The Switch made me seriously want to switch

Sometimes I wish I could switch lives with someone else. The problem, however, is no one wants to switch lives with me.
Perhaps I have shared too much …

Regardless, The Switch, by author Beth O'Leary was just what the doctor ordered to tame my raw nerves after a long day's work.

As a commuter, I listened to the Switch on audio, a treat that utterly enchanted me, leaving me spellbound by the character voices of Allison Steadman and Daisy Edgar Jones.

Published by Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books, The Switch hit the shelves of booksellers in August 2020.

In this story, three generations of Cotton women face vastly different lives from the ones they lived at the time of 20-something family member Carla's death.

Now estranged from her once-close mother, 30-something Lena tries to bury herself in work to avoid dealing with her deep grief as grandmother, Eileen, picks up the pieces of her daughter's devastating life.

Lena faces her emotional breaking point after having an anxiety attack at a corporate meeting while Eileen reels from the abandonment of her life-long husband, who left in haste and never returned.

Boy, can I relate.

Eileen and Lena, who share a special closeness, decide it's time for a break and the result is shocking.

Hmm.
Secretly, if I wanted to be one of these characters, I'd choose Grandma Eileen. So classic. So reserved. So … shocking.

Set in both London and rural England, The Switch is like most other fish-out-of-water stories that successfully entertained readers and moviegoers through the years.

Lena's textured and trendy friends move this story forward and Eileen's friend set are cliché but truly wonderful.

What do you expect from old people? (Just kidding. I'm old.)

The Switch's characters transform what could have been another formulaic story into a stress-reducing pass time worthy of this commuter's long drive.

Heck, there were a few days I took the long way home to hear a few more chapters.

Though this story is somewhat predictable in its nature, the Eileen storyline is original and often surprisingly fun.

I give The Switch a 9 on my stress-reducing scale.

The Switch is perfect for young and … ah, older women reader's who want to relax with a good read, escape the kids for a 30-minute soak in the hot tub, or hide from their own lifelong husband.

Loved this audio narrator, they brought the book to life! Such a delightful story as well. This was exactly the light content I needed right now and I finished this one in less than 24 hours. I couldn't stop listening!

I really enjoyed these sweet characters, funny situations they got into, and while parts were sad, it wasn't overwhelming with emotion. I quickly got sucked into their lives!

I received an advanced copy of The Switch on audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Honestly this was probably one of the least exciting audiobooks I have listened to. It was well done and the story was fine but I was never excited to pick up this book to listen. It was relatively feel good but overall I won't remember this book next week.

I thought The Flatshare was a better story, but this was still cute. I listened to the audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Burned out grandma and granddaughter switch homes for 2 months in order to get a break from their current lives. I really enjoyed how this process helped them to discover themselves and brought their family closer together.

Unfortunately, this didn't make it for me. I think the concept is adorable and I loved the narrators- but I think it's the "time of corona" that made it hard for me to get invested in the drama. I did love seeing an older woman with a robust life on the page- they are so rarely represented, and when they are represented, it's usually as a background. It was also hard for me to listen to them speak about the sister who passed away from cancer- as I find that a personally triggering storyline. Overall, most definitely not a bad book, but one that was not for me at the time.

An adorable "coming of age" story of two women with the same name. Grandma Eileen Cotton and granddaughter Eileen "Leena" Cotton re-discover themselves after they each take a sabbatical from their lives, by switching places! In a cheeky nod to "Freaky Friday" and the like, this book starts with the two women's lives in a rut. Leena has an anxiety attack during an important business meeting while Eileen is reeling from her husband's recently revealed infidelity. The two concoct a plan: Leena will escape to her Grandma's Yorkshire village home while newly single Eileen will have a wild, romantic adventure in London.

What is meant to be time to relax and reflect after Leena is forced to take leave from work, turns into a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and growth as she befriends her new elderly neighbors (and one charming local confidant). Leenamaneuvers her way through rural life with grace and humility, learning that her Grandma has more responsibilities than she realized! It's not all May Day festivals and neighborly chats over tea, however, as Leena learns a long-distance relationship with high-powered co-worker Ethan isn't as romantic as it seems.

Eileen, tired of being 79, embraces the fast-paced city life quickly and charms her way into favor with new flatmates and neighbors. As she navigates online dating and Leena's smartphone (yes, they even switch technology!) she feels more herself than ever. While helping her neighbors come out of their shell and organizing a club for those her age, Eileen forgets to check in with her Grandaughter and gets to know the term "catfish" on a personal level.

While worlds apart, the two have a shared underlying sadness woven throughout their witty, sweet, wholesome, and hilarious new experiences. Leena's sister and Eileen's only other Grandaughter, Carla, has recently passed away. Neither realized the pain they were still carrying from this unimaginable loss, and both find a welcomed sense of healing in their new circumstances.

I fell in love with these ladies instantly and this heartfelt story is just what I needed to cozy into fall. While at times, the narrative feels predictable, I found myself surprised more than once at Eileen's modern view of the world or Leena's take on the crotchety folks next door. Well written, easy to read, and simply sweet. This romantic-and-also-not book is truly about looking out for one another and embracing people for who they are. We all have pasts, some darker than others, and none of that matters when your neighbor needs a friend. The moral of this story? Sometimes a bit of well-meaning meddling is just the thing we need!

This was such a cute story. It's not unfamiliar - 2 people switch lives in hopes of finding what's missing from each of their own lives. Leena is overworking and killing herself slowly. Eileen is tired of being 79 and feeling like she's missing out on things. Leena goes to Eileen's small town, and Eileen goes to London to live it up in the big city. Hilarity ensues. The book is so heartwarming and the life lessons they learn both seem so sincere.

