What amazing idea for a story. This reminded me a little of freaky Friday.

There are a few laugh out loud moments in this book. One of the was Leena's first walk with Hank, it was so funny.

The descriptions are brilliant of how things progress and how the relationships unfold.

I particularly like the friendships between Bee and Lena and Eileen and the eccentric Letitia. Leena and Bee's friendship is very similar to my bestie and I.

Eileen's projects and love of lists made me laugh because I can really relate to that. Who doesn't love a good list.

There is one character, who I wont spoil for others, but it's interesting how the story can change and you can like a character at the start and hate them at the end.

You may need a tissue for the ending of this book. Fantastic read.

It's full of anxiety, loss, love, anger, frustration and some brilliantly annoying characters.

Oh i loved the audio! The narrators were so fantastic and really brought both Leena and her grandmother to life. The pacing was wonderful. I am so glad i was able to listen to this copy.

I loved this story and the premise of being able to start over only to find your way back home. Leena watches as she slowly lost herself on a different path in life, only to surprise herself and realize she lost herself a long time ago. Such a beautiful story.

The Switch is an endearing, warm story that I did enjoy. If you enjoy British accents, quaint villages, and happy endings then this is probably the book for you!

I listened to the audio book version of this and really enjoyed the narrators. I loved how there were two, one for Leena and one for her grandmother. This really helped make the story more real and endearing. I know a lot of people are raving about this story and I really did like it. I think what kept this from being a four star read for me was that I had a little trouble connecting to Leena and her choices/feelings. That’s probably just a personal thing, but I kept wanting her to make different choices and it was a bit frustrating. The story was a bit sadder than I anticipated, but mostly what you read in the synopsis is what happens in the book. I kept really waiting for more to happen and it just didn’t. I think I just wanted a little bit more from the story.

Overall, I did enjoy the novel and I thought the narration was wonderful.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced readers copy of this book!

The Switch was quite an enjoyable read. It took me a little while to connect with the characters and storyline. There was a lot of "laying the groundwork" involved. However, once it was all set and the story started to build, I was pulled in and found it wonderful.

The premise of the story is that Eileen Cotton and her granddaughter, Leena trade places for two months. Each of them needs to "get away" from their everyday life and current obligations and re-discover themselves. This book doesn't contain a tremendous amount of action, yet these two women evolved greatly over the course of the story. There was humor thrown in along with the serious topics.

The Switch leads us through how grief can alter your impressions of even the most basic things. You can't outrun grief, you have to deal with it sooner or later. When these ladies process the loss in their life, it strengthens them and allows them both to see things very differently.

I specifically listened to the audio version of The Switch and it was done quite well. The narration was perfect for the characters and it lent to the authenticity of the story. I think in this situation, I may have enjoyed the audio more than actually reading the book. It was a richer experience, in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not much of a contemporary/romance reader, but when I saw this was available on netgalley as an audiobook, I jumped at the chance to listen to a light and easy read. This was my first time reading/listening to a O’Leary book and I loved how it made me want to be in England and relax in an English village as stated in the book. O’Leary’s writing was so well done and truly took you into the lives of the main characters with ease. Such a relaxing listen and read. I can’t wait to read her other books. I felt constantly engrossed in the storyline of each character. I also laughed out loud a few times, which I never do with books! The narrators were fantastic too!

*thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the audiobook to review

The Switch is about a 79 year old woman who swaps places with her twentysomething granddaughter. When I first read the description, I thought this was going to be a Freaky Friday (one of my favorite childhood movies!) type story where they literally inhabit each other's bodies. That's not what happens though, as Eileen and her granddaughter Leena only switch by living in each other's houses and associating with each other's friends. Once I got over my disappointment that actually body swapping was not happening in this story, I found it to be a super cute and sweet story about family, life and love.

My favorite parts of this book were the sections narrated by Eileen. This surprised me a bit as I expected to be more invested in Leena's story. But Eileen was such a fun and refreshing character, and I really loved seeing the world from her point of view. Eileen's romantic relationships were more interesting to me than Leena's, which was also an unexpected surprise! I felt like Leena's relationship was a bit rushed in its development, and I wish we had more time to see it develop.

Overall this was an endearing, feel good book with a quirky cast of characters (both young and old alike). I didn't love it quite as much as The Flatshare, O'Leary's previous book, but I definitely found it to be an enjoyable and worthwhile read.

I loved this audiobook. Light listen, laugh out loud funny and characters you want to be friends with.
The concept was funny and that’s what made me what to listen to it. Lenas and her grandmother are both going through a rough time so they decided to swap life’s. Discovering along the way that it was Excatly what they needed.
I was laughing along with the characters as Lena navigated living her grandmothers life and Eileen was navigating London life.

What a delightful story! I laughed out loud multiple times throughout which was quite fun to do while on my long daily walks through the neighborhood. The narrators were perfect for the characters. I wish so much I could meet and become friends with Eileen and Leena! I am so glad a friend of mine reviewed this book first which encouraged me to pick it up. I hope this review does the same for someone else. It's worth it if you're looking for something light and heartwarming to listen to.

Thank you NetGalley, Beth O'Leary and Macmillan Audio for this audio book in return for an honest review!

This is a cute audiobook about Leena and her grandmother, Eileen, who are both going through a rough patch in life. They decide to switch homes and do something different for a few weeks. ❤️What I loved the most about the story is the character Eileen. She is 79 year old and she sounds like she has the energy of someone who is fifty. Her husband left her and she is not going to let her ruin her life. ❤️I loved that Eileen is actively involved in helping others in her community. ❤️I loved that she took risks and went to London on a new adventure. 🤣I thought it was funny that Eileen was not afraid to use the dating app. I found this story to be fun and enjoyable to listen to. If you are looking for a light and humorous read then I recommend this book to you. It comes out August 18, 2020.

I loved this book, having read the flat share by Berth O Leary I was keen to read the Switch, It was so well written and dealt with such sensitive topics and family relationships. Thanks for the ARC.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I loved it! The voice actors really pull you in, there is one each for Leena and Eileen and they were perfect for the roles!
This story follows Leena, put on a 2 month sabbatical to rest and recooperate after her sisters death. And Eileen, Leena’s Grandmother who, after her husband leaves her for another woman, she decides she needs an adventure! Leena proposes they switch lives for the 2 months, Eileen can have a London adventure and Leena can slow down in Yorkshire. Both go on a journey of discovery to find themselves and realise they might not know themselves as well as think!

Eileen was my favourite character, strong and sassy at 79 I loved hearing her thought, feelings and how exciting it can be to be 79 and single!

5/5 ⭐️
Recommend ✅

#theswitch #betholeary #netgalley #audiobook #bookworm #books #booknerd #booklover #bookdragon #thereisalwaystimeforbooks #romance #contemporaryfiction

This was such a fun, sweet and inspirational read. I loved the dual perspectives and instantly fell in love with both characters. I enjoyed watching both ladies overcome different obstacles and slowly change in positive ways throughout the story. I also appreciate the care the author took when exploring topics such as mental health, domestic issues, familial issues and the pain of loss. Will definitely be picking up more books by this author.

Leena, a 20-something overachiever, is good at her job. But she’s also burned out, and her boss has forced her to take a 2-month break. She goes to her grandmother Eileen’s house, and they find that Eileen could use a little shake-up as well.

So Leena stays in Eileen’s small English town, while Eileen goes to Leena’s London flat. Adventures, quirky characters, and a little romance ensues for both.

Put this in the lighthearted, charming, and delightfully cozy read category.

“Never been one for worse-case scenarios... when they happen, you cope.

And usually it’s the ones you never think of that get you so... why worry?”


— overall thoughts: 4.5 —

The plot reminds me of that movie with Jude Law and Cameron Diaz, “The Holiday” but make it a grandma and her granddaughter. Even the "city girl" and "country girl" aspect of The Switch is there.

However, it's actually not exactly a romance if that's what you're thinking. It's more about how to move on and just enjoy life for what it is. I know that's a broad idea but just trust me that it isn't focused on the romance aspect. It actually tackles some serious topics without making it heavy on the readers which made me that more interested. (I'm still whipped for Jackson though.)

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It still has that wholesome content and endearing quality that everyone needs a touch of right now. I went into this expecting the charming and lovable characters… and I wasn’t disappointed!! I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would??

