Let me walk in your shoes.
I started listening to this book with the hope of some distraction from current events and maybe a smile or two. What it gave me was so much more and I'm finding it difficult to leave these characters behind and move on to my next read.

Leena is a twenty-something, living the fast track London life. Sadly, she's recently lost her sister to cancer and her performance is suffering. Eileen, her 79 year old Gran is living in Yorkshire, trying to help her daughter (Leena's mother) through her loss, but also struggling with her own problems. They decide they both need a change and come up with the idea of swapping lives. Leena will go to Yorkshire and take over Eileen's responsibilities with the neighbourhood-watch committee and Eileen will hit London and try out the dating scene. Leena will also try and bridge the gaps with her mother that have formed over her sister's death.
It's a ridiculous scenario, but it works, and gives the reader plenty of smiles while both characters are learning some important life lessons.

What really made it for me was that there were some more serious elements too. Loss, loneliness, forgiveness, bereavement, domestic abuse and mental illness, all of which were treated with understanding and respect

I really enjoyed the dual narration. Daisy Edgar-Jones read Leena, while Alison Steadman narrated the elderly Eileen. This made it so much easier to know who was speaking and it only fell down a couple of times towards the end when phone calls had the wrong narrator at the end of the line.

All in all this was an excellent listen and I would have liked to have given it 4 1/2 stars - why isn't this possible??

This is my second audio book to review on Netgalley and am loving that we have more than one format to select from. Audio books free up my hands to do other things so I enjoy them while cleaning or on walks with my dog. I thought this was a great book. It was engaging. I do not know who the narrators are but I absolutely thought they nailed the characters. The storyline was interesting and multi generational so I think it would appeal to a broad audience, particularly on audio. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction.

The switch is a funny emotional novel about two Eileen's Cottons. Two women, a grandmother and granddaughter who after an emotional year decided they need a break from their everyday life. In a very Nancy Myers movie fashion they decide to switch lives. The younger of the two, who goes by Leena, takes over her grandmother's roles in a small town community, all while the older Eileen's takes up online dating and the fast paced city life in London.

The duel perspectives of the two women were refreshing. They both went on an emotional journey; to discover what they wanted out of life, who they were and who they are now. It was a mini roller coaster of emotions. The novel centered around family dynamics and the changes/ripples that can occur with grief.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll blush with embarrassment, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this book.

I listened to this book with the narration of Allison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Edgar-Jones’ voice brings out so many emotions in me. I don’t know if it's because I have watched her in Normal People and the rawness she portrays in that has extended over into her other work with me or if her voice is just that mesmerizing. Either way I believe she was an amazing addition to this audio-book. And Allison Steadman was perfect. Her voice was the perfect mixture of sweet and mischievousness, exactly what you would want in your grandmother.
Thank you #Netgalley for the gifted audio book of #TheSwitch

I received an audio copy of this book from netgalley in return for an honest review
I'm so sorry, I didn't like this book at all the audiobook was okay I guess but felt rushed I could hear the narrators swallow which should've been edited out cuz it was so unnerving, however it was good I give it 3 stars
the book will get 1 star rating from me unfortunetly, it all was chaotic and oh so "convenient" and that'll be all I say about it.

What a great, summer read by Beth O'Leary! We follow urban professional, Leena, and her grandmother, Eileen, as they swap places for two months after some traumatic experiences in their lives. Eileen's husband has recently left her and Leena's sister died the year before, so they both desperately need a change of scenery to recover and find themselves again. Leena and Eileen have similar, take-charge personalities, so I really identified with them. Eileen's meddling in other people's lives was quite entertaining and endearing. Leena's attempts to win over the locals also kept me chuckling. Through helping others, they were able to help themselves and that's a wonderful message.

The story was told from both Leena and Eileen's perspectives through alternating chapters. I thought both narrators did a good job voicing all the characters, but I preferred Leena's voice. Sometimes it was hard to distinguish between the residents of Eileen's village, so that was a challenge with the audiobook format, The flow of the story was well-suited to an audiobook and it was easy to follow which character was speaking.

This was my first audiobook through NetGalley and it was a great experience with their new app. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the digital ARC of the audiobook!

I was excited about the new audiobooks and that they were listen now. However, I was never able to download the audiobook using NetGalley's new shelf. I made numerous attempts, but the download failed every time. I wish there was a way to listen via the internet that does not involve a download.

I went into this listen thinking it would be typical chick lit. It was so much more-and the heartstrings were tugged....hard.
This is an inter-generational look at love and loss and how we experience those things through the eyes of three women from the same family.
The narrator was perfect-I was only conscious of the story and the characters-and not of the narration. I am going back to listen to the first book by the author next, as I enjoyed this audiobook so much.

Eileen is 79, single, and bored with her life. Her granddaughter, Leena, is in her 20s, stressed at work, and needs a break. Frankly, they both need a change. On a whim, they decide their best choice is to switch lives, phones and all.

The Switch like The Holiday mixed with It’s Complicated wrapped up in a sweet British hallmark movie? I don’t know but I was into it.

This was my first netgalley audiobook and I loved it! I don’t know about you, but I often read books with accents in my head. Hearing this charming British novel read aloud made it all the more magical! My only problem with the audio was that there were a ton of side characters. I sometimes mixed up which storyline belonged with which character and I couldn’t simply flip back. It didn’t bother me too much though.

As for our main characters, I found myself looking forward to Eileen’s chapters more. She was so sassy and fun! I don’t think I read enough books with older characters. I loved following her journey through learning technology, dating, and finding herself again.

This book is full of quirky characters, loving friendships, healing relationships, grief, and so much more. I loved every bit of it.

This story alternates POVs from Leena, in her 20s, and her grandmother Eileen, 79. They both need a change and switch houses for a two month sabbatical; Leena stays in Eileen's Yorkshire village and Eileen in Leena's London flat. ⁣
⁣
I really enjoyed The Flatshare and was so excited to read Beth O'Leary's newest as well. I loved this on audio, it was such a delight! I adored both narrators, pacing, and laughed several times. I loved the primary characters, but was more invested in Eileen's story and struggles she endured as an older single woman navigating the dating world and big city. The secondary characters were so strong and well developed. I enjoyed both characters and their journeys to self discovery and growth. This story covered depression, grief, anxiety, and family dynamics so well. This was such a sweet, heartwarming book! ⁣
⁣
Thanks so much for my ALC @macmillan.audio and @flatiron_books! This one releases August 18. ⁣

Another audiobook win! We powered through the entirety The Switch by Beth O’Leary on one of our recent car trips, and we really enjoyed! ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I really loved our experience of listening to The Switch! It was such a fun book with genuine laugh out loud moments and had such a unique premise. So many of us are having conversations about representing diversity in the content we read and I absolutely loved how the true stars of this book were the 80-year-olds! The book gave me all the Sophie Kinsella crazy antics vibes but definitely had some serious moments too. All in all such a fun audiobook for a road trip!⁣⁣

It really had The Holiday movie vibes and made me smile so much.I felt like the book started to ramble a bit at the end, but I wasn’t too mad about it because I loved the characters so much. ⁣⁣

Beth O'Leary has written another heartwarming and wonderful novel. This is the story of a grandmother and granddaughter who switch lives for a few months to find themselves again. Ilene and Lena are both very well developed characters. They have suffered a difficult loss and are not dealing well with it. This is the story of how they both put their lives back together again and end up happier than they could ever have expected. I loved this book as much as The Flatshare and can't wait to read more by Beth O'Leary. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review this book.

What an adorable story! Leena and her grandmother decide to switch lives. Both need some change and think two months living in the others place will be good. The Switch is such a fun adventure. A grandmother enjoying London and spicing up her life. A granddaughter spending time away from the big city. Both have some fun adventures, meet new people and learn a lot about their lives and what they want for the future It was so cute and I didn’t want to put it down. I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator!

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian audio for a free audio version in exchange for my honest review.

Loved The Switch! It was a quick and cute read. I loved the grandmother/granddaughter relationship and how they switched spots and found a better fitting lifestyle and opened up a whole new world for each character. A gentle reminder to step out of our routines and we might find a better life!

The Switch by Beth O’Leary is an utterly delightful story set in the UK and chronicles the lives of a lively grandma and her namesake granddaughter as they switch lives in an attempt to step away from their current lives and struggles for a short while. One story takes place in London and the other in a small rural town. The two swap residences and take on each other’s projects, as well as deem to make some changes of their own while on hiatus.

All of characters are so likeable, endearing and charming, I hated for the story to end simply because I didn’t want to say goodbye to my friends. The dialogue was witty, the messages of grief, starting over and becoming who you want to be at any age, forgiveness, betrayal and more were poignant, while the setting was cozy and vivid.

The narration of this book was perfectly suited to the characters and made me feel as if I was in the cottage, or London flat, having a chat and a cuppa.
I was entranced by this story and cannot wait to read another book by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and MacMillan Audio for the free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A very sweet story! Beth O’Leary writes books that tackle tough subjects, like grief, and turns them into beautiful stories about family, friendship, and love. Though there were a lot of characters to keep track of in this book, I still found each of the main characters’ story’s to be strong and enjoyable. Listening to this book on audio was enjoyable as the two POV's switch actors, but I did find the narration a bit hard to keep track of all the side characters. Definitely was a slow burn on the love story side of things, but overall this book was really cute and worth the read and I'm glad I was able to listen to it!

