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A review by mugsandmanuscripts
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
emotional
funny
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
TL;DR: This is only the third romance ever that I've given 5 stars to.
This romance was a rare (and welcome) mix of sweet but not cheesy, lighthearted but not vacuous. Add in some laugh-out-loud banter, three-dimensional FMC AND MMC, and some thoughtful portrayal of some difficult topics, and you get a well-rounded book.
A summary: Tiffy needs to get out of her ex-boyfriend's apartment and finds herself with an impossibly small budget for rent in London. Leon, a night shift hospice nurse, needs a little extra money to help pay the legal fees of his wrongly imprisoned brother. They come up with an agreement to share the same apartment (and same bed) BUT to only be in the apartment separately, never together.
Neither are looking for a romantic partner, but this is a romance, so you know what happens. They get to know each other through post-its they leave for each other. Both characters carry some baggage from past relationships.
Tiffy has to face the PTSD caused by her manipulative and emotionally abusive ex, who continues to try to manipulate her throughout the novel (side note: Beth O'Leary has done an excellent job at not trivializing the abuse or making light of it even though it isn't necessarily the main focus of the story). Leon has to work through being the son of a mother who was in a revolving door of relationships with these same kinds of men. One of the things I appreciated about this book is that both of these women (Tiffy and Leon's mom) both spend time in therapy. I'd love to see more books destigmatizing seeking help for one's mental health.
Ultimately, this is a story with lots of heart. I loved it!
This romance was a rare (and welcome) mix of sweet but not cheesy, lighthearted but not vacuous. Add in some laugh-out-loud banter, three-dimensional FMC AND MMC, and some thoughtful portrayal of some difficult topics, and you get a well-rounded book.
A summary: Tiffy needs to get out of her ex-boyfriend's apartment and finds herself with an impossibly small budget for rent in London. Leon, a night shift hospice nurse, needs a little extra money to help pay the legal fees of his wrongly imprisoned brother. They come up with an agreement to share the same apartment (and same bed) BUT to only be in the apartment separately, never together.
Neither are looking for a romantic partner, but this is a romance, so you know what happens. They get to know each other through post-its they leave for each other. Both characters carry some baggage from past relationships.
Tiffy has to face the PTSD caused by her manipulative and emotionally abusive ex, who continues to try to manipulate her throughout the novel (side note: Beth O'Leary has done an excellent job at not trivializing the abuse or making light of it even though it isn't necessarily the main focus of the story). Leon has to work through being the son of a mother who was in a revolving door of relationships with these same kinds of men. One of the things I appreciated about this book is that both of these women (Tiffy and Leon's mom) both spend time in therapy. I'd love to see more books destigmatizing seeking help for one's mental health.
Ultimately, this is a story with lots of heart. I loved it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking and Gaslighting