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Switch a Wish
Chris and Amanda Claridge are that couple. They look happy. They live in a well-kept house, have three little girls and fit squarely into the traditional roles of a husband and wife.
Chris is a handsome college professor, and easily charms most everyone he meets. He loves his job and can’t wait to go to work each day. Amanda is a dedicated mother and caretaker. She tends to the kids and appreciates how important her job is, even if others don’t get it.
Underneath the surface of this functioning family, things are unraveling. Their marital problems are about to split them apart when something magical happens. Chris and Amanda make a bedtime wish that forces them to live the life of the other person.
Chris must pretend to be his wife as he takes on childcare and household chores. Amanda steps out of her heels and into Chris’ shoes to tackle his job as a college professor. The role reversal is a revelation for the couple. Neither one has it as good, or bad, as they expected.
Can Chris and Amanda’s newfound understanding of each other survive when the secrets come out? Or, did a magical wish just cost them their marriage? Will they be able to switch back?
Switch-A-Wish examines the complexity of a stressed relationship through the eyes of partners who are required to live as each other. This unique perspective allows Chris and Amanda a chance to find their way back to the feelings of the love they once shared.
Chris is a handsome college professor, and easily charms most everyone he meets. He loves his job and can’t wait to go to work each day. Amanda is a dedicated mother and caretaker. She tends to the kids and appreciates how important her job is, even if others don’t get it.
Underneath the surface of this functioning family, things are unraveling. Their marital problems are about to split them apart when something magical happens. Chris and Amanda make a bedtime wish that forces them to live the life of the other person.
Chris must pretend to be his wife as he takes on childcare and household chores. Amanda steps out of her heels and into Chris’ shoes to tackle his job as a college professor. The role reversal is a revelation for the couple. Neither one has it as good, or bad, as they expected.
Can Chris and Amanda’s newfound understanding of each other survive when the secrets come out? Or, did a magical wish just cost them their marriage? Will they be able to switch back?
Switch-A-Wish examines the complexity of a stressed relationship through the eyes of partners who are required to live as each other. This unique perspective allows Chris and Amanda a chance to find their way back to the feelings of the love they once shared.
278 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2015
About the author
M.B. Earnheardt
1 book32 followersM.B. Earnheardt (Ph.D., Kent State University) lives in Youngstown, Ohio, transplanted from her childhood home in Mahaffey, Pennsylvania.
M.B. is author of SWITCH-A-WISH (Three Worlds Press, September 2015). Although she wrote a smattering of academic books, chapters, and articles, Switch-A-Wish is her first work of fiction.
When she's not writing, she teaches journalism courses at Youngstown State University, preparing the next generation of great story-tellers. When she's not teaching, she helps her husband (professor/author Dr. Adam C. Earnheardt) raise their four lab experiments (re: kids) in the Petri dish they call "home."
M.B. is author of SWITCH-A-WISH (Three Worlds Press, September 2015). Although she wrote a smattering of academic books, chapters, and articles, Switch-A-Wish is her first work of fiction.
When she's not writing, she teaches journalism courses at Youngstown State University, preparing the next generation of great story-tellers. When she's not teaching, she helps her husband (professor/author Dr. Adam C. Earnheardt) raise their four lab experiments (re: kids) in the Petri dish they call "home."
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 9, 2015
Of course, I'm a bit biased.
June 13, 2016
Review: Switch-a- Wish by M.B. Earnheardt
Here is a summary of what the book is about. Switch-A-Wish examines the complexity of a stressed relationship through the eyes of partners who are required to live as each other. This unique perspective allows Chris and Amanda a chance to find their way back to the feelings of the love they once shared.
I found this book to be interesting. The author did a great job with the way she wrote it.
I also found this book to be funny. I thought it was a great comparison to the movie Freaky Friday. Where in the movie Freaky Friday the Mother and Daughter switch lives.
I also thought this book did a great job of pointing out the responsibilities of the roles a husband and wife have in a marriage. It dealt with real life situations. We know that switching bodies can't happen in reality but I found this book to be an eye opener. I would recommend this book. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Here is a summary of what the book is about. Switch-A-Wish examines the complexity of a stressed relationship through the eyes of partners who are required to live as each other. This unique perspective allows Chris and Amanda a chance to find their way back to the feelings of the love they once shared.