I was attracted to listening to this book by the premise, and it didn't disappoint. This was a charming listen, and the two narrators for the main characters added greatly to my enjoyment of the book. I've enjoyed a few of the movies out there about characters accidentally and "magically" changing places and living each others lives. This isn't quite that - these characters intentionally choose to inhabit each others' homes and lives for a few weeks, both feeling the need for a break from their own lives and issues. Leena needs a break (and indeed her break has been mandated by her employer) from her high-stress London job. Her grandmother, Eileen, needs a break from her busy small-town life and neighbors. Neither is quite sure what she's getting into when they make the abrupt decision to make the switch, and watching them cope and deal with the changes in their new-found lives is fun. It's a charming book, well narrated, nicely paced and with interesting secondary characters. O'Leary's first book is now on my TBR list.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

The Switch has been a charming story about getting out of your comfort zone, discovering who you are and healing yourself, the audio was a great experience they have that spirit you expect when buying an audiobook, and it certainly does not disappoint, each performance was beautiful, and I immersed myself in the world of books, feeling everything that the protagonists were going through; also in the subject of "learning a language" this book was wonderful, being able to hear the language and being able to repeat the chapters to understand the pronunciation of English has been a pleasant experience.

*Sigh* The Switch was such a lovely story about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, healing, and finding out who you really are. I would highly recommend listening to this one on audio. The narrators did a fantastic job, and I felt like I could picture them as Eileen and Leena.

Leena is a twenty-something Londoner with a fast-paced career and a successful boyfriend, but she's still reeling after the death of her sister. It all comes to a head when she has a panic attack during a really important meeting, and is put on forced leave for a couple of months.

Eileen, Leena's grandmother, lives in a small English town where she plans local events and tries to help the people in her community. Her husband has recently left her for another, younger, woman, leaving her to question what life might have been like if she hadn't gotten pregnant and married so young and instead lived out her dreams of living in London. Plus, she'd love to meet a new man, but there are very few eligible bachelors in her town

So, Leena and Eileen decide to switch lives. They live in each other's houses, take on the tasks the others were doing, and even switch phones and computers. The story that follows this switch was heartwarming and hilarious. I loved the sweet dynamic between grandmother and granddaughter, and their respective journeys of discovering who they really are and the impact they each have on the people in their lives. I thought it was a clever premise, and that the story bore out in a very satisfying way.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy of this book!

I look down into the tea leaves. Letitia’s shoulders start shaking before I see what she sees; by the time I start laughing, she’s whooping, really going for it, tears in the corners of her eyes, stained tunic bouncing with each gulp of laughter.
The tea leaves look like … genitals. Male genitals. It couldn’t be more distinct if I’d tried to arrange it that way on purpose.
‘And what does that mean, eh?’ I say, when I’ve finally got my breath back.
‘I think it means good things are coming your way,’ Letitia says, wiping her eyes. ‘That, or it’s telling me the tea leaves game is a load of cock and balls.’
-Beth O’Leary, The Switch
•
You have no idea how much I laughed while listening to this book! My goodness what a heat warming read this was! I absolutely loved it. The audiobook was a fantastic listen as we get dual narration which really brought the characters to life.
•
We start with Leena who’s been crushing it in the business world. That was until she started having panic attacks and has one during a very important work pitch. She’s told if she wants to keep her job she must take 2 months off to look after herself. Feeling like a total mess, she calls her grandmother Eileen for some comfort and advice. Her nan convinces her to come for a proper visit, so she does.
•
When she arrives, she realises things are not quite right with her nana either. After a chat, 79 year old Eileen and twenty something Leena decide to swap lives for 2 months. Eileen will head to London to look for love and Leena will take over Eileens duties in the small town.
•
This was such a fantastic read. It is my second Beth O’Leary book and it certainly won’t be my last. She builds such incredibly real and relatable characters. I felt so many emotions with this book. I couldn’t believe the amount of times it had me laughing out loud! Eileen was such a perfect representation of a grandmother it was heart warming, and Leena was such a lovely kind soul. I really loved this one!
•
I hope this becomes a movie one day because it would be fantastic!

Another great read from Beth O'Leary! I love her books so much. They are fun, entertaining, witty, and just feel good reads. I love her characters, and how their relationships develop throughout her novels. Predicatable at times, but I needed something like this in the midst of the COVID world! I absolutely loved this one. Bridget Jones vibes for sure!