Every since I read Freaky Friday (and saw the Lindsay Lohan – Jamie Lee Curtis movie) I have loved body-switch books. I thought this one could have swapped out a few plot elements for a better story.
Find out more in my review of Now You See Her!
Now You See Her by Lisa Leighton and Laura Stropki
To be published on June 5, 2018 by Katherine Tegan Books
Synopsis from Goodreads: Amelia has always felt like a happy life is just out of reach. Having moved every few years with her mom and sister, she’s always had a hard time making and keeping friends. Sophie has a perfectly curated, Instagram-ready life, from her first singles wins to her cute, long-term boyfriend to the beautiful, landscaped home where she lives with her parents.
But then one night changes everything. When Amelia’s car breaks down on the side of the road in a rainstorm, a man she thinks is a Good Samaritan pulls over to help her.
When he tries to abduct her instead, she escapes into oncoming traffic. In one inexplicable moment, Amelia and Sophie switch bodies. Amelia wakes up in Sophie’s body. Amelia’s body is in a coma.
Now Amelia needs to find a way to switch back into her own life—but before that, she must retrace her steps to unravel the mystery of the accident, her attempted abduction, and how it’s all tied to her mother’s secret past.
Review of Now You See Her
Two girls – one privileged, the other the child of a struggling single mother – face off on the tennis court. After the match, there’s an accident, the two girls swap bodies, and one ends up in a coma. The remaining girl, in the wrong body, has to solve the mystery of what happened and how to get them switched back.
Now You See Her had a premise I can’t get enough of, but I can’t say this is one of my favorite body-swap stories. It definitely had its moments, but I think it could have been even better.
I think the fact that one character was in coma really limited the story and limited my ability to understand both characters. I’d have loved to see Sophie live in Amelia’s world. (Remember the episode when Buffy and Faith switched bodies?? That had to be one of my favorite body switches of all time. I felt that seeing Buffy and Faith in each other’s bodies really worked the premise to its fullest.)
There’s a mystery underlying the story, and I also thought that was … okay.
I think my enjoyment of this was mostly explained by my love of body swap books. I’d have liked more insight into the characters, and I think it would have been fun to see them interact with each other, rather than one girl lying in a hospital bed for most of the story.
Still, if you are like me and adore this premise, you might want to check it out.
Some Other of My Favorite Body Swap Books:
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers (of course)
Don’t You Wish by Roxanne St. Clair
Airhead by Meg Cabot
Auracle by Gina Rosati
Body Swap Movies:
The Change-Up
Prelude to a Kiss
Freaky Friday
13 Going on 30
17 Again
Vice Versa
The Takeover
The Hot Chick
Who Are You? (Buffy Season 4, Episode 16)
P.S. Now You See Her was written by a sister author team, and I thought their names sounded familiar. Do you remember Lisa and Laura Roecker, who wrote a trilogy a few years back? Well, this is them, nowriting under their married names.
Talk to me in comments! Do you have favorite body-swap stories?
The premise sounds really odd… but I’m intrigued! Body-switching is always fun, so many lessons to be learnt.
I think so too — it’s the ultimate “you never know someone until you walked a mile in their shoes” kind of thing!
Ohh Freaky Friday. I don’t know. The movie was meh so I don’t know if I could be persuaded to read a book of the same theme.
*cries* You didn’t like Freaky Friday?
I’m not big on body swap stories, but these characters seem interesting.
They were – real opposites!
I don’t think I’ve read too many body swap books, but it does sound fun. Too bad though the one character was in a coma, it does sound like it would be mor fun if they were interacting! Glad you mostly liked it though!
Yeah, that part didn’t work for me as intended. I guess it added tension in that the character in the coma was possibly going to die, but I prefer the standard body swap story.
I have this one to review too, and I am so excited for it! I haven’t read very many (If any?) body swap books before. There was a disney channel movie about two sisters who swapped bodies. But I cannot for the life of me remember what it’s called now…
oooh, I don’t think I have seen that one…
it’s not really for me though, I am not a fan of body swaps, no matter how interesting it is. Because things get to become muddied when you swap.
That’s true – wow, I had no idea so many people disliked body swap books!
Ooh thanks for the recommendations, Jen! I’m just “meh” when it comes to body swap books, but I’m always eager to give more a try. 🙂 And it’s so cute that this author duo still write together even after marriage. ^_^ ♥
Wow. This has been an eye-opening experience. I feel so lonely as the sole fan of body swap stories. Anyone else out there who is with me???
I love the idea of a sister writing team – though my sister and I could probably not pull that off.
As I read the review I was thinking of 17 Again and especially Freaky Friday and then you mentioned them at the end there too! I really like the premise but it’s a shame that Sophie is in a coma while in her body – you’re right, it does limit the effect of it somewhat and dampens my excitement :/
Oh yay -finally someone who likes body switch stories 🙂 🙂