Daisy Edgar and Alison are a brilliant duo for this narration of the audiobook. The emotions have been put forward so beautifully in the narration it's almost as if I was watching a movie with my closed eyes. The narration of the male characters by both the narrators themselves brought back the memories of Story-telling and what it was like to listen to a bed time story and never want it to end. This audiobook deserves all the love and the liveliness and the extra noises made solely in the narration was so nostalgic. It took me back to my childhood when we would listen to the plays on the radio. Don't miss this audiobook. Thanks to the Publisher for the Advance audiobook for an honest review.

The Switch was such a sweet, heartwarming story about love, grief, loss and most importantly - family. It is definitely the best book to pick up if you're in need of a cute pick-me-up. However, this was just an average read for me.

Truth to be told, I do enjoy character-driven books, but this one did not do it for me. The pacing was excruciatingly slow and nothing really happens the majority of the book. I was so bored most of the time.

I simply adored Eileen’s chapters. She is so sassy and full of energy. It was so much fun reading about her experiences with living in the big city and navigating online dating. Eileen is definitely someone I aspire to be when I’m older. I would have actually enjoyed the book a lot more if it focused entirely on Eileen because she was simply such a joy to read about.
Leena’s story was not as compelling as Eileen’s. Her story about finding herself and healing was definitely impactful and needed but I wasn’t connected to it at all. I liked Leena but I could not connect with her. In terms of the ending, it was predictable but had I also expected more.

In terms of narration, I loved it! Steadman and Edgar-Jones did a wonderful job at portraying Eileen's and Leena's personality and inner turmoils. Would definitely recommend the audiobook when reading this.

Overall, it was a solid read. The Cotton’s stories definitely stuck with me, but I had expected a little bit more. I do, however, recommend this book to those who would love a fun, sweet story with filled many important themes.

I absolutely love Beth o'learys writing. And this audiobook is not an exception. I love to read about people outside their comfortzone and all the things they get mixed up in. But the book has surprisingly dark subjects too. It is about loss and It is about forgiving. I loved the narrators voices. They Drew me into the book. And made me feel like i was watching a movie. This book i Will absolutely recommend. And i promise you IT won't be my last book written by Beth o'leary. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review

A book including a special bond between grandmother and granddaughter is extra special for me, as my grandmother was my best friend during my high school years. 79 year young Eileen, is dealing with life after her husband leaves her, and she is ready to dip her toes in the life she left behind when she became a wife. Leena is the classic over achiever at work, and she's on a fast track to growing success until a panic attack, during an important work presentation forces her on a two month sabbatical. The idea of being over worked and under rested, in need of a break from reality is something that everyone can relate to, throw in romance and a mother/daughter rift that needs healing, after a loss, and you have everything you need for the perfect un-put-downable story.

I loved this audiobook. The narration is wonderful and brought the characters to life.

This is the story of Leena and her Grandmother Eileen, who whilst dealing with the grief of the death of Leena’s sister decide to switch where they live.

Leena moves to the rural Yorkshire village and takes on Eileen’s commitments within the community. Eileen moves to London and finds herself a new group of interesting and diverse friends.

This story had moments that made me giggle out loud and moments that tugged at my heart and I felt Beth O’Leary has expressed in one sentence the feelings you hold when they miss their sibling, child and Grandchild.

This is a wonderful read and highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook for an honest review.

If you are looking for that uplifting and inspiring read of the summer, then look no further than "The Switch" by Beth O'Leary! The life-changing journeys that Eileen and Leena go through will have readers rooting for them along the way. But it is more than just a romance, it is about two people trying to move on in their grief and find a place where they can truly be themselves. Such a heartwarming read! Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes.

The narrators of this audiobook did such a great job! They were perfectly cast and really captured the voices of the characters.

