Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

44 reviews

wilybooklover's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

Despite covering some very heavy topics (wrongful imprisonment, emotional abuse and gaslighting, hospice care), this was such a soft and heartwarming story. My heart is so full after reading this. I loved the modern take on an epistolary romance without relying on texts or email. I thought they met at exactly the right moment without dragging it out too much or killing the tension too soon. 

Leon and Tiffy were amazing and I absolutely loved them. They felt real and flawed and were adorable together. Leon is now one of my favourite heroes ever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Confinement, Mental illness, Violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Abandonment, Cancer, War, Death, Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Racism

immovabletype's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Confinement, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer, Fatphobia, Medical content, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, and Violence

taramel's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

I absolutely adored this book! Seeing how both Tiffy and Leon grew as people was just a thrill to read. 

It took me a bit to get into the book but once they started exchanging notes to each other I was hooked! 

I laughed, cried and celebrated with the characters. I also loved that we had such a great mix of ‘side characters’, because they were key parts of the story and were well thought out and had their own stories happening that you got to learn about through the two main characters. 

the whole Justin thing had me on the edge towards the end. Especially when he showed up to the flat when everyone was waiting for Richie. I was terrified for Tiffy. But I was so happy to see that all her friends were there to support her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Fatphobia

kyeruhh's review against another edition

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

3.75

Slow burn typically isn’t my thing, so it took me a bit to get into this. I loved how distinct each narrators voice was in their chapters and in their notes. I was expecting the book to be light and fluffy and moderately smutty, but it wasn’t that at all (in a good way). Definitely check CWs before reading, but I thought the heavier topics were covered respectfully. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Medical content and Stalking

Minor: Fatphobia

locust1266's review against another edition

Yeah the writing style in Leon's parts was just not doing it. I wish I gave it a bit more time but I just couldn't...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia

theirgracegrace's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring slow-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

4.25

The Flatshare was my book club's first book of 2023 and I will say that I was not initially thrilled with the idea of a romance novel. That was shattered when I actually started reading it! The characters are loveable and real in a very millennial way, the "arrangement" in the heart of the plot is a bit on the nose, and the subplots are where a lot of the most interesting action happens. The "side" plot of Tiffy's

gaslighting and abuse by Justin

caught me off guard, as it reasonably would, and became the most emotionally charged part of the book for me. All in all, an incredible work and one I will love to reread!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Medical content, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual content, Alcohol, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Bullying, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racism, Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Violence

Minor: Death, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Child death, and Dementia

jadawhooreads's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book! I really enjoyed Beth O’Leary’s casual and fun writing style; especially reading the differences in how Leon and Tiffy think with their split POVs. I thought it was very well paced and I didn’t want to put it down for long. Tiffy and Leon as characters were well fleshed out and I enjoyed their dynamic with each other and their slow burn attraction. I squealed a good amount of times while reading, I felt like I was reading fan fiction it was so wholesome at times! Even with Tiffy and Leon aside, I was interested in other characters and I didn’t find myself ‘skim reading’ over them (which is rare for some books I can’t lie). I would definitely read a sequel of Gerty and Mo and Richie and see how they’re getting on; I loved their different energies and they felt real, not just there to serve Tiffy and Leon. ALSO, can I just say I ADORE how Tiffy was clearly written as a plus sized woman and YET it wasn’t her only character trait and it didn’t affect how people were attracted to her, or how people treated her. I ALSO ADORE how Leon (and Richie) was both Black and Irish and yet again, it wasn’t his defining trait, and it wasn’t the defining reason why Tiffy was attracted to him. Sometimes when I read heterosexual romances it can be a bit bland or problematic, but this was full of life and making them both inclusive and yet not having Tiffy’s body or Leon’s race be the only thing they talk about was so refreshing; massive props!

I literally don’t have any criticisms of the book, perfect sized, well paced goodness! 🥰

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia

sonia_'s review against another edition

lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Fatphobia

antireading's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely loved this, read it in one sitting. The beginning felt a lot more drawn out compared to the third act, where it felt very fast-paced. The plot was definitely convenient but I don't really mind cause I enjoyed what it was, a cheesy, feel-good romance.

handles dealing with someone who has been emotionally abused really well. really admire how O'Leary wrote Leon to be so understanding of Tiffy's PTSD and panic disorder

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content

Minor: Chronic illness, Fatphobia, and Terminal illness

Deals heavily with the legal system, legal injustice, and discusses of being

falsely imprisoned for a crime

danicampbell0506's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Body shaming, Sexual content, and Fatphobia