The Flat Share by Beth O Leary is a story like no other that I have read recently. Being in a house share myself, I felt drawn to this book from the minute I cast my eyes on the title.

As with many fictional books, Beth’s story begins by introducing us to the two main characters – Tiffy and Leon. I believe the success of this book depends largely on the style of writing that Beth has adopted. Each chapter switches from Leon’s voice to Tiffy’s voice. This is a way of writing that I particularly admire as it keeps the reader engaged throughout whilst illustrating a very clear tone of voice for each character. At times, The Flat Share reminded me somewhat of Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern. Not because of the story line but because of the writing style.

For the first couple of chapters, one would assume that The Flat Share is going to be a light-hearted read. To an extent, this is true. However, with the introduction of another male character, Justin, we quickly learn that there is a darker secondary story line. Through the primary and the secondary story lines, the theme of relationships is evident. Alongside that, the theme of oppression is notable too.

This book was the third-last book that I read as part of my 2019 reading challenge – the challenge in which I have committed to reading 25 books over the course of the year. Here’s the list.