3.25 Stars / 3 Steam Fans

Sadly, The Roommate did not live up to the hype for me. Clara is a do-gooding socialite that moves across the country after a childhood crush. Well, when she arrives, her crush has rented out his room to Josh, a porn star. The Roommate started very interesting but became heavy-handed with social justice and lacking in romance. There is a steamy self-care moment, but even that fizzled out, falling to the social issues.

Video review available in Week 44: Oct 25 – Oct 31 weekly book reviews.

For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

Definitely a steamy read and the premise was a good one. However I didn’t like Clara, I thought some of her decisions were not thought out and all over the place for someone with a PhD. Josh and the other characters were enjoyable. One to recommend for romance book clubs.

This book has it all - steamy romance, building close proximity angst between characters (shared bathroom, anyone), friendship, and heartfelt love. Clara doesn't intend to fall in love with anyone, especially not the roommate that ends up staying in the house where she plans to stay for a while. Where she assumed her longtime friend (and crush Everett) would be, but Everett was called away with his band and Josh is staying in his place. Josh, an adult entertainment celebrity, with his gentle nature and ridiculous good looks turns out to be not what Clara expected at all. This book started a teeny bit slow, but then the steam dial was turned all the way up for the remainder and I am here for it! Well written and a fun read.

This one ended up being very average for me, but since this is the author's debut, I'd like to give her future books a shot. The Roommate had some humor, it had some steam, and I definitely think people are going to like this one. I just did not feel a connection between the hero and the heroine, which is the biggest part of a romance novel for me. It was well written, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future, I just wanted more from the characters this time.

Clara discovers romantic and business potential when she meets porno heartthrob Josh in this raunchy contemporary romance.

Who knew I would like a romance with a porno star as one of the main leads? I prefer romances where the main romantic partners are sexual with only one another, and, by its very definition, the adult industry involves sex with lots of different people outside the main romance. However, this story balances Josh’s business and his growing romance with Clara in a surprising and fun way. While Josh’s story is interesting, Clara’s character growth is dazzling. Her ability to transcend her preconceived notions of herself and others to become a successful career woman and entrepreneur truly inspired me.

As you can imagine, this book is sexually explicit. Not only does it explore Clara and Josh’s evolving physical relationship, but it explores the nature of sex and sexual freedom in the adult entertainment industry and in society. The topic could have been overwhelming, but it was handled with class and style. The humor is also alive and well in this novel with lots of laugh-out-loud moments.

tl;dr A raunchy rom-com that delivers excellent character growth and loads of humor.

I’d been hearing a lot about this book on other vlogs. So I was excited to read it.
I was so worried because the heroine is quite a doormat in the beginning but I continued on.
Well, let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed!
I laughed out loud more than once. And the chemistry is steamy.
I’ll be looking for more books by Rosie Danan!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

This may be my first book by Rosie Danan but I expect it won't be my last. I loved this story! Not only did the characters seem real (admittedly I don't know anyone in Josh's industry) but the story was engaging. I loved the banter between Clara and Josh and the fact that they were such polar opposites had me interested in what would happen from page one.

Holy steamy McSteamerson! When I say steamy, I mean this book was steammmmmyyyyyyyy! Get out the fan for this one!

On a serious note, have you ever read a story about a main character who was just the biggest cinnamon roll ever AND a porn star? I do not think most of us have until Rosie Danan blessed us with novel. The main female protagonist Clara was the shiest, sweetest character that I think I have ever read. Reading her budding relationship with the male protagonist Josh was adorable. The way Josh helped Clara come out of her shell and way Clara helped Josh realize that he was worth more than others made him feel really just made this whole novel.

I feel like this book was the perfect mix of steamy and sweet. I cannot wait to pick up Rosie Danan’s next release!

Big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for granting my wish on this book!

Sometimes the risks you take may not always pay off in the ways you expect. Clara took a huge risk leaving her life to follow her childhood crush and now she's not certain it is going to pay off. especially when she finds out her roommate is in a risky business. The Roommate is a romcom that mixes the step ford wives and Magic Mike. Danan gives humor, romance, steamy love scenes but does not shy away from the taboo subjects in pornography. Danan tackles the genderism in the adult industry which caters to male interests rather than the female. Clara is the stereotypical romance lead and is countered perfectly by Josh. He is the right amount of Magic Mike and guy next door. Even with the great chemistry, they do lack a little substance when it comes to depth and history. Most of the interaction is shallow and can be a little on the side of predictable. But the fast paced plot and 50 Shades sexual innuendos help to keep the reader engaged.

Thank you for letting me read this book. It was getting a lot of notice and I was curious. While the book had a great premise, I didn't like Clara. To me she felt like a doormat -- I didn't feel that she really grew by the end of the book. I gave this 3 stars -- no review -- on Goodreads.

