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In My Shoes
Jake thought Nicole was the perfect girl. Nicole thought Jake was just another clown, cut from the same cloth as his best friend, Mike. After Nicole harshly rejects Jake in his attempt at a date, Jake vows he would never treat a guy like that if he were a girl. The next day, his unintentional wish comes true as they wake up in each others' rooms...and bodies. Jake and Nicole quickly learn that being the opposite sex has its challenges. Not knowing how this happened or if and when they will change back, they soon realize they will need to work together or risk wrecking each others' lives. Along the way, they may just find they have more in common than they thought possible.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2010
4 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Stephens
1 book2 followersFrom a very young age, Adrian Stephens loved telling stories, almost as much as he loved hearing them. Born in southern California, Adrian lived there until he was four, before his family moved him to southern Nevada.
Early on, Adrian learned the value of a good story while his family recanted his toddling escapades; be it his breaking out of his house in the early morning hours and into an unknown neighbor’s house to raid their fridge at two years old, or a year later setting his parents’ bed on fire while his mother was sleeping in it. Thankfully, though the house did not survive, his mother did. The only escapade that resulted in injury came at five, when he tried to lift two hundred pounds off his uncle’s weight bench, falling off the back of the bench and bringing the weight down on his leg. Adrian learned firsthand that legs aren’t supposed to bend above the knee.
Adrian soon realized how much he enjoyed entertaining people through his stories. As original ideas began taking shape, he decided to try developing them on paper. Though he never would have thought himself capable in his youth, a new found inspiration guided Adrian as he worked during lunch breaks and after putting the family to bed each night, to complete his first novel, In My Shoes . The inspiration has continued as Adrian now finds himself working on several new projects, to be completed over the next several years.
Early on, Adrian learned the value of a good story while his family recanted his toddling escapades; be it his breaking out of his house in the early morning hours and into an unknown neighbor’s house to raid their fridge at two years old, or a year later setting his parents’ bed on fire while his mother was sleeping in it. Thankfully, though the house did not survive, his mother did. The only escapade that resulted in injury came at five, when he tried to lift two hundred pounds off his uncle’s weight bench, falling off the back of the bench and bringing the weight down on his leg. Adrian learned firsthand that legs aren’t supposed to bend above the knee.
Adrian soon realized how much he enjoyed entertaining people through his stories. As original ideas began taking shape, he decided to try developing them on paper. Though he never would have thought himself capable in his youth, a new found inspiration guided Adrian as he worked during lunch breaks and after putting the family to bed each night, to complete his first novel, In My Shoes . The inspiration has continued as Adrian now finds himself working on several new projects, to be completed over the next several years.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 28, 2011
My initial reaction to the premise of this book was, “it’s been done.” The idea of swapping places with someone goes back at least as far as "Cyrano de Bergerac" who did a low-tech version. The book "Black Like Me" wasn’t a full-fledged swap, but did mine the same territory. "Freaky Friday" is an even better touchstone. I’m sure there are many more I’m forgetting or don’t know. Then I read the Stephen’s bio on Amazon where he says he wasn’t much of a reader, rarely reading for fun, until about five years ago. I wondered if someone with so little experience as a reader could do a competent job as an author. My concerns turned out to be unfounded.
The reason certain story types are used and reused is the basic premise has a lot to offer. The cliché about walking in someone else’s shoes, the obvious inspiration for the title, has endless variations. The variations on this theme that are most likely to make a good story are those with two people prone to misunderstanding who find it difficult to imagine what the other person’s life is like. The parent child swap in "Freaky Friday" is a natural. So is swapping a teenage boy with a teenage girl.
As you’d expect Nicole and Jake find living the life of the other is more complicated than they realized. Stephens thought a lot about what it would take to make a situation like this work. Jake and Nicole gave each other extensive debriefings so they could learn to act correctly, otherwise they could damage relationships with friends and family for the other. Jake, in the body of Nicole, had to learn how to apply makeup and stop walking like a man. I was impressed at how well Stephens handled the details; especially the difficulties Jake had being Nicole.
