Unemployed academic Caitlyn Taylor comes home to family drama. Her carefree twin Chloe plans to ditch her job to visit a guy she met online. Caitlyn steps in to impersonate Chloe so she won’t get fired for skipping town. Unfortunately, this means answering phones for an icy, dismissive boss.
Busy college president Ruth Holloway never paid much attention to her mediocre assistant. Suddenly, “Chloe� demonstrates insight into faculty politics and a baffling talent for analytics. And since when has she been so attractive?
Caitlyn dreams of getting closer to her sister’s boss but how can she? Everything they’ve shared has been based on a lie.
Quinn Ivins has been addicted to reading romance since she was a teenager, when she stayed up late on school nights to read more X-Files fanfiction. After romance novels, her top vices include sugar, booze, cable news, and country music.
Quinn lives in the southern United States with her wife, their young son, and their adorable cat. When she isn’t working her day job, writing fiction, or chasing her toddler, she gets as much sleep as she can.
German:
Quinn Ivins war schon als Jugendliche süchtig nach Liebesromanen und blieb oft die halbe Nacht wach, um Akte X-Fanfiction zu lesen.
Nach 27 Jahren hat sie nun endlich Schule und Studium hinter sich gelassen und zwei Romane über frauenliebende Frauen veröffentlicht.
Quinn lebt mit ihrer Frau, ihrem gemeinsamen Sohn und einer niedlichen Katze im Süden der USA. Wenn sie nicht gerade in ihrem Hauptberuf arbeitet, Liebesromane schreibt oder mit ihrem kleinen Sohn spielt, schläft sie so viel wie möglich.
I have to start out by saying that the premise of this book is what hooked me. I had to see how adult twin’s switching places could be pulled off…believably! However, it should not be shocking to hear that Quinn Ivins was able to pull it off.
“Something’s Different� is an age-gap, boss-employee romance about Caitlyn Taylor who reluctantly agrees to fill in for her identical twin sister, Chloe, at her job as an executive assistant to the college president, Ruth Holloway. Ruth has never paid much attention to Chloe so they think it’ll be no issue for Caitlyn to fill in for a single week.
Caitlyn is an academic who has been unsuccessful in finding employment. She isn’t perfect acting as Chloe and makes a few mistakes, though none are bad enough to get caught. One problem is that she actually cares about what happens between faculty and administrators and finds herself getting involved with wanting to help Ruth implement new programs. She decides to extend her time from one week to a couple months as she finds her new duties fulfilling and her interest in Ruth continues to grow.
Ruth comes across as cold but she’s very warm and caring underneath. Her job doesn’t allow for her to have a lot of friendships with those she works with so it’s hard for her to trust and open up to those around her. She starts to realize she and her assistant aren’t all that different and begins to open up to her.
I loved a lot about this! Both Caitlyn and Ruth realize they have to reconsider the way they think about certain things. I liked that even though they are both intelligent and think they know what is right that they were willing to listen to each other and grow. In most romances it’s usually just one character that has a change but I liked that it was pretty equal here. Another thing I liked that while they have a boss-employee relationship, the power imbalance was acknowledged and Ruth’s morals made her ignore any feelings she started to feel. It wasn’t until after the ruse was over that she would give Caitlyn a chance. (So, if you’re looking for any kind of office or desk action, you won’t find it here.)
I really enjoyed this and recommend it very much!
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
This is another fantastic read by Quinn Ivins, one that I thoroughly enjoyed because of the interesting storyline, the workplace romance and humour that went along with it.
Caitlyn is an unemployed academic who reluctantly agrees to cover her twin Chloe in her work as the assistant to a college president when Chloe decides to skip town for a week despite having no vacation leave. Caitlyn impersonates her and despite making several humorous blunders at first, she successfully it pulls off. Caitlyn is smart, has good work ethics and the passion to make a difference and for these reasons, Ruth starts to notice "Chloe" and I started to love Caitlyn.
While Caitlyn and Chloe are different people, Caitlyn is actually very similar to Ruth and they connect on many levels. Their romantic development is slow but I thought it was fine as their emotional connection makes up for it. I like that part of them because Ruth makes more enemies than friends at work when in actual fact she is kind and her heart is in the right place.
