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A review by toni7tess
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I really liked this book and couldn't put it down! It was a bit predictable at times, but the cast was so lovable, their interactions were interesting and the tone of the book is fun and engaging. The thing I loved the most are Tiffy's and Leon's voices and it's lovely to see their very different personalities expressed so well in writing. Reading them and their opinions of one another was super enjoyable. The narrative also offers a great perspective into life as a young adult.
The way this otherwise very lighthearted book explores emotional abuse surprised me, but I think those scenes were handled in a very thoughtful way and Tiffy's interactions with her friends around this topic are believable and thought-provoking. I also really enjoyed Richie's side story, even though it could have been expanded a bit. The reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the premise and some aspects (like the ending) felt a bit cliché/over the top at times. However, I did really enjoy the lightheartedness and hopefulness of the narrative (it feels a bit like fanfiction but by somebody with solid writing skills) and it sets a stark contrast to other books dealing with emotional abuse, stalking or toxic relationships that can get very dark quickly. It's great how the narrative manages this balance and tackles some pretty heavy topics in the context of a lighthearted romance book. This also briefly includes critique of the criminal justice system and discussing palliative care, but I think these two aspects of the book maybe would have needed more room to breathe properly. Overall a great read if you want some cheerful escapism with lovable characters and an unusually thought-provoking narrative.
The way this otherwise very lighthearted book explores emotional abuse surprised me, but I think those scenes were handled in a very thoughtful way and Tiffy's interactions with her friends around this topic are believable and thought-provoking. I also really enjoyed Richie's side story, even though it could have been expanded a bit. The reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the premise and some aspects (like the ending) felt a bit cliché/over the top at times. However, I did really enjoy the lightheartedness and hopefulness of the narrative (it feels a bit like fanfiction but by somebody with solid writing skills) and it sets a stark contrast to other books dealing with emotional abuse, stalking or toxic relationships that can get very dark quickly. It's great how the narrative manages this balance and tackles some pretty heavy topics in the context of a lighthearted romance book. This also briefly includes critique of the criminal justice system and discussing palliative care, but I think these two aspects of the book maybe would have needed more room to breathe properly. Overall a great read if you want some cheerful escapism with lovable characters and an unusually thought-provoking narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Fatphobia