This was such a fun read. On the surface, it’s about two women who are bored of their lives. On a deeper level, it’s about love and healing and learning to find yourself. I really loved the characters and the story, and the little twists in the story were very entertaining. The narrators were excellent; the only thing I found jarring was how the volume changed when characters had phone conversation. The slow burn love triangle was delightful, and this was overall a good read.

Switching places isn't a new plot but O'Leary puts a fresh spin on it in this novel. The cover implies a light hearted story of two women finding out who they are. There are plenty of delightful moments yet this story dives deep into the hurts that have touched the Collins women. Leena was bright and driven yet also warm and enchanting. Eileen was the grandmother I hope to be when I have adult grandchildren. The supporting cast of characters was also done so well. With two separate settings, it would be easy to just have a few for locale. But there was a full cast that added such richness to the story. We saw their trials and triumphs as the Collins women fought for theirs. It could have been confusing or shallow or superficial -but it wasn't.
I enjoyed the story so, so much! (And that declaration of love scene at the end - that was good)
I did listen to the audio version for this book. I don't normally "do audiobooks" because I find it easy for my mind to wander and I usually end up leaving the room and missing major chunks. I wanted to try one and Netgalley just added this option to their catalogue.

I did have to restart the book because in the first chapter, I started talking to my husband and walked out of the room. After that, I made a point to listen while I could at least be working on something while I sat, like a puzzle. That kept my mind focused enough to not wander but I was still able to concentrate on the story. As a listener, I appreciated that there were two narrators: one for Leena and one for Eileen. It made it very easy to keep track of which story we were following. I don't know if this is typical for these these types of books - I certainly hope it is. The narrators chosen were perfect as well. They definitely fit their age, and personality. I know that I made time to sit and listen to this book because I was so invested in what was going to happen.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the review copy of this audiobook. The premise of The Switch by Beth O’Leary is so intriguing to me - two people switch lives for two months. With the movie The Holiday, this isn’t necessarily a new premise, but Beth O’Leary added a new spin. Eileen is almost 80 years old and was just left by her husband. Her granddaughter, Leena is feeling the stress of her job and still reeling from the death of her sister.

When Leena is sent on a two month sabbatical from work, the two decide to switch places. This new spin on a classic trading places trope adds a family element and a lot of heart to the narrative. The novel is told alternatively through the point of view of Leena and Eileen.

The audio narration has two wonderful British actresses voicing the roles. Alison Steadman narrates Eileen’s chapters, while Daisy Edgar-Jones narrates the chapters from Leena’s point-of-view. The flow between the chapters is smooth and each actress does a wonderful job of encapsulating her character.

I highly recommend this book in any format, but it was especially enjoyable as an audiobook! Enjoy!

A lighthearted but warm story based on a fun premise. Very enjoyable, and the performances in the audio book are excellent. Very evocative of the Yorkshire Dales and London. I did wonder if the author knew much about older women's (and men's) sexuality but perhaps she wanted the fantasy. My slight quibble was with the quality of the recording, which seemed a little tinny with a few slips by the narrators. Maybe that will be fixed in the final product.

This was a sweet story about a young woman and her grandmother swapping lives for two months. It was enjoyable and humorous, and the characters were likable, but at times I found myself getting a little bored with the dialogue. I have to say, though, that I found Eileen to be quite a cool lady and got a kick out of her dating experiences.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the review copy.

I adored listening to The Switch and fell in love with main characters Lena and her grandmother Eileen! When Lena finds herself given mandatory time off after a debacle at her London office and Eileen realizes there are very few dating prospects in her small Yorkshire village, they agree to switch lives. Full of laughs and endearing moments, these two make a difference in their new communities and learn a lot about themselves in the process. I loved the narrators for both main characters and found the added production in the audiobook really enhanced the experience. I’m so glad I listened to this book!

I enjoyed this 2 POV narration that is spot on. The narrators of the novel are perfect for the two generations of women in the story – their voices sound their age! I could not stop listening as the storytelling just drew me in. I loved The Flatshare and I am enjoying The Switch just as much. Beth O’Leary has done it again in that she has created a relevant story for today’s times that is so different to the other stories out there. I highly recommend this audiobook.

