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amyvl93's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wasn't as much of a fan as I wanted to be of <i>The Wake-Up Call</i> so I was a little nervous going into The Switch which has been sat on my shelf for a long time. However, it did win me over more than my first.
This novel follows Leena, a young woman reeling from the death of her sister who is forced to take two months off from her high-flying consulting career and Eileen, her grandmother who despite throwing herself into every community activity going still feels lonely after her husband left her. The two women decide to swap houses, and lives, for a period - Leena returning to the small village where her sister died and her mother still lives, and Eileen to the fashionable East London flat Leena shares with her housemates.
What really made The Switch shine for me was the cast of characters that O'Leary populated the novel with. The inhabitants of the Yorkshire village that Eileen lives in all leap from the page, in turn comedic and also people you come to love; likewise Leena's housemates and building mates that Eileen encounters all feel really well realised.
This novel is however tropey as all get out featuring; grumpy Londoners and talk of how grim the city is, rubbish corporate boyfriend, hot local villager, career woman questioning her career etc etc. This meant I wasn't that engaged in Leena's story as it was the one that fell the most victim to this. Also despite the reader being told repeatedly that she is very smart - she makes some very daft judgements in this novel including towards her grieving mother that I think the plot would have us excuse. I must preferred spending time with Eileen, whose narrative was sparser on the tropes.
All in all, this was a cute light read but it hasn't moved O'Leary to my must read pile yet.
This novel follows Leena, a young woman reeling from the death of her sister who is forced to take two months off from her high-flying consulting career and Eileen, her grandmother who despite throwing herself into every community activity going still feels lonely after her husband left her. The two women decide to swap houses, and lives, for a period - Leena returning to the small village where her sister died and her mother still lives, and Eileen to the fashionable East London flat Leena shares with her housemates.
What really made The Switch shine for me was the cast of characters that O'Leary populated the novel with. The inhabitants of the Yorkshire village that Eileen lives in all leap from the page, in turn comedic and also people you come to love; likewise Leena's housemates and building mates that Eileen encounters all feel really well realised.
This novel is however tropey as all get out featuring; grumpy Londoners and talk of how grim the city is, rubbish corporate boyfriend, hot local villager, career woman questioning her career etc etc. This meant I wasn't that engaged in Leena's story as it was the one that fell the most victim to this. Also despite the reader being told repeatedly that she is very smart - she makes some very daft judgements in this novel including towards her grieving mother that I think the plot would have us excuse. I must preferred spending time with Eileen, whose narrative was sparser on the tropes.
All in all, this was a cute light read but it hasn't moved O'Leary to my must read pile yet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Grief
megmccreery's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I finally finished Beth O'Leary's back log!
This one was cute, but there wasn't much to it. I can see where it would hit hard if you were grieving a loved one, so I would warn others about that. I love the "It's never too late to start over" message that this had, though.
This one was cute, but there wasn't much to it. I can see where it would hit hard if you were grieving a loved one, so I would warn others about that. I love the "It's never too late to start over" message that this had, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Infidelity
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.
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.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
filipacmiranda's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Este livro fez-me lembrar The Holiday, se a troca de casa desse filme ocorresse entre elementos da mesma família e unicamente no Reino Unido. A melhor parte é que o segundo romance de Beth O’Leary não desapontou!
Como no seu primeiro livro, a autora pega num enredo imaginativo e aconchegante e polvilha-o de assuntos sérios. “The Switch” aborda uma panóplia alargada de questões que se estende da ansiedade, do luto e da violência doméstica à parentalidade, à importância da comunidade e à sexualidade na terceira idade.
Tanto Leena como Eileen são personagens das quais é fácil gostar e com as quais se empatiza sem esforço. Não obstante, para mim, Eileen e a representação que é feita dos mais velhos, através da sua personagem, são os pontos altos deste romance. Com frequência, a vida não acaba antes dos 65 anos, mas é raro encontrar histórias que tenham pessoas mais velhas como protagonistas. Com este livro, O'Leary contribui para a desmistificação dessa fase da vida, apresentando as diversas facetas de Eileen e caracterizando-a como muito mais do que apenas a avó de Leena. Este arco torna-se ainda mais relevante, quando é justaposto a histórias de isolamento e abandono (também patentes neste livro).
A meu ver, o ponto menos bem conseguido de “The Switch” foi a relação entre Leena e Jackson. Ao longo do livro, a relação entre os dois pareceu sempre mais de amizade do que romântica. Acredito que uma melhor exploração da sua relação poderia ter contribuído para o desenvolvimento pessoal de Leena e para a sua apreciação da vida que encontrou em Yorkshire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
sicemsinger's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun, cute, easy read. Romance was there but didn't drive the plot, which is refreshing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness
imds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
k8lynn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
what a charming read!! can't deny that eileen the grandmother is my favorite & i loved her storyline the most, but altogether such a wonderful book. these characters are emotional, loving, whimsical, funny, creative, and so entertaining. the ending gave me FULL body chills!! head to toe!!!!
the only thing i absolutely hated about this audiobook was the inclusion of the sounds of the narrators swallowing or, like, licking their lips? i'm not sure if they were trying to make it more authentic, but it just sounded like their mouths were dry and they needed water or chapstick or something and i couldn't stop noticing it throughout my readthrough. almost took me out of it at times but i plowed through. for that -.25stars.
the only thing i absolutely hated about this audiobook was the inclusion of the sounds of the narrators swallowing or, like, licking their lips? i'm not sure if they were trying to make it more authentic, but it just sounded like their mouths were dry and they needed water or chapstick or something and i couldn't stop noticing it throughout my readthrough. almost took me out of it at times but i plowed through. for that -.25stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
spectacles_and_books's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love Beth O' Leary's writing so much and the choices for her audiobook narrators are always excellent. As an author, she imbues her characters with so much personality, hope and humour. I was initially hesitant at the premise of a grandma and grand-daughter swapping lives. But this story was so engaging, poignant and sweet. Both Eileen Cottons have my heart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Infidelity
krandazzo725's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, and Grief