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The Switch
Two couples. One twisted game of love and sex. A dark domestic thriller about the dangerous secrets that come to light when a wild fantasy turns sinister. . .
When young couple Elena and Adam are offered the chance to house-sit in their dream neighborhood for a few months, they jump at the opportunity. The leafy South London enclave is a world away from everything they know, complete with grand homes, lush gardens, and quaint local coffee shops.
Soon Elena crosses paths with the beautiful and enigmatic artist Sophia and her husband, Finn, and she and Adam are pulled into their orbit. Sophia is everything Elena isn’t—glamorous, alluring, successful—and Finn exerts a mysterious pull on Elena that she can’t seem to shake.
Elena’s infatuation with Finn grows stronger by the day, and when Sophia proposes a thrilling game to her new friend—to swap partners in secret—Elena quickly agrees. It’s not long before Elena experiences a sexual awakening that blossoms into an illicit love affair, but Sophia’s plans are far more dangerous than Elena could ever have imagined. . .
When young couple Elena and Adam are offered the chance to house-sit in their dream neighborhood for a few months, they jump at the opportunity. The leafy South London enclave is a world away from everything they know, complete with grand homes, lush gardens, and quaint local coffee shops.
Soon Elena crosses paths with the beautiful and enigmatic artist Sophia and her husband, Finn, and she and Adam are pulled into their orbit. Sophia is everything Elena isn’t—glamorous, alluring, successful—and Finn exerts a mysterious pull on Elena that she can’t seem to shake.
Elena’s infatuation with Finn grows stronger by the day, and when Sophia proposes a thrilling game to her new friend—to swap partners in secret—Elena quickly agrees. It’s not long before Elena experiences a sexual awakening that blossoms into an illicit love affair, but Sophia’s plans are far more dangerous than Elena could ever have imagined. . .
12 pages, Audiobook
First published May 28, 2024
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March 16, 2024
Unofficial Synopsis
Elena thinks she’s lucky when she crosses paths with the enigmatic artist Sophia. Soon Elena and her boyfriend are spending a lot of time with Sophia and her husband Finn.
Elena’s infatuation with Finn grows so when Sophia proposes a thrilling game to her, to swap partners in secret, Elena quickly agrees. It’s not long before Elena is in the midst of an affair, but Sophia’s plans are far more dangerous than Elena could ever have imagined…
Review
This is one of those books that you have to be able to suspend a lot of belief in order to enjoy it, but if you can do that, it is a fun story. I did think that there was a pretty low expectation of men in the book, and that was a disappointing in this day and age, so it did take away from my enjoyment a little. I did enjoy the rest of the story once we got past this portion of the story, it’s a twisty story and quite the wild ride. The pacing of this one is rather quick, which was needed in order to be able to suspend belief of the details. The character development isn’t especially deep, but this is more of a plot-based novel not a character driven, so it’s too be expected.
I think for a debut this is a great book. There is a solid foundation, and the author knows how to write twists and turns that are shocking. I think their future works are not to be missed and will only be more refined, which I’m excited for. This isn’t an author that you’ll want to miss.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my review copy.
Elena thinks she’s lucky when she crosses paths with the enigmatic artist Sophia. Soon Elena and her boyfriend are spending a lot of time with Sophia and her husband Finn.
Elena’s infatuation with Finn grows so when Sophia proposes a thrilling game to her, to swap partners in secret, Elena quickly agrees. It’s not long before Elena is in the midst of an affair, but Sophia’s plans are far more dangerous than Elena could ever have imagined…
Review
This is one of those books that you have to be able to suspend a lot of belief in order to enjoy it, but if you can do that, it is a fun story. I did think that there was a pretty low expectation of men in the book, and that was a disappointing in this day and age, so it did take away from my enjoyment a little. I did enjoy the rest of the story once we got past this portion of the story, it’s a twisty story and quite the wild ride. The pacing of this one is rather quick, which was needed in order to be able to suspend belief of the details. The character development isn’t especially deep, but this is more of a plot-based novel not a character driven, so it’s too be expected.
I think for a debut this is a great book. There is a solid foundation, and the author knows how to write twists and turns that are shocking. I think their future works are not to be missed and will only be more refined, which I’m excited for. This isn’t an author that you’ll want to miss.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my review copy.
August 20, 2024
I had high hopes for "The Switch" by Lily Samson, but sadly, it failed to live up to its promising premise. A young couple, Elena and Adam, get the chance to house-sit in this super posh neighborhood in South London. Cue the dreamy vibes, lush gardens, and cozy coffee shops. Sounds like the perfect setup, right? Well, that's what I thought too, until things took a seriously strange turn.
Enter Sophia and Finn, the glamorous and mysterious couple who seem to have it all figured out. At first, I was intrigued. I mean, who wouldn't be drawn to their magnetic energy? But then they drop this bombshell of an idea: let's swap partners in secret. Um, excuse me, what?
I couldn't believe what I was reading. I mean, who in their right mind thinks that's a good idea? It's not just shady, it's downright messed up. And the fact that Elena goes along with it? Total facepalm moment.
But it gets worse. Way worse. What starts as a supposedly innocent game quickly spirals into a hot mess of sociopathic behavior and twisted desires. I'm talking full-on depravity that made my stomach churn.
And don't even get me started on the characters. Elena and Adam? Snoozeville. I couldn't connect with them at all, which made it really hard to care about what happened to them. And Sophia and Finn? Let's just say they gave me major heebie-jeebies.
