A grandmother and granddaughter swap lives in The Switch, a charming, romantic novel by Beth O’Leary, who has been hailed as “the new Jojo Moyes” (Cosmopolitan UK)… 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 … 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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The Switch was refreshing, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable. This story has everything you could ask for: witty characters, strong female relationships and a view about love that’d make anyone hopeful.
Such fun! The charm of dotty English characters is my happy place (though of course they are so much more than dotty.) Both Eileen Cottons, grandmother and granddaughter, are remarkable protagonists for this story of love and loss, of growing and changing, of finding your best self through taking a crazy chance. The story concept is unique and the writing is smooth. This is “It takes a village” in its highest form, only this time it’s two villages. I’m so sorry to leave Hamleigh-in-Harksdale and Shoreditch—I’d like to take up residence and hang out longer!
I am SO LOVING The Switch! It’s so sweet and uplifting and SUCH a balm in these wretched times.
I adored this one! Not truly a romance, though there are two lovely romance plots, this story delivers all the comforting feelings of a good romance. When Leena, a driven, hyper-organized marketing exec , blows a big presentation at work, her boss sends her on a two-month sabbatical. Where to go? Grandmother Eileen’s Yorkshire cottage. Trouble is, Leena’s feuding with her mother, who also lives in the village. All three women, grandmother, mother, and daughter, are still traumatized by the cancer death of Leena’s sister a year ago. Meanwhile, divorcee grandmother Eileen, lynchpin in in village life, is frustrated by the dearth of available men in the village. Solution: Eileen will spend two months in granddaughter Leena’s shared London flat, and Leena will take over her grandmother’s duties in the village. Touching friendships develop on both sides as Eileen and Leena flex their skills and find new confidence. The extended cast is truly charming, and the ending will warm your heart. Highly recommend.
The scenario is perfect. Leena & Eileen, granddaughter & grandma, swap locations & move into each other’s homes, one to escape the rat-race & the other to ignite her love life. Witty, funny, littered with romance, this is an easy yet satisfying read, although the constant Neighbourhood Watch meetings were a little tedious. There are sad undertones with the loss of a loved one, but enough fluff to satisfy all lovers of chick-lit.
After really enjoying the audio of ‘The Flatshare’ earlier this year, I knew this was one I needed to get my hands on!
‘The Switch’ was yet another quaint and unique story, and Leena and her grandmother, Eileen, were such charming and genuine characters! I really enjoyed their different points of view, and I loved the refreshing look into the thoughts of an elder yet very vivacious woman. The narrators with their British accents were such a delight to listen to as well- especially Eileen’s sweet voice who made me reminiscent of the conversations that I used to have with my Memaw before she passed years ago.
While the story was definitely lighter on the romance scale, this was such a fun and heartwarming read. I definitely recommend it and know I’ll also be grabbing up O’Leary’s next book, ‘The Road Trip’, which releases next year!
4.5 Stars!
My first NetGalley audiobook! And it was such a joy. I tend to find Women’s Fiction to be quite hit or miss, as without a romance or mystery or overall purpose (other than finding oneself) to fuel the story, some can be rather boring. However, I LOVED this story. Lena (granddaughter) and Eileen (grandmother) decide to switch lives for a few months, with Lena taking over her grandmother’s house and projects (like the May Day festival and neighborhood watch) in a quite part of England, and Eileen trying out online dating in London.
The book alternates perspectives, switching between Lena and Eileen, and each uses a different narrator in the audiobook, which I love. Having two separate narrators really makes the story come alive and immerse the listener better in the worlds of each character. I originally found the grandmother’s voice slightly grating, but it grew on me over time. Lena’s narrator seemed slightly, well, weak, for the supposed high-powered, no-nonsense businesswoman she was supposed to be in London. However, neither of these casting choices hindered the wonderful telling of the story. Each narrator was a wonderful actress and conveyed the emotion splendidly. I will say that there were quite a few phone calls in the book, and the person on the other end of the line was sometimes so quiet it was hard to hear. But I loved the effect of making them sound like they were actually on the phone.
As far as plot goes, this book was a pure joy. There were tangible goals (overcome the grief of a relative’s passing, successfully celebrate May Day, find a boyfriend) and a set timeline for the life swap that gave this story a purpose. Of course, there were tidbits of romance, which I loved. The supporting cast of characters–Lena’s friends, coworkers, and roommates in London and Eileen’s nosy neighbors in Hamley–really gave this book life, and I loved seeing how they handled Lena and Eileen’s “life swap” (or switch, rather). The bit about trading phones and computers was absolutely absurd–who in their right mind would do that–but after the initial happening, I got over it. I would definitely recommend this book (and audiobook).
Thank you to NetGalley for this free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this story so much, truly it made me laugh out loud and yes I cried as well, when you lose someone that you love people react differently and when the Cotton family suffer a loss Grandmother Eileen and granddaughter Leena decide that a switch in their lives might be just the thing to get everyone back on track or will they find the new me.
