Shift by Em Bailey

Have you ever realised something that no-one else seems to have realised? 

What would it be like if you noticed that the new girl is imitating the most popular girl in school? She imitates everything she wears, the way she walks, the way she talks. Then suddenly, it becomes hard to tell them apart. 

Shift by Em Bailey is about exactly that. Olive used to be best friends with Katie, the most popular girl in school. After Olive’s father left, that all changed. Olive changed the way she looked as well as her friends and personality. She made a new friend called Ami. When rumours start circulating that Miranda, the new girl murdered her parents, Olive and Ami become interested. 

They watch her closely and quickly realise that she is imitating Katie. Suddenly, Miranda doesn’t look or act like herself, and she quickly becomes more popular than Katie. Meanwhile, Katie becomes anorexic and unpopular. She is admitted into hospital but still no-one suspects Miranda. Olive isn’t sure what to believe but she knows one thing for sure, Miranda isn’t human. Friendships will be broken and lives ruined as suspicion rises.

The main character of the book is Olive. She used to be best friends with Katie when she was popular and pretty. Then, her dad left and she felt that she had to change who she was. She cut her hair and changed her personality, finding a new friend, Ami. She went through counselling and her doctor helped her through the ordeal. At school, nobody except Ami likes her and Katie makes her life even worse. Olive loves a little-known band name Luxe. In the book, Olive meets a guy named Lachlan who Katie tries to take from her too. To me, Olive seems a like a quiet but likeable person.

Shift is told from Olive’s perspective and has a unique storyline. The range of characters keep the dialogue interesting and leaves you on the edge of your seat, wanting to read more. The characters are a mix of both supernatural creatures and humans. The interactions which occur are exciting, intense and hilarious all at the same time.

This book is a fantastic novel which I highly recommend to teenagers. It is a good length and keeps the reader engaged 100% of the time. It has lots of unpredictable twists and turns in the storyline which keep you entertained. Overall, Shift is a great book with an interesting storyline and a vast range of characters.