The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary: #BookReview

Book Title: The Flatshare
Author: Beth O’Leary
Published by: Quercus
Published on: April 18th, 2019
Genre: Romance

**I purchased this book with my own money.There was no obligation to post/give this book a certain rating. 

Tiffany Moore, an assistant book editor is out looking for an affordable flat after she decided to move out of the one she shared with her cheating ex-boyfriend, Justin. When she reads an advert for an affordable flatshare where she can have a bedshare with someone who works a night shift, she decides to take a chance. It seems like the perfect flatshare agreement, after all, the ad says that the roommate, Leon, works nightshifts and the rest of the time, including weekends, it will be all hers.

The two come to communicate via Post-it notes they leave for each other around the flat from mundane things to personal notes and it grew in length and emotions.

But throw in obsessive ex-boyfriends, insecure and annoying girlfriends, gaslighting, emotional abuse, and wrongly imprisoned brothers, and you’ve got a great love story.

I picked up The Flatshare mostly because it was literally everywhere on Bookstagram! I then read the blurb and decided to go for it. After all, it was a romantic story!

🔥🔥🔥“It was never home until you were there, Tiffy.”

This book was so good! So real and perfect!

There are many reasons why I love this book.

But before that…

TW: Though subtle there is EMOTIONAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION, STALKING

Leon and Tiffy are couple goals! They are polar opposites and made for each other. Leon is shy, logical, and sensitive while Tiffy is quirky, vivacious, and empathetic. Her notes and inner monologues often made me laugh out loud. Both of them have personal problems to deal with including a controlling ex and incarcerated family member, which makes them more realistic and human-like.

The secondary characters add life to the story and I found myself wishing for a Leon, Mo, and Gerty in my life too. The book celebrates beautiful friendships and hence these hilariously inappropriate friends are one of the main highlights of the book.

Beyond the feel-good plot and lovable characters, The Flatshare was enjoyable for its narration style. The chapters alternate between Tiffy and Leon’s PoVs, and this shifting perspective not only helps to move the story along but also allows the reader to gain an equally deep understanding of the two main characters.

The writing is delightful too. I thought the plot would spiral into the usual tropes and cliches that often occur in romance books, but there is much more to The Flatshare. The story is rooted in serious topics like a psychologically abusive relationship, manipulation, and the incarceration of a family member.  It is also about having rock-solid friendships in your life. It is also about fighting tooth and nail against gaslighting and emotional abuse.

In a gist, here’s what you can expect from this book.

💫Slow-burn 💫Friends-to-lovers 💫Adorable Post-Its 💫Beautiful friendships

I’m a sucker for slow-burn and this book gave me all the feels. Beth O’Leary’s debut novel was unique and extra-sweet with fabulously vibrant and distinctive characters and a heart-touching storyline.

With all my heart, Yes! The heart and soul of the story was the way Tiffy and Leon communicated with each other -their post-it notes.

Have you read The Flatshare? I’d love to know your thoughts.

Find all my book reviews here.

I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z and My theme for the A to Z Challenge this year is ‘Celebrating the Bibliophile in me’, where I will be sharing the books, authors, and fictional characters that I love, loathe and tolerate.
Ah, there could be more!
You can follow me on my Bookstagram at Muffytales.

You may also read: 

A as in My Love-Hate Relationship with Audiobooks
B as in Bookstagram 101
C as in Covers Made Me Buy It
D as in Dark Academia Books
E as in Ebook Library at Blogchatter

That’s all for now!
Share and connect with me on social media.
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest