If I Were You

by Leslie Margolis

Just in time for summer, a body switch story in the vein of Freaky Friday with best friends and boy trouble.

Twelve-year-old Katie is insanely jealous of her best friend, Melody. Turns out Melody is jealous of Katie, too. When they wish for the exact same thing—to be in each other's shoes—at the exact same moment, their wishes are granted. They’ll be redoing the summer, except this time as one another. In this be-careful-what-you-wish-for tale, two best friends learn that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Friendship, Childrens, Romance

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2015

About the author

Leslie Margolis is author of numerous books for children, including the Maggie Brooklyn Mysteries and the Annabelle Unleashed series. Her novel, Boys Are Dogs, was turned into the Disney Channel movie Zapped, starring Zendaya. Leslie’s most recent books, If I Were You, We Are Party People and Ghosted, are published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Leslie lives in Los Angeles with her family. Her two kids have read some of her books, and think they are okay. For more information, please visit www.lesliemargolis.com.

Reviews

[Ksenia]

A great twist on the "Freaky Friday" story, but with friends! The grass is not always greener on the other side, and even though these two friends start off being jealous of each others lives, they end up with a stronger friendship.

[Aleta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. The characters were whiney and annoying. Also, while I realize that twelve year olds "date" there was a lot of kissing, for kids that young.

[Wisty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was too adorable! First of all, it absolutely reeked of summer. Such a great way to start off the season. I've never been a fan of the summer, but this book was all about appreciating what you've got and possibilities and it was just really nice!

The girls themselves were young and annoying, so that was accurate. I love a good Freaky Friday-type story, so this was just a really nice read!

[Leigh Collazo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hundreds more reviews like this one at Mrs. ReaderPants.

WHAT I LIKED: Comparisons to Freaky Friday are inevitable here, except this time, it's two friends switching places. Freaky Friday is an older movie and book, so if your students don't know it, you could always show them this clip.

This book is incredibly easy to booktalk with sixth and seventh grade girls. The cover is cute, and it looks like a fun summer read. We are selling this book in our school's book fair this week, and it's sold well, especially with my sixth grade girls.

The theme of being jealous of a friend's life rings true. Katie and Melody each think the other's life is just perfect, and this at the heart of their recent arguments and irritation with one another. Many 11- and 12-year old girls will identify.

I liked the girls' voices and felt they were well-drawn as characters.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The biggest thing that put me off is how these 12-year old girls are portrayed as though they are 15 or 16. Both girls go anywhere they want to in town without adult supervision. Katie goes around town wearing Melody's mother's skimpy dresses and makeup. Melody kisses a boy (her secret boyfriend) in a hot tub. Maybe I'm a big prude here, but I think that's way too mature behavior for 12-year old girls.

THEMES: friendship, jealousy, the-grass-is-not-greener

THE BOTTOM LINE: It's cute for middle school girls, but be forewarned that the 12-year old characters exhibit some mature behaviors for their age.

STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: We just bought a copy from our school book fair. I expect it to circulate well with middle school girls.

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 3/5
Creativity: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Engrossing: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5


CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: medium; hot tub kissing, a much older man hits on 12-year old girl
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: none

[Joanna Nurin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The grass isn't always greener on the other side 🔖

[Abigail Weiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was worth reading. My favorite part of this book was when they realized that things didn't have to be the same as before. I also liked when they found out how one anothers life wasn't perfect. Overall this book was pretty good because it had a lot of deep thinking that you had to do.

[Ridha Amalia Nur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Menceritakan dua orang sahabat berumur 12 tahun : Katie dan Melody yang punya harapan untuk bisa bertukar tubuh. Katie iri sama kehidupan Melody yang selalu dipuja orang krn kecantikannya, rumah mewah bak istana, ibu gaul sosialita yang perhatian dan yang paling penting : orangtua Melodi tidak bercerai.

Di sisi lain, Melodi juga sangat iri dengan Katie yg pintar dan selalu jadi bintang kelas, punya saudara (tiri) kembar berusia 4 tahun yang super cute, Ryan dan Reese. Punya rumah yang selalu penuh kehangatan, punya ayah (yang walaupun ayah tiri) yang selalu care dan enak diajak ngobrol.

