This is not my typical genre, but thanks to netgalley I had the audio available so I gave it a shot. It wasn’t too bad. Kinda corny in parts and maybe a tad too long for my liking, but a cute little story about an over worked woman and her not-so-elderly grandma who decide to switch houses for 2 months and adjust to being in the other person’s life and shoes. I enjoyed Eileen but Leena was a tad annoying lol. Overall, not a bad way to pass the day. Review also found on good reads.

This book is hilarious! I absolutely want to grow up to be Grandma Eileen who at 79 years old doesn't mince words and enjoys her love life to it's fullest. Make no mistake, this book deals with some rather gut wrenching issues such as the death of a loved one, grief, losing oneself, anxiety and more, but it is wrapped into witty banter, funny interactions albeit at times humiliating antics and fabulous interactions amongst the cast of characters. The characters are a variety of elderly and young, but make no mistake they are all young at heart! More than one character will find themselves truly becoming the person they have wanted to be and this book really drives home the idea that you are never to old to become the person you want to be! I have never read anything by this author before, but I certainly will be looking for more from her in the future. The narrators do an excellent job of bringing already well developed characters to life and enhancing each one's personality.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books, for sending me the audiobook of The Switch by Beth O'Leary in exchange for my honest review.

I have yet to read The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary, so don't ask me why I decided to pick this one up when I knew nothing about it. Maybe I was craving a fluffy romance, maybe it was all the pre-publication hype, I just know that, even after having The Flatshare on my wishlist list for months, I decided to read this and I'm GLAD.

As I said, I knew absolutely nothing about this book going in, and I must say it took me by surprise. The Switch is definitely a romance, but that's not nearly the main point of the story. We follow two POVs, Leena and Eileen Cotton, a granddaughter/grandmother duo that puts every other relationship like that to shame. The book is set a few months after Leena's sister, Carla, passed away. In the midst of all that pain and a now complicated relationship with her grieving mother, she starts having a few troubles at work, which leads to her boss giving her a paid two-month leave so she can get her feelings sorted.

That's when, after a weekend visit to her grandmother's, she has the brilliant idea that they switch lives. Eileen's husband left, and she's on the hunt to finding a new romance, while Leena desperately needs a change. They will trade lives for the entirety of Leena's eight-week leave of work. Her grandmother will move to her flat in London and try online dating, and she will move to her grandmother's house in Yorkshire and step in to care for her depressed mother and do all the work Eileen usually does for the community.

I don't even know where to begin talking about this book, I loved it that much. First, we have the characters, all fascinating and incredible people that you can't help but fall in love with. But the highlight of this story is definitely Eileen. She's charismatic, hilarious, and a joy to follow. There's also the premise of older people finding love again, and I have never read anything remotely about that, which is a shame. Even though I loved Leena's chapters, there was something about Eileen's Londoner life that won my heart. I adored that this normalised older people finding love again and following their youthful dreams. We need more of that in mainstream media. Also, seeing her inspire Leena's twenty-something-year-old friends made me want a grandmother just like her.

Seeing Leena try to win over her grandmother's elderly friends and try to fit into the village was also incredible. Seen as they're a very tightknit community, how they reacted to this big town outsider made for great banter and loving relationships. Another highlight was the connection between the two main characters. You see how much they're alike and care for each other, and just how important a granddaughter/grandmother bond can be.

Don't let this fluffy description fool you though, this book deals with some heavier topics, but it does so in a brilliant way. How grief can devastate a family, the multiple forms of coping with the loss of a loved one, and how that impacts every dynamic between the family and the community they live in. We see how each character heals differently, and the reconnection of the relationship between Leena and her mother. And as a precaution, there's a slight trigger warning for an abusive relationship. It's not a major plot point, and there's nothing graphic about it, but it does show up and I feel like it's important to mention.

All in all, I adored this book. I wasn't familiar with Beth O'Leary's writing, but The Flatshare just got bumped to the top of my TBR, although I don't think I'll love it just as much as this one. The story was predictable in the best way, and I listened to most of it in one day, because I simply couldn't stop. The narrators were also fantastic. I wasn't crazy about the wet-mouth noises but, after a while and listening to it on 2x speed (as I usually do), I got used to it.

