This is another winner by Beth O'Leary! After listening to The Flatshare and loving it, I eagerly waited for the release of The Switch, another novel with an interesting premise. And it was just as good as I'd hoped it would be.

Twenty-nine year-old Leena from London decides to switch places with her 79-year-old grandma Eileen from a quaint village in Yorkshire. Leena is still mourning the death of her sister Carla and is overworked, and Eileen is ready for a bit of adventure in her life, although she does it more for her granddaughter and wonders what she is getting into.

Once again, O'Leary creates a wonderful cast of characters, both in London and in Yorkshire. I loved, loved the fact that this novel starred seniors (I work with seniors). As both Leena and Eileen share each other's lives, we get to see it through their different perspectives. Along with the characters, we get to appreciate the strength in the different age groups.

Oh, but I had some good laughs! This is British rom-com at its best. There was not one boring moment in the story as it alternated between Leena and Eileen's narration. Both Alison Steadman (who narrated Grandma Eilleen's part) and Daisy Edgar-Jones (who narrated Leena) were amazing! Their voices were spot on for their characters with good inflection and full of emotion, making this such a great listen. Steadman was able to get the men's voices well too. I was so impressed with her narration.

What I'm loving about Beth O'Leary's writing is that she tackles serious topics, in this case grief, anger, mother-daughter relationships, friendship and love of neighbor, all while telling a good story, mixing in some good romance, and making us crack up with laughter. I'm now a fan and look forward to seeing what lovely story she will regale us with next!

Content warning: F-words and religious expletives

The author has crafted an amusing enjoyable book. Much like “The Flatshare” this is a book that leaves you smiling. The story is entertaining the characters are funny, the situation the heroines find themselves in is unusual and interesting. Trading places with your grandmother poses a whole new set of problems. The audiobook was set at a good pace and having each heroine have their own voice was a nice touch. This was a good fun book!

When Carla Cotton died (before the novel begins) she left her mother, sister, Leena, and grandmother, Eileen, in a world of grief. They’ve tried to move forward but aren’t having much success.

This is mainly Leena’s and Eileen’s story. As things play out Leena and Eileen decide to switch things up and change places. Leena will spend her sabbatical at her grandmother’s house in a village and Eileen will live in Leena’s London apartment. This might be the change they need to jumpstart their lives. I really enjoyed the spots these two found themselves in – some laugh out loud scenes. I know this: I want to be like Eileen when I’m her age! I loved her willingness to try new things while, at the same time, reconsider people who’d always been in her life.

Beth O’Leary wrote about serious and relatable subjects with a light touch and yet just enough weight. I think fans of Jenny Colgan and Jojo Moyes would enjoy The Switch. I loved listening to the audiobook (alternating between 1.5x and 1.75x speed). I was thoroughly entertained by the narration of Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones. I thought their performances were spot on as they brought the characters (main and secondary) to life and made me cheer on Eileen, Leena and all the rest.

Leena and her grandmother Eileen swap places after Leena is forced to take a 2 month sabbatical from work and Eileen wants to move to London where there are more dating prospects. Both of their stories are equally surprising and interesting and it was a lovely storyline to follow on audio, especially with all the accents and voices of the additional characters added into the mix. I haven't read Beth O'Leary's other book, The Flatshare yet but after listening to the The Switch, I definitely will! Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

*E-Arc received from the publisher, via net gallery, in exchange for a honest review *

I've been wanting to read The switch since I read The Flat Share and fell in love with Beth O'Leary's writing and her witty story didn't fail to disappoint either.

This story follows Eileen and Leena, grandmother and Granddaughter as they switch lives after the loss of a dear family member. I love the flow through each POV and found myself loving both the characters. I find with multiple POV I tend to fall in love with a certain character more but with The Switch I love Eileen's witty banter and Leena's difficulty relinquishing control interesting. You will find yourself falling in love with the characters as they develop through the novel. I can't wait for Beth O'Leary's next book.

Only negative is that my audio book would skip chapters so got a bit confusing at points. I'm unsure if it was the app or a problem with my phone.

Thank you netgallery for the E-ARC, throughly enjoyed this one.

I was excited to read this book because the storyline sounded really cute. Leena, who lives in London, is upset after messing up a big work presentation and is asked to take a 2-month paid leave. Her grandma, Eileen, is recently single and hoping to find companionship again but feels that her small town has limited options. The two decide to switch houses because they feel Eileen will have a better chance finding love in the big city. Leena moves to her grandma's small town, takes over her grandma's many community responsibilities, encounters the quirky characters that live in the town, and faces the strained relationship with her mother. Eileen discovers online dating, befriends Leena's friends and neighbors in London, and builds a community of her own in the city.

I listened to the audiobook and it lived up to my expectations. It was a cute and engaging with likeable characters. I liked how it was more than just a romance and explored friend and family relationships as well. The book does tell the story from both Leena and Eileen's perspectives which kept the chapters relatively short and the story moving. The narrators were both great and easy to listen to.

