Last year, I read The Flatshare and I fell in love with the protagonists Leon and Tiffy, their story, and Beth O’Leary’s brilliant writing. And now, one year later, Beth O’Leary is back with another beautiful and addictive story. One afternoon, a few days ago, I sat down on the couch, I picked up The Switch, I am not sure, but I think at some point I had dinner, and suddenly it was 2am and I had finished reading the entire novel. The Switch is a fantastic story of family and friendship with a bit of romance in it. The protagonists are Eileen and her granddaughter Leena who, following a rough year, decide to switch their lives, The Holiday-style. Leena, on a sabbatical from work, moves to her grandmother’s house in Yorkshire and takes on her many many projects. On the other hand, Eileen moves to Shoreditch to live with her granddaughter’s roommates and give a try to online dating. Both protagonists get involved in many hilarious situations that brought tears to my eyes from laughing. Eileen and Leena are funny, strong, and generous and I simply adored them. All the characters are well-crafted and witty. From Leena’s roommates and friends to the members of the Neighbourhood Watch, I liked them all and they made me laugh out loud. The Switch is a terrific and engrossing novel that everyone needs to read, especially right now. With the right amount of comedy and a few emotional moments, it will keep you entertained and establishes Beth O’Leary as an amazing storyteller that knows how to grip the reader’s attention. I am definitely a huge fan of this author and I can’t wait to see what she has planned next…

I was a huge fan of The Flatshare, Beth’s first book, which I read last month. I knew I needed some comfort reading and Beth O’Leary is perfect for that. The Switch is an adorable, cosy, and laugh-out-loud book that was exactly what I needed. The book’s told in alternating chapters: Leena, and her grandmother Eileen. They decide to swap lives - Leena, struggling with her sister’s death, leaves London to live in her grandmother’s house in the Yorkshire Dales, and Eileen goes to Leena’s London flat to finally live her life after her husband left her. An interesting and original concept that I knew I had to read right away! There’s just something about Beth O’Leary’s writing that is like a hug. It’s fun, real, and so readable and the characters are always great fun (or perfectly dislikable). I just wanted to be in the Dales with Leena, helping with the May Day parade, or in London with Eileen and her social club. Eileen is such a cool 79-yr-old - I definitely aspire to be like her when I’m old! Just like The Flatshare, the plot manages to deal with difficult topics in a sensitive yet light hearted way. It deals with grief so poignantly, and I teared up several times. I don’t often cry at books, so that’s definitely a win! Overall, I adored The Switch. I cannot recommend it enough, if you’re looking for something cheery and heartwarming to lift your spirits while we’re still stuck in lockdown (but still get it if you read this after, too!)

This book. THIS BOOOOK. Oh my god. My heart is so full of love and happiness and emotions. I was kindly sent a e-arc of this book via NetGalley and I started reading it the same day I got the email to say I had been approved by Quercus because I adored The Flatshare and I have been really excited for Beth O’Leary’s next book. When I initially read the synopsis I have to admit that I wasn’t THAT interested but I still really wanted to read it. Anyway, here we are, after having just spent four hours straight curled up on the sofa, unmoving, completely addicted to the book, and I have literally JUST finished it and thought, I need to write my review straight away, because I need to convey how uplifting and gorgeous this book was while I’m in the immediate happy book drunk phase after just finishing an incredible book. From start to finish I was hooked. Within the first two chapters I had already burst out laughing and I had cried. Now, disclaimer, I AM an emotional person, but to be laughing and crying within two chapters is a new record, even for me. Incase you haven’t read the blurb, Leena and Eileen Cotton are both facing slumps in their lives. As granddaughter and grandmother they come to the decision that swapping lifestyles for two months might help level them out and get them out of their slumps. Leena travels up to the Yorkshire dales to stay in her grandmother’s cottage and try to reconcile a broken relationship with her mother. While Eileen moves into her granddaughters converted London apartment in an attempt to broaden her horizons and find someone to share her life with. This story was so beautiful. It had romance, it had drama, it had community spirit, but my favourite part was the strength you see building in the characters, especially Leena and Eileen. The strength you see from these women, even when they don’t feel that strength themselves is both astonishing and empowering, and if there’s one thing I’ve taken from this story, it’s to be your OWN Eileen Cotton. One of my favourite aspects of this book is the age group of the characters. I LOVED that so many elderly characters are such a vital part of the plot and such important powerful characters. I love that O’Leary didn’t shy away from the fact that 79 year olds MIGHT wanna throw on black lacey underwear and have a fling. I love that they weren’t depicted as solely fragile characters. Too many books play on old people as something scary and fragile, this completely spun that around. These oldies were bad. ass. My only issue with the book is that it felt a little rushed at the end. Just the last chapter and the epilogue. I wanted a little more, but then again I probably feel that way because I didn’t want it to end! I got well and truly Eileened and I loved every minute of it.

This was such a beautiful story with developed characters some of whom you fall in love with and root for throughout the book. Eileen is absolutely class! Although appearing to be a light-hearted romance at first glance, O’Leary cleverly weaves in more serious topics at the same time. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!

Leena Cotton is ordered to take time off work to de-stress; Eileen Cotton wants an adventure before she turns 80 – the duo decide to switch! With Leena taking on her Grandma’s responsibilities in Hamleigh for two months, covering Neighbourhood Watch meetings and organising the May Day event and Eileen, living in Leena’s flat in London with her granddaughters friends and enters the world of online dating, it’s recipe for hilarity, disaster and personal revelations! I’ve been struggling to get into a book recently and my sister gave me her copy of The Switch and it was exactly what I needed! I never normally read light-hearted books like this but I loved it! It’s been such a long time since I laughed this much at a book and now I can’t help but want more books like this on my bookshelf! I can’t help but be slightly jealous that Eileen’s online dating life is much, much better than mine! The only thing is, this story is now leaving me with a lingering thought – if you could switch lives with a family member for two months, who would you switch with?