I keep intending to try a Beth O L':eary novel and this audiobook was a good introduction. It;s quite funny and with Alison Steadman as the voice of the grandma, bery likeable.

I found it a bit predictable but with enough twists to keep it still interesting,. I don't find an 89 year old.s love life so amazing having known people who are now that age but were only in their forties during hte sixties.
It seemed to be finished but carried on a little too long to hammer home the point but it was a nice, escapist chick lit styke book

I listened to the audiobook which is brilliantly narrated by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Steadman plays the role of a wee Granny let loose in London to perfection. Beth O'Leary's characters are charming and likeable. The novel explores themes including bereavement and loss, the search for love and finding yourself. A good, fun, feel-good read.

This was SUCH a fun book. A grandmother and grandaughter swap lives for two months and find themselves in the process. I listened through an audiobook and oh my gosh I highly recommend this format for this book. The two narrators did a fabulous job and had me laughing all the time! Especially the grandmother's point of view. I love that this book depicts older people feeling sexy and engaging in passionate moments. The love stories are subtle but adorable. All the side characters have depth and purpose. Important topics like domestic abuse are brought up and discussed/challenged. So often the older generation can be forgotten in cases like that. It was refreshing to see this author dive into these important topics. Had a wonderful time reading this one, the ending was fabulous!

What a cute light hearted story. Leena Cotton is still reeling from a huge loss in her life. What she really needs is a change. Her grandmother Eileen Cotton is looking for love but the choices in her small town are limited. These two decide to switch lives for a while to get a change of scenery. Eileen moves into Leena’s apartment in London while Leena moves to her grandmother’s cottage in the country.

This story is narrated by two amazing voice actors who brought the story to life. This is a feel good story for all ages. I truly enjoyed this author and this audiobook. I will be looking for more from this author for sure.

Thank you so much netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to Macmillan Audio and Beth O'Leary for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved the narrators for this audiobook, Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones. This was such a cute, fun read, it was quick and was such a pleasure from beginning to end.

I loved the idea of a grandmother and granddaughter switching places for a while, and this played out even better than I could have hoped for. This was such a fun story and I definitely recommend it for those looking for a great, lighthearted read and was perfect during all the craziness right now.

This was the first book I've read from Beth O'Leary, and I will definitely read some more by her.

This book was really interesting. I have never read a book with a grandma’s POV. I enjoyed the grandmas chapters. I did however feel the granddaughters chapters were more predictable. This book was less romance that I thought it was going to be. I would actually categorize it more as Women’s fiction but it was still an enjoyable read

Found I am not a fan of audio books. Unable to finish. I will buy the book and then review for this author.

The audiobook was great and the narrators have done a great job at it and a very thoughtful idea by selecting different narrators for the narration of the main characters the story of the book revolves around, by keeping in mind the age of the characters in the story as well.

Coming to the writing of the book, it was well explanative and was in detail in regards to the the incident. And was a slow read as, the story once about 1/3 felt very flat and was very slow.

Honestly I have not heard a lot of audiobooks, but liked the journey through this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook ARC.

I read (listened to on audiobook, I think) The Flatshare last year and O'Leary immediately became an author persistently on my radar.

So when I saw that Macmillan was offering an ARC on audiobook, even though I found it several weeks after publication, I was thrilled to try it.

First - the narrators. I don't usually comment on the audiobook narrators (nor even necessarily note when I've consumed a book by audio), but it seems pertinent, when the ARC was provided by audio. Even if I have waited for weeks to months for an audiobook to be released or loaned from the library, if the narrator is awful, it's off my phone. I'll give it 5, 10 minutes tops, so I don't imagine that I would stick with one even if given an ARC. Fortunately the two narrators for this one are fantastic, particularly Alison Steadman as the the grandmother. I thoroughly enjoyed their voices and narration and their performances were certainly an asset to the story.

So... I didn't like this one quite as much as The Flatshare. I'm still giving it 4 stars because it hovers between 3 and 4. There wasn't much about it that I didn't like - it was small things, but enough of them to add up to shuffling a step below The Flatshare. Both of the romantic elements were a bit flat to me, and there was one element in the way the two women switched their lives that I simply could never believe and, as it came up throughout the story, it pulled me out because I kept thinking, "that would never happen!" I know that this is fiction, and a romance, and joyful and lovely and so credibility must be stretched a bit and I was all in, actually, with the exception of this one element, which seemed an oversight and was distracting.

However, those quibbles were overshadowed by the fun of everything else. Also by the grief. I know two things are somewhat contradictory and that "the grief" may sound like a detriment - Leena fairly recently lost her sister, also Eileen's granddaughter, a thread that links and affects everything throughout the storyline - but this element only enriches the story. I'm perfectly willing to consider a romance (I used to read them almost exclusively in my early 20s) where the drama is centered solely around the two main characters, but I increasingly find myself happier with those that include weightier backstories and timelines for the characters. In fact, this feels more to me like the primarily categorization should be a general fiction, as the romances seemed almost secondary to the other relationships in the book (both familial and friendships).

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and very much look forward to O'Leary's new one, The Road Trip, in the spring!

Such a delightful lovely read. Highly recommended to someone who wants to have a light hearted read with bouts of laughter. The narrator was awesome. Loved how she materialised the words in her voice and created the magic. Too Good!

Thankyou #NetGalley

The Switch, by Beth O'Leary, was such a fun audiobook to listen to!

I love the premise of the novel... Leena is overworked and forced into a vacation, so she switches towns with her grandmother, Eileen, both women hoping a change of scenery does them some good.

I adore Eileen. She is not at all what you would expect in a grandma, with her fun-loving attitude and her overall charm. Leena? Not so much... Although I am not crazy about her, I do like the way she contrasts her grandmother, further enhancing all the qualities I like in Eileen.

