The term "sophmore slump" is coined for a reason but Beth has managed to bypass it with this charming, heartwarming novel about starting over, second, even third, chances, surviving loss, and the comforting power of family, friends, and community. Its approach to the jaggedness of grief has the same nuance and empathy that so positively characterised Tiffy's gaslighting in The Flatshare and it recognises that it looks different on everyone.

This is messier and more sprawling, with a bigger cast of characters; it is more sentimental and conventional in some ways - but I don't mean any of this in a bad way.

Both Eileen and Leena are extremely well-etched characters strong enough to pull everything together and the different narrative threads are satisfying and engrossing. I loved the relationship between the two - this book reminded me of my grandmother and made me wish she wasn't all the way over in Mumbai so I could give her the biggest hug.

I do wish it was longer to do more justice to the stories of all the vibrant characters that you meet along the way (also, I just wanted to spend more time with them), but I loved it all the same and cannot wait to see what she comes up with in Book 3! 💛

I listened to the audiobook, & enjoyed it very much! The intergenerational stories and quirky cast of characters made for an interesting listen.

“The Switch” by Beth O’Leary was a very cute read. The plot was great, and I really liked the characters. I absolutely loved Eileen and found myself more interested in her parts over Leena’s. This book was lighthearted but also explored some very serious topics. This was my first read by Beth O’Leary but definitely will not be my last.

Such a fabulous book. I love the way Beth O'Leary writes and know she will be an auto buy author from this moment forward. I loved the character development and felt that she portrayed such a great atmosphere throughout this entire book.

The Switch by Beth OLeary was a breath of fresh air. It was a joy to read about the lives of two friends. A great escape and light easy read during difficult days we are having. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

4.5 stars = Loved it! Would re-read.
Technically this is probably a romance, but I loved this for the grandmother/granddaughter relationship and the journey for these two women. The romantic relationships are great, but these other parts are where this book shines!

I loved Eileen's story (the grandmother) from the very beginning. She knows who she is, she doesn't have time for playing games or second guessing herself, so she goes after what she wants. I especially enjoyed her relationship with Leena's flatmates. Eileen's story is delightful.

Leena's story has more false starts, and it takes awhile for her to find her place in her grandmother's social circle. She is also the one who is trying to work through her repressed grief and her fury at her mother. There's more "work" to her part of the story. In the end, her journey is as satisfying as her grandmother's.

This was a treat! Don't miss it! (Language, LGBTQ+ secondary characters, TW: grief)

What an absolute delight of a book! I read O'Leary's first book, <I>The Flatshare </i> and enjoyed it but I liked this one even more!

I thought that Leena and Eileen's characters were so charming and having a 79 year old woman as one of the lead characters (and a strong lead character at that) was refreshing. The setting was delightful and I was just completely absorbed by this story.

If you're looking for something cozy and heartwarming, this is your book. I think this one is perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls and Louise Miller's books!

When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen’s house for some long-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. So they decide to try a two-month swap. Eileen will live in London and look for love. She’ll take Leena’s flat, and learn all about casual dating, swiping right, and city neighbors. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire: Eileen’s sweet cottage and garden, her idyllic village, and her little neighborhood projects. But stepping into one another’s shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected. review: After reading The Flatshare last year by O’Learly, I knew I wanted to read this book when it was released. The author does a great job of writing a lighthearted book that also goes a bit deeper. This book explores mental health, loss, relationships with others, and how to love yourself. I adored the characters in this book and found myself rooting for them until the very end! The message of this book is that it’s never too late to change everything or to find yourself. If you’re looking for a heartwarming quick read, be sure to pick this one up! rating: 4.5 out of 5 ⭐️

Leena, her mother, and her grandmother are each trying to recover from losing Leena’s sister to cancer. While her boyfriend has been there for her, Leena needs something more, something different. After a panic attack at work, she is given two months off. A visit to her grandmother leads to the switch. Grandma Eileen will go to London for an extended visit and adventure, including online dating. Ilene will stay in the village, attend to her grandmother’s responsibilities, and work on her relationship with her mother.

This needs to be a movie! Just the right balance of funny, sweet, sad, and romantic. I appreciate that the ending wasn't rushed. The bit with one of Eileen's online men was wrapped up a bit awkwardly, but the rest was just right.

Another hit from Beth O’Leary! I read The Flatshare in January, it was my first book of 2020 and still one of my favorites!

Her follow-up novel was just as charming! I did a combo of audiobook and ebook for this one and loved both!