I found this book to be interesting. The author did a great job with the way she wrote it.
I also found this book to be funny. I thought it was a great comparison to the movie Freaky Friday. Where in the movie Freaky Friday the Mother and Daughter switch lives.
I also thought this book did a great job of pointing out the responsibilities of the roles a husband and wife have in a marriage. It dealt with real life situations. We know that switching bodies can't happen in reality but I found this book to be an eye opener. I would recommend this book. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
September 20, 2015
A solid 4 1/2 stars for M.B. Earnhardt's debut novel, Switch-A-Wish. She has woven an intriguing story around an imperfect marriage and a fascinating concept, as well as managing to effortlessly write children into the mix without making them annoying or spotlight grabbing. There are some very humorous moments in the novel, as well as those that might cause a little introspection - and some that will make you sigh with relief as you realise we probably all do that, after all. :-)
Well done, M.B. Now, go write something else. ;-)
ETA: I received a free copy in return for an honest review.
Well done, M.B. Now, go write something else. ;-)
ETA: I received a free copy in return for an honest review.
December 15, 2015
A Terrific Freaky Friday Type Read
I absolutely loved this book. I hadn't heard of the author, but the cover and title were enough to get me to go ahead and read the blurb. I was hooked right from there. How many times have you wondered what it would be like if you could trade places with someone, let them see what it's like to walk in your shoes, but you have to remember that you will also get a look at what it's like to take a walk in their shoes. I really was sucked right into the story. The author has done a fantastic job of writing a book with real life issues that many couples struggle with, with style and grace, empathy and humor. There were some times when I was really laughing pretty hard... out loud... people stared. Oh well. I found myself able to really get in touch with the characters, to feel like I know then and empathize with them. Chris and Amanda both have their strong and weak suits and are very real. Then something happens that threatens everything, just as this married couple are getting closer. I won't say, but you definitely don't want to miss this one. I definitely recommend this book and will be watching out for more from this very talented author.
I absolutely loved this book. I hadn't heard of the author, but the cover and title were enough to get me to go ahead and read the blurb. I was hooked right from there. How many times have you wondered what it would be like if you could trade places with someone, let them see what it's like to walk in your shoes, but you have to remember that you will also get a look at what it's like to take a walk in their shoes. I really was sucked right into the story. The author has done a fantastic job of writing a book with real life issues that many couples struggle with, with style and grace, empathy and humor. There were some times when I was really laughing pretty hard... out loud... people stared. Oh well. I found myself able to really get in touch with the characters, to feel like I know then and empathize with them. Chris and Amanda both have their strong and weak suits and are very real. Then something happens that threatens everything, just as this married couple are getting closer. I won't say, but you definitely don't want to miss this one. I definitely recommend this book and will be watching out for more from this very talented author.
February 4, 2016
This book was great. I'm married and have dealt with the mommy/daddy issues of everyday life, so this book hits home. It follows Amanda and Chris, a not so happy married couple with children, as they switch lives for a few days. She is him, he is her, and together they work through the dis-function and find themselves again, not only as a couple but as individuals and a family unit as well.
This book was so real, except the switching bodies issue. Oh, how I wish this was really possible! This book was written so well and had the good, the bad, the funny, the sad, and the happy parts of everyday life.
Honestly, this was the best book Ive read in a long time!...Stormi
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This book was so real, except the switching bodies issue. Oh, how I wish this was really possible! This book was written so well and had the good, the bad, the funny, the sad, and the happy parts of everyday life.
