Roomies

There was never a dull moment reading this book! Fantastic banter and chemistry, great pace and flow, a wonderful and relatable heroine and a guitar-playing Irishman who will melt your heart with his music and accent. Plus, it’s a slow burn, marriage of convenience romance, so duh. Of course, it’s a win for me. Holland Bakker had no idea she’d go from admiring the uber-handsome and talented busker she dubbed as Jack at the subway to actually talking to him and getting to know him, let alone marrying him, but that’s what happens. She wants to do something to help her uncle Robert, the man who gave her a job in Broadway—all backstage since she’s not as musically talented as her uncle—and when an incident happens that might leave his play hanging, she knows she’s found a way to actually do something. Calvin McLoughlin has been staying illegally in the US since he graduated from music school, hoping he’d reach his dreams in New York. Four years later, an opportunity finally comes knocking on his door. Unfortunately, his decision to stay illegally bites him in the a** and he can’t accept the part to play in one of his favorite plays on Broadway. But then the pretty girl he kind of saved at the subway, who is coincidentally related to the man behind the play, offers to marry him, and the rest is history. I love Calvin and Holland, both as individuals and as a couple! Holland is a twenty-five-year-old woman who hasn’t figured out how to do what she wants to do in life. She put everyone in her life first and did everything she can to help them. She did a lot of growing up in this book, and I’m so happy she did! Calvin knows what he wants from the very start and is passionate about his dreams and music. While it looks like Holland gave more to help Calvin reach his dreams, I think Calvin helped her just as much. He pushed her to step out of her comfort zone and encouraged her to pursue writing, her real passion. I love that the whole applying for a visa thing did not go on the back burner like some marriage of convenience novels of this nature tend to do. We saw how nerve-wracking it is, saw what Holland and Calvin needed to do—the forms, the interviews, everything. And most importantly, we saw how difficult and emotionally taxing it is for the couple. Because of that, I felt more connected to them as a couple and as people. It’s pretty light throughout the story, but there were a few angsty scenes here that made my heart ache. Fauxmances and marriages of convenience tend to become messy when lines are blurred and people involved in the arrangement aren’t sure if it’s still just a purely business deal or a gateway to happily ever after. Since Calvin and Holland are practically strangers, there are a lot of things they don’t know about each other, things they might not understand at first. It’s not as steamy as this duo’s previous works, but it’s still filled with sexual tension and its fair share of bedroom antics, if not sweeter than the others. The feel of this book is more similar to Dating You/Hating You, the book they released before Roomies, than Beautiful Bastard, but the humor, great flow and character dynamic, and a writing style that’s entertaining and addictive is still very present. Roomies is a sweet, fun, and romantic read that was perfect to end the year on a high note. I know there are still a few days to go before we say goodbye to 2017, but this book definitely made my year in book blogging a more fun one. Special mention to Robert and Jeff Okai for being amazing uncles to Holland. I love their family dynamic, Holland and Robert’s especially. Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Celebrities—Broadway POV: First Person, Female POV Standalone: Yes

