The Switch

Beth O’Leary

A grandmother and granddaughter swap lives in The Switch, a charming, romantic novel by Beth O’Leary.

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 long-overdue rest.

Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She’d like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn’t offer many eligible gentlemen.

So they decide to try a two-month swap.

Eileen will live in London and look for love. She’ll take Leena’s flat, and learn all about casual dating, swiping right, and city neighbors. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire: Eileen’s sweet cottage and garden, her idyllic, quiet village, and her little neighborhood projects.

But stepping into one another’s shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected. Will swapping lives help Eileen and Leena find themselves…and maybe even find true love? In Beth O’Leary’s The Switch, it’s never too late to change everything….or to find yourself.

-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.

Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.

My Opinion

3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5) The story starts out with Leena having a meltdown at work and they decide to give her 2 months vacation. How would that be? I know I could use two months of vacation. My mind started traveling immediately into what I would do and where I would go. But Leena didn’t take it that way, she was nervous and didn’t know what to do. Her grandmother recently went through a divorce and the two decide to swap houses (one in London, one in the country) and it is the perfect experience for both of them. 

Both are still reeling from the loss of Leena’s sister Carla and the switch is just what they need. Eileen is 79 and looking for love. London is perfect for new experiences and new people. Leena’s friends show her around and she dabbles in online dating. I loved Eileen hanging out with Leena’s friends and how it worked so well. Leena takes over Eileen’s responsibilities in the country and learns to slow down her life. Leena finds true friendship in her grandmas friends and I liked it showing how no matter the age, we all have such similarities.

It is a cute, sweet book about life, love, loss, friendship, family and what is important. Both woman learned about themselves but also took the time to find out about those around them. It was a bit predictable but I find most romcoms are. It’s a fun, light read!

I really like both narrators voices, however, the voice for Eileen was very loud with smacking and saliva and it became very distracting.

The book contained language (10 or so F words), sex but no details and grief over losing a loved one and the struggle at losing their life. There is one couple who are gay and are having a child together. Spousal abuse is mentioned a few times but no details other than bruises. 

Thank you to Libro.fm and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

**As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

3 Comments

  1. Although outside my normal genre’s of choice this one sounded interesting when I saw it earlier this year. I’m glad it was an interesting & enjoyable read for you

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