Review: The Switch by Beth O’Leary
“Family can be so complicated, but if you just pick your own way of doing it you can end up with something pretty perfect all the same.”
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The Basics
Title: The Switch
Author: Beth O’Leary
Published: 2020
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 328
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Contemporary fiction, Romance, Contemporary romance
Book Synopsis
Do you remember that early-2000s movie The Holiday? Well, The Switch is essentially that – only instead of two strangers swapping places, it’s a grandmother and her granddaughter. The idea to trade lives comes about after Eileen, the grandmother, tells her granddaughter, Leena, about the lack of eligible bachelors in her small Yorkshire town. Leena, who lives in London and has recently been forced to take a two-month sabbatical from work, proposes that they swap lives for the duration of her time off from work. Eileen can come down to London where there are plenty of single men, and Leena can leave the hustle and bustle of London behind and relax up in the countryside. Eileen agrees to the plan, but the pair quickly realizes that they are getting more than they bargained for out of the switch.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: Looking for a feel-good book? Look no further.
The Switch is akin to hot chocolate on a winter’s day: it warms your soul. It is a feel-good book with not only heart but also substance. It tackles heavy topics, including cancer and death, all while instilling you with hope. This book makes you believe that you have the power to change your life for the better.
In addition to its positive message, The Switch boasts a fantastic cast of characters. I absolutely adore Eileen. With her wit and humor, she is reminiscent of my own grandmother. You can’t help but love and root for her. Leena, the other protagonist, is a very relatable character. From her complicated family relationships to her stressful job, there are aspects of her life that I’m sure most of us can sympathize with. And let’s not forget the residents of Hamleigh: Arnold, Betsy, Jackson, and Penelope, to name a few. They are every bit as entertaining as the leading ladies and make me wish that Hamleigh were an actual town where I could live.
Complementing this colorful crew of characters is a wonderful plot. It features romance, both expected and unexpected, for the protagonists. I especially enjoyed Eileen’s romances; her unexpected one is quite sweet. Of course, if romance were the only thing going on in this book, it would be rather dull. Fortunately for us, that is not the case with The Switch. As noted earlier, the story also touches upon a number of serious topics, including death, grief, abusive relationships, and family dynamics. This imparts the book with a sense of realism and emotional depth.
O’Leary’s writing brings everything home. It’s engaging, witty, and easy to read. She’s also a master at crafting humorous scenes – she knows how to make you laugh.
The not so good
The last little bit of the book when Eileen and Leena end their swap felt a tad rushed. It wasn’t so rushed that I didn’t enjoy the book; nonetheless, it was a bit disappointing. My only other critique is that I would have preferred there to have been more scenes between Leena and Jackson.
Overall
Beth O’Leary has done it again. I love her previous book, The Flatshare, and I love this one just as much. It’s the perfect book to cozy up with on a rainy day.
Have you read The Switch? If so, let me know what you thought in the comments below!
