I'm going to be totally honest with you - I started this last year on audio and did not get very far. But I kept seeing how much people liked this book and on audio and I knew I had to give it another chance and I'm so glad I did. I am a relatively new audiobook reader and I'm learning that sometimes I need to play with the settings more. This one worked better for me at a lower speed. I ended up LOVING the two narrators - especially Alison Steadman's reading (Eileen/grandma). Such a sweet story of grandmother and granddaughter, both trying some change in their lives. City and country swap. I loved the older adult representation in this book and the cast of secondary characters who really made an impression. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity of listening to this audiobook.

This was a great follow-up to O'Leary's The Flatshare! The audiobook narrators were well chosen, as they brought the two main characters to life and made their story that much more enjoyable to listen to.

Beth O'Leary writes such vivid characters. I particularly loved Eileen, we need more older characters who are living normal every day lives in books. An almost 80 year old grandmother who is casually dating and happy to have a bit of sexy fun - I am here for it!

This books was a fun, quirky read with just the right amount of depth.

Loved listening to The Switch. Fantastic narration of an adorable and fresh story! Beth O'Leary did it again for me.

ah what can I say about Beth O'Leary! I absolutely adore her style of writing and she is an author who I know won't disappoint and her books are ones that I would automatically purchase without even reading the blurb.
Like her previous book The Flat Share (one of my fav books of 2019), I devoured The Switch in one sitting. I loved the character building and the story is one that will stay with you long after you put the book down.
I can't wait to read Beth's new book The Road Trip later this year!

When Leena switches homes with her 79-year-old grandmother, both of their lives are enriched in ways they wouldn't have imagined. Leena and Ellen's storylines were equally entertaining.
A fun, quick read.

“You were healing. You’re still healing. You’ll maybe always be healing. And that’s OK. It’ll just be part of what makes you you.”

☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

[4,5]

☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

I always love this kind of reading. These kinds of books that make you smile at every paragraph and make your heart jump with joy. It is a very tender book, which shows that it was written from the heart. Beth O'Leary knows how to write in a way that appeals to the deepest feelings and made me cry from sheer tenderness in various (many) parts of the book. It is an excellent book to balance heavier readings and mainly, to meet some beautiful characters that will make you smile a lot.

The Switch tells the story of Leena, an executive very committed to her work who makes a serious mistake in presenting a project, and her superiors, so that she can relax a bit, as she has been a little "obsessed" with work lately, give her 2 months of paid vacation. Taking advantage of this time, she travels to Yorkshire, to visit her grandmother Eileen, she’s 79 years old. When she arrives, she realizes that her grandmother has not wasted all the time that she has been single, but that she is making a plan to find love again. Now, grandmother and granddaughter, will develop a plan to exchange lives: Leena will stay in Yorkshire, attending to her grandmother's community responsibilities, and Eileen will travel to London, where through a dating app she will try to find the new man of her life.

Now, I have a special weakness for books about grannies. Probably because my grandmothers are a very important part of my life, or maybe because they give me a lot of tenderness. Probably both. When I read the synopsis of this book I NEEDED to read it and I have to say that this book exceeded my expectations and therefore such a high rating. I was expecting a tender book, but if more plot, with very little depth, a book to pass the time. Instead, I found a book full of reflections mixed with many laughs and moments that remain in your heart.

The characters are beautiful, how you can feel reflected in them and how little by little they creep into your heart. Both Eileen and Leena with tremendously well-developed, three-dimensional characters, which at no point feel fictional, if you know what I mean. It is a "realistic" book, which fills you with many smiles.

Now, what I liked most about the book: The author's prose is beautiful. It's very conversational, like I'm telling you the most interesting tea in the world, and it does it in a way that you can't stop reading, it certainly won't be the last Beth book I'll read.

I highly recommend this book, to read it between several heavier readings or as a one-day reading, surely it can be finished in a single day if you put your mind to it. It is beautiful, I promise you it will leave a big smile on your face.

MontFort says bye!

☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

Super cute story with just enough romance.
I enjoyed Beth O'Leary's Flatmates quite a bit, but The Switch secured her place as a new favorite author. The humor is on point with just enough drama to keep it from ever feeling like a slow read.

Os romances da Beth O'Leary são gostosinhos demais! Eu já tinha me encantado com The Flatshare (Teto para dois), e The Switch (A troca) me fez ter a certeza de que vou querer tudo que a autora publicar. Esse livro conta a história de avó e neta que, além de compartilharem o mesmo nome, são personagens ótimas, e nisso as duas decidem trocar de casa por um tempo, para que ambas consigam fazer coisas que não poderiam na cidade onde moram. Me diverti muito lendo, recomendo.

Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare was one of my favorite books in 2020 so I was so excited to read The Switch. It was cute in the same way The Flatshare was, but it didn’t pack the same punch. I was interested in Leena and Eileen’s stories and loved the premise, but I thought it needed some more depth. Both of the characters seemed one dimensional. By the end of the audiobook, I found myself losing focus and not really caring much about how the book turned out. It was an enjoyable listen but not one I would recommend to everyone.

Beth O'Leary does it again. So far I have loved all of her books and this is no exception. This is my first of hers that I have done via audiobook and it was a great experience.

Thank you for the free audiobook in exchange for a fair review.

This was a bit of a conflicting read for me. While I thought the story was very charming, I felt it moved so slowly. There were so many details that just didn't feel necessary and really made this a very dragging reading experience. I think part of my problem was that I went in expecting one thing (romance) and got something totally different. There were aspects of romance throughout, but I would personally would not consider this a romance. And I think that that would make it a very good read for people that like stories about people growing but aren't really big on romance being at the center of the plot. The narrators did an excellent job though! They are what really made this story shine for me. They were very distinct and easy to understand and it was wonderful.

Thank you for the arc of this book for an honest review I liked this one the beginning was a little slow for me once you get to the 30% mark it picks up and it was really enjoyable I like the characters and the story and the writing style, I love the authors first book and can’t wait to read more by this author

I thoroughly enjoyed The Switch by Beth O'Leary. I was happy to get a copy of this as an audiobook because listening to British narrators makes me extra happy.

Leena Cotton is an overworked and over-anxious Londoner. After some trouble at work, she takes time off for much-needed rest and relaxation even though it isn't easy for her. Leena is able to switch homes with her grandmother, Eileen, who also needs a bit of a change and is looking to find a bit of love in the big city.

I enjoyed Eileen's story the most. She proved that you can find love and friendship at any age. I enjoyed Leena's character and I enjoyed her finding herself not only professionally, but personally as well. I only wish some of the excitement wouldn't have been saved for the very end.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 4*
Writing skill : 4*
Characters : 5*
Plot: 4*
Predictability: 3*

I am not an avid audiobook listener, but when the voice actors are as good as they are on this one, its hard to not embrace it. The story was a good one, and one you probably have come across before, two people switch lives (think freaky Friday without the mind swap) this time its Eileen and her grand-daughter Leena, who are both in somewhat of a rut in theor lives. I found some of the story line predictable, but it didn't distract too much from the story as a whole. However, the characters in this were brilliant, like really really good. I hope they come across as well in text because they were the highlight of the whole story for me. If you liked the flatshare you must read/listen to this one too.

Leena is at work doing a presentation when she basically has a nervous breakdown. It's brought on by the fact she's been working like a maniac to avoid the grief of having recently lost her sister to cancer. Her grandmother, Eileen, lives in a tiny hamlet near Marian, Leena's mother. Yes, there are three generations of women in this story, although Marian is a bit player. When Leena is forced to take a couple months off with pay, she and her grandmother switch houses. Eileen moves to Leena's shared apartment in London, where she sets about turning the residents of the building into a real community. She dates a sexy rich guy and has a blast. Leena, meanwhile, heals and learns to navigate the politics of the hamlet and becomes friends with and useful to the members of the community.

It was great to read about an older woman (Eileen is 79) living an empowered life. Overall, I enjoyed the story, although the romance angle was too contrived, and there wasn't any real heat between the players. I think this book could have done better as straight fiction without the romantic angle, but it was still good.

If this is on your TBR, pick it up! It’s so delightful and sweet and just the right amount of joy that is needed during this rough time. Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the #gifted audiobook.

Eileen is 79, living in a small village in Yorkshire, and newly single. Her granddaughter, Leena, blows her presentation at her high profile job in London and is told to take a 2 month sabbatical. Leena and Eileen decide to switch lives. Leena will stay in the village, assist with her grandmother’s municipal activities and keep an eye on her estranged mother. Eileen wants to have the London life she was denied because she got married. She wants to embark on dating (using a dating app) and seeking new adventures.

I loved the way this book touched on grief, aging and romance. You don’t see enough healthy sexual relationships for those over 40, let alone at 79! I loved both the main characters and the healing they found in this adventure. It was a beautiful story.

If you are looking to laugh and smile, this is the book to read immediately!!

As soon as I read The Flatshare, I couldn't wait to read Beth O'Leary's next book.

And The Switch did not disappoint. So much so that the moment I finished it, I ordered a copy for my aunt (who also loved it).

As is usually the case with two storylines, I loved Eileen's story better than Leena's. I enjoyed Leena's as well, but Eileen going to the city, impacting the lives of Leena's friends, and learning things about herself along the way was just lovely.

I got a chance to listen to The Switch by Beth O'Leary via Netgalley, and I'm so glad for it. It is the story of Eileen, 79 who is looking for love but is tired of the limited options in her small village, and Leena, in her twenties, trying to desperately cope with the loss of her sister, already tired of her life. It is the heartwarming story of a grandmother and granddaughter duo who are so alike, yet so different. It is a predictable yet wonderful story that keeps you engaged, fills you with warm feelings from the start to the end.

I listened to this on Audible. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why the experience was so good. Sometimes even a tale whose turns you can predict from miles ahead can be something that gives you joy. This one was one of those.

I found myself filled with love when Eileen started dating again at 79. I loved how Leena's friends became Eileen's friend and how she took London by storm even at this juncture of her life. I also loved how Leena fitted into the small village life and ended up making friends with Eileen's neighbours. I enjoyed how they switched, and later on settled, into each other lives while finding answers to their quests.

Sometimes a smile story is what you need to read, or in my case, listen to, and this one was just that. I usually steer clear of simple formula romances but this one I loved. If you are looking for a pallet cleanser after a particularly heavy read, you should pick this one. If you are looking for a romance that isn't overbearing and celebrates the bond between a grandmother and her granddaughter, read this one.
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Also, I think they are making a movie on it. I can't wait to watch it.

3.5 stars ⭐️ This is a very cute story. The characters were great and the concept had me immediately invested. The only thing that really ruined this for me was listening to the audio version. I am one of those people that can not handle loud eating, crunching or mouth sounds. That being said the narrators, especially the one that voiced the grandmother, smacked and made so many of those noises that I had to speed it up and take my AirPods out. I would have enjoyed reading it much more.
I loved the relationship between Eileen and Leena. This is a great story about family and about being honest with yourself and those that you care about.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.