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I absolutely LOVED this book, and the audio is A+. British accents and duel narrators--wonderful. This was the perfect light read that I needed right now.

Eileen "Leena" Cotton has a panic attack at work after overworking herself for years. She is forced to take a two month leave, and ends up "switching" lives with her grandmother--the other Eileen Cotton. Eileen in London and Leena in Henley. It's fairly predictable, but that doesn't take away from the joy of the book.

I have had the author's previous book, The Flatshare on my Kindle TBR for a while, and I'm definitely moving it to the top.

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When a Grandmother and Granddaughter swap lives and homes for two months, one needing a break from their current life and from the stress and the other wanting to finally get a chance at the life she once wanted to live, they both get an adventure and uncover some part of themselves. The Switch came to me at the exact moment I needed it and was therefore exactly what I needed, cute, wholesome, and oh so fun!. Although it was definitely a light, romantic, contemporary, it went a little deeper with the characters and their backgrounds, however, still keeping to it's light-heartedness that I was really craving. This book does deal with heavy topics of love and loss and although there is absolutely romance within this book, I wouldn't say that those aren't the overall aspects of this book. 

I listened to the audiobook version of the book, thanks to the new NetGalley Audiobook Section, and I must say that I really liked how that narrators presented it. There are two different narrators for this book, one for Eileen and one for Leena. What they did well, which is something that audiobooks often don't do very well, is that the narrators voices were easily to distinguish between. This was needed, one because of the ages of the two characters, which just added and pulled me into the book and story so much easier. The performance felt more real, making the story and overall affect, one of my favourite audiobooks I have listened to in a while. Even down to how phone calls were performed. 

I've already put Beth O'Leary's Future release "The Road Trip" on my TBR list, ready for it's release new year!!

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This is a beautiful story about love, family, grief, trauma, anxiety, friendship, betrayal, and community.
The story is told from the perspective of - Eileen (grandmother) and Leena Cotton (granddaughter). 29-year-old Leena Cotton is very successful in her career but for after the death of her sister, she started working day and night to cope up with the loss. Which resulted in 2 months forced Sabbatical from work. Whereas Eileen at age of 79, recently got divorced. She is looking for a second chance in love. Eileen is trying to start dating again but believes that there are not many options available in the town.

"Grandma... what if we swapped? What if I came up and looked after all your projects and you had my flat in Shore ditch and I stayed here?"

They switch houses and routines for two months. Leena move to the town and Eileen moved to London. Leena takes over Eileen’s many activities in the village; Eileen in search of love discovers internet dating in London for the first time which was entertaining. These 2 months in each other’s life changed them in a good way.

The part which touched me the most in the book is about loss and grieve. How people feel when they lose someone very close to them. How they deal and cope up with loss and how life changes for them.

I love all the characters especially Eileen. I recommend this book to those who are in women fiction. It is a light-hearted book with a great story.

As far as the narration is concerned Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones narrated the story so wonderfully. I enjoyed both of these narrators and will be looking for other audiobooks they have narrated.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing The Switch in exchange for an honest review.

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I really loved this one <3

The Switch is a story of grandma and her granddaughter, who switch their homes for a time. Leena, the granddaughter goes to live in rural Yorkshire, to the little town where everybody knows each other. Aileen, the grandma goes to enjoy her life and try the dating scene in London.

It was o lovely :) I adored the grandmother's story from the first few sentences and after a few chapters, I started to love Leena's story arch too. It was really funny with some laugh out loud moments, and just a very precious story. Ideal for summer, or when you just want to feel good.

I really enjoyed the audiobook and narrators were excellent.

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What a charming, endearing, delightful book! I am a fan of stories of people switching places, getting out of their rut and chasing their dreams. And this book took a slight twist on this, when 25-year-old Leena decides to swap homes, lives and daily duties with her 79-year-old grandmother Eileen. Leena leaves the high stress life of London, her eclectic group of friends, her lukewarm boyfriend, and her high-stress life, and moves to the small village that she grew up in, where everyone knows everyone else. And Eileen leaves the comfort of her home, predictable routines and nosy neighbours to shake up her days in London, and maybe find a new romantic interest. The shenanigans that ensue for both women are funny and delightful. But don't go into this book thinking that you won't encounter some deeper topics and emotions.