Suatu hari, di akhir musim panas, di dalam bus menuju Malibu Beach mereka berdua berhasil body switch dan musim panas terulang lagi dari awal.

Tapiiiii apa yang selama ini mereka pikirkan tentang 'kehidupan sempurna' yang dimiliki orang lain, ternyata tidak seindah yang terlihat.
Katie jadi sadar kalau hidup sebagai Melodi itu gak enak!! Sering digodain cowok2 krn cantik, harus nemenin mamanya shopping beronde-ronde tiap hari, harus ikut mamanya exercise, makanannya diatur biar gak gendut, rumahnya yg walaupun luas ternyata luar biasa sepi krn semua orang sibuk, gak ada yang namanya makan malam bersama di meja makan sambil diselingi canda tawa.

On the other side, Melodi juga jengah harus hidup sebagai Katie yang cuman dianggap orang2 sebagai sidekick-nya Melody. Tiap hari disuruh babysit Ryan dan Reese yang exhausting bangetttt and of corz for free, gak punya banyak uang untuk beli ini dan itu, tiap Sabtu wajib bangun jam 6 pagi buat hiking bareng.

Pokoknya mereka jadi sadar kalau ternyata kehidupan mereka yang dulu itu udah yang terbaik!!

Aku suka novel ini karena relate bangetttt, kita juga pasti sering gitu, pengen jadi kyk si ini atau si ituu soalnya hidupnya kyk enak banget. Aku pernah baca quote yang bunyinya kurang lebih 'kita selalu merasa hidup org lain lebih segala2nya krn kita bandingin RESULT-nya dia dengan BEHIND THE SCENE-nya kita'.

Ini bacaan yang light tapi value yang dikasih sama penulis penting banget menurutku dan bisa jadi media untuk berefleksi kalau ternyata kita terlalu sibuk menuntut Tuhan utk ngasih apa2 yang kita gak punya sampe2 kita lupa bersyukur untuk apa yang udah Tuhan kasih sampai detik ini. 🥺🥺

[Hallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In if i were you there are two girls that both with they had another life. they wish they were each other so one day they were on there way tho the beach. Then while they were going through a magical tunnel they made there wish and became each other. But they are starting to realize that the other person does not have a glamorous life like they thought. They spend all summer fighting and finding out who they really are. Then they switch back to themselves and are best friends again and they change their lives for the better.
I think this is a good book for kids. This book has a lot of drama that you would find in like elementary school. I think this was a good book but the characters weren't very realistic and didn't have much of a plot.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margolis does not disappoint! Her "Freaky Friday," version of a best friend switch was entertaining and lesson learning. Melody and Katie are best friends who think the grass is greener on the other side. The start the summer upset with one another only to surprisingly switch into one another's bodies. Melody, who is beautiful has trouble sticking up for herself. Katie on the other hand finds herself to be plain looking yet can be as bossy as they come. While the two girls dive into the other friend's world, they soon learn that nobody's life is perfect and they need to take a look at what is in front of them including their fixable friendship.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The grass is not always greener on the other side."

It's a great representation on how we always wanted to have the life of other people but behind that "perfect life", there's a disadvantage in it too. It's also a story that say on how we hated our life but little do we know there's someone out there that secretly admiring our so "hated" life. Our life are very different and we should appreciate whatever we have.

I have to say this book is good but I just couldn't wrap my head around 13 years old girls fighting over a boy. It just feels weird (maybe just me), but yea it doesn't make sense in some parts.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

"For the first time in ages, actually, I truly see her."

I absolutely loved the whole premise of this book. You get to follow two best friends, Melody and Katie who both think that the other girl's life is better. They end up switching bodies and lives, and get to live out their dreams of being each other. By the end of the book they both realize that neither of their lives are perfect.