I gave this book 4/5 ⭐️. I feel like these characters, and this story will stay with me for a while, and I highly recommend this if you're looking for a wholesome family-centred read. Also, I saw someone comparing the idea of this book to the film The Holiday, and I totally agree, which is a win, because that is one of my all-time favourite films.

Beth O’Leary will now be an auto buy author for me. I listened to, and loved, The Flatshare so I jumped at the chance to listen to The Switch and it did not disappoint!

Did you watch the 2006 movie, The Holiday? Well, The Switch gave me major The Holiday vibes and I adored both. They both had predictable endings, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.

The Switch is told from two perspectives: Granddaughter Leena and Grandmother Eileen. Leena is a 20 something Londoner who still struggles with the loss of her sister, Carla, and is forced to take two months paid holiday. Something most people would love, but it left Leena reeling since she buried herself in her work. 79-year-old Eileen lives in Yorkshire and has had a lot on her plate as well. Her husband left her, and she’s been taking care of her daughter since her granddaughter, Carla, passed away. they end up swapping lives, and it was absolutely brilliantly done.



Leena had to try to fill her grandma’s big shoes. Just because she’s almost 80, does not mean she lives a slow-paced, relaxing lifestyle lol. She’s one busy woman, and reminds me a lot of my own grandmother at that age. Hearing about Eileen transforming lives in London was just fantastic. I love stories with inter-generational friendships, we can learn so much from each other. Character development is huge for me, and I was happy with not only the main characters development, but also side characters.

While this story was full of humor and positivity, it also covered some difficult topics, especially grief and the impact it can have on a family. O’leary handled it so beautifully.

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alison Steadman brought the characters to life with the narrations, brought out the warmth of Leena and Eileen.

I think this would be a great book for anyone who needs a lighter read, if you liked her book The Flatshare, and/or if you liked the movie The Holiday.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC and opportunity to share my thoughts on this delightful book!

The Switch was a really lovely character driven story that has Leena, who has an apartment in London, swapping living situations with her recently divorced grandmother Eileen, who has a house in Leena's small hometown. Both women need a change. Leena is on a forced sabbatical after a panic attack at her high powered job and Eileen is ready to find another love and the dating prospects are dismal at home. The book alternates between the two woman's adventures.

What makes the story fun is that both of the ladies have amazing friends who support the switchees which allows both woman to hit the ground running in their new temporary lives. It is fun to see Eileen dating and also connecting people in Leena's building - she has a real knack for meddling - and it is just as fun to see Leena taking up Eileen's responsibilities - and also making things better for Eileen's friends and neighbors. And both ladies are extremely likable.

I had the opportunity to do this book in audio and both readers did a very nice job. I really liked this story.


Audio ARC courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley.

I really did try to finish the entire audiobook because the story drew me in immediately, but the narration of this book was horrible and I quit after 6 chapters. There were so many wet mouth noises that it made me ill to listen. I look forward to picking up a physical copy, but I cannot recommend the audio book. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for access to this audiobook!

Beth O’Leary’s The Switch is a charming and heartwarming story that follows Leena, a young woman who lives and works in London.  When Leena suffers a panic attack at work one day and almost costs her company a huge client, it becomes apparent that she needs a break from her life.  When she confides to her grandmother Eileen about what happened, Eileen confesses that she’s not overly happy with her own life at the moment either.  She’s looking for love, but unfortunately, pickings are slim in rural Yorkshire.  On a whim, Eileen and Leena decide to swap places for a couple of months, the idea being that Leena can relax and revitalize in a charming, slower paced rural setting, while Eileen can kick up her heels and enjoy life in the big city, where there are of course many more opportunities to meet Mr. Right.

I enjoyed The Switch so much!  Both Leena and Eileen are such likeable characters and it was fun to watch them both settle into their new environments.  I thought it was so cute watching Eileen hang out with Leena’s young friends, who helped her set up social media dating profiles, and made sure her time in London was everything she hoped it would be.  I also loved watching Leena interact with her grandmother’s, mostly elderly, neighbors.  Everything about this aspect of the book was just so entertaining and I loved all the quirky characters both in London and in Yorkshire.

It wasn’t all fun and games though. The Switch also deals with some serious and emotional topics as well, such as grief, infidelity, and the hazards of online dating.  There’s an especially moving secondary plot that focuses on the death of Leena’s sister Carla and how the loss of Carla has impacted Leena and Eileen, and especially Leena’s mother, who is really struggling with her grief.

