This book is like a cup of London Fog tea: comforting, relaxing, and entirely quintessential. A charming tale of a grandmother and her granddaughter swapping lives for two months, only to find friendship, love, and a new way of living.

Blurb: When Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two month sabbatical from work, she decides to switch houses, phones, and all matter of living with her grandmother. Eileen will live in London and Leena will live in the small Yorkshire village where her family resides.

Changing places ends up changing everything and the two women learn a lot about themselves, their hang ups, and how to live more fulfilling lives.

I listened to this one on audio and the voices were amazing. There was a comfortable, charming drawl to the narrators and I felt every situation with precise clarity. This is such a cute story and I’d pretty much recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good BBC movie! A relaxing read with lots of familial elements.

“We’ve made the meetings much more interesting. Since we’re not technically a Neighbourhood Watch, just people who like watching our neighbours, there’s no need to stick to any rules or regulations. So we stopped pretending to talk about crime, and just focused on gossip, village scandal, and complaints about rival hamlets.”
“I couldn’t have figured myself out if I’d not been someone else.”
~ Beth O’Leary, The Switch
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Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some long-overdue rest.

Eileen is a newly single seventy-nine-year-old after her husband leaves her for another woman. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.

So, they decide to swap lives. Eileen will go to London and live in Leena’s flat while trying to find love and Leena will remain in Hamleigh taking on her grandmother’s neighbourhood projects.

The Switch follows their journey in their new lives.
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This is such a great, feel-good, humorous read! At the end of this book I was left with a smile on my face because it was such a beautifully written story. The book was written from alternating POVs of granddaughter and grandmother, Leena and Eileen Cotton, as they take the reader through a gamut of emotions. I especially loved the concept of the story – swapping lives, revisiting abandoned dreams, wanting love regardless of age. I especially loved Eileen’s character and was rooting for her the entire time. I loved how it brought together characters of different generations interacting with one another and showing how each group has something to offer or share with the other. The secondary characters were also well-developed, and I enjoyed learning about their lives.

I listened to the audiobook which has two narrators - Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones (from Hulu’s Normal People). The narrators did an exceptionally good job of portraying each of the characters; you could discern one character from the next and they did a great job of letting you feel the emotion of the story in their voices. They brought the characters to life! The narration was clear and easily understood and each chapter was easily discernible. There was also adequate pacing to allow the reader to know when a new scene in the same chapter began. A great listening experience!
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Overall, I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a heart-warming fun read with colourful lively characters!
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Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and provide an honest review.

Having loved "The Flatshare" by @betholearyauthor last year with Leon I bought a copy of The Switch; wanting you recreate that feel-good mood when you read a really lovely book. NetGalley kindly sent me an audio of the book so I was able to switch (see what I did there?!) between reading and listening - thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. I must say that the audio was absolutely delightful! "The Switch" tells the tale of Leena Cotton, a twenty something absolutely gripped by grief and anxiety after the death of her sister. Forced to take a sabbatical after an anxiety attack at work, she swaps her Shoreditch surroundings to that of the tiny village of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, inhabited by her 79 year old grandmother, Eileen Cotton. Narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alison Steadman, both women are totally believable representations of their characters. Daisy's narration really brings out Leena's grief, always bubbling at the surface and ready to appear, particularly in scenes with her mother, who is also grief-stricken but in a way alien to Leena; leaning on her yoga and crystals as a way to channel her emotions. The narrative switches (!) in alternate chapters are lovely and the chapters with Alison Steadman narrating are perfect. We really get a sense of not only her humour, wisdom and worldliness but just how this initial fish-out-of-water situation is developed as Eileen makes herself a valuable member of the community, forges unlikely friendships and even learns about the positives and the perils of online dating. I thoroughly recommend this book as well as making the switch to the audiobook.

3.5 stars!

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙:
-I LOVED Eileen so much. She was such a firecracker and I loved every bit of her personality.
-The character development, in general, was awesome and I really liked how many side characters we got to know and love.
-The plotline itself was so unique and the story kept me wanting more.
-The narrators of this audiobook did an awesome job.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
-Slow pacing - typical for character-driven novels but something I'm not a fan of.
-SO many subplots made it hard to keep up at times.

Reminiscent of Aesop's "The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse", "The Switch" tells the story of a grandmother (Eileen) living in a small Yorkshire village who switches residences with her granddaughter (Leena) living in London. Eileen is seeking adventure and looks for love on a dating website. She also involves herself in the lives of Leena's flat mates and neighbors, even creating a "Silver Shortages Social Club" in the building. Leena is seeking solace after a panic attack at work forces her to take a two-month sabbatical. Leena takes over her grandmother's commitments and becomes involved in the neighborhood watch group and planning the annual May Fair celebration. Both Eileen and Leena form new friendships with funny and quirky characters. Will Eileen or Leena fall in love in their new surroundings?