Clara moves across the country to take a chance with her childhood love. When he ditches her, she meets her new roommate Josh. Josh is in the adult entertainment industry and what ensues is a forced-proximity dream. I really enjoyed this one. I read a lot of reviews about it being steamy - and it was, plenty of open-door sex scenes, but nothing over the top to me. I think the fact that the book is about sex-positivity and has a character who is a porn star might be why it's getting a lot of reviews about being SOO steamy. Maybe I was just expecting more. I loved the story, the journey the characters took and I just really liked THEM. Definitely recommend The Roommate!

this one...was kind of difficult for me to like? I think the marketing tried to do a fast one on us like the kiss quotient? It was a lot steamier than expected which is fine but the whole plotline with his career is a bit much if kept under wraps. I hated how our main female character treated our main male character in the end. GOD!!!

Rosie Danan writes a captivating story of two unlikely roommates turned more than roommates. While I didn't quite jive with the ending, I loved the characters and can't wait to read the follow-up!

Thank you Berkley for granting this book from my wishlist request. This book is super steamy and fun. I’ll be honest that the premise of the male lead being a porn star didn’t appeal to me so I wasn’t sure if I would like it, but I heard so many good things about this book. I’m glad I read it. It promotes female empowerment and tackles the stereotypes and negatives about the porn industry. Clara and Josh are a great opposites attract couple and Naomi is sassy and fun. Looking forward to the next book which focuses on Naomi. I hope we get some Josh and Clara cameos!

Spicy! This book generated a lot of discussion at our romance book club. Can’t wait to see more from this author,

This book was cute. A bit sexier than I thought it would be from the cover, but I guess when your leading man is a porn star, you should be prepared for some well-written sex scenes. I really liked Clara and Josh together, and though the premise was a bit far-fetched at times, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

I had a huge reading hangover after finishing this book; it might be the most perfect romance I've ever read (and that's definitely my favorite genre). Multilayered, sympathetic characters, and intriguing story arc that I haven't seen before, and really strong writing. I can't wait to read more from Rosie Danan!

Thank you Berkeley Romance & NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review!

----

I was not surprised to find out that The Roommate is ENTERTAINING AF. I was laughing and completely obsessed with the tension between Clara and Josh. This might be the most tension focused romance novel I've ever read which I loved - you truly believe the reasons for why they can't be together but want so badly to be. Josh is a porn star; Clara comes from a wealthy, East-Coast socialite family. I loved this dynamic, and it's what kept me reading the entire way through.

This is also one of the most sex positive romance novels I've ever read, completely geared towards female pleasure, and female pleasure only. I completely appreciate how much so this novel breaks the stigma and stereotypes of sex workers and the sex industry. But, at the same time: I felt the steam factor to be a little over the top, which possibly did the opposite effect that this book was trying to accomplish - it made me take the plot line less seriously. I seriously questioned whether these two could actually make it as a couple; I wish the author spent a little more time developing the emotional relationship as much as the physical, because to me, it felt a little unbalanced. I'm not a huge fan of the fact that Clara completely changes her life plan, and everything she knows just because she falls in love. Trust me,I totally get wanting to separate from her uptight family. But .... PORN? Maybe I just needed a deeper motivation from her.

Whoa steam! Don't be fooled by the cutie cute cover (which is one of my favorites, by the way) because this one is a wild ride! See what I did there? ;)

4.5 for an overall blast of a time--I dropped a half star because I felt like the plot was not fully developed until the last few chapters. I also wanted more character development throughout!

It is worth noting that this entire novel centers around the adult entertainment industry. Sometimes that can be a trigger or uncomfortable for readers and it isn't mentioned in the synopsis.

The roommate trope was done right from debut author Rosie Danan in her novel called The Roommate under the new adult genre!

What I liked about this book was the fact that I'm reading about a change in circumstance/trope. I usually watch & read kinds of media (books/tv/films) where the boy is rich and the girl is poor especially in Asian dramas. Reading this book made me think that this is a unique take in a romantic story which involves the "roommate trope" (also found in some Asian dramas).

In terms of plot/story, I thought this was a cute, soft, funny, and romantic story. It stars a smart rich girl + a poor boy who happens to be a, dare I say it, stripper. I guess this is one of the comedic aspects in the story. The reader is left with a "so, will they or won't they be together?" type of question because they're both from different worlds + rich girl has another crush so how will this all work out? You'll have to read to find out!

This seems exciting upon starting the novel but the long I read this book, the more I gravitate towards other novels. I either am not part of the demographic the novel caters to (albeit I'm old enough to read NA), or I really am just not in the mood for this kind of story. There were lots of ups and downs, a bit slow-paced, and I may or may not be entirely certain if I wholly ship these two characters. I think it could have been more entertaining but it didn't really have much of an effect on me. I think other people have different experiences so I'd say give it a try before judging the book.