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The Switch

Beth O'Leary

4.41 · Rating details · 439 ratings · 261 reviews

Eileen is sick of being 79. Leena's tired of life in her twenties. Maybe it's time they swapped places...

When overachiever 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 overdue rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She'd like a second chance at love, ...more

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Hardcover, 400 pages

Expected publication: April 30th 2020 by Quercus

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Apr 02, 2020 Paromjit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, contemporary-fiction, family-drama, women-s-fiction

Beth O'Leary proves that her brilliant debut The Flatshire was no fluke with this smashing follow up, the perfect reading material for our anxious and self isolated times. 79 year old Eileen Cotton's husband, Wade has recently left her for a dance instructor, and for the tree climbing Eileen, she is far from addled, she is searching for sex, love and another man. Living in the Yorkshire Dales and the tiny village of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, there are slim pickings, as Eileen reflects on how she Beth O'Leary proves that her brilliant debut The Flatshire was no fluke with this smashing follow up, the perfect reading material for our anxious and self isolated times. 79 year old Eileen Cotton's husband, Wade has recently left her for a dance instructor, and for the tree climbing Eileen, she is far from addled, she is searching for sex, love and another man. Living in the Yorkshire Dales and the tiny village of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, there are slim pickings, as Eileen reflects on how she had planned on going to London before pregnancy and marriage. Living in a warehouse flat in Shoreditch, London, over achieving Leena has a panic attack during a presentation to a client, forced into a two month sabbatical by her boss, she visits her grandmother, Eileen, in Yorkshire. Upon learning of her grandmother's dilemma, she suggests they swap lives and switch homes.

The Cotton women are still heavily in the throes of an unbearable loss and grief, one that has resulted in an estrangement with Leena still raging against her mother. Both Eileen and Leena are indomitable organisers, with Leena pitching in with local gossiping Neighbourhood Watch Committee, their activities and May Day celebrations. After an initially disheartening experience in London, Eileen is aided by Leena's friend Bee in compiling a profile for dating apps, and before long she is juggling men like there is no tomorrow. An inveterate meddler in the lives of others, Eileen is a hit with well nigh everyone, particularly Leena's flatmates like Fitz, becoming a veritable whirlwind as she plans and sets up the Silver Shoreditch Social Club after discovering the elderly isolated Letitia. Whilst there are the odd flies in the ointment for both women, such as a scamming attempt, both women have a whale of a time.

O'Leary has a remarkable talent in writing with wit, charm and humour whilst creating the kind of characters you cannot help but adore. The real star of this novel is undoubtedly the unforgettable and strong Eileen, willing to do the right thing by protecting her granddaughter even whilst knowing that will once again bring heartbreak to her. Life will never be the same again for either woman, the new adventures, love and challenges in their lives offer them the opportunity to process and come to terms with their grief whilst allowing them opportunities to evolve their identities to be who they are now. It is worth mentioning whilst so many of us are pushed into enforced isolation at the moment for who knows how long, many of the elderly have loneliness imposed on them at all times by families and communities. Which explains why I found Eileen's recognition of this and her efforts to establish the Silver Shoreditch Social Club so wonderfully amazing. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC. ...more

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Jan 05, 2020 Emer (A Little Haze) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5stars, romance, reviewed, light-fiction, netgalley, adult-fiction, contemporary, read2020

Last year (Jan 2019) I had the good fortune of reading Beth O'Leary's debut novel, The Flatshare, as an ARC from NetGalley and it was a book that really gave me great hope in her abilities as a writer because she managed to find a fresh and unique spin on the romantic dramedy genre of fiction...

And with this new novel The Switch she has once again shown that she is a brilliant storyteller in this area.

I loved this book.

Utterly loved it.

It gave me all the feels I could ever have hoped for and ...more

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Jun 25, 2019 ✨ A ✨ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-release

I thought this was going to be like a Freaky Friday movie body switch. And then I reread the blurb and realised it's a place swap not a body swap *face palms*
That's what I get for skimming through blurbs.
_____
My review of The Flatshare

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Mar 26, 2020 emma marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: to-buy, can-t-wait-to-read, non-ya, chick-lit, auto-buy-authors

i found out about this book 5 minutes ago and approx 4 minutes and 58 seconds ago it became the only thing i care about

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Mar 19, 2020 NZLisaM rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, romance, contemporary, drama, 2020, netgalley, womens-fiction

Simply Gorgeous and Uplifting!