If I had read this book when I was like 11/12 I think I would've loved it even more tbh. Its written very middleschooly and its incredibly easy to read. Highly recommend to everyone but espeically tweens (10-12)

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I Were You is about two girls Melody and Katie, who were once best friends, they do everything together. They reach summer and go on a bus to go to a beach, and to get to the beach there is a wishing tunnel. What they don’t know is it really works when you wish for something. This book is intriguing when the girls switch bodies because they don’t know what is coming their way. I would recommend this book to girls 10 and older. I say this because there is some kissing that is being talked about in the book and also some fighting.

[Cassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was so good that I couldn’t help but finish it in one day! It has a little over 200 pages, so it’s the perfect amount. All the characters are so different and have their own unique qualities, which I like. There are many lessons learned throughout the book, and so many vivid details! The only flaw is the book ended so abruptly, I hope they have a continuing book to this one. Plus a few mistakes here and there, spelling and mix ups with names. I don’t mind that much though. Over all a very interesting book!

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book ''If I Were You'' is about two girls who have always wish they could be each other. Then one day it came true and they switched places. The lesson of this book is to be careful for what you wish for. And that the grass may not be greener on the other side. Over all I think that this was a pretty good book and you should read this if you like books that change perspectives from two people. This was a quick read.

[Sarahs bunte Welt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch würde ich allen Leseratten empfehlen, die sich für sommerliche Bücher rund um das Thema Freundschaft und den weiten Begriff „Hinter die Fassade schauen“ interessieren. Für mich etwas oberflächlich, denn einige Punkte bleiben offen und der Sommer verfliegt auch recht schnell mit einzelnen Eindrücken, die danach keine Relevanz mehr haben, aber für Leser ab 12 oder auch schon 10, finde ich es super. Ein Hauch Liebe natürlich inbegriffen.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

What it’s about: The book If I Were You, by Leslie Margolis is a great fiction book. Her book was about two best friends who drifted apart during the summer because of a boy. They were both very jealous of each other. the last day of summer they went through a tunnel you grant wishes in and they both wished to start the summer over but as the other person. They finally switched bodies and they go on as the opposite person and love it but there were secrets to be unlocked that were discovered and it caused problems for their relationship.

What I thought: I thought this book was well written and is definitely a great read from 10 to young teens. The author did a good job of being descriptive about everything. At some points to book got a little confusing but when you keep reading everything ties up and makes more sense.

Why I rated it like i did: I rated this book as three stars because it wasn’t truly the best book I’ve read but it was okay. Like I said at some points the book was confusing but it finally ties up. Overall, this book is okay.

[Parker Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

AMAZING book I love this book! Definitely get if your looking for something funny cute relatable! I have one not so positive thing to say though... Leslie Margolis Should maybe get more than one editor. There Is a typo. I know that sounds like not that bad but it can confuse a lot of people! I know it confused me at first! But other thank that it’s a great book

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable bodyswap book. Plenty of moments where people are surprised and touched by the different behaviour, showing how simple it can be to show kindness to those around us if we notice their needs. Satisfying read as two friends learn about each other's lives, then use those lessons to start meeting their own needs too. Straightforward read without unnecessary twists.

[Kayleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehh, nice idea, but the plot was so forced it was hard to fully appreciate. And they also decided finishing sixth grade made them grown: Example; "I'm already twelve and i've still never had a boyfriend!" Umm ok.

[Maisey Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love tropical, beach books. This was one of them. I like how Katie and Melody switch lives, and we see what it's like being different people. I wish I could do that no problem.

[Arminia Evanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like it

[Zoe Wynns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it but the cliffhanger ending annoyed me so much!

[Erin Blond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel due to the characters and fun story-line.

[Vivi · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay...hope there's a sequel

[Kathyziller · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 actually. I thought it was a fresh take on the body switching concept and I really liked it right up until the end. I did think the ending fell a little short compared to the rest of the book.

[Bailey Van Dyke-Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely one of my favorites. While it is pretty easy for me now it is still a really good book.

[Molly Cartwright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book fell under both the fantasy and the fiction genre.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book I read it through school and I was hooked on every page I can’t believe how good it was it would defiantly be a book I would want to read over and over again!

[kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. No time to write review, but read this!

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. Certainly a good message for preteens! But all around I wasn't excited to finish reading it. I wasn't boring but it was basic.