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Could It Be Magic?: The must-read, magical romantasy romcom, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Beth O’Leary!
‘Highly recommend’ – The Bookseller All it takes is a bolt from the blue to change your life forever… Life really can change in a flash… When Jessica Taylor finds herself in the middle of a thunderstorm whilst walking her dog, she is struck by two the sight of a handsome stranger, and a bolt of lightning. The next thing she knows, she is waking up in a hospital bed – but in someone else’s body… Split between her old life and that of Lauren Richardson – wife and mother of four young children – Jessica must grapple with temper tantrums and marriage mishaps, whilst desperately trying to get back to Frankie the terrier and a blossoming relationship. But as she learns more about the woman in whose designer shoes she now stands, she begins to discover new things about herself, too. Will Jessica get back to life as she knows it? And will she even want to? Freaky Friday meets Beth O’Leary’s The Switch in this magical story about love, family and new beginnings that fans of Erin Sterling will fall head over heels for. ‘I just couldn’t put this book down . It was pure magic .’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Good thing that I started this on a weekend, as I just didn't want to go to bed until I got to the (most unexpected but satisfying) ending .’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘‘This book is lovely and easy to read and it has a feel good factor to it. Very relaxing and suitable for travel reading .’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I just COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN , this would make a great film.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This novel is outstanding , the plot flows so smoothly and you can't help having an empathy for each character … I loved how it captures the pain of a dysfunctional family and the destructiveness some relationships can be , but all in all how love can be so wonderful ’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An excellent read for anyone wanting a page-turning novel with plenty of heart and soul ’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2009
22 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Rose
4 books127 followersMelanie Rose is the author of Finding Home (Jan '11) and Life As I Know It, (Feb 2010)
Both books are published in the US by Bantam and previously published in the UK as Coming Home and Could It be Magic? and across Europe under different titles, earning her a place on the bestseller list in Germany as Mein Tag Ist Deine Nacht.
Melanie has been a writer all her life whilst caring for children as a children's nurse and also bringing up four lively sons.
Melanie's third novel, Down to Earth is now available in the UK.
Having Life As I Know It published by Bantam and earning fabulous reviews is like a dream come true.
Both books are published in the US by Bantam and previously published in the UK as Coming Home and Could It be Magic? and across Europe under different titles, earning her a place on the bestseller list in Germany as Mein Tag Ist Deine Nacht.
Melanie has been a writer all her life whilst caring for children as a children's nurse and also bringing up four lively sons.
Melanie's third novel, Down to Earth is now available in the UK.
Having Life As I Know It published by Bantam and earning fabulous reviews is like a dream come true.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
November 21, 2015
I was in the mood to read time-travel romance that's when I came across Could it be magic. Ms. Rose did a great job by writing such a unique story. This is a contemporary so don't expect erotica. The concept of the book is cheesey and hard to believe. Something that you would read and think this can't be possible or this won't work. But Ms.Ross worked quite hard and development a unique story. She juggled two stories and described them in a way that readers never got confused.
What I liked the most was the ending it was flawless, thoughtless . It just went smoothly as this story needed to be. I kept thinking how will this end but thanks to author I was left with 0 disappointments.
Would I recommend this book yes it's a light easy-breezy read.
I see emilie Clark as Jessica and Ian somerland as Dan
What I liked the most was the ending it was flawless, thoughtless . It just went smoothly as this story needed to be. I kept thinking how will this end but thanks to author I was left with 0 disappointments.
Would I recommend this book yes it's a light easy-breezy read.
I see emilie Clark as Jessica and Ian somerland as Dan
May 5, 2019
Świetna wciągająca książka pochłonięta w kilka godzin. Mieszanka fantasy, romansu i obyczajówki. Polecam
October 11, 2024
Was not expecting to enjoy as much as I did.
November 13, 2024
I somehow managed to slog halfway through this book before I put it down. It was just so fucking *boring*. I quit it when I realised my reaction to having to read it on my commute was “ugh”.
The problems I was having with this were:
- the prose was bland and uninspiring
- Jessica didn’t seem to have much emotional turmoil about her situation and was very quick to just jump into a mother role and start parenting those kids
- the thing with her boss and that scene in the kitchen. Just. Why. Was that even necessary?
- everything about the packaging of this book told me it was a romance with a HEA but the strong implication that Lauren was dead and Jessica was essentially puppeting her meatsuit wasn’t inspiring any confidence in me for a HEA. She can’t keep living a double life and clearly she’s going to find a way to undo the weird body hopping, which is going to devastate an entire family, so… eh?
- the concept is great! The execution is so dull! It’s so boringly written that I find myself not caring about ANY of it, even though I loved the concept! Gah!
The problems I was having with this were:
- the prose was bland and uninspiring
- Jessica didn’t seem to have much emotional turmoil about her situation and was very quick to just jump into a mother role and start parenting those kids
- the thing with her boss and that scene in the kitchen. Just. Why. Was that even necessary?
- everything about the packaging of this book told me it was a romance with a HEA but the strong implication that Lauren was dead and Jessica was essentially puppeting her meatsuit wasn’t inspiring any confidence in me for a HEA. She can’t keep living a double life and clearly she’s going to find a way to undo the weird body hopping, which is going to devastate an entire family, so… eh?
- the concept is great! The execution is so dull! It’s so boringly written that I find myself not caring about ANY of it, even though I loved the concept! Gah!
August 23, 2009
Contains Spoilers -
So maybe the general idea of what happens when lightening strikes is a popular theme at the moment (there was an ITV series about it but involving a gender swap) but I felt slightly untouched by this. Jessica is young, single and unfullfilled. Lauren is rich, unhappily married with four children. Lightning strikes after Jessica meets the man of her dreams and she manages to live both lives. Found the characterisation weak...Jessica suddenly becomes an earth mother?! Dan is simply boring and why introduce his dad when he serves no purpose other than to show Dan is "nice". Disappointed by the ending - poor children, they lose their mum and never know and then their dad dies too! Too convenient with the meeting Dan bit too. Too contrived for my taste.
So maybe the general idea of what happens when lightening strikes is a popular theme at the moment (there was an ITV series about it but involving a gender swap) but I felt slightly untouched by this. Jessica is young, single and unfullfilled. Lauren is rich, unhappily married with four children. Lightning strikes after Jessica meets the man of her dreams and she manages to live both lives. Found the characterisation weak...Jessica suddenly becomes an earth mother?! Dan is simply boring and why introduce his dad when he serves no purpose other than to show Dan is "nice". Disappointed by the ending - poor children, they lose their mum and never know and then their dad dies too! Too convenient with the meeting Dan bit too. Too contrived for my taste.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2012
Amazing read! I thought it was just your usual chick lit but it was so much more than that and ran very deep, found myself actually crying at the end.
I also didn't know how the book was going to pan out til the last chapter which is a refreshing chance.
Loved it!
I also didn't know how the book was going to pan out til the last chapter which is a refreshing chance.
Loved it!
April 7, 2021
A good premise but the characters were quite two-dimensional and bland and their reactions and conversations clunkily written. Unfortunately not much interest to be had for the length of the book.
However, it a first novel for the writer and for a first novel it is not terrible.
However, it a first novel for the writer and for a first novel it is not terrible.
September 11, 2021
First read (7/12): 4 stars
Second read (9/21): 3 stars
Second read (9/21): 3 stars
January 14, 2022
AKA
Life as I Know It
&
Being Lauren
Great fun, & a little bit sad. I enjoyed it.
Great fun, & a little bit sad. I enjoyed it.
April 16, 2025
I'm a big fan of magical realism, particularly when the emphasis is firmly on the realism and this seemed right up my alley. As it turned out, I was right.
Jessica, aged 28, is single and living with her dog, Frankie. She’s planning to progress her career as a legal secretary by studying for a law degree. That is, until she's struck by lightning while out walking Frankie and wakes up in hospital as someone else entirely. That someone is Lauren, a woman seven years her senior, married with four young children. Coincidentally, Lauren has also been struck by lightning, and according to the doctors, her survival is nothing short of miraculous.
Naturally, Jessica assumes she’s dreaming, possibly a side effect of the lightning strike and hospital medication. But she soon realises that she's alternating between the two lives: she exists as one woman while the other sleeps, and vice versa.
The two lives couldn’t be more different, and this duality allows the author to explore themes of identity, responsibility, and personal growth. Jessica continues to feel like herself, but half the time she inhabits Lauren’s body and life. She must quickly adapt to caring for four confused young children, who while unsettled by their mother’s change in behaviour, enjoy the more relaxed version of her. Jessica seems to take to motherhood rather swiftly, which felt somewhat unrealistic given that the entire story unfolds over just a fortnight.
There are further complications. Just before she was struck by lightning, Jessica had met a strikingly hot man called Dan who she later learns, was the one who took her to hospital. Their romance develops at lightning speed (pun intended), which felt rather implausible. Later a red flag appears when Dan reacts jealously to one of Jessica’s lunch companions, mistakenly believing it to be a man, something I found concerning. Otherwise, he is portrayed as her ideal match.
Back in Lauren’s life, it becomes clear that her marriage to Grant is far from idyllic. Alarming revelations come to light, including infidelity, control, and domestic abuse though Jessica, in Lauren’s body, is initially unaware. Over time she becomes more deeply entwined with the children and begins to feel that her own life lacks purpose. However her feelings towards Grant remain ambivalent to say the least. Things get more interesting in the form of Lauren’s sister Karen, who bonds well with Jessica and provides crucial support. Jessica starts to suspect that Lauren may actually have died during the lightning strike but although Karen notices the ‘change’ in her sister, she gives no indication of suspecting that she is actually dead.
In Jessica’s original life, her relationship with Dan accelerates, much to the annoyance of her ex-boyfriend Stephen who also happens to be her boss. His jealousy leads to him sacking her, rather foolishly and unlawfully for a solicitor. This leaves Jessica at a crossroads, both professionally and personally. How is she to pursue her career now? The parallels between Stephen’s and Grant’s controlling behaviours are subtly drawn and effective.
