I received a complimentary arc of this audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was an extremely humorous and witty story which I found wonderfully narrated. The voice and inflection of the grandmother Eileen Cotton sounds authentic for a 79 years young woman! I enjoyed this audio version of the book.

Leena Cotton is tired workaholic who hasn’t taken a vacation or day off work in years. When she totally bombs a presentation she fears she’ll be fired. She never expected her boss Rebecca to mandate that she take a 2 month paid leave from work! Leena is flummoxed and overwhelmed as to how she will manage without work.

We learn that she is most likely using work as a coping mechanism for the other personal stressors in her life. Her sister Carla died a year ago from cancer and she had been angry and estranged from her mother since that time. She believes more could’ve been done to save her sister. Fortunately, she does has a close work colleague with whom she had been discussing starting their own consulting firm. Bea is her sounding board and voice of reason while struggling herself to make sense of life as a single mother.

Leena lives in the fast paced city of London with her flat mate: Martha who is very pregnant waiting for her parent to return from her business trip and Fitz who always seems to be between jobs. They encourage her to use the time off to relax and regroup. Her boyfriend Ethan is just as much of a workaholic for the same company. They rarely spend time together mostly on weekends when he isn’t busy on a work project.

Leena calls her grandmother Eileen who lives in the quaint Clearwater cottage in Hendley where she grew up. She decides it’s been long overdue for a visit to her grandmothers house. She is hesitant being close to her mother who her grandmother has been helping out since they lost Carla. While there her grandmother who is recently reinventing her own life since her husband Wade decided to leave to be with a woman half his age. She confesses to a Leena how he had held her back from some dreams she had of experiencing London.

Leena suggests that they switch living arrangements for the 2 months of her leave from work. To keep her busy, Eileen provides Leena with a notebook of all her responsibilities and daily routine which involve helping her neighbors. Leena learns to discover that her grandmother is an extremely active and staunch advocate in her community. It takes her some time and many follies as she maneuvers her way around.

In London, Eileen is thriller and then overwhelmed with the stress and impersonal nature of living in the city. She is initially disheartened to discover mostly young neighbors with no time or fear of interacting. Having 2 cats back at home, Eileen becomes concerned when she finds a cat wondering around the flat. She immediately approached the neighbor with whom she believes the cat belongs.

Eileen is pleasantly surprised when Leticia invites her in for a chat. Her flat is filled with magnificent antiques although the woman looks dreadful. Eileen discovers that Leticia has lived there over 30 years and had never had a neighbor visit. She lives alone and both she and Eileen enjoy some laughs together and agree to visit again.

While Leena is discovering that the older people in her grandmother’s community may be opinionated she develops a soft spot for them. She actually enjoys taking over for her grandmother and her many responsibilities. Such as participating in the neighborhood watch meetings which is mostly a social time for the community.

There are many laugh out loud moments as both Eileen and Leena each try to adapt to their unfamiliar surroundings. Both of them find a purpose and sense of self engrossing themselves in their new communities with desires to improve the lives and join people together.

Along the way each may dabble a bit with romantic situations which are new and unexpected. Eileen especially finds that she can feel free to engage in satisfying relationships after so many years with Wade. She loves discovering the woman within who always wanted to experience life.

Leena learns that family is an important source of support and that reconciling with her mother, Marianne, a healing experience. Learning to accept their differences in their perspective as well as find new ground. Relationships between family and friends are important and should be nurtured and valued.

This is a delightful story of love, self awareness, grieving, family and resilience.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

What a sweet book! I am very new to audio books but absolutely loved the story as told by these two great narrators! While it was a bit predictable (and very The Holiday-ish), it was still endearing and fun to listen along to. I looked forward to getting into my car, the longer the ride, the better!

Also, there is something to be said about life lessons found in books actually spoken out, so much more impactful and feels like you are getting real advice from a friend.

First impression:
With brilliant narration by two of the stars of Normal People, The Switch is an excellent follow up to O’Leary’s debut. The Flatshare was one of my absolute favorite books of 2019. This Switch has a similar tone, style and themes of love and family.

