This feels really contrived, unfortunately. Which is too bad, because it’s got a juicy setup. But most of the book doesn’t pace the drama of the character in the car dynamics well, because it’s preoccupied rationing the explosive past tension between the two protagonists. The casualty for this choice is every other aspect of the story.

Then, when we do learn “what happened” it uh, kinda makes it difficult to care about any of the characters, except Addie, who feels like a stand-in for every woman who is conventionally attractive. It tries to be deeper than it us, somewhat dipping in a tow into toxic male behaviour and self doubting, but doesn’t dig down enough to get to gender performance or the root behaviours. There’s a brief bit where one or the other is self aware, but otherwise, with every other aspect of the story, it feels like it’s merely a veneer for a kind of shit relationship that presents as redeemable but, again, feels like artifice.

The prose do keep the pages turning though. It’s very consumable and always feels easier to complete than put down. I can see why people like it, but somehow The Flatshare seems far more interesting and believable.