Another twist arises with Jason, a man Lauren had apparently been planning to leave her family for. He begins following - effectively stalking - Jessica in her Lauren persona. The author ties up these plot threads neatly, removing the problematic men (Jason, Grant, and Stephen) in quite shocking ways that allow Jessica the space to contemplate a new life. Yet I couldn’t help wondering whether this ‘new’ life would truly be fulfilling. After all, it’s Jessica’s soul that has survived, not her body, and her ambitions and identity don’t neatly align with Lauren’s circumstances. What happens to her law career, for instance? Can she ever feel truly herself in a life that wasn’t originally hers?
The novel was published in 2009, and reading it 16 years later made me laugh in parts. The characters rent DVDs, use landlines, pay for stuff with cheques and go to the library to research quantum physics and theories of time rather than looking it up online. It was oddly comforting and a little disconcerting to reflect on just how much has changed in that time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story overall. It was engaging and often thought provoking particularly in how Jessica managed to juggle the demands of two separate lives and think on her feet. While the ending was satisfying in some respects, I am unsure whether it offered the possibility of real fulfilment for her. 5 stars, though!
Jessica, aged 28, is single and living with her dog, Frankie. She’s planning to progress her career as a legal secretary by studying for a law degree. That is, until she's struck by lightning while out walking Frankie and wakes up in hospital as someone else entirely. That someone is Lauren, a woman seven years her senior, married with four young children. Coincidentally, Lauren has also been struck by lightning, and according to the doctors, her survival is nothing short of miraculous.
Naturally, Jessica assumes she’s dreaming, possibly a side effect of the lightning strike and hospital medication. But she soon realises that she's alternating between the two lives: she exists as one woman while the other sleeps, and vice versa.
The two lives couldn’t be more different, and this duality allows the author to explore themes of identity, responsibility, and personal growth. Jessica continues to feel like herself, but half the time she inhabits Lauren’s body and life. She must quickly adapt to caring for four confused young children, who while unsettled by their mother’s change in behaviour, enjoy the more relaxed version of her. Jessica seems to take to motherhood rather swiftly, which felt somewhat unrealistic given that the entire story unfolds over just a fortnight.
There are further complications. Just before she was struck by lightning, Jessica had met a strikingly hot man called Dan who she later learns, was the one who took her to hospital. Their romance develops at lightning speed (pun intended), which felt rather implausible. Later a red flag appears when Dan reacts jealously to one of Jessica’s lunch companions, mistakenly believing it to be a man, something I found concerning. Otherwise, he is portrayed as her ideal match.
Back in Lauren’s life, it becomes clear that her marriage to Grant is far from idyllic. Alarming revelations come to light, including infidelity, control, and domestic abuse though Jessica, in Lauren’s body, is initially unaware. Over time she becomes more deeply entwined with the children and begins to feel that her own life lacks purpose. However her feelings towards Grant remain ambivalent to say the least. Things get more interesting in the form of Lauren’s sister Karen, who bonds well with Jessica and provides crucial support. Jessica starts to suspect that Lauren may actually have died during the lightning strike but although Karen notices the ‘change’ in her sister, she gives no indication of suspecting that she is actually dead.
In Jessica’s original life, her relationship with Dan accelerates, much to the annoyance of her ex-boyfriend Stephen who also happens to be her boss. His jealousy leads to him sacking her, rather foolishly and unlawfully for a solicitor. This leaves Jessica at a crossroads, both professionally and personally. How is she to pursue her career now? The parallels between Stephen’s and Grant’s controlling behaviours are subtly drawn and effective.
Another twist arises with Jason, a man Lauren had apparently been planning to leave her family for. He begins following - effectively stalking - Jessica in her Lauren persona. The author ties up these plot threads neatly, removing the problematic men (Jason, Grant, and Stephen) in quite shocking ways that allow Jessica the space to contemplate a new life. Yet I couldn’t help wondering whether this ‘new’ life would truly be fulfilling. After all, it’s Jessica’s soul that has survived, not her body, and her ambitions and identity don’t neatly align with Lauren’s circumstances. What happens to her law career, for instance? Can she ever feel truly herself in a life that wasn’t originally hers?
The novel was published in 2009, and reading it 16 years later made me laugh in parts. The characters rent DVDs, use landlines, pay for stuff with cheques and go to the library to research quantum physics and theories of time rather than looking it up online. It was oddly comforting and a little disconcerting to reflect on just how much has changed in that time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story overall. It was engaging and often thought provoking particularly in how Jessica managed to juggle the demands of two separate lives and think on her feet. While the ending was satisfying in some respects, I am unsure whether it offered the possibility of real fulfilment for her. 5 stars, though!