I was torn on whether or not I should read this book-- I've really enjoyed a whole bunch of Christina Lauren's work but heard mixed reviews on this one. It is much more of a "romance" novel than an erotica novel (which is how I would characterise the Beautiful series, personally), but it definitely wasn't as sweet or heart-felt as Autoboyography, which became an instant favourite for me. The story gives us Holland, an MFA graduate with a serious bit of writer's block and a lack of direction in her life, and Calvin, an Irish man who came to study at Julliard years before and overstayed his student visa by four years. She hears him busking at a subway station and becomes transfixed by his music and makes stopping by to listen to him a regular thing-- and then he happens to be there the night that she's mugged at the platform. He doesn't do anything heroic or attempt to help her (in an effort to avoid the police and revealing his status) and all of this is fresh on her mind when her uncle's Broadway show (a hit that seems to be on par with Hamilton in the story) loses its leading violinist. Holland suggests that her uncle come to hear Calvin play music and they decide to hire him on as a guitarist for the production, before they become aware of his immigration status. Spurred on by a horrible boss who makes a reckless suggestion, Holland proposes a marriage of convenience so that Calvin can work for the production and because she, as it comes out in the story, is a "supporting character in her own life" (OUCH RIGHT). Anyway, romance, misunderstandings, mutual attraction, and immigration interviews ensue. Things I Loved: - Holland never tried to be anything other than what she was-- a privileged girl from a good background who had hook ups with people in high places and who was just... stuck. I feel like it was honest. Other readers seemed irritated by her character, calling her immature and irritating, but I didn't perceive her that way at all. Had she been whiny and *unaware*, I would have had a serious issue, but she was self-reflective and hated herself all the more for it. - Holland and her relationship with her uncles. fantastic. - Okay, her uncles are both fantastic. They're great characters and I really enjoyed their presence in the narrative and felt like it balanced the main relationship well. - When they had problems, they TALKED. It may have taken a day, but characters actually freaking talked about active problems. There was plenty of angst and tension, but not over stupidly obvious stuff. Things I Liked: - Calvin was alright. He was less fleshed out at some points than I would have liked, but his passion and desire to do what he loved was a very good contrast for Holland (and a good sparking point) and Holland's access to means meant that the relationship was fairly well-balanced. - It wasn't too steamy. I am still coming around on reading more physical intimacy, so the Beautiful series was... a lot for me. But this struck a nice middle ground. Things I Didn't Like: - I felt like Lulu was entirely unnecessary as a character from beginning to end. I literally didn't understand the point of her at all. - The trope of "and now the characters need to give each other several months of space to figure stuff out" at the end is a thing Christina Lauren embraces and takes to an extreme and it drives me absolutely mad. Overall, this was a cute, super fast read-- it was a good popcorn read. I'd recommend it if you're a fan of music or theatre or the arts in general and are looking for a swift, fluffy book between more intense books. If you're big into the Beautiful series, then this isn't going to live up to your standards. Stars: 3.5/5

4.5 On her way home after a fun night out, a little-too-drunk Holland Bakker is somewhat-attacked by a homeless man while waiting for the subway. She's rescued by the very talented street musician who may or may not be the reason she takes this particular way home everyday. When Holland's uncle's extremely popular Broadway musical is left without its lead musician, Holland immediately thinks of her savior, Calvin McLoughlin. The problem: Calvin is in the States illegally. Wanting to help out her uncle, and recognizing Calvin's talents for what they are, Holland proposes a marriage of convenience in order to get Calvin eligible to stay. The plan seems simple enough, they'll stay married for at least a year, convince immigration of their "love match", all while Calvin is garnering success doing the thing he loves most in the world, make music. But what happens when the feelings between Holland and Calvin move from convenience to true? Can either believe the other's motivations when their relationship started on a lie? I really loved this take on the marriage of convenience trope. It wasn't difficult to see that, yes, eventually Holland and Calvin would form feelings for one another. But what was great about this particular romance was the idea of being in the relationship for all the wrong reasons, and trying to figure out if those are the only reasons why Calvin and Holland are together. Would Calvin have given Holland another glance if he didn't need this in order for his dreams to come true? Filled with a lot of fun and zany antics, I loved the heart of this story. Since it's told from Holland's point of view, her side of the story takes more weight than Calvin's does. Holland has a MFA in creative writing, but after graduation, she's hit major writers' block and has barely been able to power on her computer, not wanting to be faced with her lack of work progression. So instead Holland has been kind of meandering throughout life for the past couple of years. She affords her apartment because her loving uncles help pay for it. She has a job working in the theater that houses her uncle's production because....well, her uncle. One of the first decisions she's actively made has been a whirlwind marriage. And as her feelings for Calvin deepen she questions what it is she truly wants. What direction she wants her life to take. It's a very relatable storyline for anyone who has struggle with the "what next" scenario after high school and / or college which I would guess is many people. Calvin's situation is a direct contrast with Holland's. Holland who has the opportunity and the means to achieve her goals, she just can't find the words or the inspiration. Calvin, though, has the inspiration and the talent to achieve his goals, but he doesn't have the means and if opportunity doesn't present itself soon he'll be deported. The true weight of Calvin's dilemma is probably more than Holland's but it doesn't really come across as such since we only get Holland's point of view. I would have liked to see just a bit from Calvin's point of view seeing as how the life he's built for himself hinges on the idea of he and Holland's union appearing realistic. Probably one of my favorite things about the story was the relationship Holland has with her uncles, who, since she was the youngest of six, all but raised Holland as their own. The love and affection they have for Holland (and vice versa) is sweet. And I love how supportive they are of her during her time of feeling aimless. Roomies is a perfect read as we start to wind down this year and begin moving into a new year. Its messages of trying new things and not giving up on your dreams work well with upcoming resolutions. It was a book that I didn't want to end, but just couldn't put down. One of my favorite romantic reads this year.

