DO NOT LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK! Gah. I thought maybe the @netgalley version was just not edited or cleaned up. But, based on some of the written reviews on audible, it was the same. The dry mouth smacking sounds of the Ilene narrator are awful!! I had to take a lot of breaks to finish.😩
.
BUT - The story is fantastic!😃 I think this could make a fun movie. I enjoyed the two perspectives and thought it had a lot of heart and a lot of fun. So many sweet characters. I loved everything about the story. It is the only reason I soldiered on listening. I'm truly confused at the production of the audio. It's a shame. I can only imagine I would have enjoyed this even more by reading it.
.
Thank you, @netgalley!

The Switch is a heartwarming tale of a woman and her granddaughter swapping lives.

I really enjoyed the dual narration of this audiobook. I do feel, however, that I struggled to identify the different characters voices when listening to Leena's chapters. It got particularly frustrating when there was a lot of dialogue. My attention would slip for a second and I had no idea who was speaking anymore,

The plot in itself was quite predictable and I'm glad that the author decided to showcase an elderly couple as well as a younger couple. Elderly people are rarely portrayed in such a beautiful and sensitive way. I loved that aspect of the book a lot.

Unfortunately I felt slightly disconnected to the story and it did not invoke the emotions I thought it would. I guess there was a bit too much secondhand embarrassment for my liking.

Overall, I can see this audiobook being a huge success and it's such a fast and entertaining read.

I tried. I really did. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. The only way I got through the first book was by listening to it on audio because of the unique writing style.
With this book (minus the annoyance of the netgalley app not working well to listen to audiobooks) I just couldn't bring myself to finish. I just didn't connect with the grandma's story line and found both main characters to be boring. I am sad because I was hoping to love this romance, but alas, it just wasn't for me.

Not my cup of tea but I sooo badly wanted to like it because the reviews were dazzling.

I felt like there wasn’t enough conflict in the book, everything was monotone and it took me forever to finish it because I would fall asleep in the middle of a chapter.

I liked this novel but I do not think it is anything to write home about. If you are interested in it give it a go, but if you aren’t skip it.

The story definitely had good vibes and was fun to listen to. It is a feel good story, which I love. The actual story could have been taken a step further, there was not much depth to it so it was hard to connect to. At times the book was very slow and boring but if you can get past that, it’s worth it.
The characters brought the story to life, there are so many interesting characters in the novel and it is easy to connect to them.

Overall, I enjoyed the book but it’s not something I will think about again. I’m interested to look into the authors other books and hope they have more depth.

This was a fantastic read. I listened to this book. It was very heartwarming story. The relationship between grandma and granddaughter is a special bond. I laughed out loud during many parts. Highly recommend this book!

I absolutely loved The Flatshare, so I was excited for The Switch. While they’re very different books, this was just as good. It’s definitely more Women’s Fiction, where the Flatshare was a romance. The Switch is about Eileen and Lena - a grandmother and granddaughter who switch lives after Lena gets put on mandatory leave from work after her sister’s death. Eileen takes the opportunity to explore London and the big city life she gave up to marry Lena’s grandfather. Lena explores country life and tries to mend her relationship with her mother. Eileen takes up online dating. It was such a cute book - and I finished it which I didn’t do a lot of in August.

First, a big thank you to NetGalley for providing me this audiobook.

A few months ago, I read The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary. I totally loved it! It was my first contemporary read, and since then I want to read much more. So when I saw the audiobook version of The Switch, I new I had to read it.

It took me a while to get trough, but that wasn't because I didn't like it. I just sometimes get in a phase where I don't listen to audiobooks anymore, or can't find the right moment to do so.

So during the times where I did listen to it, I really enjoyed it. Beth O'Leary's writing style is beautiful and the narrators were very nice to listen to. The whole concept of a 'switch' was very unique to me.

Leena is having a hard time at work. After having a panic attack at work, she is forced to go on a 2 month break. Meanwhile, Leena's grandmother Eileen wants to live her life to the fullest. After her ex husband Wade left (after leaving her for their dance instructor), she's ready to get into a romantic relationship again. But in her small town, there aren't many options. So, she makes a list with all the romantic possibilities. After a while she discovers there isn't much choice. Then they decide to swap houses.

Leena has some trouble with her mother. After Leena's sister Carla died, the relationship between her and her mother had been very bad. So when she moves back to her hometown, she needs to come eye to eye with her mom. And she also has to finish some projects her grandmother has started on before the swap.

Eileen moving to London is a whole different story. She makes a dating profile and soon she meets some nice men. She's also becoming friends with Leena's neighbor Leticia. Eileens adventure in London is a funny, but also beautiful one.

This was a beautiful story about two people who are a bit stuck in life, and want to change something. Beth O'Leary also learns us a few lessons about dealing with losing a loved one, and dealing with depression. And, of course, she set up a very cute grandma who is willing to do everything for her granddaughter. Beth O'Leary is defenitely going to be an auto-buy author!

I adored this audiobook! The narrators were absolutely perfect for the story and brought it to life in such a beautiful way. I loved Leena and Eileen's relationship and when they decide to switch lives for a while, you know you're in for some fantastic adventures! Great book!

I tried listening to the audiobook using the Netgalley app but it wasn't working right for me so I won't be able to properly review this book right now. I will be getting a copy from my local library so I can read and review on Good Reads!