Leena Cotton, a hotshot management consultant in London, is reeling after the death of her sister and is forced to take a mandatory two-month leave from work. She decides to visit her grandmother at her Yorkshire cottage and they make a plan to switch places for two months! They fully commit too, switching phones and computers (I would never survive!)

Leena’s grandmother has just jumped into online dating and finds London fascinating, she quickly becomes friends with the younger crowd of Leena’s and she engages the elderly to start a new social club.

I loved the relationship between Leena and her Grandmother, it reminded me of my own at times. I had lol moments while reading, teared up a few times, and found myself smiling so often. I can’t wait for the next novel by Beth O’Leary!

As the premise indicates, The Switch is not a romance, but contemporary fiction (or women's fiction) with a romance component. It took me a while to sink into this one, because I wasn't entirely prepared for the grief component, but once the swap happens, I was totally on board.

One trope I've always enjoyed is the sassy grandmother, and Eileen is such a delight, as are all the other old folks in her small town honestly. They have a local crime watch group that's an excuse to hang out, drink tea, and eat biscuits. They squabble and support each other, and it's pretty precious. Eileen's 79 but ready for adventure and possibly for a new love. Rarely do you see older people finding love, especially in a book not targeting that demographic, but Eileen finds both sex and love.

The narration alternates between Eileen and her granddaughter Leena. It took me longer to connect to Leena, but I think that may have been by design. She's been so focused on work, rote, going through the motions, and she's really lost her connection with herself. Though she's in a long-term relationship, there doesn't seem to be much passion there either. Outside of her usual places and daily goals, she begins to question what she's been pursuing.

The relationships are the highlight of this book. The romantic ones are cute, yes, but it's all the relationships between this large cast of characters. Eileen bonds with Leena's friends in a way that felt very adorable and authentic, and she also makes an old lady friend in their building. Meanwhile, Leena bonds with Eileen's grumpy neighbor and rival. And the main theme of the book is about the importance of communicating openly and being vulnerable together in building a healthy relationship.

This hit me in my heart space again, and it just made me feel happy. The audio performances are amazing as well, so I very much recommend that format.

I adored this. I had just finished The Flatshare and then dove right into this. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy an author’s style (and voice) for two books in a row, but I absolutely can when it comes to Beth O’Leary apparently.

Her storytelling is beautifully done— sweet spunky characters with flaws and purposeful growth.. an adventure to hop on and then of course, coming back to things that actually matter most. Her characters are such a joy and so much fun. Her women (not just the MCs) continuously end up even more empowered, emboldened, and self loving by the end. There’s a tinge of grump or sass or spark to every single character which I find completely delightful.

So! For this story in particular it is just what I would’ve ordered for a book: A grandma / granddaughter switcheroo story is EXACTLY what I needed. I was so pleased (and grateful) that this plot was done so well. What a balm. I’m already sad to leave this little cast of characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ps we also had some queerness which was nice.. I only wish there was some more brownness in this mix !!!

This was a really fun book. I loved the character development. There is intrigue and joyfulness on every page. The grandmother was the best version of herself and she inspired her granddaughter.

The Switch By Beth O’Leary

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Publication Date: 8/18/2020

** Thank you to Netgalley, Flatiron Books, and of course, Beth O’Leary, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When you are in a funk and hate where your life has taken you, what crosses your mind? Is it to switch places with someone decades in age difference? Ok, that isn’t my first thought, but it is the plotline of Beth O’Leary’s The Switch. Freaky Friday without the body swap? Count me in!

The plot of this book drew me in from the beginning. Eileen is sick of being 79. Leena’s sick of her twenties. After the opportunity arises for them to swap places (Leena going to a tiny Yorkshire village, and Eileen to London) their lives take paths they never expected. It isn’t long before differences begin to pop up, showing the differences between a large city and a small village. After second-guessing pieces of their lives, both women take their opportunity to new heights.

What a beautifully written book, that I am sure to pick up again!

O'Leary just gets better and better. I love it when older heroines get a second chance at love, and this older heroine is a 70 year old grandma! So sweet and kind and British. Both romances were wonderful.

Review will be posted 9/24/2020

Leena Cotton is in a big meeting at work and while in the middle of the presentation, she suffers a big panic attack ,so much so that her employer says she needs to take a sabbatical. Most people might think about the benefits of a two month break, but not Leena. That would be too much free time and with so much free time she might have to confront the issues she hasn't been facing. When talking to her grandmother, Eileen, about her current situation, they come up with a plan. Eileen, although she is seventy nine, wants to find love since her husband left her. How can she do that though in her small town? So, Leena and Eileen devise a plan where they switch spots for the next two months. Leena will live in her grandmother's small village and her grandmother will live in Leena's flat in London. This may be the very opportunity that Leena needs to relax, get her act together, and live in a gorgeous country cottage in a picturesque village. Before they know it, Eileen relocates to the big city and Leena is taking over Eileen's many projects in the village, such as the Neighborhood Watch. Both characters' new locations give them not only new experiences, but also new perspectives. Leena must also confront the many issues in her past that she has been so desperately avoiding, starting with her fractured relationship with her mother and her sister's untimely death. The Switch by Beth O'Leary is like a warm hug; it's such a charming novel and perfect to cuddle up with alongside a crackling fire and a warm cup of tea this fall season.

Leena is such an interesting character in The Switch. I thought this was going to be mainly about two people switching lives, but it was about so much more. Leena's relationship with her mother isn't great and she isn't dealing with her sister's death, so that is why she is having mental health issues. She isn't dealing with her problems; she is hiding from them. So, where better to focus on herself than in a quiet village taking over her grandmother's projects. While in the village, she meets a cast of eccentric characters that were reminiscent of my favorite Masterpiece TV shows.

Leena's grandmother, Eileen, is also a really heartwarming character in The Switch. Instead of giving up on her love life, she wants an opportunity to take back some of the moments she lost being stuck in a bad marriage. Eileen wants some adventure in London and that is exactly what she gets! Although Eileen is almost eighty, she is still a woman with needs, desires, hopes, and struggles; I love how O'Leary makes Eileen more than just the usual grandmothers in books. She talks a lot about sex, dating, and more. And why not?

I adored the relationship between Leena and Eileen in The Switch. Their relationship made me miss my grandmother more than ever. The Switch is a heartfelt and moving book.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary
Source: NetGalley and Quercus
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Since the death of beloved sister, Leena Cotton hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders. To avoid dealing with the loss of her sister and her anger towards her mother, Leena has thrown herself into work. But grief is a sneaky little monkey and at the moment Leena least expects it, her grief overwhelms her and causes her to blow a huge presentation at work. While Leena is certain she is going to be sacked, her boss is sympathetic and allows Leena a two-month sabbatical.

What does a workaholic avoiding real issues of grief do for two months? Of course, she switches homes with her 79-year-old grandmother.

For two months, Leena will live in her grandmother’s sleepy little country village and her grandmother, a sprightly and delightful Eileen will move into Leena’s London flat with her roommates. For Eileen, the move to London is an adventure of a lifetime, a chance to do all the wild and crazy things she gave up when she married her worthless husband so many years ago. For Leena, the time away is meant to help her heal, to let go of her anger, and to finally truly grieve the loss of her sister. Oh, and she also has to maintain her grandmother’s active and full schedule as a member of the community.

Leena’s first days and weeks in her grandmother’s home aren’t exactly easy. She’s used to a frenetic pace, but life in the country is far from frenetic. In fact, life in the country often starts a bit later in the day than in the city and generally a load of gossip and planning. Oh yes, at the top of Leena’s to-do list is organizing the annual May Day celebration with a group of senior citizens who are, in turns, wonderful, cranky, mean, happily clueless, and generally hard of hearing.

Meanwhile, back in London, Eileen is settling in nicely to her new home and thoroughly enjoying her time with her significantly younger flatmates. Eileen spends her days wandering the city and her nights engaging in a youthful fling with a handsome gentleman and helping her young flatmates navigate their lives. Though she misses her home and her friends, Eileen’s time in the city is proving to be exactly what she needed and what she was missing in her life. What’s more, for the first time in many, many years Eileen feels as if she is making a real difference in the lives of others.

Once the training wheels come off and Leena understands the lay of the land, she dives right into her obligations and forges ahead at top speed. With her skill set and tenacity, Leena begins to pull together one of the most impressive celebrations the village has ever seen. Additionally, through her committee work, Leena has really gotten to know the villagers and in her own way has discovered both big and little ways to help improve their individual lives and situations.

The Bottom Line: I quite enjoyed this new twist on an old trope. I found both Leena and Eileen to be wonderfully endearing characters who were both looking to heal in their own way. By switching places and lives, both Eileen and Leena enjoyed a new perspective on life, love, and learning. Each woman had significant ups and downs during their respective adventures, but the highs and lows were the places they found the most important lessons. I found this book to be both entertaining and refreshing with all the feels from two very different age perspectives. In truth, I found the best part of this book to be the view from the seniors; all that life and experience mixed with some truly hilarious moments made this an excellent read for me.

Eileen is tired of being alone and 79 after her no-good husband walked out on her after decades of marriage. Leena is burnt out from her job after a particularly horrific anxiety attack during the presentation of the month. Sent on two months of vacation pay to rest her mind, she and her grandmother make a deal: they swap lives. Leena goes to her grandmother's house in the countryside and takes over her obligations, and Eileen gets to have the London adventure she never had.

Not as fantastic as her first, but still pretty good.

I have never felt more out of my own control. It was like the fear got loose: it wasn't a tight knot any more, it had tendrils, and they were tightening at my wrists and ankles and clawing at my throat. My heart was beating so fast—faster and faster—until it didn't feel like part of my body any longer, it felt like a vicious thrashing little bird trapped against my ribcage.


As someone currently on the expressway to burnout, I felt Leena's anxiety and faltering lack of control so keenly. This pandemic and all of the stress that's it's caused at work (in addition to all of the other stressors) has sent me on a downward spiral that has no end in sight (it does, actually, but that's something I'm keeping hidden from my bosses for a minute longer). And the partner egging Leena on, pushing her, gaslighting her, playing her like a fiddle and tuning up her anxiety...oh I felt that too. So, so much.

It's going to be quite hard to continue loving you if you're going to spend the next eight weeks complaining about getting two months' paid vacation.


*stares at everyone who was on paid admin leave for the pandemic*

No no, this isn't a bitter spot at all. But lemme just say it was hard to love my sister and friends who were furloughed (still paid) and on paid admin leave and complaining about it. My team and I worked at work the entire time. There was no break and the strain is real, man.

Am I turning this review into a complaining session about me instead of an actual review? Er, yes, and I'm kinda sorry but this book had so many parallels to real life right now that I was just, um, yeah.

I am a seventy-nine-year-old woman. I have given birth. I have chained myself to a bulldozer to save a forest. I have stood up to Betsy about the new parking rules on Lower Lane. I can open this wretched jar of pasta.


Despite all of my empathy towards Leena, I found her story kinda...boring? I did like her story arc and found her inability to cook brownies absolutely hilarious, but wanted to smack her for keeping on her relationship with her awful boyfriend for so long when Hot Teacher was around. Eileen's, on the other hand, was quite fabulous.

Remember The Holiday? This book is the movie, except Leena is Carmen Diaz and Eileen is Kate Winslet. And let's be real: Kate Winslet's story was so much better, even if Carmen was hooking up with Jude Law in Hot Dad Mode.

I loved Eileen's relationships with Leena's flatmates, particularly Fitz (they of the inevitably brown smoothies—same, my friend), and how she was the grandmother and friend figure to them, and how they accepted her into their circle in ways that were more precious and special than with Leena. I loved how loving Eileen was, how delighted she was to explore her new relationships. I loved that Eileen can't watch movies with Jack Nicholson in them (same, minus Batman), and her lamentation that surely there's another older gentlemen actor who can act in senior rom coms.

"Agatha Christie's her favorite. She loves detective stories."
"Most nosy people do," Arnold says dryly. "It's good validation."


And I loved Arnold, that grouchy old sourpuss. I think that his relationship with Leena was my absolute favorite.

However, despite all of this love, I felt that the pacing could have picked up a bit. There was a lot of dragging on, and a lot of things that were touched upon and either rushed to finish or just rushed by the end.

The biggest note was the relationships women had with men and the various ways men held control and how women could reclaim that control or demand equality: from Eileen with her ex and her actor and her internet beau, to Leena and her awful boyfriend what's-his-face, to Betsy and her husband, to the other relationships that were portrayed.

Plus, there was a big note on senior isolation, and how the push to modernization had driven many seniors into lives lived entirely alone, often without human contact in the digital world. And how internet predators can use this lack of knowledge to prey on seniors. And reliable transportation for seniors no longer able (physically or economically) to drive themselves, so they just stay at home and whither away in silent despair.

And also how to put on a big festival in town with a rival town going at it.

Okay, there was a lot going on in this story, and a lot went well and a lot...was rushed to wrap up.

Overall, it was emotional, it was hard-hitting, and it made me want to hug my grandma and sad that I couldn't because we are a country apart.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This was such an endearing story that I couldn’t help but smile. I have not read The Flatshare yet, but if that one is anything like The Switch I know I’ll enjoy it! I liked that it was given in synopsis form, can’t say I’ve ever read anything that way before. It gave you that war, feeling as you read.

I really enjoyed this novel. The grandmother was my favorite character, her story made the book truly great.