A fun read filled with “will they, won’t they “moments. A dodgy Ex and handsome flat mate, what’s not to enjoy.

This is a brilliant debut by Beth O'Leary, Tiffy and Leon are fully developed, very relatable characters who you will fall in love with. The development of their relationship without even meeting is adorable to read & I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book. This is the first instance I’ve seen that completely grasps the reality of getting out of & recovering from an abusive relationship, it’s not your typical rom-com - the reality of Tiffy getting over Justin is very believable & you spend the entire book really rooting for her.

A charming, amusing, excellent and original debut novel. It delivered so much more than I expected. Tiffy needs somewhere cheap to live asap and Leon desperately needs money and thinks a solution may be to get a flatmate. The problem is Leon only has a one bedroom flat. However, Leon works nights and Tiffy works days, could a ‘bedshare’ possibly be the solution to both of their problems?
Each chapter is written by either Tiffy or Leon. Both are likeable characters, though not without their flaws and enjoyed reading the parts of each narrator equally.
I was quickly hooked into the storyline and rooting for the wholly unusual housing arrangement to work!
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book! The idea behind the flat share had me curious. Could this storyline possibly work without feeling too cute or forced? Two strangers share a flat, including just one bed, without actually meeting. Leon (palliative care nurse) works nights and is at his girlfriend's place at the weekends, Tiffy (assistant editor) works days. The two will share a space but never cross paths. Leon's girlfriend handles the initial meeting with Tiffy, making it clear that she does not want Tiffy and Leon to interact at all. Is it possible to share a space so closely but not get to know the other person?

There's a fairly large number of characters whom we meet regularly throughout the story and all of them are relatable, individual and play a part in telling the story. It doesn't feel cluttered with people or storylines. Everything is written with a purpose.

The writing is well paced and it's very easy to read, in part because quite a lot of the story is told through the vast number of notes Tiffy and Leon use to communicate with each other. The eventual meeting doesn't feel like a cliched 'meet cute' and I was really glad the author didn't choose for their eyes to meet and boom, instalove immediately occurs!

This is a lovely, absorbing read that I found myself unable to put down. I'm left wanting to read more of these characters and I wish I had a Tiffy in my life as she just seems like a warm-hearted person with a delightfully eclectic wardrobe and a penchant for panic baking.

Tiffy has a problem, she needs somewhere to live, somewhere cheap, and fast.  The problem is that in London there aren't really any places that meet her budget. Leon also needs some extra money, and has a novel idea.  He works nights, and spends weekends at his girlfriend's, so he's only ever in his flat from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.  Why not rent it out for the rest of the time?  This is ideal for Tiffy.  Yes it might be a bit weird sharing a bed, but they're never there at the same time and will never meet so what's the problem?!

This has been sitting in my NetGalley list for a while and kept getting bumped for books with closer publication dates, but I'm glad I waited because it meant I read the book when I was ready for a lighter romcom sort of read. 

If I'm being honest it did take me a while to get into this one.  I found Tiffy quite irritating at first, although some of the aspects of her that annoyed me were shown in a very different light by the end of the book.  Leon's chapters infuriated me.  I can't stand reading books written in this short hand kind of way, with short sentences and a complete lack of any pronouns.  I understand why the author chose to do this, it does emphasise the different voices telling different parts of the stories, but for me it's a cheap way to do that.  An author should be able to show the differences in personalities without resorting to obvious stylistic choices like this.  Of course that is a personal preference/opinion and I'm sure many people will disagree with me here.  Personally I would have preferred this style confined to the notes Leon wrote for Tiffy.
As the book progressed this did settle down a bit, and was a lot less pronounced in the middle chapters, which helped things to flow better and made the book more enjoyable for me.

I really liked the notes Leon and Tiffy used to communicate with each other, and how they built their friendship without having met in person.  It was a great way for us to learn about the characters too.  These small insights show as much as a long piece of dialogue could, but in a much more effective format, meaning we get to know the characters quickly. 

Plot wise things were a little predictable, but that's what you expect from romcom novels so definitely not something to complain about.  The side line stories in this novel were what made the book for me.  Ritchie was a great character for me, and very likeable even though we don't see a lot of him.  I had a bad feeling about Justin right from the start, and by the end I found him hateful.

Overall I found this slow to start but the middle of the book saved it and brought it back to an enjoyable story.  I'm giving 3*, it's probably more a 3.5 really but I just can't forgive the writing style especially in those early Leon chapters.

Trigger warnings for violence, gaslighting, emotional abuse and stalking.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review

This book surprised me. It has the kind of charm that makes it memorable. The main character, Tiffy, is a kind of anti-Eleanor Oliphant and yet at the same time in a way a part of her is an Eleanor. This book has the same kind of quaint je ne sais quoi. An indescribable element which draws readers in.

Tiffy is looking for a place to live and Leon is looking for a flat mate. Neither of them have a lot of choice, which is how they end up coming up with a strange living arrangement. Sharing the same bed, but never at the same time - sounds like a really bizarre way to share a living space.

Leon's girlfriend, yes he has a girlfriend, just has one rule. Never the twain shall meet. Tiffy and Leon must never be in the flat at the same time.

This is how the most entertaining part of the story evolves, as the two of them inadvertently become involved in each others lives and build a friendship without ever meeting each other. The fine lines of friendship are woven through communication, common concerns and an instantaneous emotional connection.

The other aspect of this book is how Tiffy slowly comes to the realisation that her relationship with her ex might have been anything but perfect. It's interesting, albeit perhaps not what friends would do, how they are all invested in Tiffy making the connections herself. She isn't swayed or convinced by anyone, she just starts to see events, actions and remarks in a different light.

The flashbacks she experiences are the beginning of an epiphany. Instead of remembering the loving boyfriend she suddenly feels different emotions. Fear, apprehension and the feeling of being manipulated. Is this because she wants to hate him for leaving her and for cheating? Or is there something more nefarious going on?

It's a witty contemporary rom-com with endearing characters and a compelling plot. O'Leary brings humour, emotional turmoil and intense relationships to the table, she also weaves more serious topics into the story.

How easy it is to be controlled and abused without realising it and how some people can suck the life out of their partners with their sheer selfishness. Simultaneously it's also about the fragile bridges of love and romance that can be built over distance and time without any physical interaction at all. It's a really lovely read.

My thoughts about this book are quite funny because when I first read the summary, I immediately liked the concept and want to read this story, but when I actually started reading it I kind of regretted it, I was thinking "why did I think reading a straight romance would be a good idea", I wanted to shake Tiffy for being so hung up over Justin (from the very beginning I wanted to punch him and couldn't see how Tiffy didn't realize how awful he is) and I liked Kay but it seems like her role was just being Leon's girlfriend and an "obstacle" to Leon and Tiffy's relationship (which we all knew would happen at some point).

But then after a while, when they both settled being flatmates and they start leaving notes to each other to communicate, I really got into the story. Their relationship seemed natural and not at all forced, talk about slow burn. It was sweet reading about them reading and writing each other notes when they were just getting to know each other (and they still hadn't met! I was nearly screaming "just meet already" at the book)(though their first meeting was really iconic).

I was glad of Tiffy's development, how she came to realize how awful Justin was and how horrible their relationship had actually been, and the more there were Justin talks the more I was ready to punch him. He got on my list of characters I truly hate and there aren't a lot on this.

One thing I just couldn't get pass was Leon's narration style, it was like reading a groceries list I think, and it was a little disappointing especially how much I liked his character. But I think it showed more the differences between Tiffy and him, like she's always talking much, wearing bright colours and all, but he's reaaaally more quiet and all, so it seemed normal the way their narration style was different. Even though for the whole story I couldn't get into it.

When I opened the book and started to read about Tiffy, this immediately gave me Sophie Kinsella vibes. I LOVE Sophie Kinsella, she’s the sun of my gloomy days. Any time you feel bad, pick up a book of hers, and it’ll cheer you up. But, as I moved on, it got actually more emotional than I anticipated. Also, there’s definitely more to this book than traditional chick-lit romantic comedies. Race, controlling relationships, and backstories of these characters made it actually deeper and richer than I expected. However, the writing and the way O’Leary brought these subjects to life doesn’t make you gloomy at all. It comes to the surface very authentically and organically. Plus, the jokes and humour is always there to make you smile every now and then 🙂

The set up of the story is what I loved the most. Tiffy and Leon never see each other as they live in the same flat at different times. I think it was a difficult task for the writer too, to develop a relationship through post-it notes that they start to leave to each other. It was very interesting and very well done.

I also liked both Leon and Tiffy. But, in my opinion Tiffy was a bit more on the ‘it’s been done several times’ side. She’s quirky and fun to read about. But, the cheated, naive girl is a portrait I read so many times. Leon was adorable, and I think he had more authenticity to him more than Tiffy.

All in all, it was a really easy going, bright, yet emotional read that I enjoyed a lot. Would definitely recommend it these Spring days. Plus, great cover!

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for granting this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ssssh. Wanna hear a secret? The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary is going to be one of the books of 2019. Mark my words, this is a book you do not want to miss.

It’s about Tiffy and Leon who are flatmates, except, they’re never really supposed to meet. He works nightshift as a nurse in a hospice and spends his weekends at his girlfriend’s house meaning his flat is free from 6pm until 8am on weekdays and all weekend. When something significant happens in his life he has to earn some extra money and advertises for a flatmate. The thing is, his flat has one bedroom. And one bed. So actually, they’re sharing a bed just not at the same time. It sounds odd, but it works. Tiffy rocks up with her glorious eclectic outfits and lava lamp and turns his flat from a bachelor pad into a joy explosion. As they are both awake at opposite times of the day they leave each other notes to communicate things like ‘please put the toilet seat down’ and ‘why is there a lava lamp in the living room?’ and this is when things get interesting.

This book is being billed as ‘up-lit’ which I get, as it is one of those books that leaves you with a massive smile on your face. Sharp, zingy writing and great characterisation combine to make a book filled with humour and love. However, I kind of feel that the ‘up-lit’ term does it a disservice as The Flatshare also addresses some huge themes like gas lighting, emotional abuse and racism. They’re not glossed over either with the long term effects of an ex boyfriend who made Tiffy feel stupid, ugly and more being explored in depth. This makes for tough reading at times and Tiffy’s ongoing struggles and slow realisation of what her ex was capable of is beautifully examined.

Told from alternating viewpoints, the voices of Tiffy and Leon are clear and distinct. I initially found Leon’s chapters a little difficult to read because they are quite abrupt and staccato but as the book develops and Leon emerges it becomes clear that this is a clever narrative device to really communicate his personality. He is a man of few words who has the weight of the world on his shoulders but he is emotional, loving and kind. I kind of developed a crush on him…OK, OK, I admit it, I did develop a crush on him. He is just so lovely and well written that he leaps from the page.

Tiffy though is one of those characters who you instantly fall in love with. She wears bright, colourful clothes, is sweet, sparkly and sensitive. I felt sad for her many times in the book and was rooting for her to realise how amazing she is. Her friendships are perfectly drawn and I enjoyed immensely the bantering and sparring between them which was pitch perfect in tone. There’s nothing like a conversation with friends layered in history, in jokes and straight talking to make you feel better and The Flatshare gets this stuff spot on.

I really loved this book. I loved that it dealt with difficult things, that it featured two brilliant characters, that it is fun and snappy and just a really good read. It felt like two of my absolute favourite writers, Mike Gayle and Mhairi McFarlane had got together and written a book. It had that vibe and I devoured it in a day. It is a perfect holiday read and one I that comes recommended from me.

The Flatmate by Beth O'Leary was just the perfect read! This book was funny, deep, and incredibly written. I loved how everything was and how it was set out. This book made my heart swell so many times. Tiffany and Leon were just absolutely perfect together.

The book was so heartfelt. I felt really close to the characters and enjoyed getting to know them. Tiffany's story was bittersweet, and I felt she deserved to be happy. I loved how strong her character was, and it was very inspiring.

I loved Tiffany and Leon. I loved everything about them; from how they first met to everything about their relationship. It was just so funny and original!

The way the dialogue for Leon's perspective was interesting, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was new, it was different. It was also very easy to read. Personally, I'd like to see it more in books. It read so easily, and wasn't confusing in the slightest.

Furthermore, the secondary characters were incredible. Richie, Gerty, Rachel and Mo were incredible and I loved how they fit into the story without it taking the story away. And were so funny as well. I think I liar my heart to Richie, though.

The Flatshare was a lighthearted and funny read with moments that leave you to ponder about love and the intricacies of it. It was incredibly written and would most definitely recommend it! One of the best reads of 2019 so far!

The Flat Share is a deliciously light-hearted, fun romance with a quirky plot hook and some chillingly dark undertones. I loved it!

At first I was worried that the plot device of having Tiffy and Leon share a bed/flat without meeting would be a bit contrived, and when I realised that the characters would be written in alternating point-of-view narratives interspersed with notes, texts and so on, I thought it might be a bit gimmicky.

I was wrong.

The format and plot work perfectly together. Tiffy and Leon have their own distinct voices and the Post-It note conversation threads are charmingly different. Their relationship develops slowly but naturally, and both characters (whilst very different) are totally endearing. I wanted to give them both a cuddle then take them out for pasta and baked goods!

The supporting characters are equally compelling and I would happily read books about Mo, Gerty, Rachel and Richie as well.

There is a trigger warning, in that not everything is sweetness and light (although the majority of the book is). Beth O’Leary sensitively but devastatingly explores the effects of emotional abuse by a romantic partner and the result was sickeningly accurate to reality. As in, it literally made me feel sick with sympathetic dread. For me though, this dark side just added depth to the overall appeal of the story.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of well-written, well-rounded romcoms. It is funny, emotional, and full of heart!





‘It’s not just sharing a flat, Tiff, it’s sharing a bed. Sharing a bed is odd,’ Mo says worriedly.
‘What if this L. Twomey is a man?’ Gerty asks.
I’m prepared for this one. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I say calmly. ‘It’s not like we’d ever be in the bed at the same time – or the flat even.’
This is uncomfortably close to what I said when justifying staying at Justin’s place last month, but never mind.
‘You’d be sleeping with him, Tiffany!’ Gerty says. ‘Everyone knows the first rule of flatsharing is don’t sleep with your flatmate.’
‘I don’t think this sort of arrangement is what people are referring to,’ I tell her wryly.

– Beth O’Leary, The Flat Share

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Leon and Tiffy share a bed, know each other's habits and have lengthy conversations on post-notes. The thing is, they've never met...

How did the author of "The Flatshare" come up with this amazing, madcap plot?! I don't do it often these days, but I've read this book long into the night, absolutely hooked. ) It was funny, sweet and the main characters were lovely. At the same time, this is not just your regular romcom; the book deals with themes of emotional abuse and trauma, and past relationships are scrutinized by the characters, revealing their flaws and ugly truths. Tiffy and Leon are great together, despite being vastly different people (I love how the chapters were written in a completely different styles to represent that!) and issues they have to face until they can even try to find their happy end. The book was heartwarming and moving at the same time and it made me want to root for the main characters (and some secondary ones too!).

So, the verdict is, I think this was a great debut and also Leon is now officially my new book crush.

I've been looking forward to reading this for a while - the premise of the book intriguing me. Nothing quite prepared me for how gripping this would be. I've been looking for excuses to read more of this all day, and have devoured it in about 36 hours.

The story of Leon and Tiffy unfolds gently, the flat sharing means that we get an insight into each of their lives, past and present. Slowly, we're introduced to the secondary, but nonetheless important characters around them, and pick up extra stories within the plot.

There is so much to keep you reading. Not only the central story of Leon and Tiffy with the questions of whether they will meet, what will happen if they do, but also Tiffy's ex, the patients at the hospice where Leon works, his family. I thought the story was almost finished, but then realised that I was only 69% of the way through! Beth O'Leary keeps the twists and turns going right to the end (which is perfect, by the way).

This is going to be another of those books that I just can't recommend enough. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for an advance copy. I absolutely loved reading it.

"The flatshare" was exactly what I needed after reading an 800 pages high fantasy beast. The premise, though a bit outlandish, is really original. Both Tiffy and Leon are very likeable. You can feel the chemistry between them even in the notes they leave to each other, so you can't help but root for them from the start. But don't be fooled by the cover. "The flatshare" is not only a love story, it also has a pretty good and realistic depiction of the consequences of being in an abusive relationship and how hard it can be to get over it.

Is it predictable? Yes. Is it cheesy? Hmmm, maybe. Would I recommend it? If you're looking for a fast-paced, fun, quirky (though not annoying) romcom with a few dark turns, definitely.

When I started this book I thought it was going to be a nice chick lit, sort of girl-meet-boys through a strange living arrangement.
I was wrong: this book is more complex and multilayered than I expected and it's more the story of how to recover from an abusive relationship.
I liked both Tiffy, a bit naif and the type of woman you'd like to befriend, and Leon, so serious and so sweet.
The book is well written, I appreciated the attention to the details and how well it describes the differences between Tiffy and Leon tastes.
The plot develops a bit slowly at the beginning but once you're hooked you you cannot put it down and root for Tiffy and Leon. It made me smile and feel the sufferance of the characters at the same time.
I loved the cast of characters, fleshed out and well written. The villains are perfect and you cannot help loathing them.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

It's not often a book makes me stay up well past my bedtime on a school night! It's even rarer that I finish a book in one day when I've been at work for most of it. Those facts alone should say everything about this book. I know that probably won't be enough to convince most of you to read, though, which sucks because writing a review for a book you really love is hard.

It was wonderful. I was so very surprised considering I forced myself to pick up this ARC. I’d just read a really good book and knew I needed to read an ARC to try and catch up. I’d had this book on my Kindle since December and after three months I was a little less excited to read it. I should know by now I'm always making bad choices when it comes to books and the good ones come along when you least expect them.

This book is so well written and I couldn't help but be sucked in from the moment Tiffy is looking at diabolical flats in London. Tiffy was so charming she wasn't some delicate woman out of a bad relationship about to fall apart (partially because she had yet to register it was a bad relationship but more on that later). She was a 6-foot redhead who wore outrageous outfits in a rainbow of colours. She was quirky but not a manic pixie dream girl. She was just a genuine quirky woman who used to like to DIY her toys to make them fit more to her and has moved on to working in publishing where she specialises in DIY and creative books. Unfortunately, publishing is not the gold mine you dream it is as a child. So when she was on a deadline to move out of her ex’s apartment her best option is to flatshare with L Twomey who she doesn't even get to meet because his girlfriend does not want any interaction. It's weird enough they'll share a bed (not at the same time). It seems ideal. She gets it on a night and why does she care who will be sleeping there during the day since she’ll be working anyway? And weekends? Well, he’ll be at his girlfriend's. It’s ideal for her, who doesn’t want a flatmate they don’t actually have to interact with?

And L Twomey? That's Leon. He's a sweetheart and a man of few words. He works as a palliative care nurse and has decided to stick with working nights in the week to earn more money. And he desperately needs all the cash he can get which is why he has decided to share his flat (and his bed) with a stranger is his best option. Leon seems like he will be hard to get to know since he is so monosyllabic but as soon as I met him I was charmed. I mean, a man who chats to an elderly man who is dying about his wartime romance and puts a smile on a young girls face is a sweetheart in my book. He didn’t really think through the fact that when he started sharing his flat it will involve someone else’s stuff inhabiting his space which swiftly leads to notes being lead to notes being left about the flat for them to give each other updates. And well… the rest is history.

Note passing normally brings up the idea of teens at school passing notes in class. It’s sweet and occasionally flirty but all very innocent. I didn’t expect notes to be the thing which triggers an epic romance, though. But it totally worked. From little notes offering up food to another after they’ve cooked to notes complaining about someone leaving the toilet seat up. They soon descend into actual conversations which give more personal details and Tiffy discovers why Leon needs money and Leon discovers why she was so eager to find a cheap flat in central London. They get to know each other as friends and soon that friendship becomes something more once they meet and it was adorable. The notes might be what made me fall in love with this book. It's such a cute way for a romance to start and the quirk that these two are flatmates who haven't seen each other in person? That's even better.

The book is told from both Tiffy and Leon’s perspective and I was impressed with how O'Leary managed to make both Beth and Leon’s voice distinctive in both letter form and their own chapters. They each had a completely different writing style for their chapters as each mirrored their personality. Leon's was short sentences chopped down to the bare minimum to get his point across. Tiffy's were long and detailed and so positive (like her). It had plenty of detail and was quirky and fun and a bit scattered from time to time. And Leon's is so to the point he cuts through a lot of bullshit but also time flies because he spent so much time considering. You could even tell when he was tired. Whilst Tiffy’s ends up avoiding a lot of things so even I didn't see the signs about her toxic ex until she did.

The book was so much more than just Leon and Tiffy’s romance, though. They had their own storylines, Leon was trying to help his brother and Tiffy was moving on from her ex, who was toxic and emotionally manipulated her. She didn’t even want to admit how much to herself. It was only as she got used to her single life and thought about moving on with someone new that she truly realised the extent that he messed with her head. Her best friends were there to support her and I loved each and every one of them. And I adored Leon’s brother as well, I would happy for him to have his very own book. I would totally read it because I do want to know what happens next for him.

This was an absolutely brilliant read and I am so happy I didn’t keep putting off reading. It was exactly what I wanted and nothing like I expected. It packed a real punch and it was well worth the zombie-like state I was in the next day.

This is a charming and lovely piece of contemporary fiction from Beth O'Leary that takes an interesting premise of a one bedroom flat in London being shared by two occupants who never meet, each in residence, sleeping in the same bed, when the other is out or working. A more exploitative version of this is the overcrowded sharing of accommodation in the desperate working conditions experienced by trafficked, illegal and migrant workers. This is a more benign and comic take focusing on the dire financial straits many workers face in a city with sky high rents. Compassionate palliative care nurse, Leon Twomey, a man of few words has a girlfriend, Kay, and a younger brother, Richie, in prison after being framed for armed robbery. Leon needs money to pay Richie's lawyer to secure an appeal hearing, so Tiffany 'Tiffy' Moore moves in, and for months they never meet, their paths never cross, but a quirky and offbeat relationship develops between the pair of them through the form of post-it notes.

Tiffy is still hankering after her ex-boyfriend, the wealthy and manipulative Justin who has evicted her from his flat after getting involved with another woman. She is an assistant editor for a niche independent DIY and crafts publisher, overworked and paid a pittance. Her star client author is Katherin, a woman who writes books on the art of crocheting, and who will do nothing without Tiffy in attendance. Tiffy is supported by her friends, counsellor Mo and hotshot barrister, Gerty, and fellow workmate, Rachel. It gradually begins to emerge that Tiffy's relationship with Justin was a much darker and murkier affair as Tiffy begins to experience disturbing feelings and flashbacks. Upset and slowly beginning to recognise that she was a victim of emotional abuse, she is startled to discover just how much Gerty and Mo hated Justin for what he was doing to her, but had kept silent, knowing Tiffy would never have listened to them. Leon is familiar with emotional abuse, having seen his mother experience it at the hands of the type of men she chose as he was growing up.

Beth O'Leary writes a captivating novel that shines thanks to her stellar characterisation, you cannot help but fall for Tiffy and Leon, and the brilliant supporting cast of Richie, Gerty, Mo and Rachel. Then there are Leon's terminal patients at the hospice, for whom Leon will do anything, like embarking on finding the lost love of the crocheting Mr Robert Prior, and the young, feisty Holly, smart enough to intuit she is Leon's favourite patient, despite him never saying it. This is such an appealing, fun and entertaining read, whilst touching on the most serious of issues of abuse and miscarriages of justice. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

This was such a cute and adorable read. it had laugher, it had tug at the heart strings moments. Good and bad moments, sad and happy. it had such a mixed bag but I finished the book with a smile on my face. Beth managed to make both Tiffy and Leon likeable characters and I was rooting for them both to be happier. Tiffy and Leon's friends and family were amazing as well. I wanted to hug them all. I'd love to have a second book with the same characters but centring on another of the characters. I can't wait to see what Beth writes next.

Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really wasn't sure how it's possible that "Tiffy and Leon share a bed. Tiffy and Leon have never met" but it turned out that yes, it is possible. They are flatmates - with a twist. Leon needs some money to pay the solicitor, Tiffy needs a flat after her final break - up with Justin. Leon is in the flat only during the day, as he works night shifts at the hospice. Tiffy is in the flat during the evening and night, as she works in publishing as an assistant book editor. So they start to share a one bedroom flat and they never have to meet! That's it! They start to leave post - it notes for each other about bin days, leftover food etc, but slowly those notes evolve into something deeper and more intimate. They start to have a connection. And then they meet...

You know it, when you had a feeling that you've simply clicked with the book, right? Well, I clicked with "The Flatshare". This was an epic, beautiful, romantic love story that had this "something" that makes a novel absolutely outstanding for you. I started reading "The Flatshare" actually not knowing what to expect but hoping that it's going to be something particularly beautiful, and I was hooked right from the beginning.

The characters in this book were immediately likeable and believable, and not only the main characters but the group surrounding Tiffy and also Leon's family who added so much depth and perspective to this story. I loved Tiffy from the word go. She's quirky, she's smart and has brilliant one - liners, and simply feels human, especially as she has to overcome her personal obstacles. She's trying to move on from her recent relationship and slowly comes to realise, how abusive it was, and the word gaslighting comes to mind here. I have kept everything crossed for Tiffy, I wished her all the best in the world and it was a real, real joy to see her growing in confidence in some matters.
And Leon as well. He's a bit withdrawn, on the quiet side but he has so many valuable qualities. He's currently campaigning for the appeal of his - presumably - wrongly convicted younger brother who is now in prison. And he's also trying to track down the long - lost love of one of his patients in hospice. At the beginning I had some problems with the chapters told from Leon's point of view, they were specifically written, but quickly I got used to his voice and was actually happy that he had this distinctive tone.

The idea with the post - its was ingenious. For the first few months of living together Tiffy and Leon communicate via notes left around the flat. They start with the dates of the bin days and leftover food but over time they start to pick up on each other's moods through the little cues they leave around the flat: the half - drunk cups of tea or coffee, the unwashed dish, and slowly the correspondence gathers depth and intimacy. I loved how they open up to each other in their post - it notes, how honest they are and how attentive they are, paying attention to the smallest details.

The pacing was perfect, all the time there was something happening. The build up for the characters to meet was brilliant. It took its time but it was so necessary in my opinion, and it was so enthralling, this waiting for them to actually meet in person. I was completely invested in Tiffy and Leon's lives. Beth O'Leary's writing style is so, so vivid, chatty and charismatic.
The book was full of so incredibly funny moments, guys, they had me chuckling to myself, and as I am currently struggling a bit with my mental health it isn't so obvious that something funny will make me smile. Well, this book did it, so already for this it deserves a standing ovation from me. But it is also very emotional - but not too wishy - washy - and it works perfectly well with all those humorous moments, scenes and witty dialogues. And the author handles the heavier issues with a lot of understanding and gentleness.
"The Flatshare" was an uplifting, charming and comforting novel. Actually, it has everything I have expected from it and much more and I can't believe that it's the author's debut. It has a brilliant, likeable and believable characters, wonderful storyline that feels so fresh and unique. I loved it totally and I can't recommend it to you highly enough!

This book had such a unique setting and idea for a romance which I really appreciated. However, this book was a miss for me. I DNF it at 50% because I just couldn't get into the writing style and I really didn't like the 'voice' of the characters.

I do think a lot of people are going to love this book, unfortunately, it wasn't the one for me.