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A review by katykelly
The Switch by Beth O'Leary
5.0
Light, a little formulaic, but heartily delightful.
I really liked The Flatshare last year, and O'Leary's follow-up, The Switch, proved a bit of a tonic in these Lockdown days of Groundhog-like monotony.
I'll mix my genres up, read heavy literary works and then lighter frothy books, non-fiction, anything that takes my interest. O'Leary's debut meant I was always going to try her next, and I did thoroughly enjoy the story of Leena and Eileen.
With a family tragedy dogging their lives, Leena's insane London job is starting to suffer as she struggles with her grief. Grandmother Eileen is a spry 79 and has recently seen her husband move out with another woman, and prospects for love are very slim in her little Yorkshire village. The two decide, as you do, to swap - houses, phones, lives. City girl Leena is faced with Neighbourhood Watch meetings, grumpy neighbours and walking a teacher's overactive puppy. Eileen finds a city of uncaring neighbours, lots of Leena's young friends with issues she's itching to solve, and a world of internet dating to discover.
There is a lot here that you'll be able to predict. Not that I cared. It was a journey I was happy to take, I really liked both Leena and Eileen (though Eileen in particular was rather exhaustingly perky for a 79-year-old!). There's a male version of a(n anti) Manic Dream Pixie, curmudgeonly old men who may not be quite so crotchety as they seem, and lots of nice 'old person trying out the Internet' scenes that familiar younger readers will smile at.
I enjoyed the dual locations, ages and storylines taking place simultaneously, with old and young women slotting into a new role (quite easily it turns out) and bringing their own energy, skills and personalities to a new setting. There's a thread of plot concerning the family tragedy, which is tied in nicely with both plotlines, and romantic storylines for both women that go just as you'd expect.
A wonderfully warm way to while away a few hours in the house.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.
I really liked The Flatshare last year, and O'Leary's follow-up, The Switch, proved a bit of a tonic in these Lockdown days of Groundhog-like monotony.
I'll mix my genres up, read heavy literary works and then lighter frothy books, non-fiction, anything that takes my interest. O'Leary's debut meant I was always going to try her next, and I did thoroughly enjoy the story of Leena and Eileen.
With a family tragedy dogging their lives, Leena's insane London job is starting to suffer as she struggles with her grief. Grandmother Eileen is a spry 79 and has recently seen her husband move out with another woman, and prospects for love are very slim in her little Yorkshire village. The two decide, as you do, to swap - houses, phones, lives. City girl Leena is faced with Neighbourhood Watch meetings, grumpy neighbours and walking a teacher's overactive puppy. Eileen finds a city of uncaring neighbours, lots of Leena's young friends with issues she's itching to solve, and a world of internet dating to discover.
There is a lot here that you'll be able to predict. Not that I cared. It was a journey I was happy to take, I really liked both Leena and Eileen (though Eileen in particular was rather exhaustingly perky for a 79-year-old!). There's a male version of a(n anti) Manic Dream Pixie, curmudgeonly old men who may not be quite so crotchety as they seem, and lots of nice 'old person trying out the Internet' scenes that familiar younger readers will smile at.
I enjoyed the dual locations, ages and storylines taking place simultaneously, with old and young women slotting into a new role (quite easily it turns out) and bringing their own energy, skills and personalities to a new setting. There's a thread of plot concerning the family tragedy, which is tied in nicely with both plotlines, and romantic storylines for both women that go just as you'd expect.
A wonderfully warm way to while away a few hours in the house.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.