3.3 out of 4 stars.

One of the most bizarre stories I have read in a while but still was a compelling idea for a book.

Charlotte Swenson is a 35-year-old woman in the modeling world. Things that come with that territory are her pretending to be 28 years old, sex affairs, a drinking problem, and a superficial outlook on life. This all changes (slowly) when she gets in a terrible car accident and receives a completely new face through plastic surgery. Unable to book any further modeling jobs she has to go a different route. This is where the book gets interesting. She signs up for a movie to play herself, or something along the lines of herself.  Unfortunately, this point doesn’t occur until 200 pages in.

While we get to know Swenson’s tale we are introduced to another Charlotte from Swenson’s same home town of Rockford, Illinois. This Charlotte is only 16. She is also striving to figure out her life but in this case it is because she was born with an average face from the get-go and just wants to live a normal teenage life despite the usual teenage setbacks.

Although there are some obvious differences these two Charlotte’s lives are mirrored throughout the book. Going through the rounds of love, identity, and priorities.

Overall the concept is one of a kind and unlike stories I have read in the past. However, it was far too long and made me feel a little frustrated because the issues were not as deep as they should have been to go into that much detail.

I am not one to feel bad for someone who has a troublesome love life when they just escaped a near death accident that would leave many for dead. Of course, self recognition is one of my favorite topics but this book made you live the life of these whiney characters for what seemed like forever to get there.

I recommend this if you are looking for something new and not the run of the mill tale. I do not recommend if you would like superb writing that leads you to another world. I understand the Charlotte’s land and I wanted to get out.

Here is a picture of Sadie after reading. She loves to be looked at so I thought it was appropriate 🙂