The Flatshare

Set in the UK, O’Leary’s clever debut follows the unlikely romance between two flatmates. Assistant editor Tiffy Moore, who is trying to get over a breakup, and Leon Twomey, who works night shifts at a hospice clinic, agree to live together, though they never run into one another, as their schedules don’t overlap. Instead of speaking to one another, Tiffy and Leon communicate by leaving notes about menial things—whose food is whose, when trash night is, etc. In parallel plots, Tiffy tries to overcome the traumatic memories of her emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend, Justin, who strung her along for months while cheating on her. Meanwhile, Leon diligently tries to reopen his imprisoned brother’s robbery case. It’s only when Tiffy is running late one morning that the two meet—in the shower. Suddenly more interested in each another, Tiffy and Leon find that they are able to help each other in exactly the way the other needs. Somewhat conveniently, Tiffy has just the friend to help Leon with his brother’s legal troubles, and Leon is just the person to help Tiffy recover from her breakup. O’Leary’s story packs plenty of laughs and gasps; fans of Bridget Jones’s Diary will want to give this a look. [em](May) [/em]