The audio on The Switch was very good (although it was quite slow - I listened to it on 2x because I think 1x would have put me to sleep but that's personal preference and easily adjusted). There are two narrators, one for the younger Leena and the other for grandma Eileen. Both narrators were excellent and depicted their characters well. One of the other cool things about this on audio is when they were describing phone calls, the caller on the other end of the phone sounded farther away, similar to how someone on the phone would sound.

While the audio was excellent, the story did drag a bit. This is a very character-driven story with not a ton of action or plot. Essentially the summary is what happens: Leena and Eileen switch places for two months. Leena is in London and having a panic attack at work and forced into a two month holiday. Eileen had always wanted to live in London and explore the city and the life and the two simply switch. Eileen moves in with Leena's flatmates and Leena moves into Eileen's cottage in a little neighborhood with older people.

The romance in this book is predictable, but that's ok. This book was a cute, feel-good story, but nothing that will stick with me for awhile.

The titled switch in The Switch is between a grandmother and her granddaughter after they both realize they need a shakeup in their lives. Leena Cotton, the granddaughter, has been stressed out with work and the grief over her sister's death. Eileen the grandmother, is newly divorced, almost eighty years old, and wants to see what a new city life might have to offer. The two switch residences and their lives change as they reconnect to who they are and want to be. Beth O'Leary does a great job with character development. She makes the women endearing and relatable. The women have fun new experiences and tasks for them to show their talents. They explore new friendships and goals. All in all the story is light and fun.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This was a really cute and emotional read. I think I had just been hoping for more romance, and instead there was a big focus on grief and loss that I hadn’t been expecting. I’m also not a huge fan of when a main heroine already has a boyfriend and it takes her 80% of the book to realize he’s a douche, and then immediately jump into the arms of another man who had been standing there practically waiting for her to come to her senses.

However, I will say I LOVED the representation of an elderly woman dating and engaging in a sexual fling. About time there was some age representation like that. I just went in expecting this to be more of a fun romp, but it was instead quite hard-hitting, which I’m sure many will love.

This was such a charming book to listen, I'm sad that it's over. The book centers around Leena and her grandmother Eileen, who have both experienced loss and grief recently in their lives. To work through their losses, they decide to switch places for a while, with Leena moving to her grandmother's tiny village to try to repair her relationship with her mother while grieving the loss of her sister, and Eileen moving to the city. While the book has plenty of laugh out loud moments, it also gets to the heart of grief and loss, and the mental trauma both can have on a person.

Audiobook Review:

What a lovely book “The Switch” by Beth O’Leary is. I received this audiobook from @netgalley for my honest review. This story revolves around a Leena and her grandmother Eileen Cotton who decide to switch lives for 2 months.
Leena is forced to take a sabbatical from her job and heads to her grandmother who is looking for adventure in her life and so the adventure begins.
They initially feel out of place but soon learn who they truly are through their adventures. Romance is not far behind but for whom?
I adored Ms. O’Leary’s whimsical writing style. She evokes emotions of love and tears. Her description of how all of her characters allows us a glimpse into how family is not only blood relations but neighbors and friends. I wished I was surrounded by such support. I give this book 5/5. If you want to laugh, cry and feel emotions this book is a must read.

This was so cute and gave me the Sophie Kinsella vibes I was looking for this season. I liked the concept of switching places a lot - I thought this premise was unique and fun. Overall, I would say the book was light but also touches on the impact of loss of a loved one, infidelity, dating after a certain age, and coparenting/step parenting. I really enjoyed all the relationships that developed throughout the story.

Both the narrators were easy to listen to, and it made the audio version very clear as the alternating narrators were easy to follow along with.

I absolutely Loved the audio version of this as well as the story. The voice for Eileen was perfect! I loved How their lives connected and how their switch ended up healing both their own lives, and the people around them. Such a great good-feel book about finding the silver lining. Overcoming grief. And finding yourself.