'These people. There’s such a fierceness to them, such a lovingness. When I got here, I thought their lives were small and silly, but I was wrong. They’re some of the biggest people I know.'
The Switch gives off serious ‘The Holiday’ vibes, which is one of my favourite holiday movies so naturally I loved this book. You have the character that is very sweet and helps others sort their life out to become the best version of themselves, while the other character goes off to find herself again. The story had me laughing and crying- the Shrek references were brilliant. As with the above quote, this book looks at how everyone has their own battles and although their lives may not be like yours, they are fierce and strong at heart. The characters were all lively and help create such a heart-warming story.
Beth O’Leary does it again with gracefully covering hard topics such as grief, anxiety, depression and entering the dating world again in your ‘experienced’ years. The audiobook was done very well and enjoyed that there was two different people reading to match the dual point of view in the book. It created more of a ‘real life’ atmosphere to the book and felt more connected to the story. It was almost as if you were catching up with the girls.
Beth O'Leary has become an auto-buy author with this latest book.

TW: Cancer, severe grief and depression

Thanks to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC of The Switch. I alternated between the audio and written version of this book, and both were excellent.

I had high hopes for The Switch, since her previous novel, The Flatshare, was one of my favorites from last year. It did not disappoint, and was just as charming and easy to read. I loved the characters Leena, and her grandmother, Eileen. The dialogue was cheeky and fun, and I laughed out loud throughout the book. On the other hand, both characters dealt with grief from losing a loved one, and there were a lot of self-realizations and digging through feelings that made the book a bit more serious at times. Overall, The Switch was such an enjoyable read with very lovable characters. Although a few parts were predictable, O'Leary writes in such a way that really makes you root for the protagonists and hope for a happy ending. The audio had delightful British accents, and I felt that it was cast perfectly. The reading gave so much life to Eileen and Leena, and listening to it made my ears happy. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who needs an uplifting book!

This book is like a cup of London Fog tea: comforting, relaxing, and entirely quintessential. A charming tale of a grandmother and her granddaughter swapping lives for two months, only to find friendship, love, and a new way of living.

Blurb: When Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two month sabbatical from work, she decides to switch houses, phones, and all matter of living with her grandmother. Eileen will live in London and Leena will live in the small Yorkshire village where her family resides.

Changing places ends up changing everything and the two women learn a lot about themselves, their hang ups, and how to live more fulfilling lives.

I listened to this one on audio and the voices were amazing. There was a comfortable, charming drawl to the narrators and I felt every situation with precise clarity. This is such a cute story and I’d pretty much recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good BBC movie! A relaxing read with lots of familial elements.

“We’ve made the meetings much more interesting. Since we’re not technically a Neighbourhood Watch, just people who like watching our neighbours, there’s no need to stick to any rules or regulations. So we stopped pretending to talk about crime, and just focused on gossip, village scandal, and complaints about rival hamlets.”
“I couldn’t have figured myself out if I’d not been someone else.”
~ Beth O’Leary, The Switch
.
.
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 a newly single seventy-nine-year-old after her husband leaves her for another woman. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.

So, they decide to swap lives. Eileen will go to London and live in Leena’s flat while trying to find love and Leena will remain in Hamleigh taking on her grandmother’s neighbourhood projects.

The Switch follows their journey in their new lives.
.
.
This is such a great, feel-good, humorous read! At the end of this book I was left with a smile on my face because it was such a beautifully written story. The book was written from alternating POVs of granddaughter and grandmother, Leena and Eileen Cotton, as they take the reader through a gamut of emotions. I especially loved the concept of the story – swapping lives, revisiting abandoned dreams, wanting love regardless of age. I especially loved Eileen’s character and was rooting for her the entire time. I loved how it brought together characters of different generations interacting with one another and showing how each group has something to offer or share with the other. The secondary characters were also well-developed, and I enjoyed learning about their lives.

