As a big fan of Beth O’Leary’s debut, ‘The Flatshare’ - it was inevitable that I was going to request ‘The Switch’ as an ARC for an honest review.

Again, I wasn’t disappointed; O’Leary has provided a fun and witty read. With the dual narrative (a favourite of mine), I couldn’t wait to see what was in store for Eileen (the Grandmother) and her Granddaughter, Leena.

After an incident at work, Leena is in need of a break from London and goes to visit her Grandmother in Hamleigh, who too, as luck would have it, is in need of an escape and an opportunity to experience the dreams of her younger self, a life in London. Both looking to gain different things from this ‘switch’ , they throw themselves fully into the heart of their local community.

Their new lives bring about some soul-searching, life lessons and realisations that change is needed, if and when they return back to their normal lives.

A lovely, heart-warming read about much loved, engaging and believable characters that will remain with you long after you finish the book. In the author’s acknowledgements she hopes that her readers are “well and truly Eileened” and I most certainly was.

The Switch begins when Leena is given a two month sabbatical from her city job. She decides to go up to Yorkshire to visit her grandma, Elaine for the weekend and ends up switching lives with her for the next two months. Elaine moves into Leena's London flat while Leena moves into her grandma's cottage. What follows is a beautiful story of discovery as both of these feisty women navigate their new paths.

I enjoyed The Switch so much! It's light hearted which is perfect considering the uncertainty around us. However, there is still substance. O'Leary manages to cover family bonds, strong friendships, happiness, finding yourself and not putting up with BS all while keeping it light and easy to read.

The relationships between the characters are believable and made me smile. I found myself laughing out loud sometimes too because the dialogue is so funny! This is the first book I've read in a while where I wished I could be in it and that's because the characters were just so well written. O'Leary brought the older generation to life and I now want to go and live in the countryside so I can have lots of cups of tea with elderly neighbors.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc.

Overall rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Quercus books for a chance to read and review this book early.

It's my first Beth O'Leary book. I haven't read The Flatshare but I totally plan to. This book mainly focuses on a city girl Leena and her grandmother Eileen. These two are completely opposite characters. It opens with Leena as we see her being told to take a sabbatical from her stressful job in London as a business executive and she arrives at Yorkshire village to visit her Grandma Eileen, a recently single seventy nine years old lady who was more than willing for a change in her life. So these two comes up with the plan to swap lives for two months. Sounds easy right? Lol not as easy as it sounds.

This book was very witty and heartwarming. It's tough to choose a favorite. I loved both Eileen and Leena but I still think Eileen steals the show. Despite being the elder character, she was a charmer and I loved every part of her scenes. On the other hand, Leena is very relatable. I could definitely see myself in her. She is funny and had all the quirks of a British city girl who was trying to navigate the rural life. She actually thought filling in for Eileen will be easy transaction and boy it was fun to watch her try and try again. Lol. This book was a complete delight and Leena and Eileen will feel like your friends or someone you actually know.


The author created an interesting parallel between the lives of these two women all while keeping it real and entertaining. The difference between the rural and urban life is transparent in ths book and I will call the concept pretty special. I loved it. Starting from the unique plot and the heartwarming characters to the funny and witty scenes that made me laugh out loud, it was totally worth my time. If you are wondering about the romance, then yes it has romance but the story is mainly centered around Eileen and Leena. The dialogues were clever and funny. It gives a deep insight into the life of the protagonists. I highly recommend it for the fans of Jojo Moyes and Cecelia Ahern, Phillipa Ashley or say Sophie Kinsella. If you enjoy British romantic comedies, then its definitely for you. I had a blast with 'The Switch'. It was a charming read and I am looking forward to more of Beth O'Leary's books in the future. I sincerely hope you all like it as much as I did. Coming out on April 16 so stay tuned!

Stay safe and keep reading!

