Sophomore Switch

Mar 03, 2009

Nicole rated it

Shelves: i-read-more-than-bush-09

This is a fun "beach-read." Two college students (one British, one American) do an atypical semester abroad. It's atypical in that the two do a swap requiring them to take each other's classes rather than stick with their own programs. While the girls initially don't contact each other, they eventually find themselves in need of advice as well as contact with someone who understands the situation.

I found it a little jarring that the girls get in touch over instant messagin...more

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Sep 15, 2009

Nian rated it

Shelves: 2009

The beginning was practically perfect. No lie, either. The sophisticated writing style pulled me in quickly, and the characters were quite relatable and sounded just like any normal being that I might be friends with. I particularly liked the storyline - after all, I love the study abroad program and hope to participate once I'm in college - since the S.A.S.S series, which was about foreign exchange students and therefore practically the same, really sucked. I mean, there were a few mediocre boo...moreThe beginning was practically perfect. No lie, either. The sophisticated writing style pulled me in quickly, and the characters were quite relatable and sounded just like any normal being that I might be friends with. I particularly liked the storyline - after all, I love the study abroad program and hope to participate once I'm in college - since the S.A.S.S series, which was about foreign exchange students and therefore practically the same, really sucked. I mean, there were a few mediocre books in the series, but I never found one that really interested me. Those characters were usually stereotypical, cliched, bland, or escaping from some movie-esque scenario. (Most of the time, I found myself just salivating over the mentions of exotic food, and that was the highlight of the novel already!) So I was really eager about this book, especially since the setting focused on Oxford. Oxford! Imagine that! So it seemed right that these characters would be smart and determined, exactly how I like my protagonists.

Because of the great start to the novel, I was quickly fascinated by the author. So imagine my surprise to read that Abby McDonald was a graduate of Oxford University! And that she's only twenty-four years old! Clearly, this is good writing, and I was fortunate to find something amazing, finally. BUT, and yes, there's that dreaded but.

BUT, the strong beginning quickly turned into an mediocre middle, and then a clump of disaster at the end. The dialogue became awkward, silly, and too fake. Half the time, I would pause just to think, "Seriously? Would I say something like that if I was in that situation?" And 99% of the time, the answer to my question was a solid NO. The ending seemed rushed and choppy. The characters lacked a steady road of development and the so-called "unexpected" twists were fairly expected. The only part I really liked at the end was that everything came crashing down on Tasha and it wasn't resolved. Because that's realistic; I mean, not everything in your life gets solved so easily. Most of the time, the problem's still there; it's just about how you choose to handle it, is all.

So no, I didn't hate the book. But after realizing that this was the work of an Oxford graduate, I just expected more. Well, naturally, not everyone from Oxford is destined to be the next Fitzgerald and whatnot, but my expectations just weren't answered. (less)

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Aug 10, 2011

Joslynn rated it

· review of another edition

This book was GREAT! I loved the premise of two VERY different girls, living each others lives and coming to turns with some truths about themselves.

I loved the character development between Natasha and Emily. You could see them both grow so gradually during the three months of their stay. It's as if you knew them personally.

Emily's story seemed to drag on, in my opinion, but Natasha's story was very eventful. I loved how neither of them had a perfect experience and both had...moreThis book was GREAT! I loved the premise of two VERY different girls, living each others lives and coming to turns with some truths about themselves.

I loved the character development between Natasha and Emily. You could see them both grow so gradually during the three months of their stay. It's as if you knew them personally.

Emily's story seemed to drag on, in my opinion, but Natasha's story was very eventful. I loved how neither of them had a perfect experience and both had those obstacles to overcome. Natasha is my hero! I was cheering for her by the end of the book. Emily, on the other hand, although developed, was just...bland, in my opinion.

There was NO point for Morgan to be in the story besides to be the loose girl who shows Em around SoCal. Other than that, all the sneaking around due to fear of the anger she'll have if she finds out Emily's dating Ryan, was very unnecessary. Morgan wasn't even dating Ryan, so she shouldn't have cared. WEREN'T EVEN DATING. O

One thing I didn't like about the story though, was near the end when everybody was trying to get Emily to change her decision. The authorobviously shows some biased to the United States, if not the beach. She also has the philosophy to live life to the fullest and to take things as they come, which can be good TO AN EXTENT. I admired Emily for her habit of planning everything, which can be really nice. It's good to have organization and things to look out for just in case, but the author of this book made it sound like planning things just dragged you down and made you look boring. Even the things that were unplanned, like the whole video scandal was...eventually indirectly praised? I don't care what this author thinks. There's a place and time for living life to the fullest and taking things head on, but there's always a place for planning. Emily had her whole life planned out ahead of her, yet everyone seemed to look down on her for it. If only more people could be like her, this world would be filled with less screw ups.(less)

