The Switch by Beth O’Leary

*spoiler-free*

The Switch by Beth O’Leary focuses on Leena, a young woman living in London who needs an escape from her corporate lifestyle and her grandmother Eileen, a newly single woman who is about to turn 80 and living in Yorkshire. The two look to switch lives for a short period, to give each other a chance to experience new things and have a taste of each other’s lives. From the offset, this concept fascinated me, and after loving O’Leary’s The Flatshare, I knew I had to give this book a go.

The Switch did not fail to impress as O’Leary has a talent for curating beautifully written stories that are heart-warming and wholesome yet are also intertwined with deeper themes that are raw and relevant. Leena and Eileen both experience mental health issues as death and grief contribute to loneliness despite their close relationship. Where this is paired with humour and romance, it made the book a really refreshing read and even more enjoyable to consume. The book is split into alternating perspectives which does an excellent job of detailing the parallels of Leena and Eileen’s life experiences.

One of my favourite things about O’Leary’s writing is the modern pop culture references throughout the book. In The Switch, there are jokes made around Ant and Dec, Doctor Who and Shrek which made me smile and love the book even more. I also love how O’Leary’s characters are either extremely likeable or entirely awful which makes you root for your favourites early on. From the start, I loved Leena’s best friend Bee, who is supportive and kind but also not afraid to tell you how it really is. One of the most surprising aspects for me was the adventures Eileen had whilst she was in London. I loved reading about her antics, and I looked forward to her chapters a lot throughout the book. Although I can find O’Leary’s writing quite predictable as usually her books always end well, this is what makes her writing so satisfying and warm to experience.

Overall, I think I preferred The FlatShare but only because that story contained more drama, but I would definitely recommend The Switch to anyone looking for an easy, light-hearted read. I’m also looking forward to reading O’Leary’s The Road Trip soon as you can always count on O’Leary for a comforting, charming read.