Member Reviews
I really really struggled to get to chapter 3 of this book and felt a rush of euphoria when it ended. This book is way too heavy on science asides I found Serena acted unlike someone who has worked hard to achieve her level of success with that not only that I found the Insta love nauseating and that whole episode with the pants in the varnished chair just seemed ridiculous and I really thought long and hard about DNF in the book right then and there. I could go on and on about all the negative things from this book especially the question if they switch bodies were they masturbating… Not masturbating? Either way I gave it two stars because of the narrator I listen to the audiobook and thought she did a great job with the average text she was given just like in a lot of science experiments in theory this is a great book and practice not so much. I want to thank the author the publisher and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
This was such a delightful read!! It had me laughing so much at the pure chaos that was going on in our two main characters lives after switching bodies. I loved Serena and Henry so much. They were so different from each other yet so perfect as well. I love getting to know them and their families and why their views on love were the way they were. I would definitely recommend this one for sure! I loved the main narrator (Kelsey) but the couple chapters that were in Henry’s POV were pretty jarring. They came towards the end and I just didn’t feel like the voice matched him. Definitely read this if you’re looking for a cute little rom com!
I really enjoyed the last Sarah Ready book I read. But this one just didn't hit the same, it was just missing something for me to make it really good.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. This was delightful. You can tell Sarah Ready had fun writing this. Some parts were a bit ridiculous, but it was fun. I hate insta love but it actually worked well here. I mostly listened the audio and the narrator did a fantastic job.
This could definitely be read as a standalone, though you'd miss the fun of Zelda's cameo. This is perfect for someone looking for a lighthearted rom com with minimal second hand embarrassment.
This book was so so fun! It was a totally unexpected love story and the magical realism was just the icing on the cake for me. I really enjoyed it,
4.5 rounded to 5 ⭐️ on Goodreads and retailer websites. Switched is the second book in the Ghosted series by Sarah Ready. In Ghosted, a young woman found the ghost of a man in her new apartment and the two fell in love. Switched is about that woman’s best friend, Serena Otaki, a free-spirited California girl who worked at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva Switzerland. She loved physics, coffee, Star Trek, her cat, and her own brand of disorganized chaos. She was happily unattached and planned to stay that way. Henry Joules was a buttoned up Brit who was about to start a new job as Serena’s new supervisor. He loved physics, piping hot tea, his family, red meat, dogs, and obsessively cleaning his immaculate apartment. He was looking forward to settling down with the woman of his dreams. Right before Henry started his job, the two met and came together for a magical night and love at first sight, from which Serena fled, purposely sabotaging any potential for a relationship. They were too different to be compatible, and love was not in their future. Then one night there was an electrical event at the particle collider and when they woke up, Serena was in Henry’s body and Henry was in Serena’s. They had two weeks vacation during which they needed to find a way to switch back while traveling across the world together visiting each other’s families, always in each other’s company. Suddenly life and love had become very complicated indeed.
Just as I loved Ghosted, Switched was a hit for me. The differences between Serena and Henry’s personalities were significant and when contrasted against the inclinations of the bodies they were inhabiting, the outcome was comedy gold. I loved how the author used the characters’ experiences in each other’s shoes to create the understanding and acceptance which was necessary to take two very different individuals and fuse them into a believable couple. I adored Henry and Serena, two very likable characters who truly fit together despite their apparent incompatibility. I laughed so hard I cried a number of times while reading this story. The audiobook was wonderful and the narrators were absolutely perfect. I wholeheartedly recommend this paranormal, one night stand, enemies to lovers, opposites attract love story to readers who love romantic comedy. I am voluntarily writing this honest review after reading/listening to an advanced complementary copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and W.W. Crown, an imprint of Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC.
This is a love story about two people who are clearly meant for each other (despite some very strong differences in personality and temperament) but only one of them is willing to admit it. I really enjoyed it, it had humor and heart. It was interesting to watch a scientific mind trying to reconcile what her heart wanted and what empirical evidence in her own family and life had trained her to believe (and fear). And I enjoyed the three different settings - Geneva, Switzerland, Henry's home & family in Britain, and Serena's home & family in California. I listened to the audiobook and the narration by Kelsey Navarro Foster and James Anderson Foster both added to my enjoyment.
But reader be warned: If you aren't the type to embrace some serious suspension of disbelief, this probably isn't the book for you. You need to pretty much throw logic and (ironically) physics out the window and just go with Ready's magical realism flow. If you can't, this Freaky Friday type scenario probably just won't be a good fit for you. But if you're like me, and can let those things go and just enjoy the ride, it's definitely worth the try.
Also note - this was my second book by Sarah Ready, and the first one I'd read was not Ghosted, the book that precedes this one. Fortunately that didn't matter much - and in fact it made me want to read Ghosted to get the story there with that couple. But things fell into place here so that the reader doesn't really need that background to enjoy this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and W. W. Crown for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
Thank you Netgalley and W.W. Crown an Imprint of Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, for providing me with an ARC of this book. This does not alter my opinions/rating of this book.