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Apr 27, 2011

Romancing the Book rated it

Shelves: ya

From the back of my ARC:
Take an administrative snafu, a bad breakup, and what shall heretofore be known as "The Hot-Tub Incident," and you've got two thoroughly unprepared sophomores on a semester abroad. For American party girl Tasha, an escape to tweedy Oxford may be a chance to ditch her recent fame as a tabloid temptress, but wading Uggs-deep in feminist theory research is not her idea of a break. Meanwhile, the British half of the exchange, studious control freak Emily, nurse...more

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Oct 30, 2010

Danielle rated it

Shelves: chicklit, for-review

For Emily, leaving Oxford for a fresh start away from her recent ex is just what she was looking for. Unfortunately, she never imagined that her late decision would land her at the ever so popular party school U.C. Santa Barbra, switching places with the now tragically famous “Tasha”. Natasha is also looking for a clean slate, but for entirely different reasons. Her recent staring role in a hidden camera tv reality show has left her permanently scared and all she can think about is getting far a...moreFor Emily, leaving Oxford for a fresh start away from her recent ex is just what she was looking for. Unfortunately, she never imagined that her late decision would land her at the ever so popular party school U.C. Santa Barbra, switching places with the now tragically famous “Tasha”. Natasha is also looking for a clean slate, but for entirely different reasons. Her recent staring role in a hidden camera tv reality show has left her permanently scared and all she can think about is getting far away from the party scene that has become her life. But to Oxford? Both girls are left to discover just who they are and what they want, in a strange land with absolutely no idea how to overcome their very different pasts.

I’ve been wanting to read Abby McDonald’s books for a very long time now, but unfortunately for me they’re hard to come by in the US. Most are young adult novels, which I do like as well, but her adult Chick Lit is mostly still only in the UK until next year. So, when I was approached about the opportunity to review Sophomore Switch, a recent paperback release here in the US, I jumped at the chance. And oh my, I am so happy I did! Abby McDonald’s writing is fantastic, with a compelling and completely fun story.

First of all I have to say I absolutely adored both Emily and Natasha! The story is told in alternating voices between the two and explores their personalities and transformations. McDonald did a fantastic job of creating two individual characters! Emily, the pretentious British girl with very high standards and expectations and Natasha, the American girl with an aptitude for partying into the wee hours of the morning and no real direction. They both start out as completely different people, but by the end realize that they both have something to offer if they can just find a happy medium.

About half way through the book the two decide the only way to get through their individual battles is to connect with each other and strategize a plan. This is brilliant! The emails back and forth, chat sessions, and occasional phone calls are hilarious! It adds a completely different dynamic to the story and I loved it. It’s also from this point on that they both start to explore their respective love interests, which was also incredibly endearing.

As this was my first dip into the world of Abby McDonald I can honestly say it will not be the last. Both Emily and Natasha, as well as the external characters were incredible, believable down to the slang and interactions with the other characters. The setting was also extremely believable, being that I live very near U.C. Santa Barbara, I absolutely believed everything she created in the story surrounding it. Sophomore Switch is a story about finding yourself and become the person you truly want to be. Emily and Natasha are still two completely different individuals, but their collective efforts make this book an entirely enjoyable and fun read. I’d recommend it to nearly everyone who loves a great book!(less)

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Sep 11, 2010

YA Reads Book Reviews rated it

· review of another edition

Two girls on opposite sides of the globe both want a quick getaway. The answer? They switch places through a last minute global exchange program. The catch? It’s a direct swap. They swap classes, accommodation and universities. No exceptions. Feminist political theory for film studies. On-camps accommodation for an share-apartment. A university where attendance is expected to one that doesn’t take a roll.

Tasha’s life seems to be coming to pieces. After the disastrous ‘hot-tub incident’...moreTwo girls on opposite sides of the globe both want a quick getaway. The answer? They switch places through a last minute global exchange program. The catch? It’s a direct swap. They swap classes, accommodation and universities. No exceptions. Feminist political theory for film studies. On-camps accommodation for an share-apartment. A university where attendance is expected to one that doesn’t take a roll.

Tasha’s life seems to be coming to pieces. After the disastrous ‘hot-tub incident’, Tasha’s parents wont even talk to her. She can’t go anywhere without being recognised – for all the wrong reasons. She’s desperate to get out. To go anywhere. Emily thought she was on-track. Every aspect planned until she is dumped by her boyfriend for being too studious and up-tight. Every step of her life has been because it is the right decision for the future. The future that her parents what for her. Until now.

Tasha winds up in Oxford, England. Not something you would expect of a typical beach going, class-skipping and all round party girl from America. Finding herself wadding Ugg-deep in feminist theory, Tasha just wants people to see her for who she really is. Not who they all think she is. Yet when the whole university seems out to get her for her rather different views on feminism, blending in seems to be an impossible feat. Emily heads to the University of California, Santa Barbara. Suddenly she is in a world that is the opposite of organisation, planning and preparation. From a class size of three to a lecture hall of 200, Emily is in for a semester of film critiquing, script re-writing and filming. However, her ‘English’ image of perfection and organisation seems to be alienating the rest of the student body against her.

Before long, the two girls make contact from opposite sides of the globe, each offering the other tips and strategies on how to fit in, navigate the difficulty of love and figuring out who they really want to be. Can Tasha and Emily help each other before they each make the best or worst mistake of their lives?

First off, I loved this book. It was extremely well-written and captivating from the first page until the end. Life Swap is debut novel from Abby McDonald, who is a recent graduate of Oxford University providing an excellent platform to satire the collage experience. McDonald’s spin on what could have potentially be seen as stereotypical characters gave a fresh new insight into the way different cultures work and operate against each other. The language choices are fresh and real – McDonald knows how to talk in the language of a teenager, and it transfers into the truth and reality conveyed in Life Swap. With interesting plot developments for both characters and an equal division of both characters story, McDonald manages to create two diverse universe’s that operate in sync with each other. For me, the characters where real people that I could relate to.

I saw a reflection of myself in both Tasha and Emily’s actions, and were able to relate to the choices and situations that both characters found themselves in. From Tasha trying to re-gain some sense of pride and belief in herself after a past mistake that the world wouldn’t forget, to Emily trying to let loose and relinquish her almost obsessive-compulsive to have everything this in her life organised. Emily’s defiance of her parents in the face of, for once, choosing to do what she wants and the events that influence this decision was an interesting look for me, and I feel that many young adults who read this book will relate to it in the same way.

Life Swap was a joy of an adventure that had you laughing, crying and cringing with every decision made.(less)

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Jun 17, 2010

Sharon rated it

Shelves: ya, realistic-fiction, cpl-best-of-the-best

This book was mostly fun, fluffy vacation reading, and it was pretty much perfect for that, but it was also a lot better than I expected and had some interesting statements about feminism tucked away in there. In a wacky circumstance that I'm pretty sure is mostly confined to the realms of fiction, UC Santa Barbara party girl and Oxford College Londoner Emily switch places for their sophomore year, both of them learning something in the interim. I grew to like Tasha a lot more than I thought I w...more

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May 01, 2010

Jami Slack rated it

This is one of those stories that I was into from page one. I have always been interested in stories where two people switch lives. But this one was especially enjoyable thanks to McDonald's excellent writing and two great main characters.

Each chapter changes from Tasha's point of view to Emily's. I loved both characters. There was something in both of them that I could relate to. Tasha is the party girl. She is more interested in going out and boys then she is her studies. I liked h...moreThis is one of those stories that I was into from page one. I have always been interested in stories where two people switch lives. But this one was especially enjoyable thanks to McDonald's excellent writing and two great main characters.

Each chapter changes from Tasha's point of view to Emily's. I loved both characters. There was something in both of them that I could relate to. Tasha is the party girl. She is more interested in going out and boys then she is her studies. I liked how McDonald wrote the "hot-tub incident". It really showed how out of proportion a story can get in the tabloids. Emily is the one who is all about studies, the right schools and her future career. Everything has to be neat and tidy in her life. I have to admit I carry some of Emily's OCD qualities.

Both characters seem to be polar opposites in the beginning. They are both lost in each other's lives and eventually turn to each other for help. It was great to see these two girls come together as friends. It just shows that even someone completely different than you can be a great friend, and bring out parts of you you might be hiding.

This story really touches on what it means to be a feminist in today's society. It had me thinking about some of the things I do, or things I believe, and how I act on them. You hear a lot about politics in this book, particularly politics involving women, and it was nice to see how much the author knew about the subject. McDonald used her strength in knowledge in her writing and it shone through for me.

While the romance in this story for both girls was sweet, I wished the male characters were a little more developed. But of course, this story's main focus wasn't the romance. I had mixed feelings about the ending. On one hand, I like how it ended realistically. In real life, not everything ends in a neatly wrapped little package, some things are still left unknown. But on the other hand, I would have liked to see a little more closure, especially with Tasha. With that being said, if McDonald were to write a sequel I would be all for it.