Leena is in a high powered position in a company working in London she has a boyfriend Ethan, but life isn’t going as well as it was for Leena and she is ordered to take a two month sabbatical from work and she decides that a trip to her grandmother’s house in a small village in the Dales of Yorkshire will hopefully get her back to normal.
Eileen is nearly eighty years, she is now a single woman and decides that she just may want to see if she can find love again and when her granddaughter Leena arrives in the village they think it might be a good idea if they swap lives for a while, and Eileen is off to London and Leena stays put in the village and takes over the things that her grandmother normally does.
Eileen arrives in London and starts looking for a man and online dating is just what she needs, with the help of Leena’s flat mates Eileen is finding her way around the site and some men that are very interesting, meanwhile back in Hamleigh in Harksdale Leena is learning a lot about the neighbours and their gossip and the dynamics of running a May Day festival with a lot of the locals who are set in their ways, there is much laughter and there is also Jackson the handsome school teacher.
MS O’Leary has written a fabulous story that has a lot of emotions throughout she has also bought into the story some issues about loneliness, grief, and things that can affect everyone but there was so much laughter and love flowing through as well, I loved Eileen and Leena what fabulous characters they are honest and true to life, they are strong and caring. Leena finds it hard with her relationship with Ethan from this distance and discovers that life and love can be found in this small village, and Eileen helps so many people while in London and finds that home is where she really wants to be.
I loved The Flatshare and was eagerly awaiting MS O’Leary’s next book and it is a big hit with me, this is one that I would highly recommend, it was such a fun read with honest feelings running through the storyline, it left me feeling very happy such a fabulous ending I am sre any reader will be smiling at the end.
Edited 7/27/20
Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 4 stars
Story 5 stars
I loved rereading The Switch via audiobook. Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones narrated the story so wonderfully and were perfect as Eileen and Leena. They brought all the humor and heart of the characters to life. I did sometimes have a hard time differentiating between characters because there wasn’t a ton of variation between the voices, but overall this was a wonderful listening experience.
*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book. Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley*
*****
This was such a heartwarming and uplifting novel. I loved how Beth O’Leary put her own unique spin on the trading places premise. I don’t think that I have ever read a novel with an older main character quite like Eileen Cotton. She was hilarious and vivacious and I can only hope that I’m half as entertaining when I’m her age. I loved that it was Eileen out there dating and really embracing life and its adventures. It was a wonderful role reversal and contrast to her granddaughter, Leena. The fish out of water trope is always a fun one, and I enjoyed seeing Leena come to appreciate the slower pace of life and embrace the residents of Hamleigh (quirks and all). Yes, the plot was fairly predictable and there is some drama towards the end, but O’Leary’s writing was wonderful and kept the story engaging and entertaining.
There were many laugh out loud moments thanks to the incredible cast of secondary characters, but The Switch also discussed some very important issues as well. I appreciated the care that O’Leary took in addressing loneliness and isolation among older/aging adults. It’s not a topic I often think of, so I liked how it was highlighted and integrated into the story. O’Leary also tackled grief, depression, domestic violence, death of loved ones, and infidelity compassionately and sensitively. It was all balanced so well with the lighthearted moments and came together beautifully.
There is some slow burn romance and romantic themes in The Switch, but the greater message of hope and healing for all three generations of Cotton women is what really stands out about this novel. The love that Eileen, Marian, and Leena have for each other and their friends and family is the heart of the story. The epilogue left me misty eyed and smiling ear to ear and I cannot wait to see what Beth O’Leary writes next!
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
Oh man, what to say about this book. I guess I should start by mentioning that I gave it the highest honor—I read it with my eyeballs lol. I do audiobooks. It’s reeeeeally hard for me to get to a paperback. I just blew through this.
The world is light and charming and I particularly loved getting Eileen’s POV in this. It really kept the pages moving for me because I couldn’t decide who I liked best, Leena or her grandmother, and I wanted to keep reading to get to their next chapters.
This is definitely a light read, but it still touches on deeper topics like grief and it’s handled really beautifully. I’m so sad it’s over!
I just finished the audiobook and couldn’t recommend it more highly … first person narrators by different actors really bring the whole thing to life. (Alison Steadman as Eileen Cotton (79), is a personal fave from playing Mrs. Bennett in the accalimed BBC Pride & Prejudice adaptation). Plenty of laugh out loud moments and a real page turner whilst being a relatively straightofrward plot.
Beth O’Leary is back in a big way after her debut novel The Flatshare last year won hearts and fans. The Switch is the lovely book you’ve been waiting for this summer. I’m excited to share a pro-tip reader friends, you’re going to want this on audiobook!
Leena, newly sent on a two month break from her job in London swaps homes with her grandmother, Eileen, in Yorkshire. As Leena takes over Eileen’s many activities in the village, Eileen discovers internet dating in London. Nosy neighbors, family drama, unfinished business, and how to move forward are all questions both Leena and Eileen must figure out.
The audiobook is excellent, taking the story next level. Told in alternating chapters by Leena narrated by Alison Stedman, and Eileen narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones of Normal People. Unique is the phone calls between Leena and Eileen when the audio is slightly altered to mimic a phone line where someone is further away. It’s very effective. I really enjoyed both of these narrators and will be looking for other audiobooks they have narrated.
I recommend The Switch on audiobook to readers of women’s fiction, character driven books, and those looking for a quiet book that just feels happy.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listen copy and the chance to review The Switch by Beth O’Leary. All opinions are my own.
This was such a fun book! I am a Beth O’Leary fan now. The two communities Leena and Eileen live in are full of great characters and the two wonder are wonderful themselves! It’s a creative story idea that shows the ways life can teach us when we are willing to change scenery for a bit.
Synopsis:
Following a disastrous presentation, Eileen Cotton is forced to take two months leave from work. When she learns of her grandmother, Leena Cotton’s, desire to expand her dating pool, they hatch a plan to trade places. Leena will try her hand at living in London while Eileen slows down for a bit of small town life. But when their time is over, will the two want to switch back?
Book Review:
I loved the concept of this book. Leena’s Yorkshire village is delightful, full of meddling neighbors and hijinks that fills the story with humor. Both Eileen and Leena make wonderful discoveries about themselves and grow through the course of this book. I wasn’t prepared for the theme of loss and recovering from loss that is central to this novel, but I feel that O’Leary does a good job at showing the impact of losing a loved one and how hard finding normal can be afterward. Overall, it was a good story that I enjoyed reading.
Note: This book does talk about sex, though not in detail and there is some language.
I read this on a train and embarrassed my family by snort-laughing and exclaiming throughout. I loved the premise of an intergenerational life-swap and was overjoyed to find it so perfectly executed. It is a very British book full of heart, wit, and dry observations, and it doubles as a love letter to Yorkshire, all of which made me very nostalgic.
Starts a bit slow, but seeing these women find themselves again and change the world around them is sweet and satisfying.
3.5 stars
One of my favorite comfort movies is The Holiday, in which Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz swap houses in order to take last minute trips to get away from their romantic disasters. Of course, this book spoke to me when I read the blurb. And the fact that the main characters are a grandmother and granddaughter had me even more intrigued. This story got a lot of good buzz when it was first published last summer and I was a bit afraid to read it right away in fear that I’d be disappointed. While the story didn’t take the shape I expected it to, I was not disappointed.
I’ll start with the younger of the two women, Leena. It took a minute for me to get attached to her. She’s not a bad person, but she was the type of go-getter that can be grating at first. To her credit, she really just wanted to help people in her “new” neighborhood, as her grandmother always has. There is another issue with Leena that has to do with her mom and her recently deceased sister that really bothered me. I tried so hard to see Leena’s side of this issue, but couldn’t help but be disappointed that she didn’t try as hard to see her mom’s side and give the support that was needed so they both could find closure and peace. Of course, the two work on these issues throughout the book. Yet every time the subject came up and this part of the story was delved into, I couldn’t help but lose a bit of respect for Leena.
As for Eileen, that woman is a gem! She’s a go-getter just as much as Leena, but has learned tact throughout the years that Leena doesn’t yet have. Throughout this story I knew who I wanted Eileen to end up with, and the author took me on a trip I wasn’t expecting with the character. I’m glad for it. Eileen deserved an adventure.
While I enjoyed this story, I didn’t feel I was able to connect on a deep level with any of the characters. There was a lot going on and a little time to do it in, which meant the jumping around was often felt by me. I’m a timeline/detail fanatic so when things don’t seem to be possible in the time allowed in a story I tend to notice. That’s a me problem, not something that will bother everyone. On my end, it sometimes took me out of the story.
All in all, I had fun with this book and will surely pick up another story by this author in the near future.
Great book!!!!! Read it–you’ll love it.
Beth O’Leary is one of my new favourite authors! This book is funny and poignant. I absolutely love how the switch between Grandma and Granddaughter lead to so much growth for both of them.
The characters are delightful and real. If you are looking for a viok where the older woman isn’t a cliche and has the same substance as a woman in her twenties check this one out. There is life and love after forty and even seventy!
I adored O’Leary’s first novel The Flatshare and The Switch is just as charming and quirky.
A struggling grandmother and her equally struggling granddaughter switch lives for two months between London and a tiny Yorkshire village. Grandma Eileen will be learning the ropes of Tinder and casual dating, whereas Leena will look after Eileen’s quaint garden, cottage, and village projects. The move will prove more than just geographical for both of them.