Member Reviews
"Switched" is a delightful romantic comedy that blends science, humor, and the unexpected twists of fate. I like how Serena and Henry, two seemingly opposite characters, are thrown into each other's lives and bodies, leading to hilarious and heartwarming moments. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of identity and attraction as Serena and Henry grapple with their newfound situation. With witty dialogue and charming characters, the novel explores themes of love, self-discovery, and the interconnectedness of the universe in a refreshing and entertaining way. It's a fun and engaging read that will leave readers rooting for Serena and Henry as they navigate the ups and downs of their switched lives.
Firstly thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first Sarah Ready book and it won’t be my last. Drawn to it by the comparisons to Ali Hazelwood (who I love!). If you like sweet, heartwarming and emotionally fast-paced narrative than this is for you!
Serena is completely in love with physics, her cat Captain Purrk and Star Trek. She’s enjoying her simple uncomplicated- messy emotion/relationship free life and staying that way. Henry loves phyiscs, family and friends and can’t wait to have it all. Cue a sweet meet-cute, sparks fly, Serena self sabotages and they end up working together trying to be neutral and avoid the elephant in the room. Until one day in a “Freaky Friday” type incident, they swapped bodies and whilst navigating the world as each other, trying to figure out how to switch back is a journey of acceptance, understanding and self discovery.
Sweet, emotional, funny and full of depth this is a rom-com you should definitely read.
I picked this up because I had only just discovered Sarah Ready’s books and my friend raved about Dear Christmas which I really loved, so thought why not give this a go. I am not a scientific type of person at all and I will confess that It took me 3 attempts to get in to this book. Third time lucky though and I really got in to this in the end. You don’t know how the other person feels unless you’ve walked in their shoes…. Well that is this book. I found it pretty hard going until the switch happened and then I was totally absorbed in the story of these two unique main characters and their journey to fix their situation. It had me giggling with laughter and then also gave me all the feels that left you with a big sigh when it finished. I hadn’t read Ghosted, the previous book but didn’t feel like I had missed anything out by not reading it before this one. Sarah Ready was not someone who was on my radar to read but she is now up there for me to check out any new books because I am really enjoying her style of writing and stories.
This book might have sparked my interest once again in contemporary romance.
The heroine, though cast as an intelligent woman has a very relatable life and vocabulary. I salute the author for not filling the book with deep science-y words. At first I cannot understand Serena's deep set aversion to commitment and marriage until I saw how her parents relate and then I totally get her. Still, I liked her already by this time.
For Henry, he was a total package of a hero for me. Almost too perfect actually until I saw his vanity amidst the chaos of their switched body. Though I saw him only through the filter of the heroine, I like him as a hero and a character.
The hilarious part of the story is the best part for me in this book. Let me say first that this is a first read for me for this author so I cannot talk about her other books but for once, the funny part of the story fits the character. Often, the funnies on books are the widely known jokes about genders but not in this book. The hilarious part comes from two smart people speaking their own language.
Have you ever read regency books or historical books that characters language reminds you of high schoolers cafeteria lingo? I did and its jarring.
In this book, the characters fit their words and their quirks and I admit, I repeatedly listened to the book three times because the story and the fun is that good.
Audiobook: There is just one chapter where the hero - Henry's point of view was shown and the narrator's accent is jarring. Throughout the book, the hero's accent is British and then this chapter of his POV comes in a hard american accent. Soooo jarring!
Other than that, the book is a perfect listen for me. I will surely look for other books from this author hoping they are just as good.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me the audiobooks.
This book was everything. A light hearted story with a plot very similar to freaky Friday, and a heartwarming character development.
When Henry and Selena first met, it was love at first sight, but Selena refused to admit it. After spending time with each other and with each others family, they finally found common ground.
Sweet moments happened the whole way through the book and it was a very easy read. Would read it again as a lighthearted book!
This was a cute little book, a lovely twist to a Freaky Friday romcom. Enjoyed the fact the FMC is a woman in STEM, and the footnotes and graphs made me chuckle.
I got both the ebook and audio from NetGalley, and it was nice being able to switch to audio while commuting / doing other things.
