This is such a heartwarming, feel-good book! I have recently finished The Flatshare so I was really keen to read The Switch. Whilst the premise of switching lives isn't that original, Beth has created such likeable, charming characters that it makes the book a joy to read. It wasn't just Leena and Eileen who were memorable characters, but I liked how the secondary characters also had their own progressions and storylines. There are some threads of romance and love throughout but ultimately, it celebrates the love of family and how they can come together in times of needs - the ending made me so happy!

If you're after an uplifting, feel-good book, then this is the one for you!

I really loved this.

When a Grandaughter and Grandmother swap their lives it really changes both of them. They take on each others roles whilst trying to sort out their own lives too. The friendships they make are really endearing.

A nice light read that has some predictability but has enough going on to keep you interested.

Leena is busy, high flying... I dunno, consultant or something? Whatever busy high flying people do. Eileen is her 79 year old grandmother, living a quiet life in small town England. They decide to swap lives - Eileen heading to London to flirt and live a little, Leena heading to the little town to slow down and heal from family tragedy. And everyone finds themselves n stuff.

This book is like Marian Keyes and Jojo Moyes got together and ate a compendium of cliches and then vomited it into a story. Of course there was a sister who died of cancer. Why is there ALWAYS someone dying or dead of cancer? I have to admit to rolling my eyes pretty hard when I realised this was the tragic back story, and I think maybe eye rolling was not the intended effect ha! Pretty much the whole book revolves around the characters coping with their grief over this death, so big old trigger warning for cancer, loss and grief.

There's ALWAYS a crappy boyfriend in the beginning that the main character has to realise is crappy. There's always the "love in unexpected places". Then there's good old chestnuts like "couple with sexual tension are tripped up by dog and fall into each other" - YES SERIOUSLY. My eyes were permanently in the back of my skull by this point.

Look, I admit this isn't my usual genre. I've not read the author's first novel but I'd heard really good things about it. I sometimes like to read a palate cleanser between fantasy series, and a good book is a good book right, regardless of genre. Well, so I thought. Everyone else seems to love this so I guess other people like reading about normal people's really boring lives, told like a literature class lesson on Cliches in Modern Literature.

Honestly, it's harmless and sweet I guess. But I found reading it a chore.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, sorry I can't be more enthusiastic about this one.

Having recently read 'Flatshare' I was very excited to received an ARC of Beth O' Leary's new book.
I though this was a very enjoyable and light hearted read. I would definitely recommend.

What a delightful book! I could not put this down, and stayed up to 1am finishing it. I loved every character in this book and feel each character brought something new and enjoyable to the story. And if I take anything from this story it is to be more like the Cotton women. I have not read Flatshare but if it is anywhere near as good as this I defiantly understand all the great reviews! And we will be reading very soon.
Thanks to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Like chewing a gooey caramel treat, The Switch is sweet, comforting and warm read. I loved Beth O'Leary's debut The Flatshare, so I was so keen and excited to dive into The Switch...and it didn't disappoint. I loved the two main characters, Grandmother Eileen and her granddaughter Leena. Their separate adventures gave me lots of laughs and pulled at my heartstrings in all the right ways.

O'Leary has such a gift at crafting interesting, rounded characters - especially in the supporting cast. They are easy to connect with and love or hate according to the role they play. While this story is mostly a light hearted, feel good read, at the centre of it, are the themes of grief and loss and how we deal with that throughout of life. While there were elements of the story that felt very predictable, I couldn't put this book down and I'm still smiling about it as I write this review.

Thank you NetGalley and Quercus books for the free e-copy in exchange for this review.

I loved Flatshare and I loved this new of O'Leary. It's a grandmother and granddaughter life switch, which I thought was an interesting idea. It's very cute and uplifting. I'd recommend to anyone!

Thanks a lot to the publisher nad NG for this copy.

Beth O'Leary's second novel, 'The Switch', revolves around two protagonists, Leena, a London-based management consultant, and her grandmother, Eileen, who lives in a rural village in the Yorkshire Dales. Through the dual narrative structure, we follow their lives over the course of two months, after they decided to swap places and live in each other's shoes, in the hopes of coming to term with the recent death of Leena's sister, Carla. Leena busies herself trying to fulfill all of the important tasks her grandmother does on a daily basis around the village, whilst Eileen tries to get to grips with the world of online dating after her husband ran off with a dancer instructor.

Both Leena and Eileen are witty, honest, and inspirational characters in their own little ways. We see them struggling to deal with their grief in different ways: Leena buries herself in her work and tries to keep her mind focused on her tasks, whilst Eileen is determined to live out the life she could have had as a younger woman, by moving to London and looking for possible suitors. These coping methods help to ease their burden to varying extents, as Leena soon realises that the only way she can come to terms with her sister's death and rebuild her relationship with her mother is to be open with her emotions. I loved how honest O'Leary's portrayal of grief is throughout the novel, and illustrates that grieving is a process which may never truly end.

The two central characters were also supported by a whole host of quirky, unique and lovable secondary characters, including a range of elderly villagers and Leena's London flatmates, Fitz and Martha. These characters represented the breadth of variation within two different communities, and the ways in which we accept people who may differ to us in order to form meaningful and lasting relationships. The relationship dynamic between Fitz and Eileen, possibly the most unlikely of double acts, was incredibly entertaining and heartwarming. Their determination to set up a social club for isolated elderly people around London demonstrates the importance of community spirit, and reaching out to those who may be less fortunate than ourselves. 

My only slight qualm with the novel is that the storyline is a little predictable at times, in keeping with the Contemporary Romance genre, although the host of characters was so strong that this did little to hinder my overall enjoyment of the story.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Netgalley, Quercus Books and Beth O'Leary for sending me a proof copy of 'The Switch' (to be published 16 April 2020) in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book, it was such an amzing read! I have found myself a new favourite. This book took me by surprise by being much deeper and emotional than I ever imagined. This book had me laughing, crying and awwing, I certainly had a lot of emotions. This was such a sweet story mostly about family and community spirit which was just so nice. I thought it was a romance and while it does have romance at its center it is far from being the most important thing.

What I love most about this book is the characters, they are so realistic that they felt like people you knew. You could feel their emotions and not just the two main characters. I also found myself recognising people I knew within the characters. Eileen was a great representation of a 79 year old women who still has so much life left in her! I actually loved this representation of the elderly, Its not often you find a book were one of the main characters is older. Most of the time any romance in a book is between two young people. This was such a refreshing change and I loved it. Eileen was a fiesty woman who really brings everyone together. I liked Leena less but mostly because of how she treated her mum. But I still felt a connection to her due to the fact that she lost her sister to cancer and I lost my brother so I did understand a lot of what they all went through.

When they swap they both change and both tackle new things and it was interesting to see them get involved in the others lives and interact with all the people from these lives. I liked the friendships that were formed and it does go the show that old and young people can become good friends. I think they both get what they needed out of the experience and it ends well.

Overall a great book with such a sweet story, did have me crying at times but also laughing which I have to say is a good mix! I'd highly recommend this book!

I was huge fan of The Flatshare so was delighted to read this much anticipated second book from Beth O'Leary. I loved this story about a granddaughter and her grandmother who swap lives, from a Yorkshire village to the bright lights of London. I will be recommending this book to all my friends, thanks NetGalley!

LOVE LOVE LOVED this book. Eileen and Leena are so thoroughly likeable and I was invested in both their journeys. I have read some ‘heavy’ books so far this year and The Switch was the exact antidote I needed. Warm, witty, charming, clever and beautifully written. I will look forward to the author’s next book. Highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC :)

It took me a lot longer to get into this book than O'Leary's first but I'm glad I persevered as I did get drawn in and was rooting for all of the characters. It was nice to see positive older characters in the book, leading normal lives & having as much fun (if not more) than the 20 somethings!

Hmmm....I really wanted this book to be as good as the flat share but it just didnt do it for me. It was a good read but I thought that there was something missing. I loved the characters, eileen and leena are the best but it didnt have that wow oh my god factor. Eileen and her granddaughter decide to swap lives to try & find love & for leena to take time off but it doesnt go as planned as they thought. A few wee twists and turns but not enough for me to get hooked and wanting more. I'm sure others will love this

Oh my word!! How does she do it?! Another absolute masterpiece by Beth O’Leary!! “The Switch” is absolutely brilliant and I loved it so, so soooooo much!!!⠀
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One of my favourite things about this book is that there is such a beautifully strong sense of community spirit throughout the story and it is truly heartwarming. If more people were like Eileen, I think the world would be a magnificent place.⠀
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Both Eileen and Leena are extraordinary women, and my gosh, would I love an Eileen in my life. She’d certainly get me thinking “what would Eileen Cotton do?” They are both completely endearing characters and I instantly came to adore them, and the relationship that they have with one another is beautiful.⠀
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The book is beautifully written and switched narratives between Eileen and Leena which kept the book flowing wonderfully.⠀
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A complete triumph and I urge everyone to buy it when it is released on 16th April. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!!

Leena Cotton can’t manage to talk to her mum without shouting at her, she is so angry at her that she is just avoiding her now. She’s so stressed she completely melts down during an important presentation at work and is forced to take a two-month break. Her grandmother Eileen is looking for love but it’s a small pool in her small village in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales. Leena suggests they swop lives for a couple of months, so Eileen has a chance for an adventure and perhaps find love. Leena gets into village life and finds her talents can be used to step into her grandmother’s shoes whilst Eileen finds her talents go down well in the big city. A fantastic story about transferable skills and never giving up. I loved every minute of it. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the authors previous book and was worried this one wouldn’t live up to it; however, it was a great read. Entertaining and thought provoking.

The writing style was great, it was descriptive without edging into being boring. The chapters flowed well and the story moved at a good speed.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book 📚

I was extremely nervous going into this book. I absolutely adored The Flatshare, which was one of my most anticipated reads of last year. I knew this book was going to be a lot different and at first I felt on the edge by the synopsis however, I trusted Beth O’Leary to produce an amazing book and she did not prove me wrong.

I became so emotionally invested in the characters in this book and was honestly gutted when I had reached the end, as I honestly found myself unable to put it down! Beth O’Leary has this amazing way of writing characters that are so relatable and ones that you wish were a part of your everyday life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the way it shows that you have the power to change your life no matter your age. This is a book about finding yourself. It’s about taking a step back and evaluating your day to day life and wondering if you are truly happy in life.

The Switch is a book I didn’t know I needed in my life. It is such an uplifting, and beautiful book that I recommend giving a read!

I cannot wait to see what Beth O’Leary writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Beth O'Leary's The Flatshare was a sure fire winner ,not just a Rom Com but it dealt with a serious issue of wrongful arrest.
I had high hopes for The Switch, a premise not a million miles away from the author's debut. Although it did had an element of a serious issue (controlling behaviour and grief) it didn't catch fire. Too predictable and alot of cliche happenings.
A disappointment.

This was an absolute delight. The parallel stories of grandmother and granddaughter were equally charming, and I was rooting for them both to get their man. The Flat Share was always going to be a hard act to follow, but this absolutely does it proud. Will be recommending to all and sundry.

This is the second book by Beth O'Leary that I have tried to read.
The Flatshare i fought my way through despite not enjoying it and now at 18% of The Switch I'm going to give up.

The author's style of writing is fine and the story is ok - it just isn't catching my attention / imagination