A potential pitfall of a novel like this is keeping track of who is who. If Jake does something, is it Nicole in Jake’s body or Jake in Nicole’s body? Most of the time Stephens managed to keep this clear. Any uncertainty was limited to the confusion the characters were also feeling.
This is a fun read for teens and many adults. It should give either gender an appreciation for the challenges of the other – I know it did me. Or you can choose to overlook the lessons and concentrate on the humor in the situation. It’s funny, as long as it isn’t you in someone else’s shoes.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
The reason certain story types are used and reused is the basic premise has a lot to offer. The cliché about walking in someone else’s shoes, the obvious inspiration for the title, has endless variations. The variations on this theme that are most likely to make a good story are those with two people prone to misunderstanding who find it difficult to imagine what the other person’s life is like. The parent child swap in "Freaky Friday" is a natural. So is swapping a teenage boy with a teenage girl.
As you’d expect Nicole and Jake find living the life of the other is more complicated than they realized. Stephens thought a lot about what it would take to make a situation like this work. Jake and Nicole gave each other extensive debriefings so they could learn to act correctly, otherwise they could damage relationships with friends and family for the other. Jake, in the body of Nicole, had to learn how to apply makeup and stop walking like a man. I was impressed at how well Stephens handled the details; especially the difficulties Jake had being Nicole.
A potential pitfall of a novel like this is keeping track of who is who. If Jake does something, is it Nicole in Jake’s body or Jake in Nicole’s body? Most of the time Stephens managed to keep this clear. Any uncertainty was limited to the confusion the characters were also feeling.
This is a fun read for teens and many adults. It should give either gender an appreciation for the challenges of the other – I know it did me. Or you can choose to overlook the lessons and concentrate on the humor in the situation. It’s funny, as long as it isn’t you in someone else’s shoes.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
February 5, 2012
This book did not work for me at all. While the concept is nice, it's been done before, and done in smoother, more interesting ways. The writing is very choppy, which really detracted from the reading experience. I feel bad about giving this such a low rating as the author sent me a copy, but I won't lie either. I'll have a more detailed review on my blog on 2-4
Edited to add: Here is a link to my more in depth review. http://midnight-orchid.blogspot.com/2...
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Edited to add: Here is a link to my more in depth review. http://midnight-orchid.blogspot.com/2...
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
April 17, 2022
Very sweet body swap novel, I really enjoyed the characters and treatment. This one very successfully fleshed out the emotions and motivations of the two protagonists. They felt like real people, and I missed them when the book was over.
I liked that the two MC were relatively mature, and doing their best to move ahead in life without needless drama. Their conflicts were deeply rooted in their personality and circumstances, but through the strong relationship built up through cooperation they're able to show the way to better lives for each other.
I liked that the two MC were relatively mature, and doing their best to move ahead in life without needless drama. Their conflicts were deeply rooted in their personality and circumstances, but through the strong relationship built up through cooperation they're able to show the way to better lives for each other.
December 13, 2011
For a constant reader and an all-out book ‘obsessed’ woman, I find myself missing the classics. I’m not talking Shakespeare, or even Jane Austen (especially considering that there are hundreds of writers basing many novels on that great lady nowadays). I mean YA fiction. In this current world, YA is synonymous with demon-killers, witches, wolves, vampires, death, suicide, disease - you know - peppy subjects. Just kidding, there are romance and adventure YA’s out there that are fantastic reads, but writers like Judy Blume, Mary Rodgers, and others really put their stamp on the YA world long ago, and this one book has brought that all back to me.
Using a VERY modern take on the plot of Freaky Friday, Adrian Stephens has created a book that is filled with life lessons, humor, love and the ultimate discovery of who we are and how we can better appreciate the others around us.
