I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

I adored this book! The Switch by Beth O'Leary is a story about two women looking for change. Leena and Grandma Eileen’s switch comes after Leena is given a two-month sabbatical from her job and Eileen’s husband leaves her for the dance instructor. While I wouldn’t put this firmly in the romance category, it’s more women’s fiction, it does offer not one but two happily-ever-afters that satisfy this romance-lover’s heart.

Leena is living in London, putting everything she has into her career. After the death of her younger sister two years prior, Leena struggles with grief, depression, and anxiety. When an important meeting at work brings everything boiling to the surface, Leena’s boss gives her two months of mandatory leave. Not sure what to do with herself, she finds her way to her grandmother’s home in a small village in Yorkshire. One thing leads to another and before she knows it, Leena is agreeing to swapping lives with her grandmother.

I love Eileen! Eileen reminds me of my great-grandmother who passed away several years ago. Fiercely independent and the matron of the family, she has a truck load of responsibility and does it all with a smile. For the last few years while mourning her granddaughter’s death, she’s been attempting to help her own daughter with her grief and Leena as well. In the midst of this, she’s had to deal with divorce. Now well into her 70s, she’s lonely and maybe ready to get back into the dating scene. Switching places with Leena could solve two problems: reconciliation between mother and daughter and Eileen could find a beau.

Alternating the chapters from both women’s perspectives allows the readers to see each character in a different light. I loved seeing Leena through Eileen’s eyes as it allowed me to understand her better. Leena thinks she’s doing well, coping with her grief and anxiety, and yet seeing what Eileen sees you realize she isn’t. Same with how Leena sees Eileen. I also love the narrators, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alison Steadman. They bring the characters to life with subtle inflections and pacing.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Switch. Both Leena and Eileen are wonderful characters. I liked seeing the juxtaposition of Eileen on the dating scene and Leena being a “parent” to her. Their relationship is wonderful, and I loved how the story was resolved. If you are a fan of women’s fiction, I highly recommend it.