I listened to the audiobook which has two narrators - Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones (from Hulu’s Normal People). The narrators did an exceptionally good job of portraying each of the characters; you could discern one character from the next and they did a great job of letting you feel the emotion of the story in their voices. They brought the characters to life! The narration was clear and easily understood and each chapter was easily discernible. There was also adequate pacing to allow the reader to know when a new scene in the same chapter began. A great listening experience!
.
.
Overall, I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a heart-warming fun read with colourful lively characters!
.
.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and provide an honest review.

Having loved "The Flatshare" by @betholearyauthor last year with Leon I bought a copy of The Switch; wanting you recreate that feel-good mood when you read a really lovely book. NetGalley kindly sent me an audio of the book so I was able to switch (see what I did there?!) between reading and listening - thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. I must say that the audio was absolutely delightful! "The Switch" tells the tale of Leena Cotton, a twenty something absolutely gripped by grief and anxiety after the death of her sister. Forced to take a sabbatical after an anxiety attack at work, she swaps her Shoreditch surroundings to that of the tiny village of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, inhabited by her 79 year old grandmother, Eileen Cotton. Narrated by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alison Steadman, both women are totally believable representations of their characters. Daisy's narration really brings out Leena's grief, always bubbling at the surface and ready to appear, particularly in scenes with her mother, who is also grief-stricken but in a way alien to Leena; leaning on her yoga and crystals as a way to channel her emotions. The narrative switches (!) in alternate chapters are lovely and the chapters with Alison Steadman narrating are perfect. We really get a sense of not only her humour, wisdom and worldliness but just how this initial fish-out-of-water situation is developed as Eileen makes herself a valuable member of the community, forges unlikely friendships and even learns about the positives and the perils of online dating. I thoroughly recommend this book as well as making the switch to the audiobook.

3.5 stars!

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙:
-I LOVED Eileen so much. She was such a firecracker and I loved every bit of her personality.
-The character development, in general, was awesome and I really liked how many side characters we got to know and love.
-The plotline itself was so unique and the story kept me wanting more.
-The narrators of this audiobook did an awesome job.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
-Slow pacing - typical for character-driven novels but something I'm not a fan of.
-SO many subplots made it hard to keep up at times.

Reminiscent of Aesop's "The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse", "The Switch" tells the story of a grandmother (Eileen) living in a small Yorkshire village who switches residences with her granddaughter (Leena) living in London. Eileen is seeking adventure and looks for love on a dating website. She also involves herself in the lives of Leena's flat mates and neighbors, even creating a "Silver Shortages Social Club" in the building. Leena is seeking solace after a panic attack at work forces her to take a two-month sabbatical. Leena takes over her grandmother's commitments and becomes involved in the neighborhood watch group and planning the annual May Fair celebration. Both Eileen and Leena form new friendships with funny and quirky characters. Will Eileen or Leena fall in love in their new surroundings?

This heartwarming story reads like a cozy romantic comedy but does contain some language and off-color humor. While the tone of the story is light-hearted, several characters must work through loss and tough family relationships. The importance of friendship is also explored.

Listening to the audio version of the book adds to the story. The use of two narrators, Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones, helps to delineate the chapters. The dual narration reminds listeners of the age difference between the two main characters, as well as the English setting.

I enjoyed this book because of the charming characters, humor, and the theme of bouncing back. Fans of the TV series "Midsomar Murders" will appreciate the small-town England setting. A good book to listen to while commuting or to read while on a beach vacation.

Books is proof that you are never too late to try something new. Very heartwarming, but it was difficult to get into until at least the halfway point-
Very character driven as well.
Please note that this is the first time I have listened to an audiobook though...

The narrators for this audiobook were perfect, as was the production value.

I plan on buying a copy for my grandma for Christmas.

This was such a fun book to listen to. I love audio books but haven’t been listening to them as often as I usually do. When Netgalley released audio books for review on their platform, I jumped at the chance.

The narrators, Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones, were phenomenally casted as the grandmother and granddaughter duo of this book. I know that listening to a book at 1x the speed is good for some people, but that was very slow for this book. Depending on where I was and how I was listening to this, I listened at 1.75x or 2.0x the speed. This is the norm for me.

The story line was wonderful. I love the idea of taking a break to figure out your life, no matter what your age. The fact that these two women jumped into the lives and routines of the other was just superb.

I highly recommend listening to this book if not reading it.

I gave this book 5 crowns.

I loved the audio production. The book is narrated by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones (from Hulu’s Normal People), two British actresses who brought so much life and spunk to the characters.

Synopsis: Leena is a twenty-something workaholic living and working in London. Her grandmother, Eileen, is 79 and sick of being alone after her husband unceremoniously left her. When Leena is forced to take a two month leave of absence from work after messing up a big presentation, she seeks solace at her grandmother’s house in a tiny Yorkshire village. As the two women discuss their various issues with their lives, they agree to swap houses for two months – Leena will remain in the tiny village and live in her grandmother’s home; Eileen will go to London in search of love. What ensues is a comical, heart-warming story about loss, love, and the hiccups in life that lead us to the exact place we’re supposed to be.

This is such a fun read. Truly, it was the exact story I needed for my soul. I finished it last week when pandemic anxiety was really weighing on me, and it was so endearing I couldn’t get enough. Something I didn’t anticipate was enjoying Eileen’s story so much. I expected to enjoy Leena’s story because I felt it’d be more relatable, but Eileen’s story was so charming and she was so hilarious that I adored her character from beginning to end. What Leena lacks in maturity, Eileen makes up for. Particularly, when Leena’s love life takes an unexpected turn, Eileen offers Leena wisdom and hilarious little tid-bits of advice. While this story contains romance, I found the relationship between Leena and Eileen most compelling. I also appreciated how wholly O’
Leary drew the secondary characters. The London crew and the Yorkshire squad were both loveable and added sparkle to the story.

An area of the story that I wished gave me a little more—Leena and her mother’s relationship was very complex and interesting and while it was well-developed, I would have liked a few more scenes developing their relationship. I’m not sure if this would be for everyone. I could see some people disliking it if they don’t connect to Leena or Eileen. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the audio and the story and will be picking up O’Leary’s other books (The Flatshare and The Road Trip). I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted, heart-warming read about a grandmother-granddaughter relationship and their romantic pursuits.

"It's easier to be angry than sad, sometimes"

An over-worked Leena Cotton is asked to take a two month sabbatical after her anxiety attack during one of the client presentations.
During this period Leena goes to visit her grandmother Eileen.
It was Eileen's dream when she was young to live in London and have an independent life in the city.
This seems like a perfect opportunity for them to swap their lifestyles and take a break from their regular life.

“I think you should know,' he says. 'I like you. Like I shouldn't. That sort of like.”

I DNF'd this title at 1/3 of the way through. I don't know why this book didn't grab my attention. I think maybe it's just not the right book for me right now, but I could see a lot of people reading and loving it! Nothing was wrong with this book, it just wasn't for me. I am still interested in reading the Flatshare and will definitely read this author again.

**I received an ebook from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio**

Ever since I read The Flatshare I’ve been so excited to read this book because I loved Beth O’leary’s writing so much. Her characters are all very different from eachother but all so interesting! She transforms simple ideas and really makes them her own.

The switch was such an interesting read, such an interesting exploration of grief, family relationships and discovering who you really are. Lena was a great character but the real star of this book for me is Eileen, she was hilarious, fierce and way younger than her age would suggest. I loved that this book shows you that you’re never too old to have fun and that it’s never too late to make a change.

The audiobook was also really good! Even though I usually prefer to read a book with my eyes, I must admit the narrators did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.

Some people complained that the love stories were last minute but I didn’t mind, it was setup way before the end and anyway the most important part of the book wasn’t love, it was family. The romance was just a bonus for me.

Also the supporting cast of characters were all really interesting too (especially Leticia)

I’m so glad I got to read this book and I can’t wait for her next one!