Roomies was a fun read and it would have been a great one if not for its first person telling. But despite all that, I loved the story of Holland and Calvin.
Holland is a glorified gofer for her uncle’s wildly successful musical productions but she secretly longs to be something more. A novelist. But her own lack of self-confidence is getting in the way so she’s content-ish to keep working for her uncle.
Until she hears the voice of an angel in the subway, screws up her courage to go talk to him and then falls prey to a random attacker and her sweet singer steps in to protect her. What’s a girl to do? Honestly the only thing she can do is return the favor, in the form of her brilliant musically successful uncle. But this is a romance novel which means there is some sort of problem, which in this case, is Calvin’s citizenship status. Or lack of.
And that’s where things really get interesting!
His story is so inspiring and brave that Holland offers to help him with his problem because he’s talented and because it’s the right thing to do. One of the things I loved that Christina Lauren did with this story was, she made Holland honorable. Sure she was harboring a serious crush on Calvin, but it didn’t feel like that’s why she decided to help him. The chemistry was apparent from the moment she gave him an adorable mini-lecture about Holland. In the Netherlands.
And my goodness but unrequited love is the worst and I felt her pain. Down deep. But I loved how Calvin didn’t just take from her. Nope, Roomies is a tale about two good people who form a bond and help each other achieve their dreams. And that is what a really good romance is all about.
So I’m giving this story 4.5, it didn’t bother me that it was written in first person stars!

This is my first title by Christina Lauren. I am not even sure how that happened, honestly, as I have been hearing about them for a while, and everyone I know has read something by them...at least it feels that way.

So, I went into this with expectations, but no real idea what I was getting myself into.

What I ended up getting myself into was a well-written, well-plotted, believable romance about 2 people I genuinely liked and with supporting characters I liked as well (ok, there were a couple I think could have been left at the curb, but as Holland does just that, it all worked out just fine) and a setting that was both interesting and not too immersive as to lose you in the story of the characters because of the plot happening around them.

Calvin and Holland meet in a rather odd way, and in a way that I am not going to spoil. But I will say, the wry humor that is present in this book (and possibly all of the others, I am not sure) was apparent right away in the conversations immediately after what is their initial meeting and then their most memorable.

This book has emotion, and it has heart. You understand so much of where Calvin is coming from, and what leads him to do the things he does, even though he colossally fucks (there's really no other word for a certain part, also a spoiler so I am not telling) things up, and more than once, to varying degrees.

I also love how self-aware this book is, and by default it's heroine. There is a part where Holland realizes that she is a cliche, and that she hates it in books when the characters do something, but that all of a sudden she understands why authors write that. I loved that, the idea that the authors, and their characters, are aware of when they are acting like characters in a book. It gives depth to a story, it makes them real, and it gives the characters on the page a real connection to the reader.

Fake relationship books can work, and they can work really well. But, in order for them to work, there have to be a couple of people you believe want to be together. I love that not only do you believe this, but at the end, when it all falls apart and real feelings emerge, I love how the little clues and glimpses about how they both have felt this whole time work their way so perfectly into the inevitable "where do we go from here" conversation that happens in any fake relationship book.

I enjoyed this book, a lot. I am looking forward to the next title by this author duo, and I am thinking I may just need to read their previous releases.

Book Review: 5+++ Stars

Roomies was an awesome sweet romantic comedy with the high quality seal of Christina Lauren.

Holland and Calvin’s story is addictive, romantic, funny, sexy and amazing. They met in the best/worst/weirdest/luckiest circumstances ever. She’s been watching him from afar from quite a time now. Well, more than listened to him playing guitar in a subway station. He was talented and Holland knew it and when her uncle needed a replacement for the main musician in his play in Broadway, Holland convinced him to go listen to him play his guitar and that was it. Holland’s uncle was in love with Calvin’s music and offered him the job but there was a little problem…. Calvin’s visa expired years ago, so he couldn't be hired. It was a hopeless case... Unless Holland listened to her boss—who was an asshole if you ask me—about she and Calvin getting married so he could get a green card and with that his dream job, and that’s what Holland did. And what started as a marriage of convenience, fastly became into something more heated and sweet and romantic. But there were secrets, from both sides, that caused so much drama, heart aches and misunderstandings for both Holland and Calvin.