A heartwarming book about a young woman who temporarily swaps lives with her grandmother. A superb feel good read

I loved the Flat share, Beth O’Leary’s first book and although The Switch is quite different, Beth is obviously a talented writer and once again the book has interesting characters and a good storyline.
The Switch tells the story of a grandmother, Eileen and her granddaughter, Leena. Both of them have suffered personal tragedy and neither of them is entirely happy with their lives so they decide to do a complete swap. Eileen at the age of 79 leaves a rural village in Yorkshire for the bright city lights of London. She yearned for adventure when she was younger but gave it all up to get married. Leena has been told to take a sabbatical from her stressful job in London and goes up to Yorkshire leaving everything she knows behind. She is going to take over all the roles her grandmother has in the village and thinks it will be easy with her experience in industry but soon has a bit of a shock and finds her skills are not so useful in this situation. Village life is portrayed as one imagines it to be with a certain amount of pettiness but also great loyalty and friendship. Eileen bursts on to the London scene and makes changes that have a massive effect on the residents of Leena’s block of flats. Where people kept themselves to themselves, they learn to get to know each other and begin to understand the power of social interaction. It was great to see a 79 year old character with a bit of life! Too many times older women are portrayed as frail old ladies who can’t do anything for themselves. This is so not true today and I thought Eileen was a good representation of the older generation

I really enjoyed this book. It has a bit of everything in it and Beth O’Leary manages to deal with sensitive issues in a light but not trivial way. It is easy to read with great characters, but I slightly preferred the Flatshare, which I thought was very original. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this book.

This is the first book I have read by this author. I chose it because I liked the sound of it when I read the blurb. The plot reminded me of the film The Holiday, but here we have a house swap between grandmother and granddaughter who need a change and an escape from their normal lives.
We have a little romance, a few laughs and tears moments.
I enjoyed the book, it was an easy read.

After seeing such rave reviews for O'Leary's debut, I was really excited to pick up her new release, particularly after reading the blurb. A young professional woman in London and her grandmother living in a northern village swap lives? Count me in! The dual perspectives of Leena and her Eileen worked really well and their journeys really complimented each other. I was actually quite surprised how attached I became to Eileen's journey - I suppose, because I was so used to reading young perspectives. However, it's novels like The Switch really show how older women are unjustly thrust to the sidelines in most fiction. O'Leary is so skilled at crafting such relatable characters and I was left thoroughly invested by this heartwarming tale.

The underlying themes of grief and moving on from bereavement and trauma really hit home with me and I really must applaud O'Leary in her skill at keeping such an uplifting tone throughout. At points, the tone sometimes felt a bit too saccharine for my taste, but perhaps this was a result of not expecting such an emotional novel. Indeed, while it seems to have been billed as a romance, I would argue that the romance is actually fairly light-handed, and is often pushed to the periphery with the familial relationships and mental health taking centre stage. Nevertheless, I thoroughly recommend picking this one up, particularly in the current climate - it's an fantastic lighthearted novel to escape into for a few days.

Absolutely loved Flatshare and Beth O'Leary smashes it again with her second book The Switch.

Rich with real characters that I cared about and felt I knew from the get go.

A real joy and a great book to stay at home with.

Highly Recommend.

One of my favourite books that I have read is Beth O'Leary's The Flatshare so I was very excited when I was given the opportunity to read The Switch.

I absolutely loved loved loved The Switch, an incredible read which I could not put down. Both of the two main characters Leena and Eileen are given so much depth and we learn so much about them - I felt like I was one of their friends.

The Switch is about two wonderful people who at two different stages of their lives switch homes, lives, neighbours and friends. A fabulously delightful read which I could not put down. I love Beth O'Leary's writing style - The Switch is such a heartwarming and uplifting read which I highly recommend. 5 stars ++++!

I can't wait for Beth O'Leary's next book, The Road Trip - out next year!

Leena Cotton is a stressed executive, living in Shoreditch, working all hours, until she has a meltdown/panic attack at a client pitch and is ordered to take a two month sabbatical. Leena's grandmother Eileen lives in a small village in Yorkshire, her husband left her for another woman and she is feeling stifled and unfulfilled in her life of Neighbourhood Watch, May Day celebrations and other minutiae of village life. Even worse, there are no eligible men for her, all the men in the village are too old, too boring, too right-wing, or her sworn enemy.