And the writing style felt like the author was trying way too hard to be edgy and cool, but it just came off as cringey and forced. And don't even get me started on the gratuitous sex scenes. Like, we get it, things are heating up, but did we really need all those details?
"The Switch" was a major letdown for me. The plot was bizarre, the characters were unlikeable, and I felt seriously uncomfortable reading it. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
Enter Sophia and Finn, the glamorous and mysterious couple who seem to have it all figured out. At first, I was intrigued. I mean, who wouldn't be drawn to their magnetic energy? But then they drop this bombshell of an idea: let's swap partners in secret. Um, excuse me, what?
I couldn't believe what I was reading. I mean, who in their right mind thinks that's a good idea? It's not just shady, it's downright messed up. And the fact that Elena goes along with it? Total facepalm moment.
But it gets worse. Way worse. What starts as a supposedly innocent game quickly spirals into a hot mess of sociopathic behavior and twisted desires. I'm talking full-on depravity that made my stomach churn.
And don't even get me started on the characters. Elena and Adam? Snoozeville. I couldn't connect with them at all, which made it really hard to care about what happened to them. And Sophia and Finn? Let's just say they gave me major heebie-jeebies.
And the writing style felt like the author was trying way too hard to be edgy and cool, but it just came off as cringey and forced. And don't even get me started on the gratuitous sex scenes. Like, we get it, things are heating up, but did we really need all those details?
"The Switch" was a major letdown for me. The plot was bizarre, the characters were unlikeable, and I felt seriously uncomfortable reading it. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
May 27, 2024
This was an interesting domestic thriller. I will admit I didn’t quite see the entire twist coming, but largely because it was a bit more ridiculous than my willingness to suspend belief. I liked the format where we go to see past and present tense and both Elena and Sophia’s perspectives. I will say I didn’t care at all for the ending. I struggled a little with the instant in love thing. Elena and her husband Adam are house sitting in their dream neighborhood. Elena meets Sophia and becomes fast friends with her. Elena is shocked when Sophia suggests they switch partners but Sophia’s husband Finn is alluring and she is intrigued. After all Sophia has everything Elena has dreamed of and what could go wrong? Overall I gave this one 2.5 stars rounded up for the level of twisty.
May 26, 2024
The Switch by Lily Samson is a deliciously twisted and suspenseful domestic thriller novel. The story in The Switch does change the point of view between two of the characters and also stars off changing the timeline between now and then.
Elena and Adam are happily married if not a bit settled into their relationship so when the couple get the chance to housesit in a well to do neighborhood they never could afford of course they jump at the chance. Quickly settling in to their new life Elena really doesn’t want their time in the new home to come to an end.
Elena then meets the beautiful and charismatic artist, Sophia, and hopes that the two can hit it off and become friends. As Elena meets Sophia’s husband Finn she also develops a bit of a crush on both partners of the sophisticated couple. That’s when Sophia suggests the women take control of their relationships and swap partners for a night, unbeknownst to the men.
I’m going to admit right off the bat that The Switch by Lily Samson is one of those books that I finished and thought to myself What. the. Heck. I mean really going into this one I was thinking the same thing but it certainly did live up to the dark and twisted description and to be honest I actually found myself enjoying the craziness. I’d say you probably need to suspend disbelief to completely enjoy this but if looking for a zany over the top suspense then this might be for you.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Elena and Adam are happily married if not a bit settled into their relationship so when the couple get the chance to housesit in a well to do neighborhood they never could afford of course they jump at the chance. Quickly settling in to their new life Elena really doesn’t want their time in the new home to come to an end.
Elena then meets the beautiful and charismatic artist, Sophia, and hopes that the two can hit it off and become friends. As Elena meets Sophia’s husband Finn she also develops a bit of a crush on both partners of the sophisticated couple. That’s when Sophia suggests the women take control of their relationships and swap partners for a night, unbeknownst to the men.
I’m going to admit right off the bat that The Switch by Lily Samson is one of those books that I finished and thought to myself What. the. Heck. I mean really going into this one I was thinking the same thing but it certainly did live up to the dark and twisted description and to be honest I actually found myself enjoying the craziness. I’d say you probably need to suspend disbelief to completely enjoy this but if looking for a zany over the top suspense then this might be for you.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 21, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own
TW lack of consent, Abusive Relationships, Attempted Murder, Child Abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Cheating, Emotional Abuse
Yes, I am hauling out the 5-star rating and crowning this among my favourite reads of 2024. It had one of the most unsettling premises- two women, each with their reasons, coming up with a plan of seduction like no other. I read this book just like I watched the recent Netflix documentary on the Ashley Madison Scandal—full of preconceived notions and yet inexplicably riveting, keeping me glued to my couch.
I feel like this is one of those books that has the potential to be part of a very fascinating book club circuit. It's a risque topic and I am sure the two couples- Elena and Adam & Sophia and Finn will have their haters and their defenders. Not to mention that one has to suspend disbelief that a man wouldn't realize that he wasn't making love to the same woman. But I do believe it is going to be one of the books of this year that is going to end up with very polarizing ratings and reviews.
Interesting fact: This novel is inspired by Roald Dahl's The Great Switcheroo which is one of four adult stories in the Switch Bitch collection that was published in Playboy magazine. A fact, that honestly, sent me on an internet search that is now seared in my brain for eternity.🤣
#TheSwitch #NetGalley
Expected Publication Date 28/05/24
Goodreads Review 18/05/24
TW lack of consent, Abusive Relationships, Attempted Murder, Child Abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Cheating, Emotional Abuse
Yes, I am hauling out the 5-star rating and crowning this among my favourite reads of 2024. It had one of the most unsettling premises- two women, each with their reasons, coming up with a plan of seduction like no other. I read this book just like I watched the recent Netflix documentary on the Ashley Madison Scandal—full of preconceived notions and yet inexplicably riveting, keeping me glued to my couch.