This story was amazing since the beginning. I fell in love with Holland first. Her selfless personality, her love for her family, her willingness to do sacrifices for others who she loved dearly, captivated me, and I also loved her for her flaws, she was selfish—in a good way, I mean, wouldn’t you want to have your crush shirtless in your living room, sleeping in your couch and then in your bed? I would so want that too *grins innocently*—and insecure and hasty to take decisions. Everything about her made her a great character, more human, more relatable, more loveable. And then I fell in love with Calvin. Well, I gotta admit, at first I fell in lust with him, but I loved his his music from the beginning. I felt like I could listen to his guitar in my head with how Holland described him playing, his entire surrender and introspection in his music was amazing. But then, when their arrangement turned into more than just a fake relationship, I fell in love with Calvin, with his Irish accent, with his texts—the dirty ones and the romantic ones—with his passion for his career. With all of him. My weakness was when he called Holland “mo stóirín” because it felt like true love, and then he explained what it meant and I was a goner.

“My grandad used to say it to my granny. It means ‘my little darling.’”

And then, the drama came and my heart was aching and I couldn’t stop reading because I needed for Holland and Calvin to be fine so my heart could be happy again. And I read until 4am on a work day, and it didn’t matter that I was going to be a zombie the next day, because I stayed late reading yet another amazing book by Christina Lauren and my heart was soaring of happiness for Holland and Cavil.

*deep sigh*

Now I wish there was more of Holland and Calvin, but I’ll listen to the audiobook and I’ll relive their amazing story and I’ll melt with the Irish accent and I’m sure I’ll love it as much as I loved the book.

Now go get your copy and fall in love you, too. 100% recommended.

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.”

ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley. All/any quotes in this review came from an advance unedited copy and may be subject to change in the final product.

Gahh!! This is my favorite trope ever. I have no clue why but man I love these books. This is pretty light on the angst that I normally like but over all it's witty, endearing and heart warming. Christina and Lauren have proven time and time again that they are the perfect writing partners. Roomies is just the latest example of this and another one of their books I couldn't put down. From the very beginning we see that these two are perfect for each other. I loved them together and their smokin hot chemistry. Grab this one now you will not be sorry!!

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 have read very close to every book this amazing duo has written and loved every word. I really need to read Sublime one of these days! Anyway...I fell in love with them when I read Beautiful Bastard in one sitting back in 2014. I am been addicted ever since. Anyway, this is about Roomies, a brilliant book about love, music, living your dreams and finding yourself in the process.

Holland has been a bit lost since she graduated college and moved to New York City with her amazing and supportive uncles. The only time she just feels at peace is while listening to stranger in the subway playing a guitar. It’s memorizing and can’t help fall for his talents and sense of ease. She is a bit obsessed with it all. Then one night she actually speaks to him and on that night he saves her. This one night changes both of their lives without knowing it...

Her uncle needs this stranger, she just knows it. He would be perfect for his Broadway show. Now, that she actually knows his name, Calvin, she knows it deep in her soul that he has to audition. It goes brilliantly. This is what Calvin has been waiting for. This opportunity. This is why he stayed well beyond his visa. The Irish man with memorizing talent is here illegally and that is when their story moves at the speed of light. Marriage. That is the answer. She wants to give him this. He deserves it. Her uncle deserves it. But what about Holland? Calvin doesn’t see why she would do this for him. A stranger from the subway that she just met.

Calvin and Holland’s relationship is unconventional but theirs. They have to navigate through so much if this is going to work. They have to convince immigration that this is real. They have to work out their feelings. He is living his dreams but what about her? Will this experience bring her closer to figuring out what they are?

I absolutely loved this story. The characters have their faults and it makes it more real. They are not perfect. I felt their passion throughout the book. I felt their happiness, sadness, and confusion as well.

Overall...I didn’t want it to end! I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered. I also got angry. It gave me all the feels!

Quotes:

“I’ve never met anyone who loved my playing enough to want to put a ring on it.”

“I don’t like to think of you playing a side part in your story.”