Beth O’Leary has a special talent for infusing quirky, cute plots with deeper themes without weighing her stories down. In The Switch, Leena Cotton proposes trading homes with her grandmother Eileen for two months in the hope that the change of scenery will help them both—Leena is recovering from a disastrous presentation at work, and Eileen is moving on after her ex-husband’s departure.

Their adjustments to city life and country life—including adventures in online dating in London (for grandmother Eileen) and joining the neighborhood watch/festival planning committee (for Leena)—are told with humor and heart, especially in the audiobook. The two narrators matched the personalities (and accents!) of the characters perfectly, and they nailed the book’s balance of levity and gravity. The Switch starts with a charming premise and ends up tackling grief, loneliness, and love, without ever losing its charm.

It makes me very sad I did not love this book as much as everyone else did. The Switch is a fun, breezy read, but very predictable from the get-go. It just wasn't what I was anticipating. I definitely will be reading more O'Leary books in the future!

*Thank you to NetGalley for my gifted audio of this book. All opinions are my own.*

This is the first audio book I've read in years, since I used to listen to books on tape while commuting!
So there was some adjustments as I got used to it and it was slightly distracting to begin with. I'm not sure if this would have been my first choice for the story, such a highly anticipated read since I absolutely loved The Flatshare.
But once I settled in, it was mesmerizing! I adored the two narrators and I really escaped into the tale.
When London based, dedicated executive Lena Cotton screws up an important presentation at work, she is instructed to take a two month leave of absence.
She is aghast at having so much time on her hands.
She decides to visit her seventy nine year old grandmother Eileen, who lives in the small rural village of Yorkshire. Finally desiring companionship after a divorce many hears ago, Eileen is looking for love in her community, but there are not many suitable candidates.
Lena suggests a switch, Eileen can stay at her place in London, where there is a larger dating pool of gentlemen her age. And Lena can look after things locally for her grandma.
But things don't quite go as expected.
Charming, touching and enchanting, filled with humor and wit, it still manages to cover the important subjects of aging, loss, grief and domestic violence.
A wonderful follow up to her debut novel.
Thank you MacMillan Audio for the audio book via NetGalley.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.

The Switch was an adorable and hopeful tale of two women looking to work through their issues with grief and love. The alterating narratives of Eileen and Leena Cotton pulled listeners right in. The audio is expertly narrated by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones. For fans of Jojo Moyes, Sophie Kinsella and the movie The Holiday. A true delight!

What an unexpecting and amazing book it was. The story was quite unique bridging 3 generations of women highlighting in a clever way aspects of aging people. I loved the way humor and emotion were combined resulting in enjoyable dialogues.

I listened to the audiobook and I strongly believe that the selected voices were really adding to the overall experience of enjoying a great audiobook. The voices were amable and sweet and the British accent was setting it off.

I got excited with this audiobook. I was looking forward to finish off work from the office so that I got to listen to the rest of the story.

I totally recommend this book either in written or auditory form.

"That’s the trouble with dating on the Internet, I suppose. There’s no way for anybody to hear your laugh or see the way your eyes go dreamy when you talk about something you love."

Last minute decision to binge read this as I received an audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. And boy, my mother keeps on looking at me every time I snicker while I stare at the ceiling with my headphone slapped across my head.

This is my first Beth O'Leary book as I haven't had the time to dive into her well-received debut novel, The Flatshare, but if I will base my judgment solely on this, I can say that I'll probably pick her debut before this year ends.

I think the first thing that made me so invested in this novel is the synopsis that screamed life swap between a small town grandmother (Eileen, 79) who was recently left by her husband, and a workaholic city woman (Leena, twenties) who suffered a burnout/breakdown during one of her presentation. If this doesn't piqued your interest, then this is not your cup of tea.

Also, Beth's writing style is just comforting and the audiobook narrators (with their British accent) definitely delivered the goods in the right spot. I can actually paint the scenes in my head as if I am watching the movie version.