This heartwarming story reads like a cozy romantic comedy but does contain some language and off-color humor. While the tone of the story is light-hearted, several characters must work through loss and tough family relationships. The importance of friendship is also explored.

Listening to the audio version of the book adds to the story. The use of two narrators, Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones, helps to delineate the chapters. The dual narration reminds listeners of the age difference between the two main characters, as well as the English setting.

I enjoyed this book because of the charming characters, humor, and the theme of bouncing back. Fans of the TV series "Midsomar Murders" will appreciate the small-town England setting. A good book to listen to while commuting or to read while on a beach vacation.

Books is proof that you are never too late to try something new. Very heartwarming, but it was difficult to get into until at least the halfway point-
Very character driven as well.
Please note that this is the first time I have listened to an audiobook though...

The narrators for this audiobook were perfect, as was the production value.

I plan on buying a copy for my grandma for Christmas.

This was such a fun book to listen to. I love audio books but haven’t been listening to them as often as I usually do. When Netgalley released audio books for review on their platform, I jumped at the chance.

The narrators, Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones, were phenomenally casted as the grandmother and granddaughter duo of this book. I know that listening to a book at 1x the speed is good for some people, but that was very slow for this book. Depending on where I was and how I was listening to this, I listened at 1.75x or 2.0x the speed. This is the norm for me.

The story line was wonderful. I love the idea of taking a break to figure out your life, no matter what your age. The fact that these two women jumped into the lives and routines of the other was just superb.

I highly recommend listening to this book if not reading it.

I gave this book 5 crowns.

I loved the audio production. The book is narrated by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones (from Hulu’s Normal People), two British actresses who brought so much life and spunk to the characters.

Synopsis: Leena is a twenty-something workaholic living and working in London. Her grandmother, Eileen, is 79 and sick of being alone after her husband unceremoniously left her. When Leena is forced to take a two month leave of absence from work after messing up a big presentation, she seeks solace at her grandmother’s house in a tiny Yorkshire village. As the two women discuss their various issues with their lives, they agree to swap houses for two months – Leena will remain in the tiny village and live in her grandmother’s home; Eileen will go to London in search of love. What ensues is a comical, heart-warming story about loss, love, and the hiccups in life that lead us to the exact place we’re supposed to be.

This is such a fun read. Truly, it was the exact story I needed for my soul. I finished it last week when pandemic anxiety was really weighing on me, and it was so endearing I couldn’t get enough. Something I didn’t anticipate was enjoying Eileen’s story so much. I expected to enjoy Leena’s story because I felt it’d be more relatable, but Eileen’s story was so charming and she was so hilarious that I adored her character from beginning to end. What Leena lacks in maturity, Eileen makes up for. Particularly, when Leena’s love life takes an unexpected turn, Eileen offers Leena wisdom and hilarious little tid-bits of advice. While this story contains romance, I found the relationship between Leena and Eileen most compelling. I also appreciated how wholly O’
Leary drew the secondary characters. The London crew and the Yorkshire squad were both loveable and added sparkle to the story.

An area of the story that I wished gave me a little more—Leena and her mother’s relationship was very complex and interesting and while it was well-developed, I would have liked a few more scenes developing their relationship. I’m not sure if this would be for everyone. I could see some people disliking it if they don’t connect to Leena or Eileen. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the audio and the story and will be picking up O’Leary’s other books (The Flatshare and The Road Trip). I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted, heart-warming read about a grandmother-granddaughter relationship and their romantic pursuits.

"It's easier to be angry than sad, sometimes"

An over-worked Leena Cotton is asked to take a two month sabbatical after her anxiety attack during one of the client presentations.
During this period Leena goes to visit her grandmother Eileen.
It was Eileen's dream when she was young to live in London and have an independent life in the city.
This seems like a perfect opportunity for them to swap their lifestyles and take a break from their regular life.

“I think you should know,' he says. 'I like you. Like I shouldn't. That sort of like.”

I DNF'd this title at 1/3 of the way through. I don't know why this book didn't grab my attention. I think maybe it's just not the right book for me right now, but I could see a lot of people reading and loving it! Nothing was wrong with this book, it just wasn't for me. I am still interested in reading the Flatshare and will definitely read this author again.

**I received an ebook from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio**

Ever since I read The Flatshare I’ve been so excited to read this book because I loved Beth O’leary’s writing so much. Her characters are all very different from eachother but all so interesting! She transforms simple ideas and really makes them her own.