“That is some Flowers in the Attic stuff, Holls. Don’t be weird.”

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

We’ve all done embarrassing things under the influence of crush. Holland Bakker’s thing is taking the subway out of her way every day just to see (and hear) the busker she fancies perform. It’s harmless really, that is until one day she finds herself in the arms of her crush in a scenario even her most wayward of daydreams could not have drummed up. If she thought there unusual introduction would be the beginnings of sweet music they would make together, she’s sorely mistaken, in more ways than one.

There’s something undeniably relatable about Holland and from the outset it’s impossible to not like her. She’s down to earth and a little awkward in the cutest of ways, and I easily found myself cheering her on. Life has a plan for her and as quickly as her hope for something more is extinguished, a situation that would help both her and her crush greatly comes to light.

Calvin McLoughlin has big dreams of performing on Broadway but he never envisaged the cute woman he saves on the subway would be his ticket there. Their relationship is one of convenience; she helps him to stay in the country whilst his musical talent saves her uncle’s show. That’s what they tell themselves anyway.

The reality of the situation is the blossoming of an incredibly sweet and tentative romance. Roomies is the personification of an adorable romance, and lovers of unrequited loved should definitely make room for this on their must read pile.

Such a sweet, romantic and funny story! Sure to please all fans of the dynamic writing duo of Christina Lauren. In my opinion, 'Roomies' is definitely one of their best books to date.

I am usually not a huge fan of the fake marriage trope. But I was totally swept up into this heartwarming and humorous story. A hot Irish musician and the New York City setting? I'm all in!

Holland Bakker is a classic underachiever, a smart and very funny young woman with a writing degree basically working as a glorified assistant. But she is living her dream of living in the Big Apple and working in the theatre business. She is completely mesmerized by the street musician or busker who plays the guitar in the subway. He is brilliant!

"I’ve never seen someone’s fingers move like that, as if he doesn’t even have to think about it. In some ways, it seems like he gives the guitar an actual human voice. He looks up as I drop a bill into his case, squinting at me, and gives me a quiet “Thanks very much.”

Holland has a huge crush on the sexy stranger who turns out to be a Juillard-trained musician from Ireland. She finally works up the courage one night to speak to the man whose she's been thinking about for months.

"Ugh. Crushes are the worst, but in hindsight a crush from afar seems so much easier than this. I should stick to making up stories in my head and watching from a distance like a reasonable creeper. Now I’ve broken the fourth wall and if he’s as friendly as his eyes tell me he is, he may notice me when I drop money in his case the next time, and I will be forced to interact smoothly or run the opposite direction."

Holland learns that Calvin also plays in a band, and has been living in New York on an expired student visa. Make that a VERY expired student visa. So when Calvin has a chance to star in a Broadway show, Holland comes to the rescue and offers to marry him in order to allow him to obtain a visa. Holland's uncle is the producer of the show and because Holland has a unique ear for music, she just knows that Calvin will be absolutely perfect for the show.

Is he going to find this not just bizarre but outright immoral? He puts down his fork.
“Aye, why not. It’s only Holy Matrimony.” He tilts his head back and laughs delightedly.
“Surely you’re only joking?”
Oh God. Someone flush me out of this room right now. “No, actually.”
“You,” he says quietly, “want to marry me? For this?”

I have been a fan of Christina Lauren since Beautiful Bastard was fan fiction. I am happy to say that this book really showcases their unique writing talents. 'Roomies' perfectly captures the slow-burn chemistry of the main characters with heart, wit and a little sexiness. Calvin treats Holland with respect and this book never felt rushed or forced. And I loved how New York City was perfect backdrop for their developing romance. I loved the whole marriage-of-convenience theme and Calvin and Holland's sweetly sexy love story. Christina Lauren added just the right touch of humor to make this story actually believable!

“You all right?” he asks. Startling at the sound of his voice, I shift my attention to his face. His nose is pink, and adorable. Ugh. I’ve married him, and he has no idea I’ve been writing Holland/Hot Busker fic in my head for months. How is this a good idea?


Calvin and Holland were absolutely adorable together. Calvin was brilliant but also pushed Holland to fulfill her dreams, too. Holland always put everyone first and learns to make herself the star of her own story. These two started off as married and then fell in love! The whole fake-marriage theme just worked here. If you are looking for a sweet, sexy, fast-paced romance, you will love 'Roomies.' It is definitely one of my favorite Christina Lauren books.

“I think you might be the best girl there ever was.”

I truly love the writing of the dynamic duo that is Christina Lauren. Engaging and captivating, I can't put the book down. It is so fluid and descriptive, I can picture it perfectly. I'm a New Yorker, so it thrilled me that Roomies is set in NYC. The ambiance and feel of the story is spot on. I love the plot! Original, fresh, humorous, sexy and sweet. A great read.

Roomies is an unconventional love story. It had me laughing out loud. Holland had some amazingly awkward situations that I could totally believe happening. Calvin is a fantastic hero. But he has a few secrets of his own, that, when brought to light, show he is flawed like the rest of us. Together, they are so cute and there relationship is something out of a RomCom.

The characters Christina Lauren bring to life are intriguing and endearing. Holland Bakker is perfectly imperfect. She is pretty, funny, kind of lost, and I just want to be her friend. Calvin McLoughlin is hot, talented, mysterious, and sweet. They have chemistry and are kind of shy about it. I like that it's not insta-love, despite their attraction. The relationship builds. Their conversations and interactions are funny, as are the conversations Holland has in her head. So realistic of new relationship highs and lows, add in their unique circumstances and I couldn't help but root for them to not only pull it off, but get their HEA.

While I loved the whole Holland/Calvin story line, I also loved how the story is also about Holland finding herself. It is a journey of self-discovery for her. I like the way she grows and comes into her own.

The entire cast of characters make Roomies a fantastic read. I especially love her uncles and the relationship they have with Holland. I kind of hated her bff but I love that she is in the story because we all have / had one of these friends at some point in our life.

Authors Christina Lauren are a favorite of mine. Stories like Roomies are the reason why. Sexy, sweet, funny with just enough drama to keep the pages turning. Highly recommend adding to your must read list.

Roomies by Christina Lauren is an enjoyable, charming and addictive standalone. Like Christina Lauren’s other books her characters are so perfect for each other, you can help but to fall in love them as you read.

Holland Bakker is a writer who is a little lost, so she is working for her uncle’s Broadway musical. When her uncle is looking for a new musician she can only think of one man, the man in the subway. Calvin gets the invite of his dreams but he is in this country illegally and can’t take the job. After a co-worker makes a joke about Holland marrying him, it’s all Holland can think about. Who doesn’t love two strangers in a fake marriage who falls in love with one another?

I loved the slow burn of Holland and Calvin’s relationship. Then you get the steamy moments that you know are coming but you still shout out “YES! About time.” Your emotions will be all over the place with this book and I LOVED it!

This has to be one of my favorites by this duo, next to Beautiful Bastard and Sweet Filthy Boy. But I want more about this couple!

I loved this enchanting, funny, feel good story. The characters are endearing, unforgettable, have great dynamics between the them and I was immediately transported into their lives. Calvin and Holland have a chance meeting and it changes their lives. Calvin is a gifted musician from Ireland and his green card has expired. From the moment Holland hears Calvin play his guitar, she is blown away with his musical talent and she also develops a huge crush on him. Holland tries to help Calvin out by marrying him, so he can stay in the county and finally achieve his dreams.

I really liked Calvin. He is a nice guy with a sexy Irish accent and although he is a highly talented classical guitarist, he is not pretentious. He is charming, affectionate, honest and once he meets Holland, he never looks at another woman. Calvin finds himself unable to resist Holland’s sweetness and fun personality.

Holland has a hard time believing Calvin has feelings for her. While Calvin is talented and has always known what he wants, things are not as clear for Holland. She is smart, has her MBA and would like to write, but she has no ideas and can’t seem to get started. She is frustrated with herself and feels like a loser at twenty five. Holland is too hard on herself and doesn’t realize her worth. She goes through a lot of changes in this story and learns how to be the person she is meant to be.

