The Switch: Audio

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, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn’t offer many eligible gentlemen.

Once Leena learns of Eileen’s romantic predicament, she proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire. But with gossiping neighbours and difficult family dynamics to navigate up north, and trendy London flatmates and online dating to contend with in the city, stepping into one another’s shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected.

Leena learns that a long-distance relationship isn’t as romantic as she hoped it would be, and then there is the annoyingly perfect – and distractingly handsome – school teacher, who keeps showing up to outdo her efforts to impress the local villagers. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, but is her perfect match nearer home than she first thought?

Dear The Switch,

You are so cute! Whenever I want someone to laugh with, I’m sure you will come to mind. I feel a bit lighter after having listened to you. Thank you for the distraction and entertaining story, it was a pleasure.

With Love,
Hannah

I have been in the mood for something a bit lighter than the books I have been reading, then poof! The Switch popped into my life. While I had a copy coming in the mail, I ended up listening to this book on audiobook thanks to NetGalley.

I loved the Flatshare ( I also listened to it through audio-book), so when I saw Beth O’Leary came out with a new book, I bought it right away. O’Leary has a fun way of writing darling books. Yes, there is drama. Yes, not everything is easy in the characters life. But, reading it made me feel so at ease. Her books feel like curling up with an old favorite, even on the first read. While being lighthearted, there is a strong plot which holds the attention well. A grandmother (Eileen Cotton) who lives in an old village is looking for romance after her husband leaves her. Her granddaughter (Leena Cotton) who lives in London has been sent on a break from work after a nervous breakdown in a meeting. So, they decide to switch places and discover new things about themselves and each other.

Leena’s switch would have been my preferred switch. I absolutely loved seeing her go into some sleepy town and living the life of her grandmother, all the way down to the phone. I enjoyed the love story because it was subtle. There was more to her character than a romance, she was building relationships with the people in town, planning events, reconnecting with her mother, healing from a certain event. It was just so cute…

Now, Eileen, man oh man. Her character had me giggling to myself. “Dating” an actor, building up the common area in her apartment complex, taking on the world… She had a lot of spunk. In my opinion, she was more the main character in the book than Leena. She has her own romantic goals after her husband left her (honestly though, who would leave Eileen Cotton?!).

My only negative comment about the audio book was at times it was a bit hard to hear. There was a unique thing they did to note when it was a phone call (so it sounded like they were on the phone), and I struggled to hear it. It didn’t take away from the book, just a little bug-a-boo. The narrators were fantastic though. There were two women, since it is from two points of view. I could listen to them talk all day.

If you’re up for a pleasant read, this is an amazing choice. If you enjoy audiobooks, this would be one to start with. The voices are clear, articulate, and have a lot of personality. Hearing their voices helped me imagine what they would look like, by the end I had a very clear picture in my mind.

Release Date: August 18, 2020
Length: 10 hours 11 minutes

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