The Switch by Beth O’Leary a five-star read that you won’t want to switch for anything. Beth O’Leary wrote one of my favourite books to recommend the Flat share and she has managed to do it again; I know I can recommend these two to anyone and they will have great read no matter what genre they read. This was a great story and even just the descriptions of the Dales had my eyes shining as you could see the emotion coming through the description, it was so detailed and well done that you could smell the peaty rain and imagine you are standing on the Buttertubs pass, (not mentioned in the story, but if this inspires you to visit a must see place) you can taste the bitter blackberries like they are in your mouth and not on the page. Leena and Eileen have both won a place in my heart, Eileen just warmed me with every little thing she did, especially her little hall project. (There really should be more of those everywhere, you will so get that when you read the story and you need to read it, even if you only read one book this year!!)
Beth O’Leary brings you a story that will make you care and make you think, she has a way with writing people that will lodge them so deep into your heart even a triple bypass wouldn’t shift them. She has a way of describing people that you can identify with and makes you see them as real people and not just a character on a page. Never have I wanted to know more about a neighbourhood watch meeting in my life!! Each of the characters in this story play a massive role even if they only have a tiny part, there is no one that you could cut out and still have a strong story, that’s the test of a great story in my eyes.

My library book club were lucky enough to receive her first book, 'The Flat Share' for free to review on the radio and so I was excited to read this book through Netgalley as I was in the mood for an uplifting book. Of the two, I think that I preferred this novel as I love the idea of 'The Switch', with a grandmother and granddaughter swapping lives for eight weeks as this also meant different friends, a different place and a break from work.

I liked that this book involved some serious themes, such as death, grief and depression whilst also including thoughts, feelings and rediscovery of how to live again alongside hardships. There was something about this text that was very relatable, making it a quick read yet easily managing to juggle many different characters and places. The novel is split between the worlds of the two narrators in the first person and it was easy to identify which narrator was which without the need to look at the name at the start of each chapter.

I gave this book 4 stars simply because I found that the characters journeys were too predictable for me; as much as I enjoyed the overall story and structure, I found that I was constantly guessing the next step and that is an issue for me as I do like to be surprised. However, that isn't the be all and end all as I did like the story and found the two narrators endearing and wanted to see them in a better place physically and mentally. The author did a fantastic job of handling difficult issues sensitively so I don't think a trigger warning would be required for people to enjoy this book. One thing that I do really like about O'Leary's writing style is that it is a very easy read, I managed to finish this on a long train journey and got into the text within pages, which is a positive thing and I would recommend others to read it as although it isn't the best book I've ever read, it is the kind of book i would read on journeys when I want an easy, enjoyable read.

I loved The Flatshare and I loved The Switch too - it’s funny, sweet, tender and oh so charming. The Eileens are a breath of fresh air and I loved their journeys of healing.

A really lovely read from the author of The Flatshare which has been practically impossible to avoid over recent months. The Switch is about the lives of Eileen and her granddaughter Leena who decide to swap homes for 8 weeks (think The Holiday but with half the characters being in their later years of life). It moves quite fast at some stages and can make some passages feel a little disjointed but overall a book you want to sink into and become part of the friendship groups that are new and the established ones that further develop, somewhat unexpectedly for those involved. Beth O'Leary is a master at creating stories that essentially focus on where a character is living and who they encounter because of their situation.

I can think of no better words to sum up The Switch than ‘yay!’ and ‘joy’.

Demonstrating that Flatshare was no fluke, The Switch is utterly fabulous. Building on a clever hook and then taking the reader along with characters who, with no exception, you really care about. It it is said that making a book a pleasure read is the hardest job and Beth O’Leary does it with guile. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments and a page turning finale. I would heartily recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in consideration of an honest review.

A slow but entertaining, and complete with vibrant characters - older ones stole the show!

Won't lie, post The Flatshare, I was expecting a contemporary romance along similar lines, and equally fun, if not more. This one is different and honestly quite fresh.

It's not really a romance, although it's a part of this book, but more about relationships with people - the ones around us as well as the ones in our family. There's a quirkiness in Beth O'Leary's writing and despite having read only one other book of hers, I've come to appreciate the warmth it brings along.

If you pick it up expecting the same magic as her previous book, you might be slightly disappointed. Otherwise, The Switch is quite an entertainer.

*note, I will publish this review in April 2020 around the Australian publication date.

In depth

Beth O'Leary has done it again! With her trademark charm, humour and compassion, O'Leary has crafted a heartwarming, feminist tale that will leave you feeling uplifted. Readers should note triggers for cancer-related death and grief, controlling relationships and infidelity.

Following a major panic attack during a work presentation, rising star Leena Cotton is sent on two months' leave, not negotiable. At the same time, her grandmother Eileen Cotton is moving on from her husband leaving with their dance instructor, and contemplating the very limited romantic options in her Yorkshire Dales village. When Leena visits Eileen and learns of her wish to find love, she suggests they swap homes for two months. The plan is perfect - Leena can take the time deal with her suppressed grief and Eileen can meet all sorts of interesting London men. Of course, nothing is quite that simple, and the ensuing tale is emotionally rich and utterly charming.

(Sidenote: while it sounds similar to the film, The Holiday, and will be enjoyed by fans of the film, the details of the premise are unique and, I think, much better!).

Both Leena and Eileen are wonderfully drawn characters - strong yet flawed in ways that allow them to grow throughout the novel. Leena's emotional growth stems from her grief and her tendency to use work as a crutch, while Eileen is confronted by the trials of modern dating and the distance between people living in cities (both physical and emotional). I loved Leena's professional mind and drive, but also her compassion and self awareness when in the village of Hamleigh. Likewise, Eileen's ability to bring people together and fight loneliness, as well as her eagerness to learn, were empowering and endearing. Everyone wants a grandmother like Eileen.

The Switch also has a diverse cast of supporting characters - some felt a bit peripheral/underdeveloped, but many stood well on their own two feet - especially Jackson, Arnold and Betsy in Hamleigh, and Leticia, Martha and Fitz in Shoreditch. Both communities felt like places I wanted to be part of - a testament to O'Leary's skill.

O'Leary's writing flows with such ease, painting evocative pictures of both Shoreditch and Hamleigh that made me want to hop on a plane to England, stat! She is a master of knowing which details to leave in and which to leave out, so nothing ever feels padded or too sparse.

The underlying message of The Switch is about how much intergenerational relationships have to offer; that is, both youth and the elderly can learn from one another. She also has positive messages about mental health, forgiveness, women standing up for themselves and the importance of community, even in this day and age.

Highly recommended as a well-written, heartwarming tale with wonderfully strong female characters. This is the kind of book you never want to end.

Recommended if you liked: The Lido

I received a copy of The Switch from Quercus Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"I breathe out slowly, my paintbrush suspended in mid-air. It's easy to forget when you're missing someone, that they're more than just the person you remember: they have sides to themselves they only show when other people are around."

29 year old Leena Cotton, a project manager, lives in London with boyfriend Ethan. Her 79 year old grandma, Eileen Cotton, lives in the Yorkshire Dales, in the fictional village of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale. Following the death of beloved sister, Carla and mistakes caused by overwork and stress at work, Leena is give two month's sabbatical to recuperate. At the same time Eileen, also grieving Carla, worrying about daughter Marion and having recently been left by husband Wade, is floundering and in need of direction.

Both want a change in their lives, so Leena suggests a temporary switch, whereby they move into each other lives for two months. Having planned to move to London before meeting Wade, Eileen eagerly agrees to. This also gives Leena chance to build bridges with mother, Marian, who Leena blames for not persuading Carla to have experimental treatment that could have prolonged her life.

So they make the switch and soon become friends with each others friends, helping out where they are needed - both being kind, warm women who are natural organisers. Leena finds she enjoys the company of older people, Ethan finds he doesn't like the Dales so rarely visits and Eileen finds herself a boyfriend, Todd, through online dating.

Uplit at its best, Leena and Eileen are strong, funny, joyous and real. I thoroughly enjoyed this escapist read with its hilarious characters, beautifully written world, and entertaining plot. Their journeys are somewhat predictable, in terms of the changes in direction their lives take and who they bring with them, but this doesn't detract from this charming read, which will no doubt be loved by fans of O'Leary's debut, The Flatshare.

