Being Sloane Jacobs

There were things I expected to find implausible here and they very much were, like somehow no one at these camps really knew the Sloanes even though the world of elite figure skating and hockey are relatively small communities, and of course, instead of showing the Sloanes truly struggling with difficult sports that they had no experience in, they somehow found a way to not only blend in at camp but kind of excel.

I think I could have let those things slide had this book not asked me to overlook so many other things, too. For instance, the internet is used to study skating videos, but when the plot needed characters kept in the dark about breaking news or for someone to get dirt on a rival, only television and a single copy of a show more magazine were info sources. There were also times where you’d think parents would get in contact with the camp or vice versa, but nope, no communication between those entities because that again would have been inconvenient for the plot. And like I said, someone at one of the camps knowing a Sloane, that I could believe, instead an underage girl from Philadelphia happens to walk into a Montreal bar and happens to know the college-aged bartender who is also from Philadelphia? It just went on and on that way, from one moment to the next either something felt contrived or convenient, very rarely organic, the two romances included.

The drama going on in the girls’ home lives interested me very much, however, that ultimately wasn’t handled with nearly as much depth as it could have been or with enough interactions between the Sloanes and their parents.

So, unfortunately this one didn’t work all that well for me, but I would heartily recommend trying this author’s Meant To Be. show less

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I really wanted to love Being Sloane Jacobs, I really really wanted to. But I just... didn't. I guess I couldn't wrap my head around the concept, as potentially cute and adorable as it could have been, I felt like it fell a bit flat.

Sloane and Sloane were just... too much alike. You'd think that they would be polar opposites, because, hey. Alternating points of view + trading places just doesn't do all that great when they act similar. I mean, it was easy to tell them apart, but mostly because they each had a different cast of supporting characters. But... the secondary characters really weren't that filled out. And don't even get me started on the boys - what a bunch of drama queens! I show more just didn't care for either love interest.

Another issue that I had was skating. I really don't understand a lot of skating terms or just anything about it. Ice skating in general is just a mystery to me! Thankfully it really wasn't that over the top on skating - I mean, I never did figure out what an axel was... but... there's not a thing I can do about it.

The ending was pretty much unbelievable, but in a good way - in a fun, interesting way. All in all, Being Sloane Jacobs was a fun piece of fluff, but it's not particularly memorable. I'll be trying Lauren's Meant to Be, though! show less

So many good contemporaries in a row! Is it possible I've found my contemporary niche?

First off, lets get this out of the way--this book is SOOOO Parent Trap. Expect Lindsay Lohan nostalgia while reading this.

Also, it was really cheesy with the romances and all. But I liked the cheesy in the case.

Characters I Loved: Both Sloanes, Andy, Bee, Nando, Cameron, Matt, Melody... Let's face it, all of them.

I really wish that Nando and Matt were developed a BIT more. Especially Matt. I AM a romantic, but I also don't believe that he changed because sunshine comes out of Sloane E.'s butt (to quote Sloane D.)

But it's okay, because this book was fun and cheese and Parent Trap nostalgia and it wore it well.

