The Switch

Exchange. While some readers may be skeptical of the premise of Beth O’Leary’s novel titled, The Switch, it won’t take long to overcome that and luxuriate in the lives of two women named Eileen Cotton. Younger Eileen Cotton (Leena) works nonstop in London as she grieves the death of her sister, Carla, who died of cancer recently. Leena’s grandmother, Eileen Cotton, the grandmother, faces life changes at age 80, sharing grief at Carla’s death, and adrift following her husband’s departure for another woman. After Leena’s boss demands that she take a two month holiday from work, grandmother and granddaughter decide to switch places, with Leena leaving her flat in London to live in her grandmother’s rural home, and Eileen looking for a chance to love again in the big city. This is a heartwarming story that will satisfy many readers and enliven any book club’s discussion about life’s possibilities at any age. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Switch from amazon.com.