Book Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking

Title: Switched

Author: Amanda Hocking

Reviewer: Kinsey Manchester

Rating: 5/5 stars

 

Wendy Everly’s life has never quite been perfect. When she was six, her mother tried to kill her and has been locked up in a mental hospital ever since. Her brother and aunt raise her and care for her, because her mother hates her and believes she is a monster. Wendy has not been able to settle in one place, always changing schools and not ever fitting in. At her newest school, she meets a boy named Finn Holmes. Finn is a mysterious boy who seems to be paying a lot of attention to Wendy. He is the one guy who makes her feel like a normal girl. When Finn tells Wendy that all of her quirks add up to make her something more than human, Wendy doesn’t have a hard time believing him. Wendy’s mother may just be right about Wendy being a monster. Finn promises her a new life and a place where she can finally fit in; he tells her about a place called Förening. Wendy, believing him and also not wanting to admit how much she likes him, goes with Finn and leaves behind her family. She believes that she is keeping her family safe by leaving them behind because she believes that she is a monster. She is also interested in meeting people like her. Even when Wendy finds out that the people like her aren’t remotely close to being monsters, she still doesn’t love her new life. The only thing keeping her from leaving is Finn. Wendy misses the comfort of home as things become strained. She cannot be two different people and has to choose which will win over- her supernatural self or who she was raised to be.

I did not expect myself to like this book nearly as much as I did. I really adored this book because it was a supernatural book featuring creatures other than vampires, werewolves, and fairies. Amanda Hocking wrote a unique book and she wrote it well. Switched hooked me within the first few chapters. I finished this book in one afternoon because I couldn’t put it down. The characters were extremely likable. Wendy was a great main character and I loved how she was not afraid to stand up to those higher up than her. She cares for people and even though she thinks she is a monster at first, there is no way that someone that nice is capable of hurting anyone. Wendy’s brother, Matt, was a perfect supporting character. He was the best big brother, always doing anything for his little sister. Matt saved Wendy from their mother and he never stopped protecting and loving her. Finn was also a great match for Wendy and I loved how their relationship worked. It did not feel rushed like relationships sometime seem in books. Also, when Wendy met Rhys, I enjoyed Rhys, too. Rhys was a boy in Wendy’s new life at Förening and he was a good friend to her when she had nobody. The plot of Switched was fast paced and moved along quickly, but not fast enough that you felt like you were missing details. This book was the perfect start to a trilogy, and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next one. I recommend this book to readers who like action, supernatural, or a little romance. 5/5 stars!