Honestly, this was the best book Ive read in a long time!...Stormi
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https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
April 12, 2020
My Thoughts: I truly believe the biggest problem facing most relationships is the inability to communicate because the couple has lost the ability to relate to one another. Various reasons cause the couple to drift apart, lose the spark that connects them not just intimately but what brought them together in the first place. Resentments build because frustrations are not being communicated and that’s when the trouble begins. Chris and Amanda are just such a couple. They’ve been together a long time and have three children. Amanda gave up her journalism career so she could take care of the home and the children and often is taken advantage of by her mother in law, running errands for her as well. Chris is a university professor who is focused on his career and promoting to the chair of his department. Amanda is frustrated because she doesn’t feel like Chris supports her and never seems to engage with her and the family. She thinks life would be better if they got a divorce. Chris is frustrated because Amanda doesn’t show him any affection and he can’t remember when the last time they had great sex was. He is considering having an affair with one of his students. One night while putting the kids to bed, they each make a wish that the other one understood them. The next morning, they wake up to discover they have switched bodies.
They now have to live life as their spouse and figure out how to do that without making things worse. Along the way, they learn that their spouse doesn’t have it as good as they thought and they realize that the love that brought them together hasn’t gone away, it just needs a freshening up. As secrets are revealed, Chris and Amanda have to decide if what they have is worth fighting for.
My Final Verdict: I felt a lot of empathy for these characters and felt bad for the mess their relationship had become. I really enjoyed watching these characters struggle to figure out how they switched and wondering if they will ever be able to switch back. As both Chris and Amanda experience many realizations they never considered before and begin to fall in love with one other again, it gave me a good feeling to know that relationships are a lot of work, but worth it. I recommend this story for readers who enjoy a story that cuts to the heart of the matter with characters that are easy to relate to as their situation is all too realistic.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Switch A Wish from the author in exchange for an honest review.
They now have to live life as their spouse and figure out how to do that without making things worse. Along the way, they learn that their spouse doesn’t have it as good as they thought and they realize that the love that brought them together hasn’t gone away, it just needs a freshening up. As secrets are revealed, Chris and Amanda have to decide if what they have is worth fighting for.
My Final Verdict: I felt a lot of empathy for these characters and felt bad for the mess their relationship had become. I really enjoyed watching these characters struggle to figure out how they switched and wondering if they will ever be able to switch back. As both Chris and Amanda experience many realizations they never considered before and begin to fall in love with one other again, it gave me a good feeling to know that relationships are a lot of work, but worth it. I recommend this story for readers who enjoy a story that cuts to the heart of the matter with characters that are easy to relate to as their situation is all too realistic.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Switch A Wish from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2023
Mary Beth Earnheardt has been harassing me and tormenting me for over a decade. She began by threatening me when I was a student at Youngstown State University. She knew I am a trauma survivor and told me that people would come to get me and beat me and worse. She purposefully put me in a dissociative state so I wouldn’t remember when I left her office. She did this for a full academic year and then some.
She has repeatedly called my friends and family to harass them as well. She is a tyrant and belongs in jail.
She has repeatedly called my friends and family to harass them as well. She is a tyrant and belongs in jail.
October 7, 2017
This was pure joy to read. Such a cute idea (why didn't I think of that?) and M.B. writes a story that fires on all cylinders.
May 2, 2019
Cute at times, but doesn't do anything interesting or fresh with its central concept.
April 20, 2016
Switch-A-Wish by M.B. Earnheardt
Have you ever been so frustrated and angry at a person you wished for just a moment that he could spend just a moment in your shoes? Such was the case with Chris and Amanda Claridge.
Multiple college degrees between them, ten years of marriage, three children, an overbearing mother-in-law and years of frustration have landed this long time couple at a bitter en passé. Amanda is a brilliant journalist who has laid her career aspirations aside to care for her growing family. Disheartened by her absentee and neglectful husband, she just doesn’t know what to do as her complaints go unheard and her needs go unmet.
Chris finds himself juxtaposed between his professional and his home lives. At work he is the witty, sexy and extremely popular professor whose sights are set on advancement. At home, he’s the husband and father his wife feels can do nothing right. Frequently feeling like a failure in the relationship department has his bruised ego looking to be stroked…and one of his students is just the one to do it.
Jenna has had her eye on Chris for years, rearranging her schedule just to make sure their paths stay connected. She is cute, fun, carefree and determined to make Chris her man…despite the fact that he has a wife and kids a home.