Narrative from Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones grabbed my attention for this audio book. I was really excited to listen to them read, however I am not enjoying it.
I am not a fan of the voices Alison Steadman is using for the other characters, they sound also comedic to me. While Daisy is narrating she is not throwing her voice, which does make it more pleasant to listen to.

I love listening to audio books as I am doing other things, but I just keep finding my mind wandering.

The story covers a range of important issues; grief, anxiety, mental health. But fir me, it’s not going deep enough.
The story line is a bit too cliché and just doesn’t hold my attention.

I was really hoping to love this, but I am disappointed.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

Having absolutely adored The Flatshare, Beth’s debut novel I had been excitedly waiting to read The Switch. The premise of The Switch is very endearing, Eileen an older lady looking for love after being cheated on by her ex-husband, and her granddaughter Leena who needs a break after almost wearing herself to the ground, swap lives. Eileen moves to London in search of some fun and possibly love, and Leena moves to a Yorkshire village to fill her grandmothers’ boots, taking on all of Eileen’s obligations in the village. Throughout the story, there is a sad undertone, that represents the loss of Carla, Eileen’s granddaughter and Leena’s sister to cancer, the reason for Leena’s crazy work ethic and burn out.

This is a sweet contemporary novel, that alternates between Eileen and Leena’s point of view, which I found added depth to the overall novel, and I actually loved reading from an older perspective. I don’t read many books with that option.

I would recommend to people to enjoy contemporary with a touch of melancholy. The Switch wasn’t the happiest of rom coms, which I know of a lot of people were expecting from this book. It gets a 3.5-star rating from me.

I listened to this book via NetGalley's new audio book option and really enjoyed it. I almost finished the entire book in one day.

It's a fresh take on people trading places and stepping into the other's lives for 2 months. The narrators are very good. The characters are likeable, especially Grandma Eileen. She had me smiling from the start of her first narration and all the way to the end. How she dealt with her adventures in the big and intimidating world of London made me smile, and even laugh a little at times. I want her to be my grandma! Leena's relatable to me with her struggles in coming to terms with her sister's passing and her troubled relationship with her mom. I enjoyed the relationships that Eileen built with Leena's flatmates and building residents as well as the connections that Leena started to form through taking on her grandma's busy schedule in her place.

The synopsis tells you what the story is basically about but it doesn't talk about the relationships formed, nurtured, healed. It is definitely not a book for YA readers. More of an adult womens fiction.

#womensfiction#britishwomensfiction#netgalleyaudiobooks

This book is so sweet and I love the story of an older woman seeking romance. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing both the younger and older perspective narrated out.

I got about 1/4 way through the book on audio but jept having technical difficulties with the Netgalley app to listen. It did not save my spot & kept skipping around. I am intrigued enough that I will definitely read the book when I can accesss it properly.

I found this book to be a great read. The story was unique and easy to follow. A great book to listen to if you are wanting to get away.

The Flatshare was one of my favourite reads last year, it’s one I always mention when someone asks me for a book recommendation.

I’m here to say I enjoyed The Switch just as much - it’s feel good fiction at its best. I am a huge fan of Daisy-Edgar Jones (how cannot I not be after that magnificent performance in Normal People) and I think she did a great job narrating Leena's POV. Alison Steadman (I remember her so well as Mrs Bennett in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice) also does a fabulous job as Eileen - she really delivers on Eileen's dry sense of humour.

The Switch feels like a warm bath - soothing and relaxing. It’s full of great down to earth characters and amusing observations. Beth O’Leary’s writing really stands out from the crowd and I absolutely love it.

The book alternates between the POVs of 79-year-old Eileen and her granddaughter Leena. Both need a change of scene and society after Eileen’s husband Wade leaves her for a dance instructor and overachieving Leena is forced to take mandatory leave after she blows a presentation at work. They agree to swap flats for a few months. Eileen takes up residence in Leena’s Shoreditch (London) flat, Leena moves into Eileen’s flat in the Yorkshire Dales. It’s all very The Holiday.

The star of the book for me was Eileen - I’d love to be friends with her. I loved reading about her online dating escapades and was moved by the way she was always focused on helping the people around her. Leena was on an emotional journey of her own - one that was really relatable and I felt really invested in.I was rooting for her all the way. O’Leary has created two memorable female characters with two very distinct voices and I’m here for it.

The only thing I’ll say is that I would have liked it to be a bit heavier on the romance - but overall this book is an absolute winner for me. I enjoyed the audio as much as I enjoyed the book.

