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When I'm Her
How far would you go to get even with the woman who ruined your life?
In this electrifying thriller, a young woman gets everything she’s ever wanted—and everything she doesn’t—when she swaps bodies with her sworn enemy.
Though polar opposites, Mary and Elizabeth are as close as can be—until the night Elizabeth makes an irrevocable mistake and leaves Mary to take the blame. Years later, Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary exists.
Mary hasn’t forgotten her.
She follows Elizabeth’s every move online, obsessed with paying her back for the betrayal that cost Mary her dreams. Now Mary has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she’s got a plan to steal her charmed life. Her career. Her looks. Her husband.
They do say living well is the best revenge.
Or is it? The more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth’s life, the more she realizes she may have made a deadly mistake. And she'll need the help of her worst enemy to stay alive.
In this electrifying thriller, a young woman gets everything she’s ever wanted—and everything she doesn’t—when she swaps bodies with her sworn enemy.
Though polar opposites, Mary and Elizabeth are as close as can be—until the night Elizabeth makes an irrevocable mistake and leaves Mary to take the blame. Years later, Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary exists.
Mary hasn’t forgotten her.
She follows Elizabeth’s every move online, obsessed with paying her back for the betrayal that cost Mary her dreams. Now Mary has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she’s got a plan to steal her charmed life. Her career. Her looks. Her husband.
They do say living well is the best revenge.
Or is it? The more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth’s life, the more she realizes she may have made a deadly mistake. And she'll need the help of her worst enemy to stay alive.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2024
About the author
Sarah Zachrich Jeng
2 books243 followersSarah Zachrich Jeng grew up in Michigan and always had a flair for the morbid and mysterious (for her dad’s thirty-fifth birthday, she wrote a story entitled “The Man Who Died at 35”). She had a brief career as an aspiring rock star before she came to her senses and went back to school to become a web developer. Sarah lives in Florida with her family and two extremely hyper rescue dogs.
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March 26, 2024
The Revolutionary Marketing:
Traditional “couples” and “family” therapy often fails because it fails to create empathy-
But now there is a new device called “The Empathyzer-a pair of bracelets which look a lot like smart watches-one worn by each person-allowing you to swap bodies and literally walk in the other person’s shoes.
When Mary gets an internship at the company who created “The Empathyzer” she decides to sneak a set out of the building, and give it a try with her best friend and roommate, Elizabeth.
At first the two girls are just having a bit of fun! (Freaky Friday!)
But then something goes horribly wrong on Halloween, seven years ago….
Told in the past and the present the chapters are labeled: Mary (Elizabeth) and Elizabeth (Mary) the first name being the actual person and the second name in parentheses, being the body they are inhabiting.
I was intrigued by the premise and IF the author had created a speculative World where we met several pairs of people wearing the Empathyzers with mixed results, I probably would have enjoyed the book. (Think John Marrs)
BUT, unfortunately, despite the use of this device to achieve the “desired outcome” this was really just ANOTHER story about a buried SECRET, BETRAYAL, and REVENGE, and not one that I enjoyed. I was looking for more of a Sci Fi style, but if you love revenge stories perhaps you will have better luck with this one?
Trigger Warnings thoughtfully provided by the author include: physical violence, gun violence, sexual assault, domestic violence, gaslighting, and drug use.
I loved the author’s debut “The Other Me” a 5 ⭐️ read for me-so I was very disappointed that her sophomore effort was a MISS.
Review for “The Other Me” : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2.5 ⭐️ for this one
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!
Traditional “couples” and “family” therapy often fails because it fails to create empathy-
But now there is a new device called “The Empathyzer-a pair of bracelets which look a lot like smart watches-one worn by each person-allowing you to swap bodies and literally walk in the other person’s shoes.
When Mary gets an internship at the company who created “The Empathyzer” she decides to sneak a set out of the building, and give it a try with her best friend and roommate, Elizabeth.
At first the two girls are just having a bit of fun! (Freaky Friday!)
But then something goes horribly wrong on Halloween, seven years ago….
Told in the past and the present the chapters are labeled: Mary (Elizabeth) and Elizabeth (Mary) the first name being the actual person and the second name in parentheses, being the body they are inhabiting.
I was intrigued by the premise and IF the author had created a speculative World where we met several pairs of people wearing the Empathyzers with mixed results, I probably would have enjoyed the book. (Think John Marrs)
BUT, unfortunately, despite the use of this device to achieve the “desired outcome” this was really just ANOTHER story about a buried SECRET, BETRAYAL, and REVENGE, and not one that I enjoyed. I was looking for more of a Sci Fi style, but if you love revenge stories perhaps you will have better luck with this one?
Trigger Warnings thoughtfully provided by the author include: physical violence, gun violence, sexual assault, domestic violence, gaslighting, and drug use.
I loved the author’s debut “The Other Me” a 5 ⭐️ read for me-so I was very disappointed that her sophomore effort was a MISS.
Review for “The Other Me” : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2.5 ⭐️ for this one
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!
January 9, 2024
One, two, three, and BOOM! Can you see my mind exploding, gray cells splattering in the sky? That's the result of my blown mind after reading this intelligent, eccentric, weird, complex, exciting, addictive sci-fi/psychological thriller! At some points, I kept mistaking who's carrying whose body, forgetting my own reality, getting so confused, feeling like I'm a few miles behind the author's brilliant mind trying to catch the direction of the story. Let me tell you about the whirlwind, action-packed, complicated, twisty last third of the book. I haven't read something so packed with tempo, fast-paced, bizarre, yet also shocking and earth-shattering. I'd give it an extra 10 stars just for the last third of the book, especially the action sequence that takes place in Elizabeth's house.
Even though the beginning and progression of the story seemed a little slow for an impatient person like me who wants to know the big reasons behind these characters, which one of them is the traitor (seems like Elizabeth), and which one is miserably obsessive for revenge (seems like Mary). But when I grasped the main tragic event that set them apart, turning them into the people they are today, I easily got into the story, delving into the characters' backgrounds, their faults, weaknesses, secrets, and motives to change their places. The big mystery engaging them gets more complex to foresee with each passing second. I kept guessing who the mastermind villain or villanelle behind all those big schemes was. It took only three guesses to finally find the real perpetrator (actually, I found it only 10 pages before the author's revelation. It means I may have lost my spidey senses). The schemes, the big mystery, and the execution of the body switch couldn't have been developed better. It's awe-struck, jaw-dropping, and extremely entertaining!
It's so interesting for me to enjoy this book so much, even though I had hesitations about the beginning, the dislikable and unreliable narration that initially pushed me back from getting into the story quickly. But as soon as I got through a few short chapters, I quickly clicked, and I also learned to empathize with two polar opposite characters, understanding their dilemmas.
Here's a quick summary of the plot:
Mary, after seven years since her expulsion from college, is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life by avenging the person who ruined everything she worked for. Elizabeth, a highly popular, rich influencer, is living her dream life, married to Nate, the boy Mary fell for in college. Mary tasted betrayal in the worst way by becoming the scapegoat for a presumed crime committed by Elizabeth, a crime against one of the members of the most influential family in the city that could drag her reputation into shreds. Mary lost her college degree, any chance to get an education, find a proper job, and her family's business also dragged into the mud, resulting in their disowning their own daughter. She's alone, penniless, living in a shithole, while Elizabeth enjoys beauty, comfort, money, love, and Nate. This is absolutely not fair! But finally, her prayers are answered by an anonymous benefactor who sends her the Empathyzer, which may help switch bodies with Elizabeth and live her life to the fullest, just as Elizabeth might also take the blame for the death of her college nemesis who ruined her entire life.
Just like they did in college, they can change their bodies again. The only thing Mary has to do is insert the Empathyzer into Elizabeth's tote bag while she's hanging out with her college friends at brunch. Easy peasy! She'll get her revenge by stealing her bestie's life. She'll get what she should have from the beginning. But what if Elizabeth's so-called perfect life is not as perfect as it seems? What if she's not the villainess of the story as she thought from the beginning? What if she's in prime danger, and by switching their bodies, she might also put her life in a more drastic situation than she ever expected? What if the only way to get out of this circumstance is teaming up with her arch-nemesis to save both of their lives?
Overall, this book is so smart, outstanding, and creative! I loved it so much, and I absolutely recommend it to sci-fi thriller/psychological mystery lovers! Add this book to your reading list ASAP, and don't let it get lost in the pile. Read it and enjoy it to the fullest!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Even though the beginning and progression of the story seemed a little slow for an impatient person like me who wants to know the big reasons behind these characters, which one of them is the traitor (seems like Elizabeth), and which one is miserably obsessive for revenge (seems like Mary). But when I grasped the main tragic event that set them apart, turning them into the people they are today, I easily got into the story, delving into the characters' backgrounds, their faults, weaknesses, secrets, and motives to change their places. The big mystery engaging them gets more complex to foresee with each passing second. I kept guessing who the mastermind villain or villanelle behind all those big schemes was. It took only three guesses to finally find the real perpetrator (actually, I found it only 10 pages before the author's revelation. It means I may have lost my spidey senses). The schemes, the big mystery, and the execution of the body switch couldn't have been developed better. It's awe-struck, jaw-dropping, and extremely entertaining!
