This is a really beautiful book.
Both the narrators did a fantastic job bringing this story to life.
It was exactly the feel good book I needed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator(s) can make or break and audiobook and while there were some things I didn’t like, I still really liked the story. They were able to bring the story and characters to life for me.

The story alternates from two points of view. When Leena is forced to take a break from her job, she goes to her grandma to seek refuge and rest. Her grandma, Eileen is about to turn 80 and is on the prowl for love. Both seem to be at turning points in their lives. Leena suggests a change in scenery for both of them in the form of them swapping lives and homes. Easy, right? Wrong. There are obstacles and unexpected occurrences along the way. Cute, charming, easy read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this audiobook and provide my review.

**Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC of The Switch in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.***

This is my first Beth O'Leary book. What?!? Where have I been??

Premise: Granny and 20-something Lena switch switch towns/cities in an attempt to rediscover new ways of personal experiences that will affect their relationships with themselves and the world around them. This was done in a believable way, not cheesy at all( like I was expecting it to at first. No disrespect to the author, as I wasn't familiar with her writing style.) There is a smart, cheeky humor to this book which I totally dig.
I really appreciated the way the phone conversations were portrayed. Also the dual narration really worked well for me.

It was extremely easy for me to become invested in the characters. I love the relationship between Lena and Granny! You can really feel genuine love between the two of them and I really appreciated this in the writing. I felt somehow there was a connection between them in more than just changing homes and experiences. They both share the same name although one is a nickname (Lena). So I was wondering if like the title implies there was actually more to this in the beginning of the novel? Maybe this isn't something the author had intended when she wrote this story?

The fact that the relationship is so open and caring between Grandmother and Granddaughter, this really helped me to get attached to the characters overall and throughout the whole novel.
I would recommend this book to all my female friends from age 18-95!

I didn't really know what to expect with this book beyond a romance, but I think I got much more. This is an enjoyable experience and while it took me a little time to get in to this book, I think it would make a perfect gift for a mother or daughter (or both considering). Either way this is a great book for a lover of a good, deep romance.

“When people talk about loss, they always say you'll never be the same, that it will change you, leave a hole in your life. ( . . . ) But when you lose somebody you love, you don't lose everything they gave you. They leave something with you.”

representation: anxiety and panic attacks, f/f side relationship.

[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]

★★★★

Since I received the audiobook version for review, I'll talk about that first!
I really enjoyed one narrator over the other. The narrator for the grandmother was FANTASTIC, but the narrator for the granddaughter wasn't very good in my opinion. She didn't change her voice for other characters and so they all sounded the same so when they were having conversations I couldn't tell who was who, which I should have been able to do, especially conversations between her and her grandmother! She also sometimes randomly paused in awkward spots in the middle of phrases which I didn't like.
As for the production of the audiobook itself, once I increased it to 2x speed, it became quite echoey and hard to hear, which was a shame, but I ended up getting used to it in the end. Also, when there were phone calls in the story, they would sort of mute the person who was on the other end of the line to make it sound like it was coming through a phone, and while this was cool, they forgot to mute some of the lines 😅

As for the content of the book itself, I really loved it. It was so emotional at the end that as soon as I finished it I was considering giving it 5 stars, but I have to take into account how I struggled to get into it at first and how I got confused as to who some of the characters were because I don't think they had strong enough introductions into the narrative. But, overall, I really enjoyed it!

trigger warnings: panic attacks, loss of a loved one from cancer, grief, pregnancy, infidelity, labour and delivery, cheating, abusive relationships.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the review copy!

CW: anxiety, sibling death, cancer, depression, grief, spouse leaving, cheating, verbal abuse, off screen physical abuse

“I couldn’t have figured myself out if I’d not been someone else.”

This was a cute read but not completely light-hearted. I loved how it wasn’t strictly about Leena since she’s the young one. It followed both Eileen and Leena as they switch places to escape their homes for some time and the ghosts that haunt them there. I loved both the characters for different reasons.

Eileen is Leena’s grandmother and after her husband has left her she’s trying to figure out what to do with herself as a now single elderly woman who has spent a good portion of her life taking care of others. When she goes to London, the thing she does for herself is look for not love but to date and figure out who she is without her husband.

Leena is a workaholic that has been battling anxiety and is forced to take some time off for her mental health. I loved that this was incorporated because one needs to take care of their mental health. She escapes the city that carries so much stress for her and begins to intertwine herself into her grandmother’s town by picking up responsibilities that Eileen had had. There are a lot of failures within these attempts which made me feel for her.

As far as the audio, I wasn’t the biggest fan of some of the voices that they used for some characters. After discussing with others that listened to the audio, that opinion is the rarity and the other people didn’t have that problem. I did like when phone calls were made, it sounded as if it were actually on the phone. I hadn’t had that done within an audiobook before so I liked that touch to it.

This is a wonderful story about love and romance of all ages (the romance was subtle but authentic), dealing with grief, discovering yourself, and healing relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed it though I had wished I had physically read it instead.

