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Trading Places
A socialite and a blue collar mechanic have to trade lives for two months in this delightful romcom from debut author Emily Duvall.
From the outside looking in, socialite Lexi North’s life looks decadently perfect, right down to her diamond-dusted nails. But you know what they say about glass houses… When one night goes horribly wrong—with the whole world watching— she’s challenged to swap lives with the salty, albeit gorgeous, man she rear-ends with her car.
For mechanic Evan Bailey, life is definitely not a party. There’s no “daddy’s credit card” for fixing up his family’s auto shop, raising his too-precocious-for-anyone’s-good niece, and getting his accounts from deep in the red to black. Which is precisely when opportunity—and celebutante Lexi North—smashes into his life.
But what should have been an easy bet gets a whole lot harder with the inexplicably hot chemistry between them. Now the only way for either of them to get what they want is to go for broke…
From the outside looking in, socialite Lexi North’s life looks decadently perfect, right down to her diamond-dusted nails. But you know what they say about glass houses… When one night goes horribly wrong—with the whole world watching— she’s challenged to swap lives with the salty, albeit gorgeous, man she rear-ends with her car.
For mechanic Evan Bailey, life is definitely not a party. There’s no “daddy’s credit card” for fixing up his family’s auto shop, raising his too-precocious-for-anyone’s-good niece, and getting his accounts from deep in the red to black. Which is precisely when opportunity—and celebutante Lexi North—smashes into his life.
But what should have been an easy bet gets a whole lot harder with the inexplicably hot chemistry between them. Now the only way for either of them to get what they want is to go for broke…
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2023
26 people are currently reading
6032 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
July 9, 2023
2.5 Stars
Spoiled heiress Lexi and downtrodden mechanic Evan switch places after a bet proposed by his niece goes viral. Neither is expected to last in the others world. While Lexi starts off selfish and unskilled in just about everything, she slowly comes into her own. Evan on the other hand gets swept into the glitz and glamor of having an absurd amount of money and loses focus on what’s really important. Through it all they find themselves attracted to each other (it’s honestly physical through most the story) until they both realize how they balance each other out and that there’s more to each than what meets the eye.
Overall the story was…meh. I couldn’t connect to either of them and I longed for more depth. A lot felt surface level and great opportunities for more (Evan is the guardian of his niece, Lexi was abandoned my her mom) were sadly glossed over and given limited page time.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Spoiled heiress Lexi and downtrodden mechanic Evan switch places after a bet proposed by his niece goes viral. Neither is expected to last in the others world. While Lexi starts off selfish and unskilled in just about everything, she slowly comes into her own. Evan on the other hand gets swept into the glitz and glamor of having an absurd amount of money and loses focus on what’s really important. Through it all they find themselves attracted to each other (it’s honestly physical through most the story) until they both realize how they balance each other out and that there’s more to each than what meets the eye.
Overall the story was…meh. I couldn’t connect to either of them and I longed for more depth. A lot felt surface level and great opportunities for more (Evan is the guardian of his niece, Lexi was abandoned my her mom) were sadly glossed over and given limited page time.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
April 27, 2024
Evan’s scraggly ponytail haunts my nightmares
September 7, 2023
A selfish, spoiled heiress and a mechanic make a bet to swap lives for two months and fall in love along the way. Sounds like the plot of a good Disney movie (except a bit steamier), which is exactly what I wanted.
It was a pretty fun and quick read. There were cute scenes and moments that made me crack a smile. But, it also felt a bit over the top at times. Lexi and Evan living each others lives changes them in the ways you would expect. Once Evan stepped into the rich douchebag role, he never recovered from that in my eyes. I was really rooting for Lexi to have better by the end.
Also, nothing to do with the plot or anything but WHERE IS EVANS PONYTAIL ON THE COVER???
It was a pretty fun and quick read. There were cute scenes and moments that made me crack a smile. But, it also felt a bit over the top at times. Lexi and Evan living each others lives changes them in the ways you would expect. Once Evan stepped into the rich douchebag role, he never recovered from that in my eyes. I was really rooting for Lexi to have better by the end.
Also, nothing to do with the plot or anything but WHERE IS EVANS PONYTAIL ON THE COVER???
August 28, 2023
This was a ride, If you like outrageous and crazy romcoms this one specially about a spoiled rich socialite having to trade jobs with a cute mechanic then this is your book. It was hard for me to get into this just because I couldn’t see it really happening irl and because the main character was so annoying in the beginning. It did get more interesting and I really liked the character development that the fmc Lexi had because the story needed that. The mmc Evan was okay, for the most part I liked them together. This is peak romcom, the romance was okay but I thought it was rushed at times. Overall I think if you like silly rom cons with sometimes annoying characters that end up have some depth to them you should read this. Thank you Entangled for this arc for an honest review.
Read if you like:
- Romcoms
- Rich fmc
- Some spicy scenes
- Character development
Read if you like:
- Romcoms
- Rich fmc
- Some spicy scenes
- Character development
December 11, 2024
Rich socialite switches places for 2 months with a poor mechanic, based on a bet. The premise for the bet was ridiculous, but as for the rest, Emily Duvall has a winner on her hands. Great banter, full of heart, and just enough steam to keep this from being a smut fest. I loved so much of this.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. 3.5⭐ rounded up to 4 because ultimately this works so well.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. 3.5⭐ rounded up to 4 because ultimately this works so well.
