The Switch

Starred review from May 15, 2020
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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)