After bemoaning their fates Leena and Eileen decide to swap lives, Leena will move to Yorkshire and Eileen will move to London for two months, Eileen also hopes that this will give Leena and her mother Marian a chance to reconnect as the two of them have been at loggerheads for over a year.

Laugh as a nosey Yorkshire grandmother moves into a trendy warehouse conversion in Shoreditch, flat-sharing with a very pregnant, ,unmarried, lesbian and a single guy. Of course she sorts everyone out and manages to meet all of Leena's neighbours, something Leena has never done. Oh, and Eileen discovers internet dating and friends-with-benefits arrangements.

Meanwhile, Leena is discovering the joys of rural village life, fetes, fierce rivalry with neighbouring villages, gossips, Easter egg hunts and trying to organise the May Day event.

I requested this ARC ages ago, kept putting it off but as soon as I started this I could barely put it down, sweet, funny, charming, and even sad at times, I was fully invested in both Eileen and Leena's new lives. Highly recommended romance and laughs.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Flatshare was my favourite book in 2019 and I was really looking forward to reading The Switch. My expectations were high after that first book and Beth delivered once again, I loved the dual narrative and got attached to both main characters. Especially Eileen, I wish she were my grandmother too! I fell for the side characters as well (Jackson had me at rugby player), none of them too caricatural or exaggerated.
I highly recommend The Switch, it's a lovely story that makes you feel good.

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My goodness, this book! After finishing it, I just want to hug my mum and visit my grandma. A sorrowful, poignant and hilarious story about learning to accept loss and carry on with life no matter your age.

Leena and her Grandmother, Eileen, swap houses for 2 months after Leena breaks down at work in London, and Eileen realises there are no eligible men in her sleepy Yorkshire village. What follows is a fantastically funny account of love and heartbreak.

The moment I finished this book, I went online and purchased a copy for each of my two best friends, because its such a sweet, beautiful story that I needed to share it. Full of relatable characters and funny adventures, The Switch is a must read for anybody who has ever wanted to find themselves.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and will be submitted to Amazon after release.

After reading The Flat share which I loved. I was looking forward to reading The Switch by Beth 0’Leary.
Leena Cotton is a Senior consultant for Selmont Consulting in London. When she has a panic attack at a presentation. She has been fumbling through her work and life as a year ago, her sister died, and she still hasn’t got over the pain of her death. She is told that she needs to take 2 months annual leave and she doesn’t want to leave and leave her boyfriend Ethan who she works with. But her boss gives her an no ultimatum.
Leena’s Grandmother Eileen who lives in Hamleigh-in-Harksdale Yorkshire. Is looking to restart her life after her husband Wade ran off with the dance teacher four months previously. She is looking for someone to share the rest of her days. So, both Eileen and Leena hatch a plan to switch places for two months. While Leena takes over the Neighbour watch that her grandmother organised, and Eileen decides to sign up to a dating agency to meet eligible men. But both women’s time switched doesn’t run smoothly.
This is another lovely heart-warming story of two members of a family who are in different stages in life but, have a lot of similarities between them. Unlike The Flat share I thought at first that The switch was quite hard to get into. It is a quite slow burner of a book. But I am glad I preserved because this is a lovely story of family love, romance humor, but also grief. 4 stars from me.

I loved Beth's first book, The flat share, and The switch is just as good a read.

The switch kept my mind of the current situation that is going on around the world and I'm sure it will help other readers as well.

A great uplifting book.

A million stars.

Oh my gosh, I loved this book so much!

As with a lot of people at the moment, I have a LOT more spare time = more time to read. However I've been struggling to get into any of my tbr books because of the stress/anxiety. I've been desperately looking for something that'll help me SWITCH off and this did just the thing!

I knew I'd love this as soon as I read the synopsis - Leena (29) and her grandmother Eileen (79) swap lives for two months after Leena is given a sabbatical. Leena has a high-flying consultancy job in London whereas Eileen lives a (seemingly) quiet life in the countryside. Leena needs a break to destress and Eileen is looking for love - will the swap help them achieve this??

This book made me happy, sad, angry and everything in between. Just an absolute delight and I highly recommend it, especially if you loved The Flatshare. It's everything I'd want from a follow up.

In need for a feel good book with all the chaos going on around us?

Look no further … The Switch by Beth O ‘ Leary has you covered! Although, it’s not out just yet, but it is available for pre-order now. Coming April 16th! Thank you to @QuercusBooks for my advance copy.

The story follows, grandmother Eileen, and granddaughter Leena, who ‘swap’ lives for a few months! 79 year old Eileen now finds herself living the London city life, and Leena, on a break from work, is now in a small rural town … very different to what she is used to!

It’s adorable, cute, and had such a feel good vibe about it. I really enjoyed the alternating point of view chapters between Eileen and Leena. Their personalities really came to life throughout the pages.

I fell in love O’Leary’s writing style in her first book, The Flat Share, and you’ll find the same easy flow, fun writing style in The Switch!

Such an uplifting book getting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!

You guys going to be reading this? (you definitely should be!)
.

4.5 stars
I loved this book.
It was the perfect escape that I didn’t knew I need and I just couldn’t stop reading.
The writing and the mixed characters are adding so much to this great story.
It’s definitely a must read book for everyone.


Thanks to the publisher and the author for my review copy.

Simply Gorgeous and Uplifting!

Last year I gushed over The Flatshare, well in my opinion Beth O'Leary has exceeded my expectations even more with The Switch, and believe me I'm going to be spending the remainder of the year (and longer) raving about this beautiful, heartwarming book, and recommending it to every reader I encounter.

When wound tight, workaholic Leena Cotton experiences a panic attack during a big presentation her company orders her to take two months leave. Dreading the endless time on her hands, Leena heads to Yorkshire to visit her grandmother, Eileen.

Meanwhile, Eileen Cotton is searching for love, companionship, and craving a little excitement, but it's slim pickings in her tiny village of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale.

Then, Leena suggests a novel idea, why not swap places for eight weeks? Leena will move into her grandmother's house, and take on all her chores, responsibilities, and community projects to keep herself busy, and Eileen will live it up in London, sharing her granddaughter's flat with her two roommates - she's bound to encounter heaps of men in a city of nearly nine million? It's the perfect solution with hilarious, entertaining, heartwarming and swoon-worthy results.

The Switch completely embraced the notions of family, friendship, belonging, bridging the generational gap, taking a gamble and stepping outside one's comfort zone, and community spirit. Reading it this past week has been an enthralling and soothing experience. Even though Eileen and Leena don't swap identities it does share common themes with movies like Freaky Friday such as placing yourself in someone else’s shoes and the highs and lows that come with it, as well as a new appreciation for the person they're replacing and all they do, resulting in an even closer relationship.

Light in tone for the most part, but like The Flatshare, does incorporate serious topics such as grief, loss, loneliness, domestic abuse, mental illness, unhealthy coping strategies, and cheating. Eileen and Leena were both wonderful and interesting, and both their stories were affecting and relatable, and the characters they came into contact with – memorable and magnificent. The two settings encompassed all the idyll and beauty of a tiny English village and it's quirky and charming characters, and the ‘buzzing with energy' non-stop, fast-paced exhilaration of London life.

I guarantee The Switch is going to capture the hearts and minds of readers everywhere. The perfect choice to curl up with this April.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Quercus Books, and Beth O’Leary for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 16th April, 2020.

The Switch was my first Beth O'Leary book so I was very thankful to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an advanced copy.

This is a delightfully warm book, full of women with guts that I couldn't help but fall in love with.

The story follows one woman and her Grandmother who swap lives and what ensues is a heartwarming, funny, and uplifting read. This is a story of grief, of love and loss, of friendship and good old fashioned community spirit that made me feel immersed and not want to put it down.

I thoroughly recommend this book for the perfect read to enjoy and make you feel like your somewhere else.

A great 4/5 from me.

What a lovely read! There's nothing I love more than a pick-me-up and make-me-feel-good novel and Beth O'Leary's second book is exactly that. It's a story of loss, friendship, family, love and courage and I enjoyed it very much. Grandma Eileen was a fantastic character and made me feel like things don't end as we grow older. There's always love and things to fight for.