July 7, 2023
(3.5) ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
this book was a little embarrassing to read at the start due to the fact that Lexi was really annoying, but I understood that it was in the name of change. I did feel the changes in both of them seemed to happen a little quickly, and the ending was a bit rushed, but I did really enjoy reading this book WAY more than I thought I would.
this book was a little embarrassing to read at the start due to the fact that Lexi was really annoying, but I understood that it was in the name of change. I did feel the changes in both of them seemed to happen a little quickly, and the ending was a bit rushed, but I did really enjoy reading this book WAY more than I thought I would.
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August 30, 2023
I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the premise of the book and the transformation of the main characters into their new roles, though Lexi's was better portrayed imo. At first I hated Lexi so much and just wanted to bash my head against a wall whenever she talked which means the author wrote the spoiled brat part well, so props to them for that. Lexi's character development was so worth it and it was so refreshing to see her transition into a humble person.
What ruined the book for me was the yacht scene. The public humiliation on both sides was not it. The lying, miscommunication and Hudson really damaged the book. Personally, no matter how much grovelling is involved, I would not take someone back if they did what Lexi or what Evan did. There really isn't much recovery.
Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable book and quite funny too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Duvall for this read.
I liked the premise of the book and the transformation of the main characters into their new roles, though Lexi's was better portrayed imo. At first I hated Lexi so much and just wanted to bash my head against a wall whenever she talked which means the author wrote the spoiled brat part well, so props to them for that. Lexi's character development was so worth it and it was so refreshing to see her transition into a humble person.
What ruined the book for me was the yacht scene. The public humiliation on both sides was not it. The lying, miscommunication and Hudson really damaged the book. Personally, no matter how much grovelling is involved, I would not take someone back if they did what Lexi or what Evan did. There really isn't much recovery.
Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable book and quite funny too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Duvall for this read.
August 14, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
1.5 stars
I couldn't resist the tempting cover and synopsis. A spoiled rich girl who switches life with a mechanic for a bet? Yes, please!!
To be honest, I'm surprised I stuck with this book until the end. The writing style is clunky and muddled. There is no smooth transition between sentences and paragraphs. It was very hard to situate myself in the story, especially in Chapter 1. The writing style does improve a bit after Chapter 1, but the lack of smooth transition is still an issue in the later chapters. The author often switches from one topic to another so abruptly that I have to go back and check to see if I misread or missed something. There were also quite a few continuity errors that confused me.
Why did I continue reading? Well, I was invested in the story. Even though I was not a fan of the writing style, I give the author props for writing an interesting and fast-paced story. Plus, the shenanigans were very funny, especially when Lexi and Evan struggled to adapt in each other's lives. I had a good laugh here and there, so my reading experience was not too terrible.
This book was a solid 2 star...up until the conflict. It was really annoying and I don't think Evan groveled enough. His reaction after she confessed her feelings turned me off so much. Not only did he give her the most asinine response, he also completely ignored it afterwards. I'm sorry, but that is not romance hero material. It just didn't sit well with me and it was bad enough that I decreased my rating.
Overall, good concept, story, and pacing. But the writing needs more polishing. It almost feels like the book is a draft that has yet to go through the editing process.
1.5 stars
I couldn't resist the tempting cover and synopsis. A spoiled rich girl who switches life with a mechanic for a bet? Yes, please!!
To be honest, I'm surprised I stuck with this book until the end. The writing style is clunky and muddled. There is no smooth transition between sentences and paragraphs. It was very hard to situate myself in the story, especially in Chapter 1. The writing style does improve a bit after Chapter 1, but the lack of smooth transition is still an issue in the later chapters. The author often switches from one topic to another so abruptly that I have to go back and check to see if I misread or missed something. There were also quite a few continuity errors that confused me.
Why did I continue reading? Well, I was invested in the story. Even though I was not a fan of the writing style, I give the author props for writing an interesting and fast-paced story. Plus, the shenanigans were very funny, especially when Lexi and Evan struggled to adapt in each other's lives. I had a good laugh here and there, so my reading experience was not too terrible.
This book was a solid 2 star...up until the conflict. It was really annoying and I don't think Evan groveled enough. His reaction after she confessed her feelings turned me off so much. Not only did he give her the most asinine response, he also completely ignored it afterwards. I'm sorry, but that is not romance hero material. It just didn't sit well with me and it was bad enough that I decreased my rating.
Overall, good concept, story, and pacing. But the writing needs more polishing. It almost feels like the book is a draft that has yet to go through the editing process.
August 19, 2023
Thank you to Entangled Publishing LLC for the ARC!
This story was one interesting read. The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars was because the reasoning for Lexi and Evan even agreeing to the bet seemed truly impulsive and out-of-character for both of them. I think that there should've been a little more meat to them getting from hearing Cece's suggestion to actually agreeing to go through with it.
As for the characters, Evan was so adorably gruff, annoying and hilarious. I loved how he treated Lexi as his equal, and didn't treat her like a spoiled princess. But, of course, without even realizing, he made sure that she knew that he'd be there for her, if she ever needed him. Of course, he did make a certain major booboo, but he truly did redeem himself in the end.
