Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):
Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.
Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.
When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.
Review:
Ever since I read Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill this past summer, I’ve been keeping an eye on her subsequent works. I enjoyed Meant to Be for a variety of reasons but two things I really liked were Ms Morrill’s writing style and the humour. After reading the synopsis for this book, Being Sloane Jacobs, I was excited to get these two things again.
While this book didn’t have me laughing out loud like Meant to Be did, I did smile at a few of the lines and events in this book. I was expecting a bit more hijinks considering that two girls who are polar-opposite in nearly every way were switching places but this book had a more serious tone to it which in the end turned out to be an OK thing.
This book is really about finding your own person and going for what you want in life–even if it isn’t necessarily what your parents want for you. Therefore, it has a bit of serious tone to it. BUT don’t assume that this is some sort of heavy-read: it is actually very light-hearted and charming, just don’t expect laugh-out-loud comedy situations. There isn’t a lot of drama and it’s straightforward in its delivery–and again, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While the situations are a little stereotypical, they are general enough that I think a majority of young teen girls can relate to and enjoy reading about. It’s nice every once and awhile to read a book that isn’t trying too hard to be something its not. It’s a feel-good-book plain and simple.
My only peeve about this book is how easily the girls are able to switch into the opposite sport. As a girl who played ringette (basically hockey but using a ring) myself for 3 years, I couldn’t imagine figure skating let alone trying to do it for a camp. Yes, I’m a pretty decent skater but there is no way I would have been able to pull off jumps and lifts. The skates are completely different and require you to skate in a different way–but I digress. If my only peeve is about skating then this book must have delivered on everything else 😉
Book Bonus: It takes place in Montreal, Canada!
As a bit of a side note: When I was reading this book I was having the darnedest time trying to figure out what this book reminded me of. I think the first thing everyone thinks is the Parent Trap but that’s a movie and has a bit of a different plot to it. It wasn’t until I looked up the similar reads on Kobo that I remembered an old goodie I read called Will Grayson, Will Grayson where essentially two boys with the same name meet and undergo the same process of these girls. I highly recommend Will Grayson, Will Grayson as well because it is unlike anything I have read previously.
Conclusion:
If you need a feel good read about two girls who are learning to become their own persons, then grab this book!
Rating: 4/5
Shorthand Stats:
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Sports
Recommended for: 16+
Point of View: First Person, alternating
SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Feel Good Book 2014
Similar Reads: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan