The Switch is Beth O'Leary's second book, and if you read and loved The Flat Share, this is probably on your TBR already. I, for one, haven't read The Flat Share (yet!), but I was still very excited when @netgalley and @quercusbooks sent me this copy.⁠
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The Switch tells the story of Leena, who escapes to her grandma's Yorkshire house after being ordered to take a two-month sabbatical from her London job. Eileen is about to turn 80 and looking for a second chance at love, so Leena proposes a swap: she'll at her grandmother's house and look after everything in the tiny village, and Eileen moves to London to look for love.⁠
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This book is just as heartwarming, romantic and cheesy as it sounds - in that sense, it's predictable like most of these books are. You don't expect a huge plot twist and you pretty much know what's going to happen from the beginning, but that's what makes it so great for when you need a light, feel-good read in your life.

Loved it! Proper feel good read that at times still managed to bring me to tears. Poignant, touching and rip roaringly funny. You couldn’t choose a better book to settle down with. Fantastic characters and a real zestiness to how life could be. Really enjoyed reading every chapter!

Thank you Netgalley

I really enjoyed Beth's first book and was very excited to read her second novel. The Switch is a really sweet uplifting story and even though there are lots of characters to get to know, it was easy to follow and care for the characters. I usually find that when a author introduces lots of characters it can detract from the flow of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the copy in exchange for a honest review

The Switch is a light-hearted, fun read about a grandaughter and grandmother who switch homes to give eachother a new lease of life.

Leena, in her twenties and working for a fast-paced company in London, is ordered to take 2 months off work after she messes up a big presentation – she needs a proper break. Her grandmother Eileen, who lives in Yorkshire, is tired of being on her own and missed out on life in London when she was younger. They’re both grieving after the death of Leena’s sister, so a house swap seems like a great way to take a break and experience a little of the other’s life. Leena heads to a village in Yorkshire, whilst Eileen moves to trendy Shoreditch.

What follows is entertaining and at times quite predictable, but I really enjoyed the sweet characters and their interactions, plus the element of romance that unfolds. If you fancy a break from gritty crime novels, this is the perfect novel – it’s got a lot of light-hearted moments. However, that’s not to say that it’s without emotional parts, too – the fact that Leena’s sister Carla has died adds a real sadness to its pages.

Some of the story was perhaps tied up perhaps a little too perfectly for me, but I still really enjoyed The Switch – not quite as much as The Flatshare, which I loved, but I think this is a great follow up by author Beth O’Leary.

Beth O’Leary does it again - another wonderful book, as perfect as ‘The Flatshare’.
‘The Switch’ is about grandmother and granddaughter who decide to switch lives for two months when Leena must taken two months sabbatical from her work in London. Her grandmother had always intended to live in London as a young woman, but at the age of 79, will she cope with the move from her quiet Yorkshire village to the bustling capital? And how will Leena deal with the remoteness of village life, nosy neighbours - especially when she has a history there.
A wonderful amusing book which has two superb main characters and such lovely supporting characters. I am fast becoming a big fan of Beth O’Leary and can’t wait for her next book!
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️ I loved the Flatshare, it was maybe my favorite book last year, so I had high hopes for The Switch, I had built it up in my head. It was disappointedly a perfectly entertaining book. Didn’t give me the feels but it kept me entertained. One of the main issues I found, was the fact that there are 32 characters in the book (if I counted right), and there are 2 parallel main stories happening at the same time, so I felt like a lot of the side stories could have been avoided to be able to get more out of the 2 main stories. The book it’s funny at times and sad at times, while Leena deals with the aftermath of her sister dying (also Eileen’s granddaughter), this happens before the book starts so no spoilers here.
❤️ Eileen and Leena’s relationship and some of new relationships they make in each other’s worlds and when these collide - I also love Grumpy Arnold and his stepson, Jackson - Eileen’s dating adventures are also pretty entertaining.

👎🏼 32 characters. Too many side stories. And the whole thing about the Leena’s mom.

👍🏼 I enjoyed the neighborhood watch meetings a lot. All about the gossip and biscuits 🍪 😆 I liked that it was low steam 🔥 and not a lot of bad words were used.

Some of the gems 💎 I enjoyed:
“It’s easy to forget, when you are 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.”
“It’s easier to be angry than sad, sometimes”
“Live a good life, Leena Cotton. And make sure it’s the right one.”

I never got around to reading the Flat Share before this one, but I enjoyed the Switch so much I will be seeking it out - a really fun read!

I was on FaceTime with some friends the other day, having coffee. As you do.

When someone mentioned the ‘The Flatshare’, a conversation then started about how it was the best book they’d all read so far in isolation. I chimed in with “Oh, I read it last year… it’s great isn’t it?”. Cue a load of ‘OHHHH ALRIGHT THEN MISS TAYLOR’... I like to do things first (ha).

But the thing is, they’re right. The Flatshare is wonderful. I went through the books I read last year and it was in the top five. I loved it, so much. In fact, I’ve just bought it for my Kindle (my paperback copy is currently in lockdown with my colleague) and sometimes you just need a pick-me-up.

I’m telling this story as ‘The Switch’ is as good, if not better; I loved it just as much. I’m so in awe of it. I’m actually giddy with relief that Beth O’Leary wasn’t just a one-hit wonder.

This book continues what she began in her debut as she continues to reshape romantic fiction in an utterly wonderful way, but without losing the parts of the genre that make my toes wiggle in glee as I grasp the book to my chest.

The world may be going a bit mad, but its novels such as this that are keeping me sane (well... sane-ish). I sped through the pages curled in a ball in the corner of my mother’s kitchen as she brought me cups of coffee and glanced suspiciously at me whilst I laughed throughout. O’Leary has the wondrous talent of creating a world of characters you adore and cheer for. The prose is witty and charming and fun. I’m not going to say I didn’t cry, I did. With all this said, I also bought a copy for myself (as this copy was kindly sent to me by Quercus via NetGalley) which I’ve already leant to my Mum. And that, THAT is the highest of praise.

Ladies and Gentleman, I have another author to watch, and I’m thrilled by it.

A really lovely, heart warming read. Great characters, fantastic storyline and wonderful read. I really wanted there to be more.

I love a good chick lit and was happy to spend all evening with two lovely Eileens (grandmother and granddaughter) who change places in "The Switch" (yep, excuse the tautology!). The story is typical romantic comedy but still lovely - Beth writes with great affection about family, friendship and the good old generational gap, but she does not shy away from the important subject such as professional burnout and domestic abuse. I loved her gentle humour and enthusiasm for a good story.
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A real escape for a couple of hours. And you know what, I really want to drive around Yorkshire and see those beautiful hills and tiny villages now.
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And yes, about the romantic comedies - I totally can see this as a film. Perhaps Judy Dench can play the older Eileen Cotton?
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If you are looking for a similar story (or swapping places or even identities) I recommend Sophie Kinsella's "Twenties Girl".

With many thanks to @NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book for free in exchange for a fair review.

Beth O’Leary clearly has a talent for funny heart warming contemporary fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book- much more than I expected to! I thought it would be frothy enjoyment, it certainly is enjoyment but the humour is razor sharp, the observations are spot on and so true to life. I would recommend this to anyone seeking a bit of escapism.

Eileen is 79, is recently separated from her husband who has left her for a dance instructor and has a busy and active social life in Hamleigh-in-Harksdale in the Yorkshire Dales. She is part of a number of committees, has a wide circle of friends and an ongoing feud with her next door neighbour. She likes her life but feels that she still has lots to give and would love to find love. The thing is, it is very slim pickings in the village she lives in.

Her grandaughter, Leena is a high-flying overachiever who lives in London. She has just been keeping things together after suffering a traumatic seismic event but when she suffers a panic attack at work she is sent on a 2 month sabbatical. Retreating back to the Yorkshire Dales to visit her much-loved grandmother she realises that a slower pace of life may be just what she needs for a while.

