Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Switch by Beth O'Leary

22 reviews

kamrynkoble's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5 stars! I read this for my local library’s book club. This was a sweet story. I truly enjoyed the dual-POV of a grandmother and granddaughter.

Even with all the online dating/talk about relationships, this reads more as contemporary than romance. I wish we would’ve gotten a little more time with the actual romance, lol! But this has a lot of profound yet simple reflections on grief and life. I’d read more from this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, and Sexual content

theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If you liked Freaky Friday and/or The Holiday then you’ll love this book.

If you like cozy England towns and/or the hustle and bustle of a big city then you’ll love this book. 

If you like it when the nice guys don’t finish last and the baddies always get their comeuppance then you’ll love this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol

ruthhelizabeth's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infidelity and Xenophobia

Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol

There is a character who is explicitly xenophobic and this is never really tackled- it is presented like a quirk of their character rather than ever been explicitly challenged.

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Full review to come.

I had decidedly mixed feelings about The Switch.

The first third of the book was great - it was well-written, the pace was good, and it was funny and heartwarming. It was pretty predictable and cliched, but at that point, I was enjoying it so much that I didn't really care. I thought that the exploration of grief as a theme was well done, especially in how it affects the family members of those who have died - it was very sensitively written. There were also brief references to domestic violence that were also handled well, I thought.

Unfortunately, all of the above was nearly ruined for me by the author using a trope that I really dislike:

the first boyfriend of one of the narrators (Leena) turning out to be a massive two-timing douchebag, so the new love interest can then conveniently swoop in and save the day

. Ugh.  And the fact that

the first boyfriend's redeeming qualities were basically swept aside

. I also disliked that

the new love interest was basically described as being built like a football/rugby/soccer player, and didn't seem to have much personality beyond that. I know that sounds mean, and I'm sorry - but that's how I felt

.

I also disliked how the author had the characters do things that I found ethically questionable, purely to advance the plot.

To sum up: The Switch is a novel that started off well but turned off this reader by using a nasty trope that authors should really stop using.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Xenophobia

xlaurareads's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

this one was a cute and nice enough read but nothing exceptional, really. it was kinda boring sometimes and felt a little too slow-paced for me from time to time. the idea for the story is quite intriguing, though, and i found myself liking grandma eileen's story a tad better than leena's because it was much more exciting and i felt there was going on more. what a great character, this old lady. nevertheless, the story lacked some kind of action and idk, it just wasn't my sort of book, or at least not at the moment. still cute. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Grief, and Pregnancy

purplepenning's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death and Sexual content

doodeedoda's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content

Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

wisherrox's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer and Death

Minor: Sexual content

freydawreviews's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Terminal illness

Minor: Sexual content