There’s also a little romance.  It’s somewhat secondary to the emotional journeys of both Eileen and Leena, but for those who love a little romance in their women’s fiction, it’s definitely there and will put a smile on your face.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Switch and thought the narration was wonderful.  Leena’s chapters are narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones, while Eileen’s are narrated by Allison Steadman.  I thought both voices were perfectly suited to the characters they were narrating and that they both really brought these characters to life beautifully.  I also liked that I was able to comfortably listen to the audio at my usual 1.25x speed.

The Switch is a delightful story about love, family, and community.  If you enjoyed Beth O’Leary’s last novel, The Flatshare, I think you’ll love this one too.

What a SWEET book!! This is a book about a grandmother and granddaughter who are both in a rut after the loss of the granddaughter’s sister who decide to SWITCH places for two months. Leena needs to have her life slow down, while still being distracted by all of her grandmother’s special projects and volunteer endeavors in the country. Eileen wants to have a new start at romance after her husband left her and because she thinks there are no singles in the country so moves into Leena’s flat in London. They both completely embrace their new circumstances. I loved seeing Leena dive into planning the midsommer festival and loved seeing Eileen plan social events with her flatmates in London. This book gave me all the feels, including missing my late Meme (grandmother)!

For the pic, I thought I would have two sisters (my kiddos) pose with their phones and the audios since it suits the story of the sister theme in the book and because a sister switch is a fun idea too. ;-)

Fans of the movie THE HOLIDAY will swoon over this book.

Thank you SO much to @netgalley, @librofm, @macmillan.audio, and @flatiron_books for providing me with an advanced listener copy of this book. All opinions are my own! <3

Pub Day: Tuesday
Author: @betholearyauthor
Narrator: Alison Steadman & Daisy Edgar-Jones
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Switch is the story of the two Eileen Cottons – or Leena and Eileen – granddaughter and grandmother who, after the death of Leena’s sister and the end of Eileen’s marriage, are ready for a change. So, they make the switch! Eileen goes down to stay in Leena’s London flat and look for love for two months (even taking Leena’s smartphone and laptop) and Leena goes back to the Yorkshire Dales to take over her grandmother’s projects, figure out what she wants from life, and maybe reconnect with and forgive the mother she’s been avoiding.
I’ll start by saying I listen to a lot of audiobooks so can confidently say the narration of this one was excellent! I often hear people ask for recommendations of good audiobooks but it is still as personal as recommending any book. However, you usually can’t go wrong with actors as narrators.
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alison Steadman did a fantastic job of narrating Leena and Eileen respectively, and both brought plenty of life to the characters. It was very clear in the dialogue when another character was speaking and there were effects to signal that one half of the dialogue was on the other end of the telephone, all which helps the listening experience. My only slight quibble perhaps is that neither narrator is actually from Yorkshire – although Steadman’s voice work is stellar, and this criticism may be more relevant in other cases – I do think it is important to have an authentic voice in audiobooks.
The Switch deals well and sensitively with bereavement, loneliness, domestic abuse, as well as giving older people a voice – (it reminded me a little bit of Saving Missy). I hesitate to say the book is predictable but there is nothing unexpected here, it’s a tender yet funny story and it’s comforting because of that – it’s not going to shock or disappoint. It’s the heart-warming, Sunday afternoon family film of a book, and is saved from being too sentimental and twee by its humour and the novelty of a swap involving a grandmother and granddaughter, who already love one another and know each other well; rather than sisters who don’t get on (In Her Shoes) or extremely different strangers (The Holiday).
I really enjoyed it as an audiobook so I’ll round up from 3.5 to 4 stars. However, I definitely think the narration helped me enjoy this one more then I might have done if I had simply read the book.
Thank you #NetGalley for the audio ARC of #TheSwitch.

brilliant book.
I ditn know what to expect but i loved it from the first few pages and i was itested from the start to finsh. loved it.

