"Switched" by Sarah Ready offers an entertaining, if not entirely groundbreaking, take on the romcom genre. The body swap premise, set against the backdrop of the CERN facility, provides some unique and interesting moments. However, the story does occasionally fall back on familiar tropes, and the magical realism elements could have been explored in greater depth. While the protagonist, Serena Otaki, may not be everyone's cup of tea, she does bring a certain energy to the narrative. Overall, "Switched" is a light, enjoyable read for those looking for a bit of escapism, though it may not leave a lasting impression.

As for the narrator, I've always had a bit of a problem with Kelsey Navarro Foster. I appreciate the hard work that she puts in, but she's just not for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and W. W. Crown for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun twist on "freaky Friday". I loved that the characters got to get to know each other while they were actually walking in their shoes. Of course this also makes them have to communicate and hang out together to try to get them in their own body but also to teach the other person about the family. Of course there was a family wedding for one of them! So fun, for sure read it and get ready for a romcom style movie with lots of science references.

For those that compared this book to a Freaky Friday meets The Big Bang Theory you nailed it. This book blends the comfort of fun and addicting sitcom favorite, heavy into science/STEM vibes with the classic freaky Friday body swap. Serena, the female main character is an easy, breezy California girl who stumbles upon her super nerd male main character and love interest, Henry. Their instant chemistry paired with a strained working relationship was comical….but as always love and science are never that simple.

These two super nerds will navigate a new world in new bodies all while maintaining their own distinct point of view. There were a few odd moments where they were exploring their new bodies…but I guess it’s to be expected!!!

Ultimately, I thought this was super fun and would definitely recommend! Its light, fun, and made my nerdy heart happy!!!

This was a light, fun romance novel with a supernatural/magic twist. I enjoyed it but there were a few minor things about the book that impacted my overall feelings about it.
Firstly, I'm British and there were a few misconceptions/mistakes in the writing of Henry that really made it clear the author is not British and writing from/for an American's perception of Brits:
- Love for your friend is not expressed by humiliating them on their stag do
- We don't all wear hats to weddings, particularly younger women and it's certainly not offensive not to wear one
- At one point Henry says "She wrote me" which a Brit would never say - this one felt like the most mildly offensive of the lot!
I listened to the audiobook version of this and I would definitely recommend reading rather than listening to this story if you can. It was often hard to tell who was speaking, particularly when Henry and Serena were in each other's bodies which could make things confusing. Also, there was a male narrator but he doesn't speak for the majority of the book and his voice is so different to the female narrator's version of Henry that it's quite jarring and almost felt like it was a random new character speaking. Another reason to read rather than listen is this book has some fun, usually Physics related footnotes which I really wished I could see! (They were explained verbally but it's not the same).
The theme of the story is Serena not wanting to give herself up for love which I personally think is a great message but it did seem to be muddled at times. Serena's parents' story is supposed to be sweet but really romanticises giving up your life and passions for a relationship (the mother does try to insist her passion became her husband and daughter but that was a bit disappointing to be honest). Side note: the idea that Serena is a "duct tape" baby is not a cute story and really not something people should aspire to. Then at the end of the story something happens that, again, seems to push the message that you should give yourself up for love before doing another 180.
Now, back to the things I liked. I loved that Serena and Henry are massive physics nerds (and very successful in their field) and that they work at CERN. It was a pleasantly unusual setting, although most of the book does take place in England and the US. It was great to see both characters literally step into each other's shoes and there were some funny moments such as Serena/Henry getting her period.
Overall, very enjoyable and I'll definitely try another of this author's books (probably in text format).

