Nilufer Ozmekik's Reviews > The Switch

This is delightful, heartwarming, poignant, beautiful novel with different likable narrators/heroines: grandma and granddaughter.

I have to admit: I wasn’t a great fan of Flatshare. It was good written story, both in my opinion the characters and the progression of their romantic involvement failed me during my reading. So I have second thoughts when I decided to try another novel of the same author but surprisingly this book worked so much better for me because its genre is a women’s fiction and family story with romantic vibes. So romance parts of the book are a little overshadowed by two women’s self-discovery and new beginnings, making peace with their past theme.

It has promising premise with the idea similar to Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet’s “Holiday” movie: But this time: the women are related and they don’t switch places between the houses at the different continents. And I have to admit: this book’s characters are more realistically portrayed than the movie’s soap opera style predictable rom-com story-line.

Let’s meet with two protagonists: 79 years old, smart, sarcastic, vivid grandmother (reminded me of mash up Golden Girls’ Blanche and Sophia) Eileen, feeling alone, abandoned when her dear partner cheated on her and ran away with a dance instructor, wanting to get drown in the dating pool but there are not much great candidates she may choose and she is too old to kiss rotten frogs and wait for them to turn into kings.

In the meantime her granddaughter who shares the same name with her ( her own daughter thought she was going to die so for showing her appreciation she named her own girl with her mother’s name. But guess what: stubborn Eileen won the duello against grim-reaper and as a solution: they start calling her granddaughter “Leena”) suffering from panic attacks resulted with mandatory two months leave from her job ( at least she didn’t get fired and during two months leave, she will still get paid.), fighting the guilt feelings and grief after her sister lost her battle against the cancer and she still blames her mother, rejecting to visit her.

Two of them need a quick break and seize their opportunities of their lives so during Leena’s visit, Eileen offers her switch places. Changing scenery may be helpful for both of them to have clearer vision about their lives: Eileen may have more dating opportunities with more eligible candidates, getting rid of her daily life routine. And Leena can have more opportunities to spend her time instead of staying at her flat, pouting, getting bored. When she accepts to switch places with her grandmother, she also accepts to attend “Neighborhood Watch” Meeting, bingo days, reconnecting with her mother and of course May Day Festival organization. But as soon as she moved her new place she starts having hard time to adapt and she starts having problems with her long distance relationship with Ethan who works at the same company with her. And charming, mostly annoying Jackson starts confusing her mind and gives her excitement she hasn’t had for a long time. Their freenemies to friends then lovers story is great addition to the story’s general progression.

I also enjoyed dating adventures of Eileen which were entertaining and eventually romantic.
The conclusion of the story was also well-written, tear jerking, heart melting.

So overall: this is sweet, entertaining, well-crafted, humorous, romantic enjoyable family, self-discovery, grief, life and happiness story. We need more feel good books like this in these days which put smile on our faces and help us there is still hope out there!

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