michelel72 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
michelel72) wrote2021-12-04 09:12 pm
michelel72) wrote2021-12-04 09:12 pm
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Book: "The Switch", Beth O'Leary
This is the second novel by O'Leary, and I liked it even more than "The Flatshare". London-based Leena is forced onto a work sabbatical, her grandmother Eileen in the Dales is in a rut, and they swap places for a couple of months.
(For those who need content warnings: I don't promise to be exhaustive, but for certain I can note that the main characters are dealing with the recent death of a relative; a secondary character is in an abusive relationship; and infidelity crops up -- but not in the main characters, unless you count experiencing attraction to someone other than one's committed partner but deliberately not acting on it.)
I liked Leena here better than Tiffy in the last book; Tiffy came across as more than a little Manic Pixie, while Leena and Eileen are take-charge planners. I did still have moments of not really connecting to her ... but I am here for Eileen. She does not have time for nonsense!
I love the rich lives of all the characters, and O'Leary has a deft touch with humor. (It's been a while since I've read any Courtney Milan, but I'm reminded of her anyway. O'Leary stays on the "sweet" side of the genre, though; nothing more explicit than bodily reactions to touch/flirting/kissing ... and the occasional dick joke, which would not usually be my thing but works here.) There is one secondary character who fills a ... problematic role, but on balance I think she's handled well. I really like that the narrative makes room for a casual, no-strings, non-exclusive sexual relationship that works exactly as it says on the tin; a lot of romances would either demonize that or have it all end in tears for Drama, but there's none of that here.
I got a little frustrated in Leena near the end, but I think that's because I never really bought into her relationship ... which reminds me how little I bought Tiffy/Justin in the prior book. Two points are not a trend, but they're interesting. Happily, Leena isn't frustrating for long.
And I adore seeing communities rally and come together the way they do here.
Fun, funny, recommended.
(For those who need content warnings: I don't promise to be exhaustive, but for certain I can note that the main characters are dealing with the recent death of a relative; a secondary character is in an abusive relationship; and infidelity crops up -- but not in the main characters, unless you count experiencing attraction to someone other than one's committed partner but deliberately not acting on it.)
I liked Leena here better than Tiffy in the last book; Tiffy came across as more than a little Manic Pixie, while Leena and Eileen are take-charge planners. I did still have moments of not really connecting to her ... but I am here for Eileen. She does not have time for nonsense!
I love the rich lives of all the characters, and O'Leary has a deft touch with humor. (It's been a while since I've read any Courtney Milan, but I'm reminded of her anyway. O'Leary stays on the "sweet" side of the genre, though; nothing more explicit than bodily reactions to touch/flirting/kissing ... and the occasional dick joke, which would not usually be my thing but works here.) There is one secondary character who fills a ... problematic role, but on balance I think she's handled well. I really like that the narrative makes room for a casual, no-strings, non-exclusive sexual relationship that works exactly as it says on the tin; a lot of romances would either demonize that or have it all end in tears for Drama, but there's none of that here.
I got a little frustrated in Leena near the end, but I think that's because I never really bought into her relationship ... which reminds me how little I bought Tiffy/Justin in the prior book. Two points are not a trend, but they're interesting. Happily, Leena isn't frustrating for long.
And I adore seeing communities rally and come together the way they do here.
Fun, funny, recommended.