I loved Rosie and Lucas. We met Rosie in the Spanish Love Deception and she was a good friend to Lina. I was not a huge fan of that book, but I am always willing to give second chances. This book did not disappoint!
The premise of the story is what drew me in to give the author’s second book a chance. Overall, I found the writing an improvement.
Rosie needs a place to stay and goes to Lina’s. Lucas needs a place to stay and also ends up at Lina’s. There is only one bed… and a couch, The best part of the story is the friendship that results from this arrangement. As Rosie tries to get through a rather stagnant writing period, Lucas helps her by taking her on fake dates. Being a romance novel, the reader knows what’s coming. Lucas wins over your heart (or did mine) from the very beginning - but his dates, *swoon*. The fun part for the reader is that they don’t go perfectly, so tensions are kept taught. I loved that this book was in a dual perspective. This gave the reader a chance to experience double the amount of enjoyment. If I have one compliant, it’s the use of the word ‘fuck’. I found there dynamic didn’t warrant what I think of as a rather vulgar term for the encounters between our two protagonists. I forgive this since the rest of the book was so much fun for me. My favorite ‘moment’ definitely has to be bathroom stall scene at the masquerade ball.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I should begun this review by saying that I was not the biggest fan of The Spanish Love Deception for various reasons, but because I love a sequel, I was pumped to receive an ARC of The American Roommate Experiment. In my opinion, this second novel by Elena Armas was a step up.

Some differences between them for those considering reading:

-Unlike TSLD I thought this book had much better editing and some of the verbose, run on sentences that I disliked previously were no longer a thing. This book is still long by romance/women's fiction standards at 400 pages, and it definitely could have been cut down a little, but it did not drag on as long for me this time.
-Another huge upgrade for me was the lack of repetition of descriptors for the main characters. I didn't have to hear how tall Aaron was or read about blue his eyes were 500 times and I loved it.
-Once again, Armas loves to use pet names but at least this time there were 4 different pet names instead of the same one over and over again!
-This was a slow burn in the way that the characters did really begin the romance until 80% of the way through the novel but they both realize by 10% in that they are interested in each other so there's a lot of stepping around that and each other
-This author loves a trope, and this novel uses almost every one, but some are thrown in and not really used, they're just...there

Overall, it was a quick read and always fun to continue with characters you've already read about, but it was nothing super original. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

4.5/5?

this was cute. so slow tho for what

their relationship was cute but I also feel like lucas personality just wasn’t anything besides from “omg dreamy man who does all the right things”

also he doesn’t grovel at all and I am sad to have missed that


overall super cute and cheesy. just a fun summer romance go read :)

This is such a cute and sweet rom com! If you loved The Spanish Love Deception, you’ll love this one!

It’s filled with fake dating, one bed, slow burn romance, a dog named Taco and mental health awareness.

I already want to read it again!

My only complaint was that it might have been too slow..80% of it was slow and clean. The last 20% was a total 180 and hot and heavy and open door romance. Which is fine!! But to switch that much that fast gives you a little whiplash.

This book was amazing! It's definitely my new comfort book. Rosie is such a strong and lovable character, I'm so glad we got a book about her story. The romance was amazing and the dual POV really added a cherry on top. I loved the ending and I'm going to make all my friends read it when it comes out.

"The American Roommate Experiment" is an excellent follow up to last year's "The Spanish Love Deception." In "Experiment," spunky Rosalyn winds up sharing a studio apartment with her best friend's dreamy Spanish cousin Lucas. They are both endearingly cheery people going through big life changes--readers can't help but to root for them to find happiness. For fans of "The Spanish Love Deception," this definitely won't disapoint. It has the kind of swoony moments that made "Deception" a hit. Additionally, it benefits from feeling a little more realistic. Lucas is written as more of accessible character than "Deception's" mega-broody Aaron Blackford.

I loved this book! This book does get a 5 star rating from me but I won't be purchasing for our school as it is a little too steamy.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

What didn't I love about this book? I love a good slow burn and this novel was that to a tee. Toss that in with some forced proximity and fake dating and you have all the makings of a great romance novel! Rosie and Lucas were so easy to root for (seriously, I loved them both so much) from the "experimental dates" to "Cronut you" and the grand gestures—it was all so sweet. As well, there was a good mix of steamy scenes and parts that made me both tear up and laugh out loud that it made for a great read!

