This was a fun, light read. I listened to the audio version and the narrators were absolutely delightful. While I didn't get super invested in the story, I loved the narration style. I really enjoyed the characters themselves, since the narration really brought them to life, but the plot was just a little slow for me. This was a good listen if you're looking for a good relaxing read to take your mind off things.

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Current Review

The Switch • Beth O’Leary

⭐️⭐️⭐️👍🏼/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Thank you @netgalley and @quercus for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
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“When I got here I thought their lives were small and silly. Turns out they’re the biggest people I know.”
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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Thumbs Up:
LOVED IT. This book is so heartwarming in every way. The characters are lovely and the story was unique. It selves into some deep topics in the perfect way while still propelling the narrative forward.
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👎🏻Thumbs Down:
Nothing negative to say!
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🤓For readers WHO:
-are fans of the holiday
-want an uplifting family centered story
-enjoy a sassy grandma heroine 👵🏻
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👉🏼This is what’s WHAT:
Lena and Eileen are still reeling from a family death (Lena’s sister) and decide they need a change. They decide to switch lives and hilarity ensues. As they learn to live different lives surrounded by new people, they rediscover themselves and finally grapple with their grief.
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⏳WHEN I read this book:
I felt uplifted and like I should call my grandma!
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🚨WHERE you should watch out:
-cancer/death/grief
-mentions of abusive relationship
-infidelity in a dating relationship
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📍WHY you should read this one:
If you like a classic romcom or your grandma, READ IT.
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📚HOW I read it:
Audio arc from @netgalley

This book is utterly delightful.⁣
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The Flatshare was one of my ABSOLUTE favorite books of 2019. I completely adored it. So when I learned that Beth O’Leary had a new book coming out, I was thrilled!! The Switch and The Flatshare are *so very* different. The Switch has some romantic elements to it, but I wouldn’t call it a romance, so definitely go into it knowing that ahead of time. However!!! It is so lovely and charming. It’s the book equivalent of a cozy, rainy afternoon doing a puzzle on a screened-in porch. 🥰⁣
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My favorite thing about this book was “the olds.” Eileen’s friends in her small town were so colorful and led such vibrant lives, and their stories were so much fun to read. But even more than that, I loved Eileen. She was the star of the book for me. I absolutely loved her and the growth she experienced throughout the story. It’s never too late to change your life ❤️ Brew yourself a pot of tea, and settle in to this book for a warm and comforting read about family and finding joy in the unlikeliest of places.

The Switch was such a heartwarming, surprisingly hilarious, wonderful story of a granddaughter, Leena, changing homes with grandmother Eileen for two months. Eileen always wanted to live in bustling London, and at almost 80 and single, she wants to do it before it’s too late. Leena, still grieving over the death of her sister, blows an important presentation at work and is forced a sabbatical to get her head back in the game. Think of The Holiday, but with family!

I love these characters. I felt like they were my family, and I was helping them basically get their groove back. I will say I loved Eileen a bit more and loved her quest of online dating. (Y’all, spoiler, she get a 🍆 pic 😂) She was a cheeky lady, and I hope I’m like that when I am 79. (If I make it) As I was driving through the 5th circle of hell aka Midtown Atlanta at 5PM, I was cackling in the HOV lane. I love women that are not afraid to speak their mind, but you can fault because they’re elder. Eileen had so much baggage and got to deal with her anger towards her mother about her sisters death head on. Plus, she has a garbage can of a boyfriend, so that’s always fun.

Now, I of course got the audiobook because y’all know I love audio. (Shoutout NetGalley and Macmillan Audio). However, if y’all want to read this (WHICH YOU SHOULD CAUSE DUH) I would recommend getting this in print if you are sensitive to noises in narration. One of the narrators had those noises where you could hear the saliva in the mouth after a sentence. It’s hard to describe, so my bad y’all. Any who, it was really distracting and I couldn’t stop hearing it.


So, if you like The Holiday, you love cat videos and people sending you cat videos, and love second chances on love and finding yourself, pick this bad boy up!

A sweet PG story about two generations learning what to do next after tragedy hits. The story of Eileen (79 year-old grandmother) and Leena (29 year-old granddaughter) is told from the alternating points of view of these two characters. Their story addresses many of the ups and downs of real life, including loss, divorce, dating, grief, friendships, and family.

Eileen becomes a temporary grandmother to Leena’s roommates. She befriends some of the elderly in the London area, sees a need for seniors and works to help. At the same time, Leena is the young, energetic personality who joins Eileen’s friends with their project. Both women learn a lot about what they appreciate in life.

