Wow. Wow. Wow. I loved this book! It is a must, must read. So witty, unique, sweet, sexy, etc. I could not put it down. This should be your next book.

I saw this recommended and being read by a couple of historical romance authors I follow, and loved the description. Such a unique storyline - a subway busker who gets a big break in Broadway? The girl who makes it happen? An immigration story? How the author even came up with this, I do not know, but I do know it was lovely. 

I’m a sucker for guys with accents and Calvin is just absolutely the cutest. Holland is just like any of us in our 20’s - a little self conscious, not sure what her path is. But she has very loving uncles that have exposed her to the world of theater and music. She shares this passion and sees in Calvin a way to solve a lot of problems, not to mention, spend some time with this guy she’s been crushing hard on for awhile. Holland is hilarious - I literally laughed so much while reading this story. I loved the love connection between Holland and Calvin - such a great slow build and an utterly sexy relationship that was so fun to read.

I’ll be reading this one over and over again.

UGH! THIS BOOK GAVE ME ALL THE FEELS!!! Roomies is so beautifully evocative and dreamily romantic that I basically finished it and figured I may as well quit writing because why bother in the face of this gorgeousity?

I loved Christina Lauren’s Wild Season series, though other stuff has been more take it or leave it for me. But Roomies surpassed even my love of her other series. (Also, can I just say how jealous I am that this author is actually two best friends who write together and look like the most adorable of besties?) I realize I sound like a broken record, but this book is just so damn romantic.

We are forced to live every agonizing moment of Holland’s crush on Calvin, this impossible situation she’s gotten herself into, and the depth of her feeling for not only this man, but her uncle for whom she’d do anything to make happy. Holland and Calvin’s chemistry is off-the-charts, and it’s agonizing to figure out whether or not he really cares about her or is just doing whatever it takes to realize his lifelong dream.

The thing is, while there are definitely bad behaviours, there are no real bad guys. It’s so easy to understand where all these characters are coming from and why they’re behaving as they are. Lauren pushes us into some truly heartbreaking territory.

And as much as this is a story about a couple falling in love, it is equally about one woman falling in love with herself and realizing that she can be the heroine of her own story instead of a supporting player. I can’t think of a single thing wrong with this book, except for the fact that it ended.

After the trying-to-do -too-much-and-not-quite-executing Dating You/Hating You, I wondered if my run with Christina Lauren was over. I typically REALLY enjoy their books. In Roomies, they return to the straight-up romance that kept me coming back to their books.

So I just went ahead and read this in one sitting. The book's about a couple of sweethearts, surrounded by supportive people, struggling in New York. After reading a book with a similar set up yesterday, someone pining after a stranger and therefore going out of their way to see said stranger and having it not only not do it for me, but fail spectacularly, this was like a revival for the fire burning from that experience. 

I really just think this book is about sweet people. Ultimately, I'm not sure I feel as strongly about this match as I did Hannah/Will for example or Oliver/Lola (fans self) to name just two couples, but I thought it was realistic in communication and lack thereof, how they were woven into the tapestry of each other's lives, and - this is important - it had that ingredient that I think "alpha" heroes often lack which is acting as the person who "rescues" the other by helping them see themselves clearly, by propping them up, by acting as a mirror. I'm not sure I'd call Calvin an alpha, but he was an intense, focused, sweet, and fun hero. Holland was on a journey to find herself, the pure certainty of everyone around her having their life figured out acting as the backdrop to her uncertainty.

Again, this wasn't my favorite, but it was a relief to see that I can probably count on them to continue to deliver me characters and relationships I can root for. 

Side note, I don't know what color his eyes and hair were. Consistently described as green and light brown respectively, there was one point it turned to "amber" and "russet"

I was just confused. 

Another side note, I think they do dual POV better than this.

Holland, born in a cab and the youngest of six kids, lives in Manhattan on the support of her doting uncles, who are more like fathers. She has a masters degree in fine arts - an aspiring writing, who isn’t writing. She’s got little direction in her life, but when an accident puts her in contact with the subway busker she’s been crushing on for six months, Holland’s life turns upside down.

With a little bit of the 1995 Sandra Bullock movie, While You Were Sleeping, and a little bit of the 1991 film, Green Card, Roomies is a delightful romance about self-discovery and making dreams come true. When Holland finds a way to help her Uncle Robert with his broadway musical by marrying classical guitarist Calvin so he can stay in country, she decides to go for it. It’s a turning point for Holland who realizes she wants to marry Calvin because she never takes risks, and at twenty-five years old, is bored with life. She recognizes that maybe the reason she can’t write is because she’s not really living. 

Through Holland’s eyes we get to know Calvin, who is charming, sexy, sweet, and kind. He’s humble and gracious, and readers can tell that it’s not just Holland’s rose-colored, lustful glasses that filter how we see Calvin. There are stumbles, and yet, he continues to shine. Holland always puts the needs of others before her own. It’s through the getting-to-know each other process (for the green card application), that Holland recognizes some things about herself; that she’s a supporting character in her own life. And this is what eventually drives Holland to become more than a supporting character. 

Additionally, Holland doesn’t feel worthy of Calvin’s affection, and as they get to know one another, we experience the range of Holland’s feelings, most of all her uncertainty. The wondering if Calvin’s flirtatious actions are true or for show... my heart was pounding along side of Holland’s. Her flaws make her real and on some level, all of her insecurities are familiar: that piece of Holland that is always trying to help others. Who is unsure of where to go with life. Who doubts she can find true meaning and love in her life. 

Honestly, my only complaint is I wanted more. Although we get to see a lot of the pair as a couple and falling in love, it’s always tarnished a bit by the pressure of the fake marriage and getting a green card. Once things are real and after the pain, I wanted more. To know they are going to make it. It ended too quickly for me, but at the same time, I can appreciate that the story was over. 

In the end, Roomies isn’t overly complicated or complex, but it is rich in detail and has all the feels. Deep feels. The descriptions of the music, of Holland listening to Calvin play, it is more than just an appreciation for beautiful things. It is life-changing—reaching into Holland’s soul. Seeing the world through Holland’s eyes, readers get their heart broken by and fall in love with Calvin. It’s a beautiful journey, one that I highly recommend.

My Rating:  A, Loved It

Review copy provided by Netgalley

Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About

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