The Switch is a heartwarming story of a grandmother and her granddaughter going on an adventure by swapping places to shake their lives up, and their journey to finding their way back home.

The narration on this book left a lot to be desired for me. The voices for some characters felt too forced and fake. And even after speeding it up, it was still too slow paced and stilted for me. I did eventually get use to it, but I would have rather read the physical book than listened to this one.

However, I did enjoy the story itself. I loved that there was such a variety of characters with the age gaps. It really added something to the story that gave it a different and unique feel The group of meddlesome and gossipy older neighbors were a hoot! And even Grandma Eileen learned a lot from her young, temporary roommates. Beth O'Leary has a knack for writing such likable and relatable characters!

I also felt that the topic of grief was handled beautifully and very sensitively. The grief over Carla has shaped the lives of the three generations of women over the last year. They all needed to heal in their own time, and dealt with their pain and sadness differently. It was heartwarming how healing had the power to bring them all together.

If you enjoyed The Flatshare, I would definitely recommend picking this one up too!

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and Flatiron Books for my copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary, narrated by Daisy Edgar-Joes and Alison Steadman, is an endearing novel about 79-year-old Eileen Cotton and her driven adult granddaughter, “Leena.” Their family has recently had a significant loss, causing their lives to derail. In order to “find themselves” again, these two women essentially switch lives. Thirty-year-old Leena moves to northern England to the countryside, while Eileen moves into Leena’s apartment in London.
I found this book to be well done. Both women are lovely and dealing with real-life situations, making them both likable and relatable. I enjoyed the fact that Eileen is looking for love later in life, as I feel that many romance stories tend to neglect the geriatric population (side note: this story isn’t necessarily considered a romance and the romantic aspects weren’t the major plot points but instead side plots).
The original premise of this story seemed quite far fetched. I have a hard time believing that corporations would allow, let alone encourage, an employee to take a two-month paid sabbatical. Additionally, Leena’s roommates have no issues with a 79-year-old moving in with them whereas I don't think any of my friends would agree to this scenario. However, this premise works for this story and both women grow in miraculous ways.
I had the pleasure of experiencing this book on audio. The two main characters were narrated by different women, which added to the experience and made it easy to follow. I would consider listening to audiobooks narrated by either woman.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian audio for a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Switch is such a heartwarming book! I am a great fan of Alison Steadman and now that I listen to this audiobook I will also look forward to anything narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones. They both had such a fantastic range of expression that it was difficult not to fall in love with the book after the first two chapters.
79 year old Eileen Cotton and her high flyer manager consultant granddaughter Leena agree to swap their lives for two months. Leena (and all her family) are still trying to cope with the loss of Leena's younger sister, and however hard Leena tried not to let it affect her work, the stress has taken its toll. She is given a two months' paid leave from work. Eileen's husband left her for a younger woman, and now Eileen would like to find new love and companionship. The only snag is that her little village has a very limited choice of suitable candidates. Leena who is completely on board with the idea suggests swapping their lives to give her grandmother a chance to date in London.
I absolutely adored Eileen. We need more books with older protagonists and Beth O'Leary created a wonderful character in this one. Kind, honest, with a fabulous sense of humour, she is also very open-minded and optimistic. For Leena the time she spends in her grandmother's village is the journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
I really enjoyed listening to this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and MacmillanAudio for this advanced listening copy.

Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers providing this review copy.

This was wonderful and the dual narration was fantastic.

I did not expect to like this as much as I did, but somehow the characters caught hold of me in such a way that I cared about their stories. The premise is certainly clever--a young woman switching her London life with her grandma's small village life in Northern England; and the author actually pulls it off in a way that seems possible, at least within the story. While you kind of know fairly early how things will turn out in the end, O'Leary fills the time between with humour and heart, and I was happy to be along for the ride.

Such an adorable book. I have not read the Flatshare, so I went into this without any expectations. And I am glad I did. I am quickly becoming a fan of books with protagonists over the age of 65. It is great to see in literature. I love how the author writes her characters. You feel as though they are someone you would meet in person.

Daisy Edgar and Alison are a brilliant duo for this narration of the audiobook. The emotions have been put forward so beautifully in the narration it's almost as if I was watching a movie with my closed eyes. The narration of the male characters by both the narrators themselves brought back the memories of Story-telling and what it was like to listen to a bed time story and never want it to end. This audiobook deserves all the love and the liveliness and the extra noises made solely in the narration was so nostalgic. It took me back to my childhood when we would listen to the plays on the radio. Don't miss this audiobook. Thanks to the Publisher for the Advance audiobook for an honest review.

The Switch was such a sweet, heartwarming story about love, grief, loss and most importantly - family. It is definitely the best book to pick up if you're in need of a cute pick-me-up. However, this was just an average read for me.

Truth to be told, I do enjoy character-driven books, but this one did not do it for me. The pacing was excruciatingly slow and nothing really happens the majority of the book. I was so bored most of the time.

