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 poolside indulgences and cocoa by the fire.

The lives of the two main characters, Tiffy and Leon, are pushed together when Tiffy begins a flatshare agreement with Leon, who 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. Without ever meeting, they get to know each other intimately 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). Alongside them runs a parallel love story involving Mr Prior and a Mr White. Even with all the romance, the book deals with themes of friendship, letting go of past trauma and breaking unproductive cycles. Beth O’Leary weaves issues of abuse, homophobia and leukaemia into the usual romance clichés 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.