Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When I'm Her by Sarah Zachrich Jeng Narrator: Jesse Vilinsky, Louisa Zhu
Published by Ace, Penguin Audio on March 26, 2024
Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller
Pages: 400
Length: 11 hours, 51 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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Though polar opposites, Mary and Elizabeth are as close as can be—until the night Elizabeth makes an irrevocable mistake and leaves Mary to take the blame. Years later, Elizabeth seems to have forgotten Mary exists.
Mary hasn’t forgotten her.
She follows Elizabeth’s every move online, obsessed with paying her back for the betrayal that cost Mary her dreams. Now Mary has found a way to switch bodies with Elizabeth, and she’s got a plan to steal her charmed life. Her career. Her looks. Her husband.
They do say living well is the best revenge. Or is it? The more Mary uncovers about Elizabeth’s life, the more she realizes she may have made a deadly mistake. And she'll need the help of her worst enemy to stay alive.
I expected a bit more of a technical scifi aspect. There wasn’t too much on the technology. I’m With Her is much more a psychological thriller. One young woman, Elizabeth, is confidant and used to having her way because of her beauty. Mary is by no means ugly but lacks confidence and is more interested in science and her career. Somehow they become friends in college.
The story is told with flashbacks to 7 years ago in college and now. Elizabeth did some things (as Mary) which cost Mary and her family everything.  It all started with a guy blackmailing Mary because basically he wanted to rape Elizabeth. Because he had money and connections, he could ruin Mary’s internship and scholarship by lying. Mary didn’t want to do that and lost it all anyway.
Mary has spent the last 7 years struggling. Elizabeth has married Mary’s crush, Nate and become a wealthy influencer. Now Mary plans to take over Elizabeth’s life to enjoy the guy, the influence and money she wrongfully denied.
I feel for Mary. She got in trouble because of Elizabeth. She didn’t want fame or money. She just wanted to study and get a reasonable science job and maybe date a guy she liked who had been nice to her.
Elizabeth has made some bad choices without considering the consequences to others. Now some of those are coming home to roost – for Mary. I didn’t like how Elizabeth continually used Mary for her own purposes or fresh start.
There were interesting moral dilemmas which mostly Mary considered. Both women could have been kinder to others. They understood each other and needed the friendship for their own purposes. I enjoyed seeing the tangled mess and how they rebuilt their lives.
Narration:
Each of the narrators took one of the two main female characters. I felt their performances added the emotional tone for the story. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Jesse Vilinsky
A trained actress from the USC School of Dramatic Arts, alumnus of the prestigious British American Drama Academy, and accomplished voiceover actress lending her talents to numerous film and television productions, Jesse now brings your stories off the page with nuance and grace, and now and again – the appropriate dose of humor.
Jesse specializes in realistic teen and children’s voices, as well as a proficiency in many accents, including: New York, Boston, Southern, British, Irish, Russian, German and Italian.
About Sarah Zachrich Jeng
Sarah Zachrich Jeng grew up in Michigan and always had a flair for the morbid and mysterious (for her dad’s thirty-fifth birthday, she wrote a story entitled “The Man Who Died at 35”). She had a brief career as an aspiring rock star before she came to her senses and went back to school to become a web developer. Sarah lives in Florida with her family and two extremely hyper rescue dogs.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
This reminds me of the Buffy episode where Faith magically switches bodies with Buffy!
yes! This was more character drama than scifi. I hoped for a bit more scifi.
I’ve been undecided about this one but you’ve drawn me closer to adding it. Excellent review, Anne💜
It’s more characters than scifi stuff. The guys are disgusting.
This sounds messy with unlikable characters. Not sure I’d like it. Glad you enjoyed it, Anne.
yes without any scifi aspects I wouldn’t have liked it as well.
I would have loved more scifi, bummer.
Yes it was more personalities and drama. I like more scifi.
What an interesting premise. There was an episode of Buffy like that, but without the added charmed life-or is it aspect.
yes there was a Buffy episode like that with Faith. I didn’t remember until someone else mentioned it. The story is complex emotionally.
“I expected a bit more of a technical scifi aspect. There wasn’t too much on the technology. I’m With Her is much more a psychological thriller” after reading the summary I would expect more tech too.
And I LIKE tech!
Sounds like at least it was a good psychological thriller even if the science aspect didn’t really live up to what you’d expected. And good narration helps too. Great review!
Thanks Lisa. It was really different.