December 30, 2023
i think the concept of lightning strike/split lifes/lovers was interesting and made me wanna read on, i liked how jessica gave laurens kids a more joyful childhood, her connecting with teddy did make me smile, so sweet he was adorable
HOWEVER, jessica and dan...right...love at first sight is a thing but this was like 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye, i just could not take them seriously like wdym you're saying i love you after what, a week?? it just was soooo rushed and i couldnt believe in this soulmate vibe they were giving off. also we learnt like nothing abt dan other than he used to sleep around and sells slot machines??? like i guess his dad was there to add smthing to him but, no need, it added nothing whatsover.
and then, the ending??? LMAO i was so confused, like okay jessica just gets hit by lightning, AGAIN, DIES, and now she's stuck as lauren who then finds dan, and he kinda recognises her and they go to the pub like its nothing. LIKE WHAAAATTTTTTT, LAURENS POOR KIDS MAN, their mum "dies" and is replaced and none of them knew (except teddy he a real one) and then their DAD DIES, and their new mother is off having drinks with the lover from the other life. i am baffled.
everything felt very rushed and not much developed, like the ending with everything, laurens afair/stalker, grant dying, jessica dying it just smacked me in the face and then it was "ok lauren and dan now a thing bye :D" WDYMMMM
this concept had me intruiged and i so wish i enjoyed it a lot more than i did but everything fell so flat and i connected with no characters at all
but hey at least this book completed my reading goal ig :,)
HOWEVER, jessica and dan...right...love at first sight is a thing but this was like 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye, i just could not take them seriously like wdym you're saying i love you after what, a week?? it just was soooo rushed and i couldnt believe in this soulmate vibe they were giving off. also we learnt like nothing abt dan other than he used to sleep around and sells slot machines??? like i guess his dad was there to add smthing to him but, no need, it added nothing whatsover.
and then, the ending??? LMAO i was so confused, like okay jessica just gets hit by lightning, AGAIN, DIES, and now she's stuck as lauren who then finds dan, and he kinda recognises her and they go to the pub like its nothing. LIKE WHAAAATTTTTTT, LAURENS POOR KIDS MAN, their mum "dies" and is replaced and none of them knew (except teddy he a real one) and then their DAD DIES, and their new mother is off having drinks with the lover from the other life. i am baffled.
everything felt very rushed and not much developed, like the ending with everything, laurens afair/stalker, grant dying, jessica dying it just smacked me in the face and then it was "ok lauren and dan now a thing bye :D" WDYMMMM
this concept had me intruiged and i so wish i enjoyed it a lot more than i did but everything fell so flat and i connected with no characters at all
but hey at least this book completed my reading goal ig :,)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
This was an interesting premise. Jessica had always put her career first and deep down wonders if that was the right choice. She then gets struck by lightning and ends up in the body of Lauren - a mother of four. The only thing is she spends her days adapting to the contrasting life then when she goes to sleep again she wakes up as Jessica and relives the day in her real body.
As Lauren she gets the chance to experience the contrasting life and the juggle of keeping four children and a husband happy. Although things aren’t quite so straight forward. Lauren’s life isn’t as straight forward as it initially appears- her marriage to Grant doesn’t seem to be going well, she appears to be having an affair and one of the children has special needs and seems like he is very much under appreciated as Lauren.
For Jessica this episode couldn’t have come at a worse time- the dog walk she was on when she was struck by lightning was the moment she met her soul mate Dan and as Jessica she is aware that Dan is the man she has been waiting for her whole life and all she wants is the chance to get that happy ever after.
Living the dual life of both Lauren (and then reliving the day again) and Jessica there appears to be no easy resolution to this. It isn’t a medically fixable issue and lives are complex and varied and the protagonist is able to see the positives in both lives.
This is chick lit though so don’t expect any scientifically rational explanation or resolution to the issue. Just enjoy the journey and don’t think too hard about it!
As Lauren she gets the chance to experience the contrasting life and the juggle of keeping four children and a husband happy. Although things aren’t quite so straight forward. Lauren’s life isn’t as straight forward as it initially appears- her marriage to Grant doesn’t seem to be going well, she appears to be having an affair and one of the children has special needs and seems like he is very much under appreciated as Lauren.
For Jessica this episode couldn’t have come at a worse time- the dog walk she was on when she was struck by lightning was the moment she met her soul mate Dan and as Jessica she is aware that Dan is the man she has been waiting for her whole life and all she wants is the chance to get that happy ever after.
Living the dual life of both Lauren (and then reliving the day again) and Jessica there appears to be no easy resolution to this. It isn’t a medically fixable issue and lives are complex and varied and the protagonist is able to see the positives in both lives.
This is chick lit though so don’t expect any scientifically rational explanation or resolution to the issue. Just enjoy the journey and don’t think too hard about it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2025
This book was compared to 'Freaky Friday' so I assumed Lauren will take Jessica's place and cause chaos but...
Lauren was dead.
Lauren's ex lover who was stalking Lauren/Jessica?
Dead.
Lauren's husband who was violent after knowing about Lauren's betrayal?
Dead.
Jessica who lost her job, had no reference, kind of broke up with the love of her life and found it difficult juggling her own and Lauren's life?
