The Switch

by Beth O'Leary

[Amber]

Read more reviews on my blog, Books of Amber!

I absolutely adored The Flatshare when I read it last year, and Beth O’Leary shot to the top of my “to buy next” list so I could explore what else she has to offer. I nabbed this one when I saw it up on Netgalley as an audiobook, and I think I definitely made the right choice.

I had a hard time connecting with either of the characters in The Switch, and I think the main reason for this was because a) Eileen is really old and we had absolutely nothing in common and b) Leena was just a bit dull, really. It’s a shame, because I thought O’Leary wrote some amazing characters in The Flatshare, but I don’t think she pulled the same thing off here.

Don’t get me wrong, it was a unique experience reading about a 79 year old. I don’t read books about older characters that often, and it was something that I wanted to try to explore. I think if I hadn’t been listening to the audiobook, I would have had an even harder time getting into the book than I did, so I’m pleased with my choice here.

That said, I didn’t hate the book, and the narrator made it a fun read that I enjoyed listening to. I just didn’t connect with it the same way I connected with The Flatshare. I’m going to be checking out more from Beth O’Leary in the future, but maybe I need to stick to her more serious stuff!