Member Reviews

If you are looking for a fast paced, steamy romance, this one is not for you. If you like a slow build, cute rom-com then you would like this one.

Eileen, a 79 year old grandmother living in a small town, wants more excitement. Her husband just left her for a younger women and it is slim pickings for eligible bachelors in her town. Leena, her granddaughter is a stressed out, overachiever that lives in London and has a small mishap at work that requires her to take some time off. Leena and Eileen decide to trade places and live each other’s lives.

Overall, this was enjoyable, just a little too slow paced for me.

I listened to this as an audiobook and enjoyed the 2 narrators for each women. I also liked how they changed the sound when they were on the phone with each other. It really made you believe you were truly on a phone call.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC for my honest review.

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I really enjoyed this however I was expecting a little more romance than what there was.
The main characters were well thought out and relatable to me.
I hope to continue reading Beth O'Leary's books in the future.

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After losing her sister, Carla, to cancer Leena is heartbroken. She buries herself in work & London life while keeping her distance from her once close family. When she has a huge panic attack at work she is told that she must take a sabbatical in order to grieve properly. Her grandma Eileen is up in Yorkshire grieving Carla, wanting a fresh romance after her cheating husband left her and trying to look after her daughter (Lena’s mom) who is battling depression after losing Carla. Deciding that they need a change, Leena & her grandma switch lives for the duration of Leena’s sabbatical.

I really enjoyed their journeys, there was romance, Tinder drama and funny moments. It also really made me miss my Nan and I warmed to Eileen quickly. This was such a cosy book and I recommend it. I liked the narrators too, especially their Yorkshire accents. I will definitely be reading more of Beth’s books. If you haven’t read her first book, The Flat Share, I also highly recommend it.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for my free advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Beth O'leary is fantastic and we all loved The Flat Share and The Switch is fantastic as well. The Switch brings in some older characters which I loved. Beth is such an easy sell, and she writes characters so well, you feel like you know these people or versions of them. A great novel.

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This book has been on my radar since it was published last year, and I'm so glad it was! The story is about new beginnings at any age, the value of friendship, and the ways family can grow apart and then come back together as different people. There is plenty to laugh at, including 79-year-old spunky Eileen who is figuring out smartphones, London tubes, and online dating with a little help from friends. I listened to this book on audio, and it was great - the narrators did a great job! There were different voices for different characters, but it didn't distract from the story - it added to it. This was a fun fun read.

Thank you #netgalley and @macmillanaudio for an advance listening copy of #theswitch in exchange for an honest review.

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Delightful, heart warming read. Would definitely recommend this author. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this audiobook.

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The Switch is a great mix of sweet, witty, and charming. I loved the premise, and Eileen reminds me of a dear friend of mine, so it was easy to fall into the story and enjoy her journey. Leena took me a bit longer, but I think that's because I didn't relate to her as well. Nevertheless, this was a great way to sit back and relax while listening to the story. Audiobooks are one way I can still enjoy a good book while getting other things done at the same time. The only problem with that is I found myself stopping what I was doing with this one. I'd get caught up in one part or another and just stop what I was doing to listen. While that didn't help me get things done, it does go a long way toward how good this book is. The whole thing is engaging and entertaining, and this is one audiobook that I would listen to again.

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thank you to net galley and macmillan audio for providing me an arc audiobook in exchange for an honest review. wow i loved this book. i have never read anything like this. it was such a fun time. this book made me so so happy. the characters were so enjoyable and i loved both povs.

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I listed to the audiobook of The Switch and what a delightful, emotional, sassy little book! Leena is a workaholic in London who is forced to take a two-month sabbatical. Her grandmother Eileen is recently single and lives in Yorkshire. Leena proposes that they swap places for two months to get a fresh perspective.