I find the narrator in audiobooks can truly make or break it, and I really enjoyed the narration for this one! Overall, I would certainly recommend this one!

Sadly this was a DNF for me about 1/3 of the way in. I tried multiple times, but couldn’t get into this one. The story revolves around a grandmother (Eileen) and granddaughter (Leena) who are close but lead very different lives. Leena and Eileen are still reeling from a family tragedy the year before and both women are at a turning point in their lives, seeking a fresh start. They decide to switch places for several months, with octogenarian Eileen moving to Leena’s London apartment to have adventures and meet new men; and Leena moving to Eileen’s country home to slow down and find herself again. The narration--although voices were pleasant and perfect for the characters they were playing--was very distracting because of the constant mouth and breathing sounds. Especially for the character playing octogenarian Eileen. The characters and story were sweet, but not enough to keep my attention. I found myself struggling to get through this, but I think many others will enjoy this light-hearted, well-written story.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook ARC.

Heartwarming is the only word to describe this book. Even though it isn’t actually a wintry book it really feels like a cozy read I’d recommend for the holiday season. The general premise is that a young woman living in London trades lives with her grandmother living in the countryside because they’re both struggling in different ways and need a change of perspective. As you can imagine, they both learn a lot, so I worried the book would feel sappy, but it has a such smart sense of humor and a wide array of quirky, charming, and hilarious side characters that it balances out nicely. Since I loved The Flatshare, I knew I wanted to check this out, but it really exceeded my expectations. The audiobook was great as well- there are two different narrators for the granddaughter and grandmother, but they were both lovely and added a ton of personality and humor. I’d highly recommend this one!

“I wave to my friends from the train window watching Yorkshire slide away, and as we streak through the fields towards London I feel a sudden flush of life, a quickening, a new kind of hope, like a greyhound just let out of the gate.”

Eileen Cotton is sick of being 79 and single in a small English town. Leena Cotton is overwhelmed by life in London in her 20’s. When a botched presentation at work forces Leena into a 2 month sabbatical, this grandmother and granddaughter duo decide that they are in desperate need of a switch.

I adored the audible of Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare, so I was very excited to listen to her newest book. Although I didn’t like this one quite as much, The Switch was adorable and made me very nostalgic for my late grandmothers. 🥰 😇

I am an absolute sucker for British rom-coms, and this one did not disappoint. Eileen may be one of the most beloved characters I’ve ever read. I LOVE her. She is what every grandmother should be. She’s loving and wise and protective. She made me tear up and laugh out loud. When Leena had to educate Eileen about the online dating world and being catfished?! Gold. A nearly 80 year old woman putting herself out there in the hopes of finding love (and sex!)?! Get it, Eileen. You go girl. If you have ever loved, or been loved, by an adoring grandmother, this ones for you. 💗💗

Thank you to @netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Some life lessons taken from 'The Switch':
1) Remember to ask myself WWWCD*?
and
2) being nosey can be decidedly useful.

*What would Eileen Cotton do?

In 'The Switch' by Beth O'Leary, Leena Cotton is forced to take a long overdue sabbatical and decides to visit her grandmother Eileen. While recoopurating, Leena developes the ingenious idea of swapping lives - bored octagenarian Eileen can temporarily live in Leena's flat in London and Leena can adopt, Eileen's stress free, easy life in rural Yorkshire.

Needless to say, both women discover that neither have a true notion of the other's life and both receive numerous shocks over the coming weeks. They experience their 'new' lives and learn how to accept differences experiences, people and slowly come to make positive changes around them.

It would be so easy to dismiss this book as nothing other than a typical, predictable 'chick-lit'. but thankfully O'Leary is an accomplished author and not only creates well-rounded and interesting characters with a tragic back-story which engages the readers attention.

The story was so charming and heart warming. The reader is constantly supporting our two protoganists and laughing at their mistakes, while crying at they learn to confront the tragedy in their lives. Such a wonderful, feel good and positive read.

Thank you to the Beth O'Leary, Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book is amazing! It follows a grandmother and her granddaughter who are stuck in a rut in life and decide to switch lives. I love how much they learn about each other from their lives. Leena learns to appreciate what an amazing woman her grandmother is and the value of living in a small town. Eileen learns prioritizing yourself is important and also how to use a cell phone and dating websites. This book is also a great exploration of what it's like to grieve the ones you've lost and the toll it can take on the family. Grieving is not linear for anyone and this book does a good job at showing this. This is a fun read and I highly recommend the audiobook.

I enjoyed The Switch by Beth O'Leary. This was a fun romance and also a family drama. The characters were well developed and interesting. I enjoyed the narrator. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved author brought two generations together and touched on the important things in life. It is such as sweet story held in a charming village that I would love to visit.

I highly recommend this story in audiobook form. Great narration that sweeps you up into the story.

I want to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

As I read the description of this, I thought it would be similar to the movie The Holiday. While it had some similarities, it definitely is a wonderful story all on its own. I love the Beth O'Leary can take a grandmother and granddaughter duo and make them into a fresh and new story. The kind of story that you want to root for both and can't wait to see what they discover about themselves.

Both women decided to switch homes and personal responsibilities for two months. It was not meant to be a way to mourn and grieve the lost of a loved one, but it turns out to be the best way for them to do so. An huge accomplishment in itself, they both learn so much more about their own lives and what they are capable of.

I enjoyed watched Leena and Eileen discover that their limits are boundless. It was truly heartwarming and a great reminder that it's ok to take the small town route because sometimes the hustle and bustle of the big city isn't always meant as a long term goal.

This book was great on so many levels!!! I loved the points of view from the grandmother and the granddaughter and how they understand more about each other in the end. Makes me wish my grandmother was still with me so I could switch places with her and see what her life was really like.