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velsbooknook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.5
This book feels like a cozy blanket. I found this copy in a LFL and of course I had to get it home with me!
It tells the story of 79 year-old Eileen who is newly single and is just sick of her boring life in the Yorkshire country side. There also is her granddaughter Leena who is a workaholic and who really needs to slow down and escape her busy life in London for two months. Both decide to swap places for this time and try a new and different lifestyle.
This book was so funny and wholesome! I loved Eileen and her new found life, friends and romantic adventures in London. She definitely was the center of the story for me. Leena also had some very sweet and rememberable moments but her grandma was the real star. The book also dealt with grief, cancer and death which took the lighthearted and funny story to some darker places which disrupted my reading flow a bit.
I did not always understand Leena in her thoughts and actions and I would have been fine with only reading Eileen's POV.
It was exactly what I needed and I will definitely pick up another book by the author soon!
It tells the story of 79 year-old Eileen who is newly single and is just sick of her boring life in the Yorkshire country side. There also is her granddaughter Leena who is a workaholic and who really needs to slow down and escape her busy life in London for two months. Both decide to swap places for this time and try a new and different lifestyle.
This book was so funny and wholesome! I loved Eileen and her new found life, friends and romantic adventures in London. She definitely was the center of the story for me. Leena also had some very sweet and rememberable moments but her grandma was the real star. The book also dealt with grief, cancer and death which took the lighthearted and funny story to some darker places which disrupted my reading flow a bit.
I did not always understand Leena in her thoughts and actions and I would have been fine with only reading Eileen's POV.
It was exactly what I needed and I will definitely pick up another book by the author soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Infidelity, and Cancer
eesti23's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
“You were healing. You’re still healing. You’ll maybe always be healing. And that’s OK. It’ll just be part of what makes you you.”
“We don’t have any good words for talking about death – they’re all too small.”
“Is it really an adventure if you don't make at least one ill-advised decision?”
I thought The Switch was going to be a bit cliche with an over-focus on humour, but it ended up being a deeper story than that. There were plenty of laughs, development of relationships (both for the positive and the negative), and just enough romance. Sometimes life gets in the way of life. Through grief into the mix and it gets even more complicated. Luckily both Leena and Eileen managed to navigate it all and head off on their next adventure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, and Death
ajclix's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Cancer
Moderate: Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
nottooscarythanks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
lucyclaydonsmith's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death
jillottaway's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse
hullomoon's review against another edition
4.5
This is genuinely a nice little read. I really appreciated the intergenerational friendships and strengthening of familial bonds. I know this is supposed to be geared more as romance, and there is romance, but ultimately the romance was secondary for me because I loved seeing the friendships more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Death, and Grief
laurasalwaysreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death
amyjmcd's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Lesbophobia
sparklycowboy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
I was in the mood for something funny and easy to read (listen to) and this really fit what I was looking for!! A wonderful and entertaining storyline with hilarious, relatable characters. I love books with characters I can look to as role models or inspirations, especially because of the way they deal with the their own flaws.
I enjoyed the light romantic plot line that wasn’t overly erotic or graphic. Now, the book isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, there is conflict and sadness and grief, but it’s dealt with in humorous, wholesome and heartwarming ways.
I enjoyed the light romantic plot line that wasn’t overly erotic or graphic. Now, the book isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, there is conflict and sadness and grief, but it’s dealt with in humorous, wholesome and heartwarming ways.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
Minor: Mental illness and Domestic abuse