I feel like this is one of those books that has the potential to be part of a very fascinating book club circuit. It's a risque topic and I am sure the two couples- Elena and Adam & Sophia and Finn will have their haters and their defenders. Not to mention that one has to suspend disbelief that a man wouldn't realize that he wasn't making love to the same woman. But I do believe it is going to be one of the books of this year that is going to end up with very polarizing ratings and reviews.
Interesting fact: This novel is inspired by Roald Dahl's The Great Switcheroo which is one of four adult stories in the Switch Bitch collection that was published in Playboy magazine. A fact, that honestly, sent me on an internet search that is now seared in my brain for eternity.🤣
#TheSwitch #NetGalley
Expected Publication Date 28/05/24
Goodreads Review 18/05/24
July 27, 2024
4.5/5
The Switch is Lily Samson's adult US debut and man oh man do I hope she graces us with more books soon! I wasn't sure what I was going to think since not a whole lot was actually happening at first, but her writing sucked me in, and I had to see where this thing was going. I think this would make an excellent movie or mini-series/series (like You), and tensions ran high throughout the book. There was also some superb suspense and more than one twist that made my jaw drop.
The audiobook is narrated by Avita Jay & Polly Edsell and silly me actually thought one narrator was doing an amazing job of changing her voice. 🤣 They both had great performances and I loved them as the voices of Elena and Sophia (not necessarily in that order). I did think it was interesting that so many women were obsessed with Finn (how great can one guy be?) but when emotions are involved crazy things happen. The conclusion of The Switch blew me away and I was almost going to be mad, but Samson saved the day, and I loved it. Read this if you enjoy domestic thrillers and don't mind if they dip into the ridiculous as opposed to following real-life situations.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
The Switch is Lily Samson's adult US debut and man oh man do I hope she graces us with more books soon! I wasn't sure what I was going to think since not a whole lot was actually happening at first, but her writing sucked me in, and I had to see where this thing was going. I think this would make an excellent movie or mini-series/series (like You), and tensions ran high throughout the book. There was also some superb suspense and more than one twist that made my jaw drop.
The audiobook is narrated by Avita Jay & Polly Edsell and silly me actually thought one narrator was doing an amazing job of changing her voice. 🤣 They both had great performances and I loved them as the voices of Elena and Sophia (not necessarily in that order). I did think it was interesting that so many women were obsessed with Finn (how great can one guy be?) but when emotions are involved crazy things happen. The conclusion of The Switch blew me away and I was almost going to be mad, but Samson saved the day, and I loved it. Read this if you enjoy domestic thrillers and don't mind if they dip into the ridiculous as opposed to following real-life situations.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
January 8, 2025
"The Switch" was a switch for me.
Usually, I stay far, far away from husband-swapping thrillers.
Yet, from page one, debut author Lily Samson wowed me and I was instantly hooked.
BEWARE:
Although the book is well-written and entertaining, it requires a HUGE suspension of disbelief.
WHY?
The book's premise is absolutely, positively ludicrous:
Two wives decide to switch husbands on multiple nights, without their husbands' knowledge.
THE PLAN?
To have sex in the dark with the husband.
And to have these sexual encounter "switches" multiple times.
(Huh???)
As both wives engage in this twisty game, secrets are revealed, and the insanity of the plot increases exponentially.
I listened to the audiobook expertly narrated by Avita Jay and Polly Edsell.
Although both narrators did a superb job, both voices were very similar and I would have enjoyed the book more with two distinct voices.
May 8, 2024
All of the spoliers coming (which I almost never do but this book cannot be reviewed without them).
This book was just......not good. I will try to condense all my thoughts in the following bullet points:
** Are you seriously kidding that the secretly swap partners for sex? First, that this seems like a plausible idea, and second that the men actually fall for it. It was just too ridiculous to get on board with - I don't care how much planning you do!
** What happened to Adam is rape. He did not consent to having sex, and he most certainly did not consent to trying to impregnate a woman (that he did not even know he was sleeping with.....are you starting to see how ridiculous this is).
** The character development was poor. Our four main characters are all cardboard cutouts, and the use of stereotypical gender roles and identities was disappointing.
** Elena and Finn proclaiming their love for one another suddenly in the middle of the street on vacation was random and poorly plotted.
** Locking Elena up in the attic - stupid!
** And the honest to goodness absurdity of Finn alternating living weeks with each woman at the end of the book without one of them knowing is just beyond trying to suspend belief.
** Oh.....and I haven't even addressed the underlying themes of incest.....in whatever form they take in this book (and that twist could be seen from a mile away).
Where was the editor on this? This debut is not exactly going to have my racing out to pick up more by this author.
This book was just......not good. I will try to condense all my thoughts in the following bullet points:
** Are you seriously kidding that the secretly swap partners for sex? First, that this seems like a plausible idea, and second that the men actually fall for it. It was just too ridiculous to get on board with - I don't care how much planning you do!
** What happened to Adam is rape. He did not consent to having sex, and he most certainly did not consent to trying to impregnate a woman (that he did not even know he was sleeping with.....are you starting to see how ridiculous this is).
** The character development was poor. Our four main characters are all cardboard cutouts, and the use of stereotypical gender roles and identities was disappointing.
