* * *
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. What she does know is that she’d give
anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.
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, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever
played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.
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: no
strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon
to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and
axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a
familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the
Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more
difficult than being yourself.
Despite the rather unbelievable premise, Being Sloane Jacobs
was quite fun and I couldn't help but fall for it while reading it during the Winter
Olympics.
It took a little bit to buy into them trading places and adapting easily to each other’s lives. They're from opposite backgrounds with contrary dispositions, there was no telling which way this would go. I think I spent half the time convincing
myself to go with it and the other half worried about how and when their ruse
would be discovered. At some point, I ended up being more concerned with what the two
Sloanes were mentally working through than all the other stuff.
Essentially, they’re both overwhelmed and exhausted by their own lives. They’re
expected to behave a certain way, deliver certain results and follow a
pre-destined path towards glory. Seems impressive on paper but when real life
intrudes and shakes their faith in themselves and their respective families,
suddenly all that they’ve been working towards has become unbearable. So
trading spots isn’t such a bad idea after all. It’s a mental vacation from
their lives and a chance for some breathing space. This break is exactly what they need to get their heads sorted out. As the weeks go by, they
meet new friends (and enemies), learn challenging new repertoires, engage in
some out-of-character high jinx and of course, there are boys involved. They eventually have to return to reality but by then they come to terms with what they have and face head on their fears and anxieties over their futures.
All in all, Being Sloane Jacobs is cute with a side of
mischief – just enough to sweeten your day!
~ Bel