Firstly this book was amazing ! I enjoyed the audiobook as it was narrated by a British person and I totally loved it . The audiobook was everything I wanted it to be and more. The switch tells the story of Eileen an almost eighty year old and her granddaughter Leena. They decide to switch lives and apartments and I can't even imagine doing that with my grandmother 😂🤭Beth O'Leary gave us a story that was not usual as it was an older woman and her granddaughter. Enjoyed the plot, the characters and everything about it. I thoroughly enjoy Eileen as she was fun, honest and a breath of fresh air. I totally recommend this audiobook. Huge thanks to the publisher for my ARC

When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at word, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house in the English countryside.
At the same time, Eileen is newly single at age 79 and goes on a "Big City" adventure in London.
That's how it happens that grandmother and granddaughter switch lives.

This was a sweet, wholesome, heartwarming story that I would recommend if you are in the mood for something to take your mind off the everyday stresses.

Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review.
I will definitely be reading more books by Beth O'Leary.

5/5 stars

** I received this ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review**

I absolutely adore this book. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life, I'm very picky about audiobooks but I HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy and listening to this book. The book alone was fantastic, I've never read from a character around this age but I loved every second of it. I felt so connected to the characters. The writing had a way of drawing me in and keeping me there. I recommend picking this up. This book gives all the feels, happy, sad, anger, anxious. Literally all of the emotions. Again I recommend picking up this book and giving the audiobook a listen!

🚪The Switch🚪
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Why I enjoyed it: This is a great novel about women in a family who are lost after a tragedy. Lena and her grandmother are very close, they decide to swap places. They embark on a new adventure where they find life after heart break. This novel had a very slow start for me. It took me a bit to get into it and I found it to be very predictable. That being said, I enjoyed the story as a whole. It’s very heartwarming and relatable. I think it would make a good quick read.
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For my audiobook readers: The narration started out great (I love a British narrator). There are phone calls through out the story that don’t translate well via audiobook. The person on the phone doesn’t sound believable. I.E. Lena talking to her mother who sounds like she’s younger than her daughter over the phone. I otherwise enjoyed it.
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Rating: 3/5⭐️

Beth O'Leary's latest novel, The Switch, is a honey-sweet romp, telling the tale of grandmother and granddaughter Eileen and Leena, who swap lives for two months. Leena takes a break in a sleepy rural village, indulging in local gossip and village fete planning, while Eileen gets a big London adventure while trying her hand at online dating. The whole is narrated deftly by Alison Steadman, voicing grandma Eileen, and Daisy Edgar-Jones, reading the younger Leena's chapters. Both readers enhance the text, and their voices and narrative choices suit one another as well as the material.

As for that material itself, I found myself in a strange position with The Switch. On the one hand, I had some genuine problems with a story in which bigotry and anti-immigration viewpoints can be tossed off as just a quirky character trait for a village local, and the whole has a decidedly old-fashioned layer (a slow country life is automatically, inherently, superior to city life; everything would be better if we just all knew our neighbors better; who really needs a fancy smartphone?) just beneath the surface that didn't sit well with me. Besides which, every problem had by any character is so easily Fixed once an Eileen Cotton, whether senior or junior, steps in to Save Them, which had me rolling my eyes more than once. But despite these flaws, I was certainly, almost against my will, charmed by the wholesome, bucolic tale, in a way that reminded me of watching Love Actually. That is, I have philosophical issues with it, but somehow it skirts those to get straight to my decidedly unintellectual, sentimental heart.

It isn't quite a romance novel, as the love stories take backseat to the personal development of each protagonist and their relationships with one another, their friends, and Eileen's daughter/Leena's mother between them, but it is romantic - Eileen, recently betrayed by her now ex-husband, is looking for love, while Leena finds herself slowly falling for the local village hunk, despite her boyfriend back in the city. I found Eileen's second chance at love far more convincing than Leena's, simply on the basis of a romantic interest with enough personality to create chemistry; Leena's potential crush has all the character of a large rock. But the book, even Leena's love story specifically, is barely about him, but about what he represents - the idyllic vision of a slow, easy, pastoral life, full of long walks in the Yorkshire countryside's fresh air, home baking, neighbors who pay attention (maybe too much attention) to one another. (So who cares if one of those neighbors is an anti-immigration racist? It's all easy and pleasant in the country, right?)

The Switch is certainly charming; it's cute, it's cozy, the jokes land and the emotional drama cuts deep (content warning for medical issues & family death!). Moreover, the audio is particularly effective, with Steadman and Edgar-Jones's narrations amping up the optimistic, romantic tone. And despite its issues, and its oddly conservative version of an idealized life, I can't resist being charmed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance review copy!

