If you're looking for an utterly charming, feelgood book then look no further than Beth O'Leary's deliciously funny and delightfully uplifting debut novel, The Flatshare!
Tiffy and Leon share a flat,
Tiffy and Leon share a bed,
Tiffy and Leaon have never met...
And so begins a love story that has been compared to the likes of Bridget Jones and Me Before You. 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.
Through a series of Post-It notes, half drunk cups of tea and a lot of stress-baked tiffin, this quirky setup quickly blossoms into an empowering friendship and one unexpected bathroom encounter! But in amongst all the fun and charm, O'Leary masterfully tackles some pretty heavy and poignant topics, including emotional abusive relationships, obsessive ex-boyfriends and wrongful imprisonment.
This premise shouldn't work but O'Leary has pulled it off perfectly, whilst offering a refreshingly unique perspective to the crowded romcom scene. Told through a dual narrative - charismatic and reliable Tiffy, and quiet and kind Leon - and witty dialogue, The Flatshare is charmingly fast-paced, with just enough oomph that made me devour it in one sitting.
For a debut, this book already feels like an unforgettable classic! Can't wait to see what Beth O'Leary shares with us next.
A massive thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for sharing this heartwarming story with me in exchange for an honest review.