookout or more from Emily Duvall in the future.

Rich socialite switches places for 2 months with a poor mechanic, based on a bet. The premis was ridiculous, but as for the rest, Emily Duvall has a winner on her hands. Great banter, full of heart, and just enough steam to keep this from being a smut fest.I loved so much of this.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. 4.5⭐ rounded up to 5 because ultimately this works so well.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC! Following is my honest review.

Trading places is a sweet story about two people turning their summer upside-down when they trade places after a bet. Lexi North is a rich socialite with nothing really going on, and having quite frankly no life-skills. Meanwhile Evan Baily is the complete opposite taking care of his niece and working as a mechanic.
Tension grows between the two as they learn to navigate a brand new world (and a new budget).

Overall, I enjoyed the book alot, it's not what I typically read, but it was sweet and entertaining. The characters was easy to follow and the story was interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to people to love rom-com movies and/or contemporary romance books!

2.5 Stars

Spoiled heiress Lexi and downtrodden mechanic Evan switch places after a bet proposed by his niece goes viral. Neither is expected to last in the others world. While Lexi starts off selfish and unskilled in just about everything, she slowly comes into her own. Evan on the other hand gets swept into the glitz and glamor of having an absurd amount of money and loses focus on what’s really important. Through it all they find themselves attracted to each other (it’s honestly physical through most the story) until they both realize how they balance each other out and that there’s more to each than what meets the eye.

Overall the story was…meh. I couldn’t connect to either of them and I longed for more depth. A lot felt surface level and great opportunities for more (Evan is the guardian of his niece, Lexi was abandoned my her mom) were sadly glossed over and given limited page time.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

(3.5) a quick, easy to read, slightly steamy book about identity, family, and money. This was really fun to read and I really enjoyed reading it, though I wish there was more insight into some of the more minor characters (Cece), and the ending felt a bit unfulfilling, but yeah!! Overall, this was a pretty good book.

I read this in one day, I just couldn't put it down! This book has lots of witty banter that had me giggling many times.

The overall plot is good. And the characters are entertaining and relatable. I liked the development the characters had by the end of the book, especially Lexi.

If you're looking for a fun read this book is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley, Entangled and Amara for allowing me to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest review.

It’s official I am a hardcore fan of Entangled Romance. They know how to select stories that have great banter, fun and sassy sexy time, and provide deep heartfelt connection with the reader.

Right off the bat in Trading Places we meet Lexi who is a spoil rich girl who is stuck up. Her character is well-written because she comes off very off-putting and snobby to the point of annoyance. Until she causes a causes a car accident with none over then Evan Bailey, a mechanic in tight financial struggle with the sole custody of a cute niece, CeCe. When a conflict escalates with a dare that they wouldn’t be able to survive in each other shoes, a live stream caught by CeCe makes the challenge real.

Cut off from her trust fund, Lexi has no choice but to go thru with it or risk losing it all. This switcharoo was fun to read. A true character growth for Lexi and ultimately makes her stronger, independent, and find herself. She discovers how capable she is. She discovers the joy of life and her worth.

Evan also goes thru a change. As he experience luxury and falls for Lexi he becomes determined start a metamorphosis that he can fit in her world. He slowly starts changing himself. Will she love him as who he is or a product he changes himself into?

Overall a lovely story of internal growth.
Great writing and flow in the story.
Always love the amazing bantering between Lexi and Evan. Especially when they are snippy against each other and try to prod one another. Unconsciously, they also help each other learn the ways into their individual lives and heart.

Highly recommend!
Thank you Entangle Romance for the fun read for an honest review!

hooked and hooked some more. Loved all of this and couldn't put it down. I was like oh my. I need to know more. Read it.

I ADORED IT, i had such a good time reading it. i was giggling 🤭

then i was crying because let’s be honest evan doesn’t really deserve lexi. but honestly this just hit a spot that i didn’t know existed!

the whole dumb little rich girl and then her becoming down to earth was LOVELY to see! the story didn’t go how i thought it would but it went even better,

i would have loved an epilogue set even further ahead in time instead of one month.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

The original idea is nice. What the author made of it... OK.

I found no chemistry between the two main characters. There is a major lack of communication from both parties. The character of Lexi is more successful, and she has a real path even if it could have been better brought, than that of Evan (who nevertheless had more potential on paper, with the custody of his niece, but he just becomes a big jerk, and there is not enough internalization for the reader to see that it is a posture he takes in the hope of sticking to Lexi's expectations).

No credibility (apart from the moment when Evan becomes a nobody again and gets kicked out of all the “friendly” networks created while he was living Lexi’s life).

Lexi's father has an epiphany when he was a real bastard and we don't really understand how it happens, the marriage proposal via social networks after a month...