This would have probably been 5 stars for me if I hadn't listened to the audio. Maybe my headphones are too good, but I could hear every swallow, tongue flick, page turn, etc. It drove me insane. The narrators were both fantastic, but I can't stand hearing someone else swallow or make sounds with their mouths.

I unfortunately did not finish this book because I really did not enjoy the narrator. It's nothing against her...I just did not think the voices aligned with the characters and it made me unable to get into the book. I will definitely try this book again, but in a physical format.

I absolutely loved listening to this audiobook! I will miss listening to the alternating characters Eileen and Leena. Eileen is 79 and is seeking a change in her life after her husband left her for another woman. Leena, her granddaughter, lives in London. She is overworked and desperately needs a break. Her boss makes her take a leave of absence after she blew a presentation. Eileen and Leena decide to switch their homes for two months. I liked Eileen the best! She is a hoot!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book

I had high hopes for The Switch as I gave The Flatshare a 5 Star review, and this did not disappoint - however I don't think I enjoyed it quite so much, so this is a 4 star from me. I loved the concept of 79 year Eileen and her granddaughter Leena swapping lives for a while. I thought the author did a great job at delving into their personalities and the characters that they encounter along the way, so much so that I did feel very involved in the story. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because I wanted more romance from the ending.....I was left wanting more (which I don't feel is a bad thing!)

Many thanks to Netgalley and Publishers for allowing me the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my free digital copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
I had heard about this book recently on a few podcasts and loved the idea that the book switches between grand daughter & grandmother. It was just the cozy endearing novel to read during this crazy time. Like a lot of other reviewers, I too felt most drawn to the older characters in this book and almost wished for spin offs so we could learn more about each of them. Eileen was my favorite character. It was the perfect feel good book for an escape to Yorkshire & London. This was a wonderful one to do on audio.

I liked this one! It was hard to get through in some spots because of the narrator who I was not a fan of, but it was a good read. Easy to listen to while doing other activities and easy to follow along with! The story was cute and feel good as well.

The Switch by Beth O'Leary comes to life with the audiobook narrations. I fell in love with the characters of Leena and her grandmother Eileen. The Switch is a beautiful story about finding yourself as you navigate life and develop from shared moments of grief. It was a perfect balance of romance, family, friends, and self-discovery. Leena and Eileen both tell the story from their point of view. I love it when books are written this way. I found Eileen to be hilarious! (I secretly wish Eileen could be my grandmother!) I cannot wait to read Beth O'Leary's novel The Flatshare now!

3.5 stars for this contemporary fiction (this isn't romance). This is a cute novel about a young woman and her grandmother who switch locations and step into each other's lives. I really enjoyed the audio since it flipped back and forth between each of their viewpoints. It's sweet and charming. I particularly enjoyed Eileen (grandmother's) point of view. Deals with heavy topics such as grief in a relatable way.

This is the first time i listened yo an audiobook on netgally and i enjoyed it. Will soon post a review

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook - both the story and the narration. The duel narrators allowed the story to have even more of a distinctive feel between the granddaughter and grandmother’s stories.

It is difficult not to enjoy this sweet, endearing and heartwarming story.

If you have an anxiety disorder or have experienced burnout, you will recognise yourself in Leena’s story, thus why I enjoyed it so much. I saw myself in the story, working endlessly, not taking any annual leave for a year, my body giving up.

After blowing a big presentation at work due to an impending burnout, Leena is forced to take a 2-months break from the only life she knows: work, work and more work.
In the small village of Hamley, Eileen, Leena’s grandmother feels a little lonely. Years ago she dreamt of moving to London, but an unplanned pregnancy precipitated her into marriage and forced her to settle... only to be left by her cheating husband.
They both decide to switch living place for 2-months to try and achieve their respective goals.

The writing is sweet, very funny at times (the same kind of humour I loved so much when reading the Flatshare), and it’s easy to relate to both sides of the story.

Unpopular opinion: not to take away any of the amazing story, but I don’t particularly like the title “The Switch”, nor the idea that this is a proper switch. They’re not switching lives (which I see as a very easy comical concept that’s been done and redone for years), they’re only switching living arrangement. The word “switch” is mentioned several times and I disliked that a little, because it makes the story slightly artificial, if not cliché.

The end is a little predictable but I still had a great time reading it!

very cute story! loved eileen so much! i switched between reading & listening to this on audio and loved the experience.

I will definitely follow this author, I had already read the previous book and I loved it and I also really liked this one.

I appreciated the audiobook narrators who really brought the book to life.
it was without a doubtt a good and light reading.

The Switch is my first book from Beth O'Leary and my first audiobook from Netgalley.

"Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a presentation. She heads to her grandmother's house in Yorkshire for some rest.
Eileen Cotton is almost 80. Her husband left with the cha-cha instructor but Eileen is not ready to give up on relationships just yet.
So Eileen and Leena switch places - Leena moves to Yorkshire for the two months and tries to take over Grandma's responsibilities while figuring out how to relax and slow down. And Eileen moves to London to jump into a bigger dating pool. Neither is ready for what they'll face. Is it too late for either one of them to change?"
I love the voice of Eileen here. She's proof that you're never too old for love and relationships and just wanting someone to hold you and tell you you're pretty. And that it's never wrong to stick up for your children or grandchildren.
Leena is still dealing with the death of her sister and her feelings about what their Mom was willing to do to save her. O'Leary does a nice job with the family dynamics in coming to grips with loss.
There are some wonderful characters that O'Leary gives us in the village of Hamleigh. And love in unexpected places for Leena and Eileen.
This is not an action thriller. This is people trying to navigate their lives and deal with grief and betrayal.
I would love to sit down for tea with Eileen .
A nice story from Beth O'Leary