Prepare to be swept off your feet by Sarah Ready's enchanting rom-com sequel, "Switched," the second captivating installment in her beloved "Ghosted" series.
Serena Otaki is a brilliant California physicist with not one, but two PhDs, and a steadfast dedication to the world of science. Love, however, has always been a foreign concept to her, buried beneath layers of equations and research papers. But then there's Henry Joule, her charming British boss at CERN, whose belief in the power of science is only rivaled by his unwavering faith in true love. Despite their undeniable connection, Serena chooses to prioritize her career over matters of the heart, leaving Henry behind.
Fast forward two years, and Serena and Henry find themselves in a perplexing predicament—they've inexplicably swapped bodies, with no scientific explanation in sight. Now, they must navigate each other's lives while concealing their true identities, all while unraveling the complexities of love, friendship, and second chances. Will this whimsical twist of fate lead them back to each other, or will it drive them further apart?
Sarah Ready's trademark wit and charm shine through in "Switched," delivering a heartwarming tale brimming with laughter, love, and a plethora of swoon-worthy moments. Henry's narration in one chapter is utterly captivating, showcasing his depth and vulnerability as a character. Serena and Henry practically leap off the pages with their palpable chemistry, while the clever references to binary stars and anglerfish add an extra layer of whimsy and intrigue.
But "Switched" is more than just a delightful read—it's a poignant exploration of self-discovery, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love. As Serena and Henry grapple with their newfound connection, they are forced to confront their deepest fears and desires, ultimately discovering that true happiness lies in embracing life's unexpected twists and turns.
With its delightful characters, clever storytelling, and irresistible charm, "Switched" is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies and anyone seeking a heartwarming escape from reality. Keep an eye out for its release on February 20th—it's a journey you won't want to miss!
A heartfelt thank you to Sarah Ready, W.W. Crown an Imprint of Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, and Netgalley for generously providing me with early access to "Switched" in exchange for an honest review.
A RomCom with a lot of vibes from the movie The Hot Chick
Yes please!
I went into this story very blindly, and I was very entertained and also they added scientific references (that I didn't even understand) that I appreciated.
This story is very interactive as it has a protagonist who illustrates some of her situations through graphics (for someone very visual, it is appreciated), and with very funny footnotes she explains some unlikely situations in which she is somehow involved.
In this story we meet Serena or Ducky who is a theoretical physicist working in Geneva and who on Tuesdays has a date with herself in a bar, but like any good romcom that is respected ends up in a situation a little unfortunate, not to say, sticky, as it remains stuck in his seat.
Being in this situation she meets a handsome stranger with whom she strikes up a conversation and saves her from this sticky situation; things escalate and we find ourselves in a moment where the heat rises and things disappear (wink, wink), and yes, after all this rising graph, the man ends up saying the most endearing phrase of my hated cliche: I LOVE YOU.
Who the hell says I love you at the time of meeting?
I mean, I understand that the moment leads you to say crazy things, but this is on another level.
And I'm not the only one who thinks so, just ask Serena.
Who logically is shocked and frightened, and when the next day it turns out that this gentleman in addition to his one-night stand turns out to be his new boss, INCOMODO.
So as a scientific and thinking person, what she comes up with is to pretend that she has another prospective one night stand when they meet again in a bar.
Yes I know crazy.
And that only happens in the first 10% or so.
It goes on for a year, and the situation became unbearable for both of them and in a crazy situation that my unscientific mind understood, there was a cataclysmic event and they wake up and it turns out that they are in each other's bodies.
And you'll say, the plot is about them trying to find a solution to this unknown situation.
As it turns out, no.
But in addition to this, they begin to present situations in which they are forced to pass as a false relationship to have to interact with the family of both at different times, if each has to learn to behave and act like the other to interact with other people and that this does not result in an awkward moment.
So we see through the eyes of another, how they learn to appreciate the other person through being in that person's body (I know crazy, and worse with this review not review).
And here's a pretty poor summary of the story.
But I assure you that you can have a good time with it.
The fourth window breaks several times.
You feel sometimes like in class when they explain you some graphs.