Another great thing about this are the supporting characters - from Bee to Fitz to Martha and Yaz to Arnold to Jackson to Ethan to Ceci to Betsy and the Neighbourhood Watchers - each of them are uniquely developed and showered with creative backstories that's layered within the storyline without overshadowing the main premise that is the life swap between Eileen and Leena.

Romance-wise? Leena's was a bit meh at about 75% of the book until the twist happened while Eileen's definitely had the thunder all along from start to finish.

The attempt to shed light about mental health (Marian and Leena,) sexual orientation (Martha and Yaz,) and women abuse (Betsy and Cliff) were all laid out successfully without a hint of tokenism.

Lastly, this is such a fun romcom adult novel and all the small town antics plus the contrast against the big city camouflage is top notch.

RATING: 4stars

This is your pretty standard fun and rollicking chick lit, but the audio book narrators elevate it to an emotional and dramatic level that few such novels can attain.

For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman and Normal People by Sally Rooney, this books will truly melt your heart.
Imagine Freaky Friday without the body switching- Beth O’Leary’s The Switch centers around Leena and Eileen, a granddaughter and grandmother respectively, who completely switch lives for two months. Leena is given a 2 month paid vacation at her job and Eileen, at 79 years old, has been fantasizing about dating again. When Leena ends up suggesting they switch apartments and phones, the novel evolves into a beautiful story where both characters discover things about themselves they never knew existed, but that make them who they really are.
Through alternating perspectives between Leena and Eileen, we get to meet the different characters in each of their lives and they all feel so real with so much personality, the background characters of this book really make the story more engaging and interesting.
I’m a sucker for a good grandma/granddaughter relationship and this 100% delivered.
Highly recommend for any readers who are looking for a dead that will just make them feel good and happy, especially during these times!

I loved this book for many reasons but most of all because the feelings were so real. The ending was kind of cheesy, but sometimes you need cheesy. And at times even the grumpy people were too perfect, but again, sometimes you need a happy place full of happy people. Life is hard and losing someone you love to cancer is the hardest. I really felt that, I lived that, it was awful. So I really connected to the pain and anger expressed by the main character. The audiobook was also very good.

All in all I recommend it for a happy but sad book that has a little bit of romance, a little bit of humor, and a lot of tears (some happy, some sad).

"The Switch" had everything I could have wanted. There was romance, humor, drama, and personal growth. This was an adorable tale about a grandmother, Eileen, and granddaughter, Leena, who swap living spaces for a few weeks.

Leena has to take a mandatory vacation from work. While visiting her grandmother, Eileen, Leena discovers the older woman is seeking romance and her small town options are severely limited. Leena and Eileen have the brilliant idea to switch places. Both women needed a break from their lives to help discover who they are.

Leena stays in Eileen's house in a small, neighborly town. She takes over her grandmother's typical errands and duties, including looking after her estranged mother. While Leena walks dogs and attends community meetings, Eileen is having an adventure of her own.

Eileen stays in Leena's apartment in London with two roommates, a pregnant woman and a younger man. Eileen is educated on internet dating and she begins to chat with a few men. While Eileen is on the lookout for romance, she gets involved in the community. She becomes friends with Leena's roommates and even some neighbors. Eileen is all about helping others and is able to assist with other's issues while diving head first into a community project.

While out of their comfort zones both women learn more about each other and experience personal growth and romantic turmoil.

I’ve had this on my TBR since I read The Flatshare three months ago. Luckily, I found an audio ARC on NetGalley which was impossible to resist.

Ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, Leena escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Newly single and pushing eighty, Eileen would like a second chance at love. But her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen... So Leena proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love, while Leena will stay in Yorkshire and look after Eileen’s sweet cottage and garden; her idyllic, quiet village; and her little neighbourhood projects.

With a rabble of unruly old age pensioners to contend with, as well as the annoyingly perfect, and distractingly handsome, local schoolteacher, Leena learns that switching lives isn't straightforward. Meanwhile, Eileen is a huge hit in London with her new neighbours and is learning all about casual dating and swiping right. But is her perfect match nearer than she first thought?

On the surface, The Switch is about finding yourself and discovering love but as you get involved, you realise it delves deeper: exploring old age and communities among the elderly; dealing with loss and the immeasurable grief that follows, and unlikely friendships.

