Reviews with content warning for Cancer - The Flatshare

This is a really lovely, sweet read, despite some serious and heavy themes (see CW). This is a low-steam, fade-to-black book, with some moments of passion described on page leading up to the fade-out. I listened to the audiobook and can highly recommend it, the narrators did a fantastic job.

The premise is so creative, I really enjoyed getting to see Leon and Tiffy get to know each other from the notes around the apartment and the way they inhabit it. Their jobs are interestingly unusual, with Leon as a palliative care nurse and Tiffy as assistant editor at a publisher. Which brings me to something I really enjoyed - Leon is the complete opposite of an alpha hero. He's a quiet, unassuming, kind man, tall and a bit gangly and awkward, with the sweetest heart. I don't see that much in romance, and while I do enjoy reading the confident alpha heroes, it's a nice change to read a character whose personality is closer to the kind of men I'm more likely to date in real life. It's nice to see that kind of quiet but firm character presented as the hero in a romance novel. Tiffy is bright and chatty, a vivid and quirky and larger than life personality (lol, iykyk), and I loved seeing her come more into her Tiffy-ness as she processed her past relationship. The way Leon respects her space and supports her recovery is just beautiful. I also really liked how the writing style changed in Leon's chapters to reflect his personality.

The support of Tiffy's friends was wonderful, as was her journey with therapy. I found the serious themes in the book to be thoughtfully and sensitively handled. The other side plots were also really well done, from Tiffy's work to Richie's situation to the search for Johnny White. My only qualm was Leon being in a relationship at the beginning of the book, but this was resolved in a timely enough manner that it didn't become iffy.

Overall, this is definitely worth reading and I recommend it if you're looking for a sweet, thoughtful, funny and well-written romance and don't mind some serious themes.

Content Warnings

fortunaisland's review

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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

5.0

Content Warnings

miglena's review

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hopeful reflective sad 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

3.5

When I DNFd it at around 18%:
I couldn't get past the writing, it didn't seem like it was edited at all. The writing style felt choppy. There really isn't anything to look forward to and I don't feel like continuing until there is.

I picked it up the next day to try again, so here is my review now that I've read it:
While the first ~18% of the book was difficult to get through, it picked up after and I really enjoyed the middle and end. It was interesting and I appreciated reading a romance book where the male main character isn't an asshole to the female main character. It was refreshing to also read about wrongful incarceration in a romance book and how that affects people's lives. I liked how we went through Tiffys journey after an abusive relationship and what healing looks like. It felt a little underdeveloped and fast to get to where they were with the reality of her situation. It might have helped if we were brought in more to her thoughts during her therapy. More character development would have been preferred, but I did enjoy how both character's changed. I was rooting for them as a couple and enjoyed seeing the secondary characters' stories as well.

Content Warnings

nectarine19's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

rebeccameyrink's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-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

2.75

A cute chick lit style romance. It does cover some heavier topics such as emotional abuse and wrongful incarceration but it still maintains a lighthearted tone on the whole. Great for a bit of escapism!

Side note: Do people really use Facebook as much as this book suggests??

Content Warnings

oliviafaye's review against another edition

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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

Content Warnings

taram's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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