Sophomore Switch managed to be cute and sweet, but poignant and insightful at the same time. This is a great book for any girl.
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May 29, 2009

Debbie rated it

This was such a cute book and the perfect change I needed after reading Bad Girls Don’t Die. At first it sounds like your typical story that two exchange students are sent to places totally unsuitable for them and they end up finding themselves and fitting in better than they thought. What makes this rise above and become such a fun book are Emily and Tasha. Both girls are wonderful characters who the reader will come to love. Tasha, while starting off as the typical bubbly but somewhat supe...more

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May 24, 2009

Sara rated it

Recommended to Sara by: Library

Shelves: 2009, young-adult

Even though the plot of this book was based on some unbelievable events, I ended up liking it quite a bit. Basically, two college sophomores (Emily, from Oxford, and Natasha, from UC Santa Barbara) swap places through an exchange program, required to live in each other's housing and take the same classes the other was signed up for. Yeah, it was a little convenient and unrealistic, but whatever. Emily, a total bookworm and schedule-oriented girl, is dismayed to discover that Natasha is studyi...more

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Apr 08, 2009

Jennifer Wardrip rated it

Shelves: trt-gold-star-award-winner, trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

Tasha and Emily couldn't be more different, but each wants to escape their social nightmares. Tasha needs to hide out from the tabloid drama and Emily needs to nurse her broken heart. They swap lives: Natasha heads to Oxford and Emily heads to UC Santa Barbara.

The only problem - they've each already signed up for classes. So Natasha's stuck taking feminist courses and Emily's stuck learning about film. Neither of them fit in...more

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Feb 04, 2010

Erica rated it

At the back of this book there is a statement by the author that her intention for the book is “to explore what feminism can mean to a new generation of teenagers.” I think she did a brilliant job in exploring that theme without becoming preachy. Through the two main characters McDonald manages to show a broad view of the spectrum that is female college students, and I liked how each character progressed differently. However, I had a difficult time connecting to either girl. Both girls were ...moreAt the back of this book there is a statement by the author that her intention for the book is “to explore what feminism can mean to a new generation of teenagers.” I think she did a brilliant job in exploring that theme without becoming preachy. Through the two main characters McDonald manages to show a broad view of the spectrum that is female college students, and I liked how each character progressed differently. However, I had a difficult time connecting to either girl. Both girls were fairly flat for most of the first half of the book, and even as they were fleshed out more and more throughout the second half, there was still somewhat of a disconnect with me.
Despite the fact that I didn’t relate well to the characters, it was written in a way that I still wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next. Tasha’s storyline was slightly reminiscent of Legally Blonde (which Tasha herself makes mention of when her peers look down on her), but it was different enough that I didn’t predict where the story would go next. I think Emily’s story was more predictable in certain aspects, but I enjoyed watching her figure out her way in a world totally unlike her own.
The girls’ stories are told in alternating chapters. There are a lot of books told from two perspectives that don’t work and others that work wonderfully well; this book is right in the middle of that. On one hand I didn’t like it because at the end of a chapter I’d want to know what happened next with Tasha but would have to read what Emily was doing first, or vice versa. But on the other hand it was a fast read because I wanted to know what happened next with Tasha so I’d keep reading and get sucked back into Emily’s story and not want to go back to Tasha’s. The fact that the two stories were completely disparate made it jarring to move back and forth between them, but there wouldn’t really be any other way to tell both stories.
In the end I was pleased with both girls’ experiences. The fact that Tasha left a lot unresolved at Oxford, and that Emily was left at the end with a choice to make that could alter her plans for the future in ways she never imagined is refreshing in that it is realistic. Too often stories end with the girl conquering her demons and getting everything she wants, but in this story both girls are still facing a shaky future, but they’ve learned enough about themselves to struggle through it wisely.(less)

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Nov 19, 2010

Raquelle M. rated it

Shelves: read-for-work

Nathasha and Emily are total opposites. Natasha is a fun-loving carefree Californian who was just embroiled in a major tabloid scandal when she was caught on video, topless in a hot tub with 1/2 of a major Hollywood celebrity couple. Emily is an uber-organized English student studying feminist philosophy and is on the fast track to a career as an attorney in London but has had an emotional setback with the end of her relationship with Sebastian her boyfriend. Both girls sign up for a semester ab...more

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Apr 06, 2011

Shesten rated it

Shelves: book-group, hardcover

Plot Sketch: Natasha needs to escape the fall out from "The Hot Tub Incident," and Emily needs to experience America and get away after breaking up with jerkwad Sebastian, so these two enter a college exchange program. Tasha gets sent to Emily's PoliSci curriculum in Oxfrod and Emily to Tasha's Film studies at UCSB. The plot follows a path of self-discovery for both of the girls, with half of the book remarking on the differences in culture between California and Britain, and of cou...morePlot Sketch: Natasha needs to escape the fall out from "The Hot Tub Incident," and Emily needs to experience America and get away after breaking up with jerkwad Sebastian, so these two enter a college exchange program. Tasha gets sent to Emily's PoliSci curriculum in Oxfrod and Emily to Tasha's Film studies at UCSB. The plot follows a path of self-discovery for both of the girls, with half of the book remarking on the differences in culture between California and Britain, and of course there are cute boys, and the self-discovery takes place in a feminist context, but does not force feminism by any means.

