This was a mesmerizing read from start to end, and I found myself left with a feeling after finishing it that was not at all what I thought I would end up with. It was moving in a way I didn't quite expect, and though the premise was surreal—two friends who can body-swap—it detailed friendship in a way that was all too real; sometimes friendships simply feel that deep, to the point where lives become intertwined.
Schubach writes beautifully; the prose was eloquent, and the structure of alternating chapters was incredibly well done.
I have a feeling this one is going to sit with me for a while, but I can immediately tell this is a favorite: highly recommend.

This was a wonderful book about so much more than just two friends who can body swap. This was a story about friendship, connections, loss, betrayal and love. Jess and Nina are two completely realistic characters, trying to make it through life. Throw in the body swapping and it makes for a book that will leave a mark. We have all had friendships that feel like soulmates. The women in this book are like that and have no boundaries. They meet at a very young age and connect straight away and have that instant typical bestie bond. Their connection however goes slightly deeper than the norm, because they can swap bodies. They get to experience being in someone else’s skin and find that sometimes it’s wonderful and sometimes it sucks. The story takes place between 1992 and 2018 and moves back and forth through various years, as we learn more about Nina and Jess, and their unique relationship. Recommended to readers looking for a moody, thought-provoking read about adolescence, envy, and love.

RELEASE DATE 21 June 2022

Thank you to netgalley and blackstone publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review

n this book we are following two girls/women, Nina and Jess. Both extremely different people, living very different lives. They meet at a very young age and connect straight away and have that instant typical bestie bond. Their connection however goes slightly deeper than the norm, because they can swap bodies.

It follows them through from childhood through to teens until they fall and then they reconnect again when they are older.

The premise of this book had me so intrigued. It sounded so unique and original and I love a great book about female friendships.

First off I reckon this would actually make a great movie because in all honesty I found if super confusing at times because your following both perspectives and then they are also swapping bodies so I was often thinking wait who is this speaking? Obviously if adapted to screen that wouldn't be an issue, because for me it actually did hinder my experience quite a bit because I was getting confused and having to reread parts again to figure out who was doing what.

Negatives aside this book was very interesting and also very hard to read at times. I felt it was a pretty accurate representation of young female relationships, especially toxic ones. I found Jess very unlikeable, not sure if that was the intention and I'd love to know what others who have read it felt about the characters. She came across as a user and very manipulative.

I also enjoyed the family and other relationship dynamics with each individual character and their own families/relationships. Both severely different which obviously made it all the more interesting to read about when they would swap.

I did enjoy the multiple timelines but maybe wish it was more defined by maybe a new chapter? I usually have a preference to one particular timeline but found them both very fascinating. I felt a lot with this book, I could relate to some of it, found some parts super cringe but probably rather realistic, I got annoyed, felt sympathy, felt uncomfortable and shocked by some parts.

I would love to have a look at a finished copy to see how it is laid out because I really feel like that could make or break an experience for someone reading this book and how confusing it can get! However I would recommend this book still, Maybe people who love a quirky book that's a bit weird.

I picked up this novel for the Freaky Friday vibe of the blurb, but stayed for the deep meditation on friendship. Deeper and a bit heavier than the adverts imply, this novel dives deep into trust, friendship and betrayal.

The Nobodies


Alanna Schubach

“You were told, when you were young, that the possibilities were endless. Only with Jess had that ever seemed true.”

This was an excellent book. It was so much more than just a tale about two friends who can body swap. It was about friendship, connections, loss, betrayal and love. Jess and Nina are two completely realistic characters, trying to make it through life. Throw in the body swapping and it makes for a book that will leave a mark.

Thank you NetGalley and Black stone publishing for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another book about toxic female friendship except add in body swapping.

While this could be viewed as a gimmick, it adds an interesting element to this friendship....an element of double-crossing that others aren't able to add. It's more than just breaking into someone's phone or email account, reading someone's diary, and telling someone's secrets. It's literally living inside of someone's body.

Jess and Nina are connected in ways that are unexplainable. Best friends since childhood - with a brief break in their friendship after high school - the young women reconnect and fumble through a post 9/11 New York. They float through their lives, struggling with relationships and boundaries, the same boundaries that once broke them apart.

I loved everything about this book. The weirdness of the body-swapping, the various timelines, the toxicity of the friendship that endured despite everything.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Nobodies by Alanna Schubach is such an incredible book! I couldn’t stop reading it and it stayed in my mind long after. Amazing

A powerful exploration of the bounds of friendship; when it goes too far, when it tints sour, and when tow friends could get closer than any other friends could. Will definitely be recommending at a later date, I loved the writing as well as the plot and messaging.

What happens when two friends are so close, the lines of their identities blur? Alanna Schubach's The Nobodies is a riveting exploration of intimacy and betrayal, a coming of age tale that’s both insightful and brash.

—Elizabeth Gaffney, author of When the World Was Young and Metropolis

I wanted to read this book because the idea of two friends being able to switch bodies and experience each other's personas and lives was so compelling. But this book was so much more than the "trading bodies" idea. It was a deep dive into the nature of friendship. Recommended.

A fascinating, sad, and completely realistic tale about two friends who can't help but love and harm each other. A stunning, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful novel. Do yourself a favor and purchase this book when it comes out on June 21st. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced copy.

An entertaining afternoon read to curl up to and escape for the day. Thanks for the opporuntity to read in advance