Lexi's character arc is probably my favorite. It's most visible a little later in the book, but I truly identified with and felt her pain. I didn't like her character in the first few chapters. She seemed annoying, and out-of-touch with reality. It almost made me stop reading the book altogether. But, as I continued to read on and different facets of her character were revealed, I began to see the character that she was going to be.
This is a sweet story about merging two very different worlds, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who's interested in a fun, adorable, enemies-to-lovers story!
NOTE: ARC received in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This story was one interesting read. The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars was because the reasoning for Lexi and Evan even agreeing to the bet seemed truly impulsive and out-of-character for both of them. I think that there should've been a little more meat to them getting from hearing Cece's suggestion to actually agreeing to go through with it.
As for the characters, Evan was so adorably gruff, annoying and hilarious. I loved how he treated Lexi as his equal, and didn't treat her like a spoiled princess. But, of course, without even realizing, he made sure that she knew that he'd be there for her, if she ever needed him. Of course, he did make a certain major booboo, but he truly did redeem himself in the end.
Lexi's character arc is probably my favorite. It's most visible a little later in the book, but I truly identified with and felt her pain. I didn't like her character in the first few chapters. She seemed annoying, and out-of-touch with reality. It almost made me stop reading the book altogether. But, as I continued to read on and different facets of her character were revealed, I began to see the character that she was going to be.
This is a sweet story about merging two very different worlds, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who's interested in a fun, adorable, enemies-to-lovers story!
NOTE: ARC received in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 1, 2023
This book had me on a rollercoaster – particularly with the initial chapters. We start the book out in Lexi’s perspective and immediately she is unbearably snobbish and frankly, tacky. Every other sentence is describing designer this and money that and it was genuinely exhausting to read her perspective. When I first picked up this book, I was wondering if I’d locked myself into reading yet another poorly written romance with no substance. And I’m so glad to report that I was wrong in that early assumption.
The first chapter in the book is strangely written and hard to read, it felt almost like Duvall was struggling to find Lexi’s voice in those first few pages. The writing was a bit muddled, the character interactions felt bizarre and unnatural, Lexi’s rationale for her actions was hard to follow. But when you get past that initial chapter, you are rewarded a dozen times over with interesting characters, smooth-flowing dialogue, and a healthy dose of grumpy-sunshine romance.
As I continued reading this book, I went from feeling passive disinterest in the book and its characters, to keeping rapt attention on every page. It got to the point where I didn’t want to put the book down because it was such a delight to read.
What I appreciate most about this book is that Duvall doesn’t try too hard to force interactions with her characters that make you like them. Evan isn’t some doting, puppy-dog-eyed father to his niece, but he loves her deeply and it shows. Duvall doesn’t force the classic “he’s good with kids so he must be a catch” narrative. He has a personality and loveable qualities outside of caring about his niece, which is refreshing to read in the romance genre.
Lexi’s character also grows on you quickly, without the need for a tragic backstory that forces you to care about her if only because of the things she’s been through. Duvall does an excellent job at developing the characters and providing them with more depth as the story goes on. She has created characters that are imperfect in all the ways that real people are, and it was such a pleasure to read.
The teasing and the banter and the overall playfulness of the dialogue is such fun to read and this book is exactly what I needed for my summer reading list.
Is the premise of the story unrealistic? Yes. Were some of the character interactions unrealistic or bizarrely dramatic? Also, yes. But that’s the point. Not only does the book give you loveable characters, but you also get a fun plot that doesn’t try too hard to ground itself in reality. This book is the perfect escape, and if you’re capable of suspending your disbelief and don’t need plots to be firmly set in reality, then I absolutely recommend this book.
Trading Places was a charming and pleasurable read from start (mostly) to finish. I genuinely look forward to picking up more books by Emily Duvall, if only to dive back into the joy of reading something light and playful again.
Note: I received this book for free as an eGalley from Entangled Publishing - I am not being paid for this review and all opinions are my own.
The first chapter in the book is strangely written and hard to read, it felt almost like Duvall was struggling to find Lexi’s voice in those first few pages. The writing was a bit muddled, the character interactions felt bizarre and unnatural, Lexi’s rationale for her actions was hard to follow. But when you get past that initial chapter, you are rewarded a dozen times over with interesting characters, smooth-flowing dialogue, and a healthy dose of grumpy-sunshine romance.
As I continued reading this book, I went from feeling passive disinterest in the book and its characters, to keeping rapt attention on every page. It got to the point where I didn’t want to put the book down because it was such a delight to read.
What I appreciate most about this book is that Duvall doesn’t try too hard to force interactions with her characters that make you like them. Evan isn’t some doting, puppy-dog-eyed father to his niece, but he loves her deeply and it shows. Duvall doesn’t force the classic “he’s good with kids so he must be a catch” narrative. He has a personality and loveable qualities outside of caring about his niece, which is refreshing to read in the romance genre.
Lexi’s character also grows on you quickly, without the need for a tragic backstory that forces you to care about her if only because of the things she’s been through. Duvall does an excellent job at developing the characters and providing them with more depth as the story goes on. She has created characters that are imperfect in all the ways that real people are, and it was such a pleasure to read.
The teasing and the banter and the overall playfulness of the dialogue is such fun to read and this book is exactly what I needed for my summer reading list.
Is the premise of the story unrealistic? Yes. Were some of the character interactions unrealistic or bizarrely dramatic? Also, yes. But that’s the point. Not only does the book give you loveable characters, but you also get a fun plot that doesn’t try too hard to ground itself in reality. This book is the perfect escape, and if you’re capable of suspending your disbelief and don’t need plots to be firmly set in reality, then I absolutely recommend this book.