It's so interesting for me to enjoy this book so much, even though I had hesitations about the beginning, the dislikable and unreliable narration that initially pushed me back from getting into the story quickly. But as soon as I got through a few short chapters, I quickly clicked, and I also learned to empathize with two polar opposite characters, understanding their dilemmas.
Here's a quick summary of the plot:
Mary, after seven years since her expulsion from college, is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life by avenging the person who ruined everything she worked for. Elizabeth, a highly popular, rich influencer, is living her dream life, married to Nate, the boy Mary fell for in college. Mary tasted betrayal in the worst way by becoming the scapegoat for a presumed crime committed by Elizabeth, a crime against one of the members of the most influential family in the city that could drag her reputation into shreds. Mary lost her college degree, any chance to get an education, find a proper job, and her family's business also dragged into the mud, resulting in their disowning their own daughter. She's alone, penniless, living in a shithole, while Elizabeth enjoys beauty, comfort, money, love, and Nate. This is absolutely not fair! But finally, her prayers are answered by an anonymous benefactor who sends her the Empathyzer, which may help switch bodies with Elizabeth and live her life to the fullest, just as Elizabeth might also take the blame for the death of her college nemesis who ruined her entire life.
Just like they did in college, they can change their bodies again. The only thing Mary has to do is insert the Empathyzer into Elizabeth's tote bag while she's hanging out with her college friends at brunch. Easy peasy! She'll get her revenge by stealing her bestie's life. She'll get what she should have from the beginning. But what if Elizabeth's so-called perfect life is not as perfect as it seems? What if she's not the villainess of the story as she thought from the beginning? What if she's in prime danger, and by switching their bodies, she might also put her life in a more drastic situation than she ever expected? What if the only way to get out of this circumstance is teaming up with her arch-nemesis to save both of their lives?
Overall, this book is so smart, outstanding, and creative! I loved it so much, and I absolutely recommend it to sci-fi thriller/psychological mystery lovers! Add this book to your reading list ASAP, and don't let it get lost in the pile. Read it and enjoy it to the fullest!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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April 1, 2024
2.5 stars
I enjoyed Jeng's previous book, The Other Me, but I found this one to be more confusing and actually a bit boring once I finally figured out what was going on. Jeng's book felt like a cross between a Faith Gardner and a John Marrs tale (with a dash of Sarah Pinborough).
The main premise of the book (that isn't really explained early enough) is that two college roommates, Elizabeth and Mary, get their hands on some new tech that allows them to swap consciousnesses. Seven years later, they aren't speaking to each other. Elizabeth is a famous influencer and Mary hops from job to job, trying to avoid bill collectors and the consequences of something that happened in college. Mary is mad that Elizabeth is living this amazing life when they were both involved in the incident while in each others' bodies. Mary gets her hands on another "empathyzer" bracelet that allows the switching to take place and figures out how to swap with Elizabeth one last time. Mary is determined to live Elizabeth's glamorous life while making Elizabeth learn what it's like to live as Mary permanently. But are things really better as someone else?
It's a complicated setup, made much more confusing by the narration in the past where I was never completely sure who was actually speaking and who was in whose body. The present day was a bit more clear because the chapters are from one viewpoint or the other and they were switched most of the time, so that made it a little easier to understand. I honestly didn't really get it for the longest time.
I liked the premise and it could have worked if it was clearer who was who and what was actually going on. We don't find out the driving incident that caused Mary's life to fall apart until really late in the book and that didn't help my confusion either. It's possible this would work better on the screen, as the story is really original and had an interesting sci-fi twist.
There are many people who were blown away by this book, so maybe it was just me being confused. I definitely liked the author's first book better so I will give another one a try in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I enjoyed Jeng's previous book, The Other Me, but I found this one to be more confusing and actually a bit boring once I finally figured out what was going on. Jeng's book felt like a cross between a Faith Gardner and a John Marrs tale (with a dash of Sarah Pinborough).
The main premise of the book (that isn't really explained early enough) is that two college roommates, Elizabeth and Mary, get their hands on some new tech that allows them to swap consciousnesses. Seven years later, they aren't speaking to each other. Elizabeth is a famous influencer and Mary hops from job to job, trying to avoid bill collectors and the consequences of something that happened in college. Mary is mad that Elizabeth is living this amazing life when they were both involved in the incident while in each others' bodies. Mary gets her hands on another "empathyzer" bracelet that allows the switching to take place and figures out how to swap with Elizabeth one last time. Mary is determined to live Elizabeth's glamorous life while making Elizabeth learn what it's like to live as Mary permanently. But are things really better as someone else?
It's a complicated setup, made much more confusing by the narration in the past where I was never completely sure who was actually speaking and who was in whose body. The present day was a bit more clear because the chapters are from one viewpoint or the other and they were switched most of the time, so that made it a little easier to understand. I honestly didn't really get it for the longest time.
I liked the premise and it could have worked if it was clearer who was who and what was actually going on. We don't find out the driving incident that caused Mary's life to fall apart until really late in the book and that didn't help my confusion either. It's possible this would work better on the screen, as the story is really original and had an interesting sci-fi twist.
There are many people who were blown away by this book, so maybe it was just me being confused. I definitely liked the author's first book better so I will give another one a try in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 21, 2024
Mary and Elizabeth are opposites, but they’re best friends. Until Elizabethe makes a grave mistake and leaves Mary to take the blame.
It’s years later, and while Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary, Mary has not forgotten her. Mary has a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she has a plan to steal everything that Elizabeth holds dear.
I love technology thrillers and this one was so much fun, I always get a kick out of the fact that they’re labeled sci-fi too. I like them to include just a little bit of technology, slightly more advanced than what we currently have, but for it to be used in unexpected and unspeakable ways. This author did a fantastic job making the tech seem believable and not all that farfetched, which is the perfect balance to achieve in my opinion. This one did take a little bit to get into as I wasn’t really sure what was going on at all, but as the pieces began falling into place my lightbulb went off and things started clicking. After the initial hurdle with pacing, the story picked up and moved along at a nice clip. I didn’t really like either Elizabeth or Mary, but I didn’t feel like I needed to in order to enjoy this story, I just needed to know what was happening! I loved all the poor choices that were made throughout the book, that’s really what this book was about, poor choices, and the consequences of those choices.
This book was a lot of fun once I got into it. I was so entertained and loved the technological element! What a fun twist.
Thank you so much to Berkley Pub, @BerkleyPub and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
It’s years later, and while Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary, Mary has not forgotten her. Mary has a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she has a plan to steal everything that Elizabeth holds dear.
I love technology thrillers and this one was so much fun, I always get a kick out of the fact that they’re labeled sci-fi too. I like them to include just a little bit of technology, slightly more advanced than what we currently have, but for it to be used in unexpected and unspeakable ways. This author did a fantastic job making the tech seem believable and not all that farfetched, which is the perfect balance to achieve in my opinion. This one did take a little bit to get into as I wasn’t really sure what was going on at all, but as the pieces began falling into place my lightbulb went off and things started clicking. After the initial hurdle with pacing, the story picked up and moved along at a nice clip. I didn’t really like either Elizabeth or Mary, but I didn’t feel like I needed to in order to enjoy this story, I just needed to know what was happening! I loved all the poor choices that were made throughout the book, that’s really what this book was about, poor choices, and the consequences of those choices.
This book was a lot of fun once I got into it. I was so entertained and loved the technological element! What a fun twist.
Thank you so much to Berkley Pub, @BerkleyPub and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2024
Mary and Elizabeth are as close as can be-until the night Elizabeth makes an irrevocable mistake and leaves Mary to take the blame. Years later, Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary exists. Mary hasn't forgotten her. She follows Elizabeth's every move online, obsessed with paying her back for the betrayal that cost Mary her dreams.
Now Mary has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she's got a plan to steal her charmed life. Her career. Her looks. Her husband. They do say living well is the best revenge. Or is it? The more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth's life, the more she realizes she may have made a deadly mistake. And she'll need the help of her worst enemy to stay alive.
This is one of those books where the less you know going in the better so I’m going to be brief. When I’m Her is a fast paced, action packed, story of betrayal. It’s also a mix of sci-fi, mystery, and thriller elements which make for a unique and completely original story.
When I’m Her by Sarah Zachrich Zheng will be available on March 26. A massive thanks to Berkley Pub for the gifted copy!
Now Mary has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she's got a plan to steal her charmed life. Her career. Her looks. Her husband. They do say living well is the best revenge. Or is it? The more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth's life, the more she realizes she may have made a deadly mistake. And she'll need the help of her worst enemy to stay alive.
