I Actually Enjoyed a Hyped Book! - The Flatshare Review

TITLE: The Flatshare
AUTHOR: Beth O'Leary
PUBLISHER: Quercus
PUBLISHING DATE: April 18, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: 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, they're about to discover that of you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window.

MY THOUGHTS: I have been hearing about and seeing this book everywhere so I decided to request a hold on Overdrive.  I swear I was about 52 on the list and figured I'd get it around Christmas if I was lucky.  Somehow it arrived last week and almost immediately I felt compelled to read it.  I don't read a lot of chick lit but when I do, I usually find them to be fast reads.  I was somewhat worried because I don't have the best relationship with extremely hyped books but I am glad to say "The Flatshare" didn't disappoint.

Tiffy Moore has broken up with her boyfriend Justin...again.  However, this time she is actually going to move out.  She doesn't have a lot of money even though she works full time as a DIY book editor, so she answers an add from Leon who is looking to share his flat in order to earn extra cash for his brother's criminal appeal.  Leon's girlfriend doesn't like the idea so she handles the lease and tells Leon he can never cross paths with Tiffany.  The two start communicating through post-it notes and a friendship develops.  Both have a lot of baggage so it's anyone's guess how this could possibly play out.

I really liked the main characters, Tiffy and Leon.  However, they both have horrible judgement regarding partners and I couldn't help but think they both would be better off dating the actual post-it notes.  "The Flatshare" also has a great supporting cast of characters which is one reason I think the book works so well.  Between Tiffy's friends, the individuals at Leon's hospice, Leon's brother and a zany DIY crochet book author, there was never a lull in the book.  I actually believed the book was going to be very predictable but I'm happy to say that wasn't the case and this book was definitely not all fluff.  Tiffy and Leon had real problems and needed real support and solutions.

Now to the negatives, which I'll admit there aren't many.  It main seem superficial but the name Tiffy kind of grated my nerves.  Had I been her, I would have used my full name, Tiffany.  However, as the character developed and I learned more about her, I think she really was a "Tiffy" and the author made that shine through.  Also, I don't think the cover is doing the book any favors.  I probably wouldn't grab this off the shelf had I not heard about it through the internet.  I just don't find it all that appealing.

In the end, I found "The Flatshare" to be an enjoyable read perfect for a mid summer month.  I am glad I decided to read it and can definitely see why it's so popular.

RATING: 4 PAWS

COYER CHALLENGE UPDATE: Read a book out of your comfort zone (a genre you've read less than 3 times this year) - chick lit/romance