The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

This was my second Beth O’Leary read, and it was just as amazing as my first. In fact, I subscribed to Paramount+ just so I could stream the movie that’s just been made of this book… but it’s not yet available outside the UK.

So I read the book instead. And I am so happy I did!

The super fun premise: a woman—desperate to move out of her ex’s apartment—takes on a strange roommate situation. She’ll have the one-bedroom apartment from 6pm until 8am every day, and he’ll have it from 8am until 6pm. (He’s a nurse who works at night.)

And kids, they never meet, but they’re sharing the same bed! So they communicate via post-its.

This is, therefore, an epistolary romance for at least half of the book. And it works, because both Leon and Tiffy have a lot going on in their lives. A slow burn romance is the only possibility for either one of them.

Confession: I’m always a little afraid of books described as a “slow burn” romance. It’s that word “slow.” I always worry that the book will bore me.

But The Flatshare is a master class in slow burn. Why does it work? Firstly, the swirl of dysfunction in both of their lives is sufficiently captivating to hold my attention. Secondly, every interaction they have is tinged with tension. Their strange arrangement provides lots of built-in conflict and comedy. And, furthermore, it gives the reader a lengthy introduction to the question of why these two people are just perfect for one another. So when they finally come together, it’s so very satisfying.

~Sarina