** Elena and Finn proclaiming their love for one another suddenly in the middle of the street on vacation was random and poorly plotted.
** Locking Elena up in the attic - stupid!
** And the honest to goodness absurdity of Finn alternating living weeks with each woman at the end of the book without one of them knowing is just beyond trying to suspend belief.
** Oh.....and I haven't even addressed the underlying themes of incest.....in whatever form they take in this book (and that twist could be seen from a mile away).
Where was the editor on this? This debut is not exactly going to have my racing out to pick up more by this author.
May 28, 2024
Worst book I’ve read in years. Beyond outlandish plot, completely predictable ending, absurd characters.
Every time I read ‘my wench'... I cringed. And I cringed a lot.
This was a solid entry for a ‘worst book of the decade’ award! At least on my (thankfully virtual) shelf. Without a doubt.
Not sure I’ve ever ughhhhh-ed as much as I have while reading a book, or whispered ‘wtf…’ as much as I have while reading this - and not in welcome surprise but in outrage that this made it to print!
Maybe I’ve just spoiled myself by reading good books, and books like this one are common?
I don’t know. All I know is that this was the worst book I’ve read in years.
Every time I read ‘my wench'... I cringed. And I cringed a lot.
This was a solid entry for a ‘worst book of the decade’ award! At least on my (thankfully virtual) shelf. Without a doubt.
Not sure I’ve ever ughhhhh-ed as much as I have while reading a book, or whispered ‘wtf…’ as much as I have while reading this - and not in welcome surprise but in outrage that this made it to print!
Maybe I’ve just spoiled myself by reading good books, and books like this one are common?
I don’t know. All I know is that this was the worst book I’ve read in years.
May 24, 2024
3.75. The Switch is a psychological thriller with wild twists, relationship issues, and a super interesting cast of characters!
Elena and Adam are staying somewhere new when they meet another couple Sophia and Finn. They soon become close and Sophia suggests a game to Elena. It leads to their lives becoming completely enmeshed and new infatuations begin that lead to secrets, lies, and a whole different life revealed. I was so addicted to the writing immediately! The story was very outlandish but I feel that every good thriller comes with some insanity! You never truly know what people are capable of. I felt the pacing was a bit off in the second half and it did slow down my interest a bit but not by much because I kept putting other books off to the side in order to pick this one up!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lily Samson, and Pamela Dorman Books for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This publishes on May 28th.
Elena and Adam are staying somewhere new when they meet another couple Sophia and Finn. They soon become close and Sophia suggests a game to Elena. It leads to their lives becoming completely enmeshed and new infatuations begin that lead to secrets, lies, and a whole different life revealed. I was so addicted to the writing immediately! The story was very outlandish but I feel that every good thriller comes with some insanity! You never truly know what people are capable of. I felt the pacing was a bit off in the second half and it did slow down my interest a bit but not by much because I kept putting other books off to the side in order to pick this one up!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lily Samson, and Pamela Dorman Books for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This publishes on May 28th.
April 9, 2024
I have to preface this with the fact that you will have to suspend reality a few times in order to read this book. That being said, if you don’t mind a slightly implausible but still entertaining thriller, this is a good one!
Elena and Adam recently moved into a posh neighborhood in South London, but they don’t have the money that their neighbors do - they are just housesitting for a few months. Adam works in IT and Elena is a freelance proofreader. They’ve settled into a boring and routine, but content, marriage. Until Sophia comes along…
Sophia and Finn live in the new neighborhood, and after a chance meeting, Elena has made a new friends. They all meet up for dinner and everyone gets along well, and the girls have a few nights out having drinks and moaning about their marriages. It’s during one of these drunken nights that Sophia suggests something (literally) out of a book - they should make a switch.
This isn’t the usual wife swapping stuff; the women plan to each sneak into the other’s house while their husbands are asleep, then secretly have sex in the dark with them, leaving them thinking it was their wife. Aside from the fact that this is pretty much rape, this is where the story gets a bit crazy. They plot, they plan, and then - they get away with it. So they do it again, and again…
As one would expect, things quickly go awry. Feelings start brewing, and jealousy sets in. The women start to lose their trust in each other, but they continue “switching” because it’s just too hard to stop. This culminates in an ending that felt like it was written by V.C. Andrews (not a dig, but the vibe didn’t fit the rest of the book).
Despite the pretty unrealistic premise, I really enjoyed this one and finished it in one sitting. The characters were all pretty hate-able, but every now and then they would surprise me. The ending was dramatic and slightly discordant, but I still liked it a lot. Don’t take the story too seriously, or you’ll be slightly disappointed, but I still recommend this entertaining thriller. Four stars.
(Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books, Lily Samson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 28, 2024.)
Elena and Adam recently moved into a posh neighborhood in South London, but they don’t have the money that their neighbors do - they are just housesitting for a few months. Adam works in IT and Elena is a freelance proofreader. They’ve settled into a boring and routine, but content, marriage. Until Sophia comes along…
Sophia and Finn live in the new neighborhood, and after a chance meeting, Elena has made a new friends. They all meet up for dinner and everyone gets along well, and the girls have a few nights out having drinks and moaning about their marriages. It’s during one of these drunken nights that Sophia suggests something (literally) out of a book - they should make a switch.
This isn’t the usual wife swapping stuff; the women plan to each sneak into the other’s house while their husbands are asleep, then secretly have sex in the dark with them, leaving them thinking it was their wife. Aside from the fact that this is pretty much rape, this is where the story gets a bit crazy. They plot, they plan, and then - they get away with it. So they do it again, and again…
As one would expect, things quickly go awry. Feelings start brewing, and jealousy sets in. The women start to lose their trust in each other, but they continue “switching” because it’s just too hard to stop. This culminates in an ending that felt like it was written by V.C. Andrews (not a dig, but the vibe didn’t fit the rest of the book).