I simply adored Eileen’s chapters. She is so sassy and full of energy. It was so much fun reading about her experiences with living in the big city and navigating online dating. Eileen is definitely someone I aspire to be when I’m older. I would have actually enjoyed the book a lot more if it focused entirely on Eileen because she was simply such a joy to read about.
Leena’s story was not as compelling as Eileen’s. Her story about finding herself and healing was definitely impactful and needed but I wasn’t connected to it at all. I liked Leena but I could not connect with her. In terms of the ending, it was predictable but had I also expected more.

In terms of narration, I loved it! Steadman and Edgar-Jones did a wonderful job at portraying Eileen's and Leena's personality and inner turmoils. Would definitely recommend the audiobook when reading this.

Overall, it was a solid read. The Cotton’s stories definitely stuck with me, but I had expected a little bit more. I do, however, recommend this book to those who would love a fun, sweet story with filled many important themes.

I absolutely love Beth o'learys writing. And this audiobook is not an exception. I love to read about people outside their comfortzone and all the things they get mixed up in. But the book has surprisingly dark subjects too. It is about loss and It is about forgiving. I loved the narrators voices. They Drew me into the book. And made me feel like i was watching a movie. This book i Will absolutely recommend. And i promise you IT won't be my last book written by Beth o'leary. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review

A book including a special bond between grandmother and granddaughter is extra special for me, as my grandmother was my best friend during my high school years. 79 year young Eileen, is dealing with life after her husband leaves her, and she is ready to dip her toes in the life she left behind when she became a wife. Leena is the classic over achiever at work, and she's on a fast track to growing success until a panic attack, during an important work presentation forces her on a two month sabbatical. The idea of being over worked and under rested, in need of a break from reality is something that everyone can relate to, throw in romance and a mother/daughter rift that needs healing, after a loss, and you have everything you need for the perfect un-put-downable story.

I loved this audiobook. The narration is wonderful and brought the characters to life.

This is the story of Leena and her Grandmother Eileen, who whilst dealing with the grief of the death of Leena’s sister decide to switch where they live.

Leena moves to the rural Yorkshire village and takes on Eileen’s commitments within the community. Eileen moves to London and finds herself a new group of interesting and diverse friends.

This story had moments that made me giggle out loud and moments that tugged at my heart and I felt Beth O’Leary has expressed in one sentence the feelings you hold when they miss their sibling, child and Grandchild.

This is a wonderful read and highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook for an honest review.

If you are looking for that uplifting and inspiring read of the summer, then look no further than "The Switch" by Beth O'Leary! The life-changing journeys that Eileen and Leena go through will have readers rooting for them along the way. But it is more than just a romance, it is about two people trying to move on in their grief and find a place where they can truly be themselves. Such a heartwarming read! Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes.

The narrators of this audiobook did such a great job! They were perfectly cast and really captured the voices of the characters.

'These people. There’s such a fierceness to them, such a lovingness. When I got here, I thought their lives were small and silly, but I was wrong. They’re some of the biggest people I know.'
The Switch gives off serious ‘The Holiday’ vibes, which is one of my favourite holiday movies so naturally I loved this book. You have the character that is very sweet and helps others sort their life out to become the best version of themselves, while the other character goes off to find herself again. The story had me laughing and crying- the Shrek references were brilliant. As with the above quote, this book looks at how everyone has their own battles and although their lives may not be like yours, they are fierce and strong at heart. The characters were all lively and help create such a heart-warming story.
Beth O’Leary does it again with gracefully covering hard topics such as grief, anxiety, depression and entering the dating world again in your ‘experienced’ years. The audiobook was done very well and enjoyed that there was two different people reading to match the dual point of view in the book. It created more of a ‘real life’ atmosphere to the book and felt more connected to the story. It was almost as if you were catching up with the girls.
Beth O'Leary has become an auto-buy author with this latest book.

TW: Cancer, severe grief and depression

Thanks to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC of The Switch. I alternated between the audio and written version of this book, and both were excellent.

I had high hopes for The Switch, since her previous novel, The Flatshare, was one of my favorites from last year. It did not disappoint, and was just as charming and easy to read. I loved the characters Leena, and her grandmother, Eileen. The dialogue was cheeky and fun, and I laughed out loud throughout the book. On the other hand, both characters dealt with grief from losing a loved one, and there were a lot of self-realizations and digging through feelings that made the book a bit more serious at times. Overall, The Switch was such an enjoyable read with very lovable characters. Although a few parts were predictable, O'Leary writes in such a way that really makes you root for the protagonists and hope for a happy ending. The audio had delightful British accents, and I felt that it was cast perfectly. The reading gave so much life to Eileen and Leena, and listening to it made my ears happy. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who needs an uplifting book!

This book is like a cup of London Fog tea: comforting, relaxing, and entirely quintessential. A charming tale of a grandmother and her granddaughter swapping lives for two months, only to find friendship, love, and a new way of living.

Blurb: When Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two month sabbatical from work, she decides to switch houses, phones, and all matter of living with her grandmother. Eileen will live in London and Leena will live in the small Yorkshire village where her family resides.

Changing places ends up changing everything and the two women learn a lot about themselves, their hang ups, and how to live more fulfilling lives.

I listened to this one on audio and the voices were amazing. There was a comfortable, charming drawl to the narrators and I felt every situation with precise clarity. This is such a cute story and I’d pretty much recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good BBC movie! A relaxing read with lots of familial elements.

“We’ve made the meetings much more interesting. Since we’re not technically a Neighbourhood Watch, just people who like watching our neighbours, there’s no need to stick to any rules or regulations. So we stopped pretending to talk about crime, and just focused on gossip, village scandal, and complaints about rival hamlets.”
“I couldn’t have figured myself out if I’d not been someone else.”
~ Beth O’Leary, The Switch
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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 a newly single seventy-nine-year-old after her husband leaves her for another woman. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.

So, they decide to swap lives. Eileen will go to London and live in Leena’s flat while trying to find love and Leena will remain in Hamleigh taking on her grandmother’s neighbourhood projects.

The Switch follows their journey in their new lives.
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This is such a great, feel-good, humorous read! At the end of this book I was left with a smile on my face because it was such a beautifully written story. The book was written from alternating POVs of granddaughter and grandmother, Leena and Eileen Cotton, as they take the reader through a gamut of emotions. I especially loved the concept of the story – swapping lives, revisiting abandoned dreams, wanting love regardless of age. I especially loved Eileen’s character and was rooting for her the entire time. I loved how it brought together characters of different generations interacting with one another and showing how each group has something to offer or share with the other. The secondary characters were also well-developed, and I enjoyed learning about their lives.

I listened to the audiobook which has two narrators - Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones (from Hulu’s Normal People). The narrators did an exceptionally good job of portraying each of the characters; you could discern one character from the next and they did a great job of letting you feel the emotion of the story in their voices. They brought the characters to life! The narration was clear and easily understood and each chapter was easily discernible. There was also adequate pacing to allow the reader to know when a new scene in the same chapter began. A great listening experience!
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Overall, I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a heart-warming fun read with colourful lively characters!
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Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and provide an honest review.

Having loved "The Flatshare" by @betholearyauthor last year with Leon I bought a copy of The Switch; wanting you recreate that feel-good mood when you read a really lovely book. NetGalley kindly sent me an audio of the book so I was able to switch (see what I did there?!) between reading and listening - thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. I must say that the audio was absolutely delightful! "The Switch" tells the tale of Leena Cotton, a twenty something absolutely gripped by grief and anxiety after the death of her sister. Forced to take a sabbatical after an anxiety attack at work, she swaps her Shoreditch surroundings to that of the tiny village of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, inhabited by her 79 year old grandmother, Eileen Cotton. Narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alison Steadman, both women are totally believable representations of their characters. Daisy's narration really brings out Leena's grief, always bubbling at the surface and ready to appear, particularly in scenes with her mother, who is also grief-stricken but in a way alien to Leena; leaning on her yoga and crystals as a way to channel her emotions. The narrative switches (!) in alternate chapters are lovely and the chapters with Alison Steadman narrating are perfect. We really get a sense of not only her humour, wisdom and worldliness but just how this initial fish-out-of-water situation is developed as Eileen makes herself a valuable member of the community, forges unlikely friendships and even learns about the positives and the perils of online dating. I thoroughly recommend this book as well as making the switch to the audiobook.

3.5 stars!

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙:
-I LOVED Eileen so much. She was such a firecracker and I loved every bit of her personality.
-The character development, in general, was awesome and I really liked how many side characters we got to know and love.
-The plotline itself was so unique and the story kept me wanting more.
-The narrators of this audiobook did an awesome job.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
-Slow pacing - typical for character-driven novels but something I'm not a fan of.
-SO many subplots made it hard to keep up at times.

Reminiscent of Aesop's "The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse", "The Switch" tells the story of a grandmother (Eileen) living in a small Yorkshire village who switches residences with her granddaughter (Leena) living in London. Eileen is seeking adventure and looks for love on a dating website. She also involves herself in the lives of Leena's flat mates and neighbors, even creating a "Silver Shortages Social Club" in the building. Leena is seeking solace after a panic attack at work forces her to take a two-month sabbatical. Leena takes over her grandmother's commitments and becomes involved in the neighborhood watch group and planning the annual May Fair celebration. Both Eileen and Leena form new friendships with funny and quirky characters. Will Eileen or Leena fall in love in their new surroundings?

This heartwarming story reads like a cozy romantic comedy but does contain some language and off-color humor. While the tone of the story is light-hearted, several characters must work through loss and tough family relationships. The importance of friendship is also explored.

Listening to the audio version of the book adds to the story. The use of two narrators, Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones, helps to delineate the chapters. The dual narration reminds listeners of the age difference between the two main characters, as well as the English setting.

I enjoyed this book because of the charming characters, humor, and the theme of bouncing back. Fans of the TV series "Midsomar Murders" will appreciate the small-town England setting. A good book to listen to while commuting or to read while on a beach vacation.

Books is proof that you are never too late to try something new. Very heartwarming, but it was difficult to get into until at least the halfway point-
Very character driven as well.
Please note that this is the first time I have listened to an audiobook though...