Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Flatshare, by Beth O'Leary

169 reviews

pinkfloydian's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness

meghan's review against another edition

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Stalking

gracer's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This was a fun one. It started really slow, but I did get sucked in, mostly I think because there was a lot going on in the plot - much more than I expected from a book with this concept, blurb, and - well - cover. 

I wasn't a big fan of Tiff at the start. She came across as loud, annoying, and just clumsy and out of control. However, she grew on me, and I think that came as a result of the plot, in which case it was well done. All the side stories were much more absorbing, and I really enjoyed the almost epistolary nature of the book - as much, I think, as you could make an epistolary novel work in modern life. (I remember those early Meg Cabot books that took place in emails and inter-office memos - those were great! But now with texting and instagram messaging and all that, I just don't know how anyone could pull it off. This was sort of a nod to that.)

It's a bit long and I definitely think there was some room to simplify, but overall I enjoyed this.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Stalking and Domestic abuse

kyeruhh's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Slow burn typically isn’t my thing, so it took me a bit to get into this. I loved how distinct each narrators voice was in their chapters and in their notes. I was expecting the book to be light and fluffy and moderately smutty, but it wasn’t that at all (in a good way). Definitely check CWs before reading, but I thought the heavier topics were covered respectfully. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Medical content and Stalking

Minor: Fatphobia

beccamay99's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Cancer

theirgracegrace's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The Flatshare was my book club's first book of 2023 and I will say that I was not initially thrilled with the idea of a romance novel. That was shattered when I actually started reading it! The characters are loveable and real in a very millennial way, the "arrangement" in the heart of the plot is a bit on the nose, and the subplots are where a lot of the most interesting action happens. The "side" plot of Tiffy's

Spoiler

gaslighting and abuse by Justin

caught me off guard, as it reasonably would, and became the most emotionally charged part of the book for me. All in all, an incredible work and one I will love to reread!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Medical content, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual content, Alcohol, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Bullying, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racism, Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Violence

Minor: Death, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Child death, and Dementia

tf13's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

infjkiki's review against another edition

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness

Minor: War

bookworm_ohsea's review against another edition

lighthearted

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

tilda_bookworm's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Fun book, liked the main female character and the fact she wasn't a tiny wisp of a woman. Didn't like the weird "you're not like other girls" vibe. Quite liked the slow realisation and reframing of mc's past. Enjoyable overall. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Confinement