I’ve read books about switching before. People switching bodies, like Freaky Friday. People switching jobs (I wish I could remember the title – it had something to do with switching jobs with a stripper. I liked it). But this is the first time I read a story of a granddaughter switching lives with her grandmother. And this completes book 4 of my NetGalley Shelf Challenge! You can read more about it here.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I received this audiobook ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story starts out with Leena Cotton being forced to take a 2 month paid leave against her will. First of all, WHO WOULD FIGHT THAT!? I would skip out of the room saying “SEE YOU IN 2 MONTHS!” Leena ends up escaping to her grandmother’s house, where they decide to switch lives. And I mean everything – cell phones, computers, to-do lists – the works! Eileen was looking for an adventure. She was about to turn 80, her husband left her and she is ready to look for love! Having heard only good things about Beth O’Leary’s first book, The Flatshare, I couldn’t wait to escape into this one.

WHY THIS BOOK IS MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE: First off, I have to give a big shout out to the narrators. Each chapter in the book goes back and forth between Leena and Eileen, and my goodness, the actresses hired were great! Narrators can make or break an audiobook for me, and this one was on point. Bonus points to me for being American but knowing Alison Steadman from Gavin and Stacey and The Worst Week of My Life!

I thought this was going to be a simple, light and fluffy tale. How wrong I was. There were some heavier storylines hidden beneath the tale of switching lives. The mother-daughter relationship between Leena and her mom, as well as Eileen and her daughter. A story of loss in numerous ways. Facing the truth and finding yourself.

The stories weaved together very nicely. The supporting characters were well thought out and did not feel like props just there to add more people. They were interwoven into the story as well. All in all, I thought it was a great read!

THE THINGS I COULD LIVE WITHOUT: I cannot think of anything I would change for this, outside of me trying to read it via audiobook. Before COVID19, I could listen to audiobooks while driving in the car for an hour minimum. Now, I had to catch a chapter here and there when I could. Thankfully, it did not take away anything from the magic that was The Switch!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I really enjoyed this one! This one comes out in the US on August 18th – it’s coming soon! I will be looking into trying The Flatshare once my reading challenges have ended. I have a feeling Beth O’Leary is an author I will be keeping my bookish eye on.