The only really nice aspect is Alec's garage and the employees who work there. It could have been deeper to be funnier. The author wanted Lexi to help them with her weapons (communication) at some point, and that was what was needed, but she does not push the idea to the end and it is finally very superficial.

The longer it went, the less I liked this book. It's really a shame to have taken it easy (Evan should/could have tried to improve things, to propose new ideas more down to earth in the bling bling world of Lexi, he could have experienced more funny twists, go beyond the superficial aspect of the relationships that Lexi maintained…). Lexi goes in this direction throughout the book, it's a shame that Evan takes the opposite direction (and what happens to grandma's diamond bracelet?)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lexi is a rich heiress and has never worked a day in her life. Want to rent an island for the weekend? Sure. Wreck a marriage? Oops. Goes to a charity event to raise money? Nope, she goes to meet a man.

One night, absolutely nothing goes right for Lexi and she gets in a car accident with Evan. And … loses a family heirloom that happens to be a diamond bracelet. When she arrives at Evan’s auto shop to get her car, she is challenged to swap lives with him for two months. And … she agrees.

This book has witty banter, complete and epic fails (for both), and a lot of ridiculous fun. Plus, there is a secret that one is desperately trying to keep. I enjoyed it and think it is a solid four stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an arc of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars! Cute contemporary rom-com with witty banter and two stubborn main characters, Lexi and Evan. I liked this book but had some issues with it too. I was confused at times, trying to figure out who is saying what since that wasn’t really indicated. The jumping scenes mid page was also confusing, I’m used to spaces between the ending scenes last paragraph and the new scenes first paragraph. Some people are mentioned, like they were important to the book, only to never really need to be mentioned at all. Wish there had been a longer epilogue, with more about CeCe meeting her family. All in all a good book that has a lot of potential to be even better. Also - Whatever happened to the grandmother’s bracelet? Did I miss what happened to that or was it discussed but never carried through?
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Trading Places is a cute enemies to lovers read! Also, as a Northern Virginian native it was great to see my area mentioned throughout the book.

Lexi and Evan are complete opposites. Lexi is a rich socialite who dropped out of college, lives off her trust fund, and does not know the meaning of the word budget. Evan is a mechanic who is raising his niece and living paycheck to paycheck trying to make ends meet. Their worlds collide when Lexi and Evan literally collide in a car accident. Following the accident the two end up in a wager to swap lives for several weeks to see who can make it in the other’s shoes. What neither Lexi nor Evan expect is to find that they have a bit in common…including steamy chemistry.

This book was a lovely and fairly lighthearted read. It felt like cozying up with my favorite romcom where you expect the twists and turns, but it is fun to see them play out nonetheless. I like that Lexi’s character is more than just a one dimensional party girl and we get to understand why she acts out. From the perspective of Evan we get to understand how sometimes life throws a curveball and we have to step up and do what is right for family. Even more interesting is that this takes place with Alexandria, VA as the backdrop. As all NoVa residents know, Alexandria and other close by areas are pretty expensive. This only adds to the difference in social status between Lexi and Evan.

Overall this book was such a cute and fun read and I highly recommend to any romance book lover!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a dual-perspective redemption story that held my attention, and I completed the read within a day. The female main character, Lexi, is an entitled socialite with high public visibility who must endure life-altering changes to achieve her goal. The male main character, Evan, is a mechanic in his family’s body shop who is raising his niece while on a limited budget. Lexi and Evan’s unexpected pairing makes for an interesting enemies-to-lovers situation with a healthy dose of irritation and attraction.

The pacing of this book started off choppy with certain chapters difficult to comprehend but gradually smoothed out to a lovely conflict that was well-written and captivating. Lexi’s behavior in the first half of the book felt redundant and grating at times, but even so, it appeared she was the protagonist and Evan was the antagonist. However, during the crisis of the story, the roles appear to shift, and Evan seemed like he had a more complex dilemma than Lexi’s, which was not explored in depth (maybe there will be a book two?). I wanted more of Evan’s story in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed Lexi’s wit and personality, once given a glimpse into the real her, as well as the banter between her and Evan.

Overall, Trading Places was an enjoyable, dramatized read that left me wanting more. More insight into Evan. More insight into Mature Lexi. And more of their sizzling attraction. I cannot wait to see what Duvall brings to the table after this!

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)

I actually loved this book. At first I wasn’t that keen on Lexi but she soon turned into my favourite. Yes she’s was a spoilt brat but her grown during the book was so well done you just felt for her and loved her. Evan actually done my head in at parts he starts off a cool normal guy but ends up a snob but goes back to the cool normal guy. Cece was adorable and showed Evan’s nicer side taking on and caring her his niece in his 20’s the ending was my favourite with them playing super Mario was so cute. This book is definitely is a unique romance story which I enjoyed and think others will too. It’s different and the characters have so much growth.