Trading Places was a charming and pleasurable read from start (mostly) to finish. I genuinely look forward to picking up more books by Emily Duvall, if only to dive back into the joy of reading something light and playful again.
Note: I received this book for free as an eGalley from Entangled Publishing - I am not being paid for this review and all opinions are my own.
March 10, 2024
A L&O Blind Date with a Book pick up! Cute, if predictable romance. More yearning than smut, but overall a fun book!
July 17, 2023
A quick thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Light-hearted, but somehow deep, I found myself completely unable to put this down. I laughed, I cried, I loved everything about this.
Lexi North, a spoiled heiress, and Evan Bailey, a mechanic, meet under rather unfortunate circumstances. Lexi has a very public meltdown following a tough breakup, then in her haste to flee the scene of said meltdown she rear ends Evan. The two then find themselves agreeing to switch lives after Evan's niece (basically daughter) live streams a heated debate between the two of them.
Throughout the story we get to see a lot of personal growth from Lexi. She realizes that the way she's been living is very... lonely. She craves love, which both of her parents have withheld from her growing up. Slowly but surely, she comes to appreciate the things most of us would take for granted. Evan on the other hand, does a bit of the opposite. He leans into the good life and doesn't want to give it up, but I did find his reasoning understandable. When they both inadvertently fall for each other, they have to work through every challenge their different worlds present.
Light-hearted, but somehow deep, I found myself completely unable to put this down. I laughed, I cried, I loved everything about this.
Lexi North, a spoiled heiress, and Evan Bailey, a mechanic, meet under rather unfortunate circumstances. Lexi has a very public meltdown following a tough breakup, then in her haste to flee the scene of said meltdown she rear ends Evan. The two then find themselves agreeing to switch lives after Evan's niece (basically daughter) live streams a heated debate between the two of them.
Throughout the story we get to see a lot of personal growth from Lexi. She realizes that the way she's been living is very... lonely. She craves love, which both of her parents have withheld from her growing up. Slowly but surely, she comes to appreciate the things most of us would take for granted. Evan on the other hand, does a bit of the opposite. He leans into the good life and doesn't want to give it up, but I did find his reasoning understandable. When they both inadvertently fall for each other, they have to work through every challenge their different worlds present.
July 31, 2023
DNF at 21 %
September 1, 2023
3.75 stars
Lexi North is known for two things – her father’s wealth and her ability to spend it. Sure she likes to party and mess around, but who can blame a girl for wanting to have fun? When she bumps into Evan Bailey, her night of bad choices gets so much worse. He’s infuriating and the two instantly clash heads. Their heated dispute becomes a lot more public after Evan’s niece decides to livestream it… and then she proclaims a bet - for Lexi, the socialite party girl and Evan, the grumpy mechanic, to swap lives.
Overall the premise of this book was fun and quirky. I liked the light-hearted tone of the story and thought it was written well. A few elements were rather surface-level and the whole ‘bet’ situation was introduced in a way that felt jarring. It did pick up after this though and I found myself enjoying each character's experience in the other's life. I wasn’t 100% sold on the romance at the start, there just didn't seem to be that much chemistry, but I did warm up to it over time (I think because it was more focused on the bet rather than the romance at first? Which is perfectly fine). Whilst it didn't take away from my enjoyment, most relationships outside of the main one were kind of shallow, I do wish these were developed better (I especially wanted to see Lexi’s relationship with the workers at the auto shop, there was so much potential for her to grow and befriend the people there). At the end of the book there was tension and a few characters were acting childish, personally, I struggled to look past this and wasn’t able to really forgive said characters. Regardless, this was still a lot of fun. Duvall’s writing style was easy to read and get lost in and there were a lot of amusing moments sprinkled throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lexi North is known for two things – her father’s wealth and her ability to spend it. Sure she likes to party and mess around, but who can blame a girl for wanting to have fun? When she bumps into Evan Bailey, her night of bad choices gets so much worse. He’s infuriating and the two instantly clash heads. Their heated dispute becomes a lot more public after Evan’s niece decides to livestream it… and then she proclaims a bet - for Lexi, the socialite party girl and Evan, the grumpy mechanic, to swap lives.
Overall the premise of this book was fun and quirky. I liked the light-hearted tone of the story and thought it was written well. A few elements were rather surface-level and the whole ‘bet’ situation was introduced in a way that felt jarring. It did pick up after this though and I found myself enjoying each character's experience in the other's life. I wasn’t 100% sold on the romance at the start, there just didn't seem to be that much chemistry, but I did warm up to it over time (I think because it was more focused on the bet rather than the romance at first? Which is perfectly fine). Whilst it didn't take away from my enjoyment, most relationships outside of the main one were kind of shallow, I do wish these were developed better (I especially wanted to see Lexi’s relationship with the workers at the auto shop, there was so much potential for her to grow and befriend the people there). At the end of the book there was tension and a few characters were acting childish, personally, I struggled to look past this and wasn’t able to really forgive said characters. Regardless, this was still a lot of fun. Duvall’s writing style was easy to read and get lost in and there were a lot of amusing moments sprinkled throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2023
I really enjoy stories about characters switching lives. Add in an enemies to lovers romance and I was seriously anticipating this one!!!
This story follows Lexi (a spoiled heiress with a trust fund) and Evan (a mechanic and de facto single dad who has custody of his niece CeeCee). When Lexi hits Evan’s car, it sets in motion a life swap for the two of them.
Some reviewers have said they had trouble connecting to Lexi, but I liked her. She was feisty and fun. And while, yes, she did start off spoiled and bratty, she also had a vulnerability to her that made her more likable. Evan was fine, a little gruff and rough around the edges, but I liked him well enough. The enemies to lovers vibe was great and they were both so snarky with each other. There was plenty of sexual tension.
Overall I gobbled up this romance, reading it in a single day. I’d definitely recommend it for those who like the enemies to lovers trope.
This story follows Lexi (a spoiled heiress with a trust fund) and Evan (a mechanic and de facto single dad who has custody of his niece CeeCee). When Lexi hits Evan’s car, it sets in motion a life swap for the two of them.
Some reviewers have said they had trouble connecting to Lexi, but I liked her. She was feisty and fun. And while, yes, she did start off spoiled and bratty, she also had a vulnerability to her that made her more likable. Evan was fine, a little gruff and rough around the edges, but I liked him well enough. The enemies to lovers vibe was great and they were both so snarky with each other. There was plenty of sexual tension.
Overall I gobbled up this romance, reading it in a single day. I’d definitely recommend it for those who like the enemies to lovers trope.
September 26, 2023
What a premise! I loved that there was more background story of the two that the story unveiled as it went on instead of just “heiress” and “blue-collared worker”. Lexi was pretty unbearable at first and I had to keep telling myself that was the point. No fault on the author! She was doing her job right. I just really dislike all that entitlement. Thankfully, the point of the bet is to essentially give her a wake up call. After being caught in a livestream, Lexi is basically forced into a bet where Evan and his niece, Cece— who he is single-parenting, get to live her luxurious life for 2 months, and she has to live like they would. There is an added 3rd party condition to the bet, set by her dad; if she doesn’t follow through on the bet, he will cut her off forever. If you like a romcom with character development, this is a good read for you!
Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this one early!
Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this one early!
May 19, 2024
3 ⭐️
1🌶️
I liked this book. It was a fun read, but I didn’t love this book. The characters were cute, but they also got on my nerves especially Evan. I did like that they had to switch lives, a little princess and the pauper moment. I just didn’t feel super invested in the story of the characters.
Some parts especially when they were fighting they would just stop being mad and started kissing each other. Like the fight was completely forgotten all forgiven in the span of a second.
I don’t know. Maybe this is your cup of tea but it wasn’t really mine🤷🏻♀️
1🌶️
I liked this book. It was a fun read, but I didn’t love this book. The characters were cute, but they also got on my nerves especially Evan. I did like that they had to switch lives, a little princess and the pauper moment. I just didn’t feel super invested in the story of the characters.
Some parts especially when they were fighting they would just stop being mad and started kissing each other. Like the fight was completely forgotten all forgiven in the span of a second.
I don’t know. Maybe this is your cup of tea but it wasn’t really mine🤷🏻♀️
October 13, 2023
This book was amazing! I loved how a stuck-up girl was able to be challenged to switch her life with someone who isn't as fortunate. I loved Cece she sounded like such a cute little girl. I loved all the random twists and how this book kept you engaged the whole time. The spice had just the perfect amount. I loved the ending it was all so perfect. I highly recommend this book. Thank you, netgalley, the author and the publisher, for allowing me to read this as an arc and for allowing me to share my opinion on what I thought of this book.
November 13, 2024
3.75/5⭐️
July 17, 2023
A quick thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Light-hearted, but somehow deep, I found myself completely unable to put this down. I laughed, I cried, I loved everything about this.
Lexi North, a spoiled heiress, and Evan Bailey, a mechanic, meet under rather unfortunate circumstances. Lexi has a very public meltdown following a tough breakup, then in her haste to flee the scene of said meltdown she rear ends Evan. The two then find themselves agreeing to switch lives after Evan's niece (basically daughter) live streams a heated debate between the two of them.
Throughout the story we get to see a lot of personal growth from Lexi. She realizes that the way she's been living is very... lonely. She craves love, which both of her parents have withheld from her growing up. Slowly but surely, she comes to appreciate the things most of us would take for granted. Evan on the other hand, does a bit of the opposite. He leans into the good life and doesn't want to give it up, but I did find his reasoning understandable. When they both inadvertently fall for each other, they have to work through every challenge their different worlds present.
Light-hearted, but somehow deep, I found myself completely unable to put this down. I laughed, I cried, I loved everything about this.
Lexi North, a spoiled heiress, and Evan Bailey, a mechanic, meet under rather unfortunate circumstances. Lexi has a very public meltdown following a tough breakup, then in her haste to flee the scene of said meltdown she rear ends Evan. The two then find themselves agreeing to switch lives after Evan's niece (basically daughter) live streams a heated debate between the two of them.
Throughout the story we get to see a lot of personal growth from Lexi. She realizes that the way she's been living is very... lonely. She craves love, which both of her parents have withheld from her growing up. Slowly but surely, she comes to appreciate the things most of us would take for granted. Evan on the other hand, does a bit of the opposite. He leans into the good life and doesn't want to give it up, but I did find his reasoning understandable. When they both inadvertently fall for each other, they have to work through every challenge their different worlds present.
