Today I am marking off my fifth #5 checkpoint category for the POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 with:
Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…
Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.
But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…
Review:
The front cover tagline on The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary reads, ‘TIFFY AND LEON SHARE A BED. TIFFY AND LEON HAVE NEVER MET.’ This is an intriguing and odd arrangement, but I also found it believable. I could easily see this happening in Australia with our FIFO industry. The Flatshare is a British rom com with a difference, which will be sure to capture the hearts of romance readers.
The Flatshare presents an interesting premise. A working man and woman, who have not met, share a flat and bedroom. It seems a tad absurd, especially to Tiffy and Leon’s friends, but these flat mates are able to make their arrangement work. Leon is a nightshift worker who has the flat in the day, while Tiffy is at work. The rest of the flat time goes to Tiffy. But this seemingly unobtrusive arrangement is hampered by the presence of a jealous ex, work pressures, difficult family members and curious friends. This odd housing arrangement is about to be turned on its head, once the leads finally meet!
This is the second rom com/women’s fiction/chick lit title that I have read recently that has turned the genre on its head and produced something original. I admired the fresh take on a traditional genre of boy meets girl and falls in love, as presented by Beth O’Leary in her debut. I also found it interesting that O’Leary penned this novel on her train journey to and from work. What immediately struck me about The Flatshare was the strong visual and cinematic feel this book exudes. I could envisage this one transferring onto the big screen very well, it has the right qualities to entertain movie goers.
O’Leary presents an interesting and believable scenario in The Flatshare. As a mentioned in my opening to this review, with the FIFO industry still thriving here in Australia, I could see the situation presented in The Flatshare playing out here on home soil. This plausible situation allows the reader to get to know the leads independent of one another. Through shifting perspective chapters, we learn of Tiffy’s traumatic past and Leon’s personal issues. Intertwined with these alternating points of view are the notes that are passed on from Tiffy to Leon. From leftover meals, to suggestions and other personal anecdotes, the relationship builds from this written interaction. O’Leary suspends their face to face meeting for as long as she possibly can, which builds a sense of anticipation on behalf of the reader. When these two finally cross paths in real life, the book shifts to a different gear, presenting a romantic journey that deals with a range of issues.
I turned to The Flatshare as I intended to read this one last year, but in the craziness of my jam packed book reviewing life, I was unable to get to it in 2019. Over the last few months, I have noticed plenty of media hype around this book. The Flatshare has also collected plenty of positive reviews and it has attracted the interest of online books clubs. I certainly admired the creative flair O’Leary presented in The Flatshare, but I came to the same problem I had recently with another book title of the same genre. Unfortunately, my interest is no longer ignited by rom coms. So in this case, I really need to stress that my personal response and accompanying rating of The Flatshare is more about me as a reader and my preferences, it is not a reflection on the quality of the book.
The Flatshare is an offbeat, intimate, considerate and entertaining contemporary romance title.
*** 3 stars
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary is published by Hachette Australia. Out now. $32.99.
https://www.hachette.com.au/beth-oleary/the-flatshare
To learn more about the author of The Flatshare, Beth O’Leary, visit here.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