The plot doesn't go crazy but the characters were so fleshed out that it felt like they were my own grandma, my neighbors, friends, and all that.

Eileen (the grandma) has such a pure and dreamy (but still realistic) outlook on dating that I wish I had sometimes. While Leena... it was just so fun to watch her figure out how to navigate her grandma's life and learn how to just be in the moment. They were both so relatable in different ways... and I JUST WANT TO WRAP THE WHOLE CAST IN A BLANKET AND PROTECT THEM FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD!! (except ethan he can leave)

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Underlying themes of letting other people in to your life and placing yourself in their shoes was actually really well put out. I was surprised at the balanced themes without making it too heavy or too light.

I listened to the the audiobook for this one and the narrating voice for Eileen and Leena are separate people that sound exactly like how I would imagine them. special note: they’re british? I liked their accents is what I’m trying to say, I had a good listening experience.

I would see this book being picked up by people who would want a pleasant and wholesome (for the most part) story. And I would definitely recommend this if you are looking for one of those feel-good (albeit a bit stereotypical) stories to take a break from those wild fantasy rollercoasters, just like I did.

FORMAT READ: Audiobook (Recommended)
SIMILAR VIBES: What If It’s Us, The Sun is Also a Star, I'll Give You the Sun

The Switch by Beth O’Leary is utterly delightful.

The premise of The Switch--a twenty-something and her grandmother switching lives for two months--could have felt flat and uninspired in the wrong hands. And yet O’Leary has the Midas touch. Everything she touches turns to gold.

What starts out as a simple switch turns into a completely life-changing experience for both Leena and Eileen. Eileen explores the over-seventy dating scene and bonds with Leena’s flatmates and neighbors while Leena discovers the richness found in intergenerational relationships in a small Yorkshire town. And even that is an inadequate description.

Leena and Eileen are both such fleshed out characters, with their own unique personalities and struggles. I adored them both. The narration on the audiobook breathes life into the characters, making it very easy to keep the characters separate.. The book is light-hearted and serious in turns, the humor balancing the heavier issues of loss, grief, infidelity, and aging. The quirkiness of the characters is endearing, and you can’t help but root for both of their happy endings.

I loved that Eileen got her second chance at love, even at eighty. I loved watching Leena figure out how to cope and eventually grow in the face of her grief. Unlike The Flat Share, The Switch is not a romance. It’s contemporary fiction at its best. It’s about women--their grief, their anger, their strength, their resilience, their love and their passions.

Would I recommend this book? 100% yes. Would I recommend the audiobook? Also yes. Five freaking stars.

CW: cancer, death, grief, infidelity, domestic abuse

If cutesy, wholesome, and Hallmark is your thing, then you’ll love this one. Unfortunately it’s not really my thing in large doses, hence the middling rating.

I loved the charm and wit of The Flatshare but that was lacking for me in this story. And while I did enjoy Eileen’s sections, I didn’t care for Leena at all and didn’t feel invested in where her story took her. I also felt the Carla storyline was superfluous. We didn’t get to know her at all and that combined with my dislike of Leena made that plot line boring.

Unrelated to the content, but I’m not sure if it’s because it’s an ALC and the sound mixing is incomplete or if it’s the specific narrator, but every letter ‘S’ was like nails on a chalkboard. Less so with the Eileen narrator but it was still painful regardless of the audio speed... I usually listen at 1.75-2x speed and I slowed it all the way down to 1x speed and it still bothered me. I would not recommend the audiobook for this one despite my enjoyment of the accents.

The Switch was absolutely delightful. This book is about Leena, a young London woman, and her grandmother Eileen, switching homes for 6 weeks. Eileen wants an adventure and Leena needs a sabbatical from work in order to properly grieve the loss of her sister. Eileen is so funny and warm and wise and just so dang inspirational. I loved her so much. The relationships between the 3 generations of women in this book are wonderful. The friendships are moving and the romances are lovely too. The Switch made me laugh and cry and I am so glad that I read it when I did because it was just perfect.

The audio was absolutely perfect too. The two women who voiced Leena and Eileen did a fantastic job. I just can’t say enough good things about this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the advance audio of this delightful book!

