What do you think?
Rate this book
Almost Identical #1
Almost Identical
"Up until now, I had always felt like Charlie and I were more alike than different. Not identical, but almost identical. Except now we're starting at a new middle school, and I'm beginning to see how different we truly are. Or at least how different we're becoming. Charlie's doing everything she can to become one of the "cool" kids, and I want to join a group called Truth Tellers --- a group that Charlie says is geeky, but I know would make me happy. But how happy can I really be if Charlie and I are torn apart?"
Identical twin sisters, tennis partners, and best friends since forever, Sammie and Charlie Diamond practically finish each other's sentences. But lately the girls are surprising everyone --- even themselves --- with how not-so-identical they really are.
Identical twins Sammie and Charlie are starting out seventh grade at a brand-new school. As they make new friends, and join different clubs, the sisters (and once inseparable best friends) start to grow further and further apart. Told from Sammie's point of view, this moving yet funny story will be gobbled up by middle-school girls!
Identical twin sisters, tennis partners, and best friends since forever, Sammie and Charlie Diamond practically finish each other's sentences. But lately the girls are surprising everyone --- even themselves --- with how not-so-identical they really are.
Identical twins Sammie and Charlie are starting out seventh grade at a brand-new school. As they make new friends, and join different clubs, the sisters (and once inseparable best friends) start to grow further and further apart. Told from Sammie's point of view, this moving yet funny story will be gobbled up by middle-school girls!
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2012
27 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 23, 2013
I really like the story line of this book because it gets emotional at the end . It's about two sisters named Charlie and Sammie who get transferred to a new school called beachside. Charlie and Sammie were always with each other and always hung out with the same friends. They never were separated. One day they went to a party and Charlie made so many friends. Sammie wasn't the girl who fit in as well as others. At the party someone called her ugly and fat but she didn't care. Then one of Charlie's friends Lauren called Sammie fat and ugly. She got bullied so she told the group of Story Tellers what happened. Lauren and Charile over hear what happened and they got mad at Sammie. Everyone was mad and drama started through the school. This book is really good and now I'm getting ready to read the second book.
December 17, 2012
Middle school novel about twin tennis playing sisters. A lot of subjects are touched on: change in financial circumstances, social class, mom away from home while she pursues her dream, competitive sports/coach dad, body image, grandparent relations, sibling relations...
But the main focus is on twins, Charlie and Sammie, who play competitive tennis and are "two halves of a circle". When the family moves and the girls start in a new middle school they begin to learn how to navigate their differences.
Quick read with no language, sex or violence to worry about. Overall mild book, though I did want someone to stand up to the dad. It wasn't until the end that the author threw in a little story to help us realize he was a good guy. He comes across as a bit of a bully. But the author just manages to keep me from hating him. I could recommend this to elementary girls who want to read about middle schoolers but aren't ready for more mature content.
But the main focus is on twins, Charlie and Sammie, who play competitive tennis and are "two halves of a circle". When the family moves and the girls start in a new middle school they begin to learn how to navigate their differences.
Quick read with no language, sex or violence to worry about. Overall mild book, though I did want someone to stand up to the dad. It wasn't until the end that the author threw in a little story to help us realize he was a good guy. He comes across as a bit of a bully. But the author just manages to keep me from hating him. I could recommend this to elementary girls who want to read about middle schoolers but aren't ready for more mature content.
December 12, 2022
I can’t say I hated this one because I dnf’ed it (it was a library book and I had to return it) But tbh there wasn’t a lot of potential for the story to get better. I was on page 60 when I had to stop. I was not a fan of the writing style and I felt like I would be better off reading a different book anyway. I’ve NEVER dnf’ed a book before, so it’s kind of bugging me that I didn’t finish it cuz yk… 💅OCD😍 but whatever
March 11, 2015
This book is AMAZING! It may not have a million plot twists keeping me on the edge of my seat, or some breathtaking romance. But, I adore it. It has such good morals for a YA or JF book. I loved all the messages this book was sending. I don't want to give anything away. Just read it. Especially girls.
November 5, 2019
Super funny!
January 3, 2016
This is a wonderful book about two twins and their life.
January 3, 2020
The automatic comparison that comes to mind is Sweet Valley Twins. Sammie (Samantha) and Charlie (Charlotte) are identical twins who are starting 7th grade at a new middle school. Thanks to their father's job at a sports club, they've managed to befriend the popular pre-teens whose parents frequent the club. Charlie, who is thinner and more interested in fashion and makeup, fits in better with the group, whereas Sammie struggles with this group of people who don't really "get" her and also bore her.
