The Switch: A Novel
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Fans of Linda Holmes' Evvie Drake Starts Over (2019) or Jen DeLuca's Well Met (2019) will delight in O'Leary's latest (after The Flatshare, 2019). Leena Cotton, working nonstop to avoid dealing with her sister's recent death, is forced to take a two-month vacation after a disastrous client presentation. Flailing, she visits her grandmother, Eileen, in the Yorkshire Dales. Eileen is taking the opposite approach to tragedy--her husband left her for a dance instructor, which may not be as much of a tragedy as she originally thought--and is devising a plan to bring love back into her life. The two decide a change of scenery is needed and proceed to switch homes, Eileen moving to Leena's London apartment and Leena to Eileen's country house. Startled by the contrast in lifestyles, Leena and Eileen tackle new challenges with surprising results. The Switch brilliantly encompasses all the humor and whimsy of The Flatshare while delving into emotional topics like grief and the importance of watching out for neighbors. Charismatic Eileen stands out as the star of this witty, joyful show, illustrating that mature women need love, too.

A grieving British woman and her grandmother switch homes and lives in an attempt to shake things up. Leena Cotton knows she hasn't exactly been herself since the death of her beloved sister, but after she has a panic attack in a big meeting, she's shocked that her boss insists she take a two-month sabbatical. The absolute last thing Leena wants is a break--with so much free time, she might actually have to confront the way her relationship with her mother has deteriorated since her sister's death. But there is one family member Leena still adores--her grandmother Eileen, who's incredibly active in her small town even at the age of 79. Eileen's main focus is finding a new man after her husband left her, but Hamleigh-in Harksdale, population 168, doesn't boast many eligible bachelors. Leena and her grandmother hatch an unlikely plan that just might help both of them--they'll switch lives. Leena will live in Eileen's charming, fairy-tale--worthy cottage in Hamleigh while Eileen will stay in Leena's London flat with her roommates. Leena will oversee all of Eileen's many projects while Eileen can experience the big-city adventures she missed out on while she was unhappily married. Soon, Eileen is going on dates and adjusting to city life while Leena handles Neighborhood Watch meetings and attempts to fit in with a crowd of mostly elderly people. Although there's slightly less romance than in O'Leary's debut, The Flatshare (2019), this novel is full of the charm and warmth readers expect, with an increased focus on family bonds. Leena's attempts to deal with her sister's death and heal her relationship with her mother are quite moving while the eccentric cast of town residents and her quirky London roommates provide plenty of laughs. But Eileen, as a nearly-80-year-old woman who's allowed to have hopes, dreams, and a vibrant sex life, truly shines. She never gives up on helping others or finding her own happily-ever-after, proving that it's never too late to start over. A cozy, hopeful escape that will make readers laugh, cry, and feel inspired. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* Fans of Linda Holmes' Evvie Drake Starts Over (2019) or Jen DeLuca's Well Met (2019) will delight in O'Leary's latest (after The Flatshare, 2019). Leena Cotton, working nonstop to avoid dealing with her sister's recent death, is forced to take a two-month vacation after a disastrous client presentation. Flailing, she visits her grandmother, Eileen, in the Yorkshire Dales. Eileen is taking the opposite approach to tragedy—her husband left her for a dance instructor, which may not be as much of a tragedy as she originally thought—and is devising a plan to bring love back into her life. The two decide a change of scenery is needed and proceed to switch homes, Eileen moving to Leena's London apartment and Leena to Eileen's country house. Startled by the contrast in lifestyles, Leena and Eileen tackle new challenges with surprising results. The Switch brilliantly encompasses all the humor and whimsy of The Flatshare while delving into emotional topics like grief and the importance of watching out for neighbors. Charismatic Eileen stands out as the star of this witty, joyful show, illustrating that mature women need love, too. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.