Audiobook Review – The Switch

Title: The Switch

Author: Beth O’Leary/ Narrated by Alison Steadman & Daisy Edgar-Jones

Genre: Romance/ Comedy/ Women’s Fiction

Goodreads Rating: 4.04

My Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Source: Borrow Box

Synopsis:

Eileen is sick of being 79.

Leena’s tired of life in her 20s.

Maybe it’s time they swapped places….

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 overdue rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn 80. She’d like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn’t offer many eligible gentlemen.

Once Leena learns of Eileen’s romantic predicament, she proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire. But with gossiping neighbours and difficult family dynamics to navigate up north, and trendy London flatmates and online dating to contend with in the city, stepping into one another’s shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected.

Leena learns that a long-distance relationship isn’t as romantic as she hoped it would be and then there is the annoyingly perfect – and distractingly handsome – school teacher, who keeps showing up to outdo her efforts to impress the local villagers. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, but is her perfect match nearer home than she first thought? 

My Review:

When I saw this one was available on Borrow Box I knew I had to listen to it. I adored The Flat Share and hoped I enjoyed this one just as much.

I’m always a fan of audiobooks with more than one narrator, something about it makes the read even more enjoyable. Both narrators delivered Eileen and Leena’s story brilliantly. The humour was well delivered and often had me giggling away but I loved the emotion behind the narration.

This was the perfect easy listening, uplifting story that I needed. Whilst I knew where this story was heading the predictability of it was a comfort. This sort of story is my bread and butter book, I knew I would be smiling by the end and Beth O’Leary didn’t disappoint.

To say Eileen and Leena were pea’s in a pod would be an understatement! Both women needed drastic change in their life to gain a new perspective and I loved the swap they did. The shenanigans both women got up to were hilarious and had me grinning from ear to ear. Some of my stand out moments would be the tea leaves, neighbourhood watch meeting and Eileen removing the hedge! If you’ve read it you’ll know what I mean!

Whilst our two leading ladies were fantastic they were well supported by some great characters! Martha, Fitz and Letitia were fantastic and kept Eileen entertained when she was in London whilst Jackson, Betsy and Arnold helped steer Leena in the right direction. The entire clan helped both women with the tasks they took on and I got a real sense of community. I loved the mixing of different generations and how both women responded to their challenge.

If you’re looking for an uplifting, fun, warm hearted read then this is for you! Be prepared to fall in love with the Cotton women and all those they hold dear!

Advertisement