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.

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!

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 🤭🤭

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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.

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.

4 stars

Leena is sick of her life in London. She has been forced to take a break from work for two months. Which in reality is perfect timing, as Leena's grandmother Eileen needs a break from her small hometown, in order to find love. They decide to swap lives. Not just their houses, nope they swap their phones, their friends and colleagues. Everything.

This book was so much fun! I loved the concept of Eileen stepping into her granddaughters shoes. Discovering online dating and the rush of Londons busy town, while Leena has to slow her life down and adapt to the village life. In saying that, Eileen has left a lot of responsibilities for Leena to pick up.

Even though this has a sprinkle of romance in it, there is also a lot of other topics touched, such as terminal illness, grief and self-discovery.

I will admit, I found the pace a little slow at the start, I really wondered when things would get started, however, once I got into the story I loved it. I loved Eileen, she genuinely has no fear, she tackles everything head-on and she is hilarious. I loved the secondary characters, their personalities were breathtaking and I loved the sense of community in both lives.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators captured the characters perfectly. I loved the differences and effects used while on the phone. These differences really allowed the listener to get sucked into the storyline.

Thank you @netgalley @Macmillanaudio and @BethOLeary for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book is charming, entertaining and all around lovely!

Set in England, Leena and her grandmother come up with the idea to swap houses for 2 months to take a break from each other’s lives and daily routines.

Leena, the granddaughter, moves to her grandma’s quaint English town while Eileen, the grandmother, moves to a flat in London. They not only swap houses, but also responsibilities, phones, laptops and even friends.

I absolutely adored Eileen, the spunky, witty grandmother. She has such a carefree personality. She has no problem telling people to “bug off” and her dating adventures had me laughing out loud!!!

As delightful and endearing as this book is, it also addresses some more serious topics such as grief, anxiety and mental health. As the main characters cope with the loss of a close family member, we learn that they’re overcoming battles of their own which manifest in entirely different ways. The tight community they live in and the support from family and friends is what the main characters need and treasure.

Full of charm and humor, this book was just my cup of tea!

A super sweet tale of a twenty-something girl switching places with her 80 year old grandmother!

This book was a breath of fresh air, both quirky & original.

Eileen is 79 and after her ex-husband ,Wade, of WAY too many wasted years leaves her for their dance instructor, she is bound and determined to live her remaining years to the fullest! Age is nothing but a number! So, she makes a list of “to-dos” and even takes inventory of all of the romantic possibilities that exist in her small town, which unfortunately isn’t many. Total Population is 168.

“It’s never too late to live the life you deserve.”

“...Leena keeps telling me that there are good men out there, that you have to kiss a few frogs, but I’ve been smooching amphibians for almost a year now and I’m losing the will.”

Meanwhile “Leena” who is named after her grandmother is having a hard time at work. After having a panic attack during an important task, she is forced to take a 2 month leave of absence. I cannot stress enough how unwanted this “vacation” is, even if she will still be paid in full while she’s gone.

The two family members call one another, and whilst discussing their lackluster lives they decide to ta-da trade places! However, Leena returning to her hometown isn’t as easy at it seems, for she has unresolved issues with her mother. A family tragedy took place year and 2 months ago and they haven’t seen eye-to-eye. She also must learn to deal with her grandmother’s pesky old neighbor Arnold that always just seems to be “around” and complaining about something and her grandmother’s many projects that demand her attention far too often.

“...Half of my memories have a sweet sepia to childhood nostalgia and the other half are darkly painful with loss.”

Eileen moving to London on the other hand is a force to be reckoned with! She practically forces her friendship upon a neighbor Leticia, and decides to set Leena’s roommate B up on random dates with strangers. Eileen even makes a dating profile and begins to have a fling with a theater actor named Todd and receives her first “d*ck pic.” You won’t believe where these online conversations with these random men will take her!

“I think I got Eileen-ed!”

“You’ve got your scheming face on.”

As grandmom gets more and more wild setting up a meet and greet for seniors, Leena might be realizing what it is that she really wants out of life.

I did think that this would be a bit funnier. The pacing was also a little too slow for me. However, I still enjoyed it and can’t wait to read “The Flatshare.”

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary
Narrated by: Alison Steadman; Daisy Edgar-Jones
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
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Description from NetGalley...
“When overachiever 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 newly single and about to turn eighty. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.

So they decide to try a two-month swap. Eileen will live in London and look for love. She’ll take Leena’s flat, and learn all about casual dating, swiping right, and city neighbors. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire: Eileen’s sweet cottage and garden, her idyllic, quiet village, and her little neighborhood projects.

But stepping into one another's shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected. Will swapping lives help Eileen and Leena find themselves…and maybe even find true love? In Beth O'Leary's The Switch, it's never too late to change everything....or to find yourself.”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @macmillan.audio @macmillanbooks @macmillanreads for the audiobook in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
I wanted to read this because I really enjoyed her other book The Flatshares. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this audiobook. Mostly because of the narrators: Alison Steadman (as in Mrs. Bennett with Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice) and Daisy Edgar-Jones (Marianne, in Sally Rooney’s Normal People). It’s such a fun romcom to listen to, and that Eileen is such a character. I’m not sure if I want her for my grandmother or not (lol!). This book was a laugh-out-loud book for me, and probably made me blushed with some of the things Eileen said. I also enjoyed reading about the country/small town, the funny characters who reside in them and their dramas. But, there is also a serious tone, about how it’s never too late to find yourself, find love and happiness despite of grief, marital breakdowns and toxic relationships.

The Switch is a story of a Grandmother, Eileen, and her Granddaughter/Namesake, Leena, who change places for two months. Lena is on a Sabbatical from a high pressure job and Eileen prescribes the Switch as just what Leena needs. They are both grieving for Leena's Sister, Eileen's other Granddaughter, who has recently died after suffering a terminal illness. Leena is somewhat estranged from her Mother, Eileen's Daughter, who lives in her same village and Eileen is hopeful that Mother and Daughter will reconcile once Leena moves in. Meanwhile, Eileen goes to London and moves in with Leena's roommates. Eileen takes care of all her neighbors and applies the same small town neighborliness to the busy big city life. It is so refreshing to encounter a character of advanced age who is smart and stylish as well as comfortable with her sexuality, as opposed to the bumbling little old ladies we frequently see represented in litetature. These characters take on the best qualities of each other and all end up better off because of it. The neighborliness and caring demonstrated are edifying and it is fun to see Eileen tackling technology and computer dating. I was excited to read this book as I thoroughly enjoyed Beth O'Leary's first book, "The Flatshare". I was not disappointed, as I loved this very uplifting story. It provided lots of laughs and beautifully written characters. The audio narration was outstanding with the different characters voiced in such a way that it was always clear who was speaking..
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for providing this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
#TheSwitch #NetGalley

Thank you #NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!⁣

The Switch by Beth O' Leary is a delightful read. I enjoyed every minute of the listen. This novel is set in a small Yorkshire town and London, Where the Cotton women are dealing with the stages of grief after the loss of a family member. Each family member is trying to cope with the loss of the family member as best they can, but what they really need is time to heal as a family and as individuals. In this fun and entertaining story we watch the cast of rich well developed characters embark in repairing damaged relationships, making new friends, finding contentment and happiness in all aspects of life as well as helping others along the way. I found myself cheering on Leena and Eileen as they navigate through there switch. This is a goodhearted, fun and wholesome book. Having read the Flatshare by Beth O'Leary and loving it, I was worried this would not live up to my expectation. I could not be more wrong, it is brilliant. The Narrators for this novel Allison Steadman and Daisy Edgar- Jones where brilliant, They really brought you in to the story, enhancing the experience for the reader/listener. .

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask, I'll tell you to read it.

Lena Cotton is a high powered woman in London. She's had a lot of upheaval in her life, as she's only a year removed from losing her sister to cancer. As we meet her, she's having a panic attack before and during a client meeting. Lena's boss determines that she needs a sabbatical and tells her she's being pulled from all projects for two months. As she sits at home in her apartment, she calls her grandmother and agrees to come visit for the weekend.

Eileen Cotton is Lena's grandmother, living in a small village in the country. Eileen is very involved in the activities of the village, including the neighborhood watch, the May Day committee, and walking the dog of one of the men in the village once a week. What she misses most, though, is companionship. Her husband, Wade, had walked out on her with their (younger) dance instructor.

While visiting, Lena finds Eileen's "project list", which happens to include a pro/con list of all the eligible men in the village. It's a pretty disappointing list! Lena introduces her grandmother to online dating and they learn that there are none in the "over 70" group within 100 miles of the village. There are, however, over 400 to choose from in London. Then the idea hatches. Lena needs to get away during her sabbatical, and Eileen wants to have an adventure. They decide to switch places for those two months. Eileen's one condition is that Lena has to hand over her laptop and smartphone. She can use the old "dumb" phone and desktop of her grandmother's.

Over the next two months, there are all sorts of adventures for both women. Eileen meets a nice man who wants "no strings attached". She also meets all of the neighbor's in Lena's building and finds a way to give back to her generation in the neighborhood. Lena finds that sometimes the "slow, village life" is anything but. There are drama and stories and always something to do. Lena takes her grandmother's place on all committees and tries to fulfill all her commitments.

I really enjoyed the 2 narrators who alternated chapters. Each played the role of Lena or Eileen Cotton and the story from their perspective. I did get distracted by the noises though. You could hear them clearing their mouths and swallowing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy.

Where do I even begin?! I loved this book! Beth O’Leary is quickly becoming one of my favorites!

This story is so charming! The main ladies seemed so real, I almost felt like they were my friends. The supporting cast was fun and quirky and so, so lovable.

My only complaint is that the ending was a bit predictable.

The narration was fabulous! So much emotion came through. Absolute perfection!!

4.5/5 stars

Review of the story: It was simply wonderful and wholesome and I didn't know I needed a story to cheer me up until I finished this.
- I think the author's writing is easy to get into.
- The family dynamic between the three cotton ladies felt so real.
- The friendships were so lovely.
- As for the characters, I found Leena's journey to accepting the changes that happened in her life very inspiring. And Eileen is an unforgettable character that I liked very much. And, of course, I have developed a big crush on Jackson. He's so sweet it hurts.
Audiobook review: It's really well done. The narrators did an amazing job of immersing the listener in the story. Their voices were clear and amplified the character's mannerisms and speech patterns. I loved it! But there are things to be improved. For example, in phonecalls, the voice of the other side of it was really low and the point-of-view side of the call was loud and it was annoying at times. For both narrators there was some lip-smacking that i just couldn't avoid, I hope that gets removed before publishing the audiobook. But other than that, good production.

🏡💛Book Review: The Switch by Beth O’Leary 🎧⁣
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4/5 ⭐️⁣
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Thank you @netgalley and @flatiron_books for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!⁣ Swipe for Goodreads synopsis ▶️
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This book is a delight and I enjoyed listening to it! The Switch has such a fun premise (think The Holiday meets Gilmore Girls set in London) 💕 The grandmother Eileen is so entertaining and fun and I really enjoyed Leena discovering herself more and stepping out of her comfort zone. ✨⁣
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I loved the Flatshare by O’Leary and this one was just as good! I enjoyed the multiple point of views and the engaging characters. The relationship between Eileen and Leena is so beautiful to watch and they really are there for each other during the hardest times. ⁣
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The older generation was so funny and I loved the characters in these chapters! A few times I got mixed up with all the characters but overall, I enjoyed all the perspectives. ⁣
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The Switch would make a fantastic and entertaining movie! 🎬⁣