Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

38 reviews

ceceska's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

Ce livre suit l'histoire de Tiff qui vit avec Leon dans le même lit mais à des heures différentes de la journée. Tiff vient de sortir d'une relation toxique. Les deux protagonistes ne se sont jamais rencontrés mais ils s'échangent des petits mots dans l'appartement. Est-ce qu'il est possible de tomber en amour avec quelqu'un que l'on n'a jamais rencontré?

J'ai apprécié l'histoire mais il y avait des longueurs. J'ai aimé le début et la fin mais le milieu de l'histoire était répétitif.

Les personnages étaient ok. Un peu unidimensionnels. Tiff est un peu l3 cliché de "not like the other girls". Elle est quirky et gorgeous mais ne le sait pas. Pourquoi pas écrire un personnage d'une femme qui est belle et qui le sait? C'est ridicule d'écrire encore des personnages comme ça...

Le personnage de Leon est décrit comme ayant cheveux bouclés bruns et ayant un "adorable lopsided smile". Ces mots ont été tellement utilisés c'en était étourdissant. Le personnage n'est pas assez développé selon moi.

Les amis de Tiff sont très premier degrés. Ils n'ont pas d'utilité mis à part de faire avancer l'histoire de Tiff. 

Le personnage de Justin était réaliste. J'ai apprécié cela. Le cheminement de Tiff avec la violence conjugale était réaliste.

L'histoire de Ricky était assez prévisible. Il n'y avait pas de rebondissements.

Bref, ce livre était très prévisible et beaucoup de celui-ci était très unidimensionnel. Je ne recommanderai pas ce livre. Puisqu'il y en a des meilleurs. C'est dommage parce que le début du livre était vraiment bon et l'histoire était prometteuse.

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manola's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Really enjoyable read. From the synopsis, I was afraid the story might become long-winded in the waiting of both protagonists getting together (especially since they weren't seeing each other or ever meeting in person), but thankfully the story unfolded and became so much more than what I expected it to be. 
Tiffy is incredible as a protagonist. She does have an air of this stereotypical movie-quirkiness recurrent in romance stories (mismatched clothing, being 'awkward' in social situations, etc.), but she manages to come across as such a lovely human being you're just glad to listen her talk about her life. Sometimes I did find the work-related shenanigans a bit slower to get through, but the author usually managed to pull something in at the last minute to turn the situation around and throw more conflict into the story. 
Leon I also really liked. At first, his POV chapters felt odd and choppy because of his writing style (pretty robot-like, almost), becoming a bit annoying at times. But I eventually warmed up to him and it's interesting to see his writing style evolve as he changes as a character as well. 
The rest of the cast was also enjoyable. Tiffy's best friends are a solid presence in the story and don't feel like background stuffing to give more depth to her personal life. Some characters did feel a bit too cartoonish (thinking of Martin here, specifically), and others slipped out of the plot without much reason to (a sort of fling Tiffy has that felt like a device for her development, and an old man-JW-who's suddenly out of the picture at the half-way point without explanation).

But overall, the characters do reel you into the story and push you into becoming invested. Both protagonists have their own personal drama to manage throughout, and some heavier themes are discussed (check trigger warnings here). The story manages to balance a sweet slow-burn romance with issues that carry a darker tinge. The characters feel real because they deal with shitty things that are uncomfortable to think about and more uncomfortable to read about, and they deal with them with a messiness that simply feels... human.
Truly recommend :)

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amy_in_the_city's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0


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futureofmydays's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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danicam's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.0


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kangaroux's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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lahars_little_library's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Love love Love! This was so much deeper than I expected!

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pinkfloydian's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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lulafanx's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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izziepng's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this book 

I loved all the characters and their different personalities (Rachel cracked me up and i’d love to have Tiffys friends) 

This book moves SO SLOW in the beginning or at least the romance does (obviously they’re only speaking throught notes) 

I knew it was creepy when Justin kept showing up randomly everywhere she went and i just figured he was like hacking into her stuff (is Marvin completely dense) 

Okay the actual romance LEON IS A LITTLE SWEET HEART (not in bed ig though 😏 not even joking when he was being you know all dirty and stuff my jaw DROPPED i was shocked) 

Id love to see Tiffys wardrobe and her outfits because i had such a hard time visualizing it.

Richie made me giggle (was rooting for either gerty and richie or rachel and richie ngl)

Gerty being with Mo was SUPER OBVIOUS if you just look at all the hints but i was not focused on them AT ALL especially not Mo (sorry) love a supportive friend and all and you need that like angel on Tiffys shoulder but Gertys just bluntness also made me giggle 

I was reading this book in between my classes (having no friends and also having 1/2 hour to 1 1/2 hour long breaks between classes sucks ass) and i’m SO GLAD i didn’t read the last like 5 chapters while there because I COULD NOT BE QUIET I GASPED WHEN JUSTIN PROPOSED and practically cried when leon was all sad and tiffy was struggling.

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