Book Review: The Flatshare

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary is one love story you won’t want to put down. It’s an easy, breezy type of read perfect for pool-side indulgences and cocoa by the fire.

The lives of the two main characters, Tiffy and Leon, are pushed together when Tiffy begins a flat-share agreement with Leon whom she’s never met. He’s a nurse working the night shifts and she’s a book editor with a regular 9 to 5 which means they can share a bed without ever having to spend any time together. Despite never meeting, they get to know each intimately by simply living their lives and communicating through hand-written notes.

You’ll follow the characters personal challenges (Leon’s is learning to seize the moment so he doesn’t regret things as much and Tiffy’s is a journey of body-positivity). You’ll also follow a paralleling love story involving a Mr Prior and a Mr White. Even with all the romance, the book deals with themes of friendships, letting go of past trauma and breaking unproductive cycles. Beth O’Leary managed to weave in between the usual will they, won’t they romance cliché issues of abuse, homophobia, and leukemia in a light and accessible manner. Even the predictable outcomes don’t seem to follow conventional tropes leaving the reader frustrated in the best way possible.