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The Switch

The funny and utterly charming new novel from the bestselling author of The Flatshare

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About this listen

 *** PRE- ORDER BETH O'LEARY'S BRAND NEW UNMISSABLE ROMANCE, THE NAME GAME, NOW ***

Eileen is sick of being 79.
Leena's tired of life in her twenties.
Maybe it's time they swapped places...

When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.

Once Leena learns of Eileen's romantic predicament, she proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire. But with gossiping neighbours and difficult family dynamics to navigate up north, and trendy London flatmates and online dating to contend with in the city, stepping into one another's shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected.

Leena learns that a long-distance relationship isn't as romantic as she hoped it would be, and then there is the annoyingly perfect - and distractingly handsome - school teacher, who keeps showing up to outdo her efforts to impress the local villagers. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, but is her perfect match nearer home than she first thought?

(P) 2020 Quercus Editions Limited©2020 Beth O'Leary Ltd Contemporary Contemporary Romance Family Life Friendship Genre Fiction Romance Romantic Comedy Small Town & Rural Fiction England Village Funny Feel-Good Heartfelt Witty

Critic reviews

Beth has done it again! Warm, witty, and a cast of characters I wish I was friends with - I truly loved it!
Eileen Cotton proves you don't have to be in your thirties to be Bridget Jones. A triumph of a second novel
I am blown away. I didn't think Beth could top The Flatshare but she has. It sparkles with wit, warmth and compassion. It deserves to be huge!
Beth O'Leary has absolutely smashed it out of the park with The Switch. Brilliant, warm, funny, full of heart. Completely loved it!
Heartwarming and uplifting. Everyone should have an Eileen in their life!
An utterly gorgeous, beautiful book, full of feeling ... a heart-warming reminder about the importance of always keeping our hearts (and minds) open.
O'Leary does it again! The Switch is a warm, funny and feisty tale of generational location swapping that will have you laughing and tearing up in equal measure. Populated by a cast of characters you'll wish you knew in real life. It's an absolute joy from beginning to end
Utterly charming and uplifting, The Switch is bursting with love and warmth and humour. Another wonderful book from Beth O'Leary
This delicious slice of feelgood fiction is a real tonic
This sparky, upbeat romcom balances riffs on the generation gap with heavier topics including grief and infidelity
You'll find yourself rooting for the main characters, especially Eileen, the real star of this cheerful novel. A perfect tonic for anxious times
A sparkling romantic read with characters that leap off the page. It's another triumph for this talented writer
ingenious plot
O'Leary's funny, heartwarming novel about finding your true self in unexpected places will bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your face
a lovely comedy with a special message
We laughed, we cried and we loved it!
Utterly charming, this uplifting book is guaranteed to be another outstanding success
The heart-warming story we all need right now
blissful escapism from our current isolated reality
Fun, heart-warming and brimming with hope. Eileen and her zest for life will inspire you long after the last page
A charming, uplifting read
Emotionally absorbing, witty and bursting with warmth - a treat for fans of Marian Keyes and Jill Mansell
This story has everything you want to lift your spirits: laughs, romance and lovely characters you connect with emotionally
A lovely, heart-warming read
I'm not going to beat around the bush here, I adored The Switch
Author of The Flatshare, O'Leary brings us another read that feels like a warm hug. Another triumph of a novel
All stars
Most relevant
Anyone who has read The Flatshare will have been waiting with bated breath for the new book by Beth O'Leary. And believe me, this does not disappoint! I'll be honest this would not normally be the type of book I would listen to but after reading the reviews for The Flatshare and loving it, I had pre-ordered The Switch and waited patiently. It was worth the wait and more, a book filled with fun, emotion and above all heart. Rarely have I laughed out loud so much. Special mention to Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones, who both give a masterclass on how to perfectly capture the characters and lift them from the page, outstanding. I cannot recommend both books by Beth O'Leary highly enough.

As close to perfect as you can get!!

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lovely heart warming story of loss and love really enjoyed The Switch. 👍 😁

Finished

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loved this book. made me smile and laugh throughout. the excellent narration really made it

Brilliant

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it's so hard to write a review without spoilers! but I would say that the book handles the subject sensitively. the narrators are very clear and I like that the audiobook frees me up to do other things.

Tackles subjects well

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It usually takes me a while to get into a new audiobook by an author I’ve never read before.. but The Switch was an instant love. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the performances were brilliant. It’s a bit of a soppy story and very predictable, but it’s the perfect warming story to have on in the background ❤️

Looooove

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