The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

 

Reviewed by Abby

The Flatshare is an adorably eccentric book about two strangers from London who live together in uncomfortably close quarters, but have never seen each other in person. Tiffy needs a new place to live after ending a messy relationship. She feels her best solution in the shortest amount of time is to answer an advertisement for a flat mate. Leon is a nurse who needs more money and decides on offering his small apartment as a means for extra cash. The pair feel they can reasonably cohabit the flat because they have opposing work/sleep schedules. Tiffy works during the day and would only ever be in the apartment at night and on weekends. Leon works overnight shifts and usually spends his days off out with his girlfriend or visiting his brother in prison. It would essentially be as if they lived in the flat by themselves. (Other than all of their stuff crowding most of the living space!)

Tiffy and Leon first communicate with good old-fashioned handwritten notes, which I found a little odd. Writing notes back and forth consistently isn’t really something you do with your “roommate,” other than to remind them about chores or bills. Why not text instead? (Sounds like the beginnings of a cute relationship to me!) Their hesitancy as strangers turns into a unique friendship similar to pen pals as the two learn more about each other through their messages and random items they leave behind in the flat. They practically become detectives in an attempt to uncover each other’s favorite foods, or how they get ready for work.    

Surprisingly enough, it takes quite a while for the two to cross paths for the first time since they lead such different lives. They somehow just keep missing each other. It gets to the point where they’re dying to know what the other looks like. Tiffy cheated a little bit by looking Leon up on Facebook, but that doesn’t count.

Months go by in the novel as Tiffy and Leon’s feelings for each other develop from curiosity, to friendliness, and even as far as subtle attraction as they begin to realize how much they enjoy each other’s company (or a lack thereof).

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for cheesy romance novels. It’s a guilty pleasure genre of mine. Although I typically choose to read Young Adult romance for its emphasis on diverse characters/situations, this novel still warmed my heart! I liked how independent and bold Tiffy was as a character. I also appreciated Leon’s kindhearted personality. The two complement each other well in their split narrations.

I chose to borrow the TN READS audiobook version of this title. I was pleased with the voice actors for Tiffy and Leon. I especially enjoyed the bonus-ending interview with the narrator of Tiffy, Carrie Hope Fletcher, and Beth O’Leary. I could really tell how much Fletcher enjoyed playing Tiffy. I also got to learn more about O’Leary’s thought process on writing the book.