Last year I gushed over The Flatshare, well in my opinion Beth O'Leary has exceeded my expectations even more with The Switch, and believe me I'm going to be spending the remainder of the year (and longer) raving about this beautiful, heartwarming book, and recommending it to every reader I encounter.

When wound tight, workaholic Leena Cotton experiences a panic attack during a big presentation her company orders her to take two months leave. Dreading the endless ...more

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Jan 30, 2020 sarah xoxo added it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs

review coming soon!
(love love love love)

Thank you to Hachette Australia for this ARC

Release Date: 28 April 2020

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Jan 08, 2020 Abby Jimenez rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Oh man, what to say about this book. I guess I should start by mentioning that I gave it the highest honorI read it with my eyeballs lol. I do audiobooks. It's reeeeeally hard for me to get to a paperback. I just blew through this.

The world is light and charming and I particularly loved getting Eileen's POV in this. It really kept the pages moving for me because I couldn't decide who I liked best, Leena or her grandmother, and I wanted to keep reading to get to their next chapters.

This is ...more

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Mar 29, 2020 Evie Braithwaite rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, fiction, romance, contemporary, arc, popsugar-reading-challenge

During these uncertain times, The Switch is exactly the kind of wholesome content we all need right now.

The Flatshare was one of my favourite books last year. At the time of reading, I was working abroad, and OLearys rom-com was the perfect book to alleviate my sky-high anxiety and homesickness. So, having delighted in The Flatshare, The Switch was one of my most anticipated releases for 2020.

Reader, I loved every second.

In London, 29-year-old Leena Cotton is mentally and physically exhausted During these uncertain times, The Switch is exactly the kind of wholesome content we all need right now.

The Flatshare was one of my favourite books last year. At the time of reading, I was working abroad, and O’Leary’s rom-com was the perfect book to alleviate my sky-high anxiety and homesickness. So, having delighted in The Flatshare, The Switch was one of my most anticipated releases for 2020.

Reader, I loved every second.

In London, 29-year-old Leena Cotton is mentally and physically exhausted and her boss orders her to take a two-month sabbatical. Meanwhile, her 79-year-old Grandma, Eileen Cotton, is recently single after her husband leaving her for another woman and she fancies a second chance at love. With Leena in need of a break, and there being a dearth of men in Eileen’s tiny Yorkshire village, the women swap places.

Once again, I was swept up in Beth O’Leary’s fluent writing. From the outset, I fell in love with Leena and Eileen. I honestly thought I would have enjoyed Leena’s chapters best, but they were both as charming as each other. Eileen is nearly 80 years old but that by no means encumbers her joie de vivre. Rather, she tackles London’s hustle and bustle with a pep in her step, quickly befriends Leena’s flatmates and neighbours, and even gives online dating a shot (I may have to take some tips). What’s more, she is so brutally honest that she had me laughing out loud. If I can bear semblance to her when I’m in my late seventies, I’ll be thrilled. She is simply inspiring.

Back in Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, it was a joy to watch Leena learn to love herself again. Over the course of the two months, she takes charge of the May Day celebration arrangements, nails a brownie recipe, and forms unconventional friendships; her interactions with her grumpy neighbour, Arnold, made my heart swell with happiness, and the romance was just as sugary sweet as it was in The Flatshare. The swap proves to be the perfect way to aid the healing of both women from the trauma of the past couple of years. The Cotton ladies by no means overshadow The Switch’s secondary characters. I would pack up and move to my own cottage in rural Hamleigh-in-Harksdale tomorrow if I could to live among such a charming close-knit community.

Overall, Beth O’Leary is quickly becoming an auto-read author of mine. The Switch is an uplifting read that will capture the hearts and minds of readers of all ages everywhere. The perfect book to curl up with this April.

Popsugar 2020 Reading Challenge: A book that’s published in 2020 ...more

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Mar 07, 2020 ThatBookGal rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I absolutely adored The Flatshare, and I would go so far to say that The Switch was even better! I just love Beth O'Leary's style of writing, its gentle and very easy to read, whilst still managing to address some underlying issues facing society. The Switch made me laugh out loud in almost every one of its chapters. It's hilarious, heartwarming and genuinely moving.

A large part of the narrative addresses grief and how it can affect every aspect of your life. I loved the idea of the two I absolutely adored The Flatshare, and I would go so far to say that The Switch was even better! I just love Beth O'Leary's style of writing, its gentle and very easy to read, whilst still managing to address some underlying issues facing society. The Switch made me laugh out loud in almost every one of its chapters. It's hilarious, heartwarming and genuinely moving.

A large part of the narrative addresses grief and how it can affect every aspect of your life. I loved the idea of the two Eileen's switching lives to help them both heal from the traumas of the past few years. I felt the way they were handling it was all very accurate. From reading the blurb, I was worried the plot would feel a little too farfetched, but I never felt like that whilst reading, it all felt very genuine and as though it could really happen.

The portrayal of life in Britain is just perfect, I feel like the book drips Britishness. I laughed constantly through Eileen's first days in London, because it's just so accurate. If you weren't born in London, it can be such a massive shock how people behave on a daily basis, and this was just captured so perfectly. Similarly life in little villages, and how minute details become huge parts of your life. The observational humour is brilliant!

Eileen was just wonderful to read, I thought she was absolutely fantastic. I loved her so much and I could read another 100 books from her perspective. Her brutal honesty and continued lust for life was inspiring and beautiful. Leena struggled to stand up against her grandmother, but I really enjoyed watching her grow and learn to love herself again. Her relationship with Jackson was dreamy, and I was rooting for them from pretty much the first appearance he made.

Not to be overshadowed by the leading ladies, there are so many amazing side characters to fall in love with. Fitz stood out to me, always willing to embrace Eileen and the older ladies into his life, the banter they shared was wonderful. I also adored pretty much every resident of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, and if I could, I'd be packing up and moving there tomorrow. There are lots of themes explored with these fantastic people, loneliness, domestic violence, parental relationships and many more.

Beth O'Leary is rapidly cementing herself as one of my favourite authors, her books are a warm hug and a mug of hot chocolate on a chilly day, just perfection. I can't wait to see what she writes next, and big thanks to Quercus for the chance to read an early copy of this beautiful tale! ...more

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Mar 17, 2020 Mark Porton rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: modern-fiction

After reading Beth O'Leary's first book, The Flat Share, which was funny, feel good, fresh and totally surprising - I was massively looking forward to her second book, The Switch.

However, The Switch didn't really hit the mark for me. The story of a Grandmother and Grandaughter switching lives (albeit partially), swapping houses and towns was just a bit too ridiculous to believe. I couldn't warm to the main characters and the supporting cast were really clones of those endured in the scores of ...more

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Mar 01, 2020 Bruna Oliveira rated it really liked it

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beth O'Leary's second novel has two protagonists: Eileen and Leena, a grandmother and granddaughter, who decided to swap houses since both of them are going through a rough patch. Eileen was just left by her husband who decided to live with a younger dance teacher and Leena was forced into some vacation, because she has not been dealing well with work's pressure after her sister's death.

First of all, I have Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beth O'Leary's second novel has two protagonists: Eileen and Leena, a grandmother and granddaughter, who decided to swap houses since both of them are going through a rough patch. Eileen was just left by her husband who decided to live with a younger dance teacher and Leena was forced into some vacation, because she has not been dealing well with work's pressure after her sister's death.

First of all, I have to say I was not a big fan of the author's first book, unlike most people out there. I thought it was ok, but I didn't really enjoy it as I was expecting to. However, when I first read the synopsis of this one, I felt immediately curious to read it, since it reminded me a lot of an awesome rom com "The Holiday", with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, therefore I decided to give the author a second chance and I'm so glad I did it!

My favorite character - hands down - was Eileen. She is so amazing! She has a lot of attitude and she's so funny, and yet there's something really vulnerable about her. Besides, it felt so good to have a 79-year-old woman as a protagonist, since it's not as common as it could be.

Leena was also a good character, but not as good as Eileen - although to be fair it's really hard to compete with her |o| - still I liked the way her grief was developed and her relationship with her mother and friends as well. Plus, the side characters are hilarious and very nice.

There's also some amazing romances in here. There are two tropes which I absolutely adore: enemies to lovers and friends to lovers and they were so well done! Actually, maybe my only problem with the book is that I wished we had even more romance in here.

Overall, it was an amazing read. I highly recommend it if you want a dramatic book, with a lot of humor and romance as well. If you loved her first book, I'm sure you'll love this as well, and if you didn't read her first one, I think it's also a really good way to get to know her work. ...more

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Jan 20, 2020 book bruin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was such a heartwarming and uplifting novel. I loved how Beth O'Leary put her own unique spin on the trading places premise. I don't think that I have ever read a novel with an older main character quite like Eileen Cotton. She was hilarious and vivacious and I can only hope that I'm half as entertaining when I'm her age. I loved that it was Eileen out there dating and really embracing life and its adventures. It was a wonderful role reversal and contrast to her granddaughter, Leena. The ...more

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Feb 28, 2020 Nenia ⚡ Aspiring Evil Overlord ⚡ Campbell marked it as to-read · review of another edition

As much as I hate reality TV, I always watched things like Celebrity Wife Swap and Trading Spouses. There's just something so weird and uncomfortable to me about the idea of letting a stranger have free reign in your home...

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Jun 27, 2019 KristynRene The Hype Queen of Books marked it as to-read

Shelves: contemporary, add-romance

So we have a The Holiday featuring Jack Black, Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, and Jude Law-Esque scenario by an author already proven to craft unexpectedly marvelous stories of self discovery and romance?

And this comes out when???

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Mar 22, 2020 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

After reading The Flat share which I loved. I was looking forward to reading The Switch by Beth 0Leary.
Leena Cotton is a Senior consultant for Selmont Consulting in London. When she has a panic attack at a presentation. She has been fumbling through her work and life as a year ago, her sister died, and she still hasnt got over the pain of her death. She is told that she needs to take 2 months annual leave and she doesnt want to leave and leave her boyfriend Ethan who she works with. But her ...more

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Mar 22, 2020 Debbie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two month break, after blowing a huge presentation at work. She has been working night and day and her boss has ordered she have a break. She escapes to her grandmother, Eileen's, place for a rest but Eileen is also in need of an escape as she is newly single at 80. So the two decide to swap houses for the two months. It seems like the perfect solution, with Leena having a country retreat and Eileen going to London to see if she can find a new romance. But as ...more

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Feb 25, 2020 lara rated it it was amazing

I just seem to love everything Beth O'Leary writes. There's just something so fun and so british about the way that she writes that I can't help but enjoy every second of reading her books. She's definitely at the top of my insta-buy author list now. Her contemporaries are fun, have great friendships with the best banter, and have cute romances, but they also both deal with deeper issues in such an amazing way. Specifically, this book dealt with grief, death of a loved one, domestic abuse, ...more

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Mar 02, 2020 Eilidh rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviews, arc-reads, preorders, contemporary, 2020-reads, anticipated-2020-releases

The Switch is the charming multigenerational story of the Cotton family. Leena Cotton and her grandmother, Eileen Cotton, decide to switch places for two months: with Leena leaving London to live in her grandmothers home located in a small village in the Yorkshire Dales, and Eileen going to live with Leenas flat mates in London.

Both Cotton ladies represent identity loss. Eileen has woke up from her life of complacency that comes with living through habit, and realised she wants an adventure to The Switch is the charming multigenerational story of the Cotton family. Leena Cotton and her grandmother, Eileen Cotton, decide to switch places for two months: with Leena leaving London to live in her grandmother’s home located in a small village in the Yorkshire Dales, and Eileen going to live with Leena’s flat mates in London.

Both Cotton ladies represent identity loss. Eileen has woke up from her life of complacency that comes with living through habit, and realised she wants an adventure to find herself. And Leena represents a character who’s lost her way through grief, as well as having a strained relationship with her mother, Marian, and has buried herself under work to cope. This made both women relatable in their own right, and it was emotional to see their moments of realisation, their healing processes etc.

I enjoyed this story - it was mostly breezy and easy to read. It was such a cosy book, all the while dealing with serious problems like adultery, bereavement and depression. There were moments where Eileen really made me laugh. She was sassy and unabashedly shameless.

O’Leary captured the small village sentiment well, where everybody knows everybody’s business. There were supporting characters that were all well illustrated as to make them easily memorable, that is to say, as soon as they came into a scene, I wasn’t confused for a moment as to who they were. In fact, the supporting characters were probably my favourite thing about The Switch.

So, at the heart of The Switch is a sense of community and family values, that makes this a kaleidoscope of emotions to read: hurt, sympathy, elation, warmth and heart. It’s about human connection through family ties, neighbourly ties, romances and friendships in all the good and bad.

Leena’s earlier chapters were a little dull in comparison to Eileen’s, but this improved as the read went on. As well, I felt the happily ever after climax and epilogue could have been smoothed out more.

Another thing I have to praise was the clever use of other pieces of work, and British culture. I LOVED Eileen’s cats names! And I really loved the metaphorical roles Leena gave herself and Arnold.

Truly a heartwarming story about the journey of healing from bereavement and coping with life upheavals. Perfect for fans of Grace & Frankie and The Holiday, or if you’re simply looking for a pick me up read, The Switch won’t disappoint.

Thank you so much to Quercus Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💗🌷📚 ...more

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Dec 30, 2019 Stacey (prettybooks) rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult-fiction, read-in-my-thirties

Beth O'Leary's The Flatshare was a huge hit with me and so The Switch out April 2020 is one of my most anticipated releases. I read it during my Christmas break and it was the perfect choice warm, uplifting and totally different to anything else I've read lately.

Continue reading this review over on Pretty Books.

#gifted: Thank you to the publisher for sending me this book for free in exchange for an honest review! ...more

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Oct 14, 2019 Zubs Malik rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I waited a whole year for this book. And then it was all over in under six hours. Hey Beth? Where is book three please.

I am offering this super mini review to entice you all because I KNOW a lot of you are patiently (okay, not so patiently Im looking at you @bringmybooks ) waiting to get your hands on a copy of Beths new book and let me tell you something - it will be worth the wait.

I did not think that she would be able to top the incredible premise that was The Flat Share, but this book is ...more

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Apr 04, 2020 tara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: tbr-2020, arc-read

Eileen Cotton (grandmother) and Eileen Leena Cotton (granddaughter) swap houses for two months. Eilleen wants to check out the dating scene in London after recently separating from her husband of over 50 years. Leena is a workaholic and looking for a holiday destination of sorts after being forced into a sabbatical from her job. Theres also a daughter / mum Marian who lives in the same town as the grandmother. They also all lost their sister / daughter / granddaughter to cancer about a year ...more

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Mar 28, 2020 Jesika rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-s

I loved this book! Both Eileem and Leena are brilliant characters and I felt equally invested in both of their journey's. They are both strong, capable women who are trying to find a version of themselves that feels right and comfortable after the world has dealt them some awful cards.

Hamleigh-in-Harkdale is my new must visit literary town - it felt like a Stars Hollow kind of place and I couldn't stop laughing as all the different personalities came together and just created endless nightmares ...more

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Mar 10, 2020 Jenna Nelson rated it liked it · review of another edition

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 ...more

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Mar 10, 2020 Eva vs The World 🌎 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourite, books-i-own, netgalley, physical-arcs, 2020-favourites

5 stars.

This was the easiest 5 stars Ive ever awarded to a book and there was no way this would be getting any less. Ill be writing up a review soon to let you know my thoughts! ...more

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Mar 11, 2020 Emily May rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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 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 dance 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. Therefore, I gave 'The Switch' a rating of four and a half stars out of five.

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. ...more

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Feb 05, 2020 Theighan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

First off, I want to give a massive thank you to Quercus Books for sending me an ARC of this amazing book! Will forever feel beyond honoured!

And now, THIS. BOOK. Well, Beth has only went and bloody done it again hasnt she! What a queen of contemporaries honestly. As soon as I read the first page of Eileens first chapter I was in love with her. Shes just such a funny, strong and sassy character and I love how I forgot about her age a lot throughout the book. I didnt see her as the wee poor old First off, I want to give a massive thank you to Quercus Books for sending me an ARC of this amazing book! Will forever feel beyond honoured!

And now, THIS. BOOK. Well, Beth has only went and bloody done it again hasn’t she! What a queen of contemporaries honestly. As soon as I read the first page of Eileen’s first chapter I was in love with her. She’s just such a funny, strong and sassy character and I love how I forgot about her age a lot throughout the book. I didn’t see her as the “wee poor old lady”. I seen her as a role model, a friend and an absolute force to be reckoned with.

Leena was also such an amazing, strong female character and I adored scenes with Leena and Eileen so much! Both Eileen Cotton’s just absolutely causing it is everything😂

I love as well how Beth always seems to have the core story/plot but there’s always other things going on with or for the characters. This book dealt with death and grief, domestic abuse and cheating and it was done so beautifully. Like, one of the characters that came across as annoying at the start was dealing with one of these and that just made that character seem even more real? Thanks Beth for letting us look past the behaviour for this character and see someone amazing underneath!

In this book there also seemed to be two worlds? - Leena’s flatmates/friends in London and Eileen’s community in Hamleigh-in-Harksdale. I really enjoyed getting to know both of these “worlds” through the other Eileen! AAAAAND, this book reminds me SO much of The Holiday which is THE best Christmas movie ever so that shows you just how amazing this book is!

You all need to go preorder this book RIGHT NOW! I don’t think I’ve felt this way about a book in a long time (I had the same feeling with The Flatshare) and I actually felt like I could’ve cried right after finishing this book because it was over.

I laughed out loud SO much when reading this book and I truly think I’ll remember these characters for the rest of my life. Reading one of Beth’s books, to me, feels like getting a hug from my little sister who is my favourite human on the planet. I’ll definitely be reading this book again for all the feelings and to be well and truly Eileened, again! ...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Bex mummyisreading rated it it was amazing

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus for selecting me to review an early e-copy of this book! Having lost my own Nanny Dot in October last year, I was a little nervous that this book might be a difficult read. I needn't have worried; Beth O'Leary has created something truly special with her cocktail of love, magic and laughter that I think this book might possibly be one of my most treasured reads as an adult.

Eileen is exactly the sort of woman who just IS a Grandmother, or a Nan. She's strong to ...more

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Mar 18, 2020 Ariadna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, not-released-yet, netgalley

This book is the embodiment of wholesomeness!!
The beginning was a little slow for me and i feel like the characters took a while to become solid. They were kind of 2D in the beginning but after the midpoint and onward it was absolutely amazing. I just have to say that i got so attached to all the characters especially the grandma and Jackson and Bee, and just generally most of them are so lovable and you just want to protect them under your wing because they are precious but at the same time ...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Becky Sumner rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Well what can I say? I am going to say what usually say is a cliché but
I loved this book! It pulled me in from the start!
Eileen Cotton is a fiesty but amazing older lady who is the matriarch of not only her family but also her local community.
She is a force to be reckoned with for certain but she has a heart of gold and an answer for everything!
Her grand daughter Leena is the opposite.. She hurries about whilst all the time having her head buried in the sand.
Leena's sister Carla died of cancer ...more

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Jan 25, 2020 my bookworm life rated it it was amazing

After falling in love with The Flatshare last year i was so excited when i saw Beth was writing a new book!, i am so thankful to the publishers for sending me a lovely proof copy of The Switch and i adored it!

This is just more of the cosy, funny, emotive and feel good fiction that we had from The Flatshare, this time with a Grandaughter and her Grandmother, trading places and lives for 2 months to see what they can learn and get out of a change of pace and people. Firstly i just loved the ...more

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About Beth O'Leary

Beth O'Leary

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Beth studied English at university before going into childrens publishing. She lives as close to the countryside as she can get while still being within reach of London, and wrote her first novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from work.
Youll usually find her curled up with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).
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