Swapped By a Kiss - Luisa Plaja

Title: Swapped By a Kiss

Author: Luisa Plaja

Publisher: Corgi Books (of Random House Children's Books)

Category: YA

Release Date: 2010

Source: Sent to me (signed) by Luisa herself *smug*

Paperback : 344 pages

Summary:

Rachel hates her life and everyone in it - she even has suspicions that her on/off boyfriend David might not be entirely trustworthy. However, when David invites her to a music festival in England featuring their friend's band, she jumps at the chance for an overseas adventure. Hoping to surprise David, Rachel arrives at the festival early, where she runs into a nasty surprise of her own - she sees David kissing their friend Jo. Distraught, Rachel runs off, wishing she could leave her life behind...the next thing she knows, she's back with David. But not as herself...She's now in Jo's body! Can she keep the swap a secret from David until she can work out exactly what's going on and get her revenge? Over the course of a very weird weekend, Rachel puts herself in someone else's shoes and finds that her own maybe weren't as uncomfortable as she'd always thought. But can she ever be herself again?

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When I reviewed Split by a Kiss (here), I fell in love with Luisa Plaja's fun and sweet stories as well as her unique characters. I can't review Swapped by a Kiss without writing spoilers about Split by a Kiss though, so don't read further if you haven't read the first!

(I love my Spoiler Alert Bat =D)

As much as I loved the character of Jo, I found it harder to get into Rachel's head. Rachel is the tough cookie, she snaps before she says "hi" and she is, all in all, someone who makes it incredibly hard to love her. 
Never one to admit defeat in the face of adversity (yes, I just said that about a book), I have persisted in my quest to like Rachel, not only for her badass feminist attitude, but also for her real slightly hidden personality. The book is told from the alternate point of view of Rachel-in-Jo's-Body and of Jo-in-Rachel's-body (mostly as a journal). I loved the idea that both girls are highly unsatisfied in their lives and wish to be one another thinking the other has the perfect life. This is such a girl classic (not to like oneself that is) that I believe it comes as the trademark of all women alongside intelligence and an incredible sense of humour. Who's partial? 

In this book, you get to go beyond the wall Rachel built around herself and learn more about her, her demons and her past. I already enjoyed reading about her in the first book, and now I understand better why she is the way she is. Rachel and David's relationship appears rocky but they are so made for each other that it is insanely cute to read about them. 


The setting of the book is a Festival in the UK (as opposed to a high school in the US for Split by a Kiss) and I loved the cultural difference between Europe and USA and how Tori and Rachel have several culture shock-related events which made me laugh out loud. It was the same, though the other way around (British Jo in America) in the first book, and it is sooo hilarious!!
I find Tori's excitement so contagious, every time I read about her I just *squeeee* for no reason. She is most entirely awesome, and though she appears as an airhead, she is a great friend to Jo and then Rachel. Tori and Hailey fight for Jo's BFF status is hilarious! 
I loved discovering the relationship Rachel has with her mother, and how it evolves through the story. I found that the book was a lot about identity, and especially how our parents influence who we are. It makes one think about one's own life and identity. (I mean, let's be honest, my parents, who have a bookshop, are entirely to blame for my book addiction!)


This book is a sweet and fun read, you will laugh out loud when the characters end up in the funniest situations and will fall for all the characters, even the ones only present for a couple of pages. I cannot wait to read Luisa's other book Extreme Kissing!

Thanks so much to Luisa for sending me this book!!!