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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
vivisms_82's review against another edition
lighthearted
3.0
Another breezy book by Beth O'Leary. This author touches on heavy topics (like domestic abuse and grief) albeit very lightly so nothing truly deep examined here. Having said that, I think this book tries to see Leena and Eileen tackle some social issues (like social isolation and ageism) but for me, it's way too much of the cringey easy fix you see in a Hallmark movie of an ageing gran that is hip and solves problems of people half her age blah blah blah whilst her overworked, high flying granddaughter brings a community together through her umm... work ethic? I mean the mother even goes to freakn Bali to "find herself" and there is a "playful" paint fight between Leena and her obvious love interest. Predictable but an ok cleansing palate in between a psychological thriller or two :)
The narrators were excellent.
The narrators were excellent.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Grief
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
zoeyoey's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Beth, you marvelous woman. I’ve always said that some of my favorite tropes involve unlikely friendships and community, and I can confirm that this is still true. How does this woman keep writing the most lovable characters to not exist???
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
amandaacat's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
⭐️⭐️.5/5
A cute story of a young woman going through a quarter life crisis and an older woman looking for a new adventure. I loved the growth that Lena (the granddaughter) did in this book. I also found Ilene’s (the grandmother) adventures in London so funny and charming! I hope to be as active as her when I’m 70. If you’re looking for a sweet, quick read, I would recommend this! A bit of romance, drama, and a lot of family love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief
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
rebwingetwalls'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
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