Platform Book Club: The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary

As a self-confessed sucker for romance novels, with a “slight” addiction to bookshops (I can never seem to just go in to browse, I always come out with something) this book caught my attention months ago, and this week, I finally got round to reading it. And I am so glad that I did.

The premise of this book seemed a pretty unconventional start to a romance. Tiffy is broke, underpaid, and desperate to move out of her ex’s place. Leon is also strapped for cash, working nights as a nurse in a hospice and still struggling to afford the lush London lifestyle. The solution: Tiffy can live in the flat whilst Leon isn’t there. Sounds… perfect right? All the perks (or quirks) of living with a flatmate, without ever actually seeing them. But it gets a little more complicated than that…

I LOVED this book. Reading it in every spare moment I had (which obviously meant neglecting uni work, oops) it was just such a page turner, filled with unexpected twists and laughs throughout.

Alternating each chapter between Tiffy and Leon, you begin to fall in love with each character, and find yourself rooting for them before they have even met! Tiffy is bubbly and eccentric, whilst Leon is quiet and calm – but each with much more going on than meets the eye.

The book also covers really important issues – such as gaslighting and abusive relationships, the experience of having a family member in prison, and of course, the financial hardship that accompanies living in London. But instead of being too serious, it is done in a way that develops the complexity of the characters, and overall provides a really uplifting story, without being overly sappy in a way that some romantic novels can be guilty of. Definitely a must read.

By Frankie Cummings

Feature image: Kate’s Closet

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