When I first saw the cover of this book--and then the description--I knew that I wanted to read it.
Unfortunately, I could not bring myself to finish. There was so much cussing (basically every page) and it seemed like the author was trying a little too hard to sound like the age of her characters.
I would have finished this if not for the language since the story had me hooked.

1/5

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required. ( )

**I was given an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.**

I read [a:Christine Riccio|13984436|Christine Riccio|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1533701535p2/13984436.jpg]Christine's first book, [b:Again, but Better|41147279|Again, but Better|Christine Riccio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552398900l/41147279._SY75_.jpg|58706746]Again, but better, and adored it and that's coming from someone that doesn't usually like rom coms or contemporaries, but I wanted to support her, so I bought the book and read it. Suffice it to say, [b:Better Together|54860448|Better Together|Christine Riccio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600717402l/54860448._SY75_.jpg|75737457]Better Together was more up my alley and I loved it. The Parent Trap is one of my favorite movies and it for sure had that vibe going on and it sucked me in from chapter one. I really liked the chapters weren't too long so I felt like I was making a lot of ground reading. I really connected with Siri's character and enjoyed her parts of the book more than her sisters, but both were delightful. I would recommend this book to anyone fifteen years old or older. Wonderful writing, wonderful story. I couldn't ask for better. ( )

After reading and loving Again, but Better by Christine Riccio I immediately wanted to read another one of her books. So, when I saw Better Together on The StoryGraph, it automatically went on my TBR. This book has been described as The Parent Trap meets Freaky Friday, and while that description is true, the overall story felt very superficial and lacked depth.

Jamie is an LA comedian trying to make it in the standup world. Siri is a professional ballerina living in New Jersey. When both their dreams are in peril, they end up going to a Rediscover Yourself retreat in Colorado. When Jamie shows up at the retreat and sees her sister, she is shocked. When Siri sees her imaginary friend from her childhood, she is terrified, and they both realize that their parents have some explaining to do. The sisters ultimately decide to switch places, but on their flights home they soon realize that they are reflecting the other’s image.

I so badly wanted to fall in love with this book, but it was honestly a chore to get through. First of all, the story drags out much longer than it needs to. It’s over 400 pages long, and that length felt entirely unnecessary. For more than half the book, it really feels like nothing happens.

Additionally, I found neither of the main characters likeable, and Jamie was actually annoyingly irritating. While both characters were going through emotional turmoil, they were so exasperating. It was extremely difficult to finish a book when I didn’t like any of the characters.

The entire book simply felt like the author was trying to mix the storylines of Freaky Friday and The Parent Trap, and although that sounds compelling, it was executed poorly. I was so ready to gush about this book, but overall it was simply disappointing. ( )

Jamie’s an aspiring standup comic in Los Angeles with a growing case of stage anxiety.

Siri’s a stunning ballerina from New Jersey nursing a career-changing injury.

They’ve both signed up for the same session at an off the grid Re-Discover Yourself Retreat in Colorado. When they run into each other, their worlds turn upside down.

Jamie and Siri are sisters, torn apart at a young age by their parent's volatile divorce. They’ve grown up living completely separate lives: Jamie with their dad and Siri with their Mom. Now, reunited after over a decade apart, they hatch a plot to switch places. It’s time they get to know and confront each of their estranged parents.

With an accidental assist from some fortuitous magic, Jamie arrives in New Jersey, looking to all the world like Siri, and Siri steps off her flight sporting a Jamie glamour.

The sisters unexpectedly find themselves stuck living in each other's shoes. Soon Siri's crush on Jamie's best friend Dawn. Jamie's falling for the handsome New Yorker she keeps running into, Zarar. Alongside a parade of hijinks and budding romance, both girls work to navigate their broken family life and the stresses of impending adulthood.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press for sponsoring this giveaway giving me the chance to read Better Together by Christine Riccio!

I had a hard time getting into this book. I hate to say this but just like a lot of other people it reminded me of The Parent trap. I stuck with it till the end. I don't think it is a bad retelling, I just think that it was better suited for a younger person. It was a long book. I don't think it was an awful book, just not for someone my age. So in the end I don't think the book was horrible I just think it would have been better suited with someone younger especially with the relation to some movies it seems to have in common it's hard to read a book with its own spin on something that was popular for you when you were growing up. Even more so when there have been so many other different spins made. Happy reading everyone!
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