The Switch is a bittersweet and charming slice-of-life story. Ever since Leena’s younger sister passed away from cancer, a heavy shadow of grief has hung over her family. Leena and her grandmother Eileen are both struggling to find satisfaction in their days. When Leena has a panic attack at work, she is forced to take time off. Eileen is looking for love in her tiny village, to no avail. Leena suggests a switch- Eileen will come and stay in her apartment and Leena will travel to the village. Both have preconceived notions and misconceptions about what it will be like to switch, which are beautifully unraveled throughout. As both women search for romance, deal with grief, and make friends, they learn that switching lives is much more complicated than it seems.

I was lucky enough to receive an audiobook of this book! The story is read by two voice actresses, one for Leena and Eileen each. Both were very accomplished and pleasant to listen to. I absolutely loved the voice of Eileen, she perfectly captured and expressed Eileen’s personality. One thing that did not work for me is when an effect was used to simulate being on a phone call. This sounded scratchy to me and was a little difficult to listen to. Overall, the audiobook production was well-done and I enjoyed listening to it very much.

This adventure into the lives of the Cotton women and their journey was delightful. I preferred Eileen’s chapters, finding her wisdom and personality to be very heartwarming. While both women are dealing with lingering feelings of grief and sadness, Leena is younger and has less experience dealing with such things. This is understandable, but I almost wish I could go into the book and give her advice! The supporting characters of the villagers and Leena’s friends were an absolute joy to meet!! I felt as if I had traveled to a small village in England. There’s plenty of wit, jokes, and underlying lessons about grief. This story is not a romance, instead it is the story of two women coming to terms with grief and choosing to live their lives with as much meaning and happiness as possible. It was a very pleasant experience to listen to The Switch. The Switch releases August 18, 2020. Thank you to Beth O’Leary, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.