The switch was such an interesting read, such an interesting exploration of grief, family relationships and discovering who you really are. Lena was a great character but the real star of this book for me is Eileen, she was hilarious, fierce and way younger than her age would suggest. I loved that this book shows you that you’re never too old to have fun and that it’s never too late to make a change.

The audiobook was also really good! Even though I usually prefer to read a book with my eyes, I must admit the narrators did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.

Some people complained that the love stories were last minute but I didn’t mind, it was setup way before the end and anyway the most important part of the book wasn’t love, it was family. The romance was just a bonus for me.

Also the supporting cast of characters were all really interesting too (especially Leticia)

I’m so glad I got to read this book and I can’t wait for her next one!

This is such a delightful story about a grandmother and granddaughter switching lives for two months. Leena is an overachiever at work, when she has a mini-breakdown at work she is given two months of mandatory time off. She goes to visit her grandmother Eileen, and they decide that Leena will stay in Eileen’s house and Eileen will live in London in Leena’s flat.

This story develops into a charming and heartfelt story. We know Leena has lost her beloved sister Carla and she has struggled with this for the last year. She has not visited her home, struggles to talk her mother. Taking this time to slow down might just be the best thing for her.

Eileen goes to London and starts an adventure of online dating, starts a social club and becomes friends with an unexpected circle of people. She is just so endearing, I just loved her so much.

This book delves into some tougher topics especially in regards to the death of Carla, but O’Leary writes this in a way that is not overwhelming at all. She fits everything perfectly like a puzzle.

This was my first book by O’Leary while I do have The Flarshare on my shelf since it came out (I think I will have to bump this up on my TBR). I was lucky enough to get an audio copy and surprise Leena is narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones of Hulu’s Normal People. The audio is stellar for this story, and I would not pass it up if you have the chance listen to it.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an Advanced Listening Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Listening to this book was like watching a chick flick in my head. The very best kind, that focus on female relationships, growth, and development. Watching Eileen and Lena go through the adjustments of switching homes for two months was hilarious. And then I got really emotional as the story went on. Eileen reminded me so much of my Nana, ready to offer advice, believing that people sometimes need a push to help themselves, and positive that nothing can't be fixed with a good sit down. Some of it was predictable, in the way all chick flicks are, but the ending left me feeling happy, so I stand by my five-star rating.

What a charming book! I thought that this was wonderful on audio - I love when there are multiple narrators for each perspective in the book. I definitely agree that this is perfect for fans of The Holiday.

The Switch is a fun rom-com about an English grandmother, Eileen Cotton, and her namesake granddaughter, Leena Cotton (get it?!) who switch lives for two months. I listened to the audio book which was narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones (from Hulu's Normal People) and Alison Steadman (an Olivier Award winner!) and it was terrific,

Still reeling from the death of her younger sister, Leena is given a two month sabbatical from her work in London. Meanwhile, her grandmother is newly single and looking for a second-chance at love but there aren't many options for the 80-year-old in her small Yorkshire village so Leena comes up with the plan for them to swap homes and responsibilities for the duration of her leave. Eileen moves into Leena's London flat and learns how to use online dating apps and bonds with her flatmates while Leena retreats to her grandmother's cottage, taking over her grandmother's role in the neighborhood watch and helping the other seniors navigate life. You probably won't be surprised that both women end up finding themselves and true love during this experiment and the journey they go on of grieving, growing and learning is quite heartwarming. I laughed, I teared up and I loved every second of listening to this delightful book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Flatiron Books and the author for an advanced listening copy to review.

I absolutely adored The Flatshare when I read it last year, and Beth O'Leary shot to the top of my "to buy next" list so I could explore what else she has to offer. I nabbed this one when I saw it up on Netgalley as an audiobook, and I think I definitely made the right choice.

I had a hard time connecting with either of the characters in The Switch, and I think the main reason for this was because a) Eileen is really old and we had absolutely nothing in common and b) Leena was just a bit dull, really. It's a shame, because I thought O'Leary wrote some amazing characters in The Flatshare, but I don't think she pulled the same thing off here.

Don't get me wrong, it was a unique experience reading about a 79 year old. I don't read books about older characters that often, and it was something that I wanted to try to explore. I think if I hadn't been listening to the audiobook, I would have had an even harder time getting into the book than I did, so I'm pleased with my choice here.

That said, I didn't hate the book, and the narartor made it a fun read that I enjoyed listening to. I just didn't connect with it the same way I connected with The Flatshare. I'm going to be checking out more from Beth O'Leary in the future, but maybe I need to stick to her more serious stuff!