The juxtaposition of city life with country living and ambitious Londoners with cantankerous Yorkshire residents keeps you guffawing till the end. The characters are so delightful I want to run off to the Yorkshire Dales to befriend them.

Humourous, witty, full of hope and heart, this will wrap you in its warmth making it difficult to let go.

This audio ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Macmillan Audio.

Totally and completely predictable but heartwarming with great strong female characters. Even though you know exactly what is going to happen, I really enjoyed getting to know Eileen and Leena and the supporting cast of characters. Would definitely recommend this light and cute read. Also, wonderful narration.

Thank you @netgalley for the audiobook arc.

This was such a fun read. On the surface, it’s about two women who are bored of their lives. On a deeper level, it’s about love and healing and learning to find yourself. I really loved the characters and the story, and the little twists in the story were very entertaining. The narrators were excellent; the only thing I found jarring was how the volume changed when characters had phone conversation. The slow burn love triangle was delightful, and this was overall a good read.

Switching places isn't a new plot but O'Leary puts a fresh spin on it in this novel. The cover implies a light hearted story of two women finding out who they are. There are plenty of delightful moments yet this story dives deep into the hurts that have touched the Collins women. Leena was bright and driven yet also warm and enchanting. Eileen was the grandmother I hope to be when I have adult grandchildren. The supporting cast of characters was also done so well. With two separate settings, it would be easy to just have a few for locale. But there was a full cast that added such richness to the story. We saw their trials and triumphs as the Collins women fought for theirs. It could have been confusing or shallow or superficial -but it wasn't.
I enjoyed the story so, so much! (And that declaration of love scene at the end - that was good)
I did listen to the audio version for this book. I don't normally "do audiobooks" because I find it easy for my mind to wander and I usually end up leaving the room and missing major chunks. I wanted to try one and Netgalley just added this option to their catalogue.

I did have to restart the book because in the first chapter, I started talking to my husband and walked out of the room. After that, I made a point to listen while I could at least be working on something while I sat, like a puzzle. That kept my mind focused enough to not wander but I was still able to concentrate on the story. As a listener, I appreciated that there were two narrators: one for Leena and one for Eileen. It made it very easy to keep track of which story we were following. I don't know if this is typical for these these types of books - I certainly hope it is. The narrators chosen were perfect as well. They definitely fit their age, and personality. I know that I made time to sit and listen to this book because I was so invested in what was going to happen.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the review copy of this audiobook. The premise of The Switch by Beth O’Leary is so intriguing to me - two people switch lives for two months. With the movie The Holiday, this isn’t necessarily a new premise, but Beth O’Leary added a new spin. Eileen is almost 80 years old and was just left by her husband. Her granddaughter, Leena is feeling the stress of her job and still reeling from the death of her sister.

When Leena is sent on a two month sabbatical from work, the two decide to switch places. This new spin on a classic trading places trope adds a family element and a lot of heart to the narrative. The novel is told alternatively through the point of view of Leena and Eileen.

The audio narration has two wonderful British actresses voicing the roles. Alison Steadman narrates Eileen’s chapters, while Daisy Edgar-Jones narrates the chapters from Leena’s point-of-view. The flow between the chapters is smooth and each actress does a wonderful job of encapsulating her character.

I highly recommend this book in any format, but it was especially enjoyable as an audiobook! Enjoy!

A lighthearted but warm story based on a fun premise. Very enjoyable, and the performances in the audio book are excellent. Very evocative of the Yorkshire Dales and London. I did wonder if the author knew much about older women's (and men's) sexuality but perhaps she wanted the fantasy. My slight quibble was with the quality of the recording, which seemed a little tinny with a few slips by the narrators. Maybe that will be fixed in the final product.

This was a sweet story about a young woman and her grandmother swapping lives for two months. It was enjoyable and humorous, and the characters were likable, but at times I found myself getting a little bored with the dialogue. I have to say, though, that I found Eileen to be quite a cool lady and got a kick out of her dating experiences.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the review copy.