The narrators, Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones from Hulu’s Normal People do a nice job. There are times when they pulled me out of story, mostly when talking on the phone. That doesn't happen often though. Overall, I enjoyed The Switch on audio. It is a beautiful story that works well in an audio format. I plan to look for more stories from Beth O’Leary in the future.

ARC of audiobook received from Netgalley for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading but I actually enjoyed the story. I really liked that there were two narrators so it was easy to distinguish the two points and I really liked both narrators.

It was a really great feel good story and all the characters .were really interesting. While the story dealt with some difficult topics i think they were handled well without getting too heavy.

Overall I enjoyed the book and I recommend the audiobook as the narrators are interesting and keep you engaged with the story.

I recently finished listening to THE SWITCH and it was a pure and utter delight! I’m fact I had to listen to it again , it was so good.
It embraces the notion of family, friends, and belonging. Taking the reader along for a most wonderful adventure. In the heart of the book it shares the heartache of loss and the time and measures it takes to move forward. It also touches on the importance of family and friends.. I loved the audio. Both narrators were amazing. Leena is voiced by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Eileen is narrated by Alison Steadman. Two narrators that I’ll definitely be keeping my ears open for more. I really enjoyed this fresh look on switching lives and look forward to reading more books by this author

The Switch by Beth O’Leary
Leena and her grandma Eileen are looking to switch things up. Leena has been forced to take a two month leave from her high pressure job in London and Eileen, who is newly single at 79, is looking for love. However, there are few options in her tiny village, so they decide to switch places. Leena will stay at her grandmother’s house and run her affairs and Eileen will stay with her granddaughter’s flatmates in London and give online dating a try.

Eileen is a delightful character. To me, she was an adorable combination of Miss Marple and an older Agatha Raisin! She is so much fun!

Leena is still reeling from her sister’s death and is angry at her mother. Being in the same village as her mother forces her to confront these issues.

The book goes back and forth, one chapter from Leena’s point to view and the next from Eileen’s. Both of the narrators for the audiobook were excellent and I didn’t mind switching back and forth to each character’s story.

I really enjoyed O’Leary’s first novel, The Flat Share, but I loved this one even more. It is full of english charm, memorable and likable characters, high jinks, and camaraderie! Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillianaudio for my advanced listener copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book had heart wrenching themes and beautiful writing. I absolutely adored every moment of it. I plan to continue reading this author and recommending her to anyone looking for a great read.

Leena is forced to take a two-month work sabbatical, and switches lives with her recently divorced 79-year old grandma Eileen. Leena moves to Eileen’s cottage in northern England to get a break from work, while Eileen takes on life in London to look for love.

This story was so cute and followed the personal growth of these two women, each chapter alternating narration between Eileen and Leena. While there was some romance in it for each of them, it was just a piece of their development throughout the story. Grandma Eileen was so witty and charming and I loved her openness to adventure regardless of her age. There were a lot of secondary characters which were sometimes hard to keep straight, but they added another element of fun to the story.

The only part I didn't love on audio was any phone conversations -- they tried to make them sound authentic but resulted in being a bit more muffled than the rest of the book.

If you need a reminder that you can continue to grow regardless of age or life’s challenges and setbacks, pick up The Switch when it publishes August 18.

This was a charming book about reinventing yourself and pulling back together after the death of a loved one both as a family and an individual. The story is predictable but the overall writing is enjoyable. This is not necessarily a light read because of the topics it deals with including grief and mental health problems, but the overall effect turns out to be hopeful. The alternating point of view helps highlight both Leena and her grandmother's journey. through quite alien settings.
Both the narrators do a great job bringing their characters to life, and I especially liked the voices Eileen did for the London characters.

When Leena, in her late twenties who lives in London, suddenly had a panic attack during her big presentation she was asked to take a 2 month paid sabbatical leave. She decided to visit her grandmother Eileen who lives in a tiny, quaint village in Yorkshire. Eileen, newly single and about to turn eighty, is looking for a second chance at love. When Leena found out about it, she suggested the switch.
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While Leena took on all of Eileen’s project and Eileen tried to immerse herself in London, the idea of swapping lives was difficult for both of them than they had initially thought. You would expect that the story is just switching places as the title implies, but it was more than that. It dwells with one’s relationship with your family when death tore it apart and learning how to put it back together again. It also deals with being at your twilight years and living it the best as you can be.
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I love the way the narrators read the story though there are times that I was zoning out and I had to rewind a few times. There are more characters too that at times it was hard to keep up but I love Eileen character and given the she’s almost eighty proves that love knows no age. Some scenes are cringe worthy but at the same time funny. If you’re looking for a feel good book, this might be for you.