Dead.
Teddy who is Lauren's brain damaged child?
Not dead BUT dead talented.
Cause we can't have a brain damaged child without any talent, can we now?
And Dan, the love of Jessica's life for no known reason?
Dead.
Gorgeous.
He is sooo gorgeous that female weightlifters flirt with him at weddings and he has to get in a car and drive off.
Cause female weightlifters.Eww!
They should just die.
Jessica's lovely parents?
Grieving their dead daughter.
While the said 'dead' daughter gets ready made package of four children, a supportive lesbian sister AND goes back to her old life to collect her dog and Dan the Man.
Parents?
Who cares about them.
Geting the man and the dog is all that's required for a happy end.
Lauren was dead.
Lauren's ex lover who was stalking Lauren/Jessica?
Dead.
Lauren's husband who was violent after knowing about Lauren's betrayal?
Dead.
Jessica who lost her job, had no reference, kind of broke up with the love of her life and found it difficult juggling her own and Lauren's life?
Dead.
Teddy who is Lauren's brain damaged child?
Not dead BUT dead talented.
Cause we can't have a brain damaged child without any talent, can we now?
And Dan, the love of Jessica's life for no known reason?
Dead.
Gorgeous.
He is sooo gorgeous that female weightlifters flirt with him at weddings and he has to get in a car and drive off.
Cause female weightlifters.Eww!
They should just die.
Jessica's lovely parents?
Grieving their dead daughter.
While the said 'dead' daughter gets ready made package of four children, a supportive lesbian sister AND goes back to her old life to collect her dog and Dan the Man.
Parents?
Who cares about them.
Geting the man and the dog is all that's required for a happy end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2023
This book is such a world wide of weirdness that it makes you continue reading to see what craziness is going to happen next
I absolutely loved this book - especially because I believe everyone at one point wishes they were someone else with a completely different life (even if its caused by a freak accident)
When Jessica woke up as Lauren I was WOW how on earth did that happen but just like I always believed nothing happens for no reason there is always a wider curcumstance that we just don't know about
I also believe that no one truly dies but they are reincarnated so it was actually really cool to see Jessica switch back & forth between herself & Lauren without any recollection of Lauren's life or memories
The children just made this story that more enjoyable for me, especially Teddy he is just such a sweet soul who - althou he has brain damage - just wants people to understand him & love him for who he is & I think that's why he eventually takes to Jessica in his own little way
Stunning book & such an eventful story x Highly recommended xxxx
I absolutely loved this book - especially because I believe everyone at one point wishes they were someone else with a completely different life (even if its caused by a freak accident)
When Jessica woke up as Lauren I was WOW how on earth did that happen but just like I always believed nothing happens for no reason there is always a wider curcumstance that we just don't know about
I also believe that no one truly dies but they are reincarnated so it was actually really cool to see Jessica switch back & forth between herself & Lauren without any recollection of Lauren's life or memories
The children just made this story that more enjoyable for me, especially Teddy he is just such a sweet soul who - althou he has brain damage - just wants people to understand him & love him for who he is & I think that's why he eventually takes to Jessica in his own little way
Stunning book & such an eventful story x Highly recommended xxxx
October 22, 2010
When Jessica Taylor is struck by lightning one afternoon whilst walking her dog, she has no idea how dramatically her life is going to change! Lucky to survive, Jessica wakes up in a hospital bed – but as someone else. Apparently she’s now Lauren Richardson, wife and mother of four young children. No one will believe her story – she can hardly believe it herself. Later that night, Jessica wakes up again – as herself. She quickly works out that when Lauren sleeps, she wakes up as Jessica. But when Lauren is awake, she must sleep – whatever the time of day. Needless to say, it plays havoc with her work and her blossoming relationship with Dan Brennan, the handsome stranger who saved her on the Downs that fateful day. Jessica has no idea what has happened to her and whether she can get back to life as she knows it. Meanwhile, she must quickly get the hang of looking after four demanding children, an even more demanding husband and also learn all about the woman in whose designer shoes she now stands. But as she digs deeper into Lauren’s life, she unearths some secrets, secrets which may tear the family apart...
Could It Be Magic? is the debut novel from Melanie Rose, which was originally published under the title of Being Lauren. It must have obviously have been a popular read as in 2009 it was re-published under a new title, with a new cover by AVON, an imprint of HarperCollins. I must admit, I’d never heard of the book before, until Chloe reviewed it and it immediately grabbed my attention. It’s billed as a perfect read for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Cecelia Ahern and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. It took me a while, but I finally managed to pick the book up for the bargain price of a euro and it’s the best euro I think I’ve ever spent (and that includes buying a Wispa – chocolate heaven as far as I’m concerned!).