It is never too late to start a new chapter in your life. Leena Cotton and her grandma, Eileen Cotton, decide to swap places for two months - both are dealing with some serious issues, each of them needs a change of scenery and a space to think. Eileen is moving to fancy apartment in London, a place she once dreamed of conquering, and Leena comes to a small village in Yorkshire to take care of her estranged mother and keep up with all the village projects and gossip. This idea might not sound like everyone's cup of tea, but bear with me, it actually works! Firstly, massive kudos to the author for making Eileen one of the main characters - not that many authors wants to talk about older people like regular humans with their own ideas, dreams and (dare I say) NEEDS. Eileen might be older, but she makes plans, meets men, engages with other people, is nosy, makes mistakes and want to have fun. Secondly- the language. This book was funny, smart and under the sunny exterior managed to convey some important messages - dealing with grief, loneliness of older people, toxic relationships and managing own expectations. Perhaps it all seems a bit too predictable, too obvious in places, but I do not care. For me, this book seemed to tick all the boxes.

For a short break in the land of fantasy fiction you could go much further wrong than reading The Switch by Beth O'Leary. Eileen and Leena, grandma and grand-daughter, swap homes for two months and discover lots about themselves and their neighbours in the process. This is how we'd like family, friends and locals to be. Sadly it's rarely real life but I loved my visit to this make-belive world.

Sometimes you just want a story that's like a warm hug from your Nan telling you that everything will be ok, and that's exactly what this book delivers.

Uplifting and life-affirming we meet a lot of lovable characters throughout this story of a house-swapping grandmother and granddaughter. So charming that I'm willing to forgive it a few over the top moments. There are some important issues in the book that are dealt with quite sensitively, but really this is just an entertaining story and sometimes that's what you want. Thanks to netgalley and Quercus for a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Fans of The Flatshare are sure to enjoy this second novel from the author.

Management Consultant Leena is still reeling from the death of her younger sister. She makes a hash of an important client presentation and is sent on a 2 month sabbatical. Meanwhile, grandmother Eileen's husband has left her and she's looking for romance. Leena suggests that there's a bigger dating pool for 79 year olds in London than a Yorkshire dales village and proposes that they swap lives for 2 months....

It's a pretty good story, a light undemanding escapist read, with a dash of humour. Its uplifting.

If you’ve read Beth O’Leary’s first book, The Flatshare, you already know what an incredible talent Beth is.
This book is everything I was expecting and hoping for. It’s beautiful, it’s life-affirming and it’s addictive. It’s joyful but it doesn’t shy away from pain and grief. It feels light/uplifting but it’s not overly fluffy. It’s modern and funny without feeling like it’s trying too hard to be.

I have every confidence that this book will be as successful as The Flatshare - and it deserves to be!

I won the @netgalley lottery and received The Switch by the brilliant Beth O’Leary, published by the equally brilliant @quercusbooks to review.
The Switch made me cry, just a little. Once, in a scene between mother and daughter, shouting at each other, furious with grief. And then again, at the end, a tender moment, a quiet ending.
I stayed up too late to finish all 300 and something pages of The Switch in one day- as soon as I knew I could read it, I felt I had to. Beth O’Leary, to me, is an author buoyed by her community - bookstagram supported Flatshare with fervour, and as a result, Beth’s second novel is even better, even brighter.
Beth knows her characters. She writes bad men brilliantly,good men wonderfully, and she writes women of all sorts realistically. Every character written into The Switch feels like a real person, there are no filler characters. Everyone has a part to play, whether that is providing colour to village life or a homely touch in the city. No character feels like they have been shoe-horned in as plot device, which can happen quite often with romantic fiction. The Switch is marketed as a story of two women, Eileen and her granddaughter Leena, as they switch lives. I’d say it’s a story of three generations of women, living with grief and finding their own selves. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t a Jamie Lee Curtis Freaky Friday situation, this is a house-phone-friend swap that provides such a great premise for a lovely book.

Read this book when you can, you’ll be better for it.

The Switch will be published 30th April 2020.

This is a great book! And a very worthy follow up to The Flatshare. It focuses on two women who find themselves wanting to live the others life. I don't want to give too much away so I'll just say that this is a must-read for 2020. Will definitely be purchasing copies for my library.

I loved this just as much as the flatshare if not more!! The characters were great and loved all the interactions, so much fun and a great light and fluffy read for the holidays! The loss of Carla was the underlying motivation for everything but it didn’t draw the mood of the book down at all, but was a lovely way for everyone to come together and learn how to grieve in their own way - and to appreciate life for what it is not what you think it needs to be, C Can’t wait for future books from Beth! Thanks for the reading copy I’ve been dying to get my hands on one since I saw on Instagram their were some!

This was a beautiful, feel good, positive read. I truly cared about all of the characters and enjoyed every moment.