They've also competitive tennis players for most of their lives, coached by their dad. Though both Sammie and Charlie excel at tennis, this book is the start of the two girls growing up and finding their own interests and friends.
This book is for middle-grade readers, and Sammie's voice (book #1 is told from Sammie's POV) seems pretty authentic. The book stays pretty superficial. Though we dig down into Sammie's emotions about how her path and her sister's are diverging, and how she feels to be left behind or left out (#relatable), that's the most serious any problem ever gets. For that reason, I tagged it as fluff. Sammie is also surrounded by nurturing adults like her grandma and English teacher/club leader, who support her always and show her how to accept herself and the changes that are happening in her life. There were times during the twins' conflicts when I felt Sammie's parents and grandma were heavy-handed with lectures, but I suppose they didn't even get real lectures...just encouragement to apologize and reconcile. (Interesting how you never see that in YA books...)
Though I felt the main characters could have been more fully developed and not so thinly sketched, I guess that will come with time, as this book is part of a series. I liked the assortment of secondary characters that we're introduced to, and I also liked how the popular kids weren't completely one-dimensional, either. It seemed like some of them were pretty nice, and though they could be judgy and exclusionary, they weren't dirtbags or bullies (except for the rude comments one of the boys made about Sammie's weight). They were more like kids who expressed strong opinions about what they liked or thought was cool, and those things just happened to fit a narrow mold.
I also liked how open the characters were when they communicated. Instead of letting things that should be said fester in silence and growing angry or neurotic over them, Sammie, her twin, and the lead popular girl Lauren were forthright whenever they had an issue or thought. I was pretty amazed by Sammie standing up for herself multiple times -- I was too meek to do that as a 7th grader, even as an adult sometimes -- but to balance this tough girl side out, there were plenty of times when she was hurt or felt betrayed by her sister's actions and just needed to cry it out or talk to someone.
I was also glad that Sammie had her grandmother GoGo to confide in, and that though her mom was away at culinary school in Boston, her mom was supportive as well. Sammie and Charlie also have an obnoxious older brother who's an 8th grader, but he's there to support them when it really counts.
It was also a treat to discover that the book is set in West LA, where I currently live (I assume that's how I found this book at Goodwill). Most of the places namedropped in the book, like Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, various beaches and street names, were excitingly familiar.
They've also competitive tennis players for most of their lives, coached by their dad. Though both Sammie and Charlie excel at tennis, this book is the start of the two girls growing up and finding their own interests and friends.
This book is for middle-grade readers, and Sammie's voice (book #1 is told from Sammie's POV) seems pretty authentic. The book stays pretty superficial. Though we dig down into Sammie's emotions about how her path and her sister's are diverging, and how she feels to be left behind or left out (#relatable), that's the most serious any problem ever gets. For that reason, I tagged it as fluff. Sammie is also surrounded by nurturing adults like her grandma and English teacher/club leader, who support her always and show her how to accept herself and the changes that are happening in her life. There were times during the twins' conflicts when I felt Sammie's parents and grandma were heavy-handed with lectures, but I suppose they didn't even get real lectures...just encouragement to apologize and reconcile. (Interesting how you never see that in YA books...)
Though I felt the main characters could have been more fully developed and not so thinly sketched, I guess that will come with time, as this book is part of a series. I liked the assortment of secondary characters that we're introduced to, and I also liked how the popular kids weren't completely one-dimensional, either. It seemed like some of them were pretty nice, and though they could be judgy and exclusionary, they weren't dirtbags or bullies (except for the rude comments one of the boys made about Sammie's weight). They were more like kids who expressed strong opinions about what they liked or thought was cool, and those things just happened to fit a narrow mold.
I also liked how open the characters were when they communicated. Instead of letting things that should be said fester in silence and growing angry or neurotic over them, Sammie, her twin, and the lead popular girl Lauren were forthright whenever they had an issue or thought. I was pretty amazed by Sammie standing up for herself multiple times -- I was too meek to do that as a 7th grader, even as an adult sometimes -- but to balance this tough girl side out, there were plenty of times when she was hurt or felt betrayed by her sister's actions and just needed to cry it out or talk to someone.
I was also glad that Sammie had her grandmother GoGo to confide in, and that though her mom was away at culinary school in Boston, her mom was supportive as well. Sammie and Charlie also have an obnoxious older brother who's an 8th grader, but he's there to support them when it really counts.
It was also a treat to discover that the book is set in West LA, where I currently live (I assume that's how I found this book at Goodwill). Most of the places namedropped in the book, like Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, various beaches and street names, were excitingly familiar.
October 31, 2019
Kid rating: 4 stars
Adult rating: 2 stars
Sammie and Charlie are identical twin girls living in a bungalow on the grounds of a swanky beach club. Their dad is the head tennis coach. Charlie easily fits in with the rich kids at the club, but Sammie isn't interested in the popular crowd. She's insecure about her weight and isn't into fashion or make-up like Charlie. She feels more at ease with Alicia, the daughter of the club's groundskeeper. Alicia introduces her to a school club called Truth Tellers where everyone is encouraged to be themselves. Unfortunately, it's interfering with tennis practice and Charlie is depending on her to do her best at their doubles competitions. Though Sammie and Charlie are identical twins, they are realizing just how different they really are.
There's definitely a good message here about accepting who you are rather than trying to be someone you aren't, but I felt like the book tried too hard. These sisters are so unlike each other that I had a hard time even believing they were twins. At times the message became preachy which took the fun out of the story for me. I found the twin book Trading Faces more interesting and fun, but this one will still likely have readership among tweens.
Adult rating: 2 stars
Sammie and Charlie are identical twin girls living in a bungalow on the grounds of a swanky beach club. Their dad is the head tennis coach. Charlie easily fits in with the rich kids at the club, but Sammie isn't interested in the popular crowd. She's insecure about her weight and isn't into fashion or make-up like Charlie. She feels more at ease with Alicia, the daughter of the club's groundskeeper. Alicia introduces her to a school club called Truth Tellers where everyone is encouraged to be themselves. Unfortunately, it's interfering with tennis practice and Charlie is depending on her to do her best at their doubles competitions. Though Sammie and Charlie are identical twins, they are realizing just how different they really are.
There's definitely a good message here about accepting who you are rather than trying to be someone you aren't, but I felt like the book tried too hard. These sisters are so unlike each other that I had a hard time even believing they were twins. At times the message became preachy which took the fun out of the story for me. I found the twin book Trading Faces more interesting and fun, but this one will still likely have readership among tweens.
May 25, 2017
When Sammie and her identical twin sister, Charlie move to a beach bungalow in the Sporty Forty beach and tennis club, Charlie finds herself surrounded by the popular group named the SF2's. At first, the group, including Charlie, try to accept her and bring her into their group. But Sammie encounters an after school club called the Truth Tellers, which people confess different things about themselves. While Sammie balances her tennis playing, friend making, and her after school group out, Charlie's transition into her new school is easy. As the twins begin to become good friends with different people, Sammie and Charlie are beginning to realize that they are spending more time apart from each other than normal. In the end, they learn that they are not the exact same, they have different interests and they accept that, but even through thick and thin, they are always each others best friend.
May 28, 2018
I wish i could give it 2.5 stars, but I’m not rounding up on this one. One of the girls at my Elementary School lent me this book. The kids know I love to read, so they tell me about books they enjoyed. This book had me quite angry, to tell you the truth. I can’t wait to talk to my student so that she understands that 126.5 is not FAT! Good lord, like middle grade kids don’t have enough to deal with! I’m glad the book wrapped up with a good feeling ending, but it was slightly infuriating until that point.
February 19, 2019
I haven't read any of the other books in this series but in my opinion the ending kind of sucked. It left you wondering whether or not they grew apart or became close again. If you're into books that leave you a tad clueless then this one is for you. Who am I to judge though, I haven't read the other ones. However, I did enjoy the book as a whole. It made me laugh, but it also made me madder than ever. Overall, it was full of teenage drama which cracks me up at times. Now, I'm acting as if I've never been a part of any of this so-called "teenage drama."
October 15, 2017
This book is a kind of funny. It talks about an insane teenager girl, Sammy with her beautiful twin sister, Charlie. They moved to a new rich school and then many contradictions began.
I feel really empathetic because I've just arrived in a new school, too. Some problems Sammy met that are the same as me. Reading this book made me finding my own way to fix my problem and learning many new things.
Reading this book is a pleasure to me.