Verdict: Here's the deal. I already read and reviewed Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots. Abby wrote Sophomore Switch first. You can tell. The writing in BBaaSPoHB is superior to that in SS. The fault I find with Sophomore Switch is that I felt like all of the characters filled archetypal roles and were not true characters. Convenience seemed to dictate plot rather than character development, and that felt fake and very predictable. BUT, I liked the tone of the book, which I'll add is not a feminist tone, but rather one of girl power, which you guys know I'm totally pro-. (If you want to discuss feminism vs. girl power, just ask in the comments) I loved that the girls were put into contexts where they were allowed to grow and discover things outside of their paradigm and that they were open-minded enough in the end to let their experiences have a true effect in their lives. Would I recommend this book to an older teen? Absolutely. To an adult? Maybe not. I think that adults will look at this and see the unreality in the characters and their decisions more than the message those decisions portray because we have a more realistic view on the world and have *usually* had vastly more experience and know who we are already. I think that this book could benefit teens who are struggling to find out who they are, with a couple of parental advisories: Emily decides that she's just going to become a lip whore to loosen up her uptightness with boys, and both me and my book group thought that form of self-discovery was both dangerous and impractical and didn't think that it should be encouraged in a positive light. We felt it was forced with Emily and completely out of character for her, which was sort of the point of the book, but was also *insert your synonym for unrealistic here*. Also, these are sophomores in college, not high school, so the hot tub incident does involve nudity, but is not explicitly written.

Location: London and Santa Barbara

Favorite Character: This was tough. I didn't really like either of the main characters. But I did like Will. UNTIL he pulled a 180. So, I think my favorite character was Ryan. He seemed to be the most consistent of the bunch.

Would Change: The first half of the book needed more plot/action and less dissection of the differences between America and the UK.

Favorite Line: "Totes." Thanks Abby, I started talking like Tasha for like a week straight. :op

Good for Monster? This is YA chick lit I'm afraid. Not gonna be a good fit for my Monster, or yours more than likely.

People Who Will Like This: Britney Spears, Bella Swan, people who own a pair of pink leopard pajamas, college advisors

People Who Won't Like This: Elmer Fudd, the uber-outdoorsy girl, ultra-feminists, most boys

Chapters: They're not numbered, and I ALWAYS count wrong. The length was good. And the narrator switched chapter to chapter from Tasha to Emily, so that was an interesting and probably difficult thing. I liked the sections where the two characters interacted, a lot.(less)

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Jun 23, 2009

BOOK BUTTERFLY rated it

Party girl Tasha Collins’ world is turned upside down when a compromising video involving her and a television star shows up in the tabloids. After the actor’s girlfriend breaks down on national television, Tasha is vilified by the media as a home wrecker and even her own family will barely speak to her. Unable to deal with the embarrassment of the scandalous video, she is desperate to leave her once carefree Californian college life for the anonymity of Oxford. Emily Lewis is the polar opposite...moreParty girl Tasha Collins’ world is turned upside down when a compromising video involving her and a television star shows up in the tabloids. After the actor’s girlfriend breaks down on national television, Tasha is vilified by the media as a home wrecker and even her own family will barely speak to her. Unable to deal with the embarrassment of the scandalous video, she is desperate to leave her once carefree Californian college life for the anonymity of Oxford. Emily Lewis is the polar opposite of Tasha. As straight-laced as they come, her days are mapped out according to study charts, heavy course loads and the guidance of her overbearing father. She wants to get away from Oxford too. Emily craves a change of scenery and some breathing room, but more importantly she is nursing a broken heart. The two girls end up swapping colleges, residences and classes in Sophomore Switch.

Though each tries her best, neither Emily nor Tasha are able to easily fit in with their new surroundings. Tasha is forced to take political classes that are academically challenging and extremely intimidating. Unlike her UC Santa Barbara classes (mostly centering on film appreciation), Oxford is a highly competitive environment where political theories are debated that Tasha can barely even grasp. Despite her constant reading, Tasha finds that she can’t keep up with what the other students refer to as “basic reading list material”. To make matters worse, her Feminist Theory of Politics Professor Susanne Elliot wounds her pride by offering to assign her work that is less challenging than that required of the other students. Tasha also lives in a constant state of fear of her scandal involvment being brought to the attention of the feminist cliques she's trying to connect with, as well as her friend Will, whom she genuinely cares for.

Meanwhile Emily is in her own “fish out of water” type scenario. She has a difficult time acclimating to the bikini wearing, hard partying Santa Barbara college community she’s suddenly immersed in. Quiet, studious (and a bit of a control freak) she’s further mortified to be enrolled in the course work of a film major, something she views as being beneath her. Emily is determined to stay in Santa Barbara, even though her roommate Morgan’s inane chatter and untrustworthy behavior make it hard to adjust to the new surroundings. While Morgan and friends go out partying every night, Emily feels alienated and alone. She’s not used to hanging out with girls whose conversations revolve around boys, clothes and shopping. Her disapproving father keeps further stressing her out about career goals and deadlines with his constant phone calls. Nevertheless, Emily attends her film classes and tries to make the most of her time in California. She ends up being assigned to work on a film project with Ryan, Morgan’s boyfriend. Initially the two clash, until Emily finds out that Morgan is cheating on him and feels sympathy toward him. Eventually, the two form a respectful partnership while working on the film, and are subsequently drawn even closer.

Sophomore Switch was a fresh and fast paced tale about two girls broadening their horizons while examining feminist topics, and learning to adapt them to the types of women they were learning to become. The way Tasha and Emily navigated through the ever changing social pressures and societal expectations that young women face today was the most appealing aspect of the book for me. So many times I laughed, cringed and wanted to console them. One moment in particular that really stood out to me and was as follows. It was during a scene where Tasha met with Professor Elliot to review her progress within the class-

"She glances away, and then it hits me. To her, I’m just the dumb Californian, the party girl who just doesn’t need to be here. She knows it doesn’t matter if I flunk, because I’ll just go back home to my film classes. The other kids actually need to work hard, to be smart, to succeed. But not me."

"The truth stings me hard behind my rib cage. My work is "fine," but she’s still writing me off just because I wear cute skirts and keep my hair blown out. It’s clear she’s never seen Legally Blonde. Aren’t smart people supposed to be above this kind of blatant discrimination?" ( p.58)

Much like Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, most people discounted Tasha’s California good looks for lack of intelligence. Tasha could've easily accepted the less intensive curriculum that Professor Elliot offered, but instead she handled herself in a way that easily made her my favorite character. Though her journey was often filled with missteps, they were fully believable and only endeared her to me more. My favorite moment was when Tasha realized she needed to stop hiding from her past and letting her world be ruled by other people’s preconceived notions of what was right and wrong.

I also enjoyed how Tasha and Emily evolved into being friends despite the fact that they had little in common. Tasha initially emailed Emily more out of sheer lonliness than anything else, yet this proved to be an important catalyst for change. After conversing back and forth, they sent one another "survival switch guides" to help each other acclimate to their new environments. Consequently, a strong friendship began to grow between the two girls, proving that though two people may appear to be extreme opposites in ever way, it is possible to find common ground and form real connections with people that are different than yourself.

BOTTOM LINE: Sophomore Switch was a well written, thought provoking novel on so many different levels. It was an engaging read, chocked full of lessons about life, friendship and the application of feminist roles for a new generation of teenage girls. I admit, when I saw the cover I thought it would be a light hearted farce about two girls switching courses for a semester, but it was much more and constantly kept me guessing. The underlying theme of this book was that not everything in feminist theory is in black and white. A girl can still have fun, AND be serious about equality issues for women. Tasha and Emily proved that.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there were plans for a sequel to this book, and I have to say, I would definitely have to get my hands on it if there were!
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Apr 26, 2011

Brenna Call rated it

Surprisingly I liked this book more than I thought that I would. I don't normally enjoy books set in such a contemporary setting. There was something about the synopsis of this book that kept pulling me toward it though. I really felt like I got to know both of the main characters in this book and that they could be real girls I have met or could meet in the real world. The storyline was both timely and realistic. The use of instant messaging, the references to myspace and facebook and the i...more

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Aug 13, 2009

Alex rated it

Sophomore Switch is very cute. It's light, it's funny. It's what the cover shows you and exactly what to expect. It is a fast-paced book with slightly heavier tones.

There is two different main characters each with their own story that then intertwine. Tasha is mostly at university in California for the parties. When she parties a little too hard and is filmed doing some pretty embarassing stuff with a big celebrity, the whole of America tears her apart. Her family is ashamed and so s...moreSophomore Switch is very cute. It's light, it's funny. It's what the cover shows you and exactly what to expect. It is a fast-paced book with slightly heavier tones.

There is two different main characters each with their own story that then intertwine. Tasha is mostly at university in California for the parties. When she parties a little too hard and is filmed doing some pretty embarassing stuff with a big celebrity, the whole of America tears her apart. Her family is ashamed and so she escapes by getting out of the country, to Britain, on an exchange program of 3 months. When Emily's boyfriend dumps her for being too boring and stiff, she attempts to be spontaneous by doing an exchange program.

