Note: This review is of the audiobook version of Sarah Ready's Switched, narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster and James Anderson Foster.. I am wrting it as someone who only uses audiobooks therefore I can't compare it with the print editions of this or any other similar titles. The ALC (Advanced Listener Copy) was provided by the publishers through Netgalley for the purpose of review.

Serena (Ducky) Otaki loves physics. She has her dream job in Geneva theorizing and studying the nature of the universe via Cern's Large Hadron Collider. It takes up her whole heart and that's how it has to stay, because loving a man will only take her away from her life's work and rob her of her dreams. She's seen it happen a million times. When couples are created the independent woman disappears. She will never let herself be absorbed away into coupledom like an angler fish.
So when Serena meets Henry Joule and their one night together sparks something that feels a lot like love, she has no choice but to push that feeling far far away. Especially when Henry tells her that he feels it too. Especially when she finds out the sexy Brit she just spent the most amazing night of her life with is her new boss.
Fast forward to a year and a half later and Serena is living her life as a genius physicist and Henry Joule is just her overbearing and irritating boss. She's about to leave work for the day when Henry calls her over to the hadron collider to go over some of her theories and a storm hits. An anomaly occurs and Serena wakes up in Henry's bed... and in his body... and Henry is now in hers.
In Switched, Sarah Ready's follow-up to Ghosted, Henry and Serena must navigate one another's lives as they attempt to find a way to switch back before it's too late.
Although it could have easily become confusing, Kelsey Navarro Foster's narration expertly showcases the nuances Ready created in her first person POV accounts of Serena as herself and then Serena living in Henry's body. The unexpected chapter where James Anderson Foster narrates Henry's POV added drama to the multiple twists in Ready's work of magical realism in romance.
The plot is slow to start but then picks up speed when Serena and Henry switch about a third of the way into the book. At first Serena's science talk seems daunting, even with the explanations she provides through breaking the fourth wall. It was difficult to invest in Serena as a character until the plot started moving along and the reasons behind her actions began to emerge. The conclusion of the story had enough twists to make me furious at times, which only resulted in me becoming more invested in the book.
Switched was my first time reading any of Sarah Ready's books but I ended up picking up Ghosted because I enjoyed this one so much. Readers who have read Ghosted will find this one to be pretty different but the differences are surface level enough that you can still tell they are by the same author. The differences seem to mostly come out in the pace of the plor and the pace of the character development.
I don't typically read magical realism in romance, but Switched was definitely worth stepping out of my usual romcom comfort zone for.
I'd give it 4 stars and I'd say it's a one on the spice scale but the female main character uses a lot of innuendo in conversation. However there are no graphic scenes in the storyline.

#Switched #Sarahready #Ghosted #romance #romanceaudiobooks #netgalley #audiobooks #magicalrealism #STEM #womeninSTEM #STEMromance #audiobookreview #alc

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to Netgalley and WW Crown/Swift & Lewis publishing for providing me with an arc of this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Serena and Henry have an incredible night together before Serena discovers that Henry is her new boss - despite knowing that this was way more than a one night stand for both of them, she calls it off. Over a year later they are both at work late, at the Large Hadron Collider at SERN, when there is a power cut. The next morning they awake in one another’s bodies, join them for the journey at trying to get back to their own bodies whilst navigating their lives.

This is fabulous, it’s kinda like an ‘Ali Hazelwood meets Freaky Friday’. I had so much fun with it. It uses a LOT of tropes (love at first sight, second chance, fake dating, opposites attract, only one bed), but because it’s such a mash up, it doesn’t feel like a cliché and it is just fun. It explores what makes a person themselves and being your authentic self.

There is a lot of fun with Serena and Henry meeting one another’s families in the wrong bodies, there are some American and British stereotypes thrown in there which isn’t my favourite. I also LOVE that two scientists are struggling with magical realism the irony hits hard and I really enjoyed them trying to justify the experience with science!

There is kinda a third act drama, but it doesn’t feel as annoying as it often does - like the third act drama makes sense for the story and doesn’t just feel like it was thrown in because that is the structure of romance novels. The narrator was great and I am impressed with their American and British accents!

Given how much vague mention of sex and things there are, this was kinda missing that bit of steam - but other than that and a few cliches I don’t have any faults to mention!

If you like STEM romances, or magical realism, I would highly recommend this, or alternatively just want a romance that is a little more out the box.

This was my second Sarah Ready, I got the opportunity to also listen to ghosted, which was a good, original and emotional book. I did figure that this book would be a continuation, and have some similarities in female character likes, maybe even plot, and while they are both Star Trek lovers that’s about where it stops. In terms of originality, I think this book has it in spades, with a plot I don’t think I’ve heard of being done romantically before. From the accents, to the jokes, this book did feel original all the way through. What I didn’t love was the likelihood not of the switch but of some of the other things. The ex coming on so strong if he was a virgin, the end in the hospital, the inane timing of it all….cure story for sure, but logistically I have a couple qualms. I enjoy Sarah Ready over all and will continue to enjoy her books. Mad props to the narrator of this audio book, that was such a challenge and you executed flawlessly.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book

*Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my review*
Initially, I was hesitant to give this book a try because I typically steer clear of stories that heavily rely on scientific themes. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Sarah Ready's ability to share such familiar emotions of falling in love. Despite the fact that the storyline differs greatly from my own romantic experiences, there was an undeniable sense of relatability woven throughout the narrative. This book felt… nostalgic. While I personally found the beginning of the book to be a bit sluggish due to the extensive focus on scientific concepts, Ready's solid pacing and engaging writing style ultimately drew me in. Although I must confess that opting for the audiobook format may not have been the best choice for me personally, I still found the overall experience to be thoroughly enjoyable. For those in search of a heartwarming love story with a sprinkle of unexpected twists, this book certainly fits the bill and is worth giving a shot.

Good story but horrible narration.
An audiobook in my opinion must have the perfect voice to keep the audience listening and intrigued to the book.
I’ll try to read this in a physical format so that I could provide a better review on the storyline

Thanks NetGalley for providing the opportunity to read and listen to Switched by Sarah Ready.
I started off listening to the audiobook but *switched* to reading it about 25% of the way through.

The audio version just wasn't for me, the accent imitations and how the narrator just lowered her voice when reading the main male lead's lines was off-putting. I enjoyed the book more after changing to the traditional reading route.

I felt that the whole book would've hit harder in a different medium, because the writing was overly descriptive and seemed more suited for a script rather than a novel. I liked the overall concept and plot however there were just some things that affected my reading experience.

The good:
- inclusion of graphs and pictures, that was cute
- the main message of the story about staying true to oneself
- the overall plot wasn't that bad, it kept me reading and not DNF'ing it
- strong female lead and an honest wholesome male lead
- the annotations concept was great, though it fell off pretty quickly and was only reintroduced again near the end

The not so good:
- cringey 'breaking the fourth wall' instances
- repetitive (tea and starlight - that's all I need to say on this matter)
- insta-lust/love and I personally didn't see the chemistry
- side characters weren't that well developed and I don't know why some were even introduced if they're not going to be fleshed out further
- the whole 'supernatural' aspect to the plot didn't make sense at all

Would not read again.

Overall rating: 2/5

I am always glad to see a romance with a heroine in STEM and I had high hopes for this title. Not that I don't like to read about women who own cupcake shops, or are wedding planners, but it's nice to see more diversity in the main characters and their interests,

For the first ten or twelve chapters, I had real trouble connecting with the protagonist - she had real relationship hangups, and she didn't seem to even have the potential to recover from her condition of disregarding everyone else's feelings. However, after the characters in the story made their switch, the novel became much more engaging. I enjoyed seeing the challenges that each one made trying to adapt to the other person's situation and the way it opened their eyes. I felt like there was a lot of room for some comedy in the situation which remained unexplored, and there was a little too much self-loathing, but overall, I was very pleased with the way the story was tied up neatly at the end.

Freaky Friday - but make it romance!

Serena is a free spirited Cali girl. Henry is a buttoned up Brit. She's messy. He's tidy. She is committed to her job and doesn't want a serious relationship. He can't wait to get married.