I picked to read Being Sloane Jacobs because it was an advanced copy available in exchange for my honest review on Netgalley and not only is the cover adorable, but the synopsis really intrigued me. I love watching hockey and pretty much automatically pick up anything to do with hockey or with figure skating in ya fiction. I have also read Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill and enjoyed it, so she is an author that I watch anything that comes out by her.
I was not disappointed, because the characters swept me away. At first it was a little confusing with two main characters with the same first and last name, but they had distinct voices and they were pretty radically different. Though, the more I read, the more that I found they had in show more common. They come from different home types-rich versus poor, they play different sports- figure skating versus hockey, they dress differently, look at the world in different ways, have different temperments and have different upbringings. But they both face pressure of expectations, family dysfunction, and confidence and really understanding if they love what they do or if they are just good at it. Or they were. Sloane Emily had a big fall in her last competition and is just now re-entering the scene and Sloane Devon has been choking when it comes to scoring goals.
I loved the dual perspective and wasn't really confused going back and forth most of the time. When the roomies first entered the picture it was confusing adjusting to them switching places and new people being on the scene, but I quickly settled into their settings.
While I questioned the plausibility of them pulling off actually switching places, I completely love the concept and the execution. I think that it was believable that some of their skills easily transferred and they did have issues, I think that them excelling and holding up the other's reputation, that is where the ground gets shaky. But Lauren convinced me with her writing, and with the friends that came along and helped them.
Both discovered a lot about themselves, gained a new perspectives on other sports and what they go through. They also had friends that helped them discover who they were and where they fit into things, and the overall character development was good. Sloane Emily gained more confidence in herself and ability to stand up for herself, and Sloane Jacob filed down some rough edges and learned to appreciate beauty more.
Each Sloane had a romance that I think was well placed, and I especially like how supportive they were and that they brought out another side, or helped them to see both their and the opposite sport in new ways. I like how Sloane Emily's love interest had to prove himself and it was fun watching him woo her and both of them open up to each other. Sloane Devon's guy was actually someone she knew before, but they both saw each other in new lights.
I appreciated how the family issues weren't magically dissolved at the end, but that there was hard work and effort being put into healing the families.
The epilogue was sweet, and although things were wrapped up really well, it gave me hope that there might be more time back in these characters' lives but I can't be sure.

Bottom Line: Overall fun contemporary that has depth. show less

Ever since I read [b:Meant to Be|11721314|Meant to Be|Lauren Morrill|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331322901s/11721314.jpg|16669543] by Lauren Morrill this past summer, I've been keeping an eye on her subsequent works. I enjoyed Meant to Be for a variety of reasons but two things I really liked were Ms Morrill's writing style and the humour. After reading the synopsis for this book, Being Sloane Jacobs, I was excited to get these two things again.

While this book didn't have me laughing out loud like Meant to Be did, I did smile at a few of the lines and events in this book. I was expecting a bit more hijinks considering that two girls who are polar-opposite in nearly every way were switching places but this book had a more serious tone show more to it which in the end turned out to be an OK thing.

This book is really about finding your own person and going for what you want in life--even if it isn't necessarily what your parents want for you. Therefore, it has a bit of serious tone to it. BUT don't assume that this is some sort of heavy-read: it is actually very light-hearted and charming; just don't expect laugh-out-loud comedy situations.

There isn't a lot of drama and it's straightforward in its delivery--and again, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. While the situations are a little stereotypical, they are general enough that I think a majority of young teen girls can relate to and enjoy reading about. It's nice every once and awhile to read a book that isn't trying too hard to be something its not. It's a feel-good-book plain and simple.

My only peeve about this book is how easily the girls are able to switch into the opposite sport. As a girl who played ringette (basically hockey but using a ring) myself for 3 years, I couldn't imagine figure skating let alone trying to do it for a camp. Yes, I'm a pretty decent skater but there is no way I would have been able to pull off jumps and lifts. The skates are completely different and require you to skate in a different way--but I digress. If my only peeve is about skating then this book must have delivered on everything else ;)

Book Bonus: It takes place in Montreal, Canada!

Overall: If you need a feel good read about two girls who are learning to become their own persons, then grab this book!

Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESous Book Reviews as well as book recaps! show less

such an adorable read!

Two girls with the very unusual same name happen to bump into each other at the perfect time in their lives - when both of them wants to run away.

You have to suspend a little belief to think that this could actually be pulled off. But the story is so cute, the characters are so fun, that it's easy to do.

I love each Sloane's new twist and take on their new world and how they claim it as their own.

it's a story that's easy to love!

Lauren Morrill is awesome. I’m privileged to know her IRL as well as through her deliciously fluffy novels. So, yeah, that’s a thing. Funny story: she’s in my book club, but I totally didn’t know it the first time that we were at a meeting together. Someone mentioned Meant to Be, and I was all “I love that book,” and then the room released a collective held breath and was all “oh hey, that woman is Lauren Morrill and that could have been hella awkward.” Thankfully, I did love it; knowing me, that’s not always the case. Getting more on track, Morill’s sophomore novel proves that Meant to Be wasn’t a fluke. Being Sloane Jacobs is every bit as fun and fluffy as Meant to Be, with bonus family drama, pop culture show more references, and rarely covered (in YA at least) sports.

Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions. show less