I was interested in this book so much that i read 50 pages without noticing it. The audiobook enhanced the experience. This is such a cute romcom between two physicists who could not be more opposite than each other falling for each other. Callie has a carefree no-strings attached personality while Henry is the epitome of the family man willing to settle down. The author's writing style is very intriguing and easy to read. I found myself growing attached to characters in this book as the story continued. Even knowing that they would be switching bodies i could never expect what is going to happen next. A 5-star read for me is a book that gives me a physical reaction to the book. Such as feeling giddy, excited, gasping etc. This book did exactly that. This is such a cute rom com that will keep you hooked from the very beginning. I could not recommend this book enough.
Serena only has room for one love of her life. The stars. When Henry comes along, he looks like a good time. A fling to pass the time. However, sometimes our plans change. Serena has feelings for Henry. More than she wants to admit and he feels the same. Unfortunately, Henry is her boss and she shuts him down. But when they are switched into each other's bodies, they get a view they didn't bargain for. With family commitments on both sides coming up, they learn more about each other than they imagined.
I thought this was a cute cozy science romance. One of my favorite new genres. I thought that the characters were very likeable and fun. I'm not sure that I'm interested in the rest of the series, but I would look into them. The feelings confession overkill was a bit much for me. But I loved the characters and wanted to see how things turned out enough that I wasn't too put off by all the squishy lovey-dovey stuff. I liked the audio, but the British accents were....not great.
Serena Otaki, a physicist at CERN in Geneva, has no interest in love or relationships. She doesn't want to lose herself by being with someone else. Then she meets Henry Joule who saves her after she gets herself varnished to a seat in a pub. Sparks fly and its love at first sight, but Serena is adamant she can not have a relationship at all, and she's just discovered he's her new boss. Fast forward a year of working together, they're both still pretending they don't have feelings for each other. Unfortunately, in a twist of fate, they both get stuck at work during a storm and switch bodies. Now, they have to navigate life as each other and figure out how to switch back quickly before it becomes too late.
I was invested in Serena and Henry's relationship from the very beginning. I love how Sarah Ready writes romance as this just felt so cosy and lovely. I loved seeing how Serena slowly came to the realisation that being in a relationship doesn't always mean you're going to lose yourself, and I loved seeing that Henry never gave up on his love for Serena. I also like how there was absolutely no miscommunication in this. Sarah Ready is definitely becoming one of my favourite romance authors.
Switched by Sarah Ready
Ghosted series #2. Contemporary romance with just a touch of magic. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Serena Otaki is a science geek and happily unattached. Until she accidentally becomes attached to a bar booth seat via a recent varnish. Serena didn’t see the warning sign and is grateful that Henry Jones come to her aid with his coat. A rescue turns from flirty to a steamy night but Serena isn’t prepared for a commitment of love. An unexpected electric storm on top of science has the two consciousness switching and they find themselves living in each others bodies. Now they need to work together to figure it all out.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook copy of this which was narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster and James Addison Foster. The performance was charming and engaging. I knew exactly how the characters felt as we moved with the transfer and dealing with family situations. Serena’s comments to the audience or footnotes are humorous but detracted from the story by taking us away from the relationship and story. Those footnotes did give us a lot of background on Serena’s life philosophy.
I listened to the audio at my regular speed of 1.5
Quotes and excerpt:
“Things are only impossible until they’re not.”
“Life is more fun with charts, graphs and footnotes.
Footnote 1
If a date asks me how many sexual partners I’ve had, I say 8. However, in the unspoken footnote they haven’t read, I say sexual partners are like age. Once you hit a certain number, you stop counting.”
Excerpt from Switched by Sarah Ready
I felt a little sorry for Henry. He falls in love and she can’t or isn’t willing to look beyond the physical. Until she’s literally in his body and can no longer walk away. There is a lot of humor in the switch as they deal with family and events in each other’s lives.
Overall it’s lighthearted and romantic.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Swift & Lewis.
This was a fun silly read! I couldn’t stand the narrators voice as Henry but once they swapped bodies her voice was fine lol some parts went a little science nerd heavy for my liking but overall I thought it was sweet and charming and I love the relationship they built.
This book was cute! It was definitely a good palate cleanser, and an easy listen. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of breaking the 4th wall, and I really would have ignored it had it not been specifically mentioned. It was just a little off putting to me, personally.
Like I said, this book was cute. If you love science and romance, I would definitely give it a listen or read! Personally, a lot of the science mentioned were things that were lost on me, so a little too niche for my preference.
I was able to listen to this as an ALC for my willing and honest opinion and want to thank the author and NetGalley for that.
Can one night equal love at first sight? Idk! But that would be scary…right? And run away bc he’s your new boss and science is more important than mushy feels?! Maybe. Ducky meeting Henry in a Geneva bar seemed like a dream, he was beautiful and funny and… When she ungracefully tells him it’s not gonna work out, the pair works together smashing atoms (not a euphemism) at the Large Hadron Collider, until one night a storm hits and data goes wild and they wake up in each others bodies!! This is a cute and fluffy romance with a sciencey twist delivered with lots of mirth by the narrator!
A charming tale of two complete opposites, whose lives get intertwined due to a mix of fate and magic. This is the romance version of the Freaky Friday premise, where two people switch bodies and lives, and they have to work out their differences in order to switch back.
I loved it. The author's use of first person was endearing. It made me smile, it made me laugh. It wasn't a tear jerker, but there were some touching family moments. The best word I can use to describe it is charming.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a great job doing different accents and differentiating between male and female voices.
Also, I read this book not knowing that it was part of a series, but it didn't matter because this book can stand on its own.
This is my first book by Sarah Ready but I’ve already got additional books by her on my Kindle queued up and ready to go.
This book was a delightful take on “Freaky Friday”. It was fun. It was funny, and I adored the FMC.
The book follows Serena Otaki who is a brilliant and beautiful physicist who’s spent her whole life avoiding love in favor of her career. She’s messy and unorganized and totally relatable. Henry Joule (yes that Joule for my fellow science nerds) is her uptight, meticulous new boss. Did I mention he’s an Englishman and that they may have had a night of passion before they realized Henry was her new boss?
These two collide one night in the most unexpected way, leaving them in each other’s bodies. Utter chaos ensues and what’s left is a hilarious story of two people who learn that love sprouts in the most unpredictable places with people that you never expected.
As these two literally walk a mile in each other’s shoes, they get a deeper understanding and appreciation for how the other side and gender lives.
I will say that I did listen to the audiobook and read on my kindle at the same time. I found that the audiobook was fun, and the narrators were fantastic, but the story is mostly told from Serena’s point of view. I think that narration from Henry would have helped me keep the dialogue less confusing since they were in each other’s bodies. Also, there are some cute illustrations in the printed copy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I feel like the concept was well done. This is a great book to grab a cup of coffee…or tea with and cozy up for an afternoon. Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, for the advanced reader’s copy.
I was gifted the audiobook of this from netgalley.
This was great, I really really enjoyed it. This story is very similar to Freaky Friday - which was a childhood fave of mine! The story is mostly through Serena’s pov and I really enjoyed it this way. It was cool seeing her be able to figure out how many ways people can love.
The story was funny, and had many moments where I laughed! I genuinely enjoyed the banter.
The narrorators were awesome! Definitely had an impact on the story.
This is a sequel- but can definitely be read as a standalone. :)
Thank you for this!
First thing I want to say, is that I sped through this book and greatly disappointed I can’t stay in Serena and Henry’s timeline. The story had the right amount of funny, bantering, and despair for me. I say “despair” lightly, as it’s about a woman who isn’t ready for love and its challenges. But she finds an amazing guy who makes all the sacrifices of work, personal interests, and lifelong commitment worth it. The moment she broke the 4th wall, I knew this was going to be a great book that would make me laugh at loud. I loved the twists and turns throughout the book, and the ending had my jumping out of my socks scared. So thank you Sarah Ready for capturing my heart at its fullest through your story.
Switched is Freaky Friday amped up with science.
The chaos that ensued, particularly with family and friends, was entertaining, more so with Henry's family and their collective craziness. But Jillian and her bat did make an appearance (from Ghosted, book one of the series). And Fran with the mean right hook! I enjoyed the cameos.
Serena and Henry were both interesting characters, and I loved seeing their journey. I liked seeing Serena realize love isn't all or nothing. And once Henry realized where Serena's fears stemmed from, he was finally able to love her in the way she needed to be.
I'm with Serena in not believing in love at first sight. But watching her realize she had fallen for him over the last year and a half despite herself was such a fun trek to watch.
One thing I didn't like was how Serena kept talking to the audience. It took me out of the story every time.
The author does a lot more tell than show. Also, she overused phrases like "cedar and starlight". Every time Serena mentioned Henry, she didn't need to mention how he smells to her. A few times, yes. But not multiple times each chapter. I did feel like some places were extra wordy when they didn't need to be, especially if we were given long explanations instead of being shown.
I love a woman in STEM. And a male virgin! Although I was surprised by the latter do to how readily Henry jumped into bed with Serena.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I'm glad there wasn't a third act breakup, which is a common plot device in romcoms.
3.5/5 stars. I would recommend!
Switched is a hilarious, enemies to lovers romance with a twist. Serena and Henry fall in love by switching bodies accidentally one night at work when the atom smashing machine they work with goes haywire. I love that the heroine is a woman in a STEM field and is perfectly happy without a man. I love the way she is portrayed with confidence and self assuredness. Serena and Henry have great chemistry and I found myself cheering for them to get together. It was interesting how much they learned about their differences by being in each other’s bodies and how those differences made them a stronger couple. Definitely recommend this book!