liveship's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Confinement, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, Terminal illness, Fatphobia, Injury/injury detail, Cancer, and Violence
taramel's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
I absolutely adored this book! Seeing how both Tiffy and Leon grew as people was just a thrill to read.
It take me a bit to get into the book but once they started exchanging notes to each other I was hooked!
I laughed, cried and celebrated with the characters. I also loved that we had such a great mix of ‘side characters’, because they were key parts of the story and were well thought out and had their own stories happening that you got to learn about through the two main characters.
It take me a bit to get into the book but once they started exchanging notes to each other I was hooked!
I laughed, cried and celebrated with the characters. I also loved that we had such a great mix of ‘side characters’, because they were key parts of the story and were well thought out and had their own stories happening that you got to learn about through the two main characters.
Spoiler
the whole Justin thing had me on the edge towards the end. Especially when he showed up to the flat when everyone was waiting for Richie. I was terrified for Tiffy. But I was so happy to see that all her friends were there to support her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia
rhosynmd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence and Stalking
Minor: Terminal illness
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 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!
Spoiler
gaslighting and abuse by Justin
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
jadawhooreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book! I really enjoyed Beth O’Leary’s casual and fun writing style; especially reading the differences in how Leon and Tiffy think with their split POVs. I thought it was very well paced and I didn’t want to put it down for long. Tiffy and Leon as characters were well fleshed out and I enjoyed their dynamic with each other and their slow burn attraction. I squealed a good amount of times while reading, I felt like I was reading fan fiction it was so wholesome at times! Even with Tiffy and Leon aside, I was interested in other characters and I didn’t find myself ‘skim reading’ over them (which is rare for some books I can’t lie). I would definitely read a sequel of Gerty and Mo and Richie and see how they’re getting on; I loved their different energies and they felt real, not just there to serve Tiffy and Leon. ALSO, can I just say I ADORE how Tiffy was clearly written as a plus sized woman and YET it wasn’t her only character trait and it didn’t affect how people were attracted to her, or how people treated her. I ALSO ADORE how Leon (and Richie) was both Black and Irish and yet again, it wasn’t his defining trait, and it wasn’t the defining reason why Tiffy was attracted to him. Sometimes when I read heterosexual romances it can be a bit bland or problematic, but this was full of life and making them both inclusive and yet not having Tiffy’s body or Leon’s race be the only thing they talk about was so refreshing; massive props!
I literally don’t have any criticisms of the book, perfect sized, well paced goodness! 🥰
I literally don’t have any criticisms of the book, perfect sized, well paced goodness! 🥰
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia
turtlelullaby's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
It took a while to get used to being in the male character's head, and I still don't think I like that style. However, this was cute, on the lighter side, with a perfect heaping of corny and romantic bits towards the end. It also handles the depiction of emotional abuse well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Violence
bethreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I absolutely loved this book. I'm a comfort reader, so I love a good fluffy romance novel, and this was exactly that. It was so sweet, and I found myself rooting for Tiffy and Leon right from the get-go. I'm usually enjoy some angst, but this, while containing some triggering topics (emotional abuse and stalking), was very cosy and heart-warming.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Violence
strin012's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Emotional abuse
Allusion to and depiction of intimate partner emotional abuse, manipulation, and violence.zoemain's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
2.5
A good read if you’re into contemporary romances. Personally, I’m a little over this genre… which is why I’ve given the book a 1/2 rating. However, I did like the support characters, pacing, and the creative ways the POVs of the characters differ.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Violence and Stalking
literarydumpling's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Violence and Stalking