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A review by ecobookworm
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
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.
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
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Stalking
Minor: Violence and Cancer