O'Leary, B: Switch

sweet and wholesome

Stephanie aus Neuenhof am 25.08.2022
Bewertungsnummer: 1773549
Bewertet: Buch (Taschenbuch)

I said it once I’ll say it again: Beth O’Leary’s writing just clicks with me. I adore her humorous way of telling a story without losing any of the depth to her characters and their lives – especially with 'The Switch' which is such a character driven book. And what lovely characters they were. Leena, standing on the verge of a burnout and being given two months compulsory leave by her employer, has to find a way to dial down and maybe even address the trauma that is her sister’s passing 1,5 years ago. Though, London might be too busy a city to do just that. On the other hand, her grandma’s home is only a few streets away from her mum’s who she blames for the decision not to try this one promising cancer treatment on her sister. And then there’s her grandma, Eileen, who got cheated on by her husband and is on the lookout for someone new to share the rest of her life with. But Hamleigh in rural Yorkshire seems to have too little a selection of eligible men. London on the other hand has plenty. Easy decision then to switch their homes, friends and responsibilities for two months. The premise alone sounded so cute and quirky, and especially Eileen, the grandma, made reading this book worthwile. Also, the 'discussion' on how much we are aloud (or even ought) to interfere in the lives of our friends and family was wonderfully portrayed! It was nice seeing how the 79-year-old learned that there are times when it’s okay, even advised, to 'butt in'. And in turn how this old lady, along with her friends at home, taught her new young friends the joys and satisfaction that come with community and commitment. It was such an enjoyable read. Though I’m glad I didn’t read the blurb beforehand, as it does give away quite a bit, and even though it was a bit slower than the other two books by the author that I’ve already read. Still, I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a sweet and wholesome read.

Switching lives

Bewertung aus Wien am 06.06.2020
Bewertungsnummer: 1337144
Bewertet: Buch (Taschenbuch)

After having a panic attack in a business meeting, Leena needs to wind down. Where could she do that better than in rural Yorkshire at the home of her grandma. 79 year old Eileen on the other hand feels too bored in her small village with no eligible bachelors. Recently deserted by her futile husband, she's looking for new experiences and most of all for some romance. On a whim they decide to swap accomodation, circle of friends and cellphones for 2 months. What is seemingly a light comedy has underneath it all some very serious topics. Which made me like this story even more. I found both storylines equally interesting and grew fond also of the supporting characters, like Arnold, Letitia or Nicola. I'm not sure of such a 'switch' would work for everyone, but it definitely benefited Leena and Eileen, and a whole bunch of other people connected to them, too.