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Book Review of The Switch

The Switch
The Switch
Author: Beth O'Leary
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Paperback
VolunteerVal avatar reviewed on + 596 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


This was a delightful novel with more substance than I anticipated. The "switch stories" I've previously enjoyed in novels and movies swapped two people of the same age. In The Switch, 20-something Leena leaves her fast-paced career-driven London life to live in her 79-year-old grandmother Elieen's small village cottage for two weeks during a "sabattical" mandated by her employer. Grandma Eileen uses this opportunity to stay in Leena's London flat and live the exciting big-city life for 14 days. Of course hilarity and missteps ensue.

I enjoyed watching Leena be reminded of the importance of connections to one's neighbors, a skill she neglected in London, and seeing Eileen teach that lesson to Leena's flatmates, fellow building residents, and the larger neighborhood. Eileen's antics to 'investigate' Leena's boyfriend were enjoyable if not somewhat unrealistic. Of course, the love stories were sweet and delightful. I also appreciated the far more serious plotline of Leena, Elieen, and their mother/daughter mourning the loss of Carla, Leena's sister.

It was fabulous to read this as an audiobook as the British accents of Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones brought great authenticity to the large cast of characters, especially Eileen and Leena.