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A review by bringmybooks
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Audiobook ReRead #54324189: GAH this is such a comforting and wonderful audiobook. Honestly, it feels like coming home. I can't get enough of these characters or this story.
There's so much to say about this book, but there's also one thing that sums it up quite nicely: "I frickin' loved this book." Believe me, if I wasn't worried about offending anyone, I would've used a different word there.
The premise in and of itself is obviously going to set up a very interesting story - sharing a flat with someone ... that you've never met and never see in the flat itself?? I loved learning how Beth O'Leary came up with the idea for this book: she said that while her boyfriend was working nights for a stretch of time they would go literally weeks without seeing one another, but she could always tell what kind of day he was having by how many cups of coffee he drank, whether the dishes were done, what the bed looked like, etc. It made her wonder - could you fall in love with someone that way? &I've got to say, I'm SO glad she asked herself that question because I loved this story and these characters SO MUCH.
Not only do you get the hilarity of a man and woman (who are nothing alike, mind you) sharing a flat and communicating only through notes (toilet seat up or down? leftovers in the fridge! when's bin day again?), but O'Leary packs quite a few punches in the rest of the story as well. You've got a really interesting look into the prison system as well as a trigger warning: look into the after effects of an emotionally abusive, manipulative, gaslighting relationship. The way that O'Leary writes this relationship in particular is wonderful, and I appreciated both its inclusion and the way it was handled.
I read this book in a matter of days a few months ago, and I've just started the audio (which I already know is going to be top notch stellar - it's causing me to fall in love with this story all over again in seemingly new ways!) 147% recommend to anyone and everyone.
There's so much to say about this book, but there's also one thing that sums it up quite nicely: "I frickin' loved this book." Believe me, if I wasn't worried about offending anyone, I would've used a different word there.
The premise in and of itself is obviously going to set up a very interesting story - sharing a flat with someone ... that you've never met and never see in the flat itself?? I loved learning how Beth O'Leary came up with the idea for this book: she said that while her boyfriend was working nights for a stretch of time they would go literally weeks without seeing one another, but she could always tell what kind of day he was having by how many cups of coffee he drank, whether the dishes were done, what the bed looked like, etc. It made her wonder - could you fall in love with someone that way? &I've got to say, I'm SO glad she asked herself that question because I loved this story and these characters SO MUCH.
Not only do you get the hilarity of a man and woman (who are nothing alike, mind you) sharing a flat and communicating only through notes (toilet seat up or down? leftovers in the fridge! when's bin day again?), but O'Leary packs quite a few punches in the rest of the story as well. You've got a really interesting look into the prison system as well as a trigger warning: look into the after effects of an emotionally abusive, manipulative, gaslighting relationship. The way that O'Leary writes this relationship in particular is wonderful, and I appreciated both its inclusion and the way it was handled.
I read this book in a matter of days a few months ago, and I've just started the audio (which I already know is going to be top notch stellar - it's causing me to fall in love with this story all over again in seemingly new ways!) 147% recommend to anyone and everyone.
Content Warnings