Jake Matthews is a senior in high school and is sitting in his physics class day-dreaming. A top-student, Jake is highly dependable and is working his proverbial behind off to get great grades so he can land a full scholarship to college, and not have to put extra pressure on his Mom - a single parent who makes sure that Jake is raised in a house full of love, even though it’s short on money.
Mike is Jake’s best friend. Mike is one of those class clowns that loves to gain attention. However, Mike is also extremely smart - he just can’t seem to find the need or want inside his soul to work harder and make something out of himself. He just likes to kid, laugh and act a bit like a five-year-old. Jake and Mike always hang together, but Jake is a little off today. All he wants to do is stop Nicole Evans at her locker between classes so that he can ask her out. To him, she’s the perfect girl, and not only because of looks. He’s listened and watched Nicole for a long time and believes her to be one of the smartest girls he’s ever met. Unfortunately, Mike picks this day to embarrass his buddy by tripping him in class and making him look like the idiot. So when Jake does corner Nicole, she not only turns him down - she annihilates him.
Crushed and absolutely shocked, Jake heads home mad at his best friend and completely disgusted with that ‘perfect’ girl. The last thing he expects is to wake up AS the perfect girl. Morning arrives and Jake finds himself with female parts that he’s ashamed to look at, high heels that he needs to learn how to walk in, and jars of make-up that he has no clue what to do with. While back in Jake’s room, the perfect Nicole has become one of the creatures she loathes - a boy.
There are absolutely magical scenes in this novel, because it is not based on slap-stick comedy at all times. Yes, there are scenarios that are hysterical, but the conversations that each one of these teens have with parents, friends, teachers, and each other really delve into what it’s like to stand in someone else’s shoes for a while. As ‘Jake,’ Nicole has the ability to get Jake’s Mom to speak about past history, as well as finding out all the wonderful traits that Jake owns. And as ‘Nicole,’ Jake really sees how a two-parent family operates, and just how much they care for one another. (And yes, as always, the Twilight world takes a bow as father and daughter talk over the essence and ‘draw’ of the movie and its actors.)
Working together, and trying not to ruin each other’s life, Nicole and Jake find a balance, a friendship, and perhaps a future attraction. Not to mention the author offers an ending that, as a woman, I am in total agreement with. Fun, charming, and a really perfect story that brings back what YA used to be all about - a great story with a great lesson that everyone, teen and adult, should take the time to learn!
Using a VERY modern take on the plot of Freaky Friday, Adrian Stephens has created a book that is filled with life lessons, humor, love and the ultimate discovery of who we are and how we can better appreciate the others around us.
Jake Matthews is a senior in high school and is sitting in his physics class day-dreaming. A top-student, Jake is highly dependable and is working his proverbial behind off to get great grades so he can land a full scholarship to college, and not have to put extra pressure on his Mom - a single parent who makes sure that Jake is raised in a house full of love, even though it’s short on money.
Mike is Jake’s best friend. Mike is one of those class clowns that loves to gain attention. However, Mike is also extremely smart - he just can’t seem to find the need or want inside his soul to work harder and make something out of himself. He just likes to kid, laugh and act a bit like a five-year-old. Jake and Mike always hang together, but Jake is a little off today. All he wants to do is stop Nicole Evans at her locker between classes so that he can ask her out. To him, she’s the perfect girl, and not only because of looks. He’s listened and watched Nicole for a long time and believes her to be one of the smartest girls he’s ever met. Unfortunately, Mike picks this day to embarrass his buddy by tripping him in class and making him look like the idiot. So when Jake does corner Nicole, she not only turns him down - she annihilates him.
Crushed and absolutely shocked, Jake heads home mad at his best friend and completely disgusted with that ‘perfect’ girl. The last thing he expects is to wake up AS the perfect girl. Morning arrives and Jake finds himself with female parts that he’s ashamed to look at, high heels that he needs to learn how to walk in, and jars of make-up that he has no clue what to do with. While back in Jake’s room, the perfect Nicole has become one of the creatures she loathes - a boy.
