Scan barcode
A review by memoriast
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Stalking
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Terminal illness and Medical content
Graphic emotional abuse & toxic relationship (not in the main relationship): Tiffy's ex is/was emotionally abusive towards her, and she is coming to terms with that. Because of this, she recalls incidents of her ex's abusive behaviour and discusses them with her friends. She goes into detail about her ex's abuse and how those incidents made her feel. I am an emotional abuse survivor, and I did find it difficult to read those sections, but I felt that they were handled very well. It was cathartic for me because her friends and Leon were extremely supportive and validating and helped her understand the abuse she went through. I wasn't triggered, but your mileage may vary. Leon's mother is also a survivor of emotional abuse. He has some complicated feelings about that, but it also means he is very supportive of Tiffy. Graphic stalking (not in the main relationship): Tiffy's ex stalks her throughout the book. This is a major plot point. Her friends see the red flags before she does and they try and keep her safe. Moderate sexual assault (not in the main relationship): Tiffy has some flashbacks to not-entirely-consensual sex with her ex. She doesn't describe it as sexual assault (if I remember correctly), but the experiences were traumatic and she is sometimes triggered when she is being physically intimate with Leon. I don't think the sexual assaults are described in detail. Minor medical content & terminal illness: Leon works in palliative care, and one of his favourite patients has a terminal illness. At one point, she has a possibly fatal health scare, but she recovers and gets well enough to be discharged.