On a day when Chris and Amanda have both decided they’ve had enough of each other and of their failing marriage, a simple request from their daughter sets in motion a chain of events that can only be described as bizarre and miraculous. Suddenly forced inside of each other worlds, they learn much about each other, about themselves, about the cost of love and forgiveness.
Earnheardt’s debut is a great success. She has skillfully taken the reader inside the very different world of the opposite sex. Her accounts are accurate, witty and non-judgmental, causing a reader to reflect on her own gender dynamics. Sometimes the very thing that is needed to bring understanding, empathy and compassion is to spend a moment in the shoes of another person. In Switch-A-Wish, Earnheardt allows us the rare opportunity to do just that.
4 stars
_____
Reviewed by Tumika Patrice Cain
Have you ever been so frustrated and angry at a person you wished for just a moment that he could spend just a moment in your shoes? Such was the case with Chris and Amanda Claridge.
Multiple college degrees between them, ten years of marriage, three children, an overbearing mother-in-law and years of frustration have landed this long time couple at a bitter en passé. Amanda is a brilliant journalist who has laid her career aspirations aside to care for her growing family. Disheartened by her absentee and neglectful husband, she just doesn’t know what to do as her complaints go unheard and her needs go unmet.
Chris finds himself juxtaposed between his professional and his home lives. At work he is the witty, sexy and extremely popular professor whose sights are set on advancement. At home, he’s the husband and father his wife feels can do nothing right. Frequently feeling like a failure in the relationship department has his bruised ego looking to be stroked…and one of his students is just the one to do it.
Jenna has had her eye on Chris for years, rearranging her schedule just to make sure their paths stay connected. She is cute, fun, carefree and determined to make Chris her man…despite the fact that he has a wife and kids a home.
On a day when Chris and Amanda have both decided they’ve had enough of each other and of their failing marriage, a simple request from their daughter sets in motion a chain of events that can only be described as bizarre and miraculous. Suddenly forced inside of each other worlds, they learn much about each other, about themselves, about the cost of love and forgiveness.
Earnheardt’s debut is a great success. She has skillfully taken the reader inside the very different world of the opposite sex. Her accounts are accurate, witty and non-judgmental, causing a reader to reflect on her own gender dynamics. Sometimes the very thing that is needed to bring understanding, empathy and compassion is to spend a moment in the shoes of another person. In Switch-A-Wish, Earnheardt allows us the rare opportunity to do just that.
4 stars
_____
Reviewed by Tumika Patrice Cain
April 20, 2016
Switch-A-Wish by M.B. Earnheardt
Have you ever been so frustrated and angry at a person you wished for just a moment that he could spend just a moment in your shoes? Such was the case with Chris and Amanda Claridge.
Multiple college degrees between them, ten years of marriage, three children, an overbearing mother-in-law and years of frustration have landed this long time couple at a bitter en passé. Amanda is a brilliant journalist who has laid her career aspirations aside to care for her growing family. Disheartened by her absentee and neglectful husband, she just doesn’t know what to do as her complaints go unheard and her needs go unmet.
Chris finds himself juxtaposed between his professional and his home lives. At work he is the witty, sexy and extremely popular professor whose sights are set on advancement. At home, he’s the husband and father his wife feels can do nothing right. Frequently feeling like a failure in the relationship department has his bruised ego looking to be stroked…and one of his students is just the one to do it.
Jenna has had her eye on Chris for years, rearranging her schedule just to make sure their paths stay connected. She is cute, fun, carefree and determined to make Chris her man…despite the fact that he has a wife and kids a home.
On a day when Chris and Amanda have both decided they’ve had enough of each other and of their failing marriage, a simple request from their daughter sets in motion a chain of events that can only be described as bizarre and miraculous. Suddenly forced inside of each other worlds, they learn much about each other, about themselves, about the cost of love and forgiveness.
Earnheardt’s debut is a great success. She has skillfully taken the reader inside the very different world of the opposite sex. Her accounts are accurate, witty and non-judgmental, causing a reader to reflect on her own gender dynamics. Sometimes the very thing that is needed to bring understanding, empathy and compassion is to spend a moment in the shoes of another person. In Switch-A-Wish, Earnheardt allows us the rare opportunity to do just that.
