The Flatshare

First read 7/1/19: I was NOT expecting to love this book as much as I did. I was expecting cute, fluffy, light romance, and while that does play a role here, there is so much more to the story. I loved Leon's quirks and backstory with his brother. Tiffy's situation with her ex-boyfriend hit close to home in the best way, and I loved seeing Leon support her through it. Their notes back and forth to each other were so cute and AAAHHHHH. I just loved this so much.

Second read 9/26/19: still one of my faves.

This book is such a fun read. The characters are just adorable and lovable, and you can't help but root for them. Tiffy and Leon are flatmates that share a bed but never cross paths. It is such an interesting concept for a story. Their correspondence through notes and texts is quirky and cute. I just really enjoyed reading their love story.

Most of the secondary characters are charming and entertaining. I especially enjoyed the relationship of Leon and his brother Richie. I think the portrayal of the ex-boyfriend is a bit overdone, but it serves it's purpose. It was necessary to bring in the commentary on abusive relationships.

Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars. I can't wait to see what Beth O'Leary writes next.

This book was adorable and it gave me an excuse to doodle and make cute post it's with my husband. I liked that each perspective was written in the way that they would think it. Leon's lacked pronouns and the dialogue read like a script and Tiff's was more traditional British writing (including the apostrophes in lieu of quotation marks and the British spellings of “any more” & “apologise”). This book was cute and fluffy for the most part. I'd love a spin off with Rachel and Richie. I liked the comedic aspect too. I was only a little confused by the way the author insinuated that the mc was plus size at the start of the book, but then it was just that she was tall and proportionate... Overall charming read.

I had such high hopes for this book. I would say it only got sort of good the last 60 pages or so. I found myself just trying to finish this so I could move on to another book, not because I couldn't put it down.

I want to start by talking about Leon. When I first started the book, I was very confused when I got to Leon's chapter. I had never read anything like it. That's because Leon doesn't narrate in full cohesive sentences. He mixed past and present tense and dropped pronouns. Some exam

The book follows the story of Tiffy and Leon, who due to their different work schedules are able to share a bed without ever seeing each other. We get to know the characters and see their friendship flourish through their communication via post-it as well as thorough their POV chapters.

It was an entertaining and quick read, and I ended up enjoying it more than expected. The book also addresses deeper themes such as domestic violence, showing other type of abuse besides physical violence, which I consider crucial to educate about what it is normal and should not be accepted in relationships.

A breath of fresh non-young-adult romance air! A great premise, brilliant writing. Loved it!After a string of less-than-desirable reading experiences, I opted to go for a fun, light read - a romance!I expected the usual: Some trope, like enemies-to-lovers, banter, quick lovey-dovey, some conflict, reconciliation and a happily ever after. Mostly, romance novels feel like they're addressing a rather young audience - which I don't exactly belong to anymore.In “[b:The Flatshare 36478784 The Flatshare (The Flatshare, #1) Beth O'Leary https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552471375l/36478784.SY75.jpg 58189559]” by [a:Beth O'Leary 13038484 Beth O'Leary https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1546818419p2/13038484.jpg] I got banter, on post-it notes. In a shared flat. Written by two adults; Leon, a male nurse with his own mental burdens, with a brother, Richie, who's in jail, with a mother who has a long history of abusive men in her life. Leon also is a work-a-holic whose girlfriend has demands which Leon needs to meet as well. Last but not least, Leon is on a “humanitarian mission”.Tiffy on the other hand is broke, looking for somewhere to live after the umpteenth separation from her abusive boyfriend. Said abuse has left deep mental scars. Her job at a small DIY publisher is... challenging in its own ways (“Crochet Your Way” is the latest book she's working on...), with difficult colleagues.“So much for a light and fluffy read.”, were my immediate thoughts. I read on, and on, and on. I pretty much swallowed it hook, line and sinker. This novel, it turned out, was certainly a very nice romance but also a much-needed breath of fresh air - those people feel real: Tiffy and Leon have lives. They have very real burdens to carry and there's no quick-and-easy love but a fledgling friendship that “organically” develops...I felt those people were actually thinking, responsible, highly relatable and likeable adults who also act like adults. The conflicts were there and they were very real but Leon, Tiffy and their friends dealt with them in a believable and intelligent manner. Like Tiffy actively going to get counselling. (Let me quickly tell you that YOU should never hesitate for a second to get professional help if things get overwhelming. There's no shame in asking for and getting help. Thrice in my life I've gone to a psychotherapist myself and it was a life-changing, relieving, freeing experience. Should you live in Germany, it's free and way easier to get than you think. Just ask your local doc about it!)»You know what? I am extremely proud of myself.«(Tiffy after a counselling session.)O'Leary didn't write a dead-serious complicated novel, though, but manages to artistically walk a very fine line that's also rich on (mostly) good-natured humour.»What's the bedroom going to look like?Venture in, intrepid. Let out a strangled wail. It looks like someone vomited rainbows and calico in here, covering every surface in colors that do not belong together in nature. Horrific, moth-eaten blanket over bed. Enormous beige sewing machine taking up most of desk. And clothes ... clothes everywhere.«The author also manages to write a very convincing Leon: Initially, I was slightly put off by his short, concise sentences; a very pronounced style of communication...»I wonder if Leon will talk the way he writes, all short sentences and no pronouns.«... only to find out that this short, abbreviated style actually gives the novel a more authentic feel and I came to actually appreciate it.The dialogues - both on post-its and face-to-face - are also highly enjoyable...»“Twilight?”Leon blinks at me, putting the book down in his lap. “You went from unconscious to judgmental very quickly there.”«That's still not all, though: O'Leary also manages to write so empathically about her characters I actually felt for everyone (sans certain people whom we're meant to despise).I'm immensely happy to have found and read this book and I can't recommend it enough - even to those of you who usually don't read romance. This one's different.A very happy, very wow'ed five stars out of five!Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

I'm glad I didn't set this aside when it didn't grab me in the first few chapters - this was a sweet, slow-start romance with great character development (for the leads, Tiffy and Leon, and their cast of friends - Mo, Gerty, Rachel, Richie) that also featured tough subjects like the failures of the justice system and extricating safely from an emotionally abusive relationship when the ex is being a gaslighting stalker. Hero is also a palliative care nurse, hooray for representation of men in all types of job roles!