I really liked Tasha. She starts off quite wild, a party girl. She's used to having a lot of friends and partying. So at uptight Oxford, she doesn't really fit it. She doesn't know exactly what she wants, but she helps people in need, and she stands up for what's right. Sure, she makes mistakes, but she's got a good heart.

Emily isn't really that original. She's the uber-organized, not a hair out of place kind of girl. She's got her whole life planned out, with the help of her parents. She's in Oxford, she'll get a summer intern job, and she'll go off and become a lawyer. But then her boyfriend dumps her- gaaasp. Emily, bent on proving she's not actually boring, goes to California to loosen up.

The two obviously have a tough time at first fitting in. So then they start corresponding by email. They make little lits and tips to help each other fit in better. For Tasha, this means becoming preppy and dressing a lot different. Emily must go shopping, get manicures, party, wear mostly thight polos and short skirts. I don't really like the idea of compromising your wardrobe to fit in. I find that stupid and I wouldn't do it. But I guess... the two girls are desperate and incredibly lonely.

Emily's story line is boring. I found it mostly just filler. Tasha's story is putting the emphasis on feminism and giving the deeper tones. Hers was more original. Emily's life was pretty average, and wasn't all that interesting to read about. It was Tasha that I became invested in and it was Tasha who I rooted for. It's not to say I dislike Emily, but it's Tasha who made the story for me.

Overall, Sophomore Switch is very sweet to read. It's fast and filled, with lots of different characters and relationships. It shows the hardships of two girls struggling in different areas of university. The writing doesn't stand out, but it's smooth and easy to read. Abby Mcdonald is only 24, so the tone and voice is fresh, fun, and sounds young.(less)

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Jul 06, 2010

Kerleisha rated it

Overall, Sophomore Switch was a good read. McDonald made it easy to get into the characters and the storyline. As I mentioned before, I love YA books set in college, so I was already comfortable with the setting within a few pages. Emily and Tasha are easily likable characters. McDonald did a great job of making them pretty distinct from one another, so that you're able to see pretty well how much of a change the exchange program is for them.
I will say, however, I found myself more interes...more

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Dec 06, 2010

Raina rated it

Shelves: didn-t-finish, feminist, funny, gltbq, realistic, ya

I had been meaning to read this for so long, I think I built up expectations for it too much in my head. Plus, I didn't read the summary close enough to realize that "Sophomore" refers to the sophomore year of college, and not high school. So there was no way this would work for my middle school booktalks, which was the impetus for me to finally pick it up. I only read a few chapters, and almost immediately knew it wasn't suitable for my current needs.
However, on top of that, ...more

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Mar 08, 2009

Alea rated it

Shelves: read-for-review

I found this to be a very fun and enjoyable book but also at the same time it brings issues that girls everywhere deal with, trying to be the real you but also a better version of yourself. I really liked that the story took two girls that were polar opposites and sort of brought them into a less severe version of themselves, to a middle ground. I also liked how the book shows that even if you aren't exactly like someone you can still have many things in common. I think it's very easy to strike ...more

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Oct 30, 2011

Julia rated it

Shelves: read-for-school

I was interested to see in how Tasha and Emily reconciled their own views with the beliefs of their new location.There are two schools of thought that are apparent in the novel: girls should be comfortable with their sexuality and act free-spirited or girls should not objectify themselves in any way.this book has everthing i love to have in a book.i thought that emily was the type of girl that would study for like 10hours for one small test and din't have anyfun.tasha had shed a lot throught out...more

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Apr 20, 2011

Marina rated it

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary

Em and Natasha are last minute transfers for a study abroad program. Em goes from Oxford University where she is on the fast track to becoming a lawyer and Natasha is coming from UCSB (University of California Santa Barbara) where she was studying to be a party girl (no, really she was studying film but she was caught on video drunk and fooling around with a reality star in a hot tub). Both girls had reasons for wanting to be far away from their regular lives for awhile (Natasha's was the viral ...more

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Jun 28, 2010

Sarah rated it

This is one that our town’s public librarian booktalked a couple trimesters ago. I’ve wanted to read it ever since, since it sounded a lot like the movie The Holiday which I absolutely adore! For me this one was ok, but that may be because I’ve been on a fantasy/sci fiction kick lately. It is probably geared more to older teens because of some college themes—like sex, drinking, and partying—but is pretty tame nonetheless. There is some strong language towards the end of the novel. This is a fun ...moreThis is one that our town’s public librarian booktalked a couple trimesters ago. I’ve wanted to read it ever since, since it sounded a lot like the movie The Holiday which I absolutely adore! For me this one was ok, but that may be because I’ve been on a fantasy/sci fiction kick lately. It is probably geared more to older teens because of some college themes—like sex, drinking, and partying—but is pretty tame nonetheless. There is some strong language towards the end of the novel. This is a fun feminist romp and both girls grow and mature a lot through the course of their respective semesters abroad.