And the period scene (believe me you must read to understand).
So yes, if you want to have a good time and feel like watching a 2000's movie, this is your story.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC
#Switched #NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and W. W. Crown, an imprint of Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first Sarah Ready book but absolutely will not be my last. If you love the STEMinist fire of Ali Hazelwood and magical realism of Ashely Poston & Sophie Cousens- this book is for you!
If hearing that this is a Freaky Friday-esque switcheroo and the potential of endless cringe/anxiety inducing situations scares you off-think again. While their path is certainly bumpy- it's written in a way that is more fascinating than anything else. Observing how they begin to see each other as they become the other was really something.
SPECIAL NOTE: I listened to the ALC first- and the narration format worked in the footnotes SOOOO well. But after I saw a post on social media that the "on the page" version had diagrams and images-- I HAD to reread- wow! SO great! You can't go wrong with either version!
Switched was such a fun read! Prepare to suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride. Serena and Henry are both physicists working in Switzerland at the Large Hadron Collider (Don’t worry; you really don’t need to know what that is.) They are both very serious about their careers. However, they meet in a bar before Henry starts work at the LHC and sparks fly. When Serena realizes he’s going to be her boss, she skedaddles and tries to avoid him as much as possible.
Time passes and they are basically work enemies. Then during a storm, they have an “out of body experience” a la Freaky Friday. Suddenly Serena is in Henry’s body and vice versa. They don’t know how to reverse things and decide they need to stay together to try to figure it out. Which necessitates Serena attending Henry’s brother’s wedding as Henry, and so forth. They gradually learn to empathize with each other as they access some of the other person’s memories. There’s a hilarious scene when Henry, in Serena’s body, experiences menstrual cramps and thinks he’s dying and needs to go to the hospital!
What began as an insta-love hot one night stand turns into a slow burn, opposites-attract romance, and I loved it.
This is the second book in a planned trilogy but you definitely don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this one. (I didn’t.) A couple of people from the first book, Ghosted, appear in this one, but that’s all.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook is narrated mostly by Kelsey Navarro Foster, who did a great job with all the accents (Serena is from northern California and Henry is English), with one chapter narrated by James Anderson Foster.
Thank you to W.W. Crown an Imprint of Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
Switched is Sarah Ready’s sequel to her popular paranormal romantic comedy Ghosted. The heroine of Switched, Serena, was introduced in Ghosted as Jillian’s best friend. Switched can be read as a stand-alone but it will be enjoyed more if read after Ghosted. Imagine if the characters from the TV show The Big Bang Theory were put into the movie Freaky Friday and you have the basis of Switched.
After earning a double PhD in Physics and Computer Science at the age of 22, Serena Otaki left California to work at the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. Serena is obsessed with Star Trek and spends her free time with her rescue cat, Captain Purrk, and hanging out at a dive British pub. She doesn’t waste her time on housekeeping, not minding a messy apartment and eating spicy frozen tofu dinners. She’s not interested in romantic relationships, so she has one-night stands when she feels like it, but always with a new man. Samantha is afraid that if she falls for a man, she will give up her beloved job and scientific studies to follow traditional female roles.
One night, Serena meets a handsome British man, Henry Joule, at the Cock and Bull Pub. He helps her out of a tight spot, and she goes with him to his hotel room for a hot one-night stand. The next morning, she sees an email from work announcing him as her new Team Lead. When she meets him again at the pub, she pretends that she has a date with another patron to discourage his interest in her. When she sees him at work the following week, things are awkward.
Fast forward one and one-half years and things are still awkward at work between Serena and Henry. They are secretly attracted to one another and are unable to date others because of that attraction. However they realize that they are vastly different in their daily habits. Henry is an uptight, schedule-driven, organized tea drinker. Serena’s free-spiritedness and sloppiness drives him batty. They are both workaholic attractive genius physicists though.
Then late one night an electrical storm causes an unexpected event at the particle collider, and Serena and Henry switch bodies. Serena is in Henry’s body, and Henry is in Serena’s body. They each become very familiar with the other while literally walking in their shoes. They begin to understand their fears and motivations, and gain perspective on the opposite sex. They have to adjust to their new circumstances quickly because the switch happened right before they were scheduled to take vacations with their families. Then they do research to try to figure out a way to switch back into the bodies that they were each born in.
