Wish you could switch places with a fictional character? Well, you’re not alone! It’s a dream readers fantasize about across the globe, and so we at BookTrib decided to tackle the question: which fictional character would we jump at the chance to swap bodies with using some Freaky Friday magic? Our answers may surprise you. The only question left is … could we last even a day in their shoes?
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
Monique [Assistant Editor] <—> Sookie Stackhouse
If I could swap places with Sookie Stackhouse in Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris, I’d do it in a heartbeat, because let’s be honest, Eric Northman is just … rawwwwrrrr. There’s something about that dangerous charm, the way he’s powerful yet vulnerable in this book, that makes him completely irresistible. Being in Sookie’s shoes would mean getting to experience that intense, magnetic pull firsthand, and honestly, who wouldn’t want that?
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
JeriAnn [Writer] <—> Lessa
What could be better than having a lifelong companion who understands you at a fundamental level and doubles up as protection and transportation? In the science fantasy Dragonriders of Pern series, humans bond telepathically with intelligent dragon-like aliens to defend their planet from airborne spores that dissolve organic matter. If I’m going to book swap, I’d go with Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey and swap with Lessa, the dragonrider who figures out how to save her planet. Flying on dragonback and getting the guy in the end? Yes, please!
Storm by Carian Cole
Natalie [Publicist] <—> Evie
Now, I’m not saying I want to swap places with a character who gets trapped in a car in the middle of a snowstorm, BUT if I’m going to be trapped in a car in the middle of a snowstorm with a long-haired, tattooed rockstar with “rippling muscles”, I volunteer. Need I say more?
The Lodge by Kayla Olson
Caroline [Project Manager] <—> Alix Morgan
If I could trade lives with anyone in the literary world, I would choose Alix Morgan. Her days are something out of a dream: she spends her mornings skiing down powdery slopes and her evenings writing in a cozy lodge. Then she wakes up and does it all over again. She even finds love on the mountain with her ski instructor! Snowboarding has become one of my favorite hobbies, and spending entire days outside in clean mountain air is pure bliss. There’s something magical about Vermont in the winter — the fresh snow underfoot and the golden light filtering through bare trees. I’d shred it every day!
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Kelsey [Project Manager] <—> Lucy Pevensie
When asked which literary character I would want to switch lives with, I automatically started thinking about which character I knew of that had the hottest boyfriend, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I want magic more than a man. I would choose Lucy Pevensie from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for several reasons. She is the first to discover Narnia, which is a land of pure magic, befriends fauns and other talking animals, and becomes a queen overnight! Best of all, she has a majestic lion as her best friend/protector, and getting to love on and cuddle a lion whenever you want is literally a dream!
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Barb [Sales & Development] <—> Nora Seed
This was a tough choice. There are just so many great characters! In the end, I decided to choose Nora Seed from The Midnight Library. It might seem an odd choice, as her life is such a disappointment and so sad that she decides to commit suicide. But what truly fascinates me is that she gets the chance to explore every other life she could have lived if she had made different choices. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to see those “what if” versions of my own life! And then does she get to end up in the life she was always meant to live? Guess you have to read the book to find out!
A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin
Olivia [Social Media Assistant] <—> Daenerys Targaryen
I would swap places with Daenerys Targaryen. She’s powerful and revered, and what is a life of fantasy if not to ride dragon-back with Jon Snow?
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard
Sara [Social Media Assistant] <—> Odile
I mostly read horror, and because of that, the best answer I could think of for a body swap is Odile from The Other Valley. The book is a take on time travel, and I think it would be interesting to see what some possible versions of the future might look like. It’s also admittedly the only book I’ve read in a while with a hopeful ending, so that was definitely a factor!
The Guest by Emma Cline
Camryn [Digital Marketing] <—> Alex
I envy this character’s complete and utter lack of self-awareness. Swimming in strangers’ pools, crashing Airbnb trips, and causing chaos at luxurious Hamptons parties? Flawless summer energy!
