I was rather late to the party with The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary and only got around to reading it earlier this year. I absolutely loved it: it's on my Top Reads list for 2020 and Tiffy and Leon are characters who I will always remember. So could her new book The Switch live up to that? Well yes, yes it could and it's also on my Top Reads list for this year!

The Switch is a multi-generational story featuring Leena and her grandma Eileen as well to a lesser extent, Leena's mum (and Eileen's daughter) Marian. The story begins with high achiever Leena having a panic attack during an important presentation at work in London. Her boss insists she has two months off to rest and she goes to stay with her grandma in her tiny Yorkshire village hometown. Leena has been avoiding going home since a family bereavement led to a rift with her mum. Rather surprised to hear that her grandma is seeking love again at the age of 79 but with no suitable men in the village, the two women come to an arrangement to swap houses for two months.

I loved the way that both women adapted to their new and very different ways of life. Eileen has the time of her life connecting with various men through a dating app and proves that you are never too old for adventure. I liked the way that she brought her forthright village ways to London and ignored the usual ways of life of her London neighbours who rarely spoke and barely knew each other. Conversely, Leena had to get used to everyone knowing or wanting to know everyone's business and to taking on the many tasks that her grandma carried out in the village.

What was great was that both women got so much more out of their switch experience that they could possibly have expected and also gave much more to their adopted communities than they probably thought they would do. Beth O'Leary just has this talent for creating wonderful characters who you will take to your heart and writes with such warmth and wit. I so enjoyed following Leena and Eileen on their adventures and watching all the women start to heal from the grief which Leena, at least, was trying to bury away. As Eileen says to Leena "...we all got a bit lost this last year, didn't we?"

The Switch is funny, poignant and romantic and is definitely the kind of uplifting read I think we all need right now. Beth O'Leary is such an engaging and talented storyteller and I am looking forward to reading whatever she writes next. The Switch is a reminder to take chances, live life to the full and, to slightly misquote Leena, to be the best person you can be.

I’m flip-flopping between 3.5 or 4 stars for The Switch, a novel that I thoroughly enjoyed but felt could’ve been tightened up in a few small ways. The Switch is O’Leary’s second novel and it’s just as enjoyable as her first, The Flatshare, which I loved. Leena and Eileen are a granddaughter and grandmother duo; Leena a 29-year-old living in London, bogged down by the stresses of her career and coping badly with grief, whilst Eileen is a 79-year-old pensioner up in Hamleigh, recently divorced and seeking romance. I initially worried about switching between such varied characters and definitely thought I’d ‘prefer’ Leena’s chapters, but it completely took me surprise when I utterly fell in love with Eileen, a quick-witted, sharp and brutally honest woman.

When the pair decide to swap places, hilarity and a peek into humanity ensues. Leena, away from her job, struggles to keep on top of Grandma’s busy social schedule, and Eileen pulls up her sleeves ready to take London (and its online dating scene) by storm.

I don’t want to reveal too much of the plot here, but what I will say is that O’Leary’s character development is again second to none. You can really gain a complete 360 perspective of Leena and Eileen, and the wonderful cast of eccentric characters, including Eileen’s grumpy neighbour Arnold. O’Leary brilliantly weaves in social issues including grief, abuse, depression and love without missing a beat. The only things truly lacking for me, therefore nudging my rating down, were that I felt some chapters were indulgently long (in turn making the book itself feel indulgently long) and that I really wanted a bit more from Leena, although I’ll admit I’m not sure what.

All in all, The Switch will be a wonderfully refreshing, comforting and uplifting read for many. In fact, I think I’ll push this one up to a 4-star read!

I was a big lover of the flatshare by Beth O’Leary, and I can happily say I think I enjoyed this one even more!

O’Leary has a lovely style of writing which just gets me so emotionally invested in the characters and the plots she creates. I loved Leena, but the character of Eileen was definitely my favourite and I hope I’m as adventurous as her when I’m approaching 80!

