Date of Completion: 08/06/2021
What I was expecting: A light-hearted, funny read to infuse my veins with a shot of cuteness.
What I got: A deep exploration of overcoming mental and emotional abuse with sprinkles of humour and cuteness.
Did I like it anyway? Yes, but it took me a while to get into…
‘The Flatshare‘ begins with an amusing scene that immediately put a smile on my face. Within just a few pages it is clear that the female lead, Tiffy, is a quirky, eccentric character. As life would have it, she soon meets her match in Leon who seems to be her polar opposite.
I really like that we have both Tiffy’s and Leon’s points of view in this book. Beth O’Leary does a great job of making these characters easy to distinguish from one another. However, while both characters are very easy to like, I found their personalities hard to relate to. It also took me a while to get used to the ‘flatshare’ concept because it is quite odd and unrealistic.
It’s weird how easily you can get to know someone from the traces they leave behind when they go.
Despite these two issues, I’m glad I kept reading as both characters eventually grew on me and proved to be far more resilient than initially portrayed. I especially love that both characters gave each other the space to heal from their personal challenges without trying to ‘fix’ each other. I even came to like the flatshare concept as it produced a number of cute and funny moments.
The storyline in this book is further strengthened by a great cast of secondary characters that are given unique voices and roles. I also loved that these characters provide a strong community of support and love for both Tiffy and Leon. This was really moving and great to read.
People can only save themselves. The best you can do is help when they’re ready
All in all, ‘The Flatshare‘ may not have been entirely what I expected, but it was still an enjoyable read. It is funny, cute and touching despite the rather heavy topic of emotional abuse that it tackles. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for something different and/or complex within the contemporary romance genre.
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[…] In essence, ‘Book Lovers‘ is an easy, light-hearted romance that still manages to explore some deep topics surrounding family and identity. Nora and Charlie are complex characters that are easy to connect with, and I loved that their slow-burn romance is shown, not just told. However, I found the slow pace and mundane storyline a little boring. Those who like this story may also like The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. […]