I absolutely loved this story about a grandmother and granddaughter who swap lives (as in homes and commitments) for two months. It is a story filled with humor, love and great dialogue. The British setting and British phrasing or expressions add to the novel's charm. The grandmother and some of her actions made me laugh out loud. I think this would make a delightful film. This isn't a book that is intellectually stimulating or thought-provoking, but it is completely entertaining and fun. I LOVED it.

Great beach read! Well written and just predictable enough to be easy to read. Sweet story about mother/daughter/grand-daughter relationships and the effects they have on other relationships. The premise of grandma and granddaughter stepping into each other's life is interesting and the characters are quirky and lovable.
#TheSwitch #NetGalley

This is a fun book—at times hilarious, at times emotional. Leena Cotton and her grandmother, Eileen Cotton, exchange their residences for two months. By essentially stepping into each other’s lives, they hang out with people from each other’s life and build new friendships. In the end, they have revelations about their own life, learn to deal with grief, and start afresh. Eileen Cotton’s character as an octogenarian is absolutely badass. Another character that really stood out for me was Eileen Cotton’s neighbor Mr. Arnold, who appears to be a nosy, cranky, old man but undergoes a surprise transformation by the end. The book is filled with several characters who harmoniously bind together. It also focuses on the grief of losing a loved one and the life of our elderly, who can feel stuck and alone in the rush and individuality of city life.
I liked the narration of Eileen’s character more, maybe because I liked that character more overall. I would recommend the audiobook to those who are looking for a light, fresh listen. The run time is 10 hours which can be easily finished in 3-4 days if you listen at 1.75x speed.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing the advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

A heartwarming tale of grief loss and love. I loved the story of granny Eileen and Lena, following them through learning to live again. An excellent story which will also make you laugh along the way!

A review copy was generously provided by Macmillan Audio

A few weeks ago, I finally got around to reading The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary. It was one of those books that had a ton of hype in the romance genre - and, for me, it definitely lived up to the hype. Recently, when Netgalley debuted audiobook review copies, I was over the moon - and when I saw that The Switch by Beth O'Leary was a Read Now title, I didn't even hesitate before downloading it.

The Switch is told from two points of view - that of Leena and her grandmother Eileen. They're at two drastically different points in their lives - Leena is burnt out from her demanding city corporate job and Eileen is wondering what life is like outside of her tiny village. When they decide to switch places, the rotating POV really provided great contrast between their situations.

Eileen, as a 79-year-old woman, was dealing with her regrets over the decisions she made throughout her life and the opportunities she had lost. When she launched her two-month stint in London, we got to see her approach the big city with small town naiveté. During her time in London she didn't become a completely different person - she embraced her village experiences and used them to bring people together in London. The best part of her story was that she never fundamentally changed who she was – by the end of the book she was an improved version of Eileen rather than a new person altogether.

Leena's journey was mostly focused on her learning to slow down and stop running from the pain of her past. Her main source of pain was the passing of her sister a few years prior. This was a major albatross around her neck - one that she had to work through during her two-month stint in Eileen's village. While she took time to learn to slow down and unplug from work, she also learned just how hard her grandmother worked to bring the community together. And that right there is the core of this book - Eileen and Leena both had to learn traits and skills from each other in order to become their best selves. Plus, they each had a very cute romance (which didn't hurt).

The Switch was a big departure from The Flatshare - and that fact really helped to cement her in my auto-buy author list. This book was heartwarming and wholesome, never dealing in stereotypes or leaning on common tropes. Also, if you get the chance, listen to this book as an audiobook - the narrators are fantastic and really helped to immerse me in the story quickly. If you haven't already, I highly recommend that you go check out Beth O'Leary's other book, The Flatshare. 5/5

I'll be honest, it's quite often the cover that grabs my attention first when choosing my next listen and The Switch did not disappoint. Having both Daisy Edgar-Jones & Alison Steadman narrating was an absolute joy.
The storyline had me drawn in from the start, it was funny and quirky and thoroughly enjoyable to listen to

This is an audiobook which everyone needs to listen to xx