Would you share a bed with a stranger you've never met?
The Flatshare has been recommended by many TikTok users and as we are all aware, their recommendations are not the most reliable. However, I was intrigued by the arrangement shared between Tiffany Moore and Leon Twomey. The idea of these two people living in the same house, having never met, and communicating through Post-it notes perked my interest. I mean, that sounds like such a swell living condition. It would have definitely spiked my anxiety levels though.
I picked this book up without having any expectations of it (to prevent any feelings of disappointment) but it knocked my socks off. The Flatshare was such a pleasant read and I fell in love with every aspect of it.
Tiffany Moore needs a place to live fast while Leon Twomey needs the cash. Their friends thing they're crazy but it's the perfect solution: Leon would have the one-bed flat to himself during the day while Tiffy's at work, and Tiffy has the run of the place when Leon's doing his night shifts.
But what happens when obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and the fact that they still haven't met yet, causes one big jumbled mess? Tiffy and Leon discover that their arrangement might not be as simple as it seemed.
Tiffy got my attention right from the beginning. She was absolutely adorable and had such a complex character plot that I found her points of view so interesting to read. The fact that she worked at a publishing company that sells crochet books was a huge plus for me. Don’t even get me started on Leon. His grumpy character was honestly quite endearing even though you might think otherwise.
I was even impressed by Justin! His sheer determination to win over and own Tiffy like she's some trophy is honestly commendable.
Despite the heavy subject matter, I think it was important to bring up the flaws of these characters. It made them real and honest and instantly brought them to life. This story was what It Ends With Us wanted to be but failed to become.
The plot is quite fast-paced. We go through the months so quickly, it’s honestly insane how Tiffy and Leon did not manage to accidentally bump into each other throughout that whole period. But the way they met up paid off the long months of waiting and curiosity because it could not have been executed better. I was a bit weirded out about how the only describing factor of Tiffy were her hair, height and tits but I'll let it pass.
O’Leary’s writing also keeps you hooked. She sucks you into all the fun stuff, providing the little details when necessary.
Everyone seems to hate the way Leon’s POV was written but I thought it was a cute touch. I find it unique how Leon talks and thinks without pronouns. It also made the transition between the two POVs a lot easier because you could distinctly tell who was who.
Romance book lovers would have a blast with this one. The Flatshare is genuinely one of the best romance novels I have read in the last five years. This book made me feel as though love is real and attainable, even though I rarely ever leave my house. Maybe I'll just need to put my room up for rent and the love of my life would fall right into my hands. Or my bed. I'm cool with either.
While researching for The Flatshare, I immediately shrieked when I found out that this book is being turned into a TV series adaptation. How fun is that! I can't wait to see how it turns out, especially the part where Tiffy and Leon meet for the second time to meet Johnny White the Sixth at Brighton. That is my favourite scene in the book and was such a big milestone in Tiffy and Leon's relationship.
The character casting was not the most accurate to what I had imagined in my head (I was thinking more of Lola Kirke and Rege Jean Page - I know the pair look awfully similar to who were actually casted but it's the small differences) so fingers crossed that Jessica Brown Findlay and Anthony Welsh can channel their inner Tiffy and Leon.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Genre: Romance
Series: Standalone
Number of pages: 391
Year published: 2019
Version read: Hardcover
TW: Anxiety, body shaming, emotional abuse, gaslighting, stalking
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