I loved Eileen's spunk, and willingness to grab a situation and make it her own. And the mix of neighbors from her village had me ready to pack my bags for rural England. The narrators, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alison Steadman, added another layer to this story, bringing these characters to life, and convincing me of the emotions and predicaments, keeping it believable and fun. O'Leary's prose is smooth and relatable, and provided me with the perfect summer read. Highly recommend for those readers who enjoy supportive families, nosy but loveable neighbours, and a bit of love and romance on the side.

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I thought this audiobook would be a modern retelling of Freaky Friday based on the title. As I settled in to listen I was pleasantly surprised that it was not. It’s a modern romantic dramedy set in London as well as it’s countryside. The narration is superb and I didn’t feel a female narrator took anything away when portraying the male characters. The story does not drag and there is a lot going on from beginning to end but its easy to follow. The story is told from two vantage points, Lena who is a young career twenty something with her life all planned out but suddenly has hit some bumps in the road. Then theirs Lena’s 70 year old Grandmother Eileen who lives in the countryside and has been left by her husband and is exploring online dating as a way to find love again. The relationship between the two is closer than mother and daughter and during a weekend visit they decide to switch lives. Lena, a workaholic, has been offered an 8 week paid sabbatical after a failed work presentation. The time in the country will allow her to take personal assessment and get a much needed break. Eileen sees this as an opportunity to step out of her comfort zone and dive deep into the dating casual dating.
There are quite a few characters in the story which are part of Lena and Eileen’s life. The background for each was sufficient to get invested in the characters. None of them seemed excessive. The story unfolded in an orderly mannerly. There were moments that were moments that were funny as well as sad (dealing with the sister’s illness and death and grief). All in all this is a well rounded book and a highly recommended read.

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This story was exactly what I look for in a book - fantastic relationships, fun romances and awesome family dynamics. Eileen Cotton was a delight. I loved everything about her and would absolutely read more of her story. Leena had remarkable growth and navigation through her grief. The romances were lovely, but I would definitely have enjoyed more exploration of the new relationships at the end of the story. Overall this was a lovely book.

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This was a sweet audiobook. I love listening to this from Leena and Eileen as they swap places to live. I liked how they try to make the best of the change. Overall a cute story with a fun cast of characters.

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I really enjoyed listening to this book, Having a narrator for the granddaughter and another for the grandmother really made it more vivid. Generally I like books/movies where there is a life swap, but this book really stood out. The grandmother was so fun and full of life, I’d enjoy more stories of her.

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This was a great audiobook. Very talented narration added much to the experience of The Switch.. 79 year old Eileen has recently been abandoned by her husband Wade. Eileen begins to reflect on her life before her marriage. Eileen longs to enjoy a fulfilling life in spite of everything that's happened. Her granddaughter, Leena, is experiencing troubles of her own. After a panic attack at work she is forced to take some time off- spending it her grandmother. After comparing recent life events. Leena has the wild idea that the two should switch lives for a bit. .
O'Leary's writing style is humorous and witty, she creates characters that are endearing.
Highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this audiobook!

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I’ve read some mixed reviews of The Switch, Beth O’Leary’s second novel. I loved it, but I can understand that if you go into reading this one expecting The Flatshare part 2, you might be disappointed. This is a very different book, although I feel like the similarities in tone and humor make it clear I’m reading an author who is fast becoming one of my favorites (her next one is about a road trip and I’m so excited!).

Leena is having trouble getting her high-powered career back on track after the death of her sister, and her Grandmother Eileen is trying to find love in her small town after her husband left her for a dance instructor, but the pickings are slim. When Leena has a panic attack in front of a major client, her boss insists she take a 2-month sabbatical. She can’t imagine how she’ll spend the time. Her boyfriend is a workaholic and she can’t bear to focus on the business she and her best friend had planned on starting. On a visit to her grandmother’s, Leena finds Eileen’s list of perspective suitors and has an idea. They should switch places. Leena stay’s in the country to heal and repair the rift in her relationship with her mother, and Eileen goes to London where there are tons of eligible bachelors. Each only agrees because they think the other one needs the switch.

