Oh my goodness, I absolutely loved The Switch audiobook! Fantastic storyline that had me at hello! I adored Beth O’Leary’s first novel (The Flatshare) and I didn’t think it was possible but I think I loved The Switch even more! Beth has officially become an automatic 1-click author for me! The narration was fabulous and added so much to my listening experience! I highly recommend this gem!

Beth O'Leary has written another charming and lovable book. Although I did not enjoy this one as much as her debut, The Flatshare, it was quite an enjoyable read. The premise of the book is that a grandmother (Eileen) and her granddaughter (Leena) decide to trade lives for two months because they are both in need of a change that will hopefully put their lives back on track after the loss of a loved one. The switch turns out to be beneficial to both of them, and they learn new things about themselves and how they view the people in their lives.

I love the character of Eileen, the grandmother. She is so full of life and ready for adventure. She brings a sense of community to her granddaughter's apartment block that was desperately lacking. She is a sweet character whom everyone loves. Leena, the younger character, is less charming than her grandmother, but I liked her too. She has some moments when I found her to be very naive and overly trusting, especially in terms of her boyfriend. However, she learns a lot about herself during the switch, and I like how her character grows.

The small town charm and sense of community that is portrayed in this book is refreshing and very appropriate in our current climate. It made me wish for more of it my own life.

I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It is sweet and uplifting. Just the kind of read needed when real life is a bit chaotic.

3.5 stars

I *loved* _The Flatshare_ and was so excited to read O'Leary's follow-up, _The Switch_. While the sweet and thoughtful quality remains in the writing, I wanted much more from some of these characters.

This novel is told from the joint perspectives of Leena and Eileen, a granddaughter and grandmother respectively. Both women are reeling from the loss of Leena's younger sister and are experiencing other challenges that convince them - rather easily - to house swap and not quite life swap. This premise was a lot of fun from the start.

While I really enjoy Eileen's chapters and character in general, I could not get into Leena's sections at all. At various later points in the novel, I realized that I was rooting against her, which I know was not the intention. I wanted to get more in her head and get more of her backstory. She never felt as round to me as Eileen or even some of the ancillary characters, like Bee!

The premise and Eileen - as well as some of the other characters who pop in and out - make this worth the read, but I wanted so much more from Leena. I'll still be excited for O'Leary's next installment!

The Switch by Beth O'Leary has been on my TBR list in the year since I read The Flatshare, which I absolutely adored. While I liked the concept of this book and found myself laughing at many of the characters, I was disappointed. It didn't have the same magical characterization as the other book, and to make up for that, it tried to be provocative in other ways. I didn't like this one, but I'm curious to see what Beth O'Leary comes up with in the future.

Twenty-something Leena finds herself with two months off from work and realizes that her 79-year-old grandma Eileen needs a change of pace in life, so she suggests they swap houses. Leena leaves behind the bustle of London for the quiet of the countryside where her grandmother lives, and Eileen takes on the excitement of of the big city. Both will learn about themselves in the process while grieving the loss of Carla, Leena's sister and Eileen's granddaughter, and maybe even find love along the way. One of the stand-out features of this book is Eileen - spunky, fun-loving, and not afraid to try new things, she's the grandma we'd all love to have and want to be when we are 79. While "The Switch" is generally a light, breezy read, it also has some serious moments - one of the main themes it explores is how different individuals deal with grief. Although the plot was predictable, the characters are likable and this is a feel-good read. If you need an uplifting, fun, and slightly humorous rom-com style book to escape from the reality of 2020, "The Switch" would be a good choice.

I throughly enjoyed reading Beth O’Leary’s The Switch, a warm and delightful book about Leena, who has just been forced to take a two month leave of absence from her job, and Eileen, her grandmother who needs a little change in her life. They both agree to swap lives, with Leena moving to her grandmother's charming Yorkshire village and Eileen taking on the big city of London. Such a cute idea! What I thought would be a breezy and light read turned into much more, with the author tackling subjects such as grief, self-esteem and even domestic abuse. There is a wide cast of characters of all ages which all added lots of flavor to this absolutely charming romance.

And I am thrilled to read that Rachel Brosnahan will star in the making of 'The Switch' for the big screen! You can read more HERE

I am looking forward to reading Beth's other book, 'The Flatshare'!

I really enjoyed O'Leary's first book, The Flatshare, so I was very excited to get my hands on this book. It did not disappoint!

The story centers on Eileen and Leena, Eileen is recently separated from her husband at the age of 79, and granddaughter Leena has had a tough year with her younger sister dying of cancer. After a panic attack at work earns Leena a two month sabbatical from work, her and her grandma hatch a plan to switch homes. Lenna will move to Hamleigh in Hartsdale and take over for her grandma in her various projects and put work out of her mind and Eileen will move to London to enter into the world of online dating.

The cast of characters is what makes this book especially charming! The townsfolk of Hamleigh and the residents of Shoreditch will leave you with an understanding on what it means to be part of a community.

Beth O'Leary is utterly charming. I suspect all of her titles will be recommended first purchases for general fiction collections.

This story was so sweet. Eileen and Leena's relationship is so authentic that it simply leaps off the page. I actually enjoyed THE SWITCH more than THE FLATSHARE, and I think that's due to the bond between the main characters. It's not every day that you find such a heartwarming book about a grandmother and her granddaughter, but THE SWITCH certainly delivers (and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy every time I look at it). Of course, their romantic arcs were fun to read about as well (particularly Eileen's -- we need more books with older characters falling in love, it was wonderful!), and I loved watching these two independent women navigate their new spaces. Overall, the premise of O'Leary's latest book is just as endearing as its execution. If you're looking for a heartwarming but thoughtful read, then definitely check this one out.

This review will be posted to my main platform, http://www.instagram.com/inquisitivebookworm, on 8/10/20 as part of a review tour.

Loved this sweet romance, featuring protagonists both young and old. I am a huge fan of the author and will continue to read and purchase her books for my college library.

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

It's official - I'll read anything Beth O'Leary writes.

While this didn't pack the emotional punch for me that The Flatshare did (I will fangirl that book til I die), I ended up liking it just as much as I hoped I would.

It was really refreshing to have an octogenarian MC, and I love, love, LOVED Eileen. It was harder for me to warm up to Leena, but as things progressed I found myself really appreciating her character a lot more. The male love interests were basically perfect, in their own ways - and reading as both women finally figured this out was also perfection.

There were definitely some hard hitting moments in here, especially as Leena is coming to terms with the untimely death of her sister - and the subsequent fallout with her mother. Even though her mother is not a main character and doesn't have her POV in the story, you really felt like you understood so much about ALL the Cotton women.

Basically, I loved this book; I love the Cottons; I love Beth O'Leary. Sign me up for her next book!!!

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. ***

"The Switch" by Beth O'Leary is a novel about Leena and Eileen, a grandmother and granddaughter that both need a switch to jumpstart their lives. With a previous family tragedy hanging heavy in the air, young professional Leena is overloaded at work and about to have a breakdown. She is given a forced paid vacation by her job and she decides to switch homes with her grandmother and spend some time in the small town of Hamleigh. Her grandmother will come and stay in London and try her hand at online dating since she is divorced. Will switching places help these two women to reconnect and sort out their lives?

This book was an adorable, fun and fast read! The main characters were both likeable, but the grandmother Eileen stole the show! Her storyline was interesting, entertaining and quite funny at times. I loved the online dating sections and the messages sent between parties. Another highlight of the book were the dynamic familial relationships which were moving and emotional. Between the three generations of women, the dialogue and sentiment was strong and will leave a lasting impression on readers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I read The Flatshare I was amazed by the originality of the story and I was absolutely pleased with the characters and the writing style. When I heard about The Switch, I KNEW I had to read it.
If I thought that sharing a flat, or more specifically a bed, was beyond creative in a book, changing lives with your grandma certainly tops that. I did not really know what I was going to find in this book but I had big hopes and I am glad to say I was not disappointed.
The story is original and fresh, and even when it sounds a bit crazy, it works perfectly. Wouldn’t you like to live a new life without the pressure or the stress of a big city or to have the chance to live in the city and fulfill one of your youth dreams? The Eileen’s get to do that, but it won’t be as easy as it seems.
The Switch is a story about understanding. Understanding yourself and your life, and understanding the others. Understanding your family, their lives, and their decisions. And it is also a story about loss, letting go of the past, and about moving on.
Both Eileen’s get to find a new perspective, make new friends, find love, and have new adventures they would have never thought about. I loved the characters. They each add to the story in their way and make it richer and more profound. I liked Leena, although sometimes I wanted to throw something at her. And Eileen, well, she was amazing!
The story was fun and sweet, without being superficial or too complex and dense. Just the perfect balance for a book to be read in one sitting with a nice cup of coffee (or a good glass of wine). I deeply enjoyed every single part of it. I laughed, I cried, and I just cannot wait for Beth’s next book!
Bottom line: Do not miss this book and this wonderful, gripping, and funny story that I'm sure will delight you.

This was a wonderful switching lives story. Leena has had it with her London life so when her career hits a major snag she and her grandmother decide to switch lives. Leena so she can get away and Eileen so she can live her unfulfilled dream. In the process of reimagining their lives they also come to terms with the death of Leena's sister. The whole novel was just delightful.

I've been so looking forward to read Beth O'Leary again ever since I read The Flatshare and this book did not disappoint. It had a great balance of fun adventures and heartfelt self-discovery for both main characters (a young woman and her grandmother) and the contrast between the busy London setting and small town country life gives readers a taste of everything. Rounded out by a lovable cast of quirky characters, young and old, I'd recommend to readers of The Authenticity Project and Jenny Colgan.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Funny and heartfelt, The Switch does a wonderful job exploring both twilight love and
youthful indiscretion. I just loved this!

It took me a bit to become engrossed in this story, but once I was, I really enjoyed it! I loved watching the main characters grow comfortable in new environments and learn about themselves and others in the process. It's rare when you see a character in their 70's involved in a romantic relationship, which was so fun! I must admit, though, I wish there had been more interactions between Leena and Jackson. I also appreciated how the book discussed grief and the myriad ways people live through it. Good read!

The Switch is a lovely fun story. Leena Cotton is having a hard time dealing with the death of her only sister and finds it impossible to keep up the fast pace her high-powered corporate job demands. Her boss insists she take two months paid leave to pull herself together. She's told she needs to go someplace quiet to recuperate. Meanwhile, Leena's 79 year-old grandmother, Eileen, is longing for a little of the city life and excitement she missed out on when she married young.
The two impulsively decide to switch houses for the two months. Eileen moves in with Leena's young flat mates and joins an internet dating site. Leena finds filling her active grandmother's place in the village is harder than she ever imagined. The novel alternates chapters from each point of view. Although there are serious themes here, O'Leary writes with a deft light touch that never becomes tear-jerky or tedious.