Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - The Switch

A super fun, charming read to end off 2023! I think it pips The Flatshare for me, which is the first book I read a couple years back that got me into reading more Romance!

I got really into the two main storylines and was rooting for the characters and their happiness! On the whole the characters felt believable and I loved the representation of the elderly!

Content Warnings

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

~~Full review to come.~~

I had decidedly mixed feelings about The Switch.

The first third of the book was great - it was well-written, the pace was good, and it was funny and heartwarming. It was pretty predictable and cliched, but at that point, I was enjoying it so much that I didn't really care. I thought that the exploration of grief as a theme was well done, especially in how it affects the family members of those who have died - it was very sensitively written. There were also brief references to domestic violence that were also handled well, I thought.

Unfortunately, all of the above was nearly ruined for me by the author using a trope that I really dislike:

the first boyfriend of one of the narrators (Leena) turning out to be a massive two-timing douchebag, so the new love interest can then conveniently swoop in and save the day

. Ugh. And the fact that

the first boyfriend's redeeming qualities were basically swept aside

. I also disliked that

the new love interest was basically described as being built like a football/rugby/soccer player, and didn't seem to have much personality beyond that. I know that sounds mean, and I'm sorry - but that's how I felt

.

I also disliked how the author had the characters do things that I found ethically questionable, purely to advance the plot.

To sum up: The Switch is a novel that started off well but turned off this reader by using a nasty trope that authors should really stop using.

Content Warnings

jennp28's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I quite liked this book. I loved the dual-POV between the two Eileens. I liked that an older woman was shown to be just as worthy of a romance story as a younger one. (Glad it was closed-door though I have to say…) A charming story of love and loss and grief and community.

Content Warnings