The Switch: A Novel

Beth O'Leary

Aug 2020 · Sold by Flatiron Books

About this ebook

A grandmother and granddaughter swap lives in The Switch, a charming, romantic novel by Beth O’Leary, who has been hailed as “the new Jojo Moyes” (Cosmopolitan UK)...

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.

Ratings and reviews

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 fish out of water trope is always a fun one, and I enjoyed seeing Leena come to appreciate the slower pace of life and embrace the residents of Hamleigh (quirks and all). Yes, the plot was fairly predictable and there is some drama towards the end, but O'Leary's writing was wonderful and kept the story engaging and entertaining. There were many laugh out loud moments thanks to the incredible cast of secondary characters, but The Switch also discussed some very important issues as well. I appreciated the care that O'Leary took in addressing loneliness and isolation among older/aging adults. It's not a topic I often think of, so I liked how it was highlighted and integrated into the story. O'Leary also tackled grief, depression, domestic violence, death of loved ones, and infidelity compassionately and sensitively. It was all balanced so well with the lighthearted moments and came together beautifully. There is some slow burn romance and romantic themes in The Switch, but the greater message of hope and healing for all three generations of Cotton women is what really stands out about this novel. The love that Eileen, Marian, and Leena have for each other and their friends and family is the heart of the story. The epilogue left me misty eyed and smiling ear to ear and I cannot wait to see what Beth O'Leary writes next! *I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

I just love the way Beth O'Leary writes relationships. I fell for her stories in The Flatshare, and was very excited to see that she had another. The theme of this one, with the back and forth between Lena and Eileen, wrapped around the intertwining grief between the two of them and Marianne, mother to one, daughter to another. The story has laughter, tears, betrayal, encouragement, acceptance. just beautiful. thanks Netgalley, for the opportunity. .

About the author

Beth O’Leary worked in children's publishing before becoming a full-time author. She is also the author of the Sunday Times bestselling novel The Flatshare, which has been translated into more than thirty languages.