I feel really empathetic because I've just arrived in a new school, too. Some problems Sammy met that are the same as me. Reading this book made me finding my own way to fix my problem and learning many new things.
Reading this book is a pleasure to me.
April 2, 2023
3.5 stars
Originally bought for my almost 10 year old daughter, but glad I read it first and won’t be giving it to her just yet. Although I like the premise behind the story, and it ended well, too much negativity and fixation on weight for a preteen girl IMO.
As a parent I spent most of the book feeling frustrated with the Dad, brother and twin sister…but to be fair, it is also written from the point of view of a 12 year old 🤷🏼♀️
Originally bought for my almost 10 year old daughter, but glad I read it first and won’t be giving it to her just yet. Although I like the premise behind the story, and it ended well, too much negativity and fixation on weight for a preteen girl IMO.
As a parent I spent most of the book feeling frustrated with the Dad, brother and twin sister…but to be fair, it is also written from the point of view of a 12 year old 🤷🏼♀️
January 3, 2020
just like in our school their are different groups and ranks. The characters use to stand up for each other but then they started to part ways. Charlie is doing every thing that she can to become a cool kid and i think that lots of people want to be with the cool kids. but Sammie stands up for her self. that something that not to many people can do.
July 14, 2017
leaves you wanting to read more, and luckily you can <3
Read
July 5, 2019I read this when I was younger. Remember thoroughly enjoying it.
June 28, 2021
I read this in middle school and omg it’s so good
November 13, 2024
This whole series was so good. Extremely light and easy read but so entertaining
December 10, 2024
i just remember reading this when i was like 13 and really enjoying it. idk about now tho lmaoo
Read
October 8, 2025Obsessed w this book when I was a kid
January 3, 2026
one of my favorite books from middle school
June 2, 2021
the only thing I liked about this book is they play tennis.
January 12, 2016
Almost Identical
In Almost Identical by Lin Oliver, twin sisters Sammie and Charlie just moved to a new school. Their dad got a new job at a summer club, and they now live in a house that’s run by his work. The girls don’t know anyone at this new school, and they’re both nervous to start. The twins have been inseparable since they were little, and now they have two different schedules and two different groups of friends on top of that.
There were many conflicts that came up in this book. For starters, Charlie was really fitting in with the “popular” group at school, and Sammie preferred the less popular group. Sammie felt that she didn’t really fit in with Charlie and her friends because she wasn’t as athletic and “girly”. One day after school the group planned to go to Starbucks, but Sammie was given the opportunity to join a group called the “Truth Tellers”. That didn’t go over well because according to Lauren, the most popular girl in school, that group was for “losers”.
Another conflict that occurred was ever since the girls were five years old they played tennis. The twins participated in big tournaments, and even went to the divisionals. They had a tradition that after they finish all of their tennis matches, they’d go out to pizza, just the two of them, but after divisionals, Charlie said she made plans with Lauren and “maybe we can go next time”. This really upset Sammie because she skipped her “Truth Tellers” performance to compete in the tennis matches for Charlie.
All in all, I believe the theme of this story is don’t change yourself for other people, and be true to yourself. If Sammie wouldn’t of gone to truth tellers that one day she would’ve never developed all of the friendships she has now. She chose to do what she wanted instead of what others wanted her to do. I would for sure recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.
In Almost Identical by Lin Oliver, twin sisters Sammie and Charlie just moved to a new school. Their dad got a new job at a summer club, and they now live in a house that’s run by his work. The girls don’t know anyone at this new school, and they’re both nervous to start. The twins have been inseparable since they were little, and now they have two different schedules and two different groups of friends on top of that.
There were many conflicts that came up in this book. For starters, Charlie was really fitting in with the “popular” group at school, and Sammie preferred the less popular group. Sammie felt that she didn’t really fit in with Charlie and her friends because she wasn’t as athletic and “girly”. One day after school the group planned to go to Starbucks, but Sammie was given the opportunity to join a group called the “Truth Tellers”. That didn’t go over well because according to Lauren, the most popular girl in school, that group was for “losers”.
Another conflict that occurred was ever since the girls were five years old they played tennis. The twins participated in big tournaments, and even went to the divisionals. They had a tradition that after they finish all of their tennis matches, they’d go out to pizza, just the two of them, but after divisionals, Charlie said she made plans with Lauren and “maybe we can go next time”. This really upset Sammie because she skipped her “Truth Tellers” performance to compete in the tennis matches for Charlie.