As soon as I started Could It Be Magic? I was a bit worried it was going to be a carbon copy of the fabulous Kinsella novel Remember Me?. They both have the same elements of memory loss (albeit the memory loss happened for different reasons), and both books have the female character learning to get used to an entirely different life. But Could It Be Magic? is about so much more than that as lead character Jessica, after being struck by lightning, finds herself in another woman, Lauren’s, body. As it turns out, when Jessica is asleep, she awakens as Lauren and when Lauren is asleep, she becomes herself, Jessica, again. Not only does Jessica have to contend with being a completely different woman, but it turns out that Lauren has a husband and four children, so Jessica (as Lauren) has to be a mother and wife without knowing who the people are that purport to be her family. Honestly, it might sound complicated but it’s really not. The only complication is that Jessica has to divide her time between being herself and being Lauren equally so that her own, real life with a job, dog and prospective boyfriend, doesn’t end up going completely down the pan.
I mean, isn’t that just one of the best plot lines for a story you’ve ever heard about? It’s such a fascinating avenue for Melanie Rose to go down and for a first novel it’s even more fantastic. I absolutely adored every page of the book, and it was easy to flip between Jessica being Jessica and Jessica being Lauren, it all flowed so nicely that I just wanted to keep reading and keep reading and keep reading to see how it was all going to pan out. I thought both stories, as the book is essentially, two stories merged into one, were equally as interesting as Jessica frantically tries to keep both lives on the go, without arousing the suspicion that everything isn’t exactly as it seems. The book zig-zagged into all sorts of directions as the pages wore on and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough as both of Jessica’s worlds threatened to collapse in on themselves.
You would think that with essentially two different stories there would be tons of characters to keep up with, but it’s really not that difficult as they all have their own quirks and foibles. I warmed to Jessica immediately and she has raced up into my top 10 female characters ever. She just takes everything in her stride and I totally admired how she threw herself into being Lauren. Jessica’s personality stays pretty much the same throughout, which again, was another plus point. We don’t really know too much about the ‘real’ Lauren, but from what we do learn, I didn’t really know what to make of her. One of my favourite characters was Dan, who Jessica meets before her lightning strike. He was such a likeable character and I could see why Jessica fell for him! As for Lauren’s husband and children, I can’t say I liked Grant, the husband, very much, he seemed very smarmy but I adored Lauren’s four children. Teddy in particular was really lovely.
Melanie Rose deals with some difficult topics throughout the book, topics you might not expect from the beautiful orange cover, but all the subjects covered are handled sensibly and with great care. Could It Be Magic? is told entirely from Jessica’s point of view, switching between herself and Lauren, which made the book very easy to get in to. My main worry about the book was how it would end. It’s a completely unique storyline and the ending was either going to make or break the book. Thankfully, and much to my relief, I though the ending was very satisfactory. There’s no feel that the book was rushed to a conclusion and there was no convoluted explanation about what happened, all there was was a fantastic ending that had me in tears. Could It Be Magic? will appeal to many, many people and if you haven’t already read it, then I really do think you should pick this book up. Despite how cringe-worthy this may sound, it is a magical novel.
Could It Be Magic? is the debut novel from Melanie Rose, which was originally published under the title of Being Lauren. It must have obviously have been a popular read as in 2009 it was re-published under a new title, with a new cover by AVON, an imprint of HarperCollins. I must admit, I’d never heard of the book before, until Chloe reviewed it and it immediately grabbed my attention. It’s billed as a perfect read for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Cecelia Ahern and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. It took me a while, but I finally managed to pick the book up for the bargain price of a euro and it’s the best euro I think I’ve ever spent (and that includes buying a Wispa – chocolate heaven as far as I’m concerned!).
As soon as I started Could It Be Magic? I was a bit worried it was going to be a carbon copy of the fabulous Kinsella novel Remember Me?. They both have the same elements of memory loss (albeit the memory loss happened for different reasons), and both books have the female character learning to get used to an entirely different life. But Could It Be Magic? is about so much more than that as lead character Jessica, after being struck by lightning, finds herself in another woman, Lauren’s, body. As it turns out, when Jessica is asleep, she awakens as Lauren and when Lauren is asleep, she becomes herself, Jessica, again. Not only does Jessica have to contend with being a completely different woman, but it turns out that Lauren has a husband and four children, so Jessica (as Lauren) has to be a mother and wife without knowing who the people are that purport to be her family. Honestly, it might sound complicated but it’s really not. The only complication is that Jessica has to divide her time between being herself and being Lauren equally so that her own, real life with a job, dog and prospective boyfriend, doesn’t end up going completely down the pan.
I mean, isn’t that just one of the best plot lines for a story you’ve ever heard about? It’s such a fascinating avenue for Melanie Rose to go down and for a first novel it’s even more fantastic. I absolutely adored every page of the book, and it was easy to flip between Jessica being Jessica and Jessica being Lauren, it all flowed so nicely that I just wanted to keep reading and keep reading and keep reading to see how it was all going to pan out. I thought both stories, as the book is essentially, two stories merged into one, were equally as interesting as Jessica frantically tries to keep both lives on the go, without arousing the suspicion that everything isn’t exactly as it seems. The book zig-zagged into all sorts of directions as the pages wore on and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough as both of Jessica’s worlds threatened to collapse in on themselves.
