REVIEW: The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

The ridiculous London rent costs just got sexified

THE FLATSHARE by Beth O'Leary Published on 18th April 2019 by Quercus

I’m not typically a rom-com fan, preferring grizzly deaths, magic swords and other cultures in my fiction, but when the concept is as great as this, it’s hard to resist.

Tiffy, desperately trying to get away from her toxic ex boyfriend Justin, can’t find a flat she can afford in London, until she stumbles on a unique ‘bed share’. Leon, a palliative care nurse, wants a tenant to move in from 6PM to 9AM each day (plus weekends), when he’s on his night shifts. With no other option, Tiffy moves in with Leon, who she’s never met.

The two quickly start communicating by post it notes left during their stays, and quickly bond over their relationship/ex partner woes, all the while, never meeting each other. I won’t reveal any more (though I don’t think it’s necessarily hard to see how this might unfold).

I love both of the main characters. I love anything with two narrative voices anyway, and in this case they really feel distinct. They’ve got very different ways of thinking about things and the writing is also very different. Leon’s chapters are much more direct, not worrying about punctuation or form, and use a distinctly play-like form of conversation, rather than a traditional set of speech marks. It really helps the two characters feel distinct and fully formed.

The relationship between the two is brilliantly developed and I loved watching it grow. It was funny, light hearted and moving all in one, and could easily be used as a template for any good quality rom-com going forward. It feels natural, and the story progresses at a fast but consistent pace, keeping the reader on their toes all the way through. Yes, it’s maybe slightly predictable, but the characters are so loveable that it doesn’t really matter. The secondary characters are all brilliant too, with their own personalities and distinct storylines (even if some on Tiffy’s side do get left by the wayside as characters of their own).

What I also think really helped with this is that there’s actually a surprising amount of depth to the plot, tackling gaslighting in particular, but also to a lesser extent the realities of living in London, the challenges of working with those near death’s door and the imprisonment. It helped to keep me engaged.

Overall, I read (in one day!) this based on the concept and massive buzz around it, but I loved it because of the characters, the beautifully formed relationships and the surprising amount of depth to the issues and characters. I would whole-heartedly recommend as an enjoyable, fun summer read with more depth than most, and I challenge you not to fall head over heels in love with both Tiffy and Leon!

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