Pretty good so far I will update my review once I have finished. I will say I dislike the Netgalley audiobook. I am not able to rewind/fast forward/or exit the book without it reatarting the whole chapter.

The Switch is my first introduction to Beth O'Leary and let me just say I will be adding her to my must read list. (Can't wait to read Flatshare!) A break from work forces Leena to head to her country-living 79-year old grandmother, Eileen for advice. Both ladies are trying to cope with the loss of Lena’s sister and Eileen‘s granddaughter. Added into the mix is the tumultuous relationship between Lena and her mother. Needing a break from life, Leena and Eileen switch homes. This story beautifully discusses how changes can be positive.

The characters were written beautifully, Beth O'Leary made me feel connected to them on a real level. This book was funny and heart-warming, I devoured it and dreaded the ending as I hoped to prolong the adventures with the characters.

I listened to this one via audiobook (a big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio). The voice actors were incredible and brought so much life to Eileen and Leena. This book was just an absolute delight. I highly recommend!

Leena Cotton is an overstressed, overworked twenty something living inLondon, forced to take a two month sabbatical from work after a panic attack ruins an important presentation. Eileen Cotton is her recently divorced grandmother looking for a second chance at love in a small town outside the city, but dealing with limited options. Leena comes up with the idea of The Switch. They decide to trade lives for the two months and see what happens. Their decision makes for a wonderfully entertaining story of forgiveness, moving on and second chances.

This novel will make you laugh and cry. It explores family relationships and forgiveness, both for family members and yourself. And how sometimes, leaving a relationship is the right thing to do, even if it's not comfortable or safe. It also teaches you that getting a new perspective can lead to new realizations and opportunities. Highly recommend this book!

Beth O'Leary's "The Switch" is not the type of book I'd usually be drawn to, packaged as it is as a rom com and given the dreaded "women's fiction" label. But I couldn't pass up the audiobook, since it is alternately narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones, who I loved in Hulu's "Normal People,' and the great English actress Alison Steadman. And I have to say, though I'm not sure how I would have felt about the book having read it myself, these two actresses and their lively, entertaining narration made "The Switch" an absolute treat to listen to. The plot--Eileen, a 79-year-old woman living in a small Yorkshire village, trades places for two months with Leena, her high-flying London granddaughter, as they both try to navigate their grief over the recent death of Leena's younger sister. and mayhem ensues--is entirely predictable; I was able to forecast almost everything that happened quite easily. But somehow that didn't really matter: In the hands (voices?) of these two pros, who milk every bit of humor and emotion from O'Leary's words, I was happy to just go along for the charming ride, along the way discovering that "The Switch" had something meaningful to say about the nature of grief and the challenges of growing old in our youth-centric world. Definitely recommend listening to this one on audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an Advance Audiobook of this title in return for my honest review.

This one is a total #bookstagrammademedoit . I saw it so many on here and it always had good critics so I thought I would try it too. I didn’t read it but listen to it though and I think it changes the whole experience. It was my first time ever listening to a full book and I enjoyed it a lot; I even started a new audiobook. I loved the voices in this audiobook though I have to admit at the beginning I wasn’t a fan of Daisy Edgar-Jones as she was speaking quite fast for me but I got used to it and loved both hers and Alison Steadman voices. I think it added and suited a lot the two main characters. However, because Leena and Eileen had a different voice for their chapter, it was weird to hear Alison Steadman speak for Leena in Eileen’s chapter. The story was really cute and heart-warming. It talks about the heavy subject of loosing someone and grieving but it was done in a light way. It was really easy to listen to it. I almost cried at some moment but I think I would have cried more if I had read it instead of listening to it. Jackson is now one of my fictional boyfriends. I loved all the characters; they were so supportive and friendly to Eileen and Leena. I definitely recommend this book to all young adults looking for an easy and romantic read.
4/5

After reading (and loving) The Flat Share I was thrilled to discover The Switch! I wasn't initially sold on the concept of the alternating POVs between Leena and Eileen - typically read books with the POV solely from young adults - but it was so much fun and such a great story! I also didn't realize that Daisy Edgar-Jones was reading for Leena and it was such a wonderful, wonderful pairing. Loved the book, can't wait for her new one to come out in 2021.

This was really cute! I liked our main characters a lot and I think the premise really worked here. I didn’t find myself bored with it, which is rare when I read romance.
I think that one of my issues was the the side characters didn’t get developed enough. I didn’t really get to know anyone other than our main characters, and I wish that the author had taken more time with everyone else in this book. I also didn’t love the audiobook. The biggest issue was just that I could hear mouth sounds from both of the narrators, which was not very pleasant.
Overall, this was a cute and enjoyable, but slightly forgettable book. I would recommend it to someone who really likes romance, but it doesn’t really stand out to me. Also, if you are going to read this, stay away from the audiobook.

Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this book. Very cute concept, just didn't hold my interest.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

My soul needed to read this type of book at this crazy time in our lives. It felt like coming home and I loved the characters. Definitely looking forward to Ms. O'Leary's next book!

I had some trouble with the audio book as it would not restart in the same place. Using bookmarks fixed that but I've never had to do so before. Also if I tried going backwards or forwards a few seconds, the entire chapter started over. Not sure if it was my device or the audio book itself, but annoying nonetheless.

REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

* the switch, by beth o’leary •

Eileen is sick of being 79. Leena is tired of life in her twenties. They decide to switch lives (Eileen to move to Leena’s flat in London, and Leena to relocate to a Yorkshire village), but stepping into each other’s shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected.

•

Oh my, how I enjoyed The Switch in an audiobook format!

I’ve recently read The Flatshare, and enjoyed it, but didn’t really attach to the characters. This wasn’t the case with The Switch. Daisy Edgar-Jones’ and Alison Steadman’s narrations were PERFECT for Leena and Eileen, and I truly believe that it was due to them that I enjoyed the book so much.

The Switch was perfect for listening to on my walk to and from work each morning; the chapters were fairly short, which made it easier to stop and pick the story back up later in the day. Chick lit isn’t particularly my genre of choice, which is why I’m so impressed with how easily absorbed I found myself in this story.

Overall, I think The Switch was a great listen. DEJ and AS pulled me in with their narrations, and Beth O’Leary’s characterisation kept me hooked. The novel addresses a variety of issues, including grief, relationships and work stresses, in a lighthearted way, and it is clear that this reflection of common, modern-day life is something O’Leary does incredibly well. I really rooted for the two women by the end.

This was lovely to listen to in the car and on my dog walks. The narrators were both excellent. Sweet, feel good story that still touched on grief and familial relationships. Loved it.

The Switch by Beth O'Leary is about a grandmother and grandaughter going through some life changes and decide to shake things up by physically changing places for 2 months.

Leena moves into her grandmother's house in a small town and tries to keep a long distance relationship going with her boyfriend back home. Eileen, turning 80, moves in with Leena's roommates in their trendy London apartment and embarks on online dating.

This was definitely a cute read. I didn't love it or hate it. It was a sweet time passer book reminding us that finding love isn't limited to an age group. This book will make you smile. If you're in the mood for a homey read, pick it up.

Sparky gives this 3/5 stars! Thanks for being a great guest reviwer.

Review can be found on instagram @barkfurbooks.

The Switch is told from two points of view--that of 79 year old Eileen, and that of her workaholic granddaughter Leena.  A year ago, Leena’s sister passed away from cancer, and both Leena and Eileen haven’t been the same since.  To top it all off, Eileen’s husband left her a year ago, and she wants to find companionship, but there are hardly any eligible men her age living in her small town. Leena has been having panic attacks at work, and she’s forced on a two month “sabbatical” to take a break.  On a whim, they decide to swap places for two months. Eileen will try her hand at online dating in the big city of London, and Leena will take a break from work and take on some of Eileen’s responsibilities, including being on the neighborhood watch. 

The novel is lighthearted, sweet, and at times downright hilarious, but it also deals with the more difficult theme of overcoming grief.  These darker bits are handled delicately, and are what transformed The Switch into a heartfelt novel that is “literature” not “chick lit”.

The plot has Freaky Friday vibes, as neither Eileen or Leena knew what they were getting into when they agreed to this “switch”.  O’Leary packs so much plot and a myriad of characters into this book, but it somehow works so well.  There is romance, for both Eileen and Leena, and their relationship building with side characters is phenomenal. Eileen gets to know Leena’s friends in the city, realizing that they aren’t as hoity toity as she’d previously thought. Leena gets to know the people on the neighborhood watch (some hilarity ensues, of course), and meets the handsome teacher Jackson.  Side characters are surprisingly well developed. You’d think that the sheer number of them would make any author struggle to differentiate between them and make them each interesting enough to be memorable.  But that's not the case for The Switch.

I was expecting the focus for both of their storylines to be the romance aspect, but that’s not the case.  There are so many subplots, and they’re all intricately tied together. For instance, Eileen discovers that there are many older adults living in London who feel isolated, and she decides to do something about it.  Leena and her mother have a rift in their relationship that needs repairing.  All of this is going on while Leena is planning the town's May Day festival.

Review of the audiobook

The readers for both the parts of Eileen and Leena (Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones) did an excellent job conveying the wide range of emotion required in a book like this. They effortlessly shift from heart-wrenching grief in one chapter to butterflies and romance in the next.  I also want to comment on the production. Whenever someone was “on the phone” the voice on the other end had a slightly echoic sound, which added to the authenticity of the experience.

I recommend this book to those looking for a light women’s fiction with humour, romance, and a spotlight on the importance of family and friends.

*This review will be posted to https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/ on September 26, 2020*

I absolutely adored Beth O'Leary's first book The Flatshare, which I also "read" as an audiobook. But for some reason, I couldn't get into this book. It was a DNF at the halfway point. When I read the description of the book, I thought the plot sounded really interesting. But in reality, it fell flat to me.