Switched By Sarah Ready is a wonderfully written romance novel. The audio book is narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster and James Anderson Foster. The main characters meet and have one magical night that reminds readers that sometimes there is love at first sight. However when Serena discovers Henry is her new boss she decides to place her love of Physics over romance. She lies and says it was just a good time. Unfortunately(or some would say fortunately) their feelings didn't just disappear. After a terrible storm that causes a blackout at the accelerator they work at they awake to discover they have switched bodies. Henry is expected to be the best man at his brother wedding so Serena must step up to play Henry amd meet his entire family and brings Henry In tow as his girlfriend. Then when Serena's mother falls ill Henry must play Serena for her parents as Serena sits back as the new boyfriend. Will they be able.to pull it off and will they find a way to switch back in time before its too late?
I absolutely adored this story. Everyone once in a while you find a story that has it all. It brought out all types of feelings in me, even a few tears and tons of laughs. Readers get a glimpse of how family shapes our ideas of love and relationships. However getting a glimpse of other possibilities can be life altering, if one is open.
This is a 5 star book with amazing characters. This book was really well written. The narrators are amazing and do an excellent job bringing Sarena ans Henry to life. They expressed emotions in a way that added to the story. The accents were perfect and added an extra layer of humor. I enjoyed the flashbacks they had of each other's memories and laughed as Serena suddenly had a craving for tea and became organized while Henry drank coffee and was able to let go like never before and was disorganized. This story was both lighthearted with moments of humor and seriousness intertwined perfectly. This is a slow-burn low heat romance with some science sprinkled in.If you enjoy romance with science and humor that is both sweet and funny you will love this story of a second chance at love.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I liked how Serena and Henry learned to understand each other by "walking a mile in each other's shoes", and all the shenanigans involved in getting to that point. In the beginning, there were a bit too many physics and science tangents for my liking, but that decreased as the book progressed.

I was a fan of Henry from the start; I liked how sweet he was and that he was always upfront with his feelings. However, Serena rubbed me the wrong way from the moment she decided to hurt Henry's feelings instead of having an adult conversation and at least giving him some of the truth. It was selfish and cruel, but I guess there wouldn't be much of a story to tell if it didn't happen that way. I enjoyed the chapter from Henry's point of view, and I wish we got more from his perspective.

The audiobook narration was generally well done, and I appreciated that there were audio descriptions of the diagrams/scribbles that were included in the text. However, the narrator who voiced Serena ends a lot of sentences with a weird inflection that's hard to describe, and it was distracting when they pronounced WHO (World Health Organization) as "who" instead of W-H-O.

I thought I would like this audiobook based on the description but it didn't live up to what I was expecting. I think it really suffered from having narrators that didn't fit the characters. The female character came off like one of those mean girls in high school that you do your best to avoid and even though the book tried to give explanations for her personality, I just didn't like her so I couldn't get invested in her plight. I am still trying to understand why they didn't use a male narrator with a heavy British accent since that was a running joke throughout the book but he really only narrates 1 chapter so you are pretty much stuck with the insipid female narrator throughout. The book seemed to be trying for a 4th wall "Ryan Reynolds"-type breakthrough that fell flat both due to character development and narration. The book's take on an adult body swap was pretty cringy overall, especially, the depiction of the crying emotional "female" on her period. And there were so many missed opportunities for comedy! For example, the story built up to attending a wedding in gender swapped bodies but then completely skipped over the bachelor/bachelorette parties after giving you this tantalizing teaser of a previous party. That should have been comedic gold for a gender swap romance book and yet it was completely omitted. Then you get hit with more drama...and more drama until that cliched epiphany moment. It took a long time for me to finish listening to this one and it's not a audiobook that I would listen to a second time.

"Switched" by Sarah Ready, part of the Ghosted series, offers a contemporary romance with a hint of magic, perfect for standalone reading.

Serena Otaki, a self-professed science geek, finds herself unexpectedly attached to a bar booth seat after a recent varnish mishap. Henry Jones comes to her rescue, leading to a flirtatious encounter that quickly escalates into a steamy night. However, Serena is not prepared for a deeper commitment. A twist of fate, combined with an electric storm, leads to the protagonists switching consciousnesses, forcing them to inhabit each other's bodies. Together, they must navigate this peculiar situation and find a way to reverse it.

As a lover of movies like Freaky Friday & It Takes Two, any situation where the main characters change lives or bodies will always be a fun plot device in my opinion.

I enjoyed the audiobook version narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster and James Addison Foster. Their performance was both charming and engaging, effectively conveying the characters' emotions as they grapple with their unusual predicament.

The dynamics between Serena and Henry are intriguing, with Serena's initial reluctance to commit contrasting with Henry's earnest affection. The humor inherent in their situation, as they navigate each other's family dynamics and events, adds a lighthearted touch to the romance.

Overall, "Switched" is a delightful and romantic read, offering an entertaining blend of humor, romance, and a touch of magic.