All in all, I believe the theme of this story is don’t change yourself for other people, and be true to yourself. If Sammie wouldn’t of gone to truth tellers that one day she would’ve never developed all of the friendships she has now. She chose to do what she wanted instead of what others wanted her to do. I would for sure recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.
November 29, 2013
This was just awful! The plotline comes across as a rip off of the first book in the Sweet Valley Twins series, but it's so poorly executed that I felt sorry for today's kids that they could be subject to junk like this. The twins are written in a very flat manner...one is fat, even though she supposedly practices tennis constantly...that came across as fake because anyone who has spent that much time on the court knows it would be impossible to be fat with that type of exercise. The fat twin is obsessed with her weight and spends a lot of time making hateful, resentful comments towards everyone around her. The other twin is a follower and a mouse... they have a hot older brother who starts dating the popular girl in their class. (If he's so hot, why wouldn't he date a girl his own age?)... the book is filled with pc stereotypes...all the artistic, thoughful girls that the fat twin hangs out with are non-white, while the mean girls are of course portrayed as blondes. Anyone see some subliminal messaging here? We are also given a sob story from illegal alien Alicia, who remembers being smuggled in to the country as a child and thought blond people were aliens. (No, honey, YOU are the alien. ;) ) Ugh! Do yourself a favor and just go back and read Sweet Valley...you'll get less of a stomachache.
March 24, 2017
Almost Identical
by Lin Oliver
The book Almost Identical is about two twin sister Charlie and Sammie. They just moved and started a new school. The story is about how they used to be so close and had the same friends, until they started 7th grade. Sammie is starting to go toward more of friends that are very open and friendly but less popular. Charlie has more friends that are popular or the cool kids. I would recommend this book to girls my age. I would rate this book a 9/10, I enjoyed how the author wrote to make me feel like I was sitting at the lunch with the girls.
by Lin Oliver
The book Almost Identical is about two twin sister Charlie and Sammie. They just moved and started a new school. The story is about how they used to be so close and had the same friends, until they started 7th grade. Sammie is starting to go toward more of friends that are very open and friendly but less popular. Charlie has more friends that are popular or the cool kids. I would recommend this book to girls my age. I would rate this book a 9/10, I enjoyed how the author wrote to make me feel like I was sitting at the lunch with the girls.
October 26, 2013
I choice to read "Almost Identical" by Lin Oliver because my best friend recommended it for me. I honestly did enjoy this book. Its a bit sad but not as sad as the previous books I have reviewed. "Almost Identical" is about twin sisters that love each other, but they are not just sisters they are best friends. But things start to change, when they attended BeachSide middle school. And slowly the two sisters/best friends, started drifting apart. I recommend it to seventh grader girls and above, because this is in a girls perspective.
April 23, 2013
The Diamond sisters, Sammie and Charlie, are identical twins who have always been best friends until they move to a new middle school in Los Angeles,California. Yes, they continue to be competive tennis partners but Charlie's drawn to the cool crowd, while Sammie relates to a less popular group called the Truth Tellers. Through Sammie's eyes, one sees the varied faces and sides of the Diamonds as they start to grow up.
May 7, 2013
Very enjoyable. An interesting and insightful twist on several oft-read themes including (a) new kid at school has to decide whether to behave like peers to be accepted into certain group, (b) best friends growing apart, and (c) confronting anxiety about new interests and perceived betrayal of old ones. In this case, however, the best friend is the protagonist's twin -- someone who will be with her in the same family no matter how their interests and attitudes diverge.
September 6, 2016
Quick read about tennis playing identical twins Sammie and Charlie who grow apart as they enter a new school for seventh grade after their family relocates due to a job loss.
The weight issue Sammie faces was a little over the top. She is an athlete. She is not a lazy, couch-sitting teenager.
Author Oliver does a great job giving an authentic voice to the characters as they go through their daily lives at home and at school - with exception to the weight issue.
The weight issue Sammie faces was a little over the top. She is an athlete. She is not a lazy, couch-sitting teenager.
Author Oliver does a great job giving an authentic voice to the characters as they go through their daily lives at home and at school - with exception to the weight issue.
December 18, 2012
Even if you aren't a twin, you'll be able to identify with these girls. Family relationships and friendships are constantly changing, and sometimes it's hard to know what to do. Should I change too? Should I hang on for dear life? Should I let go?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews