Leaning towards 3.5 stars for this one!

Delia Suits Up was such a quick and fun read! I was able to snag the audiobook from my library and I listened to it in a single afternoon. Like the blurb says - this took a bit of 13 Going On 30 & She's The Man and created a one-of-a-kind experience. Delia was just so fun to run around with while she was in a body that she accidentally wished for.

Just the whole aspect of the story was really cool and I liked the foreword from the author. A lot of career fields are dominated by men and women are expected to go the extra mile to prove that they are on the same level as their male counterparts. So it was really cool to see a woman try to make her way onto the field in the body of a man. This one was a definite fun time!

What a fresh, fun, original novel! Simultaneously empowering and hilarious, readers should suspend reality in order to fully enjoy and appreciate this story. Delia is frustrated by the lack of recognition and opportunities given to her as a woman in investment banking...until she wakes up on her birthday as a man and suddenly a a world of possibilities open up to her. I've never read a story like this one and thoroughly enjoyed the creative and quirkiness of these characters!

What would you do if you woke up in a completely different body? Who would you tell, and would they believe you?

That’s exactly what happens to Delia. She’s convinced that if she were a man she wouldn’t be passed over for jobs and she’d be treated with more respect. She makes a birthday wish that doesn’t quite go as she planned and she wakes up the next day as a man. As she navigates all the ins and outs of her new physical presence and how people treat her differently, she is also fighting to get herself a position at a financial firm that passed her over recently.

There are moments of hilarity, coupled with a message about finding your own confidence and building the life you want. The characters are delightful, both Delia / Richard and all of the supporting ones too. Could the penis references have been cut down a bit? Maybe. But guys sure do seem to be obsessed with their dangly parts, so maybe it was accurate. Either way, I enjoyed the story, the premise was really fun, and it made for a great summer read.

The LoveARCtually crew got to Zoom with Amanda and hear all about her process, the characters, and what’s next for her, which was so much fun! She’s an absolute delight by the way.

Delia is finding it hard to get ahead as a woman on Wall Street – and even has to supplement her income cleaning apartments. During a game of truth or dare the night before her birthday, Delia wishes she was a guy. The next day, she wakes up to find herself in a man’s body. Maybe now she’ll be able to get ahead. As her alter ego Richard and dressed in a sharp suit, she confidently struts into a financial firm to show them what she’s made of.
With its promising premise and humorous writing, this novel drives home the message that the corporate world is still unfortunately a man’s world. Although perhaps Delia had a bit too much of a fixation with her male appendage - this went on for pages and pages … and pages.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake in a different body and live a life not like your own?  Thats what happens to Delia after playing a game of Truth or Dare with her friends.  After being unemployed for months and not able to get a job she plays a game with her friends and says that she wishes she was a man because Ethen she could get a job.  The next day Delia wakes up as a man and promptly freaks out.  Delia spends the day as a man and basically goes all Alpha to get stuff done.  This books deals a lot with the differences between sexes in high powered jobs on Wall Street. I really wanted to like this one unfortunately I felt it was rather immature and at times sounded like an adolescent teen wrote the book.  I did really like her two friends and their scenes were always cute. Thank you Berkley, Netgalley and LoveARCtually for my gifted copy for review.

What. the. what.

Delia, an unemployed finance professional in NYC, plays a game of Truth or Dare with her roomies on the eve of her birthday and wakes up as a dude, freaky Friday style. She spends her birthday as a man working her way into her dream job. This is supposed to be a commentary on the sexism that runs rampant in the male-dominated finance world, but it's such a cringe fest that I could barely absorb what was happening.

The scene with Delia in the breakroom with her crush and 2 other co-workers had me simultaneously screaming and laughing - real Michael Scott energy was emanating from the page. There is barely any romance. Side characters are the stand out in this story. The writing leaves a lot to be desired. There are about 5 dick jokes on every page. IT'S TOO MUCH.

Delia Suits Up was entertaining fiction that revolved around Delia who got her birthday wish turning her day crazy and soon regretting and learning from it. The story was about sexism in workplace, gender inequality, friendship, preconception, confidence, passion, and love.

Writing was gripping, entertaining and fast paced. It was written in first person narrative from Delia’s perspective. Setting of NY added its own charm to story.

Plot was fun and dramatic. It started with Delia being frustrated with series of rejection for months, struggling to find another job after she was laid off because of merger. On night of her birthday, she ranted her frustration to her friends wishing she was born man, how she wouldn’t have to struggle in industry of men and could have advantages of being a man. But when she woke up next morning, she found her wish came true. Waking up in male body with different face and no identity was absolutely crazy. But Delia was determined to make most of it, take advantage of being a man and opportunity in her hand.

It was interesting to see how she was going to survive, find job with no ID, resume that was of her female body, no one could recognise her or vouch for her experience in finance industry, and what she would learn by being in male body.

Delia was absolutely terrific throughout the book. She was smart, clever, passionate but losing job affected her confidence and determination. Her rant in the beginning felt so true and I sure agree with her thoughts (but unlike her I wouldn’t want to be man!). I loved how being in man’s body changed her perception. She took more risks, body swap returned her confidence she felt was missing before and it was great the way she realised it wasn’t just male body that made it possible to live her dream but it was her, her skills, and daring to take risk, taking what she wanted than asking for it.

I loved secondary characters, especially Delia’s roommates and best friends, Frankie and Regina. Frankie was gay ENT doctor, logical of three, and amazing person. He made me smile often and I loved his and Delia’s conversation around climax. Regina was marketing executive, lively, fun, and fierce. They were so supportive to Delia and helped her throughout her body swap experience.

Whole plot and many scenes were unbelievable but that made it entertaining and it was filled humorous moments. Best scenes were those initial chapters where Delia found herself in male body, her speech and time at top investment banking firm she wanted to work with, saving their deal. There was small part with friends-to-lovers romance. It wasn’t at centre of the story but I loved reading those moments.

Twist and turns were interesting and enjoyable. Climax was great. I felt for Delia even though I knew this was coming and her lie will be exposed sooner or later. I was curious to see what she would and how she will save the deal if her body changed. I loved this part and it was amazing how she pull it off. End was lovely and satisfactory.

Why 4 stars-

I enjoyed this but I didn’t like constant comments and focus on anatomical changes. It sure gave it comic relief but at the same time I would have like more focus on other aspect, a little more exploration on work place sexism.

Overall, Delia Suits Up was humorous, fun, refreshing and well written women’s fiction with lovely and developed characters.

I recommend this if you like,
Body swap trope
friends-to-lovers romance
Wall Street setting
workplace sexism
Fast pace

Favorite Quotes:

I watch his reflection on the sleek mahogany desk scan my resume up and down. Up and down. What’s he looking for? Waldo?

I hand him my New York driver’s license, which I use more for drinking than driving.

I raise my arm and take a whiff. “Ugh.” It’s like Old Spice and old onions had an all-out battle. Old onions won.


My Review:

I enjoyed this uniquely quirky tale of a women’s frustrated birthday wish to be someone else coming true. The storylines were laced together with snarky wry humor, amusing observations, and interesting insights as the character encounters and withstands the perspective of and reactions to themselves as different genders. It was an interesting and thought-provoking education as the character contemplated the freedom, challenges, constrictions, and limitations experienced by both extremes of our species. Learning the art of snake charming of the capricious trouser anaconda alone was smirk-worthy and made my afternoon.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and LoveARCtually for the opportunity to read an early copy of Delia Suits Up by Amanda Aksel!

Pitched as 13 Going on 30 meets She's the Man, I knew Delia Suits Up would be a fun read! Delia is searching for a job months after being laid off and is struggling interview after interview. She's not being taken seriously in the investment banking world, ruled by men. After a drunken night with her roommates, when she makes a wish during truth or dare, she wakes up A MAN. Her wish has come true, she'll now be taken seriously, she won't be judged for decisions, and the investment banking world is hers for the taking.

Delia Suits Up was a fun, quick, and fresh read. I'll definitely read more from Amanda Aksel!

I really did not enjoy this book...
It's a Freaky Friday scenario that I just could not wrap my head around. I didn't DNR it because I was hoping the plot would get better, but it just did not do it for me...

Thank you so much to Berkley, Net Galley, and Amanda Aksel for an advanced reader copy of Delia Suits Up in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: August 3, 2021
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Delia Suits Up was nothing like I expected and everything I needed in a book right now. This story follows Delia as she makes a wish to be a man basically. She works in the financial field, and she is constantly overlooked for positions that are given to her often under-qualified male counterparts. After being laid off following a merger, her best friend (and crush) Eric rebounds quickly, finding a great job. Delia has no such luck, and the men in the field dismiss her essentially. So, she wishes to be a man so that she can take the bull by the horns and establish dominance in the profession…and she gets her wish!

This book is charming, endearing, engaging, and at times, all to close to home for me re: working in a male dominated profession. I identified so much with Delia’s struggle to make the men in her profession see her as an equal, and I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve thought, “if only I were a man, I wouldn’t have to work this hard to have my REAL work recognized for its value.” Honestly, as I read this book, The Man by Taylor Swift played constantly in my head. We live in a world where women are “punished” for the same things men are celebrated for, and where women are often overlooked as not knowing our place when we attempt to push outside the box. This book tackles that narrative head on, and it shows how Delia is received once she’s perceived as a man. And, it’s frightening to think about how spot on the treatment of Delia (ie, Richard as a man) lines up with my expectations for how women and men are treated in the workplace. The author really nailed the dynamic in the financial industry, and again, I just felt seen.

I also enjoyed Delia’s little crush on Eric, and the will they/won’t they aspect of the book was fun. I liked the way this story played out, although I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. And, I’m not sure I’m convinced Delia would just end up with the dream job after all the stunts she pulled, but in a fiction story, I’ll go with it. Not that she didn’t deserve a dream job, because she totally did, I’m just not sure it would have worked out that smoothly in real life.

Overall, this book was exactly what I needed, and it really hit home for me in a lot of ways. Thank you again for the advanced copy!

Delia Reese has been working in the financial industry and women are just not a large part of the workforce and especially in higher positions. As the company that she worked for was bought by another and she was without a job, Delia is having a hard time finding a new job and she thinks it is because of her gender and on the eve of her birthday she wishes for a big change.

While the concept of this book was intriguing and I was excited to read it, for some reason this one just didn't work for me and it may be minor, but it was distracting. The entire time I was reading this book I was so bothered as it is 2021 and I just couldn't imagine that the feeling of a woman in an executive position at a financial company was still taboo. The way that Delia described the atmosphere for me felt like it was years ago and I think if the book had been set a few years ago for me it would have worked better - minor but distracting while reading.

The thing that made me giggle and keep reading was being inside the mind of a woman in the body of a man. The experiences she was having as she was experiencing the anatomy and other's response to her as a man was so interesting. I enjoyed her narration as she made some errors in responding more in a female way and how other's reacted - gender norms are a thing!

I would be interested in trying more from this author, but will definitely read the synopsis before I dive in, so I know that I would be on board for the journey.

Amanda Aksel’s new novel Delia Suits Up is a hilarious modern day take on popular films like Freaky Friday and Big, but instead of just swapping bodies, you also swap genders. Delia Reese wants to make it big on Wall Street and she has the credentials to do it. However, no matter how many job interviews she goes on, no one will hire her. She becomes more and more convinced she can’t land a job because she’s a woman. During a drunken round of Truth or Dare with her roommates, Delia says if she could change one thing about herself, she’d wish to be a man. When she wakes up the next morning, she has gotten her wish, penis and all.

After Delia’s initial freakout and after she has convinced her roommates she’s really her and not some random stranger who has turned up in their apartment, Delia changes the name at the top of her existing resume to a man’s name, dresses up in her roommate’s best suit, and heads back to Wall Street to make something happen for herself.

You guys, this is such a fun and entertaining read! Delia is such a great character and her frustrations with job hunting are all too relatable. She’s also really funny. I laughed out loud so many times as she was trying to get used to her new body, and in particular, to her new appendage. Some might consider the humor to be a bit crude at times since a lot of it revolves around exploring that appendage. Crude or not, it’s pretty hilarious.

It’s not all just over-the top humor though. There’s obviously a more serious exploration of sexism in the workplace as Delia tries to break through into the “boy’s club” that is Wall Street. Another layer is added to the story when Delia encounters her best friend Eric, who she also has a crush on, while she is dressed as a man and accidentally learns how Eric feels about her. One of the only downsides for me was actually that I would have liked a lot more of Eric and Delia together because he was such a sweet guy.

If you’re looking for a fun and fast-paced read and enjoy movies like Big, Freaky Friday, and 13 Going on 30, you’ll want to check out Delia Suits Up.

I was drawn to this book because I totally understand where Delia was coming from trying to break into the world of finance as a woman. That was me a few years back. It is definitely a "boys" world and it is hard to be taken seriously. It can be done but the attitude that surrounds you can be tough to take at times.

Delia just wants to be recognized for her intelligence and what she can bring to the table. However, she is often overlooked because of her gender and that is a mistake for those companies because they can't see what they are missing out on by not hiring her. In a strange fluke, she is changed into a man (on her birthday no less). It is quite comical to see her trying to deal with the male anatomy and how it sometimes has a mind of its own. She also isn't sure how to act around the guys as a guy. I had to chuckle at some of her attempts to start a conversation with the guys around the water cooler. What does she try and talk about? You'll have to read the book to find out and perhaps it will garner a chuckle or two from you.

What it all boils down to is having the confidence to be yourself and go for what you want in life. It is sage advice she receives from a woman that she admires that has made it in the finance world. I have to agree with the advice, be confident no matter what you attempt and you will be taken seriously.

While the concept isn't anything new, the writing style, humor, and supporting characters make this a book worth reading. There is even a romance brewing between Delia and Eric if they can both be open with each other....and assuming that Delia isn't forever stuck in a male body.

We give this book 4 paws up.

Delia Suits Up is a cross between 13 Going on 30, She's the Man, and Freaky Friday. But instead of switching bodies with someone, or pretending to be a man, Delia wakes up one morning AS a man. What I liked about this book is Aksel tackles sexism in a male-dominated field (finance) and answers the question, "How would I be treated if the only thing that changed about me was my gender? Body parts and all?"

I found the premise interesting and it made me think. For instance, the things one woman says to another can come off creepy if they're said by a man. There are numerous hijinks in Delia Suits Up but I didn't love this book. Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but I didn't love it. The book didn't hit all the right notes for me: There's a lot of swearing and the characters seemed more like caricatures than like real people. Especially the secondary characters -- throughout the story they seemed to me to serve as props for Delia because I didn't learn much about them other than the basics. Maybe that would have been distracting? I don't know. Other people will obviously have their own opinions! At any rate, pick up Delia Suits Up to read Aksel's take on what it means to wake up in a man's body in a male-dominated field.

Ladies, admit it—if you woke up tomorrow in the body of a cis man, the first thing you’d do is check out your package. It would probably take a while to get used to your new anatomy, since everything from using the bathroom to dealing with unwanted arousal would be new and different.

In her breezy new Wall Street farce, Delia Suits Up, Amanda Aksel doesn’t shy away from detailing the trials and tribulations of learning to cope with a new set of genitalia. But how did female investment banker Delia Reese wind up in a man’s body?

Four months after being laid off from her job following a merger, Delia has been unable to find a new position, while her male coworker (and crush object) Eric was hired immediately by prestigious firm Monty Fuhrmann. To make ends meet, Delia has been working as a housecleaner. When her latest cleaning assignment lands her in the home of a tech CEO whose firm is about to launch its IPO, Delia manages to pick up some intel which could prove valuable on Wall Street.

During a drunken evening with her roommates, Delia declares that her life would be a lot easier if she were a man. “I’d be ascending the corporate ladder and making boatloads of money. More than my female counterparts, by the way. And I wouldn’t have to apologize for it. To anyone… I could be powerful and intimidating without being labeled a bitch. I could be the best and they would let me.”

The next morning, Delia discovers that her wish has come true. After getting over the shock, she uses what she’s learned about the tech IPO to bluster her way into Monty Fuhrmann. But will life as “Richard” be everything Delia hoped it would be?

Delia Suits Up doesn’t exactly contain any groundbreaking insights into the difficulties of being a woman in a male-dominated world, but it’s a fun read with some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. I enjoyed Delia’s relationship with her roommates, especially Frankie, a (male) doctor who, fortunately, is about the same size as Delia and is able to lend her a stylish Michael Kors suit, along with some much-needed advice about her new anatomy. Thanks to Penguin Random House for inviting me to review the book, and for the advance copy (via NetGalley)!

If you like those switch places with someone, walk in someone else's shoes kind of movies, then Delia Suits Up is a good choice for a get away from it all bit of fun. The story does require some suspension of disbelief, but I expected that given the premise. So, yeah, it's not at all believable, but it is loads of fun. Amanda Aksel has addressed a serious topic, but she's still managed to keep the story light. Some of the humor is a little on the crude side, but it still adds a note of humor. This is a great choice for a bit of escapism - a cup of coffee or glass of wine, your favorite chair, and Delia Suits Up to get lost in. It made for a nice little weekend read for me. It's a well-written, entertaining, and funny tale with likable characters and a pace that keeps the pages turning.

Delia is an out-of-work but once successful investment banker who can’t seem to find her place in the industry after being laid off during a merger. She’s seen most of her former male colleagues effortlessly reenter the workplace, while she’s currently scrubbing the toilets of potential clients.

Delia and her roommates make some wild birthday wishes during a drunken game of “truth or dare”, and when Delia wakes up, she realizes the wish has somehow come true--including an overnight anatomy change.

The blurb bills this book as a bit of a mashup of “13 Going on 30” and “She’s the Man” and I think that nails it! It has the fantastical element of “13 Going on 30” by wishing for something so hard, and being totally out of your element when it actually comes true. If you’ve seen “She’s The Man”, you’ll definitely see those similarities play out as well. There’s even a nod to Shakespeare in one part of the story.

I laughed so stinkin’ hard many times while reading. The… I guess I’ll be adultish and say penis, but I prefer to say weiner… jokes and situations were hysterical to me. My kids were like, “Mom, WHAT IS SO FUNNY?” and it just made me laugh harder. Know going in there will be a LOT of penis talk. There’s a side of a bit of romance involved, and the friend interactions are incredibly authentic and fun.

Ansel’s story flows effortlessly, and if you’re like me, you can easily binge this in a sitting! Congrats on the Berkley debut Amanda! Several members of LoveARCtually got a chance to read this together and chat with Amanda, and it made for a great book club read.

BTW-she has a lovely author’s note at the beginning discussing the sensitivities of gender and how it’s not a “one-size-fits-all” construct that I think sets a really good tone leading into the book.

The premise is extremely appealing. I was sold on 13 Going on 30 meets She's the Man. Both films are full of humor and small moments of something special. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me.
Delia can't find a new job after four months of being laid off. Endless interviews and rejections have her bemoaning her struggle to get in with the bro club on Wall Street. On the eve of her birthday, she blows out a candle, wishing she was a man with all the perks and advantages. She wakes up the following morning in a man's body and the cajones to take on the financial world.
For me, I could have used more girl power and less genitalia focus. It was amusing at first but the repetition was excessive. I either needed it to be more character focused and/or romance driven. I would have loved to see more about how Delia faced sexism in the workplace and her efforts to improve it in her sphere.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I was so incredibly intrigued by the premise of this one and just wanted "The Man" by @TaylorSwift playing as the background the entire time. I don't work in a male dominated industry like Delia does, but have definitely found myself doubting my abilities in a way a white man would never, so I found myself relating to Delia immediately.

I've come to learn that I absolutely love a good found family and Frankie and Regina, Delia's roommates are about the best found family you could ask for- they wake up one morning with a stranger in their apartment claiming to be their bestie Delia, and they're on board in record time. There's also a lot of discussion regarding Delia becoming adjusted to her new body and all of its *ahem* accessories. I thought it was hilarious, but this is the disclaimer that the talk in this book is real and not shied away from.

Also, get ready to swoon at Delia's crush, Eric. That's all I'll say about that.

You definitely have to go into this one willing to suspend some belief in reality and be in it for the underlying message: regaining your confidence comes from within, not from how you look. It's a quick read that will have you laughing out loud and wanting to look inside yourself for what's been there all along.

I give this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐.