Juxtaposing January’s weighty first novel, this week I wandered back to Beth O’Leary for some warmth with The Switch. And what would a playlist based off the novel be without a Taylor Swift song?
Come on, Eileen!
Leena Cotton is a 20-something career woman who can’t seem to catch a break. Between familial loss, an unpredictable romantic relationship, and ever-mounting pressure at work, she’s just keeping it together. That is, until she loses control during an important presentation, and her boss suggests tells her to take a few months of paid leave.
Initially resisting the forced sabbatical, Leena visits her grandmother in the countryside for some much-needed advice. There, she learns that her grandmother, too, is due for a change. As it turns out, 80-year-old Eileen craves new romance and adventure after her torrid divorce. Unfortunately, her tiny Yorkshire village is a little short on hot octogenarians. Suddenly, the answer to both of their predicaments is clear: a house switch. Leena can escape London and avoid stressing about work, and Eileen can enjoy the dating pool in the big city. After all, before her marriage to stuffy Wade, Eileen dreamt of living in cosmopolitan London.
Surely, it can’t be that hard to relax for two months in cutesy little Hamleigh-in-Harksdale. But with gossipy neighbors stuck in their ways and a parent to avoid, Leena’s little village getaway isn’t as simple as it seemed. Eileen, too, has some serious adjustments to make in London as she discovers the online dating world, the demands of city life, and new trends to keep up with.
“Is it really an adventure if you don't make at least one ill-advised decision?”
A heartwarming tale of romance, friendship, growth, and forgiveness, The Switch is an unforgettable multigenerational novel for any adult reader. After all, who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks?
The "Sharing" Trope
I think at some point I might get sick of reading Beth O’Leary’s romance novels, but that day has not yet arrived. The Flatshare and The Switch are both founded upon a similar premise: unusual living situations. Yes, I’m a reader that LOVES the shared bed/house trope. However, O’Leary easily proves that her debut novel isn’t a one-off; she can clearly write romantic interests and powerful protagonists of any age. It feels weirdly brave that she chose to write a 79-year-old woman seeking love...even though women like Eileen exist everywhere? I will say, Leena and Eileen's house swap bears a striking resemblance to setup of The Holiday, though the plotlines, characters, and their motivations diverge from there.
Kate Winslet and Jack Black aside, it’s so fun to compare The Switch's protagonists, to see how alike they can be in disposition despite generational differences. Both stubborn, organized, and witty, it’s easy to laugh along with their (mis)adventures and empathize with their struggles. It’s also uniquely moving to read as the relatives navigate their shared grief and loss. Together, their alternating narrations are balanced; the two provide nuance and a unique perspective of one another. These leading ladies also offer such an important narrative of growth - they prove it’s never too late to learn, and to change. More importantly, it's not wrong to put yourself first and prioritize your wants/needs. Leena and Eileen both needed this opportunity to step back from their lives and see things more clearly. It's funny how you can lose touch with what you really want in life - what really brings you joy - when you're busy following a routine.
Funny as she was, I would’ve liked to see more development in Leena’s character arc, and perhaps a few more flaws. Her troubled relationship with her mother renders her a more established character, but she (and Eileen, at times) was hard to visualize as a real person because she seemed like she could do no wrong. Rather, she and Eileen often feel like perfect models of English womanhood, never really making mistakes and instead experiencing a bevy of losses and hardships themselves. And though her struggles with anxiety and depression are what landed her in the countryside, we don’t explore this side of Leena much. It goes without saying that mental health conditions aren't flaws, and don't define or "make" a person real. I simply mean that Leena hardly seemed to change internally, or truly confront her feelings or disordered thinking. Yes, her external situations and relationships evolved - I just wanted more for our protagonist, as per usual.
It’s obviously always a challenge to go into great depth with multiple narrators, but I also wished Leena and Eileen's romantic lives were more fleshed out! Though we get to see a more spicy side of Eileen, it felt like Leena hardly interacted with her forbidden village lover. I so badly wanted to root for her, but her relationships felt more sporadic than natural. It's interesting to me that we get to know so much about Eileen's friends, old and new, as well as her lovers, whereas Leena's connections are less evolved.
Nevertheless, this is a fun, effortless read enhanced by divergent, charming settings. This is certainly a must-read for those looking to expand their literary horizons and enjoy a new perspective on life. The Switch gets roughly 3.5 to 3.7 stars in my book, and is a nice comfort reintroduction if you're looking to ease back into reading. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed The Holiday (obviously), or liked reading Beach Read and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Pop for the Ages
This was a super fun playlist to put together! I loved the challenge of assembling a combination of vintage and contemporary music - finding a medium between Leena and Eileen's tastes. These are all songs I already enjoy, so I guess I didn't branch out too much in forming this list, but I certainly wouldn't have put them all together prior to this. I can safely say I'd feel comfortable listening to all of these songs with my grandma, though I might be pushing my luck with ABBA. (I'm willing to bet Eileen loves those Swedish superstars.)
The 1 - Taylor Swift (A song about looking back on relationships, about saying no, and about choosing yourself. What could be more fitting?)
Forgive You - Leon Bridges (The tense relationship between Leena and her mother can only be remedied with forgiveness - but who exactly does Leena need to forgive?)
Carolina - Harry Styles (This song has kind of a classic rocky sound, and he sings about this irresistible girl who's from far away. AKA Eileen and her troop of London lovers.)
Mona Lisa - Nat King Cole (Another ode to Eileen the heartbreaker, by an artist she likely loves herself.)
Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac (A totally magical, effervescent tune that captures the vibe of Leena and Eileen's parallel journeys back to themselves.)
Little Girl - Calica (This speaks to Leena and Eileen's lovely dynamic - how Leena is sometimes still a little girl who needs her grandmother's guidance.)
One of Us - ABBA/Mamma Mia cast (A final, powerful ballad for Eileen, the woman who lost love but took it back for herself.)
Just like with The Vanishing Half, making this playlist gave me a new window into Leena and Eileen's worlds, and I felt even more connected with the protagonists afterwards. Is that as cheesy as it sounds? Probably. But it's a good time, and forces you to really think about who these people are, and who they could be in the real world.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some Bridgerton episodes to binge until midnight.
XOXO, Lady Whistledown
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