Thank you NetGalley, Beth O'Leary and Macmillan Audio for the copy of The Switch. This is my personal review.
The Switch was a story about two women- Leena and her Grandmother Eileen. Both women have had major events happen to them and they know they want a change to get things back on track in their lives.
They decide that maybe what they should do is switch lives for a couple months to see life in a different view. So, they each step into the life of the other in hopes that this is what will put them back into to their own life.
The story if filled with so many emotions and it will either leave you loving these two women or maybe not sure of how you feel about them. I am definitely in the middle of my thoughts and feelings about this story. It was nice to have it be an audiobook and the hours spent having someone read to me were well spent.

I adored The Flatshare so i knew this was going to be great and i actually believe it was even better!!! Fantastic read and i am so looking forward to what Beth O'Leary can come up with next.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. A wonderful twist on a classic trope, this story was absolutely heartwarming. It was so nice to enjoy a novel with a bumpy journey but a happy ending. Humor abounds in the book, brought to light through the fantastic presentations by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Put the kettle on, because O’Leary’s storytelling is not to be missed.

This was my first book by Beth O'Leary. Overall, I thought it was OK. A bit predictable and eye-rolling at times, but an overall ok experience. I think the audiobook added to the reading.

I received this from NetGalley is return for an honest review.

This was the first Beth O’Leary novel I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This follows a grandmother and her granddaughter who decide to swap lives for two months.

This was fast paced and fun and really cute.

I really really really loved this book. It was such a feel good novel! This novel follows Eileen Cotton, age 79, and her granddaughter, Leena Cotton (also named after her grandmother). The Cotton family suffered a heartbreaking blow when Leena's younger sister died from cancer. In the same year, Eileen's husband (Leena's grandfather) leaves Eileen for their dance instructor. Needless to say, they both need a break. After suffering from a panic attack at a work presentation, Leena is instructed to take a two-month sabbatical from her company in London. Eileen wants to start dating again, but her options in the English countryside are limited. Long story short, the two swap places (and lives) and what follows is a hilarious and heartwarming story.

I'm so glad I listened to it on audiobook - because this book is told in two different perspectives, there were two different narrators. I thought the narrator for Eileen Cotton was absolutely perfect.

Thanks Netgalley for providing me with the ARC.

This is the kind of heartwarming , funny and lovely chick-lit book one wants to read. This book has checked all the right boxes. The concept is interesting and the execution as well is beautiful.
There are few places where book takes slow pace.

The narration in two POVs and of entirely two different generation protagonists sheds a good light on how the concept varies with variation of generation. I will definitely recommend this book for a good light-heartened read.

The Two Eileen's of the story are strong, independent individuals whom we can relate to.

The Switch was a cute story, based in England, about a family (most specifically, a daughter and her grandmother, though her mother and sister play a decent sized roll as well) navigating their way through loss and grief. When Leena is given a two month sabbatical from her job, where she spends almost all of her time, she decides to go home to rural Yorkshire and spend the time at her grandmother, Eileen's house. However, Eileen needs some time away herself, so she goes and lives at Leena's for that time.

Throughout these two months, both women go through tremendous growth in figuring out who they are. Leena has been working so much and trying to control everything as a way to bury her grief. With the help of the "neighborhood watch" and all of the tasks Eileen left behind, Leena learns a lot about herself and becomes a new person.

I really liked that this story was written through the eyes of both characters, alternating chapters. It was fun to see what each woman was up to at a certain point in time. I also enjoyed the phone calls between them, especially on audiobook. The way the audiobook was produced made it seem like you really were on the receiving end of a phone call.

The concept is pretty cliche and Hallmark-y, but it was still a fun read (or listen)!

This book is a sweet Freaky Friday with a grandmother and granddaughter but they don't switch bodies just abodes. Leena the granddaughter has been told to take a sabbatical and Eileen the grandmother wants to date again and there is no one in her small town that she is interested in.
I loved Eileen and so do all the other characters. The voice of Eileen reminds me so much of my mother in law who I adore, who is also always working on volunteer projects and gossiping at her community pool in Florida (pre-COVID). Eileen is always writing in her project notebook and working on ambitious ideas to help people her age and her communities wherever she happens to be. We should all strive to be like Eileen.
Leena is suffering over the loss of her sister from the year prior. Her mother and her are handling their grief differently and they are having the chance to heal together since they hadn't been speaking to each other for different reasons. The pain and blame from misunderstandings and those who are left behind is staggering.
Grief to me is waves in an ocean sometimes the waves are out and there's no feeling there's no pain, no memory of the loss. Then all of a sudden a wave comes and pulls at your legs and tries to pull you into the water and submerge you. To drown you in grief so severe and overwhelming you can't breathe.
The last three years have been like this for me since my Dad, my best friend, Brooklyn's best friend and Papa passed.
I love how taking a break from their lives and stepping into the others' lives they found themselves. They were able to refresh and reset back to what was important in their lives. They were able to remove some toxic trash and add some value and harmony to their lives.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan audio for the audiobook for my voluntary honest review.

The audio narrators were perfect. They really brought the characters to life. Such a easy listen. I wasn’t wanting to put it down.

Grandma Eileen is such a cool gran. Especially with how helpful she is and wanting to improve the place. Caring about people.

The story itself was on the simple side. A lighter read. Although there is grief from a past death still effecting the characters. But I think it was handled well. The characters coming to terms and beginning to put themselves together again.

This wasn’t as heavy on the relationships for one of the characters as I had hope. I didn’t think it harmed the story. I preferred this to an insta love. Although it could have had a little more build.

Cheating trope usually annoys me. I understand why Beth O’Leary did it here. But I would have preferred something else.

This was a sweet, wholesome and endearing book. With two people in two different generations learning something from the other generation. Coming to terms with grief and moving on with their lives.

I definitely want to read more by Beth O’Leary.