Would you sleep with your friends husband in a secret switch if you could get away with it?
That's the question Elena faces when she meets her new glamorous friend Sophia.
As time goes on, all is not as it seems and Elena realises that there's more to Sophia and Finn's seemingly perfect relationship than meets the eye. As Elena digs deeper, she uncovers a damaged family history full of deceit, abuse and lies all whilst falling for her friends husband. Who is Elena to trust and will anyone get their happy ever after?
This was an addictive spicy read with lots of twists and turns. Whilst the actual 'switch' seems quite implausible I still enjoyed this book a lot and it keeps me guessing.

An interesting take on partner swapping but without consent this was an uncomfortable read. Obviously the psychology of one of the couples lent itself to the situation more than the other and evidence is eventually presented that mitigates the situation to an extent but still a difficult topic.
That said the characters are superb and eminently dis-likeable and the plot is well formed.

Ooh I'm not sure!! I really liked the writing style and in the first few chapters I thought I was on to an absolute winner. Then came the 'switch' part, and I just really couldn't get over that it is rape. The explanation that the characters gave did not make it ok.

I did try to get past that and enjoy the book for what it is, and I did for a while. I found the dynamics between the characters fascinating and I was actually really invested in the story.

Unfortunately, just after the half way point it all just got bonkers and I couldn't take the ending seriously.

I would absolutely read another book by the author as the writing style was great, but this was sadly a miss for me.

This is the compelling but shocking tale of two women that add excitement into their lives by having sex with each other's husbands! However the husband's don't know or do they?
I had to read on and found the twists and turns addictive, but felt at the end that it was all a bit far fetched. Well, hopefully!!

This was a superb book that I found utterly intriguing and read quickly over a few days. The Switch is an interesting take on a relationship drama that mixes a love story with a thriller element and turns them into a surprising and addictive read.

There is an interesting mix of characters none of whom are really how they first seem. The main narrator is Elena but we do hear from others too. The four main characters are intriguing with dubious morals throughout. None of them are completely innocent yet their motivations when finally revealed do give some kind of reasoning behind the actions.

The backstory of the characters was written with tantalising slowness and details were revealed but never quite enough to give the game away. The story genuinely surprised me towards the end and I did not see the big reveal coming.

Elena and Adam are house sitting in Wimbledon. They are delighted when some near neighbours, Sophia and Finn befriend them. Then Sophia suggests to Elena that they sleep with each other's partners in secret and everything starts to change. But what is really behind Sophia's plan? I liked the idea of this story, but found the denouement a bit too far fetched and not to my liking.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This book was completely implausible - yet compulsively readable! The ending probably took things too far, but overall a good, silly read!

The Switch By Lily Samson

Elena and Sophia are polar opposites. Elena is a proofreader with a banker husband Adam who pines for the freedom to be a short film writer/director. With a four year age gap, they refer to each other playfully as 'Wench'and 'Lord'. Perhaps as a nod to the subservient and dominant relationship which is sprinkled throughout with nods to fifty shades of grey.

Sophia is an artist with an older marketing partner Finn who is described as a ' Suave Cary Grant type with silver tinted hair' She pines for a child that will be blessed to her by God as she is a devout Catholic. But who has also been rescued by Finn from an abusive past.

After being robbed at Elena's haunt, Sophia becomes friends with the proofreader who spends the early part of the book bemoaning her husband's selfish elderly mother as well as the non existent sex life where she fakes her orgasms often.

Sophia then suggests the switch. Exactly as in Strangers on a train by Patricia Highsmith, they will switch partners with the handy help of background information as well as the use of a blackout blind. Yet, the author uses Roald Dahl's short story, Switch Bitch as the main inspiration for the sexual deviance; a short story written in the 1950's for Playboy. But there is an ulterior motive to the switches.