Switched - 4 stars
Author: Sarah Ready
Narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster and James Anderson Foster
Publisher: W. W. Crown, and imprint of Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks
Duration 10h 11min 57sec

Serena meet Henry at the pub and both immediately felt the connection between them. But then Serena finds out that Henry is her new boss and she decides to run away from potential relationships. In her imagination, love and relationship can take away from her everything she likes in her life, especially her scientific career. She thought she makes a big favour for both of them.
But we all know how fate loves to jock on us.
Two years later, at the stormy night Selena met Henry at the lab to pass a document he was asking for. And that late meeting was sparkling and tense and led to something more. Next morning Serena woke up in a man’s body, and not just random stranger. It was Henry’s body, his bed, his apartment, his clothes. From now on two of them have to figure out how to switch bodies (or souls) back. And when you think what else can go wrong, real life steps in. Henry has to attend to his brother’s wedding, where, of course, will be all his family. And Serena, well, she has that period of the month coming soon. Let’s fun begins. Oh, did I mention that Henry is classic Brit? Now, try to talk with British accent with yours (not really) family, when you are real California girl inside!

Switched by Sarah Ready is a standalone book in the series Ghosted. I have to say, this book is the first for me from this author and it wasn’t disappointed. It is super cute and warm reading (in my case listening) for the weekend. The story was very charming and made me laugh a good few times. And when the book gets you those emotions, it’s all you need, right?

Thank you to narrators by making the flow so nice and smooth, it was very easy to get hooked on by this story. You made Serena and Henry real and likable, and you nailed British accents for sure!

Thank you Netgalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#Switched #NetGalley

Many thanks to Netgalley, W.W. Crown and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have never been so eager to get my hands on a companion book in this genre as for this one. Serena Otaki is my soul animal, my twin flame, we just get each other okay?

So for people who have not read Ghosted (book 1), what are even reading (kidding!! read anything you want to read but also go an dread Ghosted! Thank you). This book follows the story of Serena Otaki, the quirky, nerdy, theoretical physicist best friend of our Jillian from again Ghosted!! (get the hint?). Serena works with LHC at CERN in Geneva and has what she calls a happening interesting Chaotic life.

Serena does not believe in love and when she has a night of absolute passion and sparks with one uptight (but tender) Henry Joules, makes her doubt her notions on Love, everything comes to a halt. Even worse when she figures out Henry is her new boss and she has to see him everyday. The tensions are at a high until an atmospheric event (or cosmic if I may) cause them to switch bodies - A SOUL SWITCH. As you can imagine, chaos ensue. Not to mention we are talking about a Sarah Ready book here - so cue all possible forms of drama everywhere family, friends, ex'es - every single one leading to a happening dramatic beautiful photo finish ending.

Also I read this book through both and e-book which added to the enjoyment factor. The narrator's did a bloody brilliant job and drama was well conveyed.

I will recommend this book to anyone who is looking for some laughs, some tenderness, along with nerdy quirky over the top characters.

This is a 3.5 for me. I enjoyed the writing a lot. It was smart and witty. I loved the little images and scribbles that helped us visualize everything. I also listened to this on audiobook for part of it and the visuals do not translate well to audio, so I highly recommend reading the physical book.

Over all I liked the characters, I do wish it was dual POV because seeing Henry's side would have been so fun knowing he was in love with her the whole time. Im annoyed he was made a virgin but also was amazing at sex during a one-night stand and also had a girlfriend for a long time who was willing suddenly to take her top off when seeing him again. It felt a little disjointed in that aspect of the story line.

I did read this in one day because I couldn't put it down.

Switched was such an incredible novel that I started listening to it and didn’t put it down until I had finished the same day. I appreciate the concept of switching bodies and what that means for the connection that Henry and Serena have and their future. I appreciate how much thought and research went into these characters, their jobs, families, and backstories and the body switch. I really enjoyed listening to this and growing with Serena “Ducky” and Henry as they learned more about each other, themselves, and ultimately grew closer together.

The narrators Kelsey Navarro Foster and James Anderson Foster are fantastic, and really brought the characters to life. They are the perfect complement to Sarah Ready’s incredible writing. This is a quick favorite, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance. I look forward to reading more from Sarah Ready and will go back and read the first book in the series, Ghosted.

When I was approved for this Advanced Listener’s Copy, I didn’t know that this was a part of a series, however, I don’t think that you need to read the first book in the series in order to understand or enjoy this one. It can be read as a standalone.