I knew nothing of this book's premise or plot going into the novel. As per my usual, I will download anything that is written by this fabulous writing duo. So as I started reading it, I was a bit dismayed that it took so long to get to where the two characters finally meet. It was absolutely slow to start, and had this been a book by any other author, I would have set it down and not finished. But again, I love this writing team of CLo and pushed on. It took until 65% of the book for the characters of Holland and Calvin to finally consummate their marriage of convenience. Interpret that how you will, but it finally got to that level of intimacy - which is probably both realistic and fair if these two characters were IRL. The last quarter of the book was touching, heartbreaking and lovely. There's a twist - which I always love - and you will cry for Holland as she experiences her first adult heartache. From there, the book finishes flawlessly - but suddenly. I felt like I was pushed off the cliff with no warning signs. It just STOPS. So I wouldn't catagorize this as one of their Top 5, or even their Top 10, but it's still a lovely book with impeccable writing.

**4.5 Stars** A slow-burner of a romance, Roomies was intensely romantic and swoon-worthy. The aspect of marriage of convenience set out the right amount of tension for Christina Lauren to draw off of, building a satisfying and full connection between Calvin and Holland. With their signature flare for romance in full effect, their tale is one steady burn from beginning to end. With the subdued heroine who struggles to find her purpose and the Irish immigrant who struggles to find a break, it was an oddly enjoyable mix of personalities forced to be in close quarters. Though it's not like their Beautiful series, a bit less sexy than those, there was still a distinct CLo feel in how the romance beautifully escalated. The flow of the story was easy to follow, the story intriguing, and the characters irresistible. The growing feelings and sexual tension felt like a seductive wisp of smoke, swirling and intertwining and beguiling as it danced between them. While it didn't have that classic CLo spark, there was still more than enough to be captivated by. Roomies was a beautiful love story. The growth of each character, the raw vulnerability in which they were able to bring themselves to, made it impossible to not feel them come alive under the page. There's something beyond magical that sparks between these two, in finding their purposes in life, that talent they've always had, all because love, for another and self, has a way of showing the path to unleashing it. Truly a read to fall in love with, one that will warm your heart and make you smile.

I have been following these two talented writers since before they were officially published, and I have been buying their books ever since to thank them for the hours of entertainment and thought-provoking introspection their words have given me. I have loved being able to read and re-read their fun plots and magnificent character development, and in particular, the way they build a relationship out of the small moments two people share, until I am just as in love with the characters as they are with each other. And then came "Dating You/Hating You." I guess I was due for a let-down—not everyone can be perfect every time, right?—but boy, was I disappointed. So much so, I was not sure about reading "Roomies." But I am so, so very glad I took the chance. "Roomies" is everything I expect from these two writers: fun and funny, tender and confusing, unbelievable and then they make me believe. Has the story been done before? Of course! But isn't that true for all romance stories? And isn't part of why we love them and read them because they give us a certain predictability that helps us relax into the words in the way heavy-duty, highly challenging literature cannot? But here's the thing about Christina Lauren: they write so well, the characters are so lovingly developed, the plots insane—but insanely great—that I could almost believe their books are the literature of the romance genre. This book gave me hope at the beginning of 2018, when the real world is entirely too real. This book made me laugh, sigh, groan, and sweat—and doesn't all good reading do that?! So I'm glad to "be back," reading the sweet, crazy, lovely words of Christina Lauren again, and if you enjoyed their Wild Seasons series in particular, I think you will be charmed and delighted by "Roomies."