Ruse aside, I like that both characters have some form of personal development. Ruth sees flaws in her leadership through Caitlyn and Caitlyn sees a different perspective of college administration and faculty through her stint and this opens up her mind about her own career path.
This is my third read by Ivins. I love what she has written so far and she's fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Identical twins Chloe and Caitlyn could not be more different if they tried. Caitlyn has completed her doctorate in sociology and is actively pursuing a tenured teaching career at a college. Chloe meanwhile jumps from job to job giving very little effort to any of them. At present she is working as an assistant to the president of a local college answering phones and taking meeting notes but mostly she is on her phone scrolling through social media. Chloe begs Caitlyn to impersonate her at work as she takes an unsanctioned week off to visit her online boyfriend. One week turns into two months with Caitlyn expanding her duties due to her attraction to her boss Ruth.
Twin switching could turn out to be an eye rolling disaster but not in the capable hands of Ivins. She makes Chloe and Caitlyn likeable individuals and the rational for the switch to ring true. The age gap romance evolves slowly taking into account the power imbalance of supervisor and employee. I do take issue with thirty year old Caitlyn’s language choices at times. After nine years of higher learning I just could not picture her saying “cool� as many times as she does.
Something’s Different is a thoroughly enjoyable read. There is more than enough drama to keep a reader engaged and entertained.
I received a free advance review copy from Ylva Publishing and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely loved this book! Quinn Ivins excels at writing stories in academic settings and her insight feels like she's pulling back the curtain, exposing the good and the ugly. Her characters are beautiful but also extremely intelligent, which cranks up their appeal factor times a thousand. I think this may have supplanted her debut The Love Factor as my favorite book of hers!
To buy into the story, you have to be willing to believe that unemployed academic Caitlyn Taylor would allow herself to be put into this identical twin-swap situation, which is just supposed to be for a week. Ivins sells it - and exactly how you will have to read it and see. I also appreciated Caitlyn's career trajectory. Ivins doesn't take the easy way out with that or how the story plays out between Caitlyn and college president Ruth Halloway. It felt refreshingly real.
One of my favorite parts of the book is an intimate moment written so honestly and beautifully that I actually exclaimed out loud, "FINALLY!" More of that, please, and more books from Ivins!
A wonderful third book from this talented author!
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. It is a very slow and gentle burn, with the big reveal only coming in around chapter . Both main characters are incredibly relatable and well-written; even after the initial deception is uncovered, Caitlyn's journey to earn back Ruth’s trust is drawn out in a way that feels honest and earned. I loved that it wasn’t a quick fix but instead showed real emotional growth.
Another standout element is how thoughtfully the author handles both characters' mental health challenges. The narrative doesn't shy away from discussing the complexities of medication—covering topics like withdrawal symptoms and how it affects their sexual intimacy—which added depth and realism to their relationship.
Overall, this felt like a mature, sweet love story that left me confident in its happily-ever-after beyond the last page.
It's a simple enough plan - lovelorn, easily swayed Chloe guilt trips her identical twin sister Caitlyn (frustrated in her job search for a university academic position) to impersonate her supposedly for one measly week. According to Chloe, her boss Ruth, the University President, is quite horrid, doesn't interact with her and will be clueless as to the switch. Insert a chuckle here - really? Leads Ruth and Caitlyn/Chloe don't exactly see eye to eye at the start but eventually Caitlyn's knowledge/talents are forced to emerge while she still tries to act as a bit of a flake and Ruth begins to see "Chloe" in a different light. Weeks go by, there is workplace drama then collaboration between factions and a deception revealed before a conniving prof gets his comeuppance and love prevails. Quinn Ivins' insight regarding university academics and the machinations that can occur when job seeking, tenure, etc., added to the overall depth of the storyline without weighing it down and I thoroughly enjoyed her character descriptions. I took a while to warm up to Chloe, however Miguel and Maggie were key to the plot. Caitlyn's anxieties then her strong urge to help Ruth plus Ruth's struggles in her professional position are very relatable and the slow burn romance perfectly paced to a HEA. This is another 5 star romance from the author which is firmly on my favorite/re-read shelf.
I rec'd a copy through Ylva Publishing. This is a completely unbiased, voluntary review.
Caitlyn Taylor thought the days of switching places with her twin sister, Chloe, were over. They aren't kids anymore even though Chloe still acts like one. Caitlyn is coerced by Chloe and their mom to fill in for her working as Ruth Holloway's assistant at the local university. Ruth begins to see "Chloe" in a new light when she starts actually doing her job and Caitlyn can't deny her "boss" isn't nearly as evil as Chloe said she was.
I have enjoyed both of Quinn Ivins other books and this one was just as entertaining. Her sense of humor comes across so well and she always writes characters who are so endearing, I just want to reach into the book and give them a big hug. The chemistry between Ruth and Caitlyn developed gradually and was as much intellectual as it was physical. I was invested from page one and couldn't wait to see these two find their way to each other. There is nothing sexier than two intelligent women finding someone they can connect with on every level. This is a book I will be reading again just to spend more time with Ruth and Caitlyn.
An ARC was provided by Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
My first book by Ivins surprised me with all the academia talk, it’s not often we come across that in this genre. So when this one popped up I knew it would be a good read again with women in academia.
Caitlyn is a people pleaser (mostly her mom and sister) and has agreed to switch places with her identical twin Chloe for a bit. Caitlyn goes to work for Chloe’s “horrible� boss Ruth as an assistant. Ruth’s none the sister because she never really paid any attention to her flaky assistant, but now all of a sudden there is a change. Her assistant is a data geek with many hidden talents and incredibly caring. While Caitlyn as Chloe helps Ruth professionally, both women are slowly growing and seeing that their preconceived ideas are ready to be re-evaluated. The character growth for both main characters is a great feat.
Ivins knows how to write about women in academia and statistics/ data, which sounds like a very boring combination, but with the humour that the author throws in it becomes a very nice and fun story. I would say the ruse might go on a tiny bit too long for me and Chloe seems rather ungrateful, but it’s nitpicking.
I really like that we get stories about women in academia who thrive, but have issues as well. Ivins strikes an amazing balance and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this book.
*ARC received from the publisher (Ylva) in exchange for an honest review*
I don’t believe I’ve ever read such a plot before…twin switching, so why not give it a shot especially since reviews are pretty positive.
Twins Caitlyn and Chloe Taylor may look identical and that is about the only thing they have in common. Their personality, intellectual, and even sense of dressing are different. So when Caitlyn agreed to stand in for carefree Chloe who wanted to skip town to meet a guy whom she met online, the intellect in her can’t help but take an interest in faculty politics, and analytics (which is her forte) which had her supposedly boss Ruth Holloway baffled as Chloe never showed such interest before. And so Caitlyn and Ruth work hand in hand, alongside each other to keep the big bad wolf at bay and along the way feeling stirred between the 2.
The big revelation and fallout eventually happened. Will Ruth find out the truth all on her own or will Caitlyn come clean? This kept me on my toes as the former is the greater evil in my mind.
All in all, Something’s Different is an entertaining read and one which I thoroughly enjoy! A good way to start 2023 for me 😊
I couldn't put this book down, I finished it in a day. What I really loved about it was how openly the two MC's talked about their issues, their meds and how much they cared about the other person's comfort. Their intimate moment was written so honestly and beautifully, it was well worth the wait. The author also managed to strike a great balance between the successful women in academia and the ones that are struggling and have been rejected to the point of losing hope.
I don't think this author or story is for me. Definitely more for American audiences.
I just found myself utterly annoyed and bored with the American University System coupled with the Office Politics of that system. It was bullshit and tedious. I couldn't relate, or care.
I DID very much like the switch up idea, for the twins - and the character of Caitlyn herself was charming and endearing, the attraction to the faculty president of the university who was trying to juggle all the things was nice, but not particularly ground-breaking or soul-stirring for me - it seemed to be going nowhere fast at the 46% mark.
I get I still had more story to read, but I couldn't force myself to continue, since it didn't grab me, or woo me in any real way. I just didn't want to waste my time on it.
As always, your mileage will vary, so try it for yourself.
this was a cute little read! it was original enough to be a page turner with the twin switch concept and the very real and relevant themes of depression, anxiety and the price you have to pay for being a people pleaser perfectionist thirsting for (academic) validation (not that i speak from experience or anything) it was also formulaic in the safest and coziest way possible and really, just what i needed for exam week.
This was my first book by Quinn Ivins and I thoroughly enjoyed this age-gap workplace romance. What made me decide to read it was the twin-switch element which turned out to be quite entertaining.
The storyline was fun, the characters were great and the author also touched on topics like mental health.
I was soon invested in Caitlyn and Ruth and loved their communication and character development.
As a German I wasn't familiar with the American college system, but it didn't bother me and it didn't make the book less enjoyable.
I adored the heck out of this book! Caitlyn was stuck in an impossible situation then got herself into a bigger mess while trying her best to do what she could for a woman in trouble. Ruth was also in an impossible situation but was willing to learn to make things go better. The two of them had such chemistry� I loved watching their attraction grow while dreading the time when the lie would blow up in their faces. I wondered how it would be alright� Ms Ivins did a great job in getting me really invested in this couple. I REALLY loved how she touched on depression and anxiety, and especially the paragraph about the sexual side effects from being on antidepressants. Ive never seen that before and its so important for women to know this can happen! This is a book I can see myself reading again and because it was so good Im going to read another of Ms Ivins books very soon!
this was fun, kinda just what i needed after a few duds in a row, esp with audiobook romances. i enjoyed the hijinks of the twin switch, and i rlly liked the slow burn of caitlin and ruth slowly becoming friends and something more. the mental health rep was lovely, and overall it was a sweet, fun, fairly quick read that did the trick in getting me (fingers crossed) over a bit of a slump re: romance lately. anastasia whatley is a lovely narrator, not among my top favs, but def one i seek out when i see she's the narrator. overall, def rec the audio version and very grateful that i had a good time.
Oh, be-still my Ice Queen, workplace, age- gap loving heart 😍🥰❤️.
Somehow Quinn Ivins has created a cute, sweet ice queen! How is this possible? I love her so much!
Ruth is icy and ruthless at work. As the president of Pulaski collage at just 42 she has a lot of doubters in the facility and she’s determined to prove them wrong. She only has one friend within the college, but that’s all she needs, she’s not there to play nice! She’s there to do her job and it’s tough if she doesn’t please anyone!
Caitlyn has a PhD but no job. She’s forced to return to her family home and when she arrives she’s dragged into one of her twins, Chloe’s crazy schemes. Chloe wants Caitlyn to take her place at work as the assistant to the icy college president for a week, while she jets off to meet a guy she’s met online. Caitlyn reluctantly agrees, it’s only a week! Surly she can put up with Ruth Holloway for that long.
But by the end of that week Caitlyn finds that she wants to help Ruth, and more than that she likes spending time with her!
This book is just soooooo gorgeous! It’s like wearing your most snuggly hoodie and being curled up in front of the fire, that’s how warm and hugged it will make you feel!
I loved the storyline I’ve never read anything like this before! And even with the unethical nature of it, it was still light and so much fun!
Honestly these characters are so likeable both leading ladies will win you over for different reasons.
I adored how much Ruth and Caitlyn communicated before and durning their relationship! It was hot and delightful! The way they talk their way through their first sexual encounter is sexy and cute and it made me feel the love and respect they have for each other! It was perfect!
This book is perfect for this time of year, get snug under a blanket with your favourite holiday drink and enjoy!
4.5 stars. This book is awesome! I love the relationship between Caitlyn and Ruth, despite it being the slowest of slow burns. Caitlyn’s abysmal pretending-to-be-Chloe skills led to plenty of LOL-worthy moments. Overall, I’m really impressed with how compassionate this book is. Caitlyn and Ruth both mess up at times, but the way they come to forgive each other is truly beautiful. Also, I thought Chloe was going to be cast as an unlikable character, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she’s ultimately a flawed yet lovable character just like our MCs. Quinn Ivins has gained another fan, and I can’t wait to read her other two books!
5 stars Reading the blurb, I had a feeling that this book would be good. And I wasn't mistaken. Academic settings with a situation where identical twin sisters trades places, turned out great. Quinn Ivins managed to convince me of the real possibility of such switch despite the fact that sisters were different in character and personality. The situation with the mental problems of both main characters was also well integrated and seemed real. Highly recommended. Will read more books by Quinn Ivins as I really liked her style.
The premise of this book was what hooked me in - identical twins switching lives for a bit. It sounds absolutely crazy but Quinn Ivins made this work really well.