After falling head over heels for The Flatshare last year, this was quite possibly my most anticipated book of 2020. I am so, so happy to report that this completely lived up to my expectations and that I absolutely adored it. Beth O'Leary has a way of writing characters that feel so completely REAL and true to life and I think I can now confidently call her a favorite author. My only real complaint about this one is that I feel like the romantic relationships weren't quite as flushed out as I would have liked them to be, but I also recognize that they were not intended to be the main aspect of the story so it would make sense that they would pale in comparison to the relationships between Eileen and Leena and Marian. Also-- I listened to this one partly via audiobook (thank you, NetGalley & Macmillan Audio!), and it too was SO well done. The voice actors were incredible and really brought Eileen and Leena to life in the BEST way. Honestly, y'all, this book was just an absolute delight and I can guarantee that I will be re-reading it for years to come. I highly, highly recommend.

TW: cancer, death of a loved one, severe grief/depression

I LOVED this! I'm so glad I chose this as my first audiobook on NetGalley!

This book is narrated by Daisy Edgar Jones and Alison Steadman and they were both fantastic. I felt that they both really encapsulated the characters and I fell in love with both Leena and Eileen due to the narration.

Leena and Eileen are granddaughter and grandmother who decide to switch lives for two months. Leena has a two month sabbatical from work in London and so swaps with her grandmother who lives in the sleepy Yorkshire Dales, who wants more excitement in her life.

This book covers topics such as mental health and anxiety, which I felt was really refreshing. I didn't know what to expect from this as it isn't my typical genre but I loved it. This is the first Beth O'Leary book that I have read and I fell in love with it, I really didn't want it to end!

Having just finished The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary, I had to have more from her! The Switch did not disappoint. It’s a lovely book about a 79 year old grandmother, Eileen, and her granddaughter, Leena, switching homes for a few months after each has had hardships in their own lives. Eileen heads to the big city of London and completely blossoms into the woman she could have been, discovering more about herself along the way. Leena heads back to her family’s home, stopping the corporate world, embracing her life and moving forward after her sister’s loss. This was a breath of fresh air and a really East read.

I read the audiobook for this one and I loved both readers. I think I could listen to Daisy Edgar-Jones read the phone book and enjoy it! I also very much enjoyed Alison Steadman as Eileen but it seems like her part needed more editing. I felt like I could hear her saliva at the end of each sentence and it was somewhat distracting. I don’t think this was any fault of hers, she was brilliant, just maybe some clever editing could have helped.

If you enjoyed The Flatshare, you should definitely check this one out!

The Switch by Beth O'Leary follows overachiever Leena Cotton who is 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. Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen. The two women decide to switch houses for the two months and set to work on themselves in their new environments.

I loved reading from both Leena and Eileen's perspectives, which is rare when reading books with multiple POVs. Reading about Eileen's antics living in.the city and her adventures online dating. The side characters were also all so enjoyable in this book from Letitia and Betsy to Fitz and Bea. I also really enjoyed the romance aspects of this story with both of the main characters. Highly recommend!

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

It's just wow. I love everything about it, the story. the narration and the feelings that comes with it. It was heartwarming and I envy Leena for having Eileen as her grandmother. Eileen is such a cool person. I really commend the narrators for making it feel real. Eileen sounds like my grandmother. It's a must listen and a must read book. A highly recommended one. It talks about family, relationships and healing. It is an amazing piece.

I love Beth O’Learys writing! Her witty comedic banter is my favorite thing!!! This story of a switching places trope was fabulous! Laugh, love, family and finding ones true place within themselves.... a rich and luxurious read - perfect for where we are today!!!

A true gem! Beth O’Leary brightened my day and lifted my mood with this charming tale. Uplit at its absolute best! Leena is a type a workaholic who suffers a panic attack at work one day while giving a presentation. Forced into a two month sabbatical by her boss Leena heads to her grandmother’s house. Eileen it’s 79 and spunky, recently left by her husband for a dance instructor. Leena needs to relax and regroup. Eileen wants to find love, but the pickings in her small town are few. SO grandmother and granddaughter decide to switch places. Leena Will move back home to her childhood small town and Eileen will head off to London. This is when the magic of the story begins! Love watching Leena navigate small-town life-The neighborhood watch, the May fair. And it was even more fun watching Eileen find her way in fast paced London-trendy roommates, online dating, crazy traffic. The audiobook is narrated by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones Who gave the perfect voices to Leena and Eileen. I seriously felt as though I was spending time with good friends every time I started listening to the book. There was just so much charm and wit in their narration, really one of the best I’ve listen to this year.

Eileen and Leena were such delightful characters, they felt like old friends. Loved all the secondary characters as well the quirky residence of the small town and the posh London roommate/friends. Admittedly I think I favored Eileen’s story just a little more. I just adored how sweet and pure she was. How tremendously optimistic, always wanting to bring everyone together and thinking the best of all. Just can’t say enough good things about this book! Definitely going to make my top reads of 2020 list.

This book in emojis 🐱 🚖 📱 🗝 👩🏼 👵🏼

*** Big thank you to Flatiron and Macmillan Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***