The Switch by Beth O'Leary is a fun listen on audiobook! I was excited for this novel since O'Leary's previous book, The Flatshare, was such a smash hit. The Switch is told in alternating perspectives from Leena, a young and overworked (who isn't, these days?!) overachiever in her 20's, and her grandmother Eileen, 79 and feeling trapped in a tiny town. Their twin journeys through the highs and lows of love are sweet and relatable - regardless of whether you're more of a Leena or an Eileen. The plot has its tropey moments, particularly as the story builds toward the end, but the through line of intergenerational female relationships prevents the predictability from overwhelming. In the audiobook edition, narration from Daisy Edgar-Jones (who you might recognize from the Normal People tv series!) and Alison Steadman helps refine Leena and Eileen's respective personalities. As with many audiobooks, the narration can feel a bit slow at points - antsy readers might prefer the print version - but I could see this being a great backdrop to a mother/daughter road trip or spa weekend. 4/5 Stars.

After thoroughly enjoying ‘The Flatshare’ last year, I was excited to read another of Beth O’Leary’s novels - and what a lovely read this was!

‘The Switch’ is about a grandmother and granddaughter who decide to switch lifestyles for two months. This sounds like a somewhat unlikely premise, but like in her previous novel, O’Leary makes it all sound rather plausable. Eileen is 79, and Leena is in her twenties, and the two characters are both appealing and warm. I felt that the choice of readers for this audiobook version was excellent - Eileen is voiced by Alison Steadman, and Leena by Daisy Edgar-Jones. Eileen reminded me very much of my own grandmother, and I liked that she had plenty of life and mischief in her, unlike the depiction of elderly ladies in some other modern novels.

In terms of plot, you have a very modern, over-worked Leena and her love life, and the equally-busy Eileen and her relationships. It was nice to see the similarities between their lives and the issues that they face. Yes, the conclusion, for both characters is rather predictable, but it’s nice to see how they get there, and this book was overall like a nice warm hug.

In terms of setting, I liked the depiction of Eileen’s Yorkshire village, although I didn’t feel that Leena’s London was depicted particularly strongly (it could have been any town or city really), and it would have maybe been nice to get more of a sense of what Shoreditch. I’m not sure that the is was really a negative point, but worth noting if you’re looking for a book about London.

I’m looking forward to see what Beth O’Leary writes next - I’ll certainly be reading it!

I received this audio book in exchange for an honest review. What a delightful book! This audio book was very well written and narrated. I enjoyed the story line and had several emotions throughout the book. The narration was great. I loved that there were two narrators for the characters. I am excited to purchase this in paper form as well so that I can enjoy it more. I will definitely purchase this author’s other books.

Such a sweet, feel good story! I especially loved spunky Grandma Eileen. And bonus, the narration on this audio version was wonderful. Highly recommend!

ugh my heart is now a melted puddle on the floor....
This is so so wonderful, and reminds me of old Hugh Grant films... Notting Hill anyone?
Both of the charters pulled me in and had me following both story lines at with excitement. Which usually not the case, but this one was done so well. I had a blast listening to this novel, and the audiobook was very good quality and easy to follow.

I read this authors previous book (The Flatshare) and loved it, so I was really excited to read this one, and luckily, I was not disappointed.

hjThis is a cute, rom com but with tons of heart and character. Though this is a dual POV, I never felt like I wanted to hear more about one or the other or got upset when we switched narrators. Sometimes, it can be really frustrating when the POV switches because you are so interested in one character that it feels like you are leaving them behind.

The secret is good transitions, and Beth O'Leary did that perfectly. Each switch came at a moment when it felt natural for the narrative.

Both of the women were fun to read about, and come on, I want to be Eileen at 79. To live in London and have a fling with an actor just because it’s fun and makes her happy! Ugh. She’s so determined and wonderfully creative that I want her to be my grandma. Leena is basically me everyday. Panic attacks and a sense of just trying to survive life without knowing what you really want anymore. She used to know, but things have happened and that person is gone now. Then there’s the cute boy in town lol.

All in all and adorable read with some particularly funny moments with an undercurrent of seriousness. I literally felt gutted and uplifted. Still not sure how that happened.

The Switch
A Novel
by Beth O'Leary
Narrated by Alison Steadman; Daisy Edgar-Jones
Macmillan Audio
Women's Fiction
Pub Date 18 Aug 2020 | Archive Date Not set

Loved this audio edition. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. I loved the whimsy of this tale.

4 stars.

A cute life switch novel about a grandma and granddaughter. Pretty predictable, which made me start losing interest about halfway through.

I had read The Flatshare by the same author and loved the book - this book, though a little different was structured similarly. Really enjoyed the development of both characters! Goes to show that you can continue to grow at any age!!

I really enjoyed this book and loved the premise of a house switch between grandmother and granddaughter, The voices of the narrators made this a really easy listen and something that I looked forward to over a period of evenings,

Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review

3.5-4 stars

The Flatshare was one of my favourite books of 2019, so it was an anxious moment when I received The Switch.

This book was just the salve I needed for my head and heart after reading a few emotionally draining stories in the week prior.

It says it all in the blurb, so you know what you are going to get. This is very much a character driver rather than plot driven tale, and even though it is quite predicatable, it is an enjoyable read.

It is kind of like the movie The Holiday, where grandmother/daughter do the house swap. Eileen and Leena have heartache in their pasts, and perhaps this swap will be a clean start for both of them?

And I gotta say - I am calling Eileen "Grandma gettin' it on" - you'll see why when you read it.

The Switch is a slow paced (though not unbearable slow, pleasurable slow) story of finding oneself again.

The narrator were perfect for Leena and Eileen. They brought that extra element to the story, one that I already liked.

I am looking forward to what Ms O'Leary brings us in the future.

I was so excited for The Switch, as I recommend The Flatshare to everyone I know! The Switch was a delightful family dramady about a grandmother/granddaughter who decide to switch places for two months. This book has laugh out loud moments but also parts that bring tears to your eyes- it focuses on themes of finding your passion, friendship, grief, forgiveness, and love.

I really enjoyed the audible version, and thought the narrators really captured the characters really (although sometimes young Lena talked a little fast (I actually had to make sure I haven’t sped up the speed at one point!)).

The story was complex and captivating. I loved how the focus was more on healing within a person and healing fractured relationships. Having the focus of the book revolve around the strong relationship between granddaughter and grandma was interesting and made for a promising story.

I did have problems with the execution of the audiobook. At times I would find myself distracted by the mannerism of each actor. I could constantly hear the smacking of lips and it would irritate me while I was listening. I had a hard time focusing on the story and truly enjoying it because of this.

I wanted badly to enjoy the audiobook, but I felt like the way it was edited and the actors used made it really difficult to enjoy. The story itself was very good, but I think for me I would better enjoy the book if I read it instead.

I was able to get the audiobook of “The Switch” a few weeks ago on NetGalley and finished it last night.

I loved this book. I was excited to read Beth O’Leary’s new title after loving The Flatshare so much last year and The Switch did not disappoint.

Leena is given a 2-month leave from work after she has a panic attack at work. She’s had a rough year and her employer thinks it’s time she gives herself some R&R.

Meanwhile, Leena’s 79-year-old grandmother Eileen is bored with her life in the country. When Leena comes to visit they hatch up an idea - Leena will stay at her cottage in the country and take over Eileen’s projects, and Eileen will head to London, live in Leena’s flat and have an adventure.

I really love that Eileen is a fully developed (and spunky!) character of her own with a whole storyline. She might be a grandmother but that isn’t her defining identity in the story which was such a breath of fresh air.

Initially, I gave this 4/5 stars, but I’m already rethinking my decision and am probably going to bump this up to 5⭐️.

The Switch will be available here in North America on August 18th.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

The Switch is a fun escape with all its British charm and likable characters. Seventy-nine year old Eileen living in rural Yorkshire and her Londoner granddaughter, Lena, decide to swap lives. They're hoping the two month switch will be just the change they need to rediscover themselves and get their lives back on track. They exchange it all- homes, phones, friends and projects. It's got all the feels and plenty of wit. Grandma is an absolute hoot! If you're looking for a light, enjoyable read, I highly recommend it.

I love house swap stories, so I jumped at the chance to listen to this audio book!

This is a dual POV story of Leena - 20 something overachiever living in London who has just been forced into a 2 month sabbatical and her granny Eileen - 79 who lives in rural Yorkshire. Both of these characters are so delightfully presented that I want to be friends with them both!

They decide to swap houses which leads to an entertaining tale of Eileen discovering how to cope in busy London. In Yorkshire, Leena also has to cope with relationship issues and feelings about her sister’s death.

There is a touch of romance in the book, but it is more of a feel-good story involving Leena and Eileen’s respective journeys brought on by their new living arrangements. This is such a fun feel-good book, I am going buy a copy for my Mom to enjoy!

The narration:
I applaud the decision to go with dual narrators, so we got distinct voices for both Eileen and Leena. Both characters are appropriately and effectively voiced.

Story:4/5 stars
Narration: 4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC of The Switch in exchange for an honest review.

This was a hugely charming and delightful story in every way, with laughs, love, profundity and genuine warmth. I adored both the writing and each of the narrators. I did not want this audiobook to ever end. Both of the main characters (Eileen and her granddaughter Leena) felt like old friends of mine by the time I was halfway through, and I was sad for my relationship with them to end.

The theme of this story reminded me of one of my favorite holiday movies, The Holiday, in which the heartbroken Kate Winslet swaps homes with Cameron Diaz over the Christmas holiday. The theme here is similar, only it is Leena, the overworked and overextended professional living in London, who exchanges homes with her sweet grandmother out in the country. The Switch immediately reveals new adventures and new sides to each woman's personality, wherein grandma Eileen is stronger and spunkier than you may have realized, and Leena has a softer side that might be able to let go of work for a bit and have fun, and, potentially romance.

Many wonderful hijinks ensue. One of my favorite parts was hearing all about Eileen (the grandma's) rather full and ribald dating life. We don't often get a lead female character of a certain age who is shown to still be very interested in dating and sex, and I loved this. The narrator's voice was so warm and lovely that it fully contributed to Eileen being one of my favorite book characters of the year. I wish I had a grandmother like Eileen! I also love, love, LOVED her interaction with her eventual love interest and the way that story unfolded during her other forays into online dating. I laughed, I snorted, and MAYBE I even cried. What more can you ask for in a sweet and clever romance about a fabulous over-70 lady (or lady of any age, for that matter?)

I also loved and related to the overworked Leena, who was a fish out of water in her grandma's neighborhood, but who finds adventures and a potential love interest nonetheless. Leena also finds the opportunity for her assertiveness to help a neighbor of her grandma's who may be in a dangerous situation.

The writing is just lovely and the realizations the characters have about what they are really looking for in life and love are entertaining but also more profound than you might expect from such a lighthearted book. But I am truly blown away by the lovely voice work of both narrators. I almost felt like I was watching a movie, because I could visualize the entire story through both of their voices. I am sure this is a wonderful book to read as well but the audiobook really adds another layer of warmth and fun that I encourage you to experience.

5+ hearts rather than stars for this totally sweet but not at all sappy modern romance and self-discovery of two different generations of women. I am on my way to look up more books (preferably on audio!) by this very talented author whose writing is so warm, kind and genuine. I daresay (hmm, that's the British in me coming out from listening to this) that this is exactly the kind of book we all need to read in these politically charged, pandemic inflamed times --- it will remind you that love, fun, and socialization await us and affection is something anyone of any age can find at any time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Beth O'Leary. This book has so much heart but is not at all cheesy. It is one of my top ten books of 2020, and by far the best romance/chick lit book of 2020 thus far!

Another fun book from Beth O'Leary! Listening to it on audio was a delight also because the narrator brought the story to life with her variety of voices. Would you ever switch your entire life, even for a few months to see what might be out there for you?

The Switch was an interesting read about two women escaping their current reality and trying to find themselves. Just so happens these two women are grandmother/granddaughter. This slice-of-life style story isn't usually my thing, but I found the narrators of the story dragged me in.

Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones did an amazing job portraying Leena and Eileen. The emotions felt by Leena and Eileen were well acted. One didn't dominate over the other either - I never felt drawn more to one and dreading the other, as I have found in other duel perspective stories.

I can't wait to read Beth's previous book and I plan to look out for Alison and Daisy in any other narration roles.

DNF

Narrator drove me crazy. You could hear all the spit in her mouth and every time she swallowed it was super noticeable. I may try just reading the physical copy of this one later