A really pleasant, gentle novel perfect for those of us looking for a bit of comfort and escapism! It's full of lovely characters, little bumps in the road and the inevitable will-they-wont-they.

This book is a brilliant feel-good book that you'll enjoy getting lost in.

Following a panic attack during an important presentation at work, Leena Cotton is told to take a two month paid holiday. Leena's grandmother, Eileen Cotton, has recently been left by her cheating husband and is now looking to find love at 79. Leena and Eileen decide to switch places with Eileen living in Leena's flat with her flatmates in London whilst Leena moves to a sleepy village in Yorkshire and takes over all of Eileen's important duties including planning the May Day Fayre and chairing the Neighbourhood Watch.

This is the first book from O'Leary that I have read and it definitely did not disappoint. It had a lot more depth than I expected including the positive portrayal of women in their seventies as being sexual.

I initially was unsure about the dual perspective which switches every chapter but the chapters were a good length so it was easy to keep track of the two storylines and was a brilliant narrative device when the two ladies' stories converged.

If you are looking for something to read to forget about the world for a few days, this is exactly the right book.

I loved everything about this, it's just lush. I'm trying to be kind to myself during this crisis, it is definitely harder to concentrate than usual so I'm picking books from my TBR that I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy. I enjoyed this even more than I anticipated and flew through it.
Leena, her mum, and Eileen, her granny, are grieving her sister's death and all dealing with it very differently. Leena has been working too much and pushing her feelings aside, until it all gets too much and she's put on sabbatical. Eileen and Leena come up with a plan to switch lives for two months so Leena can rest and Eileen can have an always longed for adventure in London. The result is pure magic – heartwarming, funny and uplifting.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my gosh! Where do I start? It is funny, feisty & full of heart seriously don't miss it!

Full disclosure, I was really worried this book wouldn't meet the lofty heights I hold The Flatshare to (best read of 2019! to be reread & treasured on my forever shelf!) but I am over the moon to report those worries were unfounded and The Switch completely blew me away and now holds the title of my best 2020 read so far!

It is absolutely perfect! O'Leary weaves another fabulous totally unique tale that sweeps you up into the lives of Eileen & Leena, the whole cast of characters are superb! - they have real substance and will no doubt find a way into your heart, even grumpy old Arnold! (& a couple will find their way into your bad books).

I laughed, I cried and above all, I was left feeling uplifted with that warm fuzzy glow inside wondering if it was too soon to reread it. The Switch is going right next to The Flatshare on my treasure forever shelf. I cannot wait to see what O'Leary comes up with next! ....how long do we have to wait for book 3?

Honestly, if there is only one book you read this year make sure it is this one! It envelops you into a community you didn't know you needed to be part of, it will steal your heart and stay will you long after the last page.

Thanks to Quercus & Netgalley for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved this book.

It follows Leena and her grandmother Eileen. As they swap places, and Leena heads to Yorkshire while Eileen is in London, they both get to experience a completely different way of life and make new friends.

I like how it is told from each of their points of view, and some great characters too, especially the old folk of the village!

This is a real feel-good book, which I enjoyed very much. We are introduced to Leena and her grandmother, Eileen, aged 79 who is not what you might expect of a 79-year old grandmother! As the title suggests they switch lives, for 2 months. The characters explore their new friendships and with that comes the accompanying issues their friends encounter, the characters are introduced gradually and deceived in detail individually, I never lost track of who was who. I loved the slower pace of life Leena felt when she switched and felt myself being on that journey too, reading along. This is a fun, thoughtful, engaging book which is the perfect read for when you want to switch off from your own life a little. The ending is perfect and did not disappoint.

I had heard so much about Beth’s book flatshare and was really excited to get the opportunity to read The Switch. What a truly gorgeous and uplifting story. As all our lives are fully of anxiety at the moment this book was the perfect choice for me to get away from my feelings and get back to my love of reading.

Eileen Cotton is not a typical 79 year old! Her husband Wade has left her after years together but instead of wallowing in self pity she decides to embark on a new life. Hopefully one where she will find happiness, fulfilment and maybe even love . Eileen lives in Hamleigh-in-Harksdake a small village where everyone knows each other’s business and her chances of fulfilling her plans are limited.

Lena her granddaughter lives in London . Along with other members of her family she is struggling to cope with the grief of losing her sister and when she finds it difficult to cope in her demanding job her boss forces her into a sabbatical for two months .

Lena visits her grandmother and with the two woman facing different challenges they decide to swap their lives and homes for two months in the attempt to find their true selves.

As the story unfolds Eileen settles into life in the capital in a way unimaginable to her before. She joins online dating, and begins to juggle admirers in an alarming rate. She befriends Leena's flatmates and goes on adventures.

Leena fills her grandmothers shoes by joining the local neighbourhood watch committee where she connects with villagers of all ages and finds contentment in the slower pace of life. Reconnecting with her mother and coming to terms with her grief in a way only the small community her knew her sister so well could help with.

This book is bursting with adorable characters. I loved Eileen , a brave strong older lady. I personally had a special relationship with my granny and her wisdom and strength was something I admired. To have such a wonderful older main character was fantastic. The difficult topic of grief was portrayed in a insightful manner. We all walk our own paths in coping and this was beautifully explored. The sense of community is something which is sometimes overlooked nowadays but it’s strength and importance definitely resounded in this book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this book which got my reading reignited. Thank you to Beth O’Leary for such a enjoyable read I’ve been well and truly Eileened .

Well, I seem to have been well and truly ‘Eileened’. This was the perfect lockdown read for me. Funny, moving, romantic and uplifting all at once. One year on from the death of her sister Carla, Leena is treading water. She’s still living down in London, still doing the same job and is still with the same boyfriend, Ethan. She lives in the same flatshare in Shoreditch with her friends Fitz and Martha. She and her best friend Bee have talked about setting up her own business, but she’s still waiting for the right time. She’s still not talking to her mother either; since Carla died their relationship has been very strained. In fact, the best relationship Leena has is with her namesake, her grandmother Eileen. Eileen still lives in Leena’s home village and is a force to be reckoned with; she organises village events, coordinates the Neighbourhood Watch scheme and knows everything going on in the surrounding Dales villages. So, when Leena makes mistakes at work and is asked to take a sabbatical, Bee thinks Eileen is the best person to get her back on track and she is packed off to stay for a few days.

Despite being incredibly busy, Eileen also needs a change. She has been supporting her daughter who has had several breakdowns since Carla’s death. They call them ‘wobbles’ but it has been a far more serious depression than Leena knows. Eileen feels a bit jaded and would like to meet a man and have an adventure. They come up with the idea of a switch. Leena could move back to the Dales and take over her grandmother’s life, while Eileen moves in with Martha and Fitz down in London. Leena will be able to use her organisational skills to manage the annual village festival. Meanwhile, Fitz will help Eileen set up a dating profile online and she will get to feel the excitement of living in a city. What could possibly go wrong?

I fell in love with Eileen straight away, she’s ballsy and packed full of energy. She’s also incredibly loving and generous. Despite going through her own grieving process she has been supporting her daughter and granddaughter, as well as trying to cope with the tension between them. Eileen is a ‘fixer’ at heart too, she won’t let anyone go unnoticed or be ignored. Not only does she make friends with Fitz and Martha, she also wants to meet and befriend Bee. Here she really does start meddling in order to help Bee out with her own dating dilemmas. She wants to make use of the communal space in the block of flats and comes up with the idea of social club for Shoreditch’s elderly residents. She soon gets everyone on board, except for one resident who is worried about strangers coming in and out. Eileen visits her in person and answers each of her concerns, eventually getting her involved too. She befriends Letitia, whose flat is full of incredible antiques, and won’t let her be a recluse. I love how Eileen never judges anyone. Despite what I might have expected of someone her age, she accepts everyone’s sexuality and way of living. When she meets a man who offers her a no-strings affair while she’s in London, she doesn’t dismiss it. She accepts his offer and sees it as an adventure. The group help Eileen too, by advising on some wardrobe updates (culottes are back) and giving her an insight into a younger generation. Despite all this excitement, she surprises herself by chatting to Arnold, her neighbour back home who also has an online dating profile. She’s always seen him as a grumpy old man, and they’ve always had a prickly relationship. Will they get on any better online?

