Switchcraft

by Mary Castillo

Best friends since back in the day, Aggy and Nely are as different as two women could possibly be. Aggie's slim, stylish, and owns an upscale boutique and a long history of no-strings relationships. Nely has a busy baby, a metiche mother-in-law, and some extra post-pregnancy pounds she can't quite shed. And when they reconnect at a New Age spa, each friend finds herself wishing just a little that she had the other one's life. Big mistake Thanks to...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060876085
• ISBN13: 9780060876081
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Not your average switching bodies story

Unlike other body swap stories such as It's a Boy Girl Thing, Freaky Friday, Dream a Little Dream, Being John Malkovich, Vice Versa, or 18 Again Mary Castillo's new novel, Switchcraft is fresh, mesmerizing, and unmatched in what could have been a very derivative story in the genre. Aggie and Nely, two life-long friends, accidentally switch bodies at new age spa while attempting to commune with Aggie's deceased mother. Aggie finds herself as a pudgy super-mom with an impossible, meddling mother-in-law from hell, and Nely finds herself in a sleek, single body with a failing business and a scary stalker. The two spend the next month realizing what they had and what they have lost biding their time until the guru can switch their consciousness's back to their own bodies. Castillo's unique story is creative in that it deals with Latina peers and the culture of their machismo men. It is modern without being stereotypical. Fans of women's fiction will adore the very hot, erotic dream Nely has of her husband, Simon, and romantics will appreciate the way tough-guy Simon sees through the exterior of Aggie to find the soul of his wife, Nely. Castillo spends enough time creating three-dimensional Aggie and Nely characters that the reader feels a clear connection with both. Castillo's book is smart, inventive, and an extremely satisfying read! She is also the author of Hot Tamara and In Between Men.

Fun mystical chica lit realism

I found this book a fun original read. I loved the way Mary fused new age spas into fun chica lit tome. As a San Diego native, I also loved the specifics Mary used to describe the San Diego Gaslamp single life and Eastlake suburban mommydom. (Go Pannikan Coffee) Non San Diegans will love a glimpse into the So Cal lifestyle. I also loved the cameo by Mary's previous characters.

Nicely done

Switchcraft is a fun read with great characters that you really care about and a suprise ending. What more could you want?

Romantic Times BookClub Reviews Switchcraft

Switching lives is a well-used plot device that here leads to madcap scenarios and deep introspection. Castillo allows her heroines to scramble and make entertaining and illuminating discoveries. Toss in some danger, and this is first-rate fun! SUMMARY: A trip to a New Age spa takes two friends on a wild and scary ride into each other's lives. Nely Mendoza is married with a young child and Aggie Portero is an entrepreneur. During a ceremony, Aggie and Nely switch bodies and are told they're stuck that way until the next full moon. After first freaking out, they decide to make the best of things, as different as they are. For Aggie, suddenly being responsible for a baby and dealing with a nasty mother-in-law is a big wake-up call, while Nely finds her business sense reawakening. But keeping the husband and boyfriend in the dark may be the biggest challenge of all.

deep introspective look inside the two prime characters

Married with an infant Nely Mendoza is the best friend of commitment phobia boutique owner Aggie Portero. Although their lifestyles are 180 degrees apart each to a degree envies what the other has. While Nely wipes the baby clean, Aggie kicks herself for sleeping with her neighbor Kevin. Both look forward to sharing a girls' weekend together at Venatana de Oro spa where the highly regarded Guru Sauro practices his Seekers of the Dead mumbo jumbo. However at the spa the "grumpy Guru", tired of their whining, believes the two best friends need a kick in the butt to learn that each lives a rich fulfilling life. He performs SWITCHCRAFT so that Aggie's conscience resides inside Nely's body and visa versa as Nely's is inside that of Aggie. Now Aggie deals with Nely's baby, her needy husband Simon, and her sarcastic mother-in-law, while Nely manages Aggie's boutique and keeping Kevin on the other side of the fence. Switching bodies has been used in many books and movies, but Mary Castillo makes it feels fresh because the audience obtains a deep introspective look inside the souls of the two prime characters as Nely and Aggie learn that the grass on the other side of the fence might be brown under close inspection. The story line is amusing as each of the switcheroos struggle with living their best friend's life. Readers will appreciate the latest New Age reincarnation of switch. Harriet Klausner