Where Can I Get a Cool English Granny?

I have been a book lover for longer than I can remember; I remember sitting and reading with my parents. But I’ve always been a physical book girl, though I now enjoy my Kindle as well. Yet for all my love of fiction and nonfiction, I had never had an interest in audiobooks. I'm a quick reader, especially since nursing school, and as I am very visual, there is just something about seeing the words. But when one of my favorite book review sites started offering audiobooks as well as eBooks, I decided to give them a try. I am so glad I did. This book is actually their first fiction audiobook that I've listened to—ever. The narrators, one for the younger heroine and one for the older one, did such an amazing job that future audiobooks will have a high standard to live up to. I felt like I was listening to an old school radio drama or just closing my eyes and listening to a good movie that also happened to tell you what the characters were thinking. (I wish movies did this more often… LOL!) Both narrators did an amazing job.

But now to the story. This is British chick lit at its best, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes serious, sometimes poignant with a large cast of quirky characters--but always a good time and certainly delivering all the feels. We meet young Leena when she is at a very low point, botching what would have been a normally well-done presentation at work. Her company essentially forces her to take a two-month holiday; she has not had a vacation in years. We soon find out that Lena has lost her sister 18 months prior but has just kept working through it, not taking any time to process it or grieve all. She and her mother have become estranged. In talking with her grandmother, they decide to switch places for the two months. Leena is coming back to her home base in the Yorkshire Dales, and her grandmother is going to come to live in Leena's London flat with her flatmates. Grandpa left Grandma some time ago, and Grandma is interested in dating again but her choices are limited in her small Yorkshire town and she figures that London will have more to offer.

They are both fish out of water at first, of course, but what's interesting is how they make their way, coming to appreciate what each place has to offer. Grandma even gets a London boyfriend and gets lucky (offscreen) before Leena does. I loved how sex-positive the book is for older women! By the way, while intimate scenes happen for both women, we don't see any detail and typically only hear about them afterward. Throughout all this time as well, there is an underlying tension between Leena and her mother because of Leena's sister's death from cancer. Grandma feels like she needs to come back several times because of issues with her daughter. There does seem to be a little codependency between Grandma and Mother, and the family has not truly worked through their issues because of the other daughter's death; we do see how this improves through the book; like real life, it isn’t easy or a straight line. I thought it was fun how Grandma Eileen became such fast friends with Leena's flatmates and friends. She became all their adopted grannies. Eileen also makes friends with the elderly ladies in the apartment building and helps them come out of their shells. Eileen even starts a community center in their building; she was very community oriented in her hometown, so it makes sense for her to create a community in London.

Leena, of course, had a boyfriend in London, who now promises to visit weekly while she is in Yorkshire, but he only visits a couple of times and doesn't really fully engage while he's there. Grandma's got a sneaking suspicion about him, but I'll let you read or listen to the book to see how that turns out. I loved the characters in this book, both the three generations of Cotton women and their friends in both places. The author was able to make all these people seem so real, vibrant, and alive and ultimately believable and relatable. They each have their own individual quirks, hopes, and motivations. I particularly loved Jackson, who was so incredibly kind and gentle; does such a guileless, forgiving, good-hearted person exist? All in all, I found this to be a delightful audiobook with great characters and a story that kept me listening into the wee hours of the night. I loved these characters and their world so much that I would love to see a second book that shares how Leena and Eileen's lives continue after what happened in this book.

A fun twist on a romance novel.

This book was so fun to listen to. I am so glad they went with the Northern/Yorkshire accent, it really helped with the immersion. Leena Cotton is an overachiever who reaches her breaking point. After screwing up a major presentation at work, she is sent of a 2 month sabbatical. She decided to visit her grandma in her hometown in Yorkshire. Eileen, newly single at 79 after her husband leaves her for a "younger model" is looking for love, but there is slim pickings in her small rural town.

In a fit of brilliance, they decide to swap lives, Leena will live in her grandmas home and take over her many community projects, Eileen will move into Leena's share flat in London and explore the eligible bachelors available in London's online dating scene. What transpires is a beautiful, funny and warming adventure for them both.

This was a sweet book, with a nice premise about two main characters in different parts of their lives, learning to re-prioritize and trying to live and enjoy life after a painful event. Both main characters were largely likable and easy to root for. All in all, I thought it was a solid book. I didn’t love it, but I could certainly see how some others may. It seemed to lull in certain parts. Accordingly, this 3 ⭐️ star book for me. I would definitely read another work by Beth O Leary because I think she’s a good writer, but I just didn’t connect with this novel. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.