What I thought would be a fun, lighthearted read turned out to be so much more. These characters, dealing with the death of a loved one, deal with it in their own way and grow. They discover more about each other and this more about themselves. Along the way there iAd a lot of fun- a 79 year old Grandmother on a dating site and having an affair! I enjoyed this one so much.

Thank you netgalley and mcmillian audio for the free review copy.

This book was an absolute joy. Leena and her grandmother Eileen trade lives for two weeks- one to get some rest and one to jump start a new dating life. I really loved these two characters switching lives!

Eileen and Leena are both hurting in different ways and need a change in their lives. Leena is burnt out at work and still mourning the loss of her sister -She needs to unplug. Eileen is 79 and wanting a second chance at love- she needs a brand new atmosphere. Eileen and Leena decided to trade lives for two weeks. Eileen is headed to London, and Leena is headed to the small town with some familiar faces.

I loved the relationship between Leena and Eileen. It was so warm and pure. You could tell immediately they shared such a special bond. It was interesting to see this crazy idea unfold for each person. I found myself looking forward to hearing Eileen's story more because I just couldn't get enough of her character. She was wise, sassy and big hearted. Her positivity rubbed off on everyone she encountered. Leena's journey and relationship with her mother was the big plot point of her story. It was interesting to hear about the generation between Eileen and Leena. I really enjoyed this one!!

The audio narration was fantastic! I loved that there were two main narrators, it really kept the two stories easily distinguishable and clear. 

Don't miss this fun story! Out August 18th!

BOOK REVIEW: The Switch by Beth O'Leary ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Eileen Cotton is tired of being 79 and Leena Cotton is tired of life in her twenties.

Overachiever Leena is told to take a 2 month sabbatical from work after blowing a big presentation at work. She decides to go visit her Grandma's home for some much needed rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn 80. She is wanting a second chance at love but her small town doesn't have a lot of eligible gentleman. When Leena learns about her Grandma's predicament, she proposes a solution: a two month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Meanwhile Leena can look after everything in rural Yorkshire.

I absolutely loved this book. There was some banter which I love. The small town where Eileen lives sounds adorable and the town meetings remind me of the ones on Gilmore Girls. This was such a nice relaxing read.

The switch a good and entertaining story, that will keep you wanting more.

Lenna needs to start all over she feels like, after that blow with one of her presentations, nothing is working for her anymore, she needs to think and reboot and that's why she felt it necessary to spend some time with her grandmother.

Eileen just turned eighty, she feels like her life needs a little more sauce so she is on a quest searching for her second love or her second chance in life.

The switch has the right amount of angst and situations that will give the story even more depth, it is a great summer read, that I definitely enjoy.

I really don't want to give much away but this book definitely is for anyone who wants to chillax and enjoy a good story with great characters. this is a summer story to take with you anywhere and enjoy it.

The only thing that I really didn't like was the narrators I had a hard time with one of them because I felt like she was reading the book than narrating the story but even that was not enough excuse to take away the great story of The Switch.

This was my first audiobook with NetGalley and i did enjoy it so much.

Leena has struggled since the death of her sister, but when she messes up a big presentation at work, her boss orders her to take a two month sabbatical. Meanwhile, after her husband leaves her, Leena’s Grandma Eileen is ready to start dating again, but the men in her small town leave her wanting. Leena has a great idea though. They can switch lives for two months. Leena can relax in her Grandma’s small town and hopefully fix her relationship with her mom, and her Grandma can enjoy Londons dating scene! They both learn more about themselves, and each other, then they ever imagined.

I loved The Flatshare, so I had high hopes for The Switch. I have to tell you, it did not disappoint. I loved this book! Both Leena and Eileen were just fantastic characters, and I loved the crazy little group of friends both of them had. Eileen reminded me a bit of a my Grandma (though her and my Grandpa are still married.) She was spunky, fun, and did not let her age hold her back. She was constantly trying to help others and always had a new project she was taking on. I loved how her cast of characters took Leena on (some of them) and helped her to see her true self and desires. This one was a truly beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, and even a little bit of hatred at times. This one gave me all the feels!

Okay, so there aren't really any big surprises here. The "life swap" aspect is kind of fun. We can all benefit from a change in circumstances from time to time to get us out of a rut or make us realize what else is out there. But more the most part, the story line is pretty formulaic and you'll see most everything coming from a mile away. If you're looking for fluff, this will do. If you're looking for more substance, this might fall flat for you. I did really enjoy the narrator.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I was so looking forward to Beth O'Leary's upcoming release "The Switch," but unfortunately I was disappointed. I particularly didn't enjoy the narrator who voiced Eileen; it was difficult to make my way through her sections.

This is the first audiobook I have ever tried to listen to. I was a bit dubious as to whether I would like them and I’m afraid to say I was correct.

Unfortunately audiobooks just aren’t for me I don’t concentrate enough and much prefer the visual aspect of reading.