Leena also starts a tentative truce with Arnold. He’s typically grumpy at first but she perseveres and finds herself popping over for mid-morning coffee. The many committees Leena has to attend on Eileen’s behalf don’t go according to plan at first, not helped by a first impression of her losing one member’s dog. Leena remembers Jackson from school and he is now a primary school teacher with a rather unruly dog. When Leena loses him the whole village is out looking and he’s found wrecking a neighbour’s garden. Not everyone is as forgiving as Jackson. They’re also not keen on new ideas, however well researched and organised. Leena finds that her event planning skills need something extra, local knowledge and know-how. Leena’s relationship with her Mum is at best frostily polite, but things take a bad turn when they have a screaming match in the street. It seems that Marian supported Carla’s choice to stop treatment, whereas Leena felt there were more options and tried to push her sister into fighting on. For Leena, this is the first time she has met an obstacle she can’t climb over. Marian failed Carla, then failed Leena by being so caught up in her own grief she stopped being a Mum. Eileen worries that instead of their proximity forcing them to work through their differences, it has made things even worse. It becomes clear that Marian has been so fragile, Eileen has feared she might commit suicide. Can they get past this, or are they destined to remain estranged forever?

It was interesting that Eileen and Leena are both similar in their approach to life, but by switching have still made differences to those around them. Leena thinks she has been spending time with Arnold and her Gran’s best friend Betty, because they’re isolated and lonely. There’s a point in the novel where she realises that they’re becoming friends in their own right and she looks forward to spending time with them. I particularly enjoyed how she realises that Betty’s husband might be abusive and controlling. Betty is very nervous when her husband phones to ask about his tea and when Leena pops round unexpectedly. It’s something all the friends have been aware of, but they’ve been too scared to tackle it. Leena has nothing to lose, she’s only there for a short time, so she tells Betty that she doesn’t have to live like this. She also offers a bed, if ever she should need it day or night. In London, Eileen talks to Martha about her relationship with Yaz and worries that she’s still over in the US, rather than with her pregnant partner. However, she is quick to accept that this generation does things differently. She’s not so hands off with Bee though, taking her on a blind date with a young man from Yorkshire who she thinks will fit the bill. Both learn how important their support networks are, despite having generational differences, the bonds run just as deep.

Eileen learns that as an independent woman she can choose whether a romantic relationship is for life, as it would have been when she was young, or just for a season. She most definitely has an adventure, but will it be so transformative that she makes long term changes to her life? For Leena the experience shows her she could choose to live at a different pace. In this small village, where she and Carla grew up, people talk about her sister quite naturally and it helps. Here she can’t avoid her grief and has to slowly work through it, alongside others who loved and miss Carla too. If she were to stay, there are so many things to think about: her relationship with Ethan; her friendship and possible business plans with Bee; whether to go back to her flat and her job. Could a tall, handsome primary school teacher feature in those plans? This book is light and uplifting, despite visiting some tough themes with Betty’s story and the loss of Carla. I found myself wondering what life changes I could make and Inexplicably ended up clearing out the wardrobe! The characters are eccentric but very lovable, especially grandmother and granddaughter. It gives a great message for these trying times - life is short, and if you’re not happy, you have the power to make changes. Happiness and peace can be found whether you’re in Thailand on a yoga retreat, in Shoreditch or in a picturesque little village in the Yorkshire Dales. It’s within all of us to choose it.

Will be on my blog on publication day.

Thoroughly enjoyed this, another slightly unusual concept with wonderful characters and a fantastic feel good vibe throughout. There were some sensitive issues that were dealt with in a compassionate way and I really like the positivity and hope that emanates.

She’s done it again. Beth O’Leary’s The Flat Share was my book of 2019 but I think The Switch is even better – which, as I gave the first five stars, is going to make rating it interesting.
I started reading it just as UK Lockdown kicked in and it was the perfect escape – in fact, maybe Boris should have sent a copy of this to every household instead of his letter?
It has the perfect mix of engaging plot, eclectic characters and brilliant writing which adds up to a tale that is emotional, funny and full of heart.
It was with some trepidation that I started this book; The Flat Share was so good, I felt there was no way Beth could match it but she goes beyond that.
Both Leena and Eileen come alive on the pages and I love how they embrace the switch – and how it plays out for both of them.
Beth writes with such warmth and humour but also highlights some important issues such as loneliness and emotional abuse.
The ending was so satisfying, it left me with a big smile on my face. It was so uplifting and exactly what I needed.

I absolutely adored The Flat Share so was very eager to read this once approved on NetGalley. Especially given these scary Covid times I was ready for something feel good. Honestly I found it very slow to start and around 30% in I almost gave up. I decided to keep going and am glad I did. The story evolved to see Leena and her grandmother Eileen swap their city and country lives to get each other out of a rut. It was enjoyable to see just how alike their characters were and how tenacious both were in their given situations. A lovely fluffy feel good read.

After reading the flat share last year, I knew I wanted to read this book, even before reading the synopsis and I was not disappointed. At first I thought that the death of one of the protagonists sister may have been mentioned a few too many times deterring from the story, when in fact, after reading for longer it added an important extra dynamic to the story.

The interactions between granddaughter and grandmother was lovely and often reminded me of autumn by Ali Smith, another book that I adore. It perfectly balanced hard hitting topics with light humour to provide a thoroughly entertaining read, that I will live to listen to as an audiobook on its release.

Having enjoyed Beth O’Leary’s debut novel, The Flatshare, I was expecting to like The Switch just as much. However, although I liked this book, for me it wasn’t in the same league. There wasn’t the same page-turning quality and I felt that it became too emotionally intense too early on.

The story is told from the viewpoints of Leena, a young woman with a fancy corporate job in London, and her grandmother Eileen, who lives in the kind of village where everyone knows each other. They decide to ‘switch’ lives for a short time, and in doing so they aim to solve each other’s problems. Eileen is also looking for romance, while Leena is still angry with her mum over the death of Carla, Leena’s sister. There are also tensions in Eileen’s community. I like how issues are explored, such as the isolation felt by the elderly and the importance of talking about one’s feelings. It was also interesting to note the differences between the two settings – the hipsters living in converted warehouses, with their spin classes and posh coffees, compared with the older folk living a quiet semi-rural existence in a place where the May Day festival is the highlight of the year. The ending was predictable but that was expected for a book which ultimately is uplifting rather than depressing, for all its emotional pain. There were some funny moments but not laugh-out-loud.

I didn’t really engage with Leena, who I think is supposed to be around my age, or maybe a bit younger. I got little sense of who she was, other than someone who is super-organised and predictably embarrasses herself when a hot man is on the scene. Considering that I liked her equivalent in The Flatshare, Tiffy, considerably more, I wonder if my indifference towards Leena is the main reason for my lack of enthusiasm for the book.

The Switch is published this month. Thank you to Quercus for the ARC via NetGalley.

[NB - review to be published on my blog on April 19th 2020]

Absolutely loved this one, although I found it was slower starting than O’Leary’s previous book. I absolutely love the way this one has ended- really made me smile.
The characters in this book are fab, mainly likeable, even the grumpy man next door. The only character I can say I’ve had any dislike for is Ethan, what an absolute tool.
The plot of this one is extremely unique and unlike anything I’ve read previously. And although I didn’t love it during our first chat, I was quickly hooked after as things progressed.
I highly recommend this book and it’s a definite five star read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sort of grown up version of Freaky Friday, but without the body swapping, Beth O'Leary's The Switch is a delight to read, and will have you asking yourself 'What Would Eileen Cotton Do?'

Eileen and her granddaughter, Leena, have a strong bond, though it has lessened since the death of Lena's beloved sister, Carla - a death that she blames her mother, Marian for. When Leena has a panic attack at work and is sent on a two month paid leave of absence, she and her grandmother decide to swap lives - with Leena moving into her grans cottage in the sleepy little village of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, population one hundred and sixty-eight, and taking on all of her grans usual activities.

Eileen meanwhile is off to London, a long time dream of hers from before she married her adulterous ex husband, Wade and the arrival of her daughter. Eileen moves in with Leena's two eccentric housemates and sets about solving everyone's problems and being Eileen Cotton, someone you can't mess with.

