So. Having been in Switzerland for a while, I’ve picked up bits and bobs of German to be able to understand a fair amount. However, haven’t not studied it properly, and also not speaking/writing it, my written and spoken German is terrible and my knowledge of grammar is non-existent.
Are there any recommended books that can catch me up learning from basics through to B1 level?
you wanna become Swiss or why start now?
Considering applying for Swiss citizenship.
I think Begegnungen should be good. I’m using C1 book from the same course. What I like is that there is an online version available and you can do exercises online instead of handwriting. I would even buy online version only, if it’s available, unless you like to write in the physical book.
Make sure that you buy the latest edition. It was reissued recently.
Good luck! I think German is the hardest language after the Nordic languages and Hungarian in Europe. The fact that the words are long and there are so many cases make German very challenging! And you have to wait till the end of sentence (verb) to figure out the meaning and then you have already forgot what the subject and objet were!
That you, Mark?
Watch TV with sub titles.
I just hope you’re not getting divorced. Most of my mates did not bother about the Swiss passport for decades until that moment when they had to make sure to have access to their kids any time.
Read a lot in German, watch German television (not Swiss), news, reports etc. Read the Financial Times in German from now on Börsenmedien AG erweitert ihr Angebot um redaktionelle Beiträge der Financial Times auf Deutsch | Börsenmedien AG. Listen to German radio. Even in the background is good, it will go into your subconscious even if you won’t remember what it was all about. In the car if you’re radio still works 
Go to a school. Intensive 3 month course.
I think depends on where you’re from and what your native language is.
Lots of native English speakers, myself included, find German easier than French and other Latin languages.
Doesn’t matter how hard I try, I cannot learn a language in the formal way by learning grammar. Currently I’m listening to the Easy German Podcasts (not that easy imo) and videos. But I think what is really needed is someone to speak with regularly, who will correct you (like a parent to a child), but not ram grammar rules down your throat, not so easy to find thought.
I was in the same boat. This year I’ve signed up for German school and I think this is the best decision I made. The classes have max 5 people and the teacher has an experience with teaching difficult stuff
often no need to look too far, if you don’t mind being corrected by your children (which would be silly). Seems like Phil_MCR is here about 15 years now so he might have his teachers in-house.
In which case it may be a matter of survival.
German doesn’t appear so challenging to me on paper. I also can understand a lot already. I’ve finished some self-study courses, read a bit of grammar. However I finally signed up for A2 class course and I find it very challenging to speak and write in the classroom out of my head.
I’m watching a lot of German TV with subtitles. Mostly Krimis. I also subscribe to an app called Langster, I think it is like CHF 70/ year. You read brief stories sorted by level and answer questions and you can click on words to get a better sense of grammar and definition. I have massive test anxiety and dyslexia but I’m going to take the language exam soon. We’re going to apply for Swiss citizenship.
I speak German as much as I can, and write emails in German with the help of DeepL translator.