This is one of those books where the less you know going in the better so I’m going to be brief. When I’m Her is a fast paced, action packed, story of betrayal. It’s also a mix of sci-fi, mystery, and thriller elements which make for a unique and completely original story.
When I’m Her by Sarah Zachrich Zheng will be available on March 26. A massive thanks to Berkley Pub for the gifted copy!
March 25, 2024
Have you ever wanted to swap lives with someone? I certainly have.
In SARAH ZACHRICH JENG’S newest novel, WHEN I’M HER, that’s exactly what Elizabeth & Mary do. But in thrillerland you know this Freaky Friday premise is going to have a dark twist. So basically - sign me up.
Elizabeth & Mary are college roommates + close friends, but they couldn’t be more different. Elizabeth is enigmatic, her personality commands a room, her beauty a magnet for attention. Mary is used to people looking right through her, being ignored in the spaces she inhabits. Elizabeth is fun and carefree. And Mary cares about exactly two things — her internship at STEM start-up, Confluence and her friendship with Elizabeth.
The semi-controversial Confluence is beta-testing devices that will allow two people to body swap. But all the experiments are failing.
Then Elizabeth convinces Mary to steal two devices. They are stunned when they actually work. It starts as a fun experiment - spending a few hours in each other’s bodies. Until Elizabeth brutally betrays Mary, walking away from Mary, whose life is in shambles.
Seven years later, Mary is still out for revenge. Elizabeth is now leading a charmed influencer life, with the perfect husband, house and dog in tow. But Mary isn’t interested in destroying Elizabeth’s life - she wants to steal it from her by doing one last body swap.
This is a whole new twist on keep your enemies closer.
But be careful what you wish for. As Mary quickly learns, the life she’s coveting is not what it seems and her decision to become Elizabeth again could end up being fatal.
Told in dual timelines and multiple POVs we see the rise and fall of their friendship in college and how both women are navigating the present day. With haunting secrets from the past + new secrets revealed at every turn this book explores envy and insecurity, toxic friendships & toxic masculinity and the complicated and, at times, deeply obsessive nature of female friendships.
Huge thanks again to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. It’s a must read!
In SARAH ZACHRICH JENG’S newest novel, WHEN I’M HER, that’s exactly what Elizabeth & Mary do. But in thrillerland you know this Freaky Friday premise is going to have a dark twist. So basically - sign me up.
Elizabeth & Mary are college roommates + close friends, but they couldn’t be more different. Elizabeth is enigmatic, her personality commands a room, her beauty a magnet for attention. Mary is used to people looking right through her, being ignored in the spaces she inhabits. Elizabeth is fun and carefree. And Mary cares about exactly two things — her internship at STEM start-up, Confluence and her friendship with Elizabeth.
The semi-controversial Confluence is beta-testing devices that will allow two people to body swap. But all the experiments are failing.
Then Elizabeth convinces Mary to steal two devices. They are stunned when they actually work. It starts as a fun experiment - spending a few hours in each other’s bodies. Until Elizabeth brutally betrays Mary, walking away from Mary, whose life is in shambles.
Seven years later, Mary is still out for revenge. Elizabeth is now leading a charmed influencer life, with the perfect husband, house and dog in tow. But Mary isn’t interested in destroying Elizabeth’s life - she wants to steal it from her by doing one last body swap.
This is a whole new twist on keep your enemies closer.
But be careful what you wish for. As Mary quickly learns, the life she’s coveting is not what it seems and her decision to become Elizabeth again could end up being fatal.
Told in dual timelines and multiple POVs we see the rise and fall of their friendship in college and how both women are navigating the present day. With haunting secrets from the past + new secrets revealed at every turn this book explores envy and insecurity, toxic friendships & toxic masculinity and the complicated and, at times, deeply obsessive nature of female friendships.
Huge thanks again to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. It’s a must read!
February 28, 2024
This book is definitely original and complex. But I did have a hard time keeping the characters straight, it’s a concept which I think lends itself more to film than written word. The conflict presented at the start of the book got lost for me over the next hundred or so pages. Overall I think the story is interesting and unique, but it wasn’t quite gripping me the way I’d hoped.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted (free) ARC
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted (free) ARC
March 22, 2024
When I’m Her was an unexpected read for me. I didn’t know much going into it, but I was still surprised to find that it had some sci-fi (ish) vibes to it – swapping bodies to be exact. Normally I don’t care about books like this but because it’s also a friendship thriller, I had to read it. Overall, this is a unique read and has all the elements I enjoy in a thriller book, betrayal, secrets, and revenge! The characters aren’t very likeable, but their situation was interesting, so I had a good time reading it!
Thank you #partner @berkleypub for sending me a copy!
Thank you #partner @berkleypub for sending me a copy!
March 25, 2024
Thank you Berkley Pub for the free book and thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted listening copy of When I’m Her! #PRHAInfluencer #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyBookstagram #berkleypub #BerkleyIG #berkley
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈’𝐦 𝐇𝐞𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐠
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐙𝐡𝐮
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 - 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰!
★★★★
I went into this book blind and was so surprised by how much I enjoyed this thriller! There were sci-fi elements woven into this thriller, and while that’s not my go-to genre, I really found myself enjoying this book so much! This book was full of secrets, revenge, betrayals, and it was so well written! This is definitely one to add to your TBR if you love a unique thriller!
Mary and Elizabeth and complete opposites and the best of friends. All that changes one night when Elizabeth makes a mistakes and leaves Mary to take the blame. As the years pass, it seems as though Elizabeth has forgotten that Mary exists. But Mary has not forgotten her. Mary has followed Elizabeth’s every move online, and has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and has a plan to steal her life. The only problem is, the more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth, the more she realizes she may have made a mistake.
🎧I alternated between the physical book, and the audiobook, which was narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and Louisa Zhu. I feel as though this team narrates were so dynamic and I truly loved my time listening to this audiobook. If you have the option, I would highly recommend the audiobook!
🖤Thriller
🖤Multiple POVs
🖤Revenge
🖤Swapping Bodies
🖤Toxic Friendships
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈’𝐦 𝐇𝐞𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐠
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐙𝐡𝐮
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 - 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰!
★★★★
I went into this book blind and was so surprised by how much I enjoyed this thriller! There were sci-fi elements woven into this thriller, and while that’s not my go-to genre, I really found myself enjoying this book so much! This book was full of secrets, revenge, betrayals, and it was so well written! This is definitely one to add to your TBR if you love a unique thriller!
Mary and Elizabeth and complete opposites and the best of friends. All that changes one night when Elizabeth makes a mistakes and leaves Mary to take the blame. As the years pass, it seems as though Elizabeth has forgotten that Mary exists. But Mary has not forgotten her. Mary has followed Elizabeth’s every move online, and has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and has a plan to steal her life. The only problem is, the more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth, the more she realizes she may have made a mistake.
🎧I alternated between the physical book, and the audiobook, which was narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and Louisa Zhu. I feel as though this team narrates were so dynamic and I truly loved my time listening to this audiobook. If you have the option, I would highly recommend the audiobook!
🖤Thriller
🖤Multiple POVs
🖤Revenge
🖤Swapping Bodies
🖤Toxic Friendships
April 19, 2024
I am so happy that Sarah Zachrich Jeng wrote another book and I cannot wait for there to be more and more books in the future. I loved her debut book and this one was just as amazing.
Although I was, at first, confused af about who was who in those first few chapters, things started coming together shortly after that. I love the whole plot of this story and bet it was so much fun to write.
Although a fiction story, the friendship between Elizabeth and Mary was truly intriguing to watch. I think their friendship highlights the true ups and downs that long-term friends sometimes have. Without proper communication, it’s easy to see how a friendship can break down.
This is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you on your toes. I fully enjoyed this one. I love the sci-fi spin she adds to her books. They make her work so unique.
Although I was, at first, confused af about who was who in those first few chapters, things started coming together shortly after that. I love the whole plot of this story and bet it was so much fun to write.
Although a fiction story, the friendship between Elizabeth and Mary was truly intriguing to watch. I think their friendship highlights the true ups and downs that long-term friends sometimes have. Without proper communication, it’s easy to see how a friendship can break down.
This is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you on your toes. I fully enjoyed this one. I love the sci-fi spin she adds to her books. They make her work so unique.
March 24, 2024
An action packed sci-fi thriller that sees two college friends switching bodies thanks to a unique form of technology only to narrowly escape a tragedy and have it come back to bite them years later. Great on audio, this was slightly implausible but highly entertaining and I wasn't expecting it to end the way it did! Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
March 31, 2024
4.5 stars
Wow! This is the quickest I have read a book in awhile. I started it two nights ago. Since being pregnant and having my daughter over his never happens anymore.
Mary and Elizabeth are friends in college until a accident occurs, and Mary blames Elizabeth for the outcome and becomes obsessed with getting her revenge.
This one is a Sci-fi thriller which I can’t say I have read before and it was unique and twisty and I had to keep turning the pages to find out what happened next. The sci fi aspect really kept this fresh for me and I liked both Mary and Elizabeth though they were both pretty unlikeable characters. But they felt real to me. It is also always fun for me to read about female relationships even if it isn’t a good one.
