Being Sloane Jacobs Blog Blitz: Review!

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Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill
Publication date: Jan. 7, 2013
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Category: Young Adult - Contemporary
Source: Received from published via Netgalley (Thanks!)

Summary: Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs, a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one. But it’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself. (Adapted goodreads.com)

My thoughts…

What would you do if you met a girl with the exact same name as you and even looked a tiny bit like you? Switch lives with her, of course! Just kidding, that's probably not most people's first reaction but that's exactly what Sloane Emily Jacobs and Sloane Devon Jacobs decide to do when they cross paths the night before starting camp. Sloane Emily is a figure skater trying to make a comeback after choking at the previous year's junior nationals. Sloane Devon is a hockey player whose family troubles (and anger management issues) are affecting her game on the ice. Each are on their way to a summer camp, figure skating and hockey respectively, but neither of them want to be there. When they meet, they decide the best way to avoid camp and the drama in their lives is to become each other. Which turns out to be a lot harder than they expected.

Parent Trap hijinks aside (c'mon, the comparison is inevitable!), there's a really fun and relatable story here between two girls who I felt were very easy to connect with. Who hasn't wished at one point that they could switch lives with someone for a day or ignore reality when things get stressful? I enjoyed being able to live that idea vicariously through the two Sloanes. The chapters alternate between the two girls and we learn not only what they're running away from, but also what they've gotten themselves into. Sloane Emily has never truly defied her parents and in light of some recent events, she decides to take this opportunity to be someone else and runs with it. And it turns out, her learning hockey isn't that far of a stretch. I liked learning about the game and how she had to earn respect on the ice. But she also meets a guy there and they are very cute together!

Across town, Sloane Devon is missing hockey and her family and getting her butt handed to her as she realizes figure skating isn't all about looking pretty. It's a sport too and a grueling one at that. As someone who used to be a huge fan (I had a Kristi Yamaguchi poster hanging in my room!), I appreciated the detail of describing camp and the routines. Like Sloane Emily, she's finding out she can figure skate if she puts her mind to it. She makes two awesome friends who are really there for her and reconnects with a guy from her past. I enjoyed getting to see how these sports, family and friends played a role in each girl's life but also, the friendship they inevitably form over their crazy plan.

Do I recommend?: Yes! This was my first Lauren Morrill book and I enjoyed it a lot! If you're in the mood for something fun and entertaining with likable characters, I highly recommend checking this out.

Collaborative feature with Alexa! 

Which girl would you switch with?

Considering that I used to be a huge fan of figure skating, I would switch with Sloane Emily because it would be like fulfilling a childhood fantasy! I've gone ice skating a few times and I always feel like such a spaz at first. But once I get comfortable, it reminds me of rollerblading. But harder. I definitely admire the way the coordination, grace and strength these skaters possess. Plus, the guy Sloane Emily meets - Matt? He sounds like a cutie.