An uber talented Irish musician. A struggling writer with low self-esteem. Seems like the perfect match for a fake marriage, right? Or not. Well the dynamic author duo make this match work, despite the odds. There are two things that drew me into this story: The unique union A love of music The unique union Holland Bakker has known of this talented musician, Calvin McLoughlin, for months. Well, at least in her head, where she refers to him as Jake. Besot with his good looks and undeniable talent, she goes out of her way daily just to hear him play in a subway. But it takes two separate incidents for them to directly interact - one risking Holland's life, one saving Calvin's career. And it is that latter incident that leads them to the most unlikely of places, marriage. Although Holland proposes the idea to Calvin, as the reader we already know her feelings run deeper than wanting to help her uncle. Rather than express her true feelings, she hides behind the idea that she is just trying to help Calvin achieve success in her uncle's Broadway play. All of this would have been hard to swallow if Calvin was an ungrateful ass. But he's beyond sweet and at moments, I sensed that his feelings may have run deeper as well. With time, the sparks fly and the book takes on a sexy side. A love of music It's clear early on that Calvin's talent runs deeper than Holland's obsession. One chord from his guitar is really all it takes for everyone to become enamored with him. And thanks to Holland's ear for talent and illegal risk taken, he is quickly propelled into the spotlight. I loved how the author's captured this talent through Holland's POV, and it said a lot about her own abilities. Personally, Holland spends a large part of the book wallowing in her own mediocrity. Unable to be inspired to put pen to paper as a writer, she struggles with her life direction, while Calvin's career takes off. Yet there are moments where her potential is noticeable, specifically when Calvin asks her for her thoughts on his performance. It is obvious that she may have something special, an ear for music, and it was a shame how she didn't notice her own abilities, as well lacked encouragement from those close to her, to explore that talent. While Holland and Calvin are the heart of this story, there were a number of key supporting characters that helped shape their story. I adored both Robert and Jeff, and their support for Holland, no matter how ridiculous she could be at times. On the flip side, like Calvin, I grew a dislike for Holland's friend Lulu. She was over the top, but not in a good way. And eventually proved to be toxic. This story seemed timely, given the huge focus on immigration in the US currently. However, the authors didn't make the story a political one. My only quip on this story was how the immigration issue was handled. There was the expected drama, but then it took a different turn and was resolved in a way I just thought fell a little flat. That’s basically is why this book got the rating it did instead of 5 stars. Overall, this was a fun and entertaining read, and I can easily see how this could translate to the big screen. Looking forward to watching it all unfold.

4.5 stars! “You’re too beautiful to be inexperienced in love.” Roomies is a charming book that sneaks up on you and grabs your heart! Holland has had a crush on subway musician Calvin for months who then saves her when she gets attacked on the subway. Recognizing his musical talent, she is able to get him his big break in broadway. There’s only one problem, he’s from Ireland and has been living in America illegally for the last four years. Holland finds a crazy solution, she decides to marry Calvin so he can be in the show. Marriage of convenience turns into lovers, and maybe something more. But how can either of them know if this relationship is real? I loved this book. It started off a bit slow at the beginning, but this is a story that BUILDS. By the end I was so in love with this couple and wanted them to find their happiness. I see a lot of reviews calling this book sweet, and I totally agree. But it did have small doses of angsty bits that gave my angst whore self the hit I needed to bring this rating up! Holland was an amazing heroine, unsure of where she was in life and yet not at all annoying. She didn’t see herself clearly, others around her did and Calvin always wanted what was best for her, trying to put her needs before his as much as he could. To me this was also a slow build romance, starting out strangers then friends then lovers, then finally more. You need to have the patience for this couple because it’s well worth it. This is a story you savor, one you think about when you set the book down and continue to think about once you’ve finished it. I highly recommend roomies, it’s a perfect book to curl up with. “I think you might be the best girl there ever was.” “I think you’re the best boy there ever was, too.”