Highly suggest this one!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my e arc!
Wow! This is the quickest I have read a book in awhile. I started it two nights ago. Since being pregnant and having my daughter over his never happens anymore.
Mary and Elizabeth are friends in college until a accident occurs, and Mary blames Elizabeth for the outcome and becomes obsessed with getting her revenge.
This one is a Sci-fi thriller which I can’t say I have read before and it was unique and twisty and I had to keep turning the pages to find out what happened next. The sci fi aspect really kept this fresh for me and I liked both Mary and Elizabeth though they were both pretty unlikeable characters. But they felt real to me. It is also always fun for me to read about female relationships even if it isn’t a good one.
Highly suggest this one!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my e arc!
March 6, 2024
I received a gifted galley of WHEN I'M HER by Sarah Zachrich Jeng for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
WHEN I'M HER follows two women, Mary and Elizabeth. They were once close friends, but a betrayal broke them apart and it destroyed Mary's life. Now, Mary lives for revenge. Elizabeth makes it easy for Mary to track her every move, living her life in the public eye as part of her influencer career. Mary has a plan that no one will suspect. She has the ability to force a switch of bodies with her nemesis, stepping into Elizabeth's shoes to live the perfect life she was denied.
I really enjoyed this author's previous novel, THE OTHER ME, so was excited to read this new one. I went into it without knowing much and I think that was important. The synopsis is kept fairly vague on purpose because there are a lot of unknowns in the beginning. The alternate POVs switching between the two women both in the present and in the past reveal more and more as the story progresses.
I wouldn't say that either woman is especially likable in the beginning, especially without knowing the backstory to what destroyed their relationship in the past. That said, they were both very compelling to read about and the switches in POV really kept my attention and my desire to read more.
I think that the scifi element of the story does require a bit of a brain off reading style. This really leans into the interpersonal relationships and the chaos that comes out of the body swap over the actual science of it all.
This was a fun read and a little something different to add to throw some variety into my TBR.
WHEN I'M HER follows two women, Mary and Elizabeth. They were once close friends, but a betrayal broke them apart and it destroyed Mary's life. Now, Mary lives for revenge. Elizabeth makes it easy for Mary to track her every move, living her life in the public eye as part of her influencer career. Mary has a plan that no one will suspect. She has the ability to force a switch of bodies with her nemesis, stepping into Elizabeth's shoes to live the perfect life she was denied.
I really enjoyed this author's previous novel, THE OTHER ME, so was excited to read this new one. I went into it without knowing much and I think that was important. The synopsis is kept fairly vague on purpose because there are a lot of unknowns in the beginning. The alternate POVs switching between the two women both in the present and in the past reveal more and more as the story progresses.
I wouldn't say that either woman is especially likable in the beginning, especially without knowing the backstory to what destroyed their relationship in the past. That said, they were both very compelling to read about and the switches in POV really kept my attention and my desire to read more.
I think that the scifi element of the story does require a bit of a brain off reading style. This really leans into the interpersonal relationships and the chaos that comes out of the body swap over the actual science of it all.
This was a fun read and a little something different to add to throw some variety into my TBR.
March 19, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of When I’m Her!
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👯♀️ have ever wanted to trade bodies with someone
📸 are a big time influencer with all eyes on you
✋🏻 were ever blamed for something you didn’t do
👀 enjoy multiple POVs
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Though polar opposites, Mary and Elizabeth are as close as can be—until the night Elizabeth makes an irrevocable mistake and leaves Mary to take the blame. Years later, Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary exists.
Mary hasn’t forgotten her.
She follows Elizabeth’s every move online, obsessed with paying her back for the betrayal that cost Mary her dreams. Now Mary has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she’s got a plan to steal her charmed life. Her career. Her looks. Her husband.
They do say living well is the best revenge.
Or is it? The more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth’s life, the more she realizes she may have made a deadly mistake. And she'll need the help of her worst enemy to stay alive.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a fun read. I admittedly didn’t read the synopsis and I think I liked it more that way, especially because you quickly understood the general plot line. I loved Mary and Elizabeth for different reasons and my feelings toward them both changed constantly as the story progressed. Each of them had so much emotional baggage that could have been fixed with a simple conversation, but the way they handled it by switching bodies via the Empathyzer, made it all the more fun. I was definitely shocked that certain people turned out to not be who they appeared, and was thrilled by the ending. It would be fun to see a sequel made about these two characters!
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👯♀️ have ever wanted to trade bodies with someone
📸 are a big time influencer with all eyes on you
✋🏻 were ever blamed for something you didn’t do
👀 enjoy multiple POVs
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Though polar opposites, Mary and Elizabeth are as close as can be—until the night Elizabeth makes an irrevocable mistake and leaves Mary to take the blame. Years later, Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary exists.
Mary hasn’t forgotten her.
She follows Elizabeth’s every move online, obsessed with paying her back for the betrayal that cost Mary her dreams. Now Mary has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she’s got a plan to steal her charmed life. Her career. Her looks. Her husband.
They do say living well is the best revenge.
Or is it? The more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth’s life, the more she realizes she may have made a deadly mistake. And she'll need the help of her worst enemy to stay alive.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a fun read. I admittedly didn’t read the synopsis and I think I liked it more that way, especially because you quickly understood the general plot line. I loved Mary and Elizabeth for different reasons and my feelings toward them both changed constantly as the story progressed. Each of them had so much emotional baggage that could have been fixed with a simple conversation, but the way they handled it by switching bodies via the Empathyzer, made it all the more fun. I was definitely shocked that certain people turned out to not be who they appeared, and was thrilled by the ending. It would be fun to see a sequel made about these two characters!
March 28, 2024
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Mystery / Suspense
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Sarah Zachrich Jeng's When I'm Her could be compared to Freaky Friday on steroids. The story alternates between two women, as well as flashbacks to 8 years ago. Elizabeth and Mary were roommates in college. Elizabeth was the gregarious gorgeous one. Mary was the one nobody saw, and pretty much overlooked. Mary was an intern for a company named Confluence Innovations which invented a device called Empathyer. The Empathyer was a pair of bracelets that look like smartwatches that can be worn by two separate people.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Mystery / Suspense
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Sarah Zachrich Jeng's When I'm Her could be compared to Freaky Friday on steroids. The story alternates between two women, as well as flashbacks to 8 years ago. Elizabeth and Mary were roommates in college. Elizabeth was the gregarious gorgeous one. Mary was the one nobody saw, and pretty much overlooked. Mary was an intern for a company named Confluence Innovations which invented a device called Empathyer. The Empathyer was a pair of bracelets that look like smartwatches that can be worn by two separate people.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
April 1, 2024
I really enjoyed this sci-fi thriller! It was such an intense and gripping story about friendship, deceit, envy, and identity. Mary and Elizabeth have always been total opposites. Mary is brainy, mousy, nervous, and incredibly shy. Elizabeth is confident, popular, lucky, and the fantasy of every man on their college campus. Mary is working at a lab that creates an invention called an "Empathyzer" that allows the people wearing it to swap bodies. Mary takes it without permission, setting off a series of adventures, experiences, and deadly mistakes as Mary and Elizabeth inhabit each other's bodies.
After Mary is accused of something that Elizabeth did while inhabiting her body, her life is ruined. For eight years she has only had one goal: getting revenge on Elizabeth. She obsesses over her, stalks her, and schemes for all of those years, while Elizabeth is thriving as a wealthy, married, and beloved social media influencer. Mary lost everything, and Elizabeth has it all. Mary is determined to swap bodies one more time, and this time it will be permanent.
OMG. I really could not get enough of this story. I loved the flashback chapters and the themes of this novel. Feminine rage, dysfunctional female friendships, revenge, and realizing the grass isn't always greener on the other side were so incredibly well done. My only complaint is the chapters are confusing sometimes since the girls are in each other's bodies for much of this book, but the chapters are labeled so you can flip back to check. The twists, reveals, and overall ending were excellent. Even though the final reveals were a bit anti-climactic and any seasoned thriller reader will have guessed it, I still enjoyed and devoured this story!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
After Mary is accused of something that Elizabeth did while inhabiting her body, her life is ruined. For eight years she has only had one goal: getting revenge on Elizabeth. She obsesses over her, stalks her, and schemes for all of those years, while Elizabeth is thriving as a wealthy, married, and beloved social media influencer. Mary lost everything, and Elizabeth has it all. Mary is determined to swap bodies one more time, and this time it will be permanent.
