Hi all!

Today I am ranking the works of the wonderful Beth O’Leary! Check out my previous author rankings here. Beth is famous for her contemporary rom-com novels – the most notable being The Flat Share, which was adapted into a mini-series. She writes love stories, with unique concepts. They will make you laugh, cry and swoon. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

1.) The Switch 

In first place, we have The Switch. The concept is very similar to The Holiday. However, it is a grandmother and granddaughter that swap homes. Perfection!

When overachiever, Leena Cotton, is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen’s house for some overdue rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She’d like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn’t offer many eligible gentlemen. Once Leena learns of Eileen’s romantic predicament, she proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Leena can enjoy a slower-paced lifestyle in the countryside. What they learn in a short time will change their lives forever. 

The Switch is such a wholesome, feel-good story. It left me with a big smile. I really appreciated the elderly representation from Beth O’ Leary. It was so refreshing to read about a woman in her 80’s having sex, making friends and going on adventures. It was also quite a deep story that touched my heart. Trigger warning for death of a family member, cancer and grief. If you pick this novel up, prepare to laugh and cry. I truly enjoyed how both women learnt how to adapt in each other’s worlds. Coming from a small town myself, I connected to the people of Hamleigh. It’s definitely my favourite of Beth’s works.

2.) The No-Show 

In second place, we have The No-Show. This book took me completely by surprise. It punched me in the face, leaving me a total mess.

Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon, used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for a local charity shop, with zero sense of self-worth. These three strangers have only one thing in common: They’ve all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up: Valentine’s Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they’ve all been stood up by the same man.

If you think you know where this story is going, think again. It has a gigantic twist that will change your entire perspective of the characters and events. I was not expecting to cry so much. What I thought would be a basic rom-com turned out to be 100x deeper. I highly recommend reading it. The No-Show really cemented Beth O’Leary as one of my favourite authors; proving she has the range and depth to go beyond what you can imagine.

3.) The Flat Share

In third place, we have her most famous novel: The Flat Share. Beth says the idea for this book was inspired by real-life events. She used to date a junior doctor she barely saw. They felt more like roommates than romantic partners.

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution. Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work during the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time. But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home, you need to throw the rulebook out the window.

This story has the most unique concept of all Beth’s works. I loved the mini-series adaptation as well. Tiffy’s prominent personality worked perfectly with Leon’s. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, without any actual human interaction. The book is wholesome, romantic and fun. Trigger warning for a narcissistic, controlling ex-boyfriend. It felt a little too real at times. Other than that, I would recommend The Flat Share to any first-time reader of Beth O’ Leary. 

4.) The Wake-Up Call  

In second last place, we have The Wake-Up Call. If I could pick any story to live in, it would be this one.

It’s the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel’s front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through. As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas begin to wonder if there’s more at stake here than the hotel’s future. Can the two of them make it through the season with their hearts intact?

I wish I could stay or work at Forest Manor. It sounds absolutely magical. Beth really sold me on the setting. Personally, I would have called the book The Ring Thing. It’s a minor gripe but I think that title would have worked better. I’m such a fan of the enemies to lover’s trope. It gets quite steamy in this one! I wish she hadn’t teased us so much along the way but the pay-off was definitely worth it! 

5.) The Road Trip  

Last, but certainly not least, we have The Road Trip. Who doesn’t love being stuck in a tiny car with your ex?

Addie and her sister are about to embark on an epic road trip to a friend’s wedding in the north of Scotland. The playlist is all planned and the snacks are packed. But not long after setting off, a car slams into the back of theirs. The driver is none other than Addie’s ex, Dylan, who she’s avoided since their traumatic break-up two years earlier. Will they make it to the wedding on time? And, more importantly, is this really the end of the road for Addie and Dylan?

This contemporary tale took a much darker tone than I expected. The blurb sounds like a fun rom-com but don’t be fooled, it is a very serious story. I really liked how it transitioned between past and present, but I was hoping for more actual adventures on the road. The novel has an uncomfortable edge to it, especially once you learn why the pair broke up to begin with. Trigger warning for self-sabotage, toxic friendships and hidden agendas. 

Update: Here is where I would rank Swept Away. Click here for my dedicated review. 

Thank you so much for reading! How would you rank her works? 

Peace & Love xoxo