They meet and have a magical one n ight stand. Then she realizes they will be coworkers and is done. A wild electrical storm occurs causing them to Freak Friday into each other's body. Which was hilarious. They liked food they hated. She had to deal with man parts. He had to deal with a monthly cycle. I giggled multiple times!

I enjoyed watching them fall for each other, much to Serena's dismay, as they tried to find a way to switch back.

A fun read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Crown for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Summary: Tea of Coffee? Tidy or Messy? Dogs or Cats? Forever Love or Fleeting Lust? Henry and Serena couldn't be more different but none of that would matter if their one night stand didn't get complicated. After one amazing night together, Serena realizes that Henry is about to be her new boss and that, on top of her anti-love/marriage stance, may be an issue for her and lovestruck Henry. So what happens when things get a little "freaky friday" at the particle accelerator? They find out if it's possible that two incedibly different people come to understand each other's perspectives on life and love.

Audiobook Thoughts: the narrator was FANTASTIC. The way she was able to have me hearing sarcasm, humor, confusion, disbelief with such clarity was wonderful. I never questioned how Serena was feeling - I could feel it through not only the words but the voice reading it to me.

I did find that it was hard to picture the diagrams and I would have completely missed them if I wasn't also reading the ebook while listening to the audio most of the time. I think this could have used a disclaimer up front for those of us who didn't know what to expect - kind of in the way we went over the footnotes. The diagrams brought some fun to the story and it would be a shame not to really get them.

My thoughts on the book: This smart, sweet, sometimes silly book was just what I needed during a few cold winter days. The battle Serena faced as she figured out her feelings was so raw and the inclusion of both of their families led to deeper character development and more meaningful dialogue. The way Henry and Serena learned about each other through their families was beautiful and the rollercoaster of emotions I felt throughout this was all worth it to end it with a smile on my face.

**review to be posted on instagram 2/20

Good Book!

I am a big fan of Sarah Ready books. They are all entertaining and fun to read. Until this book, every one was better than the last one. This one was good, in the end, but took a long time to set up the ultimate story. Which is the only reason this was a four star read for me.

This story was interesting in the way that it let you understand the perspective of someone else. A whole new meaning for walking in someone else's shoes. Sometimes understanding each other is the only thing missing from the making a couple.

I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster and James Anderson Foster.

I wanted to love this one, but I struggled with it. The main characters and likable and just the right amount of quirky. I love a good opposites attract romance trope and this book delivers on that front. I was also expecting to love the body swapping angle because I tend to enjoy a bit of the fantastical… but it did not work for me.

I was not expecting the super weird, icky feels I felt when these two characters start falling in love with each other while inhabiting one another’s bodies.

It just absolutely did not hit for me, but that won’t deter me from reading more books from this author. If the storyline were different, I think I could enjoy her writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Crown for a free audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Serena and Henry meet one perfect evening and it’s instant love. For Henry, love is all he’s ever wanted but for Serena love means the loss of herself, and her true love of physics, so she panics and sabotages their relationship before it has a chance to begin. Unfortunately for her, Henry has been employed where Serena works. They spend the next two years working together, misunderstanding each other, until a freak storm strikes and causes the two of them to switch places. Through switching places they are able to come to a greater understanding of one another and take a second chance on the opportunity for the love of a lifetime.

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful, heartfelt, hilarious rom-com reminiscent of Freaky Friday. At first I wasn’t sure about the plot. I side-eyed the insta-love and had to fully allow myself to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story and once I did, I was in for a very good time. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that made me laugh out loud and also feel so emotional in the same breath to shed tears. Serena and Henry were great characters. The writing was funny, sharp, and at times poetic with great banter and chemistry between the mains as well as heartwarming moments with their families. I loved the way that by switching each were able to truly understand and appreciate each other and also to see their families in new ways. It really made me think of interactions in my own life and how our perspective could be changed for the better if only we walked in a mile in someone else’s shoes.

The story is told through Serena’s POV except for one chapter told through Henry’s. There are times that the fourth wall is broken. There is sexual innuendo and humor and the spice is open door.

The narration in audio was well done and I would recommend either format for reading. Thank you to NetGalley and Swift and Lewis publishing for the ARC.