There are absolutely magical scenes in this novel, because it is not based on slap-stick comedy at all times. Yes, there are scenarios that are hysterical, but the conversations that each one of these teens have with parents, friends, teachers, and each other really delve into what it’s like to stand in someone else’s shoes for a while. As ‘Jake,’ Nicole has the ability to get Jake’s Mom to speak about past history, as well as finding out all the wonderful traits that Jake owns. And as ‘Nicole,’ Jake really sees how a two-parent family operates, and just how much they care for one another. (And yes, as always, the Twilight world takes a bow as father and daughter talk over the essence and ‘draw’ of the movie and its actors.)
Working together, and trying not to ruin each other’s life, Nicole and Jake find a balance, a friendship, and perhaps a future attraction. Not to mention the author offers an ending that, as a woman, I am in total agreement with. Fun, charming, and a really perfect story that brings back what YA used to be all about - a great story with a great lesson that everyone, teen and adult, should take the time to learn!
July 10, 2011
First off, thanks for the ARC! It was the first one I have ever received, and that was quite an exiting thing for me.
Anyway, I think I should say now that when I stated this book I didn't really have high hopes for it. The plot seemed a little overdone in my mind, having seen Freaky Friday, ect. I was also apprehensive because I'm more of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy nut and this wasn't my preferred genre. However, upon starting the book I really did find it a fun intriguing read. It was quite hilarious at times and I think the body-switching concept was handled really well, covering every possible issue that would've arisen. The writing style wasn't childish, but it was easy to follow. There were a few editing issues, like missed out speech marks or the spelling of 'write' as 'right'. In most places the dialogue seemed a little stiff, mostly stemming from the use of 'I will' instead of 'I'll'. It got a bit annoying at times, but it was easy to get over.
In regards to the main characters, I thought they were quite well fleshed out and relatable, and pretty much everything they did had a good reason. On the other hand, a few of the secondary characters missed out here for me. Namely, Jessica and the girls. Mike was done pretty well, and I liked his growth throughout the story.
The end of Day 9 was a very cute way to end, ***SPOILER*** and the days of Jake and Nicole's marriage were well done. I don't really like being told how the people end up later on, but I think it sort of worked here because of the end sentence. I like that it was left open for a possible sequel if need be.
I'm not really one for long rambling reviews, so I'll just summarise - Overall, a very enjoyable read, quite well written with few flaws other than the editing in places and some stiff dialogue. Relatable main characters and a plot that despite being overdone was still handled in a way to make it not seem boring or re-used.
I hope that was okay as reviews go, and that I didn't sound as pretentious to others as I do now re-reading this. Thanks again for the ARC!
Anyway, I think I should say now that when I stated this book I didn't really have high hopes for it. The plot seemed a little overdone in my mind, having seen Freaky Friday, ect. I was also apprehensive because I'm more of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy nut and this wasn't my preferred genre. However, upon starting the book I really did find it a fun intriguing read. It was quite hilarious at times and I think the body-switching concept was handled really well, covering every possible issue that would've arisen. The writing style wasn't childish, but it was easy to follow. There were a few editing issues, like missed out speech marks or the spelling of 'write' as 'right'. In most places the dialogue seemed a little stiff, mostly stemming from the use of 'I will' instead of 'I'll'. It got a bit annoying at times, but it was easy to get over.
In regards to the main characters, I thought they were quite well fleshed out and relatable, and pretty much everything they did had a good reason. On the other hand, a few of the secondary characters missed out here for me. Namely, Jessica and the girls. Mike was done pretty well, and I liked his growth throughout the story.
The end of Day 9 was a very cute way to end, ***SPOILER*** and the days of Jake and Nicole's marriage were well done. I don't really like being told how the people end up later on, but I think it sort of worked here because of the end sentence. I like that it was left open for a possible sequel if need be.