At first the book has promising aspects: by the halfway point this falters. There is a lot of name dropping of famous actors, artists and blatant copying of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (Nod to Cornwall), Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (The madwoman in the attic, a fire affecting one area of a wealthy house), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Constant quoting and the feminist tags) and lastly the aforementioned Roald Dahl and Patricia Highsmith. I would recommend to the publishers that editing is need to trim down the last half of the book which goes on to long, as well as the acknowledgement of the original writers above in this novel which although entertaining, dries up as much as the sex in the plot does.

The Switch could quite possibly be my favourite read of the year (for context, it is November and I read A LOT!!)

This storyline is tantalising and utterly gripping! It is told mainly, but not exclusively, from the perspective of Elena, a woman in a long term relationship with Adam, the relationship is stable, if a little stagnant. If Elena is feeling the need for a little excitement in her life, it is promptly delivered following a chance meeting with her enviously glamorous neighbour, Sophia. Sophia is married to the utterly delectable Finn. Sophia suggests a morally questionable partner switch, in which both woman will pretend to be each other and seduce the others partners -completely without their knowledge!!! Elena finds herself so drawn to Finn that, despite herself, she is unable to resist! I cant say more for risk of providing a plot spoiler but - oh my - it is absolutely worth delving into these pages to discover how this plays out! Predictable it is most definitely not!!

Great plot that oozes with sexual tension, fantastic character development and plot twists galore...this book ticks ALL of my boxes! For anyone on the fence - I defy anyone not to enjoy this book!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

The Switch is the shocking tale of friends Elena and Sophie deciding to recreate a childhood novel they have both read and swap husbands for the night. Each would dress in the other bedclothes, perfume etc, sneak out in the dead of the night and spend an erotic hour with the others husband, without them ever knowing!
A bizarre concept but makes an intriguing read. The pair appear to get away with their plan, then their lives and secrets start to unravel on a holiday. The lies, manipulation and secrets rock all their lives, and hard to recover from.

What an amazing debut!! I loves the twists and turns in this, and that the darkness grew throughout rather than straight into it. I did see the 'twist' coming, but that didn't take away from the excitement and made me look forward to seeing if I was right. Will deffo be recommending this to family and friends

Think of strangers on a train, but instead of killing each others partners, sleep with them instead.

This book was a twisty, turny, plot filled thriller and I loved it. I did see the twist coming but it didn't take away my enjoyment.

This is such a good book, with characters that are well written and have depth to them.

The Switch was readable, but both far-fetched and ultimately quite predictable. I hadn't read - or at least didn't remember - the blurb, so didn't really know what this was about. Basically, narrator Elena and her partner Adam, house-sitting in a nicer area than they're used to, befriend another couple, Sophia and Finn. Sophia, however, has an agenda...

It started well enough but I began to feel annoyed when it got to the idea of "the switch", because the idea was so absurd. Surely nobody could expect to get away with this nonsense, even if they were nuts enough to try it. Also, sex by deception is basically rape, so there's that. Men doing this to women wouldn't be ok, and neither is women doing it to men, regardless of some half-baked justification about it being fine because men are always up for it. I know it's just fiction and not to be taken too seriously, but this was a pretty big elephant in the room for me and very much glossed over.

Sophia comments at one point that out of Elena and Adam, Elena is the smart one. Given how Adam behaves here, she's probably right, but it's really not saying much. Then again, Sophia herself isn't going to win any prizes for intelligent behaviour either.

I wasn't sure where it was all going, but once we find out a bit more about the backstory, things became a bit predictable - the Claudine business was very obvious.

Also, it's "sliver", not "slither" - a bit of a pet hate of mine and done twice in this book, I think.

All that said, it was an enjoyable enough read which kept my interest. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Lily Samson's "The Switch" delves into the intoxicating world of desire, deception, and the consequences of playing a dangerous game. Set against the backdrop of upscale Wimbledon, the novel unfolds as two couples, Elena and Adam, and Sophia and Finn, become entangled in a twisted and seductive experiment proposed by the enigmatic Sophia.

The strength of the novel lies in its exploration of human desires and the unforeseen consequences that arise when boundaries are pushed. Samson skilfully weaves a web of intrigue as the characters navigate the complexities of swapping partners in secret. The author's portrayal of Elena's sexual awakening and the evolution of her relationship with Sophia is both sensual and psychologically charged.

The characters are well-developed, with Sophia emerging as a particularly intriguing figure with hidden motives. The dynamics between the couples are intricately portrayed, and the shifting alliances add layers of tension and suspense. The narrative keeps the reader guessing about the true intentions of each character, creating an atmosphere of suspense that persists until the final pages.

The pacing of the story is well-maintained, with Samson gradually revealing the layers of the intricate game Sophia has set in motion. As Elena finds herself drawn deeper into the affair, the stakes escalate, leading to a gripping and unexpected climax. The plot twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged and eager to uncover the next revelation.

While the novel excels in its exploration of passion and psychological intricacies, some readers may find certain plot elements to be predictable. However, the strength of "The Switch" lies not only in its plot but also in its ability to delve into the emotional and moral consequences faced by the characters as they navigate the aftermath of their choices.

In conclusion, Lily Samson's "The Switch" is a compelling and provocative exploration of desire, betrayal, and the intricate games people play. The novel's allure lies in its well-drawn characters and the tension that builds as the narrative unfolds. Recommended for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with a seductive edge, "The Switch" is a captivating journey into the complexities of human relationships and the unforeseen consequences of indulging in forbidden desires.

This book was not what I expected but as you get deeper into it you realise how dark it is.
I could not put it down and the outcome was not as I expected.
It is a thriller and a love story but on so many angles.
Can’t recommend it enough
Five stars all the way

Elena and Adam are house sitting for a relative. It’s a massive upgrade from the one bed flat they had in Walthamstow, and although they love the house and the area, Wimbledon Village, they are fair distance from their friends and Elena is missing their previous social life. When she crosses paths with the glamorous and enigmatic Sophie things definitely change.

This was a weird but interesting story. Extremely far fetched and ever so slightly mad! I enjoyed the first half, but after the strange Villefrance segment the book lost its way. Without giving away spoilers I was not enamoured with the Sophie/Finn relationship, and think the reason for the switch could have been handled differently. Even so, a good debut and I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley.

I love love loved this one! It wasn't what I expected and at the beginning i wasn't sure i was reading a thriller at all but omg it got darker. I have never read a book like this before, such an interesting idea. Great book!
I think thriller lovers will love this one.

Honestly this book was amazing! All throughout I kept thinking I had worked out what was going to happen then it switched (haha!) I won’t give anything away, you must read this book!

As soon as I discovered that this novel was Samson's debut, it immediately impressed me. I was curious to see what a new author could bring to the table, and I was not disappointed. The fast-paced plot with its many unexpected twists and turns had me gripped from the beginning. The execution of the dual timeline, which was done with great skill and added significant depth to the story, particularly impressed me.

The characters were expertly crafted, and their questionable morals added an extra layer of intrigue to the story. I found myself constantly wanting to know more about them and their motivations. It was clear that the author had put a lot of thought and effort into developing each character, and it paid off.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling read. I believe this book would be a perfect pick for a book club read. There are so many themes and topics to discuss that would make for fascinating conversations.

This is a very unusual take on a ‘love’ story which is very cleverly delivered. Elena and Adam, Sophia and Finn meet up in Wimbledon and are attracted to each other for very different reasons. Underneath the surface are past experiences which mean one of the couples are not what they pretend to be. That affects the relationship. When Sophia suggests a nighttime ‘switch’ of beds it appears to be for fun. It is much more serious than that. The reader is led to believe each next step in the story is obvious but it is actually very devious. There are frequent unexpected changes in the direction of the story. This is a carefully constructed, well written book. I recommend it.