You would think that with essentially two different stories there would be tons of characters to keep up with, but it’s really not that difficult as they all have their own quirks and foibles. I warmed to Jessica immediately and she has raced up into my top 10 female characters ever. She just takes everything in her stride and I totally admired how she threw herself into being Lauren. Jessica’s personality stays pretty much the same throughout, which again, was another plus point. We don’t really know too much about the ‘real’ Lauren, but from what we do learn, I didn’t really know what to make of her. One of my favourite characters was Dan, who Jessica meets before her lightning strike. He was such a likeable character and I could see why Jessica fell for him! As for Lauren’s husband and children, I can’t say I liked Grant, the husband, very much, he seemed very smarmy but I adored Lauren’s four children. Teddy in particular was really lovely.
Melanie Rose deals with some difficult topics throughout the book, topics you might not expect from the beautiful orange cover, but all the subjects covered are handled sensibly and with great care. Could It Be Magic? is told entirely from Jessica’s point of view, switching between herself and Lauren, which made the book very easy to get in to. My main worry about the book was how it would end. It’s a completely unique storyline and the ending was either going to make or break the book. Thankfully, and much to my relief, I though the ending was very satisfactory. There’s no feel that the book was rushed to a conclusion and there was no convoluted explanation about what happened, all there was was a fantastic ending that had me in tears. Could It Be Magic? will appeal to many, many people and if you haven’t already read it, then I really do think you should pick this book up. Despite how cringe-worthy this may sound, it is a magical novel.
April 2, 2025
Yeah this book was a pretty good read. Again, I was in yet another reading slump as I tried to get through this. It was a very interesting concept I will say and I was very invested in the two different lives going on but I did think that the ending was rushed but though, saying that with such a complicated storyline I suppose there’s only so many ways that you can tie it all up with a neat bow. All things considered it was tied up very neatly, very full circle to say the least. I do feel dissatisfied but I’m also glad the book is over not to say it was a difficult read, it was very enjoyable but perhaps it wasn’t quite for me. It took me a while to wrap my head around the concept especially when time travel fell into the mix but other than that, a very easy read, fun concept with plenty of layers - I do recommend to give this book a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
A girl is hit by lightning when out in a storm walking her dog. When she awakes she is in someone else's body. This book follows Jessica as she lives both her own life and that of new person Lauren who is a mother of 4. This was an interesting read and was something different to anything I've read before.
I felt like more was put into the storyline of Lauren than Jessica when Jessica was the real person and the one with the new romance blossoming/the reason I picked up the book expecting romance. There seems a lack of this like this portion was rushed. I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters where she was Lauren and we were getting to know her family.
I did however enjoy this book and would recommend you give it a go and see what you think.
I felt like more was put into the storyline of Lauren than Jessica when Jessica was the real person and the one with the new romance blossoming/the reason I picked up the book expecting romance. There seems a lack of this like this portion was rushed. I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters where she was Lauren and we were getting to know her family.
I did however enjoy this book and would recommend you give it a go and see what you think.
October 21, 2024
A great premise but lacking so much in the finished product.
As with other similar reviews there was not enough character development; everyone felt 2 dimensional and there were too many elements where things tied up too neatly and perfectly for the story’s benefit (e.g. Jessica’s fairly natural ability to parent the children with only minor issues).
I didn’t warm to any of the characters unfortunately and by the end I felt it lacked grit, considering the magnitude of what was occurring to Jessica and the other characters.
Also I found that despite the amount of events the author tied up with ribbon there were still so many unanswered questions throughout the book; this ultimately made the writing and story feel clunky.
A one time only read I’m afraid.
As with other similar reviews there was not enough character development; everyone felt 2 dimensional and there were too many elements where things tied up too neatly and perfectly for the story’s benefit (e.g. Jessica’s fairly natural ability to parent the children with only minor issues).
I didn’t warm to any of the characters unfortunately and by the end I felt it lacked grit, considering the magnitude of what was occurring to Jessica and the other characters.
Also I found that despite the amount of events the author tied up with ribbon there were still so many unanswered questions throughout the book; this ultimately made the writing and story feel clunky.
A one time only read I’m afraid.
December 31, 2024
C: 4
A: 5
W: 3
P: 4
I: 4
L: 3
E: 5
CAWPILE TOTAL: 4
This certainly wasn't the worst thing I've ever read but I didn't like nearly any of the characters and the writing style and dialogue read as stilted and uncomfortable to me. It didn't feel human.
The plot had the potential to be really interesting, and one of the very few characters I actually liked was Teddy, who knew what was going on just as quickly as Jessica did.
But there was some irresponsible pet ownership that, as a guinea pig girl, fully angered me, the relationships were all rushed to a cringeworthy fault and the ending was really predictable.
It read a very similar way to Reasons to be Cheerful and clearly I just don't vibe with narratives in that style.