The settings were fantastic, and being a Yorkshire lass from a small village (though not as small Hamleigh) I identified and felt that the depictions were accurate. The secondary characters were well rounded and added to the story.

The only downside is I pretty much guessed how some of the plot points would turn out, however I enjoyed reading so much I didn’t even care. In fact I even cried when I finished the book, and that’s only ever happened once before.

If you enjoyed the flatshare you will love this, but if you also just want to read something that’s feel good in this strange world then this is for you!

Well I've just finished reading this book and I have no words to say how fantastic this book is. I've read the other book Beth realised and that was good but this I can't find the words to express how I feel.

I was very kindly given an e-ARC from Netgalley but this opinion is completely mine. I enjoyed The FlatShare so was looking forward to reading this book, however, it’s a very different kind of story and I think it’s wrong to base your decision whether to read this book based on your opinion of The Flatshare.
The Flatshare was a romance novel focused on two individuals and had more depth than your typical romance novel.
The Switch tackles family dynamics, especially after loss and whilst grieving. Whilst also having elements of humour and romance of course. It’s more PG than The Flatshare but discusses the characters emotions and problems well.
Essentially, we are following Leena and her grandmother Eileen as they swap houses, phones and lives for two months. 79 year old Eileen heading to London and Leena to a quaint little village in Yorkshire. Leena’s mother also plays a part in this book.
I really enjoyed there being older characters represented in this book and enjoyed reading about all of the Neighbourhood Watch group as well as the younger London antics. It was a wholesome, lovely read that would suit readers of most ages.

📚REVIEW📚 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

This book is Beth O’Leary’s second book following her successful debut ‘The Flatshare’. It tells the story of two Eileen Cottons - one being 79 and sick of being that age, the other her granddaughter in her twenties. When life throws some obstacles in the way the two decide to swap lives for two months and it turns out both have a lot to learn from this experience! Whilst predictable at times it is in a way that you are willing the characters to act, so clever is the writing style. From the beginning to the end this is a story that will make you laugh, smile and cry - I wish I could meet all the characters in real life! In the words of the author, after reading this book I feel I have indeed been well and truly Eileened! A must-read!!

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This was such a feel good read, I fell in love with the characters instantly! I wasn't surprised with where the book was headed but enjoyed the reading experience. This is the first book I've read by Beth and I'll be heading back to read her other book. Her writing style has a way of wrapping you up in a cosy blanket and introducing you to characters that warm your heart.

One of the my most memorable books last year was The Flatshare by debut author Beth O’leary, it really was a remarkable debut with such skill and an original concept that worked perfectly. I was looking forward to see what this author would have in store for us with book number two and having now read The Switch I can confirm that this is definitely a talented author who just keeps giving!

The Switch follows Eileen and Leena, a Grandmother and Granddaughter who make a drastic decision to swap lives, Eileen is heading of to live the London life as a singleton jumping into the world of online dating whilst Leena is taking over her Grandmothers day to day roles whilst giving her time away from work and to take time to heal after grieving for her sister was masked by just throwing herself into work.

I have recently found it hard to find novels that have a genuine, easy humour weaved into the storyline and this is something that I think we could all do with at the moment to give us pure escapism from what is going on around us so it was a breath of fresh air to find that the wit that this author had in her debut book flows through in this book. It was lovely to find myself chuckling at the small mishaps that happened to the ladies in this book.

It was great to see what both generations managed to bring to the other, Eileen took Leena’s friends under her wing and got them to actually open their eyes and put down the phone and start enjoying life and look at those around them. The younger generation have lost their way and struggle to communicate away from technology and I blind to those living around them. Whereas we see technology is not all bad when Eileen realises that there are ways to meet people whose paths would never usually cross, and at a time when you are lonely or unable to go out it is a wonderful aid to be able to talk online and purchase online too.

As I mentioned there is a touch of humour and also a light enjoyable feel to the storyline but there are a couple of more sensitive topics that are covered in this novel too which the author tackles with such care whilst bringing awareness too and this added more depth and emotion to the storyline. I absolutely love Beth O’Leary’s writing style and she is definitely an author to watch and it is great to see her brining something completely new to our bookshelves as I would not be able to recommend another author similar to her. I am excited to see what this author comes up with for her next release but one thing I can guarantee is that as soon as it is ready to pre-order I will be the fist one there.

