I almost didn’t finish reading The Switch, which is something I rarely contemplate when it comes to books. However, I truly thought it was terrible, and I honestly can’t think of any redeeming qualities. I don’t want to be mean with my thoughts, as this is someone’s book and they’ve worked hard on it, so I’ll explain my issues as kindly and succinctly as I can.

I struggled with every character in this book: they were all vapid, stupid, and oblivious to what was going on around them. The whole plot of the switches was absolutely unbelievable, and further plot twists were just utterly nonsensical. I lost count of how many times I almost put my copy down then and there, but I was so aghast at the story that I had to see how it ended.

The Switch isn’t badly written, and there are a couple of good ideas in there somewhere, but I found that its execution wasn’t for me at all. I love psychological and domestic thrillers, but I like them to have a modicum of realism, a sense that the shocking events could actually happen. I didn’t get that from The Switch, and it’s a shame as I was looking forward to it. I’ll still try more books from Lily Samson in the future, but unfortunately I won’t be recommending this one.

I loved this book.
A completely new concept that kept me guessing and had a hell of a twist half way through that I really didn’t see coming!
I think you have to be willing to suspend belief when it comes to the switches, though it was also easy to believe Adam really was clueless!
All in all, pretty messed up but thoroughly enjoyable and I’m hopeful for a sequel!

Quite a different type of story - a fun idea that slowly becomes more sinister. Written from the points of view of the two main female characters. Tense at times and hard to put down.

A tale of secrets, lies and manipulation. It had a strong start, but by the middle of the book the pace had completely dropped off. I found the second half of the novel too far fetched and didn’t really enjoy it. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK Cornerstone and the author for the chance to review.

I had the opportunity to read an arc of The Switch by Lily Samson, a debut psychological domestic thriller but unfortunately this book really wasn’t for me.
This book is just jam-packed full of drama, it’s SO f*****-up, I don’t know a polite way of saying it. You’re left questioning if anyone is a good person. Elena was an idiot at the start but somehow she became even more delusional and unaware as the story went on. It’s hard to read the scenes with the ‘switches’ which, let’s be honest, is rape. But it is the twist, the sickening reveal, where I had to draw the line.
I honestly don’t even think I fully comprehend the ending. Whilst this book was so wild, it was even more bizarre to wrap up the book with an attempt at a HEA.
I think the writing had some inconsistencies and plot holes because there’s too many unanswered questions.
It’s not my kind of thriller and I think this book is difficult to recommend so that it reaches the right audience, but it would make a great book club discussion because of the questions it poses of ethics and morality. I think it also needs trigger warnings because it was very uncomfortable to read at times and the content warning list may even take up a whole page, including lack of consent, rape, trauma, abuse, cheating and pregnancy (plus many more which would be considered spoilers) but please know what you’re getting yourself in for.
⭐️ 1/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Cornerstone and Lily Samson for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Review posted to Goodreads.

The Switch is a debut novel for Lily Samson and she has definitely set off with a good start.
Elena and Adam are house sitting in a perfect house in a perfect place in London, life is starting to feel a little it easier until Elena meets Sophia in a coffee shop. They get along well, so well that Elena invites Sophia and her husband for dinner one evening. Sophia’s husband, Finn arrives and Elena is instantly attracted to him. Sophia puts an idea forward that entails them swapping partners for one hour without their partners knowing. This brings with it a lot of stress, trust and excitement saying yes brings with it troubles and they are nothing she would have ever dreamed of including doubting if she’s with the right man.
This was a fast read that I enjoyed, lots of twists and turns, quite dark at times but definitely thrilling. An original storyline that had very different characters in, some I liked some I didn’t but nice to see an awful mother in law in there!!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining book although it feels important to suspend belief and believe in coincidence as you read it! Some good twists and turns and a fun page turner.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book

This book is a great read. It had me hooked from start to finish and I didn’t want to put it down. A thriller at its best.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Everything about this book was fantastic from the start, completely gripping from the first chapter! The characters were loveable and hateable in equal measure. Overall one of the best reads in a long time

Creepy story around obsession and infidelity, although not all is as it seems. Well paced and the gradual reveal works well. The voices of the two main narrators are well crafted and you feel more connection with their positions the longer the story goes on. Recommended

I've just finished this book, having started it this morning just to keep up my reading streak, I found it hard to put down. It wasn't my usual murder thriller, but that didn't stop me getting invested in the plot. Some twists were easy to spot, but others crept up on me. A good book to read with a good ending too.

if you are able to siband belief and not question too much then it is a goodish read
I did like the characters and some of the narrative and did like the awe of them moving to Wimbledon
LOVED the Mum in law - always great to have such a love to hate person in a book
needed more but would rradily read more from this author

Elena and Adam, a couple from London, are asked to house sit in their dream location. While there, Elena meets beautiful Sophia and her husband Finn who she is drawn to. When Sophia suggests a thrilling game of a secret partner swap, Elena agrees. It soon becomes apparent that this situation is far more dangerous than she could ever imagine.

This thriller was definitely different! I was keen to read as I enjoy books with original, crazy plots so this hit the mark on that. I thought that for a debut this was pretty well written as well. The characters were quite unlikeable but I feel they had to be due to the subject matter.

Although I had to suspend a lot of disbelief and I guessed some of the twists, I still found that I enjoyed the story and was fully invested in this unsettling, wild thriller. I’ll definitely read more books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

This is a twisty thriller that left me a bit stunned, didn’t see that ending coming.

Elena is living a perfect life with Adam when she meets Sophia, this is when Sophia suggests switching each other for an hour with their partners. It’s a thought out process and one night at 12, they are setting the action into motion. All is not well though and someone is harboring secrets.

I liked the characters in this book, both different, but similar. Enjoyed the plot and was felt it finished really well. I didn’t see that ending coming and was a bit of a shock. 4stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

This was one bizarre and ridiculous but also entertaining novel!

In The Switch, we follow two couples - Elena and Adam, who are looking after Adam's aunt's flat in Wimbledon whilst she's away, and Sophia and Finn, an elusive, rich couple who live nearby. Elena and Sophia meet one day and from then on, the two women become close - and Elena realises she is becoming increasingly attracted to Finn. One day, Sophia suggests they swap places in the night to sleep with each other's husbands - much like the Roald Dahl short story...

What I loved about this novel was that it was, in many ways, absolutely batsh*t crazy and unbelievable - as if their partners wouldn't notice they weren't sleeping with the right person, plus plenty of other 'would that really happen' moments... and let's not even try to delve into the consent implications - but it was great fun to read if you just suspend all your disbelief! Men definitely don't come off too well in this novel but I think it needs to be judged purely for entertainment purposes.

The Switch starts with a focus on Elena and her feelings towards both Sophia and Finn, as well as the difficulties in her relationship with Adam, but we then switch to Sophia as we learn she has her own, much darker, reasons for wanting to switch partners for the night. I liked this element of mystery, and getting inside Sophia's head to some extent whilst Elena remained blissfully ignorant. The novel then switches between various perspectives as the novel continues.

THE SWITCH

It took me three days to consume The Switch and WOW !! What a book.

This clever, mysterious page turning thriller is a scandalous story, with a 50 Shades vibe of non seedy smut.

Starting off at a steady pace, the author slowly builds up the drama until you’re utterly consumed and become suspended in a dark and sinister story, filled with dark and dangerous secrets.

Five out of five stars
A MUST read !!

Thank you #NetGalley for my eArc copy of #TheSwitch

#author #LilySamson
#clever #scandalous #dark #sinister #thriller #obsession #secrets #engrossing #unputdownable #amustread

This started off well but I soon became confused as the chapters flit between then and now and I struggled to hold interest. Not for me I'm afraid.

This was… absolutely wild.

The premise is simple (sort of). Two women, Elena and Sophie, decide they want to take back the power in their relationships and swap husbands for one sordid night without either of them knowing. It should be simple. But what happens if Elena catches feelings for Sophie’s dashingly handsome husband? Or Sophie begins eyeing up Adam for future escapades? And how does this tie in with Alain’s long-dead sister?

It was a riot! I barely felt like I was reading. There were certain points where I entirely related to Elena (worrying), where I had to reread a certain section to make sure I hadn’t misread it, and where I had to walk away for a moment to catch my breath. I love that it was written from both of their perspectives too, so you didn’t quite know who to trust.

It’s great for fans of Louise Candlish and Lucy Foley (I am of both), because while it is a twisty thriller written beautifully, there’s also a message here about what we will allow ourselves, our relationships with intimacy, and staying in ‘it’ purely to stay in it.

Thank you to @cornerstone_press and @netgalley for the arc. And thank you to @lilysamsonauthor for writing something so enjoyable I couldn’t help but inhale it in one day.

I enjoyed this book, although I felt rather uncomfortable reading about the switches.
I think it was easy to like Finn and dislike Sophia, although by the end you realise that it’s not her fault.
A different type of story which I thought started slowly, but soon picked up pace.

"Comitting the perfect crime is making sure you pay attention to detail" so says Sophia as she encourages Elena to switch husbands for an hour of passion.
Elena meets Sophia in a cafe and quickly becomes entranced by her seemingly perfect lifestyle and her gorgeous husband Finn. Slightly bored with her marriage to Adam, Elena embarks on a controlled experiment not realising the far reaching consequences nor the extent Sophia will go to to get what she wants.
On the whole I enjoyed this novel, I wouldn't say it's a thriller, more a marriage drama. I found Elena to be naive and very trusting, and not of the right people. Finn was misguided and Sophia had her claws into everyone to keep them on her wavelength. A fairly quick read.