Despite the pretty unrealistic premise, I really enjoyed this one and finished it in one sitting. The characters were all pretty hate-able, but every now and then they would surprise me. The ending was dramatic and slightly discordant, but I still liked it a lot. Don’t take the story too seriously, or you’ll be slightly disappointed, but I still recommend this entertaining thriller. Four stars.
(Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books, Lily Samson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 28, 2024.)
June 15, 2024
4.5 stars. When Elena and Adam meet the cool and charismatic Sophia and Finn they are enthralled by them. This wealthy and confident couple seem to have it all. Elena swiftly develops a friendship with Sophia and before long receives an astonishing proposition from her; that they should swap partners. Without the partners knowing…
What follows is a rollercoaster head spinner of a ride, with Elena and Sophia falling further and further into an abyss of secrets and lies. How can this ever end well?
Woah! This really was a rollercoaster of a read. It was bonkers, addictive, sexy and utterly fascinating. I was hooked from the first few chapters. Yes there are parts where you may need to suspend belief but so what, the whole concept makes for a very unique and original read.
Told from the perspectives of Elena and Sofia with short, engaging chapters, the story unravels in an electrifying way, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and I had no idea which way the story was going (always a good sign in my opinion).
Tense, compelling and a little bit crazy, this is definitely a book you won’t forget in a hurry.
November 21, 2023
2 Absolutely bonkers, the first half was so fast paced I read it in a evening but then it took an abrupt different direction and the ending was unrealistic. Also the *spoiler* TW Incest *spoiler* was not fun, I hate this being included in books more than anything.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2024
1⭐️ ok so…. Firstly the ‘my wench’ and ‘my Lord’ comments made me cringe and shudder so hard. Adam and Elena were both insufferable and lacked any dimension. Also what happened to Adam (TW) was literal rape, which only got touched on once in the book by Elena, and was quickly shut down by Sophia, when she basically said “not like men are going to complain, if they find out.”
Sophia was presented as just a complete man hater in general, often minimising and reducing them to dogs. She also seemed to enjoy punishing men and being (TW) abusive. The physical abuse she inflicted on Finn was brushed aside constantly and was excused. The most wildest part of the book was the ending. The ending was not only crazy but extremely far-fetched. There was (TW) incest as the grand reveal, I’m assuming that was supposed to be the twist of the book, but in-fact was just gross and unsettling to read.
The ending had so many holes in which I was left so confused. Adam is suddenly back with Lorraine which I assume is supposed to make the reader side with Elena when what she did was equally as bad, if not worse! Furthermore, Adam’s baby that he did not consent to is just growing up in a web of lies and Adam is completely out of the loop on what is going on. Then to top it off Elena and Finn have a happy ending of Finn switching households between his SISTER Sophia who’s had Adam’s baby and his LOVER Elena. Sophia thinks Elena is dead btw. Just a crazy plot.
Sophia was presented as just a complete man hater in general, often minimising and reducing them to dogs. She also seemed to enjoy punishing men and being (TW) abusive. The physical abuse she inflicted on Finn was brushed aside constantly and was excused. The most wildest part of the book was the ending. The ending was not only crazy but extremely far-fetched. There was (TW) incest as the grand reveal, I’m assuming that was supposed to be the twist of the book, but in-fact was just gross and unsettling to read.
The ending had so many holes in which I was left so confused. Adam is suddenly back with Lorraine which I assume is supposed to make the reader side with Elena when what she did was equally as bad, if not worse! Furthermore, Adam’s baby that he did not consent to is just growing up in a web of lies and Adam is completely out of the loop on what is going on. Then to top it off Elena and Finn have a happy ending of Finn switching households between his SISTER Sophia who’s had Adam’s baby and his LOVER Elena. Sophia thinks Elena is dead btw. Just a crazy plot.
May 3, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 28, 2024
Elena and her partner, Adam, are given the oppourtunity to housesit in their dream neighbourhood, an idyllic community far outside their price range, so they jump at the chance. As the slowly acclimate to their new surroundings they meet glamorous and enigmatic Sophia and her elusive husband, Finn, who live nearby. Elena instantly feels a pull to the handsome Finn that she can’t explain so when Sophia suggests they “switch” husbands for one night, without their partners knowing, she is intrigued. Of course, after one “switch” is successful, Sophia suggests another but it isn’t long before Elena begins to realize that Sophia has ulterior motives, and that neither Sophia or Finn are who they claim to be.
“The Switch” by Lily Samson is seductive, suspenseful and whip-smart, with an ending that delivers an unexpected punch you won’t see coming. If you’re looking for a creative novel that is a little farfetched when it comes to believability, Samson’s story is an intriguing one!
The novel is narrated by Elena and Sophia, in the time frame before the switch and the time frame after. At first, all the reader knows is that Elena and Sophia have concocted some scheme of which their husbands are unaware, so the details of the “switch” don’t come out until farther along in the novel. Essentially, both women will swap spouses for one intimate act and then will continue to go on living their lives, with their spouses none the wiser which is just as unbelievable as it seems.
There is a backstory to Finn and Sophia that is slowly unfurled with each chapter and when the secret is finally revealed, it was nothing I would have ever guessed (and I did speculate, often, but was wrong each time). Samson’s twist is unique and very, very dark, but it definitely left me gasping!
“The Switch” is a debut novel, but you’d never know it! Once the clever ending is delivered, Samson is still not done, surprising the reader with yet another unsuspecting twist on the final pages. “The Switch” was a thrill ride of domestic suspense, and I am excited to see what’s next for Samson.
Expected publication date: May 28, 2024
Elena and her partner, Adam, are given the oppourtunity to housesit in their dream neighbourhood, an idyllic community far outside their price range, so they jump at the chance. As the slowly acclimate to their new surroundings they meet glamorous and enigmatic Sophia and her elusive husband, Finn, who live nearby. Elena instantly feels a pull to the handsome Finn that she can’t explain so when Sophia suggests they “switch” husbands for one night, without their partners knowing, she is intrigued. Of course, after one “switch” is successful, Sophia suggests another but it isn’t long before Elena begins to realize that Sophia has ulterior motives, and that neither Sophia or Finn are who they claim to be.
“The Switch” by Lily Samson is seductive, suspenseful and whip-smart, with an ending that delivers an unexpected punch you won’t see coming. If you’re looking for a creative novel that is a little farfetched when it comes to believability, Samson’s story is an intriguing one!
The novel is narrated by Elena and Sophia, in the time frame before the switch and the time frame after. At first, all the reader knows is that Elena and Sophia have concocted some scheme of which their husbands are unaware, so the details of the “switch” don’t come out until farther along in the novel. Essentially, both women will swap spouses for one intimate act and then will continue to go on living their lives, with their spouses none the wiser which is just as unbelievable as it seems.
There is a backstory to Finn and Sophia that is slowly unfurled with each chapter and when the secret is finally revealed, it was nothing I would have ever guessed (and I did speculate, often, but was wrong each time). Samson’s twist is unique and very, very dark, but it definitely left me gasping!
“The Switch” is a debut novel, but you’d never know it! Once the clever ending is delivered, Samson is still not done, surprising the reader with yet another unsuspecting twist on the final pages. “The Switch” was a thrill ride of domestic suspense, and I am excited to see what’s next for Samson.
May 28, 2024
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Domestic thrillers have been a total miss for me the last couple years, I had hopes this one would break that pattern. But in the end, this was not for me. It is tough writing a review on this one without spoilers so I will keep it short.
I am all for suspending disbelief now and then, but the author takes it a little far. I lost interest rather quickly as the plot progressed. The twist was super far fetched and the ending was just disappointing.
Domestic thrillers have been a total miss for me the last couple years, I had hopes this one would break that pattern. But in the end, this was not for me. It is tough writing a review on this one without spoilers so I will keep it short.
I am all for suspending disbelief now and then, but the author takes it a little far. I lost interest rather quickly as the plot progressed. The twist was super far fetched and the ending was just disappointing.
May 26, 2024
THE SWITCH was a wild story. It was fast-paced and held my attention the entire time. I thought Sophia and Elena were playing a dangerous game and I couldn't wait to see how it would play out. In the end, I was not disappointed. I think this would be an excellent choice for a book club since there's a lot to talk about.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Viking for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.review) very soon.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Viking for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.review) very soon.
December 10, 2023
I couldn't stop reading this book at all, and yet the stupidity of the characters made me wish for their deaths. Not one likeable character.
June 5, 2024
Out now!
This was so good! There are 5 parts and while some felt a lot more suspenseful than others, I thought the book overall was good. I mention the Parts because they each felt so different from the rest. There are clear-cut boundaries between the Parts and some were way better than others.
Part 1 was a 5 star part! This was the perfect balance of giving me backstory and giving me the suspense of "the night." This part is told in "Now" and "Then" chapters which I loved! And all from Elena's POV. This Part culminates in "the switch" happening (for the first time). Let's just ignore all the improbabilities of this happening IRL and go with it because this got me wound up (from the suspense) and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.
Part 2 felt a lot different after Part 1. Part 2 was the responsible, introverted oldest child if we consider Part 1 is the wild, untamed, last child as a toddler (okay, that comparison got weird but I'm leaving it). We get a couple of chapters from Sophia's POV and this was very interesting. I guessed, before her POV, what this storyline would be but it was so much more than I could have imagined! Sophia's chapters were the saving grace for Part 2.
Part 3 got fun again because we go on vacation! A lot comes out in this Part and this is when it started to get good again for me as I was looking forward to seeing how this would play out. Sophia's chapters got more and more unhinged as the story went on.
Part 4, back to slightly more boring. But PART 5. This is where shit goes off the rails. This is the climax of "what in the hell is going to happen here" and I was here for it. This is fast-paced and wild and I loved it. (aside from the very ending)
Overall, I'm going with 3.75 stars. I wavered back and forth between 3 and 4, and honestly what's making me lean higher is that this was absolutely unputdownable at parts, I wanted to completely ignore my life and responsibilities to read this. But that ending killed it being a true 4 star for me.
Original text:
RTC
...but that ending..... Eh, didn't do it for me. Sucks because this could have almost been a 5 star. Oh well, on to the next
This was so good! There are 5 parts and while some felt a lot more suspenseful than others, I thought the book overall was good. I mention the Parts because they each felt so different from the rest. There are clear-cut boundaries between the Parts and some were way better than others.
Part 1 was a 5 star part! This was the perfect balance of giving me backstory and giving me the suspense of "the night." This part is told in "Now" and "Then" chapters which I loved! And all from Elena's POV. This Part culminates in "the switch" happening (for the first time). Let's just ignore all the improbabilities of this happening IRL and go with it because this got me wound up (from the suspense) and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.
Part 2 felt a lot different after Part 1. Part 2 was the responsible, introverted oldest child if we consider Part 1 is the wild, untamed, last child as a toddler (okay, that comparison got weird but I'm leaving it). We get a couple of chapters from Sophia's POV and this was very interesting. I guessed, before her POV, what this storyline would be but it was so much more than I could have imagined! Sophia's chapters were the saving grace for Part 2.
Part 3 got fun again because we go on vacation! A lot comes out in this Part and this is when it started to get good again for me as I was looking forward to seeing how this would play out. Sophia's chapters got more and more unhinged as the story went on.
Part 4, back to slightly more boring. But PART 5. This is where shit goes off the rails. This is the climax of "what in the hell is going to happen here" and I was here for it. This is fast-paced and wild and I loved it. (aside from the very ending)
Overall, I'm going with 3.75 stars. I wavered back and forth between 3 and 4, and honestly what's making me lean higher is that this was absolutely unputdownable at parts, I wanted to completely ignore my life and responsibilities to read this. But that ending killed it being a true 4 star for me.
Original text:
RTC
...but that ending..... Eh, didn't do it for me. Sucks because this could have almost been a 5 star. Oh well, on to the next
March 27, 2025
This was a book hehehhehheheh. Ummm not sure what to classify this genre wise, but I enjoyed the ride. I do think some elements to this made no sense and I just can’t figure out why the whole thing even happened. But you know I’m here for a good time not a thought provoking time hehehhehe.
June 24, 2024
What a twisty, dark little tale. Almost a warning story - a couple house sitting is befriended by a nearby couple. Elena, our mc, is absolutely swept up in Sophia's aura. Sophia is sophisticated and rich, she's living the life Elena can only imagine. But are the marriages as happy as they seem?
Right from the start, I had to shove aside my disbelief. Once you just accept the first twist, the story is pretty compelling from there. Honestly, it was like a storm you know is brewing. I was just waiting for it all to go down. I don't typically go for this kind of plot but I found the story just shocking enough to keep me hooked!
The ending was just slightly a let down after all the other exiting twists but I did like this one, overall.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Right from the start, I had to shove aside my disbelief. Once you just accept the first twist, the story is pretty compelling from there. Honestly, it was like a storm you know is brewing. I was just waiting for it all to go down. I don't typically go for this kind of plot but I found the story just shocking enough to keep me hooked!
The ending was just slightly a let down after all the other exiting twists but I did like this one, overall.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 8, 2024
What a madness! A horrifying certifiable madness! A lot is unrealistic. It’s like watching a train wreck waiting to happen.
First of all, there is nothing seductive or sexy about this story. It’s too dark with obsession, manipulation, betrayal and much more.
There were some areas which I believe would be totally unrealistic which I cannot say on here (spoiler’s alert)
There are two POVs and each chapter alternates between the POVs and time frames.
None of the main characters have any redeeming qualities at the end except for the friend psychologist.
Read it at your own risk because this is one of those you can either hate or love it novels.
Thank you, Netgalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this eARC. As usual, all of my reviews are purely my own opinions without any influence from any publisher..
First of all, there is nothing seductive or sexy about this story. It’s too dark with obsession, manipulation, betrayal and much more.
There were some areas which I believe would be totally unrealistic which I cannot say on here (spoiler’s alert)
There are two POVs and each chapter alternates between the POVs and time frames.
None of the main characters have any redeeming qualities at the end except for the friend psychologist.
Read it at your own risk because this is one of those you can either hate or love it novels.
Thank you, Netgalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this eARC. As usual, all of my reviews are purely my own opinions without any influence from any publisher..
February 17, 2025
Very far fetched, wouldn’t recommend
January 26, 2024
3.5
Thank you to Net Galley, PRH and Pamela Dorman books for an advance read of The Switch by Lily Samson.
This was a fast paced and layered thriller about two couples and their friendship. When their friendships become more complicated, doubts start to arise about the true motivations. Each character has a mysterious past and as clues begin to surface, the friendships start to implode. Loved the slow build of confrontation and the twist at the end.
Not your typical plot in a thriller which was a nice surprise. Would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Net Galley, PRH and Pamela Dorman books for an advance read of The Switch by Lily Samson.
This was a fast paced and layered thriller about two couples and their friendship. When their friendships become more complicated, doubts start to arise about the true motivations. Each character has a mysterious past and as clues begin to surface, the friendships start to implode. Loved the slow build of confrontation and the twist at the end.
Not your typical plot in a thriller which was a nice surprise. Would definitely recommend.
February 5, 2025
Incredibly disturbing…
December 21, 2025
Elena and Adam are housesitting in a posh part of London when Elena meets the beautiful and rich Sophia. They become friends and Elena envies Sophie's life and is attracted to her husband, Finn. She is shocked when Sophia suggests they have sex with each other's husbands without the husbands knowing. They'll pretend to be each other and do it in the dark. Elena is so attracted to Finn that she immediately agrees to rape him.
Because that's what this is - rape by deception. If this plot had been done with two men having sex with each other's wives without the wives knowing, the book would never have been published. It is simply not acceptable.
So, the big hurdle we have to get past here is that our protagonist is both cheating on her boyfriend and knowingly committing sexual assault. How on earth are we supposed to get on side with her or care about what happens to her? Her obsession with Finn is laughable. She just finds him hot and he laughs at her jokes; they don't have a single deep and meaningful conversation.
The book isn't saved when it moves into the "thriller" aspect. It is dreadfully slow-paced. The plot twists are agonisingly predictable. I immediately twigged that The ending is absolutely ridiculous. The whole affair was icky, slow-paced, predictable and unsatisfying.
Because that's what this is - rape by deception. If this plot had been done with two men having sex with each other's wives without the wives knowing, the book would never have been published. It is simply not acceptable.
So, the big hurdle we have to get past here is that our protagonist is both cheating on her boyfriend and knowingly committing sexual assault. How on earth are we supposed to get on side with her or care about what happens to her? Her obsession with Finn is laughable. She just finds him hot and he laughs at her jokes; they don't have a single deep and meaningful conversation.
The book isn't saved when it moves into the "thriller" aspect. It is dreadfully slow-paced. The plot twists are agonisingly predictable. I immediately twigged that The ending is absolutely ridiculous. The whole affair was icky, slow-paced, predictable and unsatisfying.
May 25, 2024
I almost didn’t finish reading The Switch, which is something I rarely contemplate when it comes to books. However, I truly thought it was terrible, and I honestly can’t think of any redeeming qualities. I don’t want to be mean with my thoughts, as this is someone’s book and they’ve worked hard on it, so I’ll explain my issues as kindly and succinctly as I can.
I struggled with every character in this book: they were all vapid, stupid, and oblivious to what was going on around them. The whole plot of the switches was absolutely unbelievable, and further plot twists were just utterly nonsensical. I lost count of how many times I almost put my copy down then and there, but I was so aghast at the story that I had to see how it ended.
The Switch isn’t badly written, and there are a couple of good ideas in there somewhere, but I found that its execution wasn’t for me at all. I love psychological and domestic thrillers, but I like them to have a modicum of realism, a sense that the shocking events could actually happen. I didn’t get that from The Switch, and it’s a shame as I was looking forward to it. I’ll still try more books from Lily Samson in the future, but unfortunately I won’t be recommending this one.
I struggled with every character in this book: they were all vapid, stupid, and oblivious to what was going on around them. The whole plot of the switches was absolutely unbelievable, and further plot twists were just utterly nonsensical. I lost count of how many times I almost put my copy down then and there, but I was so aghast at the story that I had to see how it ended.
The Switch isn’t badly written, and there are a couple of good ideas in there somewhere, but I found that its execution wasn’t for me at all. I love psychological and domestic thrillers, but I like them to have a modicum of realism, a sense that the shocking events could actually happen. I didn’t get that from The Switch, and it’s a shame as I was looking forward to it. I’ll still try more books from Lily Samson in the future, but unfortunately I won’t be recommending this one.
September 22, 2024
This is a story of obsession, desperation and deceit.
And what a wild ride!
This book was so frustrating and completely unhinged- but aren't all the best thrillers?
I just wanted to jump into the book and shake all the characters!
I was so entertained and engrossed from the beginning, I just couldn't put it down - I NEEDED to find out where this plot was going to take me!
I was left feeling so many conflicting feelings towards the main characters. Their back stories are so important to the storyline and leave you wondering how things could have been so different. I can't say much more without giving anything away, but geeeeez that ending 👀
The book was also filled with short, snappy chapters that made for a fast-paced and easy read. Perfect for anyone in a reading slump!
An impressive debut novel that has me excited to find out what Lily Samson has for us next!
And what a wild ride!
This book was so frustrating and completely unhinged- but aren't all the best thrillers?
I just wanted to jump into the book and shake all the characters!
I was so entertained and engrossed from the beginning, I just couldn't put it down - I NEEDED to find out where this plot was going to take me!
I was left feeling so many conflicting feelings towards the main characters. Their back stories are so important to the storyline and leave you wondering how things could have been so different. I can't say much more without giving anything away, but geeeeez that ending 👀
The book was also filled with short, snappy chapters that made for a fast-paced and easy read. Perfect for anyone in a reading slump!
An impressive debut novel that has me excited to find out what Lily Samson has for us next!
May 4, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The pacing of this story was very fast, and I flew through it as a result. It was consistently engaging and easy to read.
However, I was left feeling disappointed and somewhat incredulous after the second half of the book. I’m all for suspending belief when reading thrillers - sometimes, the crazier a story is, the better - but I was seriously raising my eyebrows at some of the turns. Ultimately, the twists weren’t enough to save it and I wouldn’t really recommend reading this if you want a thriller of substance.
The pacing of this story was very fast, and I flew through it as a result. It was consistently engaging and easy to read.
However, I was left feeling disappointed and somewhat incredulous after the second half of the book. I’m all for suspending belief when reading thrillers - sometimes, the crazier a story is, the better - but I was seriously raising my eyebrows at some of the turns. Ultimately, the twists weren’t enough to save it and I wouldn’t really recommend reading this if you want a thriller of substance.
April 16, 2024
This book is crazy-good in an outlandish way that will have you re-examining your marriage--especially if you keep secrets from your spouse! Elena and Adam are married, as are new friends Sophia and Finn. But when Sophia suggests "the switch" (meaning the women switch partners in the middle of the night without their husbands' knowledge), Elena is reluctant but agrees. Each woman will make sure her husband is asleep, sneak out of bed, and enter the other's bedroom in the dead of night, have sex, and leave before he awakens. Sounds easy, right? But of course, Sophia has other darker, more devious plans for herself and Elena just wants a bit of harmless fun. But Finn is attractive and she finds herself drawn to him even when the couples do things together. And lets face it,..secrets in a marriage are bound to come out, and these secrets are explosive enough that nothing will ever be the same. It's a wild ride for sure!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
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