preoccupiedbybooks's Reviews > The Switch
The Switch
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It's only fitting that I review this wholesome and heart-warming love letter to Yorkshire on actual Yorkshire day, whilst drinking a cup of Yorkshire tea!

Eileen is 79 and wants a change, and to start dating again,
Leena needs a break, she's tired, stressed and grieving,
So they decide to swap lives for two months!
Will a change of scenery help the two women?
The Switch was just what I needed! It was like having a cuppa with an old friend! The plot was nothing new (hello 'The Holiday') but this charming, heartfelt book was all about the characters and their relationships. It won't be a book for everyone, it's quite a slow building character driven plot, and more about family and friendships, than a full on romance read, but I really liked it! Last year The Flatshare ended up being one of my favourite reads, despite it taking a while for me to get into it. This book charmed me from the very start, with its lovable characters, charming village life, witty banter and feel good storyline!
Told from both Eileen and Lina's POVs, I was engaged and entertained no matter which one of them I was reading about! However, Eileen really shone out of the pages! She was hilarious, wise and just an amazing character. I really want to be her when I'm 79! I really liked both characters, and hoped for the best for them, on their paths of self discovery. I also loved many of the side characters, from grumpy Arnold (I ❤️ him!), snarky Nicola, sharp Betsy, easy-going Jackson, Basil and Hank the dog in Yorkshire, to Bee, Martha, Fitz in London! This book was all about family, friendship and the importance of a community. It had some important things to say about loneliness, and how hard it can be for the older generation, when sometimes their house becomes more of a prison than a sanctuary. It also looked at grief and anger at the loss of a loved one, and family estrangement. I laughed and I cried at both the village life antics like the May day fair and Hank the dog taking Leena for a walk, and also loved Eileen learning about internet dating, and figuring out London.
I had heard great things about the audio, but was in the mood to read it, but I can totally see what a good audiobook it would be!
Basically I just want to visit Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, to sit and have a cuppa with all of these characters! This book made me smile, it made me feel good. What more can you ask for?! I see that Beth O'Leary has another book out next year, The Road Trip,and I will definitely be reading it!
Eileen is 79 and wants a change, and to start dating again,
Leena needs a break, she's tired, stressed and grieving,
So they decide to swap lives for two months!
Will a change of scenery help the two women?
The Switch was just what I needed! It was like having a cuppa with an old friend! The plot was nothing new (hello 'The Holiday') but this charming, heartfelt book was all about the characters and their relationships. It won't be a book for everyone, it's quite a slow building character driven plot, and more about family and friendships, than a full on romance read, but I really liked it! Last year The Flatshare ended up being one of my favourite reads, despite it taking a while for me to get into it. This book charmed me from the very start, with its lovable characters, charming village life, witty banter and feel good storyline!
Told from both Eileen and Lina's POVs, I was engaged and entertained no matter which one of them I was reading about! However, Eileen really shone out of the pages! She was hilarious, wise and just an amazing character. I really want to be her when I'm 79! I really liked both characters, and hoped for the best for them, on their paths of self discovery. I also loved many of the side characters, from grumpy Arnold (I ❤️ him!), snarky Nicola, sharp Betsy, easy-going Jackson, Basil and Hank the dog in Yorkshire, to Bee, Martha, Fitz in London! This book was all about family, friendship and the importance of a community. It had some important things to say about loneliness, and how hard it can be for the older generation, when sometimes their house becomes more of a prison than a sanctuary. It also looked at grief and anger at the loss of a loved one, and family estrangement. I laughed and I cried at both the village life antics like the May day fair and Hank the dog taking Leena for a walk, and also loved Eileen learning about internet dating, and figuring out London.
I had heard great things about the audio, but was in the mood to read it, but I can totally see what a good audiobook it would be!
Basically I just want to visit Hamleigh-in-Harksdale, to sit and have a cuppa with all of these characters! This book made me smile, it made me feel good. What more can you ask for?! I see that Beth O'Leary has another book out next year, The Road Trip,and I will definitely be reading it!
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Reading Progress
July 30, 2020
–
Started Reading
July 30, 2020
– Shelved
August 1, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 60 (60 new)
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Michael
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rated it 5 stars
Aug 01, 2020 05:51PM
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Thanks Michael! 😊 It's a bit less dramatic than the holiday, and more family orientated, but yeah I like it too!
Thanks Farrah! Sometimes I just want a more wholesome read! 🤗
Thank you Christina! I hope you love the audio! Eileen was the best! 😊
Thanks Warda! 💕I hope you love it! Eileen is just the best!
Thanks Ginger! Lovely to hear from you, I haven't seen you around much lately! I hope you're well x
Aye you do Ceecee! Although isn't a cuppa a brew in Yorkshire? They drank lots of it but called it tea. Thanks 😊I've been to Leeds, York and Sheffield, and have friends in Halifax, Huddersfield and Whitby, love it!
Thanks Javier! I hope you enjoy it too!
Thank you Jayme! I was on the fence about reading this, but your review convinced me 🙌
Your so welcome, I got all excited when I saw 'The road trip!' 🤗
Ah its a popular audio at the moment! 🙌Thank you so much Kim! 😊
Thanks Giorgia! Ah that's great timing! I hope you enjoy it too! 😊🤗
Oh you will probably enjoy this then too Brandice! Thank you!
Some of it was Mrin! It was just a really heartwarming book x
Thanks lovely! 😊
Thank you Em! Yes I hope you like it too, it was heart warming!
Thanks Meg! ☺️Delightful is a good word for it!
Thank you! 😊 What a great library find Mandy! I hope you enjoy it too! Wow NZ! 🙌
Thank you Susanne! Oh I hope you love it too 😊
Ha tell me you don't make it in the microwave, like that video that saw online recently?! 🙈When I worked on a summer camp, the tea was so awful, I got my dad to post me some ha ha! Thank you Catherine 😊
Oh yay, I'm so glad Christina! 🙌🙌Can't wait to see your review!
Oh I would NEVER put it in a microwave, I saw that video and it was terrifying! 😂 100% kettle all the way. That's so sweet your dad sent you some while you were away, that's love! ☕💕
Oh good, I was horrified watching it! 😂 Yep my dad sent me tea and Cadbury's chocolate too, what a gem😊
Oh and Cadbury's to boot? You were so lucky!! 😍