OMG. I really could not get enough of this story. I loved the flashback chapters and the themes of this novel. Feminine rage, dysfunctional female friendships, revenge, and realizing the grass isn't always greener on the other side were so incredibly well done. My only complaint is the chapters are confusing sometimes since the girls are in each other's bodies for much of this book, but the chapters are labeled so you can flip back to check. The twists, reveals, and overall ending were excellent. Even though the final reveals were a bit anti-climactic and any seasoned thriller reader will have guessed it, I still enjoyed and devoured this story!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
March 27, 2024
Mary and Elizabeth were friends in college. They had a device called an Empathizer where they could switch bodies. When an accident happens while they are in each other’s bodies, Mary is blamed. Elizabeth ruined her life and Mary will do anything to get revenge, even if that means swapping bodies again.
Well, that was a wild ride! The concept was a little out there for me but it ended up working for this story. I don’t read much sci-fi and this book definitely has some sci-fi elements to it but overall it’s a psychological revenge thriller (if that’s a thing!). It was an interesting concept seeing what it would be like getting to be the person you always envied. Sometimes things aren’t better in someone else’s shoes which Mary gets to see in this book. I don’t want to say too much though because spoilers.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. I thought it would be confusing knowing who was who and in what body but each chapter started off letting us know, for example: Mary in Elizabeth’s body. It was a smart decision to use two narrators because that helped differentiate who was who as well. Jesse Vilinsky and Louisa Zhu did a great job bringing these characters to life.
I thought the author took an original take on seeing what it would be like to be someone else. There were some twists and I honestly didn’t figure a lot of it out. The ending wasn’t what I was expecting but it really worked for me. I did have to suspend disbelief while reading this, and a lot could have been fixed if Mary and Elizabeth just communicated with each other, but overall I enjoyed this intriguing story.
Thank you Berkley and PRH Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.
Well, that was a wild ride! The concept was a little out there for me but it ended up working for this story. I don’t read much sci-fi and this book definitely has some sci-fi elements to it but overall it’s a psychological revenge thriller (if that’s a thing!). It was an interesting concept seeing what it would be like getting to be the person you always envied. Sometimes things aren’t better in someone else’s shoes which Mary gets to see in this book. I don’t want to say too much though because spoilers.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. I thought it would be confusing knowing who was who and in what body but each chapter started off letting us know, for example: Mary in Elizabeth’s body. It was a smart decision to use two narrators because that helped differentiate who was who as well. Jesse Vilinsky and Louisa Zhu did a great job bringing these characters to life.
I thought the author took an original take on seeing what it would be like to be someone else. There were some twists and I honestly didn’t figure a lot of it out. The ending wasn’t what I was expecting but it really worked for me. I did have to suspend disbelief while reading this, and a lot could have been fixed if Mary and Elizabeth just communicated with each other, but overall I enjoyed this intriguing story.
Thank you Berkley and PRH Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.
April 1, 2024
This book was weird, vengeful, sad, and mind blowing. Mary and Elizabeth are college friends who couldn’t be any more different. Mary comes from a poor background and is working hard to graduate college ready to get the job that will give her security. Elizabeth is gorgeous,comes from money, and seems destined to have the perfect life. But Mary’s internship gives her access to Empathyzers, devices which allow a freaky Friday mind and body swap between two people. What better people to try them, so Mary steals a pair from the lab. While Mary and Elizabeth enjoy being the other person, things go very wrong. Elizabeth gets the perfect life while Mary is left with nothing.
Seven years pass, and Mary is determined to pay Elizabeth back for what happened and steal her perfect life. Mary finally obtains a new Empathyzer and quickly takes over Elizabeth’s body.But that life is far from perfect, and Mary might just have stolen a body that more than one person wants to see dead. It’s a Cray Cray ride as Elizabeth tries to get Mary to switch back, while Mary is determined to have everything she ever dreamed of. I was a little confused in the beginning, but the chapters clearly identify which character is in control. It was me, not the book, and once I was a few chapters in, I had no problem figuring out who was in whose body.
Did it end the way I thought it would? Absolutely not. I will say though that it did prove that unfortunately in life many times, how you look, where you come from, and who you know, does indeed have a lot to do with whether you will succeed or fail. No spoilers, but I’m still not sure if this experience made both of these women’s lives better.
Seven years pass, and Mary is determined to pay Elizabeth back for what happened and steal her perfect life. Mary finally obtains a new Empathyzer and quickly takes over Elizabeth’s body.But that life is far from perfect, and Mary might just have stolen a body that more than one person wants to see dead. It’s a Cray Cray ride as Elizabeth tries to get Mary to switch back, while Mary is determined to have everything she ever dreamed of. I was a little confused in the beginning, but the chapters clearly identify which character is in control. It was me, not the book, and once I was a few chapters in, I had no problem figuring out who was in whose body.
Did it end the way I thought it would? Absolutely not. I will say though that it did prove that unfortunately in life many times, how you look, where you come from, and who you know, does indeed have a lot to do with whether you will succeed or fail. No spoilers, but I’m still not sure if this experience made both of these women’s lives better.
March 2, 2024
Thank you Berkley, PRH Audio, and and Sarah Zachrich Jeng for the gifted copy!
3.5 stars rounded up.
Right off the bat this book gave me Black Mirror vibes and since that's one of my favorite shows I was *all* in. A few early reviewers said it could get confusing remembering who was who in the story but I didn't really find that I had too much trouble with that because Jeng gave really good context clues throughout each perspective reminding me who was who.
I also enjoyed the flashback chapters that really set the tone for the revenge portion of the book. This would truly make a fantastic episode of Black Mirror!
When I'm Her pub date is March 26!
3.5 stars rounded up.
Right off the bat this book gave me Black Mirror vibes and since that's one of my favorite shows I was *all* in. A few early reviewers said it could get confusing remembering who was who in the story but I didn't really find that I had too much trouble with that because Jeng gave really good context clues throughout each perspective reminding me who was who.
I also enjoyed the flashback chapters that really set the tone for the revenge portion of the book. This would truly make a fantastic episode of Black Mirror!
When I'm Her pub date is March 26!
March 18, 2024
Thanks so much to @berkleypub for the free book! #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #BerkleyBookstagram
I really enjoyed this book! It so many different things going on! There was a bit of science, some thriller qualities and an examination of female friendships! This book was a really easy read and had me interested the entire time. I will so that the characters were all kind of unlikable but, in the end I felt like there was enough redemption and growth to turn them a bit more likable! I would definitely recommend this one!
I really enjoyed this book! It so many different things going on! There was a bit of science, some thriller qualities and an examination of female friendships! This book was a really easy read and had me interested the entire time. I will so that the characters were all kind of unlikable but, in the end I felt like there was enough redemption and growth to turn them a bit more likable! I would definitely recommend this one!
March 30, 2024
This was a unique one. What happens when you can literally walk in someone else’s shoes ? This device allows for that but in a thriller it’s not just as simple as experiencing someone else’s life. It’s best to go in to this one blind. I had zero clue what to expect with this one!
Huge thank you to #berkleypub and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
.
Huge thank you to #berkleypub and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
.
March 22, 2024
Revenge! Sweet, sweet revenge. What happens when you take revenge a step to far and it becomes your entire life. The planning, the stalking, the complete dream of how it will take place, and you will finally be able to move on. This is what happened to Mary, she became completely obsessed with getting revenge. She cannot move on from that night that changed the direction of her life forever. When, Elizabeth, her best friend, her roommate, turned on her. Making everyone believe that Mary was responsible for what happened that Halloween night. When in reality it was Elizabeth in Mary's body that was responsible. I know confusing, but trust me you do not want to miss this one.
I was completely enraptured from the start. The characters are well layered and kept me on my toes. The plot is intense and always changing. Who I thought was behind all of the threats is not what I expected. I was way off base, per usual. Thank you to Sarah Zachrich Jeng and Berkley Publishing for this thrill a minute read.
I was completely enraptured from the start. The characters are well layered and kept me on my toes. The plot is intense and always changing. Who I thought was behind all of the threats is not what I expected. I was way off base, per usual. Thank you to Sarah Zachrich Jeng and Berkley Publishing for this thrill a minute read.
March 2, 2024
When I'm Her is a fantastic thrill ride! It's mind-blowing with twists and turns, sci-fi elements, and questionable narrators. I couldn't put it down, even late into the night.
The sci-fi element, at first, seemed a bit too' Freaky Friday' for my taste. However, the suspense it created - the ability to switch minds with someone using an experimental device - was intriguing. It required a leap of faith, but the resulting thrill ride was worth it.
What truly resonated with me was the authentic portrayal of female friendships and the complexities within. The story's exploration of Mary and Elizabeth's relationship and the timeline of changes it underwent felt real and relatable.
This story is a rollercoaster of suspense, with a conclusion that will leave you in shock. The whodunit aspect was unexpected, filled with twists, turns, and red herrings. It's a masterpiece that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The sci-fi element, at first, seemed a bit too' Freaky Friday' for my taste. However, the suspense it created - the ability to switch minds with someone using an experimental device - was intriguing. It required a leap of faith, but the resulting thrill ride was worth it.
What truly resonated with me was the authentic portrayal of female friendships and the complexities within. The story's exploration of Mary and Elizabeth's relationship and the timeline of changes it underwent felt real and relatable.
This story is a rollercoaster of suspense, with a conclusion that will leave you in shock. The whodunit aspect was unexpected, filled with twists, turns, and red herrings. It's a masterpiece that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
January 16, 2024
⭐️3.25
Two college roommates. Both girls are friends, but polar opposites.
Elizabeth is glamorous, beautiful and has tons of friends.
Mary is awkward, unfriendly and that girl that’s just a little too needy.
Their friendship ends in betrayal, leaving one of them a suspect in a crime.
Seven years later, Mary is still blinded by jealousy and rage, while Elizabeth seems to live a perfect life. If only Mary had HER life instead of her own…
The progression of the book was a little slow. I was unable at times to know which character was being described (*no spoilers) and that added to the confusion, rather than enjoyment.
Overall, it was a creative psychological thriller with a sci-fi element which made it extra interesting.
Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the early advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: March 26, 2024
Two college roommates. Both girls are friends, but polar opposites.
Elizabeth is glamorous, beautiful and has tons of friends.
Mary is awkward, unfriendly and that girl that’s just a little too needy.
Their friendship ends in betrayal, leaving one of them a suspect in a crime.
Seven years later, Mary is still blinded by jealousy and rage, while Elizabeth seems to live a perfect life. If only Mary had HER life instead of her own…
The progression of the book was a little slow. I was unable at times to know which character was being described (*no spoilers) and that added to the confusion, rather than enjoyment.
Overall, it was a creative psychological thriller with a sci-fi element which made it extra interesting.
Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the early advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: March 26, 2024
April 2, 2024
Seven years ago
Mary and Elizabeth were in college and formed an unlikely friendship. Mary is a brainiac who doesn’t care much about her appearance. She’s working as hard as she can to afford school and get a good job, including an internship at a mysterious company called Confluence Innovations. Elizabeth is beautiful, popular, and instantly magnetic to everyone who meets her, but she hates that people only see her for her physical appearance and not who she truly is.
Elizabeth begs Mary to take a pair of devices from Confluence called Empathyzers. These devices allow the two people in possession of a pair to switch bodies. They were originally designed to build empathy in a relationship—to allow someone to experience the world as someone else. And the devices do make Elizabeth and Mary much closer than ever before. Until one night when something irreversible happens while they are swapped, and their lives change forever…
Now
Mary’s life was ruined that night back in college. In the wake of the incident, they swap bodies back but no one believes that Mary wasn’t the one responsible. How could they? The devices were still in testing and no one knew she took them from work. Mary was expelled from college. The family of the victim were influential (and litigious) people and they also went after Mary’s parents, who eventually disown her in shame. Now, Mary can barely hold down a job and afford to live day to day.
Meanwhile Elizabeth’s life seems perfect. She’s a very successful influencer whose job it is to showcase her life (and a few sponsored products) and interact with fans. Her status really grew when she announced her engagement to a man she had kept hidden in posts before—Nate. Nate isn’t just anyone, he’s Mary’s college crush—the one she told Elizabeth about. Mary is seething. Her life was ruined and Elizabeth got everything she wanted. It isn’t fair!
Mary has spent years working to get her hands on a set of Empathyzers that were allegedly destroyed when the company went under, and she finally has them. She goes out to where she know Elizabeth is having brunch and casually drops one into her bag, then goes behind the restaurant and swaps bodies. This time Mary has no intention of swapping back. Let Elizabeth take the life she ruined and see what it’s like, Mary will finally get the life she deserved—successful, secure, and married to Nate.
But it soon becomes clear that Elizabeth’s life is nothing like Mary thought. It’s not perfect at all, actually. Meanwhile Elizabeth is hiding out in Mary’s body, taking the swap much better than expected. When it becomes apparent that the woman are in danger, Mary realizes she has made a deadly mistake. The two friends-turned-enemies will have to work together if they want to live.
Review
What a twisted tale this turned out to be! I’ll be honest that I hesitated to pick it up because I thought it might be too science-fiction for me. However, I’d describe this as much more of a psychological thriller with a dash of science fiction. It took me a while to get the hang of who was in which body at which timeline. This is a case where I’d recommend the audiobook. In part because the narrators are both fantastic, but also because Mary and Elizabeth each have their own narrator which helps keep straight who’s talking. Keep in mind that each chapter will start with some version of “Mary, in Elizabeth’s body. Now.” This means that we will be hearing Mary’s narration but she is inside of Elizabeth’s body and life.
There are a few things that we know from the outset that all seem to be related to what happened.
(1) Mary telling Elizabeth about the Empathyzers violated her NDA. Taking a pair without permission adds another layer of theft to her record that will surely get her fired.
(2) We know that Confluence Innovations (the company Mary was interning for) permanently closed not long after the incident.
(3) Garrett—a wealthy student and fellow intern with Mary—is the nephew of the CEO of Confluence Innovations.
(4) We know that whatever happened that destroyed Mary’s life occurred when Elizabeth was in her body.
If we put this all together, it’s clear that Garrett and the Empathyzers both play a key role in Mary’s downfall, and that Elizabeth is likely to blame (at least in some part). The central tension is what exactly happened and how much of it was intentional? Mary blames Elizabeth for everything and she is out for revenge. I think every reader can be honest that knowing what Mary knows, we would all be suspicious of Elizabeth too. She wasn’t very interested in Mary’s friendship until she learned about the Empathyzers, and then she pressured Mary to steal a pair and let them try it. However, the more we learn about Elizabeth, the less sense it makes that she set Mary up.
The present timeline is full of twists and turns. Mary has been on a mission to get revenge on Elizabeth since college. Mary’s life is in the gutter. She was expelled from university and her family stopped speaking to her or supporting her. She struggled to get a job after everything. Eventually, she realizes the way to do this will require them to swap bodies and then leave Elizabeth stuck in the life Mary has been trapped in for seven years.
Mary had been searching for another Empathyzer to pair with the one she has for years. She’s done everything she can, including trying to engineer one, but with no luck. As though she willed it into existence, one arrives suddenly. Mary doesn’t put much thought into where it came from, she goes ahead and uses it to swap bodies with Elizabeth. Not only does she realize Elizabeth's life is much worse than it seems, she also realizes that Elizabeth must have been the one to send her the Empathyzer.
If you’re puzzled as to why Elizabeth would give Mary the tool to swap places, you’re not alone! I was desperate to know why Elizabeth did that, and so was Mary. The plot unfolds in a fast-paced, bizarre, and shocking story that I couldn’t step away from. Eventually the past and present timelines meet up and everything begins to fall into place. But the more things that are resolved, the more questions I had. Someone else seems to be aware of what’s going on and it’s clear that Mary and Elizabeth’s lives are in danger. Can they trust one another to get them both out alive?
Mary and Elizabeth were in college and formed an unlikely friendship. Mary is a brainiac who doesn’t care much about her appearance. She’s working as hard as she can to afford school and get a good job, including an internship at a mysterious company called Confluence Innovations. Elizabeth is beautiful, popular, and instantly magnetic to everyone who meets her, but she hates that people only see her for her physical appearance and not who she truly is.
Elizabeth begs Mary to take a pair of devices from Confluence called Empathyzers. These devices allow the two people in possession of a pair to switch bodies. They were originally designed to build empathy in a relationship—to allow someone to experience the world as someone else. And the devices do make Elizabeth and Mary much closer than ever before. Until one night when something irreversible happens while they are swapped, and their lives change forever…
Now
Mary’s life was ruined that night back in college. In the wake of the incident, they swap bodies back but no one believes that Mary wasn’t the one responsible. How could they? The devices were still in testing and no one knew she took them from work. Mary was expelled from college. The family of the victim were influential (and litigious) people and they also went after Mary’s parents, who eventually disown her in shame. Now, Mary can barely hold down a job and afford to live day to day.
Meanwhile Elizabeth’s life seems perfect. She’s a very successful influencer whose job it is to showcase her life (and a few sponsored products) and interact with fans. Her status really grew when she announced her engagement to a man she had kept hidden in posts before—Nate. Nate isn’t just anyone, he’s Mary’s college crush—the one she told Elizabeth about. Mary is seething. Her life was ruined and Elizabeth got everything she wanted. It isn’t fair!
Mary has spent years working to get her hands on a set of Empathyzers that were allegedly destroyed when the company went under, and she finally has them. She goes out to where she know Elizabeth is having brunch and casually drops one into her bag, then goes behind the restaurant and swaps bodies. This time Mary has no intention of swapping back. Let Elizabeth take the life she ruined and see what it’s like, Mary will finally get the life she deserved—successful, secure, and married to Nate.
But it soon becomes clear that Elizabeth’s life is nothing like Mary thought. It’s not perfect at all, actually. Meanwhile Elizabeth is hiding out in Mary’s body, taking the swap much better than expected. When it becomes apparent that the woman are in danger, Mary realizes she has made a deadly mistake. The two friends-turned-enemies will have to work together if they want to live.
Review
What a twisted tale this turned out to be! I’ll be honest that I hesitated to pick it up because I thought it might be too science-fiction for me. However, I’d describe this as much more of a psychological thriller with a dash of science fiction. It took me a while to get the hang of who was in which body at which timeline. This is a case where I’d recommend the audiobook. In part because the narrators are both fantastic, but also because Mary and Elizabeth each have their own narrator which helps keep straight who’s talking. Keep in mind that each chapter will start with some version of “Mary, in Elizabeth’s body. Now.” This means that we will be hearing Mary’s narration but she is inside of Elizabeth’s body and life.
There are a few things that we know from the outset that all seem to be related to what happened.
(1) Mary telling Elizabeth about the Empathyzers violated her NDA. Taking a pair without permission adds another layer of theft to her record that will surely get her fired.
(2) We know that Confluence Innovations (the company Mary was interning for) permanently closed not long after the incident.
(3) Garrett—a wealthy student and fellow intern with Mary—is the nephew of the CEO of Confluence Innovations.
(4) We know that whatever happened that destroyed Mary’s life occurred when Elizabeth was in her body.
If we put this all together, it’s clear that Garrett and the Empathyzers both play a key role in Mary’s downfall, and that Elizabeth is likely to blame (at least in some part). The central tension is what exactly happened and how much of it was intentional? Mary blames Elizabeth for everything and she is out for revenge. I think every reader can be honest that knowing what Mary knows, we would all be suspicious of Elizabeth too. She wasn’t very interested in Mary’s friendship until she learned about the Empathyzers, and then she pressured Mary to steal a pair and let them try it. However, the more we learn about Elizabeth, the less sense it makes that she set Mary up.
The present timeline is full of twists and turns. Mary has been on a mission to get revenge on Elizabeth since college. Mary’s life is in the gutter. She was expelled from university and her family stopped speaking to her or supporting her. She struggled to get a job after everything. Eventually, she realizes the way to do this will require them to swap bodies and then leave Elizabeth stuck in the life Mary has been trapped in for seven years.
Mary had been searching for another Empathyzer to pair with the one she has for years. She’s done everything she can, including trying to engineer one, but with no luck. As though she willed it into existence, one arrives suddenly. Mary doesn’t put much thought into where it came from, she goes ahead and uses it to swap bodies with Elizabeth. Not only does she realize Elizabeth's life is much worse than it seems, she also realizes that Elizabeth must have been the one to send her the Empathyzer.
If you’re puzzled as to why Elizabeth would give Mary the tool to swap places, you’re not alone! I was desperate to know why Elizabeth did that, and so was Mary. The plot unfolds in a fast-paced, bizarre, and shocking story that I couldn’t step away from. Eventually the past and present timelines meet up and everything begins to fall into place. But the more things that are resolved, the more questions I had. Someone else seems to be aware of what’s going on and it’s clear that Mary and Elizabeth’s lives are in danger. Can they trust one another to get them both out alive?
April 7, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I expected a bit more of a technical scifi aspect. There wasn't too much on the technology. I'm With Her is much more a psychological thriller. One young woman, Elizabeth, is confidant and used to having her way because of her beauty. Mary is by no means ugly but lacks confidence and is more interested in science and her career. Somehow they become friends in college.
The story is told with flashbacks to 7 years ago in college and now. Elizabeth did some things (as Mary) which cost Mary and her family everything. It all started with a guy blackmailing Mary because basically he wanted to rape Elizabeth. Because he had money and connections, he could ruin Mary's internship and scholarship by lying. Mary didn't want to do that and lost it all anyway.
Mary has spent the last 7 years struggling. Elizabeth has married Mary's crush, Nate and become a wealthy influencer. Now Mary plans to take over Elizabeth's life to enjoy the guy, the influence and money she wrongfully denied.
I feel for Mary. She got in trouble because of Elizabeth. She didn't want fame or money. She just wanted to study and get a reasonable science job and maybe date a guy she liked who had been nice to her.
Elizabeth has made some bad choices without considering the consequences to others. Now some of those are coming home to roost - for Mary. I didn't like how Elizabeth continually used Mary for her own purposes or fresh start.
There were interesting moral dilemmas which mostly Mary considered. Both women could have been kinder to others. They understood each other and needed the friendship for their own purposes. I enjoyed seeing the tangled mess and how they rebuilt their lives.
Narration:
Each of the narrators took one of the two main female characters. I felt their performances added the emotional tone for the story. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I expected a bit more of a technical scifi aspect. There wasn't too much on the technology. I'm With Her is much more a psychological thriller. One young woman, Elizabeth, is confidant and used to having her way because of her beauty. Mary is by no means ugly but lacks confidence and is more interested in science and her career. Somehow they become friends in college.
The story is told with flashbacks to 7 years ago in college and now. Elizabeth did some things (as Mary) which cost Mary and her family everything. It all started with a guy blackmailing Mary because basically he wanted to rape Elizabeth. Because he had money and connections, he could ruin Mary's internship and scholarship by lying. Mary didn't want to do that and lost it all anyway.
Mary has spent the last 7 years struggling. Elizabeth has married Mary's crush, Nate and become a wealthy influencer. Now Mary plans to take over Elizabeth's life to enjoy the guy, the influence and money she wrongfully denied.
I feel for Mary. She got in trouble because of Elizabeth. She didn't want fame or money. She just wanted to study and get a reasonable science job and maybe date a guy she liked who had been nice to her.
Elizabeth has made some bad choices without considering the consequences to others. Now some of those are coming home to roost - for Mary. I didn't like how Elizabeth continually used Mary for her own purposes or fresh start.
There were interesting moral dilemmas which mostly Mary considered. Both women could have been kinder to others. They understood each other and needed the friendship for their own purposes. I enjoyed seeing the tangled mess and how they rebuilt their lives.
Narration:
Each of the narrators took one of the two main female characters. I felt their performances added the emotional tone for the story. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
March 19, 2024
I received a gifted galley of WHEN I'M HER by Sarah Zachrich Jeng for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!
Who wouldn't want to try out life in someone else's body just to see what the world looks like from their POV? WHEN I'M HER explores the lives of two roommates who tempt fate by trading places multiple times during college through a device called an Empathyzer. Elizabeth is the head-turner and Mary is the one people always seem to overlook, so once they switch bodies, they get to experience an entirely different reality than the one they've both known their entire lives. It's addicting, and when Elizabeth betrays Mary, the best way Mary can think to enact revenge is to take over Elizabeth's life by becoming her. This twisty sci-fi/thriller blend will keep readers guessing, and rapidly turning pages, all the way to the shocking end.
College roommates Mary and Elizabeth share a dark secret. Thanks to Mary’s internship at a tech company, she “borrows” a proprietary technology called an Empathyzer, without her boss’s knowledge and at the risk of arrest if anyone finds out. But how can Mary evaluate the effectiveness of the Empathyzer without using it? The bracelet is deceptively simple-looking for a device that allows two people to switch bodies. When Mary, a quiet and less-than sociable type, has the opportunity to explore the world from inside the body of drop dead gorgeous extrovert Elizabeth, her desire to keep switching places with her roommate grows with each out-of-body experience. Many years later after their friendship has long-since shattered, a detective confronts Mary about the suspicious death of her former coworker at the tech company. Mary suspects that Elizabeth is involved, and Mary has access to another Empathyzer. Her desire for revenge leads her to take over Elizabeth's life, but once she’s back in Elizabeth’s body, her perfect plan quickly crumbles. Things aren't as they seem through the social media lens of Elizabeth's too-perfect life, and Mary realizes she’s in far more danger as Elizabeth.
Who wouldn't want to try out life in someone else's body just to see what the world looks like from their POV? WHEN I'M HER explores the lives of two roommates who tempt fate by trading places multiple times during college through a device called an Empathyzer. Elizabeth is the head-turner and Mary is the one people always seem to overlook, so once they switch bodies, they get to experience an entirely different reality than the one they've both known their entire lives. It's addicting, and when Elizabeth betrays Mary, the best way Mary can think to enact revenge is to take over Elizabeth's life by becoming her. This twisty sci-fi/thriller blend will keep readers guessing, and rapidly turning pages, all the way to the shocking end.
College roommates Mary and Elizabeth share a dark secret. Thanks to Mary’s internship at a tech company, she “borrows” a proprietary technology called an Empathyzer, without her boss’s knowledge and at the risk of arrest if anyone finds out. But how can Mary evaluate the effectiveness of the Empathyzer without using it? The bracelet is deceptively simple-looking for a device that allows two people to switch bodies. When Mary, a quiet and less-than sociable type, has the opportunity to explore the world from inside the body of drop dead gorgeous extrovert Elizabeth, her desire to keep switching places with her roommate grows with each out-of-body experience. Many years later after their friendship has long-since shattered, a detective confronts Mary about the suspicious death of her former coworker at the tech company. Mary suspects that Elizabeth is involved, and Mary has access to another Empathyzer. Her desire for revenge leads her to take over Elizabeth's life, but once she’s back in Elizabeth’s body, her perfect plan quickly crumbles. Things aren't as they seem through the social media lens of Elizabeth's too-perfect life, and Mary realizes she’s in far more danger as Elizabeth.
March 26, 2024
Let's face it, I'm a sucker for a great thriller BUT when you read as many as I have, you tend to set a higher precedence and become a bit picky.
When I'm Her
Let me first start out by saying, I was captivated by the cover alone. I was also intrigued with this being a "new to me" to me author. After reading the reviews on Sarah Zachrich Jeng's previous work, I knew this book was a shoe in and the instant FOMO began to set in.
I hit the magic button, and requested this sure to be bestseller.
APPROVED!
Berkley, you are too good to me!
Secrets, lies, betrayal... revenge
All key components to deliver one heck of a wild ride!
This book is EVERYTHING.
There is also a sense of originality, with the "empathizer" bracelets (almost a slight dip in the sci-fi pond)
The dual timelines lead to a wild twist, I did not see coming.
Big thank you to Berkley, Sarah Zachrich Jeng and Netgalley for allowing me to read this showstopper early in exchange for an honest review!
Out today, March 26, 2024!!!
TEASER:
How far would you go to get even with the woman who ruined your life?
In this electrifying thriller, a young woman gets everything she’s ever wanted—and everything she doesn’t—when she swaps bodies with her sworn enemy.
Though polar opposites, Mary and Elizabeth are as close as can be—until the night Elizabeth makes an irrevocable mistake and leaves Mary to take the blame. Years later, Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary exists.
Mary hasn’t forgotten her.
She follows Elizabeth’s every move online, obsessed with paying her back for the betrayal that cost Mary her dreams. Now Mary has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she’s got a plan to steal her charmed life. Her career. Her looks. Her husband.
They do say living well is the best revenge.
Or is it? The more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth’s life, the more she realizes she may have made a deadly mistake. And she'll need the help of her worst enemy to stay alive.
When I'm Her
Let me first start out by saying, I was captivated by the cover alone. I was also intrigued with this being a "new to me" to me author. After reading the reviews on Sarah Zachrich Jeng's previous work, I knew this book was a shoe in and the instant FOMO began to set in.
I hit the magic button, and requested this sure to be bestseller.
APPROVED!
Berkley, you are too good to me!
Secrets, lies, betrayal... revenge
All key components to deliver one heck of a wild ride!
This book is EVERYTHING.
There is also a sense of originality, with the "empathizer" bracelets (almost a slight dip in the sci-fi pond)
The dual timelines lead to a wild twist, I did not see coming.
Big thank you to Berkley, Sarah Zachrich Jeng and Netgalley for allowing me to read this showstopper early in exchange for an honest review!
Out today, March 26, 2024!!!
TEASER:
How far would you go to get even with the woman who ruined your life?
In this electrifying thriller, a young woman gets everything she’s ever wanted—and everything she doesn’t—when she swaps bodies with her sworn enemy.
Though polar opposites, Mary and Elizabeth are as close as can be—until the night Elizabeth makes an irrevocable mistake and leaves Mary to take the blame. Years later, Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary exists.
Mary hasn’t forgotten her.
She follows Elizabeth’s every move online, obsessed with paying her back for the betrayal that cost Mary her dreams. Now Mary has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she’s got a plan to steal her charmed life. Her career. Her looks. Her husband.
They do say living well is the best revenge.
Or is it? The more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth’s life, the more she realizes she may have made a deadly mistake. And she'll need the help of her worst enemy to stay alive.
April 7, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I expected a bit more of a technical scifi aspect. There wasn't too much on the technology. I'm With Her is much more a psychological thriller. One young woman, Elizabeth, is confidant and used to having her way because of her beauty. Mary is by no means ugly but lacks confidence and is more interested in science and her career. Somehow they become friends in college.
The story is told with flashbacks to 7 years ago in college and now. Elizabeth did some things (as Mary) which cost Mary and her family everything. It all started with a guy blackmailing Mary because basically he wanted to rape Elizabeth. Because he had money and connections, he could ruin Mary's internship and scholarship by lying. Mary didn't want to do that and lost it all anyway.
Mary has spent the last 7 years struggling. Elizabeth has married Mary's crush, Nate and become a wealthy influencer. Now Mary plans to take over Elizabeth's life to enjoy the guy, the influence and money she wrongfully denied.
I feel for Mary. She got in trouble because of Elizabeth. She didn't want fame or money. She just wanted to study and get a reasonable science job and maybe date a guy she liked who had been nice to her.
Elizabeth has made some bad choices without considering the consequences to others. Now some of those are coming home to roost - for Mary. I didn't like how Elizabeth continually used Mary for her own purposes or fresh start.
There were interesting moral dilemmas which mostly Mary considered. Both women could have been kinder to others. They understood each other and needed the friendship for their own purposes. I enjoyed seeing the tangled mess and how they rebuilt their lives.
Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I expected a bit more of a technical scifi aspect. There wasn't too much on the technology. I'm With Her is much more a psychological thriller. One young woman, Elizabeth, is confidant and used to having her way because of her beauty. Mary is by no means ugly but lacks confidence and is more interested in science and her career. Somehow they become friends in college.
The story is told with flashbacks to 7 years ago in college and now. Elizabeth did some things (as Mary) which cost Mary and her family everything. It all started with a guy blackmailing Mary because basically he wanted to rape Elizabeth. Because he had money and connections, he could ruin Mary's internship and scholarship by lying. Mary didn't want to do that and lost it all anyway.
Mary has spent the last 7 years struggling. Elizabeth has married Mary's crush, Nate and become a wealthy influencer. Now Mary plans to take over Elizabeth's life to enjoy the guy, the influence and money she wrongfully denied.
I feel for Mary. She got in trouble because of Elizabeth. She didn't want fame or money. She just wanted to study and get a reasonable science job and maybe date a guy she liked who had been nice to her.
Elizabeth has made some bad choices without considering the consequences to others. Now some of those are coming home to roost - for Mary. I didn't like how Elizabeth continually used Mary for her own purposes or fresh start.
There were interesting moral dilemmas which mostly Mary considered. Both women could have been kinder to others. They understood each other and needed the friendship for their own purposes. I enjoyed seeing the tangled mess and how they rebuilt their lives.
March 28, 2024
Thank you @berkleypub for my complimentary digital copy and @prhaudio for the audio version. My thoughts are my own.
#penguinrandomhousepartner
This book contains such a unique storyline and deals with themes of rivalry, envy, and revenge. I literally could not stop reading (and listening to) it!
Elizabeth and Mary are best friends and college roommates. Mary, the brainier of the two, works in a lab where they are experimenting with switching bodies. Mary ‘borrows’ a set of empathizer (body switching) bracelets, and she and Elizabeth begin to enjoy secretly switching bodies…that is until everything goes terribly wrong at a fraternity party.
Years later, Mary and Elizabeth are estranged. Mary stalks the perfect Elizabeth online. Jealous of her beauty and her Instagram-perfect life, Mary plots revenge because of the repercussions of that night at the fraternity party.
MY THOUGHTS: Mary and Elizabeth’s stories unfolded through alternating perspectives. I enjoyed both points of view, but I was more intrigued by Elizabeth’s perspective, especially once I saw the MESS Mary had transferred herself into! Suddenly Mary (as Elizabeth) found her new life overshadowed by affairs, deceit, and a murder investigation. She was forced to turn to Elizabeth. As I read, I wondered how Mary and Elizabeth would resolve things. The stunning conclusion will keep you thinking!
I preferred the audio version of this story. The alternating personalities caused confusion at times, and the audio (with two narrators) made the characters easier to distinguish.
This book contains such a unique storyline and deals with themes of rivalry, envy, and revenge. I literally could not stop reading (and listening to) it!
Elizabeth and Mary are best friends and college roommates. Mary, the brainier of the two, works in a lab where they are experimenting with switching bodies. Mary ‘borrows’ a set of empathizer (body switching) bracelets, and she and Elizabeth begin to enjoy secretly switching bodies…that is until everything goes terribly wrong at a fraternity party.
Years later, Mary and Elizabeth are estranged. Mary stalks the perfect Elizabeth online. Jealous of her beauty and her Instagram-perfect life, Mary plots revenge because of the repercussions of that night at the fraternity party.
MY THOUGHTS: Mary and Elizabeth’s stories unfolded through alternating perspectives. I enjoyed both points of view, but I was more intrigued by Elizabeth’s perspective, especially once I saw the MESS Mary had transferred herself into! Suddenly Mary (as Elizabeth) found her new life overshadowed by affairs, deceit, and a murder investigation. She was forced to turn to Elizabeth. As I read, I wondered how Mary and Elizabeth would resolve things. The stunning conclusion will keep you thinking!
I preferred the audio version of this story. The alternating personalities caused confusion at times, and the audio (with two narrators) made the characters easier to distinguish.
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