Book Review: The Switch
That’s the way with old friends. You understand each other, even when there’s not enough words out there for everything that should be said
Hmmm. I really enjoyed The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary and ‘The Switch’ being her follow-up was somewhat… disappointing? That is not to say it was all doom and gloom, there were some lovely moments and themes such as “age is just a number”, self-love, grief and rediscovering hidden passions. Perhaps it’s tough to follow up after a stellar first book? Who knows.
Leena- a young female professional in her 20s- decides to swap lives with her grandmother Eileen after a particularly disastrous work pitch. Eileen in her late 70’s gave up the idea of being a young London adventurer when she got pregnant and married years ago. But they both leap at the change. Leena is faced with busy-bodied old ladies and gents in a small Yorkshire village where everyone knows everyone’s business, even the extremely handsome schoolteacher. Eileen can’t quite handle the hustle and bustle of London life but flourishes at online dating. All in all, they grow as people and learn to live a little. Even if it means facing some particularly hard truths and buried grief.
While I understand that small-town life is a lot more complex and colourful than it first seems. Busy bodies are still busybodies or just plain nosy. I find the village’s lack of boundaries startling all in the name of ‘community’, it felt a little too claustrophobic. It was meant to be presented as ‘friendly’ but seemed more gossipy. High school but for pensioners. It was unnerving.
The book's structure starts off well and is a really uplifting story. Which is great, we all need good-hearted stories to ease the bad days. But there are problematic moments. Apologies in advance for the spoilers:
1. The lady who objects to the Shoreditch Silvers Social Club because of fears about strange people entering the building. Thinking of this logically, she’s a single lady living alone and allowing strangers into a building would seem a little daunting in London. Eileen from a tiny Yorkshire village doesn’t really see the harm in pensioners being allowed to visit. But that is being extremely naive about London living and about the fragility of the older generation as well. Some are frail due to their age, but some are not. So I don’t blame the lady for objecting. I think she has a point and I’d be with her on that one.
2. Now this one is meant to be romantic, and it may work in a dark romance context. But this is not a dark romance. Be a wild book if it was, let’s be honest! But I find it problematic locking your granddaughter into a cupboard with a man. Sure you’ve known them since they were born, and it’s supposed to be a big romantic finish. But really? Potentially a very uncomfortable situation. But I guess who cares if it’s your grandmother “meddling” for romance?
Perhaps you can’t tell - but it’s not my favourite ‘happy read’ I’ve read this year. Not by a long shot.