Absolutely loved this book. I adored The Flatshare and was so excited when I saw Beth was publishing another book. There's a quiet kind of magic to Beth's writing, before you know it you're cheering on characters as if they were actual friends. The Switch was incredibly heartwarming and uplifting. Eileen completely stole the show and I hope I have half her infectious energy when I'm her age.

A brilliant and life affirming story about a grandmother and her granddaughter that I got totally lost in. The two main characters are very loveable and their relationship made me miss my own grandparents even more. Captivating and well written, a must read.

This was exactly what I needed to read at the moment. A heartwarming, uplifting story.

The Switch is about workaholic Leena Cotton who has a panic attack whilst at work. She has totally burned out and is still grieving the death of her sister. Her boss tells her to have two months paid leave from work to get herself back on her feet.

Her grandma Eileen is fed up and ready to find love. Her husband left her for another woman and Eileen is finding that in her quiet village of Hamleigh in Harksdale there are no available or suitable companions.

Leena suggests to switch locations with Eileen so she gets a slower paced life for a bit while Eileen can stay in her flat in London and try a bit of online dating.

The story had many funny moments and some tearful ones too. Though it does have mainly a light, happy tone it also tackles subjects like domestic abuse, loneliness and grief.

Eileen and Leena are such lovable and relatable characters that you will instantly warm to and I adored Jackson and Arnold most of all.

I think this will be a big hit this year like Beth’s previous book “The Flatshare” which I still have not read yet! I will definitely be reading that very soon.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the ARC of this book. This book is published on the 16th April.

The Switch is the charming story of Leena and Eileen: granddaughter and grandmother, who decide to switch homes and lives, after Leena is given a 2 month holiday period. Leena goes to live in Yorkshire, taking up all of her grandmother's duties, and Eileen goes to London, living her best life, full of online dating and projects.
This heartwarming novel is the ultimate pick-me-up we all needed! If you loved the movie "The Holiday", and you loved "The Flatshare", you'll definitely love this book!

Meet Eileen Cotton, she is 79, her husband just left her for way younger dance teacher. She is so sick for being over 70, mainly because there aren’t many available men over 70, she can date. Eileen Cotton is also in her twenties, a successful working woman in busy London. She didn’t think that she needs to take a holiday until she ruins a big presentation at work and got ordered to take a sabbatical.

Sounds illogical, isn’t it? Bear with me, I’ll explain. (Don’t give up on me, the book, and the author because you will miss one hell of a fun ride.)

We have two Eileens, Eileen Cotton, 79, living in rural Yorkshire and her granddaughter Eileen Cotton, known as Leena so they are distinctive from each other, living in London. Are you with me now? Perfect!

When Leena went though a break down during an important presentation in relation to the project she is working on, her boss ordered her to take 2 months sabbatical. She worked so hard, she didn’t use her annual leave, she was simply not interested in taking a break, all she wants is to work. What is she supposed to do for 2 months? How is she going to survive 2 months without going to work every day? Sounds crazy to be that addicted to your work, isn’t it? Keep reading and you will find out her reason.

‘You are Leena Cotton, youngest senior consultant in the business, Selmount Consulting’s one-to-watch 2020’
Eileen is living in a small village called Hamleigh-in-Harksdale with her two black cats – Declan and Ant. The village is that small, it has only 3 streets – ‘Lower Lane, Middling Lane, and Peewit Street, which really ought to have been called Upper Lane, but there we are, that’s quirky village life for you.’ So you can imagine how tight are people living there and how well they know each other. Eileen is so deep into the day-to-day routine, she will give everything for a bit of change and along with that, she is so determined to find a man for her. Is there a moment more perfect for her granddaughter to call to let her know that she is coming to visit her?