The supporting cast are fantastic, especially Fitz, Martha and Jackson (swoon) and I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Switch.

Many thanks to Quercus for allowing me access to an advanced copy.

Eileen Cotton (grandmother) and Eileen ‘Leena’ Cotton (granddaughter) swap houses for two months. Eilleen wants to check out the dating scene in London after recently separating from her husband of over 50 years. Leena is a workaholic and looking for a holiday destination of sorts after being forced into a sabbatical from her job. There’s also daughter / mum Marian who lives in the same town as the grandmother. They also all lost their sister / daughter / granddaughter to cancer about a year before.

This was well written, O’Leary is talented. I feel like my mum and nana would probably love its charm and easiness. For me The Switch just fell so undeniably below my expectations. It was totally different and nothing akin to The Flatshare. Books are different I know that, but that is one of my favourite books ever and this was very different. It is a brand of chick lit that I don’t read much anymore—lots of information about too many characters, with a side of romance—wrapped up quickly at the end. As we had two main characters in this with so much going on I was at the 50% mark wondering how any real relationships were going to be forged and how any chemistry was going to be built. I loved some of the side characters it was just all too much too fast. It didn’t work and I am so disappointed right now. My one note to publishers is do nor market this as a romance it is CHICKLIT / Womens fiction.

It is so interesting how sometimes an authors best book is their first and sometimes their best book comes way down the line. I’ll always keep coming back to Beth, but I won’t be recommending this further than my mum and nana—as mentioned.

(ARC kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review).

There is an interesting premise to this novel as a woman and her grandmother swap homes for 2 months. Leena is on enforced leave from her high-pressure job and moves to her gran's cottage in the Yorkshire Dales, picking up Eileen's "jobs". Eileen temporarily relocates to a London flat-share and discovers life in the capital.
This is a tale of love and friendship and the healing power of change. A feel-good book which is great to escape into in the current world situation.

My concentration hasn't been great over the past month or so and I've been in a major reading slump. Thankfully The Switch was just the book I needed!!

Eileen and Leena are grandmother and granddaughter and following the death of Leena's sister, Carla, decide to swap lives while Leena is on a 2 month sabbatical from her stressful job. Leena moves into Eileen's house in Yorkshire for a slower.pace of life and Eileen heads to Leena's flat in London. What ensues in both stories is heartwarming, uplifting and a joy to read.

The subject of grief is handled very sensitively and delicately and we see how grief and the death of a loved one strikes everyone in different ways.

I love stories featuring older characters as frequently we are reminded that life is for living, to be kind, to others and to ourselves, and to listen to your heart. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Recommended.

I hadn’t been able to read much since this lockdown started, probably due to the fact that the routines had changed. The new normal was difficult for me to get used to. But The Switch transported me to a small village in UK and I just never want to leave that place.
It reminded me of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. The vibe and the people seemed so familiar.
I adored the grandmother-granddaughter duo. Eileen made me crave a hot cup of chocolate (Beth please share a recipe!) and curl up on her sofas to read Agatha Christie 🤍
Leena was a headstrong girl (just like her grandmother), who was dealing with a major life change the only way she knew how to. But eventually it caught up with her and she broke down. Sometimes if you don’t change yourself, life makes you slow down and shakes things up.
There were so many instances that hit home for me and I loved how the author phrased them. How every member of the family deals differently with the same loss and each member has its own coping mechanism.

I didn't know much about The Switch before starting this book. however, I read Beth O'Leary's debut novel The Flatshare last year and loved it, so knew I had to read this as soon as I could! Fortunately, I got accepted to review the book on Netgalley!
The Switch is a book about Eileen and Leena Cotton who are grandmother and granddaughter. Leena lives in London whereas her grandmother lives in the countryside in Yorkshire, when things get hard for Leena at work and she ends up on a two month break the pair decide to swap lives.
I really liked the idea of the book and enjoyed having the perspective of two people of a different age group. It was very interesting to see how the two adapted to different lifestyles and also to read about the family problems and how the Cotton family got through this. It was a very beautiful story and did not disappoint! I recommend to anyone looking for a nice romance/contemporary.