Isn’t that such a great idea?! Both Leena and Eileen are likable, kind, honest with people, fun, and each have their own way of being sassy with people, but especially Eileen. There aren’t a lot of books about older people (Eileen is 80) finding love, so I really enjoyed that part of her journey. And seeing Leena rediscover parts of herself away from the hustle and bustle of London.

I would totally recommend this book!

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Leena, 29, who lives in London, is taking a sabbatical from her job for much-needed R&R as she deals with grief over her sister’s death and a complicated relationship with her mother. Meanwhile, her grandmother Eileen is 79, newly single, and with few prospects for love in her tiny Yorkshire village. The solution? They agree to house swap for two months.

I adore books that feature mature characters that have spunk and a young-at-heart attitude. Much of the humor revolves around feisty Eileen setting up a profile and exploring the world of online dating in London. Meanwhile, Leena tries to maintain a long-distance relationship with her London boyfriend as she becomes involved in her grandmother’s projects in the small community where everyone knows everyone’s business. Both Leena and Eileen learn a lot about themselves and each other as they step into each other’s lives.

What a charming, light-hearted and heart-warming read. The more serious subplot of grief was dealt with using a light hand. I loved these characters, especially Eileen, and the grandmother/granddaughter relationship was delightful. There were no huge surprises in store, but the pleasure here is in the journey. This is feel-good writing at its finest. Excellent on audio!

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Took awhile to get into, I wasn't a fan of Leena's problems and a forced sabbatical/almost firing seemed rough. Loved the grandma Eileen and Yorkshire Dales living.

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Warm and cozy character based story about building relationship across the generations. Darling idea, just unlikely in reality. But still fun to read.

Narrator for Eileen makes a lot of mouth noises in the audiobook. Found it distracting.

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My first ever audiobook! Only took me about ten months to get through, but that's on me, not the book. I really enjoyed this & know I've found an auto-buy author!

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Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for the copy of this audiobook.

I absolutely love the grandmother and granddaughter dynamics! With its heartwarming plot, this is a perfect summer read when you're looking for something unique in the contemporary genre. The narrators also absolutely did a good job.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I thought it was very well-written. The actors did a great job and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to listen to it. It was fun going back and forth with the characters and their chapters and I loved the way they both learned something about themselves.

Thank you Net Galley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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Leena has been having a tough time since her sister died. Her grandmother, Eileen, is 79, newly divorced and lonely. They come up with the idea to switch places...Eileen moves to London to see if she can find love and Leena moves to Eileen’s house for rest and relaxation after she has a panic attack at work.

This was a really sweet story. The characters were so funny and the banter so whimsical. There is romance. Mothers and daughters need to work through some issues. It was a great pallet cleanser for me and I will definitely pick up more books from this author.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for the copy of this audiobook. I loved this story about a grandmother and granddaughter who switch houses. I loved hearing both perspectives and getting to come along on the journey. Highly recommend this book and audiobook!

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This story was so absolutely charming - I fell in love with the rural location and both casts of characters!

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4stars!!
I was grinning the whole time while listening to this audiobook!

This novel tells us a story about Leena and her grandma. When Leena is forced into a sabbatical from her position at work, she decides to visit her grandma Eileen. Eileen is a feisty eighty-year-old, living in her Yorkshire home where she welcomes Lee with open arms.

Lee just wants to take a break from the busy life and the hustle-bustle of city life, and grandma Eileen is not yet ready to give up on her love life and wants a chance to live in London and see what it has to offer. So she comes up with a plan to make a Switch!

Aha, what an original concept, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. And the narrators don't help but add to the fun!

Many thanks to the publisher for providing this review copy via Netgalley! I appreciate it.

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I was very excited to read this book, partly because of Alison Steadman's narration, and the book did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed myself as the story switched back and forth between London and a small Yorkshire village, as well as the viewpoints of Leena and her grandmother Eileen. The story is peopled with unique characters and moved along by a heartwarming plot. The narration was excellent and this will definitely be a book a will return to.

(Copy provided by NetGalley for a fair and honest review.)

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