Booktalk!

Sophomore Switch
by Abby McDonald

Have you ever just wanted to start over? To just pick up your things and move your life to somewhere else? Tasha definitely wants to. Ever since that party, when she made out with Tyler, the newest boy star, in a hot tub (an event all the tabloids referred to as the “Hot-Tub Incident”) she’s wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.

And then on the other side of the world, there’s nerdy Emily, who was devastated because her boyfriend just broke up with her.

Both girls definitely needs a change of scenery …and when they each decide to apply to be a part of the international college exchange program they are selected to change places with one another for the semester.

So Emily moves her things into Tasha’s dorm in Southern California and has to take all Tasha’s classes and Tasha moves into Emily’s room in Oxford University in England. Tasha was a film major and Emily was political science, and the girls couldn’t have been more different than each other. Tasha is a major party girl (yeah, remember that whole hot tub thing?) and Emily is a serious student. It’s hilarious as both girls juggle to try to fit in on their new campuses but stay true to their own selves.

I have to confess that I picked this one up because of that movie, The Holiday, that came out a few years back…and I wasn’t disappointed!(less)

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Jun 11, 2010

Bookworm1858 rated it

Shelves: read-2009, ya-read

Summary: Tasha is an American girl caught in a reality TV scandal who desperately wants to get out of the country; Emily is a prim English girl set on a law career who was unable to attend prestigious Harvard due to application problems and so settles on going to California.

I really liked both of the girls very much although at the beginning they are very extreme versions (Tasha is a party girl; Emily is very uptight) who end up mellowing by exploring new academic venues, interacting...more

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Jan 22, 2011

Christina (Reading Extensively) rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: chicklit, read2010, romance, ya

I enjoyed this look at college life through the eyes of two very different girls. The chapters are told in the alternating viewpoint of Tasha and Emily. While I did not have much in common with Tasha I could sympathize with her because she struggles with really hard classes and feels like she can't handle it. As I got to know her character more I found that I liked her. At first she seems to be just a party girl but she is smart when she puts forth the effort. She studies feminism at Oxford whic...more

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Jun 13, 2011

Nancy rated it

Shelves: 12th-grade

Teens sure have a lot in common. In Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald, two college students—British Emily and American Tasha—both has enough reasons to make them want to escape their lives. Throughout the story both Natasha and Emily are struggling at living outside of their comfort zone. For instance, Tasha, from California, is a party girl. And living on the other side of the Atlantic, in England, is Emily, an Oxford student whose boyfriend dumped her for being too rigid, organized, and overac...more

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Oct 06, 2010

Anne rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, reviewed

Tasha, an American party girl is looking for a quick escape from her suddon fame over, "The Hot-Tub Incident," So when the the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program at Oxford presents itself she jumps at the chance. The only catch is that it has to be an even switch. Someone else will be taking her place at U.C. Santa Barbara. Not just location but classes as well. Lets just say Tasha was not prepared to dive headfirst into feminist theory.

The British half o...more

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Nov 13, 2009

BookWhisperer rated it

To be perfectly honest; in the end I am in love with this story. Sophomore Switch was very light hearted and an extremely easy read. Abby McDonald throws you into a world where one carefree college student is switched for one uptight strict college student. They are exchanged life for life; which means housing for housing, classes for classes, and world for world. Leaving two very different girls to sink or swim in one anothers shoes. Which inevitably they do a little of both. Emily and Natasha ...more

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Dec 15, 2009

Tiffany Williams added it

Have you ever had a problem so big you wished you could just run away from everything, to another city, country, or even continent? How much distance would you need to put between you and it to make it better? Would an ocean be enough?

Who?
Natasha Collins: Natasha is a typical southern California girl with tanned skin, perfect hair, and an ability to party. Tasha, as her friends call her, is spontaneous and fun, always willing to skip a lecture in order to get some more beach ti...more

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Apr 26, 2009

Lauren rated it

Shelves: own

Summary:

Can a Sophomore Switch make all the difference?

California girl Tasha's Sophomore year was supposed to be great. She had cool film classes, fun roommates, and a steady line of possible guys to date. Though, when the "Hot-Tub Incident" occurs, she only wants to do one thing, pack her bags, quickly.

Meanwhile, across the country, Emily's life isn't going that peachy either. Her boyfriend of five months has just broken up with her because she wou...more

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