This book is a beautiful celebration of family and life and, yes, there is romance, and I loved both love interests, but, unlike The Flatshare, it’s not the central theme. There are a ton of fun characters in both places that add a lot of spice to the story, but ultimately this book is about Leena and Eileen’s journey to heal, them learning what they need to let go, and learning that sometimes home really is where the heart is.

Thank you so much to @netgalley , @flatiron_books , and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. I loved the audio. Both narrators were fantastic (Leena is voiced by Daisy Edgar-Jones from Hulu’s Normal People!) and having their voices guide me through the story enriched the journey so much for me. This one comes out August 18, and I think if you’re looking for a beautiful story celebrating family, you’ll love this one.

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Very cute! My first audio book...ever! I must say I did hesitate for a hot second because I wasn't sure if I would like an audio book. Everyone kept saying how amazing this one was and I must agree. It did take me a bit of getting used to at first but once I did...I loved it!

What was not to like about this book?! The Switch..guess what it is about? Yesss! You are right, it is the classic switch. Except this time, it is totally charming, sweet and entertaining. Leena has struggled with the death of her sister. She copes by working..constantly. She has no life other than work. When she is forced to "take a vacation," well she is not a happy camper! What is she going to do with herself for two months? Switch places with her grandmother, that is what she is going to do.

Enter Grandma Eileen...79 years young and looking for fun! She recently got rid of her cheating loser of a husband and is ready to move on. Yesss! Eileen is literally signing up on dating sites. She is such a funny, entertaining character, I truly loved her. You go Eileen! She was rocking those sites! I can't tell you how many times I laughed or gasped when something funny came out of her mouth! I loved Eileen- she was the best part of the story for me! Thanks Jayme for suggesting this one!

I really enjoyed the listening to this delightful audio book. The narrator was wonderful and a joy to listen to. I love a British accent- I really wish I had one! This was such a fun listen! Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

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This was a very nice surprise of a book. I'll be honest, I went into this like I like to go into most of the books I read: completely blind, without even having read the synopsis. And thank goodness I did that because it was incredible to discover the story of the two Eileen Cotton's as I went along. It was a journey and it felt like I was <i>right there</i> on the side.

Thanks to Netgalley I got to listen to the audiobook but all my opinions on it are 100% my own (like always). This audiobook was a nice addition to this book. It's narrated by 2 different people: an older women for Eileen's chapters and a younger one for Leena's chapters. And they are both in-cre-di-ble!! They brought these characters to life so well. The narration was very fluid, whether you listened to it on normal speed or double speed as I usually like to listen to audiobooks. Both narrators' pronunciations were clear as day in both speeds which made listening to the audiobook very easy and pleasant. I'm very particular with audiobook narrators because some just go overboard with the acting and it makes a perfectly nice book sound horrible. This one was a 10 out of 5 stars for me though. I can't stop thinking about both narrators and now I want to listen to other audiobooks they've narrated, if this is not their first.
If you have the chance, I totally recommend this audiobook. Even if you already have the book, listening to it alongside makes the experience even better.

Now onto the book itself. THIS WAS SO GOOD OMG!!!!!! It was my first Beth O'Leary book but now I'll definitely pick up Flatshare, which has been on my tbr since it came out (why didn't I read it sooner?????). Every single character made my heart warm. Everyone has their role, no character is meaningless and that made me really connect with this story. I love character driven stories and this was <i>just</i> what I needed. The perfect summer, autumn, winter and spring book that will make you root for everyone's story. And oh, grandma Eileen, you are a wild thing and I love to see it 🤭🤭

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I LOVED this book! I read both this and O’Leary’s Flatshare this month, and I feel like she is gifted in really digging into the characters’ motivations. I loved how beautifully written Eileen was as she found her second life. It was so satisfying! The premise of this book was delightful, and dealt generously with heavy topics (mourning and loss) without feeling heavy-handed. I’m a huge fan.

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I love Beth O'Leary and this audio narration is terrific! Sweet and moving romantic arcs in England. RTC.

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The Switch by Beth O’Leary warmed my heart. It was such a pleasant audiobook to listen to. Can you imagine switching places with your grandmother for a couple of months? That’s exactly what happened to Leena and her 79-year-old grandmother, Eileen. And what an absolute delight it was! The characters were all adorable, the storyline was extremely entertaining, and the narration was phenomenal. I loved listening to Eileen and Leena bring this charming story to life. I’m not gonna lie, Eileen was definitely my favorite. She made me miss my late grandma Helen like crazy! I thought of her quite often while I was listening. This is a fun story that I’m sure a lot you will enjoy. Be sure to check it out on release day - August 18th!

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Stop it!!!! Cuteness Overload!!! What the world needs more now than anything is more feel good books like this to offer hope to all of us during this time.

When I saw the author’s name on Netgalley I recalled I had a book on my forever growing TBR called Flatshare since last year. So many awesome reviews last year, that I knew, I had to read it. I read more books than ever before but still hadn’t knocked that one off my TBR list yet. Anyways, I’m so happy that The Switch was my first book ever by Beth O’Leary. What a true delightful listen!!! This story was narrated by Alison Steadman & Daisy Edgar-Jones of Hulu’s “Normal People”. A story of a grandmother, Eileen age 79 and her granddaughter Leena, age 29, who swapper lives for 2 months. This story is told from alternating POVs but Eileen’s are seriously my favorite chapters. The narrators truly brought these two beautiful women to life. What a beautiful, heartwarming and at times tear jerking story. Beth O’Leary has a true talent to write with lots of charm and humor. She has the unique ability to just draw you in. The narrators were exceptional and truly kept me captivated and intrigued.

Pub Date is scheduled for Aug 18, 2020. I voluntarily listened to this book in exchange for my honest review thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. I highly recommend this one. I can’t wait to pick up Flatshare next or whatever else Beth O’Leary has coming out next!!

TW: cancer, severe depression and grief, loss of a loved one

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A word keeps popping up when I try to describe this book: sweet!

I loved the relationships that are discovered and rediscovered throughout this book - whether it be between grandma and granddaughter, mom and daughter, boyfriend and girlfriends, or community in general. I love the way Beth O'Leary describes relationships of all types. I also appreciated the way "elderly" dating was recounted - gave me a little giggle with the crossover of technology and romance. I loved both of the narrators! A very enjoyable read!

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The Switch is Beth O'Leary's follow-up to the outstanding The Flatshare, which I absolutely loved (especially the audio version). It was hard to follow-up the success of The Flatshare for me, and I have to admit that The Switch wasn't quite as good. The Switch was still a good read, putting me in mind of Jenny Colgan, but it didn't quite capture my interest the way that The Flatshare.

The Switch divides it's time between Leena and her grandmother, Eileen. Both of whom are struggling after the death of Leena's sister and Eileen's granddaughter. After a particularly rough time at work, Leena proposes that she and Eileen swap lives. Leena will move to the country and Eileen will get to explore the big city like she always wanted to as a young woman. Both learn so much about themselves and what they truly want out of life, and it's that journey of self-discovery that is the strongest element here. There were flashes of humour and sweet romance alongside the permeating grief that exists for both Leena and Eileen. While this was all great, I just didn't get the same sense of engagement that I did when I read The Flatshare. In some ways, I was expecting this to be a stronger romance more in the vein of The Flatshare, but instead the story focuses more on Leena and Eileen's personal journeys. That's not to say it was bad, just not was I was expecting (or in the mood for at the time).

The audio version of this also added a significant element to the story. Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones both did a fabulous job embodying Leena and Eileen as characters. If you are an audiofile at all, I highly recommend that you choose to listen to the audio version; it really adds something to the storytelling.

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Eighty-year-old Eileen and her granddaughter Leena are in a rut. Out of work and out of love, they propose a switch. Leena will find rest in Eileen's cozy country home, and Eileen will try her hand at romancing a city man in hustling bustling London. What they find, though, is so much more. Friendship, self-worth, and the benefits of independence are life-lessons these two women learn the value of. With maybe a dash of love and romance thrown in along the way.

While I adored O'Leary's "The Flatshare", her sophomore novel "The Switch" didn't quite fill the big shoes "The Flatshare" left behind. The characters were likable enough, but there wasn't enough there to make me really connect or fall in love with them. This was an easy listen, the narrator did a phenomenal job distinguishing each of the characters and gave them each a personality of their own. It was the story itself that didn't "wow" me. I wanted a little more chemistry among the cast. A little more will-they won't-they, something. Nevertheless, a worthy listen for fans of women's fiction and light romance.

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