A: 5
W: 3
P: 4
I: 4
L: 3
E: 5
CAWPILE TOTAL: 4
This certainly wasn't the worst thing I've ever read but I didn't like nearly any of the characters and the writing style and dialogue read as stilted and uncomfortable to me. It didn't feel human.
The plot had the potential to be really interesting, and one of the very few characters I actually liked was Teddy, who knew what was going on just as quickly as Jessica did.
But there was some irresponsible pet ownership that, as a guinea pig girl, fully angered me, the relationships were all rushed to a cringeworthy fault and the ending was really predictable.
It read a very similar way to Reasons to be Cheerful and clearly I just don't vibe with narratives in that style.
August 24, 2023
A lovely quirky read. Both Jessica and Lauren do not know each other but by strange coincidence they are each struck by lightening at the same time. Only Jessica is fortunate to get away with less damage. However whenever Jessica goes to sleep at night, or sometimes during the day, the finds she has taken over Lauren`s life; however this Lauren is suffering total amnesia. When Lauren is sleeping Jessica wakes up and carries on with her life. An unusual plot and difficult to work out just how it could end.
January 7, 2025
Not gonna lie, this book took me a year to read not because I didn't enjoy it but because I wasn't in the right headspace to read.
Just finished it, I will say I enjoyed the concept of the story, it's different, definitely got attached to certain characters, some I didn't care for though.
I did find the last 5 chapters, felt a bit rushed to me, some bits didn't make sense to me and I was desperate to carry on certain moments to find out more details but I guess that also means I was ingrossed in the story......
I enjoyed the ending, would love to see a movie version
Just finished it, I will say I enjoyed the concept of the story, it's different, definitely got attached to certain characters, some I didn't care for though.
I did find the last 5 chapters, felt a bit rushed to me, some bits didn't make sense to me and I was desperate to carry on certain moments to find out more details but I guess that also means I was ingrossed in the story......
I enjoyed the ending, would love to see a movie version
January 7, 2024
Interesting premise with strong plot and well-drawn characters. Sone concerning revelations about Grant which tarnished the end for me (spoiler) he’s been abusing his wife yet Jessica feels sorry for him and looks to honour his wishes…very minimising of such a significant plot point. However, in general, this was a decent and interesting fantasy story grounded in a believable real world setting. Worth a read overall. Would have been interested in a book 2 (spoiler) Dan and Lauren….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2025
I don’t know how to feel about the ending. There were so many unresolved plot points and questions.
But I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I liked the time travelling elements of the story, and clearly the kids were better off with Jessica as a mum than Lauren.
But the instant falling in love with Dan was a bit too cringe for me. You’ve known him less than a week, and you’re declaring he’s the one, nahh 😂
And why didn’t Karen mourn her sister like at all?!
But I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I liked the time travelling elements of the story, and clearly the kids were better off with Jessica as a mum than Lauren.
But the instant falling in love with Dan was a bit too cringe for me. You’ve known him less than a week, and you’re declaring he’s the one, nahh 😂
And why didn’t Karen mourn her sister like at all?!
February 10, 2024
"C" - My 2024 Alphabet Challenge
This was a very pleasant read, easy and quick paced - The writing is not my style entirely, and I wasn't the biggest fan of how it tries to wind up and end, but I didn't know which direction it was going to go in! A thoroughly fun bit of reading but not one I'll be doing again.
This was a very pleasant read, easy and quick paced - The writing is not my style entirely, and I wasn't the biggest fan of how it tries to wind up and end, but I didn't know which direction it was going to go in! A thoroughly fun bit of reading but not one I'll be doing again.
February 11, 2024
I could accept the soul/body switch, but I just couldn’t accept this whole falling in love with Dan after literally just meeting him, and the whole jealousy thing because she had someone at her house for food?! No thanks. The storyline was an interesting idea but I didn’t like the style of writing and the ending was just not for me. Not a terrible book as some parts were enjoyable. 2.5/5
November 4, 2024
🌟.5
I should have DNF'ed but I was curious on how she was going to wrap it all up... was not worth it. It was such an interesting concept but the execution was so poor. The writing style was so prescriptive and don't get me started on the love interest, I've never seen instalove like it, so unbelievable. Also, this whole book is meant to take place over 2 weeks? Wtf?
I should have DNF'ed but I was curious on how she was going to wrap it all up... was not worth it. It was such an interesting concept but the execution was so poor. The writing style was so prescriptive and don't get me started on the love interest, I've never seen instalove like it, so unbelievable. Also, this whole book is meant to take place over 2 weeks? Wtf?
April 5, 2025
This was so different to what I’ve read before and I think I maybe even loved it. The was a few times I got myself a little confused so had to go back and read parts again but, I think that’s is more on me than the author. It was so good to see the characters grow and the development of them all. All I’ll say is, that ending, wow!
July 17, 2023
Books I've read and provided detailed reviews over the years but all data is lost after accidental deletion and GD refuse to restore it back.
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
February 9, 2024
3.5 stars. This was a really fun read! I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style but the storyline was really interesting! And at the end I did cry a little, wasn’t expecting it to be so emotional, but I did love the ending!
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