When Leena suggests to swap their places and in the next two months Eileen to live in Leena’s apartment in London and Leena to look after her grandmom’s house and project, Eileen is a bit suspicious. But the idea grows fast in her with every minute. So it is decided. Eileen is going to London to try to find love via an online dating website and Leena is coming to Hamleigh to take her grandma’s place. Although, this swap is way harder for Leena than for Eileen. Why? A year ago Leena’s sister Carla died in this same village from cancer. Since then Leena buried herself deep into work so she can’t think of her and as some way to fight the grieve. She hasn’t spoken with her mother since Carla’s death, because Leena blames her mom for Carla’s death. But as for Eileen, she considers this 2 months swap as a good chance for her daughter and granddaughter to find their way back to each other and rebound.

‘You’re so sure about the world, Leena. But I’m not like that. You know the best way for you to heal, and you’ve been doing it: working hard, taking time away from me and your grandmother. I haven’t worked out how to heal. So I’m trying everything. That’s my way.’

I cried laughing. I even kind of want to move to this kind of small village, where everybody knows each other. It is so fun, so much fun. You can imagine how much comical situations a person, who just came to the village, can fall into.

Beth O’Leary did it again. She built one brilliant world you don’t want to exit from. It is fun and extraordinary, but at the same time, her characters are ordinary people like us. They are so real and three-dimensional, you want to befriend them and have them in your life. All the villagers are so quirky and funny and although they are old, you wish to have them as a friend because they are so young in their souls.

I literary can’t explain how much I loved this book. The Flatshare was one of my favourite books for 2019. I had the pleasure to meet Beth O’Leary and have a glance at her writing process and how she got inspired to write The Flatshare. She is just as lovely as her books, so no doubt why her books are so successful. They are warm and welcoming, a good friend for you to have. I can’t wait for this book to be published, so I can add it next to The Flatshare on my bookshelf because this is a book, you need to have in your house.

She did it again. Beth O’Leary wrote another bestseller which cover you are going to see a lot from now on because this is a book everybody will talk about.

‘I couldn’t have figured myself out if I’d not been someone else.’

'The Switch' was everything I needed it to be and more! I absolutely loved it! I went into this book with very high expectations after reading 'The Flatshare' last year and it most certainly did not disappoint. Both Eileens are my heroes and I just loved the way their stories ended. The perfect wholesome content for this scary time.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the review copy!

Like the Flatshare, we get a dual narrative from Eileen and her granddaughter Leena. Eileen is sick of being 79 and dreams of a second chance love, while the Leena is tired of life fast paced and high pressured life in London. They decide to do a two month swap and what we see if the antics of both of them in their new homes - Eileen in London, Leena in rural Yorkshire. I think the multiple perspectives we get from Beths books, it keeps it really fun and fast paced and I love seeing the story from different angles.

Beth has this incredible ability to instantly transport you to a whole new world, where you feel you know the characters like friends and you become part of the story. from the very first chapter I knew I was to enjoy this one. I just love Beth’s writing - so easy going, but she gets right to the heart of the story and the characters.

Ultimately It’s a heartwarming story about the beautiful things that can happen when you get to know your neighbours and I don’t think there could be a better time for this book to enter the world!

I would like to thank netgalley and Quercus Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Another insightful, funny book from Beth O'Leary.

I really enjoyed the flatshare last year, and this is an entertaining second book. Leena swaps lives with her grandmother, allowing herself to remind with her mother and the village after her sister's death, and her grandmother to experience the life she nearly had in London. Both of the main characters were endearing, and both storylines interesting.

The Switch is a wonderful uplifting story about 79 year old Eileen Cotton and her Granddaughter Leena. Eileen and Leena decide to swap lives for two months. Leena goes to live in the Yorkshire Dales and Eileen throws herself into the hustle and bustle of London life. The Switch is a feel-good story that centres around family, friends and relationships. Beth O'Leary's second book is just as enjoyable as her first book, The Flatshare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy.

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy - my thoughts are my own. 4.5 stars.

Having enjoyed reading The Flatshare recently, I was keen to read The Switch after reading the 'blurb'.

This book was an excellent escape from the current global pandemic, I was quickly hooked by the story. Eileen was my favourite character and I think all our lives would benefit from an Eileen.

The story includes some heartbreak - the loss of a daughter, sister, granddaughter has affected Marian, Leena and Eileen and their family dynamics. The story explores how they need to take time to talk to each other.

This book is uplifting and enjoyable, full of great characters and events. Grab a copy and enjoy the adventures of Eileen.

Beth O'Leary's second novel, The Switch, is the heart-warming story of two women, at different stages of their lives, trying to find the peace and happiness they're both seeking. Leena is in her twenties, and climbing her career ladder until she's forced to take time off after blowing a big presentation. She escapes to her grandmother, Eileen's house, and suggests that she and her grandmother swap homes for a few months. Leena needs a break and Eileen, newly single and looking for a second chance at love, wants to know what it's like to live in a bigger city. Both of them experience the ups and downs of romantic entanglement and both have to decide if what they're looking for might not be in the place they most expect to find it.

I really love this book. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it was so warm and friendly and cozy that it didn't really matter. It's the perfect book for cuddling up on the couch with a cup of tea and a blanket and losing yourself in Leena and Eileen's lives for a while.

Both characters were very likeable. Leena, representing the twenty-something, career-focused woman is easily relatable in her hopes and dreams, but also in he anxiety. She, and her family, have been through a lot and she has a strained relationship with her mother as a result. Her guiding force is Eileen, who holds the family together almost by sheer force a will. Her presence and advice is enough to temper Leena and the two compliment each other wonderfully.

By contrast to Leena, Eileen is a force of nature - she's lived in a small town her whole life and she's a huge part of the community there. By choosing to leave and spend time living in her granddaughters apartment in the city, she's making a choice for herself for a change, and she's determined to do it in style. I loved seeing how Eileen fit herself into the lives of Leena's roommates and friends and how she was not only a grandmotherly figure in their lives, but how she discovered herself in them, too.

The romantic relationships that develop and unfold in the story are wonderful. Both Leena and Eileen have their own set of expectations that are constantly being challenged by the most unlikely of sources. There's love and heartbreak and love again and the whole thing was just beautifully told.

It was a great pleasure to read The Switch and I look forward to Beth O'Leary's future books. (Now excuse me as I go off to read The Flatshare!)

I absolutely adored Beth O’Leary’s debut novel, “The Flatshare”, so I was very much excited to hear she was publishing a new novel in 2020.
The Switch is the story of grandmother Eileen and granddaughter Leena, swapping lives for two whole months. 79-year-old Eileen in the fast-paced city of London looking for love, having-a-mental-breakdown Leena in the countryside, dealing with family issues and quite some interesting neighbours.
In this narrative, Beth O’Leary show us how a change to the status quo can bring wonderful results. It’s about getting out of your comfort zone and reinventing yourself.
I was expecting a fun and light-hearted story and while it certainly delivers that at times, it also goes to very heavy, hard-hitting moments and conversations. The subject of grief, for instances, it’s explored throughout the whole novel since it’s such a central part in both of these characters’ lives.
What amazed me the most, I guess, as a 27-year-old, is that we really don’t give enough credit and validation to the old people around us. It’s a worldwide problem. We are too busy being young and busy and we forget about those who had amazing adventures or still have some dreams of their own that they would like to accomplish, and maybe they need a hand to do so, and we’ll never know if we never ask. And oh boy, does this book have some amazing, inspiring, lovable amount of these characters.
I’m also a fan of the point that is made about living in the city/ in the countryside. I’ve done both, I love both, and there’s advantages and disadvantages for both and none of those options is less valid than the other. And yes, London is so exciting, but deep down I long for the quiet of the countryside. That sense of peace you get when faced with green hills and fresh air.
It’s a kind, thoughtful and fun narrative that left me aching to hug my grandmothers. I’m also sure you’ll find something you’ll relate to, just like I did. It is, after all, a story about family, about love, about living.