Caitlyn is an unemployed academic who loves her twin sister. Ruth is the hard-ass President of a small College. They meet in crazy circumstances but their connection felt so organic from the very beginning. I loved reading their romance.
Sometimes when a book has a crazy premise, the beginning is great but then the conclusion is off because it's a hard one to resolve realistically. Thankfully, this book didn't have this issue and I thought the conclusion was balanced and charming.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and recommend a read.
Many thanks to Ylva Publishing for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I love Quinn Ivins written style, and I absolutely adore her debut, The Love Factor. I thought the twin switch was brilliant. I don’t think I have ever read a sapphic romance of this setting before?
The book has a really great start. It drives me from page to page. I can’t put the book down! I was hoping the relationship between Ruth and Caitlyn would get more dynamic(or angst perhaps?) after the truth is revealed. But it actually goes more fluffy than I like.
Overall, I enjoy this book a lot! Ruth and Caitlyn are lovable characters. I couldn’t get enough of them!
I adored this book on so many levels. It reminded me of my time after my graduation and master degree. That feeling of wanting to be perfect and finally achieve professional gratification after all the studies. Life doesn't always go the way we want, but nevertheless we find our way to be proud of who we are. Some things will hurt you, they will leave a scar, but looking at the afterwards they will also leave you with a smile.
I remember the professor who advised me for my dissertation, and her telling me what I had wrote wasn't mine... it was too good to be true... She didn't know but she secretly gave me a compliment. At the same time, it also crushed my self esteem for not being trusted. And it's something I will never forget. University professors can make you and break you with a snap of their fingers.
It was interesting to read more about the administration side of education and how statistics are taken into account for strategy. Let's say my vocabulary is much richer now.
On another aspect, the way the two main characters fall into each other is refreshing. Smart women who share their knowledge and are open to change through real communication. Knowledge is sexy. I won't ever get tired of saying this.
Something's Different is also the first book I read that deals with the use of antidepressants for anxiety and depression and the role of them in people's sexual life. I found it truthful and subtle in the way the whole theme has been dealt with. Hopefully one day the stigma will leave us. The sincerity of the two characters talking about it is heartwarming. Takes one to know the other. I also know all about having an anxious mother... spot on, Quinn Ivins. I know what all this mean and that's why this book is very special.
Something is different indeed in academia I really liked the idea of twins doing the dirty, i.e. changing their identities and one of them secretely taking over the job for her twin. Esp. when the airhead twin, bored assistant of a college president, is replaced by the overachiever twin who just failed academia. What had the makings of a romcom (and there were some hilarious moments) soon turns into more - thanks to the ever so crafty Quinn Ivins. And yes, my bar is set high for books by Ivins whose recent „Worthy of Love� won a coveted Goldie Award. But I am digressing � Ivins gives us a full dose of Academia. And it is not all it is cracked about with overinflated egos, the ever present misogyny, hiding from reality behind rare books, pressure and its sideeffects and other loveliness encroaching on the story. And there are those pesky feelings which won‘t go away and burn ever so slowly. The first half is a very believable fake-work story, the second half about redemption. Because how can trust and love come out of a total fake relationship? Ivins does a credible job here to mend the relation between Caitlyn and Ruth and takes her time to let them be vulnerable again. The first half though won my heart. As always with Ivins the story is well-researched, well-written and I felt that the rant about the iniquities of academia was quite spirited (and mostly well-deserved).
Thanks to Ylva for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily.
Okay so alot of ppl seem to of given this 5 stars so i thought i would give it a go but i felt like the entire book was about statistics and no true connections to the characters and side characters so basically i felt like i had zero connection to anyone or anything.A few times i felt like i had to psych myself up to finish the book,the chemistry also for a romance book was non existent for me.The things i did like however was the open talk about mental health and antidepressants and since i am also on them i deffo relate to the feelings during sex etc it would be better if we had focused a bit more on that and less on the job etc.i am sorry to give such a low review but i really disliked it!
I loved the characters in the book, and really enjoyed the variety of secondary characters. I'm finding that I really enjoy stories set at schools of all levels, elementary, high school or college. This is also a fairly long book, giving it the space to introduce us to a lot of characters and making the fictional world richer. I loved it enough that I stayed-up way too late reading two work-nights in a row *Yawn*, but it was worth it. Well done!