I DNF this book about 15% in. I thought I would really enjoy this book, especially seeing as I had the audio version to listen to but it did not live up my expectations. I was board. I could not find myself connecting to the characters. I didn't realize how uninterested I was in the grandmother/granddaughter dynamic until I read this.

This was a cute, light fun read. I love grandmother Eileen’s character and the relationships Leena makes.

The Switch was a lighthearted easy fast paced read, although I listened to the audio version. At first I took this as a romance read but in the end think it falls more under the genre of women's lit. I found the story believable. At first I thought, it can't be that simple to switch places with someone but it was so well written the details made it plausible. There were so many part that I loved and so many times when I was rallying for the love the listener could here blossoming. but, there were also a few times when I was horrified but what was happening like the Howard situation, I was so embarrassed for Eileen! In my opinion, Carla was the biggest character despite never actually doing anything since she died before the plot line. The underlying theme was taking a walk in someone else's shoes. While there was so much learned and so much experiences I think the whole situation was designed to rebuild the relationship between Lena and her mom. As for the listening portion. I really liked the two voices representing the two points of view, I think when audible books have that sort of depth it really helps the reader separate the story lines. Overall I think The Switch was great read and I gave it 4 stars.

I adored this book! The Switch by Beth O'Leary is a story about two women looking for change. Leena and Grandma Eileen’s switch comes after Leena is given a two-month sabbatical from her job and Eileen’s husband leaves her for the dance instructor. While I wouldn’t put this firmly in the romance category, it’s more women’s fiction, it does offer not one but two happily-ever-afters that satisfy this romance-lover’s heart.

Leena is living in London, putting everything she has into her career. After the death of her younger sister two years prior, Leena struggles with grief, depression, and anxiety. When an important meeting at work brings everything boiling to the surface, Leena’s boss gives her two months of mandatory leave. Not sure what to do with herself, she finds her way to her grandmother’s home in a small village in Yorkshire. One thing leads to another and before she knows it, Leena is agreeing to swapping lives with her grandmother.

I love Eileen! Eileen reminds me of my great-grandmother who passed away several years ago. Fiercely independent and the matron of the family, she has a truck load of responsibility and does it all with a smile. For the last few years while mourning her granddaughter’s death, she’s been attempting to help her own daughter with her grief and Leena as well. In the midst of this, she’s had to deal with divorce. Now well into her 70s, she’s lonely and maybe ready to get back into the dating scene. Switching places with Leena could solve two problems: reconciliation between mother and daughter and Eileen could find a beau.

Alternating the chapters from both women’s perspectives allows the readers to see each character in a different light. I loved seeing Leena through Eileen’s eyes as it allowed me to understand her better. Leena thinks she’s doing well, coping with her grief and anxiety, and yet seeing what Eileen sees you realize she isn’t. Same with how Leena sees Eileen. I also love the narrators, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alison Steadman. They bring the characters to life with subtle inflections and pacing.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Switch. Both Leena and Eileen are wonderful characters. I liked seeing the juxtaposition of Eileen on the dating scene and Leena being a “parent” to her. Their relationship is wonderful, and I loved how the story was resolved. If you are a fan of women’s fiction, I highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed this story, and especially the audiobook version of it. It’s quite similar in set up to the movie “The Holiday” but still provides an excellent escape from the woes of lockdown, especially for those barred from travelling out of their city/country like I am.

(Apologies for the extremely late review - I fell off the reading bandwagon during the pandemic)

Modern day Town Mouse and the Country Mouse story. Leena leaves her high pressure job in London and switches homes with her grandmother, Eileen, in Yorkshire for two months. New experiences and challenges have both questioning their futures.

I couldn’t get into this book but it may be due the subject matter. An anxiety breakdown is something I can’t really read right now

Leena and her grandmother, Eileen, have one thing in common- they both need a break from their lives. So Leena proposes they switch lives for two months. Leena can get away from London, her job, and try to recover from the tragic loss of her younger sister. Eileen can try re-entering the dating pool at age 79. This book is told from both perspectives and I really enjoyed it. The book began a little slow for me, but once it picked up, I was hooked. I have to admit I enjoyed Eileen's adventures a little more than Leena's- maybe I need to read more books about elderly people! I really enjoyed the audio version- both narrators were fabulous!

I tried to listen to this audiobook 4 different times and was unable to get past the narrators voice. I listen to over 100 books a year, and this is one of the few books I have ever been unable to read due to the narration. I have loved other Beth O'Leary books and will read her again in the future, this one just didn't work out for me.

I am a massive fan of Beth - having fell in love with The Flat Share, I just knew I wanted to get my hands on The Switch.

Some people are old in their twenties, set in their ways and judgemental and many individuals in their twilight years are wise, open hearted refreshing and joyful company with life and dreams still in their later decades. I like very much how that is reflected in the writing in this book. It is rather delightful. At times there was more fun to be had with Eileen than Leena. Eileen embarking on a search for love in London after switching her life with her granddaughter Leena who moved to Eileen's home in Yorkshire. There is a satisfactory back story that links both their journeys and it's all rather fun. The writer has a light touch as she steers the story along. Very light reading and so good hearted. An easy and enjoyable non threatening read.

I was so ecstatic to be approved for the audio book - it was read to perfection, completely enthralling and had me laughing out loud.

An absolute 10 out of 10 - she's done it again!

I enjoyed meeting the characters in this book but feel perhaps I would’ve enjoyed it more by reading rather than listening to the audio. Overall a nice story but felt hard work in places.

Straight off the bat, I knew I'd enjoy this book. Switching lives is one of my favourite tropes, and I love the discomfort it raises in characters.

The audiobook was beautifully narrated, Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones did marvellous jobs bringing the characters and humour to life.

The Switch is a book that will make you laugh out loud, even as it tackles difficult subjects like grief, and it's one I would read again, armed with a box of tissues.

This was super cute, but I didn't like it as much as I liked The Flatshare. The concept was so unique though, switching places/lives with your Grandma? Adorable. Really recommend this one if you're looking for something cute and fun to read.

A huge thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Beth O'Leary's recent works have been extremely disappointing to me. I've very much despised reading her work nowadays and after reading this, I think I will be choosing not to read any of her future work. We started off the story well, but it began to drag and the middle was a whole lot of nothing. A very disappointing read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Switch - Beth O’Leary

An absolutely charming story about a granddaughter and grandmother who both need a break from their daily lives and decide to switch places!

I loved this on audio so much! I am definitely someone who is drawn to thrillers and this was the perfect palette cleanser!

I loved flipping between the quaint little town and London and O’Leary did an excellent job making sure all of the characters had a clear voice, despite having multiple characters.

I definitely recommend adding this one to your summer road trip audiobook lineup!

While this book was cute, I did not enjoy it as much as Beth O’Leary’s first book, The Flatshare.

It was difficult to get into, as it was rather slow paced in the beginning. I felt like the internal conversations of all were all the same throughout the book and there wasn’t quite as much character development as I would have liked. It did not keep my attention, and I ended up not finishing.

This fun novel follows the house swap of a woman with her grandmother. Lots of cute characters and a very positive representation of older characters. A charming book that was easy to read, yet had a emotional pull to it as well. Highly recommend!

This book was SO cute. I loved the dual POV and the feistiness of Eileen. I thought it was so sweet and each of the women had valid reasons for wanting to swap lives. I appreciated the depth that the dynamic between Lina and her mother brought to the plot. Jackson and Hank were adorable. Overall, a wonderfully sweet summer read that I am happy to recommend.

This is a romance book. I listen to the audiobook of this book, and I have to say I like to listen to my audiobooks at a faster then normal speed. There was two narrators (Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones) for this book. I have to say I love the narrator that did Eileen's (The Grandmother) parts, but the narrator that did Leena's (The grand-daughter's) parts I did not love or hate. The story was so fun or good. I loved the characters, and they have so much personally. I was kindly provided an e-audiobook of this book by the publisher (Macmillan Audio) or author (Beth O'Leary) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book.

A Wonderful Story

When Leena and her grandmother Eileen decide to swap lives for two months, they find themselves getting to a rocky start. Eileen, with all her life experience finds it difficult to navigate online dating connections, but has a much easier time at friendship connections than does her granddaughter. Leena doesn’t seem to find friendship anywhere except with her grandmothers next door enemy, and she still has so much anger at her mother.

Although I found the beginning a little slow at first, it ramped up later and I was riveted. As we move through this journey with Leena and Eileen, we don’t just see how they grow and evolve, but I think every reader can identify with their challenges and how they are overcome.

This story was filled with both laughter and angst, and yes, even a little romance, and as expected, all comes right in the end.