That being said I loved that The Switch used double narrative and the audiobook provides this. As popular actors I recognised their voices right away and feel they were perfect for the roles.

Although I DNF I will be placing an order with my local bookshop for a physical copy.

"Grandma... what if we swapped? What if I came up and looked after all your projects and you had my flat in Shoreditch and I stayed here?"

the Switch follows 29 year old Leena and 79 year old Eilleen, who after a botched presentation at work and a wish to try something new, decide to swap lives. Overachiever and constant do-er, Leena gets the chance to slow down and enjoy country life, and Eileen is thrown into the bustling life of London.

I haven't read Beth O'Leary's debut, The Flatshare, but now my excitement has increased tenfold. If she can make me enjoy this book, (which I admittedly would never have picked up if not for her name attached to it) she can do no wrong.

I was initially a bit nervous about the Eileen's POV, because she is so out of the normal age range I read. (I know, I know- ageist right? But considering my typical protagonists are teenagers- an almost 80 year old is a big jump) But my worries were for naught, because Eileen was so fun to read about! I loved reading about her life, and the gossip filled neighbourhood watch meetings she attended. She was such a lovely, bright and honest character that I couldn't help but love.

"Grandma, what are you doing?"
"Medding!" I yell cheerfully. "It's my new 'thing'!"

Leena was a character I related to quite a bit. Always doing doing doing, to the point where she couldn't physically do anymore. She had been almost on autopilot since the death of her sister, Carla. A change of pace was well overdue, but at first she finds it difficult to adjust to the slow life. Gradually, she begins to develop relationships with the people around the town, which was precious.

"Arnold is basically Shrek, I've concluded: a grumpy green ogre who's forgotten how to be nice to people. And I plan on being his Donkey"

There were two whole casts of characters, as the story is told in dual POVs but I loved each and every one of them. From the dog to the next door neighbour- they each had a unique and loveable personality.

the overall tone of this book was really enjoyable. It put a smile on my face the whole time I was reading it. The Switch is truly the perfect wholesome, pure and feel good read for times such as these. While it may not be anything life changing, it is perfect escapism.

Although, it was not completely happy-go-lucky. There were emotional moments, and some important issues were tackled. I almost cried at one point, partly out of sadness and partly out of happiness. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Betsy- the original badass.

Overall, this was the perfect read for me at the perfect time. If you are looking for a relatively slice of life, character driven book- look no further!

✨AUDIOBOOK REVIEW✨ Publication Date: 8/18/20.

Thank you to @netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC.

Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Story Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Full Disclosure: I had zero patience and ordered a copy of The Switch from Book Depository and devoured it on my vacation at the beginning of summer. Then, Netgalley had the audiobook available as a Listen Now option and I downloaded it again, so I could enjoy this book in a completely different way on a road trip I was taking. Now THAT is how you know that you really loved a book.

The Switch is the story of Leena and Eileen Cotton, grandmother and granddaughter who both find themselves at a crossroads in life at very different points. 79-year-old Eileen’s husband just left her for a dance instructor and she is ready to have a fun fling, but has no idea how to even begin to venture out into the dating scene. After having a panic attack during a major work presentation, Leena is forced into a two month sabbatical by her boss and she decides to visit her grandmother. When she gets to the town of Shoreditch and hears about her grandmother’s dating dilemmas, she suggests switching both lives and homes.

The Switch reminded me so much of one of my favorite movies, The Holiday. It is a warm, cozy, and endearing book that you want to live in. Beth O’Leary writes the most amazing characters that are so distinctive and make you laugh and cry throughout. I loved the humor, the romances, and, most of all, the character development.

Since I’ve both read and listened to The Switch, I can say you can’t go wrong either way. Daisy Edgar-Jones, from the show Normal People, perfectly captures Leena’s voice. Listening to her reminded me of Eleanor Tomlinson’s performance in the audiobook, One Day in December. Both actresses just became their characters and it almost made it feel like you were listening to a movie. Alison Steadman voices Eileen and her comedic timing is spot. on. I am a huge fan of multiple narrators and this audiobook is an example of why.

Overall, The Switch is perfect as both a book and an audiobook. It is a cozy sweater in book form. Fans of Emily Henry, Josie Silver, and Linda Holmes will enjoy The Switch when it releases on 8/18/20!

ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to be posted closer to release date.

I was really excited about audiobooks but unfortunately, I couldn't download the app on my phone. I tried on my brother's phone so I could listen to a couple of chapters. I love Beth O'Leary's first book. The switch's synopsis was really intriguing. As for the audiobook I really enjoyed the couple of chapters that I listened to. I liked the narrator's voice and how she read the story. I can't reach that phone all the time. I was so excited but right now I couldn't finish this audiobook. I hope we can listen to audiobooks not just on the app but on computers too.

Thanks so much to Netgalley. publisher and author, for allowing me to listen t my first audiobook from NetGalley. This story sounded charming and cute. My favorite part was the main narrator. The story itself did not wow me but it was ok. I wish I liked it more.