There are many hilarious scenes in Switched, and readers will be reminded of both The Big Bang Theory and Freaky Friday. The pub patrons, Super-collider employees, and family members add extra humor and depth to the story. I absolutely loved all the cameo appearances by Jillian and Daniel from Ghosted. I enjoyed all the Star Trek references, and especially the cat, Captain Purrk.
While most of the story falls into the comedy genre, the author brilliantly expresses Serena’s lifelong desire to unlock the mysteries of the universe. Her elegant articulation of Serena’s fears of losing herself if she gets in a serious relationship with a man are so poignant. This serious side of Serena’s personality is what elevates Switched above other Freaky Friday-based stories.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and W.W. Crown Publishing for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely adored this book! It's such a fun read, very cute and quirky!
Serena is a physicist who'd rather spend her time smashing atoms, doing anything physics-related, or in her messy apartment watching Star Trek with her cat. She cannot and absolutely will not entertain the idea of libe or dating (but hookups are ok!) One night she meets a guy at a bar and hooks up with him, but flees as soon as he says he feels like it's love at first sight. Big NO for Serena! She then learns this guy, Henry, is her new boss and she decides she needs to cut all sexual/ personal ties with him and keep it strictly work-related. Serena believes they have nothing in common, other than their love for physics. He believes you find yourself in love and marriage, she believes you lose yourself. They're total opposites, in almost every aspect.
One night at work, an incident occurred that caused them to switch bodies. They've spent days in each other's bodies, and in this time they've learned so much about each other. They've experienced each other's memories, glimpses and emotions from each other's pasts, and through this they've come to understand each other & their views on love.
It's a great read! It's very Freaky Friday (2.0), mixed with romance and a ton of laughs! (Plus the diagrams & sketches are amazing! Lol) Loved this one!
Let's start with a couple of confessions. First, I’m not a real sciencey person. Especially something with theoretical physics, smashing atoms, and black holes. My brain just doesn’t work that way. So this story? Normally I wouldn’t give it a second look. Confession #2, I am a huge fan of this gifted storyteller. I’ve been with her since the beginning and she’s proven herself time and again. So when Ready gives us a sciencey romance, I’ll take a chance, and I’m so freaking glad I did!
Serena Otaki is in love with her job as a theoretical physicist at The Large Hadron Collider in Geneva Switzerland. There’s no room for loving a man, especially when her life view says love requires losing yourself in the other person and give up your dreams. A one-night stand is a different story, and this is how she meets Henry Joule. Lots of sparks, lots of colliding, and then…
Henry turns out to be her new boss. Uh oh. Now they have to see each other every day and work together on projects, all while ignoring the one-night elephant in the room. Then things get really complicated, and by complicated, I mean hilariously entertaining. Mother Nature rages, the Universe interferes, and Serena and Henry switch bodies.
Of course Ready doesn’t just give us a story that's hysterically amusing, but she takes us deep into these two characters, peeling back layer after layer until we empathize so much with them that they feel like friends. She makes it so easy to read this story that I devoured it in one night. It's wildly funny, but also a profound emotional journey. Charming, heartfelt, and completely unexpected, this is my favorite romcom this year. Take a chance on this unique, fun, poignant story and I promise your romantic heart will thank you.
In Sarah Ready's charming and witty novel, "Switched," two brilliant physicists from vastly different backgrounds experience a literal body swap, leading to a hilarious and heartwarming exploration of identity, love, and the dynamics of relationships. Serena Otaki, a free-spirited Californian, is a dedicated physicist who cherishes her solitude and unconventional lifestyle. In contrast, Henry Joule, an organized and meticulous British physicist, longs for a conventional life filled with romance. When a freak accident involving the particle collider they both work with results in a body switch, their carefully constructed worlds collide. Serena finds herself inhabiting Henry's body, complete with his fondness for tea, organization, and desire for a romantic partner. Henry, on the other hand, must navigate Serena's messy apartment, spicy tofu, and independent spirit. As they stumble through their new lives, they discover hidden truths about themselves and each other, challenging their long-held beliefs and preconceptions. Ready cleverly depicts the challenges and comical situations that arise from the body swap. Serena struggles to maintain her independence while living in Henry's rigid routine, while Henry grapples with Serena's chaotic lifestyle and aversion to relationships. However, amidst the laughter and misunderstandings, a genuine connection begins to blossom between them. Beyond the body swap premise, "Switched" explores deeper themes of love, acceptance, and the fluidity of identity. Serena and Henry learn to appreciate qualities in each other that they initially dismissed, and they discover that love knows no bounds when it comes to appearances or personality traits. The novel also delves into the dynamics of relationships, showcasing the importance of communication, compromise, and mutual respect. With its engaging plot, relatable characters, and insightful observations on love and identity, "Switched" is a delightful read that will leave readers both entertained and moved. Sarah Ready's witty writing and heartwarming storytelling create a compelling novel that celebrates the power of embracing our differences and finding love in unexpected places.
Science, sex, physics and the paranormal blend in this enemies-to-lovers globetrotting adventure. Serena of the two Ph.Ds doesn’t really believe in relationships, or even repeats, relying on one-time no strings one night stands to fulfill her needs. When Serena and Henry meet in a bar in Geneva, it’s chemistry at first sight, and they depart for his hotel and have mind-blowing, love at first sight sex–and then she learns Henry is the new project lead at work, beginning the following week. Since Serena doesn’t do repeats, AND they’re colleagues, she gives him the cold shoulder for… about two years. And then, during a freak thunderstorm on the eve of shutting down the Large Hadron Collider for annual maintenance for three weeks, they are both in the room at the same time arguing of course) when forces of nature and the supernatural combine for a body switch.
The ensuing freak out is comical as Serena has to navigate periods and has to deal with erections. Both have set plans with their respective families during their break, so it makes sense that neither should be left alone lest someone discover the person they know is “off,” so Serena attends Henry’s brother’s wedding and gets to know his (large) family–and ex-fiance–in a drafty English castle, and Henry meets Serena’s parents and experiences the California redwood forest. Forced proximity and international travel serve to bring them closer together.
Serena and Henry are completely different types of physicists (an experimental physicist specializes in the observation and analysis of experiments, while theoretical physicists specialize in mathematical modeling to rationalize, explain and predict) and neither can function without the other. Also: Henry is neat, British, a meat eater, and a runner, and Serena is… none of those. Ultimately, Ready puts together a fantastic case of opposites attract with a delightfully geeky, science nerdy, Ali-Hazelwood worthy STEM setting, complete with footnotes *swoon*.
Switched is a stand-alone novel, with characters from Ghosted making an appearance; this served to make me want to read the first book in the series, and frankly, everything else she’s ever written (I did really love the Josh and Gemma series, which is rich with emotional depth and medical and mental health issues).
I received a free advance review copy of #Switched via #NetGalley, courtesy of #W.W.Crown.
Body switching
Forced proximity
Magical realism
Boss/employee
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
I always enjoy Sarah's writing. It pulls me into the story and makes me connect with the characters.
My only complaint this go round was the audiobook got confusing at times due to it not being duel or duet.
We met Serena in Ghosted, so I was excited to read her story. I definitely picture Henry as a hot nerd. Love an MMC with glasses.
The banter with them being in each other's bodies was hilarious. Serena being attracted to her own boobs 😅 Henry having a period 🙈
Not a closed door, but just one semi-spicy scene towards the end.
This is my first book by Sarah Ready and I really loved it 😄 when Serena and Henry meet at the pub, they have no idea their lives are about to change forever. Being newly romantically involved and then switched by a freak accident- Serena mind in Henry's body and vice versa- it is the layout of a hilarious and heartwarming story.
I had no idea what to expect when I started this story, but I was impressed. From the characters, to the storyline, from their banter to their self discovery journey, the story was just perfect! I loved their geekiness and the connection they had from the beginning ❤️
I highly recommend this story. It is with a girl that believes in starshine magic and a man that smells like starlight ❤️
I absolutely loved Switched by Sarah Ready! From the moment I started reading, I was completely drawn into the story and couldn't put the book down. The concept of two people switching bodies is nothing new, but Sarah puts a fun and unique twist on it by making the two characters completely opposite in every way.
Serena and Henry are both strong and well-developed characters.
Serena is a free-spirited physicist who loves her independence and has no interest in settling down. Henry is an uptight and organized scientist who is ready for love and marriage. Their interactions and inner thoughts are hilarious and relatable, especially as they try to navigate each other's lives and figure out how to switch back.
But Switched isn't just a romantic comedy. It also touches on important themes such as self-discovery, identity, and accepting and embracing our differences. The dialogue is witty and clever, and the chemistry between Serena and Henry is off the charts. Sarah creates a perfect balance of humor, romance, and heartwarming moments that had me laughing, swooning, and even shedding a few tears.
One of the things I loved most about this book was the attention to detail in describing the physics elements. It's clear that Sarah did her research and it added an extra layer of depth to the story. The writing is smooth, engaging, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
This book is a delightful, feel-good read that will have you rooting for the unlikely couple from start to finish. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance with a side of science and humor.
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Paranormal romance, forced proximity, body swap, fake dating, second chance romance, workplace romance, boss/employee, opposite attract
(Huge thank you to Netgalley and Sarah Ready for giving me an ARC for this book)
MCs in the STEM field *Physics* + Science-y phenomena + love-line? Sign me up! 🤭
I’ve read this book as some sort of “escape” from the demands of work (I’m a Physics teacher) and I’m like ‘Reading Ready bc I’m not yet ready (to face my responsibilities)’ kind of mood. 👀
Funny thing is, the more I read, the more I see words that remind me of Physics. LOL. I like how I’m aware of it being fiction but also had Physics concepts that make sense.
As the title suggests, there’s “switching” that happened. So the whole story covered before the switch happened, and after the switch happened. It’s interesting that in this switch, not only do they exchanged bodies but also had glimpses of the thought processes (and emotions) of the other person prior to the event.
In summary, it presents that loving a person goes beyond knowing who they are but also understanding them through/ past the baggages/ traumas they may have had, and genuinely being patient and present in navigating relationships and making things work out for the better.
What held me back from giving it 5 stars was the resolution. It just didn’t seem to make sense how or why one of them nearly died and the other survived.
Cute.
This was a fun read and I'm so happy I got my first ARC!!!
This one has an interesting premise and it's that (as the book's called) they MCs are switched. That means they are in the other's body and since they have to attend some family events, they have to stick together.
I liked the insta-love in this book. While I'm usually not a fan of this trope, in this case I find it to be romantic because it felt like they were fated, meant to be. That said, I felt that way during the first part, as the book happened I fell out of love with them.
They had good chemistry, but I didn't like the rhythm of the book.
My main complaints were about the FMC. I liked her, but at the same time I didn't. If you remove the way she was so averse to falling in love, then I thought she was cool. I enjoyed her humour and laughed quite a few times, it was a sardonic, biting humour at times and it was fun to read. But the thing is, she is really against love and that's a thing I couldn't get past. It's a thing I dislike in MMCs, so it was expectable that I wouldn't like it with a female character either. The worst part is that it really didn't make any sense. I mean, I get that the author came up with an explanation and it's not out of this world, but that just made me think that the girl was extremely dumb. You can NOT be an adult and still believe this kind of nonsense and ruin your life because of some childish beliefs.
The guy was ok, but he's not much in the story. I mean, he's physically there and they talk a lot, but as this story is more about Serena than about him, he just fades into the background, and I don't remember much of his personality.
Another thing I didn't like was the actual switch. Don't get me wrong, I loved the idea and the execution until 40% of the book. After that, I just really wanted them to switch. I didn't like their dynamic with their switched up bodies.
All that being said, this was a cute, fun and quick story, with an interesting premise and a meant-to-be couple.
Not memorable, but nice enough to spend an afternoon reading it.