Switched by Amanding Hocking

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

 

This is one of the shortest book summaries I have ever read, but it sounded interesting enough and the cover was AMAZING!!!  So I decided to give it a try...and wow was I impressed!

 

Not to say this book alone was quite 5 stars, but it is definitely 4.5 with 5 star potential when I get to finish the series.  It might be a while because someone at the library took out the 2nd and 3rd books in the trilogy (who does that?!?!) and I don't know when they will be back.

 

So the main character's name is Wendy, like from Peter Pan, and suffered a traumatic childhood.  Her mother tried to kill her and now resides in an institution while Wendy is looked after by her aunt Maggie and older brother Matt.

 

Matt and Wendy's relationship is the cutest sibling relationship I have read about...probably ever.  He's protective yet forgiving and he really cares about Wendy.  This book has none of that classic I'm-different-and-moody-and-no-one-cares-about-me crap that girls in these paranormal romance books usually have. *see Evermore review*  Wendy knows that she's different but tries to push it all aside to help her family bond better.  REFRESHING!!!  This character has a central family unit that she wants to preserve and spend more time with.

 

Just that thought alone blew my mind.  Wendy didn't try to run from home, kill herself or isolate herself just because she was different.  She embraced her true self and went on with her life.  She made some choices that you knew were completely wrong, but she justified them in her own way and every character has their flaws, right?  I can forgive her...for now.

 

But the storyline's gotta go somewhere so the new kid at school, Finn, keeps staring at Wendy which obviously attracts her attention (it also doesn't hurt that he's gorgeous).  They get off to a rocky start but end up going to the dance together which ends in a fight.  She tries to forget about him, she can't, and they become friends.

 

This is where Matt got all adorable and protective of Wendy--she went to her first school dance, with a boy and came home upset.  Matt starts going all primal and saying he's gonna kill Finn and so on...it was so cute! *sigh*

 

So Wendy IS different (otherwise this book wouldn't be paranormal) and she runs away with Finn--sort of by force.  The rest of the book reveals the new world Wendy is thrown into and sets up all the surprises to come.

 

That's all I'm gonna say about this book because it is definitely worth reading.  It has a very fresh perspective on things and is not your traditional PNR sappy love story.  I can't wait to read the next one!!

 

I had to include the cover--so awesome!