She and Eileen decide to swap lives, with Leena taking over the committee meetings and Eileen living the life in London she had dreamt of as a young woman. What follows is a book which examines new beginnings and how to be brave.

I really enjoyed this lovely book which is chock full of warmth, humour and wit. The relationship between Eileen and Leena is well drawn and Beth O’ Leary does a wonderful job in creating these outwardly different women and shining a light on the similarities that unite them. They’re both desperately lonely and despite having friends are struggling with life. This really struck a chord, particularly at a time when we’re isolated in our own little bubbles. The Switch deftly and sensitively depicts how important it is to check in on those in your community and to look after one another.

I particularly loved Eileen who is far from being a stereotypical 79 year old and is brilliantly written. She is warm, kind, full of life and shows deep emotional empathy, always intuitively knowing what somebody wants or needs almost before they do. She is a force of nature, fun loving, joy seeking and her exploits in online dating were fabulous to read. Good on you Eileen.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary is another slice of heartwarming fiction perfect for the weird times that we find ourselves in. I loved Beth O’ Leary’s debut novel The Flat Share and was eager to read her newest offering and I wasn’t disappointed. If you’re looking for some escapism that will put a smile on your face then The Switch could be the perfect read for you.

The Flatshare was such an unexpected delight so i had high hopes for this one and i wasn't let down in the least. A beautiful story, so uplifting and exactly what i needed. Sometimes you just need a big hug and this is what The Switch was for me. It was a big hug and i'm so glad i listened to everyone when they told me to read The Flatshare. Beth O'Leary is one of my new favourite authors.

This was a great read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Eileen, in particular, is the person I want to be when I am in my seventies.

As the US publication date of this book has been delayed until August, my full review will appear on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books on or around August 8.

Beth O’Leary has done it again. I defy anyone who gets a couple of pages into one of her books not to be totally and immediately ensnared by the plot and all her wonderful characters; she certainly grabs the reader’s attention and doesn’t let go until the end. I spent a couple of those restless ‘lockdown’ nights reading The Switch and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

I have to admit that out of the two narrators (even though they were both great) I much preferred the grandma, Eileen, who was so fearless, funny and loveable; I could easily read more of her adventures – perhaps a sequel might be on the cards sometime?

Many thanks to Quercus Books, to Ms O’Leary and to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this terrific novel.

Eileen is sick of being 79.
Leena's tired of life in her twenties.
Maybe it's time they swapped places...

After a life changing event happens within her family Leena Cotton finds herself reeling from the aftermath, life and work all seem to collide in an emotional turmoil that finds Leena placed on a two-month sabbatical from the job she loves. She decides to visit her grandmother Eileen in her home in a tiny Yorkshire village.

Eileen divorced from a loveless and finding herself about to turn eighty and wishing for companionship, takes her second chance at a new way of life and love as she cannot see herself finding an eligible gentlemen from the slim pickings in her local village.

Leena proposes that they switch lives during the two-months of her sabbatical, Eileen can go and find the answer to her what-if's and enjoy the dating pool of London and Leena can take a step back from all things work as her boyfriend can visit and she can use the time to focus on her new business with her best friend.

Leena is ill at ease with the gossiping neighbours and difficult family dynamics with her mother. Meanwhile Eileen is contending with trendy London flatmates and online dating in the city.

Leena realises that both her relationship with her mother and that with her partner are not what they seem.
All this is not helped by the frustrating competitiveness with the annoyingly perfect and handsome school teacher who is involved in her every effort to befriend the local members of the neighbourhood watch committee and arrange the summer fete event.

Eileen however, is a huge hit with her flat mates and has extended her friendship circle to the neighbours within the building as she attempts to meet her perfect match and introduce a project, that could benefit more than just herself.

This is Beth O'Leary's second book and I found this as equally compelling to read with its both emotional tenderness, family drama and read in one sitting romance, I cannot recommend it enough.

I would like to thank both Quercus and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book and look forward to further offerings from Beth O'Leary in the future.

Thank you for allowing me to review this title. My review can be found as part of my April Reading Wrap Up on my Youtube channel at 03:23
https://youtu.be/fWihy1BKEvc

If you’re looking for something uplifting, a read you can really relax into, then you don’t need to search any more, The Switch is the perfect remedy to cure #lockdownloneliness!

I’m not going to lie, I did go into this with high expectations. I loved Beth O’Leary’s debut novel The Flatshare so much, it being one of the biggest surprises of last year for me, so where does this leave this novel? Maybe it’s not as swoonworthy as The Flatshare because a lot of the story’s progress is about developing friendships whereas in the first novel you felt the excitement for a blooming romance (through notes) between two people but I have to say that I was invested in the characters again and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it.

The author chose another format and a completely different story to tell in her second novel, not about two strangers of the opposite sex this time, but rather two main characters Eileen and Leena (well actually also Eileen but lucky the author gave her a nickname here) with about 50 years of an age difference and she made the right move to choose a very different relationship.

So, the women in this novel step into each other’s lives while still very much being themselves and I must say I really love these type of tropes (I’m still a fan of The Holiday starring Cameron Diaz) and the novel gave off a little bit of that vibe of the movie. It was refreshing to see 79-year old Eileen dipping her toes into the world of online dating in the bustling city and to see her granddaughter Leena at the same time in the rural countryside trying to take the local neighbourhood committee serious, to get invested there and roll with the slow life, as well as take care of her mum who she hasn’t been in contact with after her sister died.

The story had enough drive on both sides and I was never bored, even if the neighbourhood watches issues were not really crucial to start with, but it’s more about the people instead of the issues of course and getting to know them and the feeling that they are looking out for each other. If I’m really honest I think for once that I liked the part of the older Eileen with her multiple love interests maybe a little bit more – she’s far from a cliché for her age – because it’s always interesting how someone deals with being dropped into a totally different world, although Leena and grumpy next door neighbour Arnold were quite entertaining too and it was so nice to see them both softening up to each other.

The Switch is a story of one closely knitted community and another community that is about to be changed forever. A few of the themes involved in this novel are love and friendship, reconnecting with people, being forgiving, and especially finding yourself again or should I say accepting that you can’t sometimes be the person you were but that you are a new you.

Beth O’Leary has proven with this sequel that she’s definitely here to stay and her name belongs to be mentioned in the lists with Lucy Dillon, Jojo Moyes and so many others. She’s a brilliant author and if you want a novel to give you a warm fuzzy feeling and a satisfactory smile then I definitely recommend both of her novels. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for her third one now :-).

I absolutely loved The Flatshare so couldn’t wait to read this.
Even though I did find parts a little far fetched, I loved both characters and the way they dealt with some serious themes. The idea of loneliness and grief are handled in a sensitive way and add to the characters’ development.
It is a light hearted romantic comedy which shows you can find happiness at any age. It’s refreshing to see the older generation portrayed in such a positive manner with the idea that they have just as much to give as the younger generation.

This book was just so wholesome. I absolutely loved it, from start to finish.

All of the characters were just so bloody lovely. I wanted good things for all of them, Leena, Eileen, Bee, Marian. So many strong female characters who were all so different and wonderful in their own ways. Eileen was just so innocent and sweet in her excitement towards finally getting to go to London that I instantly fell in love with her. And the fact that she immediately found a similarly lonely older lady within a few hours of arriving was just so Eileen. She definitely established herself as my favourite of our two main characters. I still loved Leena though. Her journey in processing her grief for her sister was very emotional.

The Neighbourhood Watch group really became a highlight halfway into the book and I loved hearing about their gossiping and plotting. The social club for over 70s that Eileen was intent on setting up was another thing I loved reading about. I think I'll be here all day if I carry on listing things I liked about the book because it was pretty much everything.

AND IT WAS SET IN YORKSHIRE. I. Love. Yorkshire. I don't know how anyone could hate my home county. It's beautiful and the people are unique and the accents are excellent.

I've officially decided I'd read literally anything Beth O'Leary puts out after this and The Flatshare.