Thank you NetGalley and W. W. Crown, and imprint of Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for this Advanced Listener’s Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A great audio from Sarah Ready. Loved the audio version of this book and am totally excited for the next one! Great audio narration as well.

I was really excited when I was approved for this ARC, as I had read the first novel, Ghosted, and loved it! I thought the concept was interesting- like Freaky Friday vibes but with a couple, but this one left me wanting more.

There were parts that were charming and parts that were cringy but it was overall well written. I personally felt that there was a lot of redundancy and it was also a slow start - so I felt the switch happened later in the story then I would’ve liked. I also was not the biggest fan of either man character and felt that after they had their one night stand that they lacked chemistry.

** thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Crown for the ARC and chance to read and review **

3.5 Rounded Up

I have not read the first in this series, but I did listen to another of Sarah Ready's books, French Holiday which I very much enjoyed. So I went into Switched eager for another underrated gem.

Switched was interesting and creative. The premise of a lovers-to-enemies-to-something couple switching bodies is definitely not something you see often on the romance circuit.

When all was said and done, Switched was a "fine" (versus a like or love) for me. While I absolutely love magical realism, there were parts of the story that felt off and even a little gross at times. We learn that the characters maintain their own sentience (memories, personalities, etc) but also somehow can access their body's knowledge? And while I generally don't label myself as a prude, the idea of kissing yourself and more, but you're in a different body, just weirded me out.

I loved the creativity of Switched. And I think some people without my personal preferences may think this is a 4- or even 5- star book with intelligent characters and unexpected plot twists.

This book was clearly well-written and researched. I liked the use of diagrams and footnotes and the unique premise. There was banter, tension, and chemistry between the main characters. Overall, it was a sweet, funny rom-com and I look forward to what comes next for this author.

I adore Sarah Ready so much. She is hands down an AUTOBUY author for me.
Every book I've read leaves me in fits of giggles. The banter, the cute exchange between the MCs. She does it so well.
The narrator brought so much extra to this book, I would highly recommend listening.
She added an extra layer to the already funny story that had me smiling the entire time.


Switched is a Freaky Friday inspired storyline, and it definitely held up to the icon role, that was brought to life many years ago. It is truly an iconic movie, and therefore I had high expectations going into this book. I was surprising NOT disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this audiobook.

I listened to the audiobook of Switched by Sarah Ready. The narration by two people was decent although the male narrator had a smaller part in reading than the female.

At the story's beginning, I was a little put off by all the scientific talk and the copious amounts of footnotes. Thankfully they lessened as the story progressed. I found myself laughing out loud a lot, especially after the main characters swapped bodies. I particularly laughed at a scene where our hero in his female body has his first 'monthly'. There were many funny scenes where each character had to deal with life in the opposite gender body. Although very funny, the story isn't just a comedy, the romance in it is beautiful. There were some very sentimental moments where both characters interacted with their families. There was a lot of soul-searching.

I had no idea how the story would end, whether the characters would be able to return to their bodies, and if they could, would have their happy ending. What started as a slow-burning story that I wasn't sure I would like, ended up being one which I loved.

I have also read this book and preferred reading to audiobook.

When Serena and Henry sleep together one night, they're on the opposite sides of the spectrum. Henry wants forever and Serena can only allow this to be a one night stand. When Serena shares this, Henry is obviously hurt but it's okay because Henry is from out of town and they'll never meet again. That is until Henry walks into her workplace as her new boss. From then on, it's a close to hostile work environment but when one miraculous storm happens, Serena and Henry end up switched in each other's bodies. While trying to navigate life in each other's bodies, fighting for what they feel for each other and trying to figure out a solution for this, Serena and Henry will have to decide what will happen when they switch back or if they never do.

This was such an interesting concept!! Sarah Ready has done something so interesting with this series and I'm really enjoying it! The magic realism in all these books are so much fun and she does a really great job and writing them. Books like this are so fun when the author is having fun and you can tell in this. It's so imaginative! A well done job and I cannot wait for the next in the series (if there is one)!

This story is quite a journey for the main character, Ducky. She went from being a character I struggled to like and identify with to a person I hoped the best for and loved. I always loved Henry and loved him more and more as we get to know his story.
The setting for the story are lovely memorable places too!
I give the book 4 stars. I haven’t read the first book in the series,Ghosted, but I enjoyed Switched enough to go back and get Jemima and Daniel’s story!