The Flatshare does exactly what you want it to do. A love story sweet enough without being saccharine, it is a perfect warmer on a winter day. O'Leary sticks with conventions of the romance genre without it feeling tired - it's a very accomplished debut.

Moreover, I felt truly compelled to keep reading. The plot and romance went hand in hand - it didn't feel as if one was sidelined in favour of the other, but that a creative logic was applied in making things fall into place.

My only caveats lie with the occasionally clichéd writing that feels a little too Bridget Jones for my taste, but that's just personal preference. I also wondered at times if O'Leary could have explored the supporting characters in a little more depth - yes, I cared the most about the romantic leads, but it's a pet peeve when best friends and colleagues seem to exist purely to further the protagonist's narrative. This isn't the case here, but I feel like there was potential for a little more depth, namely with Mo and Gerty. Nevertheless, will definitely read again when I need something light!