This book was cute and quirky. It is a novel that is set in England, and centers around a grandmother and granddaughter relationship. When granddaughter Leena needs to take some time off of work to compose herself she and her newly divorced grandmother, Eileen decide to switch places. Leena moves out to the country side while Eileen goes into downtown London. Each women finds something that they were missing, a longing that they didn't even know they needed. Healing takes place for one and the other finds that spice that was missing in her life.

I rather enjoyed this novel, it did start off slow, however when all the drama started it got rather juicy. I have to say that the grandmother Eileen was my favorite character. She is so loving and such a hoot for a 79 year old woman. There are many characters in this book that you get to know and love.

3.75/5 stars.

This audiobook was smooth, As an American it did take me a moment to get use to the English accent, but I did enjoy it!

Thank you for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I rather enjoyed this sweet story of a young woman who trades lives with her grandmother for a couple of months. The story was exactly what you expect it to be and there were no twists that you don't see coming, but sometimes that is exactly the story you need.

I enjoyed reading about Eileen and Leena. I felt that they were both realistic enough characters with flaws and I liked that neither one of them made decisions that you feel the need to constantly roll your eyes at. They were both intelligent women that made some mistakes, but reasonably so.

I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones. I felt that both narrators were excellent and fit the parts well. One bonus for audiobook fans - there are a few parts of the book that are meant to be phone conversations and the audio does a good job of making that clear and realistic with a sort of distance echo-ish sound.

This was my first book by Beth O'Leary and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of her work when I need a lighter easy read. 3.5★

The Switch is a fun, “feel good” read!

Leena and Eileen Cotton decide to swap! Leena is a 29-year-old, successful business consultant living in a posh, hipster neighborhood in London. She is a workaholic who rarely takes vacations. Following an embarrassing panic attack right in the middle of the customer meeting, Leena is forced to take two months leave from work in order to “to find herself”. Eileen, Leena’s grandmother, has lived in a tiny Yorkshire village her entire life. She is 79 and is a force of nature! Recently Eileen’s husband (inconceivably) ran off with a dance instructor. Eileen is determined to find love again, but the countryside does not have too many eligible gentlemen over the age of 70 to choose from. When Leena proposes to "switch” Eileen agrees to move to London in search of love, and a long postponed adventure while Leena moves to the village and takes over Eileen’s cottage, and her community projects.

The Switch is an adorable rom-com! I highly recommend it on audio. It’s a two-narrator audiobook. English TV actress Daisy Edgar-Jones narrates Leena’s parts. I don’t think Ms Edgar-Jones is a very experienced narrator, but her “not-always-very-smooths” performance adds charm to the listening experience. She sounds like a “normal" person who is just talking to you, and telling you her story rather than an actress who is performing. Fabulous Alison Steadman narrates Eileen’s parts and is amazing as always!

I loved the fact that The Switch portrayed elderly people as incredibly sharp, funny, capable, and full of energy! The main takeaway is that we all can learn from each other. Young people should not make a charity case out of socializing with elderly neighbors and relatives. Oftentimes the older ladies and gents have energy levels on par or even greater than those of some of the "perpetually tired" millennials. They sure thing can teach the younger generation a lesson or two! Similarly, elderly folks should not scoff at the younger men and women. They too can gain a thing or two from spending time with the “kids” (and I am not talking just about the Internet and smartphone skilz;) Generally the younger folks are more straightforward, and open about their feelings. The older generation grew up during the times when sharing their thoughts and feelings was considered a weakness, and conflicts oftentimes were simply ignored. But sharing (NOT oversharing!) your true feelings is better for the relationships, and elderly people could benefit from learning how to be more open and honest with their family and friends.

Overall, if you are on the market for a “feel good” read – I highly recommend "The Switch"! It’s clever, funny, has a very positive LGBTQ presence, and normalizes romantic love, and sexual relationships among elderly. I will say that at the very end this book became a bit too sappy for me, and it certainly has a rather predictable, Hollywood style happy ending. Other than that it’s a perfect “feel good” rom-com!

I think The Switch is for you if you enjoyed Matchmaking for Beginners.

Triggers: infidelity, loss of a loved one to terminal illness
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