August 23, 2023
I wanted to like this so much - the premise sounded really good & I loved the cover - but it was just not meant to be. I thought Lexi & Evan were caricatures of stereotypes - she’s a rich socialite who has no understanding of money or working for a living & he’s got a massive chip on his shoulder because he has no money. I thought their bet & life swap was silly - they were both left to flounder in each other’s lives, and it just built resentment on both sides.
I struggled to connect with either of them. I like the leads in romance novels to be likeable - they may be a bit of a grump, but not unlikeable. Lexi & Evan did very little to endear themselves to me. Lexi had more growth as a character, whereas Even seemed to develop into a more unlikeable version of himself. All of this, and then adding so much miscommunication & misconceptions about each other, just left a sour taste in my mouth.
Thanks to Entangled Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I struggled to connect with either of them. I like the leads in romance novels to be likeable - they may be a bit of a grump, but not unlikeable. Lexi & Evan did very little to endear themselves to me. Lexi had more growth as a character, whereas Even seemed to develop into a more unlikeable version of himself. All of this, and then adding so much miscommunication & misconceptions about each other, just left a sour taste in my mouth.
Thanks to Entangled Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2023
This was a concept I've yet to read in a rom com, so it was a nice change of pace. I really liked seeing how having their financial situations changed the way they saw the world. Of course we expected the fmc to become more down to earth but it was a bit of a plot twist when the mmc became very concerned with the world of wealth he had been submerged in.
This was a slow burn with the perfect amount of spice thrown in. A dramatic third quarter break up and her rich ex (Hudson) wooing her back to the world which she had once cared so much for.
Great read. Would read it again
This was a slow burn with the perfect amount of spice thrown in. A dramatic third quarter break up and her rich ex (Hudson) wooing her back to the world which she had once cared so much for.
Great read. Would read it again
December 31, 2024
I give this book a 4 1/2⭐️ it was so cute ,it’s romcomy just a very enjoyable read
August 17, 2023
I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was invited to read Trading Places by the publisher and it wasn't what I was expecting. I had pictured a rich socialite and a blue collar worker trading places to see how the other one lives. What I got instead was an average Joe living the high life and a silver spoon snob who didn't learn her lesson. The heroine was ordered to work in a body shop and wasn't even allowed to touch cars. The quaint house she was staying in wasn't shabby by any means. She had no character growth and ended the book just as awful as she started. I was sorely tempted to abandon the book within the first chapter because of her horrible attitude. She was Blair Waldorf, Chanel Oberlin, and Regina George all rolled into one insufferable ball.
The only thing stopping this book from earning a one star rating was the hero. He was a saint who didn't deserve to get dragged into this mess. All he was trying to do was help raise his niece (?) and work in his brother's auto shop to pay his bills. The heroine literally crashed into his car and ruined his life. I will admit they had stellar chemistry, but she was a high maintenance cow. Physical attraction can only get you so far when you have the personality of Veruca Salt. I'm honestly surprised the heroine didn't drop the fact her father bought 500 chocolate bars for a local factory tour.
It's always so flattering to be invited for an advanced copy, but I ended up missing out on the golden ticket for this Wonka bar. It didn't truly deliver on the trading places scenario and only focused on the positive aspects of the switcheroo. The heroine's selfishness made me want to tear out my hair. If I didn't have an obligation to finish this book, I would have abandoned this within the first chapter. I was getting major Alexis Rose vibes and definitely not in a cute way. I will commend the author for getting her debut novel published, but I will not be pursuing her future novels. At the end of the day, the only thing Lexi needed to be Trading Places with is a garbage can.
I was invited to read Trading Places by the publisher and it wasn't what I was expecting. I had pictured a rich socialite and a blue collar worker trading places to see how the other one lives. What I got instead was an average Joe living the high life and a silver spoon snob who didn't learn her lesson. The heroine was ordered to work in a body shop and wasn't even allowed to touch cars. The quaint house she was staying in wasn't shabby by any means. She had no character growth and ended the book just as awful as she started. I was sorely tempted to abandon the book within the first chapter because of her horrible attitude. She was Blair Waldorf, Chanel Oberlin, and Regina George all rolled into one insufferable ball.
The only thing stopping this book from earning a one star rating was the hero. He was a saint who didn't deserve to get dragged into this mess. All he was trying to do was help raise his niece (?) and work in his brother's auto shop to pay his bills. The heroine literally crashed into his car and ruined his life. I will admit they had stellar chemistry, but she was a high maintenance cow. Physical attraction can only get you so far when you have the personality of Veruca Salt. I'm honestly surprised the heroine didn't drop the fact her father bought 500 chocolate bars for a local factory tour.
It's always so flattering to be invited for an advanced copy, but I ended up missing out on the golden ticket for this Wonka bar. It didn't truly deliver on the trading places scenario and only focused on the positive aspects of the switcheroo. The heroine's selfishness made me want to tear out my hair. If I didn't have an obligation to finish this book, I would have abandoned this within the first chapter. I was getting major Alexis Rose vibes and definitely not in a cute way. I will commend the author for getting her debut novel published, but I will not be pursuing her future novels. At the end of the day, the only thing Lexi needed to be Trading Places with is a garbage can.
July 3, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a dual-perspective redemption story that held my attention, and I completed the read within a day. The female main character, Lexi, is an entitled socialite with high public visibility who must endure life-altering changes to achieve her goal. The male main character, Evan, is a mechanic in his family’s body shop who is raising his niece while on a limited budget. Lexi and Evan’s unexpected pairing makes for an interesting enemies-to-lovers situation with a healthy dose of irritation and attraction.
The pacing of this book started off choppy with certain chapters difficult to comprehend but gradually smoothed out to a lovely conflict that was well-written and captivating. Lexi’s behavior in the first half of the book felt redundant and grating at times, but even so, it appeared she was the protagonist and Evan was the antagonist. However, during the crisis of the story, the roles appear to shift, and Evan seemed like he had a more complex dilemma than Lexi’s, which was not explored in depth (maybe there will be a book two?). I wanted more of Evan’s story in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed Lexi’s wit and personality, once given a glimpse into the real her, as well as the banter between her and Evan.
Overall, Trading Places was an enjoyable, dramatized read that left me wanting more. More insight into Evan. More insight into Mature Lexi. And more of their sizzling attraction. I cannot wait to see what Duvall brings to the table after this!
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)
This is a dual-perspective redemption story that held my attention, and I completed the read within a day. The female main character, Lexi, is an entitled socialite with high public visibility who must endure life-altering changes to achieve her goal. The male main character, Evan, is a mechanic in his family’s body shop who is raising his niece while on a limited budget. Lexi and Evan’s unexpected pairing makes for an interesting enemies-to-lovers situation with a healthy dose of irritation and attraction.
The pacing of this book started off choppy with certain chapters difficult to comprehend but gradually smoothed out to a lovely conflict that was well-written and captivating. Lexi’s behavior in the first half of the book felt redundant and grating at times, but even so, it appeared she was the protagonist and Evan was the antagonist. However, during the crisis of the story, the roles appear to shift, and Evan seemed like he had a more complex dilemma than Lexi’s, which was not explored in depth (maybe there will be a book two?). I wanted more of Evan’s story in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed Lexi’s wit and personality, once given a glimpse into the real her, as well as the banter between her and Evan.
Overall, Trading Places was an enjoyable, dramatized read that left me wanting more. More insight into Evan. More insight into Mature Lexi. And more of their sizzling attraction. I cannot wait to see what Duvall brings to the table after this!
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)
August 17, 2023
This is a dual POV novel where two characters from very different walks of life are challenged to trading lives with each other for one month. Lexi is a spoiled, rich girl who spends her days posting for social media and living off her trust fund. Evan is a blue collar mechanic who lives paycheck to paycheck while raising his niece because her mother is incarcerated and her father has never been a part of her life.
Lexi and Evan meet after Lexi rear ends Evans car and then behaves like Evan is beneath her. Somehow Evan’s niece ends up challenging Lexi to trade lives with them for a month, all while broadcasting live on social media. Lexi accepts the challenge and then finds herself in her fathers office. Her father is tired of her spoiled little rich girl antics and gives her an ultimatum, if she quits the challenge before the thirty days is up, she will lose her entire inheritance.
I understood the plot and storyline and feel like it was written smoothly until the end. Throughout the story there are the trials and tribulations that each faces when living a lifestyle they’ve never before imagined. There is of course, a love story, a third act break up and very rushed HEA ending. This novel was okay but I would be more interested in a follow up story of what life is like for Lexi and Evan, more than a month after the challenge has ended.
I received an advance reader copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Lexi and Evan meet after Lexi rear ends Evans car and then behaves like Evan is beneath her. Somehow Evan’s niece ends up challenging Lexi to trade lives with them for a month, all while broadcasting live on social media. Lexi accepts the challenge and then finds herself in her fathers office. Her father is tired of her spoiled little rich girl antics and gives her an ultimatum, if she quits the challenge before the thirty days is up, she will lose her entire inheritance.
I understood the plot and storyline and feel like it was written smoothly until the end. Throughout the story there are the trials and tribulations that each faces when living a lifestyle they’ve never before imagined. There is of course, a love story, a third act break up and very rushed HEA ending. This novel was okay but I would be more interested in a follow up story of what life is like for Lexi and Evan, more than a month after the challenge has ended.
I received an advance reader copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.
September 28, 2023
Trading Places is Emily Duvall @eduvallauthor newest contemporary rom-com, where she masterfully crafts characters who’ve got it all figured out, until they really, really don’t! This story? It’s an enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract kind of story with some blush-inducing sizzle and plenty of heartwarming moments that put a spotlight on vulnerability.
This story is told in dual POV of the MC. Lexi is spoiled and used to throwing money at whatever problem she encounters. Evan is a grumpy no nonsense, hard working mechanic helping to raise his niece, he has no time for self entitled brats!
When a car crash throws Lexi and Evan into each others lives, daddy’s money isn’t coming to the rescue this time. Lexi needs a lesson in hard knocks and this just might be the opportunity Evan has been looking for. A one month life swap should be a piece of cake right?
Evan and Lexi have sparks flying as there is an immediate attraction to each other but their polar opposite lifestyles and personalities are off putting.
I liked that we get to see them both grow and mature in the story. And we get some great back story into their lives as the book progresses that help bring things together. I enjoyed how Lexi treated CeCe, Evans’s niece, and the moments they had together.
Read this if you enjoy:
🔧 Slow Burn
🔧 Opposites Attract
🔧 Found Family
🔧 Personal growth
🔧 If you liked movies like She’s All That (He’s All That) or Overboard
CW: Some Language and open door scene.
This story is told in dual POV of the MC. Lexi is spoiled and used to throwing money at whatever problem she encounters. Evan is a grumpy no nonsense, hard working mechanic helping to raise his niece, he has no time for self entitled brats!
When a car crash throws Lexi and Evan into each others lives, daddy’s money isn’t coming to the rescue this time. Lexi needs a lesson in hard knocks and this just might be the opportunity Evan has been looking for. A one month life swap should be a piece of cake right?
Evan and Lexi have sparks flying as there is an immediate attraction to each other but their polar opposite lifestyles and personalities are off putting.
I liked that we get to see them both grow and mature in the story. And we get some great back story into their lives as the book progresses that help bring things together. I enjoyed how Lexi treated CeCe, Evans’s niece, and the moments they had together.
Read this if you enjoy:
🔧 Slow Burn
🔧 Opposites Attract
🔧 Found Family
🔧 Personal growth
🔧 If you liked movies like She’s All That (He’s All That) or Overboard
CW: Some Language and open door scene.
September 3, 2023
Lexi is heiress, socialite who enjoys living the posh life people can only imagine. Evan a regular guy who works in his brother's Body Shop as a Mechanic.
A chance encounter made Lexi and Evan's lives collide like a meteor..When Evan's niece challenges the two to trade places for 2 months things got interesting.
This was a classic Riches to Rags story. Lexi started out insufferable until she learned that happiness isn't found in Trust Funds and Day Spas. Evan was able to live a life he never dreamed of. Allowing him and his 12 old niece to live as socialites.
Both Lexi and Evan faced multiple challenges in their new roles but once they got over hating one another and actually started helping one another adjust they eventually had a chance to learn each other beyond a superficial level.
This was an ok story. The concept was cute but it just seemed too long and by the Lexi did a complete 180 after 2 months of slumming it.
If you're looking for a Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers RomCom with minimum spice this maybe the story for you.
A chance encounter made Lexi and Evan's lives collide like a meteor..When Evan's niece challenges the two to trade places for 2 months things got interesting.
This was a classic Riches to Rags story. Lexi started out insufferable until she learned that happiness isn't found in Trust Funds and Day Spas. Evan was able to live a life he never dreamed of. Allowing him and his 12 old niece to live as socialites.
Both Lexi and Evan faced multiple challenges in their new roles but once they got over hating one another and actually started helping one another adjust they eventually had a chance to learn each other beyond a superficial level.
This was an ok story. The concept was cute but it just seemed too long and by the Lexi did a complete 180 after 2 months of slumming it.
If you're looking for a Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers RomCom with minimum spice this maybe the story for you.
January 10, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
The book's premise intrigued me, and I appreciated the transformation of the main characters as they assumed their new roles, particularly finding Lexi's evolution to be more skillfully portrayed. Admittedly, I initially despised Lexi, a testament to the author's adept depiction of her spoiled-brat persona – a commendable feat. Lexi's character development, however, proved immensely rewarding, offering a refreshing shift toward humility.
Regrettably, the yacht scene proved to be the book's downfall for me. The public humiliation and the ensuing web of lies and miscommunication, especially involving Hudson, marred the narrative. Regardless of any subsequent groveling, the actions of both Lexi and Evan surpassed the threshold of redemption in my eyes, leaving little room for recovery.
Despite this setback, the book remained relatively enjoyable, boasting moments of humor that added to its overall appeal. While the yacht scene left a sour taste, the positive aspects of the story, including Lexi's transformation, contributed to a generally entertaining reading experience.
The book's premise intrigued me, and I appreciated the transformation of the main characters as they assumed their new roles, particularly finding Lexi's evolution to be more skillfully portrayed. Admittedly, I initially despised Lexi, a testament to the author's adept depiction of her spoiled-brat persona – a commendable feat. Lexi's character development, however, proved immensely rewarding, offering a refreshing shift toward humility.
Regrettably, the yacht scene proved to be the book's downfall for me. The public humiliation and the ensuing web of lies and miscommunication, especially involving Hudson, marred the narrative. Regardless of any subsequent groveling, the actions of both Lexi and Evan surpassed the threshold of redemption in my eyes, leaving little room for recovery.
Despite this setback, the book remained relatively enjoyable, boasting moments of humor that added to its overall appeal. While the yacht scene left a sour taste, the positive aspects of the story, including Lexi's transformation, contributed to a generally entertaining reading experience.
September 28, 2023
What a premise! I loved that there was more background story of the two that the story unveiled as it went on instead of just “heiress” and “blue-collared worker”. Lexi was pretty unbearable at first and I had to keep telling myself that was the point. No fault on the author! She was doing her job right. I just really dislike all that entitlement. Thankfully, the point of the bet is to essentially give her a wake up call. After being caught in a livestream, Lexi is basically forced into a bet where Evan and his niece, Cece— who he is single-parenting, get to live her luxurious life for 2 months, and she has to live like they would. There is an added 3rd party condition to the bet, set by her dad; if she doesn’t follow through on the bet, he will cut her off forever. If you like a romcom with character development, this is a good read for you!
Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this one early!
Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this one early!
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