The Switch ↔️🏠💞🏡⁣
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This character-driven novel is so timely; and it delights the soul during a time when we all just need an escape to the countryside or a change of pace. O'Leary writes about hard topics in a relatable way with a touch of wit and humor! ⁣
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79 year-old Eileen Cotton is in her prime as she looks for love after her husband left her for a dance instructor. Her granddaughter Leena is given 2 months off work to recoup after her panic attack during a client presentation. They both decide a switch may be just what they need. Leena goes to Yorkshire-Dales and takes over her grandmother's projects in her countryside village. Eileen goes to London to stay at Leena's warehouse flat. Life will never be the same for these two after their adventures! ⁣
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This was a sheer delight! I absolutely adored the characters and the writing was witty and funny. The entire listening experience was so well-done with the voices of Alison Steadman as Eileen, and Daisy Edgar-Jones as Leena. ⁣
Thanks to netgalley and MacMillan audio for this ALC. ⁣
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trigger ⚠️: grief/depression, loss of loved one. ⁣
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#theswitch #betholeary #netgalley #bookish #bibliophile #bookcart #booksonbooksonbooks #booksofig #fiction #bookworm #booksta #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

OᐯᗴᖇᐯIᗴᗯ: Leena is ordered to take a two month sabbatical from her job to rest and rejuvenate. She decides to do that at her grandmother’s rural cottage. About to turn eighty, Eileen is looking for love, so she heads to Leena’s flat to try her luck in the big city. Will the switch in locations help them find what they most long for and need?

ᗰY TᕼOᑌᘜᕼTᔕ: Oh gosh, how I loved Eileen! She was such a joyful and positive character with so much spunk. The premise of the two switching lives was so entertaining on both sides. The secondary characters deserve a book of their own or a sequel so we can keep in touch.

ᖇᗩTIᑎᘜ: ★★★★★

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was in the mood for a light read and this book was exactly that. It gave me all the feels of a Hallmark movie (which I love) but was a bit snarkier (which I also love). The story is about Eileen and Leena (grandmother and granddaughter) who literally switch lives for a couple weeks. Eileen longs for a London adventure and Leena has not taken a break from work in a long time. They switch homes, cell phones and responsibilities, and this is just the start of the story. The older characters in this story are so funny and quick-witted! This was a fun, heart-warming story with a bit of romance. If you are looking for a feel-good story, this book is for you!

"The Switch" was a lovely heart-warming story exploring the struggles of family drama, being a career woman, and finding new love. The characters' journeys to stepping past their comfort zone were gradual and very real, making it feel as if you were watching your own friends and neighbors come together. I especially fell in love with Eileen's neighbors in Yorkshire and wouldn't mind doing a little switch of my own.

I thought this book was sweet, quirky and funny. All around a very cute story that I could easily picture like a movie in my head. I loved the main characters and thought that the storyline worked well although at times it seemed a little slow paced. The grandma Eileen made me laugh the most. Probably cause she reminded me of my own grandma! Not my usual genre but will definitely look for more books by this author! Thanks to Netgalley for the audio version of this book!!

The premise: young adult female living in London and her almost-80 year old grandmother living in a small town decide to switch places for two months. Both are dealing with grief over the loss of a loved one and need a change of pace. A most inspiring book, with touches of humor, compassion and romance. Both women end up making a huge difference in their communities and should be an inspiration to all. The narration was easy to listen to and one of my cats set about climbing all over me as I listened. When I turned off the sound, she stopped. She must have felt a connection to the narrators. I loved this book and will definitely recommend it to others!

Trigger warnings for: Death of a loved one, cancer, cheating, and mental health struggles.

This book was so adorable! It gives me the house-swapping vibes of The Holiday, but instead of two strangers, it's a grandmother and a granddaughter swapping homes and lives in order to learn to be themselves again after a variety of huge life events and heartbreaks. I will admit that I loved one POV more than the other (Eileen versus Leena), but that's probably because we don't see very many elderly main characters getting to fall in love and rediscover themselves! This is a HUGELY untapped idea, and I'm glad Beth gave it to us. Leena's plotline didn't speak to me as much, nor did her romance, but that's okay. I was much more interested in her blooming friendships with people from her hometown and her relationship with her mother. This is a cute read and I highly recommend the audio!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for a review. This is a cute story, but a bit predictable. The narration was good and captured the personalities of the women. I did enjoy this book as I was listening to it, but I felt like there was something missing. I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I would have liked for this type of character driven story.