I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend the audiobook. This is a beautiful and sweet story about a family of women, a grandmother, mother and daughter. The daughter and her mother are estranged but when anxiety gets the best of the young woman at work during an important presentation, she is asked to take a long leave to regroup. She goes to her grandmother’s home, which is part of a retirement community and they decide to switch places in each other’s lives. The newfound understanding and experiences that they each have are wonderful to experience with them.
To top it off, the narration for the audiobook was terrific and really set the tone. I found that this added to my enjoyment of the story.
Highly recommend.
#TheSwitch #Netgalley #MacMillanAudio

This was a fun audiobook to listen to. The narration was excellent and really brought out the personality of the two main characters. It was fun to follow each woman’s journey during the switch and the ending was fantastic. Highly recommend on audio.

This is such a sweet, enjoyable read. I almost never read books where the main character is elderly and Eileen was so much fun! She's still active, hooks up with men, befriends everyone, and loves to party. I aspire to be like her some day, not letting others get me down and doing what I like. Leena is pretty much the opposite of her grandmother, she's timid, gets pushed around, and isn't really living her life. She needed to come out of her shell and move past her grief for her sister.

The swap was a great idea and I wish I could do something like that. To live somewhere else for a while, get a change of pace and meet new people sounds awesome. Both women learned a lot from changing scenery and I enjoyed seeing them find love and happiness.

The plot is a bit slow, but in a good way where you don't feel rushed and just relish the story. The narrators were great and I liked that there were separate narrators for each woman. I'll definitely be checking out other books from this author!

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC provided through Netgalley!!
The Audiobook was great, the narrators portrayed Leena and Eileen so well, it felt was very fun to listen to.

In the beginning of the year I read and loved The Flatshare and I was very excited for more books from Beth O’Leary.

The Switch was enjoyable, very easy to read and full of wholesome content. It had beautiful friendships and family bonds, which is something I loved about The Flatshare and definitely wanted more of. Eileen was a delight to read about and a great main character. She was a more engaging MC than Leena in my opinion.

Though I do wish I could’ve loved it more. It’s around 3.2/3.3 stars for me but I feel like it could’ve been a 5 stars read. It did deliver what the synopsis promised, but in a way that was slightly underwhelming for me. I expected to get more about how it’s not as easy as they expected, switching lives, especially from Eileen’s side, with how different London is from her home. But other than one or two things in the beginning she seemed to fit in perfectly in Leena’s life, sometimes it seemed she’s better at it than her grand-daughter!! Leena did struggle with filling in Eileen’s shoes quite a bit so it was more realistic. Eileen is just delightful and funny, and a force to be reckoned with, so I just wanted more about her adventures in the big city, before she settled into Leena’s life and started working on a ‘project’ too.

But I of course loved her story there. How she helped Leena’s friends find love and something they’re passionate about, and how she was just there for them all and built something wonderful for people who are a little lonely in the big city, something she was very passionate about . I feel like the self-discovery aspect of the book, which is the main theme along with grief, was done better for Eileen. For Leena it felt rushed and not fleshed out enough for me.

The author discussed grief, family dynamics after losing a loved one, and discovering who you are after going through such a hard time and it was all handled in a beautiful, realistic way, and I love how things ended with Marion.

The romance part of the book was a little predictable. That however didn’t bother me, I just wish there was more build up to it, especially on Leena’s side. It was another aspect of the book that I felt was very rushed. I feel like the book had the book been a little longer all these things I wanted more of/felt were rushed would have been given time to play out better and I would’ve enjoyed it more.

The epilogue was very sweet and one of my favorite chapters in the book. From start to end it was emotional, heartwarming and wholesome.

Overall it was a lovely read and I’m so excited for Beth’s next book. The Road trip sounds super fun and I can’t wait for April 2021!!

The Switch was definitely a pleasant surprise from what I was expecting. Leena Cotton and her Grandmother, Eileen, have a very close relationship. Leena is an overachiever who doesn't know how to relax or stop being a people-pleaser. Her job forces her to take a two month paid vacation to regroup. Eileen just became suddenly single at the age of 79 and had many regrets about not taking more exciting adventures. They decide to switch living spaces in two different locations with polar opposite ways of life.

I am in love with the characters and how they evolve during unexpected new life experiences. Eileen is so adorable and by the end, you want to be in her presents to learn from her. Leena transforms into a better version of herself when she re-evaluates her life goals in a small, quaint town. The narration of the novel was well done and added to the enjoyment of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this book for an honest review.

3.5☆


This wonderful book covers some of the heaviest topics like grief, infidelity, insecurity, anxiety, and coming to terms with life as it is. I was surprised how well it was executed and how delicately it dealt with those topics.

At first sight, it may seem as another romance book, but I would argue that it isn't just that. It's so much more. It conveys the life-changing journey of two strong women dealing with grief. It shows how losing someone we love changes us forever and what we become because of it.

However, I have to point out that at times the book felt a bit flat and plain, which kept me from enjoying it fully. But that's me nitpicking.

I would recommend it to anybody, actually. It really shouldn't be restricted as only for women.

This was a cute listen. I loved The Flatshare by the author and was super hyped for this one. While it was cute and dived into family relationships and dating, it was a bit on the boring and tropy side for me. It was cute and worth the read just not what I wanted.

The Switch was one of my most anticipated books of 2020, so much so that I debated buying it from the UK to get it a few months early until my friend bought it for me & it arrived in the mail!! The premise of this book sounded fantastic, and it was. Leena and her grandmother (and her mother) have both had a rough year after Leena's only beloved sister lost her battle with cancer. Leena has a panic attack at work one day and is told to take 2 months of paid vacation. She goes down to visit her grandmother in a quaint English (adorable) town called Hamleigh and ultimately convinces her grandmother to swap places for 2 months.
This book is told in two perspectives, and I loved them both. I am a total sucker for small-town characters, and the ones in this book were fantastic. I loved Leena's friends in London too whom her grandmother Eileen spends time with. There were really just so many lovely characters to root for and love in this book.
In many ways, this reminds me of the movie The Holiday, but with one of the house swap people being 79, there were some different layers to the plot, including a lot of no-nonsense life wisdom.
I loved this book so much and in a completely different way than I loved her debut, The Flatshare.

Review for the audiobook:
I listened to this entire book shortly after I read it in print and LOVED the audiobook too. The narration was spot on and really brought the characters to life!

Beth O’Leary stuns again! I love the story of Leena and her grandmother Eileen, how they grew closer by living each other’s lives for a while. They also learned about themselves and grew to have a deeper appreciation for their place in the world. While the two women do have romantic interests (more than one each!), their love lives take a back seat to their growth as individuals. While they are learning about themselves, they are also still grieving the loss of someone close to them, Leena’s sister. This brings it’s own set of baggage, especially between Leena and her mother. I also love the nosy neighbors Leena falls in with and that Lena’s friends guide Eileen around the city. I can’t say enough good things about this book!


I’ve listened to a few audiobooks, and normally I’d rather read a hard copy or ebook but this audiobook is fantastic! The narrators really projected the emotions of the characters while also giving the listener room to imagine the characters their own way.
I love that this story was so different from The Flatshare but also used space as a theme for bringing people together. I can’t wait to read what’s next from O’Leary!

To answer the most pressing question about this book: No, I didn't like it as much as The Flatshare. But I did quite like it! It's about Leena and Eileen, granddaughter and grandmother, who decide to switch lives for two months. Leena will take a much needed sabbatical from her job and look after her grandmother's small town affairs, while Eileen will move to London for a second chance at love after her marriage of decades dissolves. Entertaining mixups and self knowledge discoveries ensue. Pleasant and enjoyable but ultimately forgettable for me.
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This was great on audio - easy to listen to, enough depth to move me and make me care but not too many details to bog me down. I will warn you that this is definitely not romance (although there is a fair amount of romance), but it's got a lot to offer in terms of charm and a big cast of endearing characters. Kind of hoping O'Leary writes a dedicated romance next, though!

This is, on the surface, a romance, But it's a story about grief, family, and love. It's about healing, hope, what really matters. I loved it.

Loved listening to this funny and sweet rom com! Grandmother Eileen (she is a hoot!) and grand daughter Lena switch places and learn more about each other s lives and and their own as well. They begin healing after the loss of Lena's sister and Lena's eccentric but lovable mom pops into the story as she too begins the healing process. Family, relationships, loss and grief, rediscovery and romance. Loved it :)

A fun book that I listened during the summer. Eileen was my favorite character :)
A bit predictable, but sweet romances, fun characters and a family that needs healing.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank goodness for the ability to curl up and read (or listen) to a good book to escape the real world for a bit. The Switch is my first Netgalley audio read. Once they got the app fixed it was really great. A great cast (with accents and accents I could understand.) This is the Story of Leena and Eileen, a quirky fun duo of grandmother and granddaughter who switch places when their lives take an unexpected twist. It's a sweet story to cap it off.
Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the sweet escape and the opportunity to read this copy prior to its release.

The Switch is very much a movie I would seek out to watch with my friends, a completely sweet, cute feel good plot that makes you feel loved and a strong sense of camaraderie. That being said, this is not my normal kind of book choice (I think this could be best called chick lit) but I had heard so many good things from friends about the book I decided to pick it up anyway regardless of my lack of familiarity with the genre.

The audiobook had two narrators, one for each of the main characters. Both narrators were absolutely perfect, giving life and so much personality to both Eileens and sounding incredibly age appropriate. Everything about their performance including accents, timing and delivery of lines, as well as emotion was so well done, drawing me line after line into this fun story. Side note- older Eileen was a hoot, exactly what I want to be like when I am in my 70s- she really is life goals.

This was surprisingly funny, having a subtle humor that caught me off guard and I completely appreciated. Overall The Switch was such a cute, feel good read that I would read again and of course force on everyone I know to read as well. The audiobook was a great listening experience, I felt like I knew these ladies and I rooted for them and wanted only happiness in the end. I have already picked up another audiobook from this author and I am excited to see what other feel good story she wants to tell.

I was completely charmed by the warmth and humor of this story. The characters are dealing with grief and sadness and do so in such a relatable way. The narrators brought the story to life and conveyed the heart and charm of this story.

While most people have read The Flatshare by the same author first, I went into The Switch with zero expectations for good or bad and since contemporary romance is a genre I have read so few examples of, I wasn't sure I'd like it. But this book manages to be as heartwarming as the premise of its plot makes it sound like. Without shying away from topics like death, grief, loneliness and infidelity, Beth O'Leary manages to maintain the story's light, or rather, hopeful tone.

Without sharing spoilers, I can say that the characters in the story were likable and with their own individual traits and quirks so that in the end the reader doesn't end up facing city vs rural stereotypes. Leena and Eileen Cotton, granddaughter and grandmother, are so alike yet so different at the same time and it's interesting to read what they make of each others' situations. I don't think romance was a crucial part of the story, yet I can't say it was lacking any romance either. Since reading a romance book wasn't my priority, I did not consider it a minus, but readers who want a more romance oriented approach might be surprised. But I definitely think it is worth reading whether your expectations are different from what the book offers or not.

As for the audio quality, I definitely can't complain. To me, the choice of narrators were correct and the characters sounded the way I'd have pictured.
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What a joyful treat this one was, very cute and heartwarming, which are things I normally don't get to say because of the type of books that I usually choose.
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.
This book is full of the people from both women's lives and the author and narrators brought them all to life. I need to read/listen to more books like this one because it certainly put a smile on my face. I also know that I'm beginning to get attached to audio books because of this experience

I had some pretty high expectations for this book after really enjoying The Flatshare, And I’m not saying this is a bad book however I didn’t really care about the characters very much. I wish there was more romance so I think with me going into it wanting romance that made it a little bit of a disappointment. Thanks to NetGalley I was able to listen to most of this on audio and I did enjoy the audio narration. I think the narrorator did a good job engaging me into the book I just kept longing for romance lol! I think as long as you go into this knowing it’s not gonna have a forefront of romance then you will probably enjoy it and I can’t wait to read with this author and publisher is next and it looks like she has a new book coming out in April and I will definitely be picking it up.

One of my top 5 reads from last year was The Flatshare, so obviously I was keen to read O’Leary’s follow up, The Switch. (Thank you to Hachette Australia, Mcmillan Audio and Netgalley for my copy.) A lot of writers struggle with their second novels after pulling off stella debuts, but I soon realised O’Leary had another winner on her hands with The Switch.

The Switch is told from the dual point of views of Leena and her grandmother, Eileen. Leena’s sister, Carla, passed away from cancer and Leena, along with her mother, Marianne, and Eileen, is still mentally suffering from her loss. Leena’s career is affected to such an extent that her boss forces her to take some leave. It’s at the beginning of this forced sabbatical that Leena comes up with the idea of ‘the switch’ – Leena will go and hopefully relax a little at Eileen’s cottage in a quiet Yorkshire village, and Eileen will go and stay at Leena’s flat in London where she will seek out a better-late-than-never type adventure (which includes the search for an older eligible gentleman). Leena will also, hopefully, reconcile with her mother, with whom she has had a somewhat fraught and tense relationship since Carla’s death.

Both Eileen and Leena are very likeable characters and O’Leary makes it easy for the reader to care about them. Marianne is not as well formed but she does get a couple of great scenes that made me alternatively cry and laugh. Both Leena and Eileen also get to be romanced and their respective beaus are equally as likeable. I was definitely cheering them all on and hoping for a happy ever after ending.

O’Leary’s handling of Eileen being a 79 year old looking for new love, romance and even secksy times was very impressive. I am always searching for really good ‘old people’ romance and The Switch is one of the best I’ve read in this respect.

The Flatshare was a stand out to me due to two major pluses – its humour, and the respectful and organic way O’Leary included some really topical issues (racism and PTSD among others) into the plot. O’Leary managed to make me laugh out loud again on more than one occasion. And this time around O’Leary addressed the obvious (coping with the death of a loved one) as well as a lot of themes I wasn’t expecting, such as domestic abuse in the elderly and internet scamming.

I opted for the audio version which features two narrators. Leena is narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones who is currently proving to be quite popular in the small screen adaptation of Normal People, and Eileen is voiced by Alison Steadman who many people would know as Mrs Bennet in Colin Firth’s version of Pride and Prejudice. So, it’s no cheap audio format; both narrators were great and their comic timing spot on. I highly recommend this version.

I must admit, I did enjoy The Flatshare more than The Switch but, as I added The Flatshare to my list of all time favourite books ever and would have given it 10 out of 5 if this was possible, this doesn’t take anything away from The Switch. It’s easily one of the best traditional romance/chick lit novels I’ve read this year. 5 out of 5 for this one and I’ll be there with bells on for O’Leary’s third outing, the recently announced The Road Trip.