Leena needs a break from life. Eileen, her grandmother is looking for romance. They decide to trade places with each other to be in different cities. Eileen's town will offer Leena some rest and ease while Leena's city offers more single men. Things don't go as smoothly as they each expect. Was it really worth switching lives for?    
    
I really enjoyed this audiobook. The voices were perfect for the characters. It was a fun, easy and humorous listen. Eileen won me over. I want more of her.

From an audio perspective, the narration was particularly well done for Leena. Eileen's was a bit more difficult for more. I could often hear a lot of... I don't know, mouth noises?... It was highly distracting. And some of the voices done were a bit cringe worthy. So it made it a little harder to connect with her story, even though I so appreciated and would have probably enjoyed it more in book form. I enjoyed the premise of the book, the journeys taken, but over all the pacing was a bit off for me too. It felt like slow slow slow character development and then a quick rush to wrap it all up. I'd prefer to have had more of a transition. Still, I'm glad I read/listened to this one.

Thanks so much to the author, NetGalley, Libro.fm, and MacMillan Audio for the complimentary advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } All of my reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW : loss of a family member, cancer, grief/mourning, infadelity

This book was so much fun to listen to! Think of The Holiday, but a young woman switching places with her Grandmother. What could possibly go wrong? It turns out, nothing! It's just a good time for everyone. The audiobook itself was immensely enjoyable, as well, since there were two lovely narrators - a young woman playing Leena and an age-appropriate woman playing her Grandmother Eileen. I loved this, because I always find it silly when there are twenty-something year old actors or voice-actors playing roles of grandparents, when there are so many lovely and age-appropriate men and women that could do the roles just as easily! Plus, you can't go wrong with both actress's adorable accents! Everyone loves an English accent, right? It's not just me?

Getting into the characters, I really loved both of these women. The story is told in alternating chapters between each of their points of view, so we get to see the adventures that each of them go on during their swap, and I loved both of their storylines! Although, I have to say, listening to Eileen while she is on the hunt for a man, online dating, and having sordid sexual affairs, was really fun in my opinion. You don't very often get to hear about women above about 40 falling in love at all, let alone having any sort of sexual relationship, so I thought it was very different and enjoyable as a story here. Both of these women are sassy, and stubborn, and have a matching quick tongue that they are not afraid to use! I must say, though, I think Eileen was my favorite of the characters. I want to be her when I grow up. Seriously, you go Eileen! Although, elderly and eccentric Letitia may be a close second for me!

I will also say that I really loved the more serious, almost underlying, storyline involving both of them as well as Leena's mother/Eileen's daughter Marian mourning the loss of Leena's sister Carla. They all three of them feel the loss in very different ways, and deal with the grief in very different ways as well, and it was really sweet watching how their relationships with each other grew as they learned how they could slowly work through their grief together.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. And would really recommend the audiobook to those wanting to read it! I would say that this book is perfect for a relaxing Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and a puzzle or a coloring book or something else that may seem equally silly but will be nice and relaxing while you listen!

I am not the biggest audiobook fan so when I saw that this was being narrated by Daisy Edar-Jones and Allison Steadman I knew if anything could convert me it would be this! I was right - I loved this. I am a huge fan of Beth O'Leary and her writing style but it really comes to light when read aloud.

The Switch follows Leena and her grandmother Eileen when they switch lives. Leena moves to the Yorkshire countryside and Eileen moves into Leena's flat in London. It is a really sweet and enjoyable story following their mishaps and adventures. There are also more serious moments but they areperfectly balanced with humour true to O'learys style.

I would highly recommend this!

Leena and her grandmother Eileen are each struggling in their day to day, Leena in desperate need of a break, and Eileen looking for a little more excitement. So they decide to switch places for two months. Leena will stay in Eileen’s small town cottage, and Eileen will stay in Leena’s city apartment. Will they find what they’re looking for?

This story was just delightful. I loved the quirky cast of characters and their antics. The storyline and romances were a little predictable but the journey was still a fun one. The audio was incredible and made the story all the more enjoyable.

The relationship between Leena and Eileen reminded me a lot of my relationship with my own grandma. I talk to her every week; she lives in a small town in a different state, and I was thinking of her the whole time, what it would be like if we switched places.


Thank you Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Libro.fm for the gifted ALC