noelpans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
handles dealing with someone who has been emotionally abused really well. really admire how O'Leary wrote Leon to be so understanding of Tiffy's PTSD and panic disorderGraphic: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Chronic illness, Fatphobia, and Terminal illness
Deals heavily with the legal system, legal injustice, and discusses of beingSpoiler
falsely imprisoned for a crimelawsam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Stalking, Confinement, and Terminal illness
Minor: Chronic illness and Medical content
chalkletters's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Flatshare is very unlike those instalove romance novels where the characters are immediately and overwhelmingly attracted to one another and can’t stop thinking about getting intimate. Tiffy and Leon’s only understanding of the other’s appearance comes from Facebook photos, descriptions and context clues. Needless to say, their attraction builds slowly, and is based on personality rather than physical chemistry.
The epistolary elements came as a very pleasant surprise. While Tiffy and Leon’s notes aren’t as amusingly eccentric as Jaclyn Moriarty’s use of post-it notes, they are full of character. Beth O’Leary distinguishes between her two characters’ voices excellently, though the switch between Tiffy’s effusiveness and Leon’s spare use of words can be a little jarring.
As is probably necessary in a story where the two leads can’t meet face-to-face, both Tiffy and Leon have a number of things going on in their lives outside their interest in one another. While Tiffy’s life as an assistant editor is rather more glamorous (and involves rather less actual work) than is realistic, Leon’s relationship with his brother is a foundational element of the novel. All the threads of plot and subplot are woven together expertly, with Tiffy having a place in Leon’s stories, as well as he in hers.
The climatic misunderstanding, necessary in all romance novels, involves a huge heaping of dramatic irony. It’s certainly tense enough to keep readers on the edge of their seat, though whether that’s pleasurable or painful might depend on individual tastes. The ending is predictable, of course, but effective and very sweet.
This was a fun change of pace for me, and I appreciated how easy to read it was at a time of year which can be pretty hectic.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Blood, War, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Cancer, and Death
em_davies7019's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Stalking, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual assault, Cancer, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Abandonment, and Medical content
norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
bw2005's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
livruther's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Medical content, and Stalking
Minor: Racism and Body shaming
thebankofbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Chronic illness and Panic attacks/disorders
tatianars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Cursing, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Panic attacks/disorders
capybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Blood, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, and Alcohol