I'm not really one for long rambling reviews, so I'll just summarise - Overall, a very enjoyable read, quite well written with few flaws other than the editing in places and some stiff dialogue. Relatable main characters and a plot that despite being overdone was still handled in a way to make it not seem boring or re-used.
I hope that was okay as reviews go, and that I didn't sound as pretentious to others as I do now re-reading this. Thanks again for the ARC!
July 11, 2011
I really liked this book. There were many errors in it, though. It would skip words or use the wrong word. At one point, I had to re-read a page a few times because it had me so confused. First when he walked into Mike's house, Mike's mom was home so Jake, I believe, said hi to her. Then when he went into Mike's room, it said that his mom wasn't home and they were in the living room and they should go into his room. Something to that effect. It was very confusing for me. I don't know if I'm wrong or the book was on that part. Also, it was really confusing when the point of view would switch back and forth, I could barely keep up because it went so fast. Overall though, I really liked the book. I expected for them to still be switched when I seen it went from day 9 to day like 2 thousand. I was surprised when they switched back so fast from one page to the other. I wish it was more like one of them got hit in the head and something weird happened so they switched. Instead, they switched back the same way the were switched in the first place. It didn't really say why or how the switched or switched back so I wish there was something along those lines in the book. Nicole and Jake talked about it a little bit but not much. I think if there was more talk about that, it would have drawn me into the book more. Also, I found myself wondering what happened to Jessica and Mike in the end. I thought it was really cute that Nicole and Jake got married and are having a baby but I don't believe I read anything about Jessica and Mike.
Anyway, this was a good book and I really enjoyed it.
Anyway, this was a good book and I really enjoyed it.
August 5, 2011
I have always been drawn to body swap fiction. But just switching bodies isn’t enough for me. No, my ultimate attraction is when the body swap is combined with a gender swap. Boy in a girl’s body, girl in a boy’s body. The disorientation of not being the person you see in the mirror, coupled with having to learn how the other half of the population lives, is something that has always fascinated me. That’s why the self-published young adult novel “In My Shoes” by Adrian Stephens caught my eye. I asked the author if I could read and review it, so here we go!
Read my review on Nerds in Babeland.
Read my review on Nerds in Babeland.
July 1, 2011
There's not really much to say here. As a story, it's been done before. I haven't seen it done better, but it still had many moments where I was questioning who was who. Additionally, the punctuation errors became distracting fairly quickly, which really didn't help me to keep the characters straight. That being said, I found Jake to be an extremely relatable character that dealt with a confusing situation the best way that he could. Other than that, the ending was predictable but amusing. Well done, especially for a first novel.
December 13, 2011
A cute read. I usually don't read books like this, but it was fun to watch Jake and Nicole go through each others lives. There is humor in Jake learning how to be a girl and Nicole having to deal with being a guy. There are also magical moments where they learn more about each other and about how there is more to a person than what we see through are own eyes. I enjoyed reading this book overall!
Received this book in a first reads giveaway.
Received this book in a first reads giveaway.
March 22, 2013
I can say right from the beginning I liked this story. It is seen through the eyes of a teen boy which for me is a different approach as I have mostly read books seen through the eyes of a girl. It does switch up however from both perspectives accordingly. Incredible attention to detail by the author and no stone is left unturned here. Very funny and entertaining. I also must say I loved the ending!
July 22, 2011
I enjoyed this book a fair amount. It was different then anything I've read before. I thought it would be a bit slow with the characters being switched in each others bodies for so long but the author did a good job keeping it interesting by making them going through different tasks and difficulties each day.
July 31, 2011
This was a very good book, there were spots where if you were not reading carefully you would be uncertain who was speaking but that just made it more challenging to read. Too bad what happened to Jake did not happen in real life could sure be great for some of us. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
September 4, 2012
I highly recommend this book for anyone
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews