This is the second time in a month (and this year) that I read about romances between a red/orange-haired-colored woman and a healthcare worker. Both of the times, I fell in love with these stories.
My colleague suggested "The Flatshare" by Beth O'Leary to me about a month ago. When I began reading it, I couldn't put it down. I wished I had more than 24 hours per day so that I could spend half of it burying my head in the book. I just love it so so damn much.
I expected something soft, lighthearted as I began to read. "It could be one of those romances they used to write", I thought to myself. But the underlying theme of the book is as serious and alarming as the one in It ends with us. The central theme is emotional abuse and gaslighting in relationships which I can relate to so much that I figured it out halfway through the book. Each character has to handle their own demons, struggles and that made them so real, so relatable, so honest, and raw. I fell in love with Ms. O'Leary's writing at first, then slowly and firmly, I fell in love with the story and everything in it. It also must be the most British-voiced book I have read haha. So distinctive.
I love the format the story was told in, the shifting POVs that provide us, the readers, with different perspectives, points of view, and personalities from two main characters. The writing styles for both Tiffy and Leon are distinct so we can easily spot them. Their personalities are also perfectly captured through the way each of them wrote their chapter. I could see the lighthearted, charmingly nice, and friendly vibe but still tense regarding Justin from Tiffy. I can sense the peculiarity and a bit of stiffness at first from Leon until he met Tiffy and fell in love with her. He eased up and provided a friendlier, more approachable vibe. The chemistry is THERE. Oh, I love these two. I smiled like a happy child who was taken to a candy store on Sunday whenever I read Leon's thoughts about Tiffy and I thought to myself, "Yeah, he is a good one. He truly cares and loves her."
All the supporting characters, none of them is irrelevant. The powerful dynamic between Gerty and Mo, the cute support from Rachel, the brotherly pad-on-the-back from Richie. Everyone, even Justin is incredibly described. Am I being too biased because I love it way too much? I don't care haha.
Then comes the central theme. It's clever of Ms. O'Leary to smoothly plant the theme in such a lovely romance without being ridiculously inappropriate or crooked. The gaslighting in relationships. They hardly talk or condemn it enough. Healthline defined gaslighting as "a form of emotional abuse that makes you question your beliefs and perception of reality." People often overlooked it since it's not visible as physical abuse but people, emotional abuse is as severe and has more damage to a person because it's not medically or attentively cared for. This type of manipulation can erode your self-esteem and confidence, leaving you reliant on the individual who is gaslighting you. I figured why I love this book so much because it reminds me of my past relationship with my first boyfriend whom I have gradually, over the year, realized that he had gaslighted me whether intentionally or not. What we had wasn't love, it was a trauma bond and I became dependent on him. I have moved past that phase of constantly blaming myself for every failure we had in the relationship. I'm great now but I still found irresistible whenever it comes to him.
I swear I giggle like my 12-year-old self when I read Twilight for the first time but now, I giggle at something more mature, more real-life, and honest because I feel relatable, I feel experienced in something that's dark but I survived and I know I can be Tiffy myself. I can have a happy ending with someone who dearly values me and loves me who I am, who will take my feelings into consideration instead of ignoring or remitting the issues. I know I will because I have done nothing vindictive against the guy who treated me like shit. I only focus on myself, lifting myself up and leaving the dark place I once thought was the only place I should belong to. It's a beautiful story. Thank you, Beth O'Leary. Thank you.
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