I liked both Calvin and Holland and felt invested in them. The story is smoothly written and the plot interesting. There are also engaging secondary characters adding to the story. Calvin and Holland have a lot chemistry bouncing between them. Even though they are married and live together, they take things slow as they get get to know each other.

UGH. Sometimes I just into a book and just read it lackadaisically throughout the day. Other times I read a book and it completely consumes my time and I can't put it down. This book was that type of book. I could not put it down. Calvin and Holland were perfection and I wish I had ten more books full of just them.



This book had it all. It had the angst. GOODNESS, it had the angst. It also had the emotional turmoil and character growth that I ADORE, while also having a compelling tory full of ALL THE GOODNESS. I just can't brag enough about this book. I can't rave enough about the characters, or just the way it sucks you in page after page.

I can however tell you about all the accent and swoon-worthy scenes you will fall in love with. Oh, and I can't forget the hilarity, I LAUGHED SO HARD. I can't wait for more from this duo because they ROCK IT.

3.5 stars

This story begins with Holland, a woman struggling to find her place in New York. Along the way, she meets Calvin who is playing a guitar at the subway platform.

A botched robbery and a chance opportunity lead to Holland and Calvin getting married so Calvin can stay in the country and perform in a popular theater production.

But the more time they spend together the less their marriage feels like a marriage of convenience and begins to feel like something real.

Can they ever make a relationship that started from a lie last for real?

My review:

A new book by Christina Lauren...as a fan of many of their previous books, I was super excited when I saw this one available for review on Netgalley and jumped at the chance to read it.

I have to be honest...this one left me feeling disappointed. It didn’t have the flow and character development of many of their other books and I was left looking for so much more from these characters.

My thoughts:

POV: Holland
Quick hook or slow starter? 3 (This one was a slow starter for me...took quite a while for the story to get moving.)
Character development: 3
Level of Romance between characters: 3
Passion/Heat level: 4 (Once you finally get there, and it takes awhile, the scenes fit the book)
Angst/Heartbreak: 4 (the last 1/4 of the book is all about the drama)
Cliffhanger?: Not really a cliffhanger but a few things were left hanging. An epilogue would have been nice.

Overall I thought this one was just ok...not what I have come to expect from these ladies so it left me disappointed. Worth the read if you can catch it on sale.

I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

<b><blockquote>"I need more purpose."</blockquote></b>

This is my first book to ready by Christina Lauren and I just <b>LOVED</b> it! It made me think of the Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds movie <i>The Proposal</i>, but this story plot is way juicier and swoon worthy! I fell in love with Calvin & Holland and their bumpy road from marriage to love...

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/cieDJ2Pd29jbi/giphy.gif" width="" height="" alt="description"/>
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/Jzv3Kdx6lRPHy/giphy.gif " width="" height="" alt="description"/>
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<b><blockquote>"she sees herself as a supporting character, even in her own life story."</blockquote></b>

I also loved how Christina Lauren had their main character - Holland- living in NYC navigating life at 25 years old with trying to figure out 'what' she wants to do with her life and realizing her self worth. I feel that this age in life can be so hard when you see others around you succeeding and living their dreams, when you feel left behind. I really enjoyed this book cover to cover and now hoping maybe some of Holland's siblings get a book next so we can get updates on Holland & Calvin!

Roomies by Christina Lauren is a modern marriage of convenience romance with something of a women's fiction element. Our heroine Holland has a crush on our hero Calvin, a street musician who doesn't know she is alive. She is so impressed with his guitar playing that she gets him an audition with her uncle, who happens to be a successful music director on Broadway. Calvin is perfect for an opening in the uncle's latest show but there is a hitch -- Calvin is in the country illegally. So of course, Holland asks Calvin to marry her and the adventure begins.

I thoroughly enjoyed the romance. A marriage of convenience is one of my favorite romance storylines but it is difficult to pull off in a contemporary story. Many times the reason why a couple has to get married feels contrived, but the reason Holland and Calvin got married felt believable. I am also a sucker for an Irish accent, and Lauren did a great job of helping me hear Calvin's Irish accent in my head without making it a caricature. The passage of time was handled well; there were plenty of scenes of Holland and Calvin getting to know each other in different ways so that when they fell in love it was believable. I liked the banter between the hero and heroine and how the attraction between them felt strong without being too angsty.

Outside of the romance, Holland was grappling with trying to figure out her worth, why her life seemed to stall after college graduation, and whether she was holding on to things that were no longer helping her. This was the part that felt like women's fiction to me, in a good way. It made the book a little more well-rounded and not just about the relationship.

AUNTIE TEST: I would say this book was hotter than warm but not scalding. The book is written in the first person, so there is a lot of descriptions of Holland lusting after Calvin's body but the language used isn't as graphic as it could have been, even in the open-door sex scenes. I'd say you could hand this to your maiden aunt and pretend that you forgot the sex was in there; it's mild enough that she probably won't call you on it :-).

4.5 Stars!

This is one of those stories that just pulls you in more and more the further you read. It got to the point that I didn't want to put the book down to leave for work and I was anxious to pick it back up as soon as I could. It did start out a bit slow. Also, Holland was a pretty awkward character. It took me a bit to connect to her but once the story got Calvin more involved, the pages just really started to fly by. You get invested in these two pretty quickly. I was expecting this to be more of a humorous story but it really was more emotional. It ended up being an unexpected read for me in a very good way.

I was CRAZY excited to get my hands on an early copy of this book. I love this author duo and was looking forward to diving into their latest brainchild. Unfortunately, it fizzled quickly for me. I felt like the pace was incredibly slow and there was so much time spent inside Holland's head - so much telling me, not very much showing me. This definitely read more like chick lit or women's fiction than true romance - but even beyond that it seemed to spend a lot of time describing every small detail without giving me anything worth holding on to. I kept waiting for things to pick up or for something to really hook me, but even after the romance started to come into play - I found that I didn't care much about Holland or Calvin or...the course of their relationship. I'm so disappointed. It's maybe a matter of timing and someday I may circle back to give it another shot. But at this time, it's a DNF at 40%.

Where do I even start with this amazing book, Roomies was just everything I could have asked for, it really takes a lot lately for a book to have me fully absorbed, and because with this with book there was so much going on, I just wanted to drop everything that I was doing and read this book, why did life and work have to get in the way? The fake marriage/relationship trope has always been a favourite of mine, and whilst I can only count a handful of books that have really done this trope well, I’m glad to say that Roomies was one of these books. The relationship and even marriage of Calvin and Holland was super quick; they’d agreed that for Holland’s uncle their marriage would work out perfectly, Calvin needed a green card in order to work his dream job and Holland’s uncle had found the talent he had be looking for in Calvin, also the fact that Holland had a big crush on Calvin beforehand wasn’t a bad thing either. But despite just getting married for convenience, the marriage between Holland and Calvin was realistic and believable, and this is what I loved the most about it. I did have my niggling doubts along the way just like Holland did when unexpected surprises were thrown her way, but most of all because I’d fallen so hard for both characters, I so wanted their relationship to work beyond the initial year that they had both agreed upon, it was obvious to me, that beneath the façade, there were some genuine feelings involved and both could end up with something neither could have imagined.

I absolutely adored Holland’s character, I saw myself in her in so many aspects and I think that’s one of the reasons why I felt so close to and could understand what she was going through. She was just skating through life, not really knowing what she wanted to do, she had a great support network in her uncles, who can I just say were two of my favourite characters and now Calvin too and of course I wanted her to succeed. There was just constantly so much to take in with Holland’s life, with its ups and downs and shock revelations along the way, my heart at times had a hard time dealing with everything that she had to go through, but these obstacles that Holland had to deal with really gave depth and strength to her character. Her relationship with Calvin was also a beautiful one, like I said sometimes I did have my doubts about Calvin’s character and his true intentions, but he was such a sweet guy, I loved how he went out of his way for Holland and also who can resist a guy with an Irish accent? I for one definitely can’t!

Roomies really was such a wonderful story, I loved how I couldn’t’ stop thinking about this book for days afterwards, how Lauren gave us such fantastic and memorable characters that I had a hard time letting go, and just a story which could be heartbreaking at times, but also tinged with laughter and one of the best relationships I have come across in a long time! Seriously everyone needs to give Roomies a go!