Having read and enjoyed Charlotte’s previous story The Second Chance, I had high hopes for this new book and what a treat it is. I’m often dubious of the words ‘hilarious and uplifting’ having read books before waiting for the said hilarious and uplifting parts only to end the book disappointed, but I really did find this story both hilarious and indeed, uplifting.

We meet identical twins Alice and Edie who have a weekly TV slot as ‘agony aunts’ on a morning show which viewers enjoy because of their constant bickering with opposite points of view. One morning after a particularly heated debate they find their jobs at risk and decide the only way to make a truce is to swap lives as a bet that the other couldn’t live in their shoes without being found out. Although identical in looks it becomes very apparent that they have almost exact opposite home lives and so starts a challenging and very funny journey.

I found many laugh out loud moments in this book, especially from quick witted Edie who is the seemingly laid back funny twin compared with Alice who is uptight and stressed. But as in real life, once you get past the surface that everyone else sees, you get the depth of the real person which shows the strengths and weaknesses that they harbour deep down. There are sad parts in the book as well as the funny parts which make this very relatable and appropriate to everyone. Very well written, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found all characters interesting, including the children whose challenges were also captured well, especially the change they highlighted in their moods in Alice’s family when they were in the presence of their father Danny compared to when he was out. Really thought provoking in my opinion, even if a little sad! It may be a little far fetched to think they wouldn’t get found out straight away by their own partners (or at least Seb) but put that aside and just enjoy this real cracker of a book.

Highly recommended and big thanks to Jessie Whitehead at Avon and NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I was a bit unsure going into The Sister Switch—the premise of married sister/s swapping lives made me wonder how the author would handle the complications. But to my surprise, Charlotte Butterfield pulled it off in an engaging and entertaining way!

The story follows Alice and Edie, twin sisters who are wildly different despite sharing a career in morning television. Their on-air clashes are great for ratings, but off-screen, their relationship is very rocky and nothing like on TV. After a heated argument, they make a bet to secretly switch lives for a week, leading to unexpected chaos, personal revelations, and some much-needed growth.

The book is fast-paced, and stepping into Alice and Edie’s shoes was fun. Their struggles felt real, and both sisters were likable in their own ways. However, the deceit aspect didn’t sit well with me. If I were in their shoes, I’d seriously question my marriage after something like this—trust would be hard to rebuild.

Overall, The Sister Switch was an entertaining read with humor, heart, and an insightful look at family dynamics. While the deception element kept me from fully loving it, it was still an enjoyable story.

Such a great book! I love books abt sisters (wish I had one) !t was lighthearted, funny, and super emotional and touching as well! I love s good swap and it really shows what we think when the grass is greener on the other side. Loved her first book & really enjoyed this one! Hope there is much more to come from her bc her writing is fantastic

Alice and Edie are identical twins, but far from identical in personality.

Alice, who has a huge instagram following, is basically a trad wife, though she's never quite described as such. Her life is devoted to running a perfect home and making the lives of her husband and children as easy as possible, ensuring none of them have to lift a finger for themselves. In the eyes of husband Danny, who has some frankly prehistoric ideas about gender roles (no son of his is ever setting foot in a kitchen), that's exactly how it should be.

Edie, on the other hand, is far more chaotic and laissez-faire. Her house is a tip and partner Seb and their two daughters can and do fend for themselves, while Edie works all the hours to keep them afloat financially. Her feminist principles are totally at odds with Alice's choice of lifestyle.

Both, of course, are horrified by each other's lives. But who's happier?

When their inability to see eye to eye starts causing more trouble than ever - including during the weekly breakfast TV slot where they're joint agony aunts - drastic measures are called for. They often pretended to be each other as children - why not see what life is like in the other's shoes for a while?

So begins the switch, known only to them.

It was hard to believe that the husbands didn't notice - well, maybe not in Danny's case - he's hardly ever there and barely notices Alice when he is. And kids tend to be pretty self-centred. But the attentive Seb surely wouldn't have been fooled. And identical as they are, there must be differences- hair, etc. It must take more than just switching clothes. But it's fine to suspend disbelief for a while!

This was loads of fun, with lots of awkward situations which highlight the difference between the sisters' lives. I loved the contrast between the two book clubs.

Edie doesn't know whether or not Danny's full name is Daniel, which seems an odd thing to not know about your brother-in-law - surely she was at the wedding? And I did take very mild exception to the portrayal of Fife as the possibly worst place on earth- my daughter's at uni there and loves it!

Five stars anyway for a super fun read.