The Switch By Beth O’Leary

‘The Switch’ is the latest book by Beth O’Leary.

Ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, Leena escapes to her grandmother Eileen’s house for some overdue rest. Newly single and about to turn eighty, Eileen would like a second chance at love. But her tiny Yorkshire village doesn’t offer many eligible gentlemen… So Leena proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love, and L Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire. But with a rabble of unruly OAPs to contend with, as well as the annoyingly perfect – and distractingly handsome – local schoolteacher, Leena learns that switching lives isn’t straightforward. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, and with the online dating scene. But is her perfect match nearer to home than she first thought?

‘The Switch’ is the welcome return to Beth O’Leary who after the success of her debut called ‘The Flatshare’ has become one of my favourite authors.

Like ‘The Flatshare’, her latest book is another dual narrative and this time it’s from grandmother and grand daughter duo, Eileen and Leena who both are at turning points in their lives and need a change of scenery, so they decide to switch homes and take a break from their lives.

Leena has to take a break from the busy streets from London and her grandmother is tired of the countryside and wants the opportunity to kick up her heels. A young woman at heart, age is but a number for Eileen and enjoys spending her days between the sheets with her dapper lover called Jackson, whilst getting to enjoy Leena’s friends. Leena has enjoyed the slower pace of life in Yorkshire, blending in with the community and getting to know Ethan, a handsome and kind man that the elderly ladies are fiercely protective off.

Beth is genuinely a lovely writer, a fresh voice in fiction. Her books pull the readers in with their charm, unique plots with relatable characters that makes for addictive reading.

This book is a lovely coming of age story about 2 people trying to find their place in life and sometimes to do that, you need to mix things up a bit to get on the right path. I loved Leena, a relatable woman who’s trying to find the right career for her and establish herself into a successful relationship. In London, we seen a struggling young woman who blossoms and glows in the slower pace of life in the Yorkshire village, helping with events and making new friends along the way. I adored Eileen, her passion for life and voracity to have fun radiated from the pages with her sharp tongue and creativity.

A heartwarming and charming story, that tackles the hardships of mental health and grief with sensitivity, ‘The Switch’ is another uplifting and slice of feel good fiction from Beth O’Leary. With drama, humour and poignancy throughout, Beth has successfully mastered the second novel with an outstanding triumph.

You can buy ‘The Switch’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.