4 stars
_____
Reviewed by Tumika Patrice Cain
Have you ever been so frustrated and angry at a person you wished for just a moment that he could spend just a moment in your shoes? Such was the case with Chris and Amanda Claridge.
Multiple college degrees between them, ten years of marriage, three children, an overbearing mother-in-law and years of frustration have landed this long time couple at a bitter en passé. Amanda is a brilliant journalist who has laid her career aspirations aside to care for her growing family. Disheartened by her absentee and neglectful husband, she just doesn’t know what to do as her complaints go unheard and her needs go unmet.
Chris finds himself juxtaposed between his professional and his home lives. At work he is the witty, sexy and extremely popular professor whose sights are set on advancement. At home, he’s the husband and father his wife feels can do nothing right. Frequently feeling like a failure in the relationship department has his bruised ego looking to be stroked…and one of his students is just the one to do it.
Jenna has had her eye on Chris for years, rearranging her schedule just to make sure their paths stay connected. She is cute, fun, carefree and determined to make Chris her man…despite the fact that he has a wife and kids a home.
On a day when Chris and Amanda have both decided they’ve had enough of each other and of their failing marriage, a simple request from their daughter sets in motion a chain of events that can only be described as bizarre and miraculous. Suddenly forced inside of each other worlds, they learn much about each other, about themselves, about the cost of love and forgiveness.
Earnheardt’s debut is a great success. She has skillfully taken the reader inside the very different world of the opposite sex. Her accounts are accurate, witty and non-judgmental, causing a reader to reflect on her own gender dynamics. Sometimes the very thing that is needed to bring understanding, empathy and compassion is to spend a moment in the shoes of another person. In Switch-A-Wish, Earnheardt allows us the rare opportunity to do just that.
4 stars
_____
Reviewed by Tumika Patrice Cain
December 8, 2015
Title: Switch A Wish
Author: M. B. Earnheardt
Publisher: Three Worlds Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Switch A Wish" by M. B. Earnheardt
My Thoughts....
This was a very interesting story...'Switch A Wish' that after reading about the book description...I knew I wanted to check this one out [this dysfunctional married couple]. Trading places with your spouse...now that is some interesting concept! Seeing the world through your partner's eyes! Now I must say I did find many parts of the read very humorous that I could identify with having been married over 45 years myself! The author really shows a good writing style in dealing with some real life issues that enter into so many situations the a couple can struggle with. The characters [Chris & Amanda] plus...were all so well developed, defined, portrayed and believable... definitely empathizing with them... all giving the reader quite a interesting intriguing read that will keep your attention all the way to the end. I loved that ending as they well I will stop here and only say you will just have to check this one out and see how well this author presents such a good read as this couple works it all out.[even the fantasy part was good]! I loved this twist at the end of the read and one important thing I would most interesting that I got from the read and that is the need of being able to communicate with each other. Would I recommend this entertaining novel? YES! I believe this is a good read for a husband and wife with issues of everyday life and even for those that are not married.
Thank you for the gift of your novel for a honest opinion of the read from the author.
January 25, 2016
Let's be honest here for a moment, I was scared that this book was going to be yet another Freaky Friday! But for some reason I decided to give it a chance, who knows what forces made me do it, but I'm glad they did!
Switch a Wish was a wonderfully delightful look into the lives of a dysfunctional married couple. Something most of us have first hand knowledge. *points no fingers* Amanda and Chris get to literally walk a mile in each other's shoes. For three whole days, this couple gets to know the other in an intimate way.
Amanda, who is tired of being in a marriage where there is no contact or appreciation.
Chris, who is tired of being in a marriage with no affection or understanding.
One mystical night, while putting their two daughters to sleep, they unwittingly wish for the same thing in a bedtime ritual, "I wish my wife/husband knew how hard it was to be me." The next morning all hell breaks loose, and it's hilarious and genuinely human.
Throughout the book M.B. puts in all the things we wish we knew about the opposite sex, and makes it lighthearted and real.
There's a twist in the end for Amanda who has to decide if being married to Chris is worth the effort.
I'm really impressed with how heartfelt and, as I said before, human this book is. It's a true delight to read, and I'd read it again. (Which says a lot for me.) I hope to read more from M.B. in the future.
Switch a Wish was a wonderfully delightful look into the lives of a dysfunctional married couple. Something most of us have first hand knowledge. *points no fingers* Amanda and Chris get to literally walk a mile in each other's shoes. For three whole days, this couple gets to know the other in an intimate way.
Amanda, who is tired of being in a marriage where there is no contact or appreciation.
Chris, who is tired of being in a marriage with no affection or understanding.
One mystical night, while putting their two daughters to sleep, they unwittingly wish for the same thing in a bedtime ritual, "I wish my wife/husband knew how hard it was to be me." The next morning all hell breaks loose, and it's hilarious and genuinely human.
Throughout the book M.B. puts in all the things we wish we knew about the opposite sex, and makes it lighthearted and real.
There's a twist in the end for Amanda who has to decide if being married to Chris is worth the effort.
I'm really impressed with how heartfelt and, as I said before, human this book is. It's a true delight to read, and I'd read it again. (Which says a lot for me.) I hope to read more from M.B. in the future.
May 4, 2016
M.B. Earnheardt did a superb job on this book! I absolutely loved it, and as of today, it is one of my favorite books out there! At first, I actually thought it was going to be more of a teen book. As I began to read it, I couldn't put it down and definitely couldn't wait to see what was on the next page! The further I got into the book the more I was laughing out loud! It isn't a complete comical book, as it is a very intense, yet realistic situation. However, there were several chapters I giggled aloud and couldn't contain it. Very rarely do I find a book with a funny yet serious side! As the book began to come to a close, I found myself more into it than I was the day before. When the book came to an end, it left me wanting to read more by this author! Then I find, it is her first novel! I was shocked, but in a good way! I can't wait to find out what is in store next from Eaarnheardt. One of the best books I have ever read!
February 3, 2016
I wish my spouse and I could have read this book together. What couple doesn’t feel taken for granted from time to time? What would you give to see the world through your partner’s eyes? Would it be a blessing or curse? For Chris and Amanda Claridge, it is a bit of both as they become aware of the hardships and betrayals of each other in a most unexpected way. Yes, they swap bodies as in many films – but what the films never show is the true understanding that can accommodate between people who truly love each other. Earnheardt has written a real eye-opener in the ways of relationships and how we manage to misunderstand each other by not communicating clearly. So simple, yet rarely achieved. Read it and learn.
An advanced copy of this book was provided for an honest review.
An advanced copy of this book was provided for an honest review.
February 29, 2016
M.B. Earnheardt has done a fantastic job putting a married couple in each other's shoes--literally. In this romantic novel with a fantasy element, Chris and Amanda are trapped in a lackluster marriage with diminishing intimacy, compassion, and understanding--an all-too-common problem for young couples juggling careers, small children, aging parents, and other commitments. When each wishes the other could "know what it's like to be me," they get what they bargained for, with hilarious and poignant results. It's a fun, easy read told from his and her point of view, and it will have you nodding in sympathy--when not laughing out loud.
March 16, 2016
Excellent
Took a timeout from social media this evening and finished this book. MB, definitely delivered a great story. The book is funny, mixed with serious points. It could be a true story, but happy to hear it's fiction. :)
Took a timeout from social media this evening and finished this book. MB, definitely delivered a great story. The book is funny, mixed with serious points. It could be a true story, but happy to hear it's fiction. :)
September 11, 2016
I received a copy of this for free through Goodreads First Reads
This book really fell sort of flat for me, neither main character felt real at all. Conversations didn't seem real. I don't know I just really couldn't get into it at all and almost just set it aside and didn't finish it.
This book really fell sort of flat for me, neither main character felt real at all. Conversations didn't seem real. I don't know I just really couldn't get into it at all and almost just set it aside and didn't finish it.
November 23, 2015
Just finished reading this book. I was better than I thought it would be. I grew up with 5 brothers and I understand them a litter better now. It provides a good lesson in the story. Enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews