Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

22 reviews

capybooks's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t perfect, but I think it is definitely worth a read if you enjoy the forced proximity and friends to lovers tropes. I like that the chapters were shorter, and I absolutely adore how Tiffy and Leon communicate via post-it notes. I didn’t expect Leon’s brother’s storyline, but it was a nice surprise that gave the novel more depth. This book had a lovely ending. I hated how Leon’s chapters were written, even though I can appreciate it reflects how he is as a person. My least favourite characters were Kay and most definitely Justin. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Blood, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, and Alcohol

valeriabee's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-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

5.0

You know I expected something completely different with this book. 
I am glad nonetheless that I've read it. 
I wasnt sure how to feel about it, if I really liked it. However, I couldn't put it down and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking of the characters and their goings-on. 
Is it a romance? Yes, but it's a lot more of the long twists and turns of falling in love. 
It is also about healing from an emotionally abusive relationship. My colleague is conveniently teaching about abusive relationships and I couldnt help but think how some excerpts from this book would serve to help our students see and understand how emotional abuse works. The emotional abuse was brought up throughout the whole book, but given that the book only spans 8-9 months and Tiffy was abused/manipulated for years, it makes all the sense that it would come up frequently. 
This book handled the reality of abusive relationships and how they affect the people around you so well. 
I especially love that Leon did not save her from the abuse and he did not magically heal her. We see Tiffy do the work of remembering the manipulations she endured and attempting to heal from them. We see her give herself permission to love again. Leon and Tiffy are unexpectedly perfect for each other, especially because they gave each other the kind of love and support they needed to rather than that which they wanted -- that doesnt make sense. They did not act on their own selfish wants, but loved each other in a way that was best for the other.
I loved that Tiffy and Leon had their distinct narration styles. Too often we see similar styles of internal monologue. Everyone thinks and communicates differently, it only makes sense that it would come across in their narratives. 
Also can we talk about how they leave each other little notes around the flat. Im a bitch that loves post its and it made me want someone to leave notes to with all my postits. 
There is so much to love about this book and I am so glad I've come around to reading it. 
It makes me feel warm and fuzzy at Tiffy and Leon's love. It also makes me painfully aware of how lonely I am.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual content and Terminal illness

There is a character who is wrongfully convicted of a criminal offense. Parts of the book discuss how terrible prisons are and how messed up the criminal justice system is.

laurawoods13's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

It’s a bit of a slow start and the way the author writes Leon is horrible - fragments and leaving out words all over the place. It takes a very long time to get used to and it was completely unnecessary. All that aside, the story definitely picks up about halfway through and the ending is pretty solid, but you have to work a little to get there. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Mental illness

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Terminal illness

lucimolri's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Racism

oliviafaye's review

adventurous emotional funny inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, and Mental illness

sh_georgia_aw'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

5.0

I loved reading this book. O'Leary has an interesting writing style which helped to distinguish between characters. I enjoyed picking up the book to read how the characters were developing through the novel. Would recommend this book to my friends.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

hannahgreep's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

emilymay_reads's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Gaslighting

shancowie's review

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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Mental illness and Terminal illness

lotteve's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

This book is great. It's fairly lighthearted but touches on some very tough issues and deals with them very well!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Toxic relationship