I loved getting the chance to get to know Serena! I absolutely loved Ghosted and this being the second book in that series but can be read as a standalone. With Freaky Friday vibes, this one was so fun. But I love all of Sarah’s book so it’s not a surprise I enjoyed this one. Serena is hilarious and super smart. When she meets Henry and has a one night stand, she never knew it would turn into a workplace romance and switching bodies. When Henry and Serena begin working together to get through their switch together, their banter is amazing and adorable. Another super cute HEA but told in a fun way.

When I started reading this book, I didn't realize it was set in the same world as Ghosted, which I loved and made a great surprise! For Switched, I really enjoyed it! I liked the characters and it was a fun premise. I loved the use of "stardust" as a description throughout. It certainly had a shock but so good! I'm definitely a fan of Sarah Ready! I very much enjoyed this narrator, she was perfect!

I devoured this! I was so nervous to even start it because I was certain it couldn’t stand up to the prior interconnected read, but this one was just as good. A lil science a lil magic, and so heartfelt!

And Kelsey Navarro Foster the narrator was, as always *chefs kiss*. She can narrate my grocery list.

Thank you NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers of America for allowing me an early read of this book. All thoughts are my own, I do not accept money for reviews.

Freaky Friday concept, scientist fmc and mmc, one night stand, fake dating, forced proximity, wedding, they almost die

I was fortunate to also get an early listen to Ghosted, so when I saw that there was a second book I immediately requested it. The concepts for these books are so weird that they work, and I genuinely want to know how the author preps for these ideas and how she writes them.

This audiobook was a whirlwind. The last 10% had me hooked, I didn’t want anyone interrupting me. Seeing Serena and Henry’s journey of finding themselves in each other while they have to be the other person was beautiful (even if that sounds complicated). Listening to Serena come to her realization about how our upbringings influence how we think about certain issues is the most important lesson everyone needs to learn.

Even though this series follows a best friend pair as they find their life partners through crazy concepts, if there is a part three I will be first in line for the audiobook version. I do believe these books are best in the audiobook format, I don’t know how well my attention would be grabbed if I was physically reading the book.

3.25 Stars
Freaky Friday, but make it a nerdy romance

*Can be read as a standalone, but it'll be more enjoyable as a series.*

Serena Otaki is a brilliant physicist who has dedicated her life to science. She's always believed that her work should come first, which is why she's never had time for relationships. But all that changed when her one-night stand turned out to be her new boss, who's everything she's not. He's grumpy, uptight, and a clean freak, and she just can't seem to understand him. However, fate has other plans for them when an electric storm causes them to switch bodies. Now, they must navigate their new reality and figure out how to switch back before their lives spiral out of control. Will they be able to work together and find a way out of this mess, or will their differences be too much to handle?

I must say that while I enjoyed the book overall, I found the first quarter a chore to get through. I felt that it was too corny and cheesy, and the constant use of science jargon and references was repetitive. I get it. She lives and breathes physics. However, as the story progressed, I found it became more engaging, and the characters' depth increased as the romance developed. While this may not be my favorite book, I still found it to be an entertaining read and would recommend it to others who enjoy romantic novels with a science twist.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and W.W. Crown for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

First off I need to acknowledge that rom-coms and magical realism aren't my usual genres and this book didn't do an awful lot to change that. That said the book is well written and has many humorous moments that those with a liking for this genre will surely appreciate. A few too many physics references and sexual innuendos for my liking but that's just my personal preference.
The narrator does a good job of navigating British and American accents and coping with the male/female body swap voice challenges.
Not one for me but definitely will have appeal to others.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this book.

A Fantastic Fun Story. I really liked how the author took the MC from fear to trust& faith in love. I enjoyed the humour included amongst the characters. The story was relatable and had me captivated from the start. A must read!

Thank you W. W. Crown, and imprint of Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for an audiobook ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!

Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this one. I was super disappointed because I really liked the first one in this series. I was confused why I did not like this one as much as the other one. However, I could not handle the sexual innuendo it was too much. It was the main character's whole personality and I did not feel like I could connect with them. I really hope to still receive audiobook arcs in the future. I feel like this might be a one off.

Thank you once again for this opportunity.


I did not post my review on Goodreads like I normal do because I don't like giving a rate unless I finish a book.