However, I do wish there was a bit more done with Olly's storyline as it sometimes felt like it was thrown in haphazardly and didn't appear to get the care that it deserved (in my opinion). I wish the family dynamic between Olly and Rosie was explored a little more!

But overall, I absolutely loved this and would recommend to anyone in need of a delightful, light, romance novel!

I really loved this book. It definitely had a different feel than the author’s first book, but I really enjoyed it. I have never been a huge fan of dual narrators, but it really worked here, and I found myself wanting to hear from both Lucas and Rosie. If you love a slow burn and the forced roommates trope, you will love this one! I also really love books that share a universe but can stand alone. (And I also loved getting to check in with Lina and Aaron in this one!) A great read that has made the top of my 2022 list!

What an amazing book, I did not want to put it down!

My favorite books are rom com with a dash of depth. She had the perfect slow burn to their love story with dealing with an injury and recovering. I love the glimpse of the couple we fell in love with in her first book.

Forced proximity, fake dating and a romance writer main character make for a great romance novel. Rosie temporarily moves to her best friend's apartment while work is done on her NYC apartment. To her surprise, her best friend Lina guaranteed the apartment to her cousin Lucas, who is visiting from Spain. Rosie and Lucas make an experimental living and dating arrangement to help Rosie get her romance writing block. Their friendship and dating experiments send sparks flying.

unfortunately i could not finish this book. i stopped at 25%. i loved spanish love deception but this one is just not doing it for me. i am finding the characters (only 2 since we really only hear about/from other characters so far and don’t actually meet them) to be really boring. i encourage everyone, especially SLD fans, to try this book out, but i just wasn’t interested in the stories or characters.

This book was AMAZING.

I loved The Spanish Love Deception, and I loved that the author is expanding in that world. Rosie and Lucas' story was so cute, and I loved the side appearances of Lina and Aaron and the little updates on their lives after their story.
My favourite part about this book is that you can really see the authors improvement in writing (not that there was anything wrong with Spanish Love Deception!) and I loved the added feature of the dual POV of both Rosie and Lucas, it really gave details for both sides of the story.

I'd definitely recommend this book, and I've already been talking about it to all my customers at work whenever I see them looking at The Spanish Love Deception!

I just recently read Elena Armas first novel, The Spanish Love Deception, so I was very excited to have the chance to read an arc of her second and I loved the characters of Rosie and Lucas so much. I found this to be a more delightful read than I expected and the romance of it all was so fun. Great moments and nice to see familiar characters return. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion

I loved the Spanish Love Deception so much, which is why I’m sad this didn’t hit as hard for me. I loved the premise. I mean, roommates and fake dating? Couldn’t get better. But the third act breakup (a trope I always hate) felt so unnecessary and drawn out. And there wasn’t enough time with Lucas and Rosie after they got together for real.

I loved the characters but the romance itself took a bit too long for me. It was like both the love interests were oblivious/denying their attraction to each other. And the side plot with Rosie's brother, although very moving, I didn't think it really fit into the story very well. Every time we moved away from Rosie and Lucas, I just got bored, even more so than I was when they were "together." The fact that it took 80% of the book for them to finally admit feelings for each other just pulled me out of the story. Now if it were an angsty 80%, that would be a different story. But nope the 80% was cute, but lackluster.

Cute, funny and super sexy. I loved the snarky character banter and always love the reluctant roommates to lovers trope.

Such a fun story! I think I found myself cheering these two on, even more so than in The Spanish Love Deception!
I really wanted them to figure it out and find a way to be together!

LUCAS! I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! I loved how incredibly sweet and attentive Lucas was to Rosie. Can you please come to my house Lucas?! Cook me all the meals and come up with super cute and creative dates? I actually loved it more than The Spanish Love Deception (which I also really, really liked)! You will see a return of characters from the author's first book and it will bring a smile to your face to catch up with Lina and Aaron. The care and love that Lucas and Rosie have for one another is really sweet to read.

Slow Burn story! But oh so good! I loved that while the story obviously has a HEA it wan't easy/clean to get there.

If you like friends who become lovers, somewhat fake dating/close proximity and warm fuzzies-- this is a great read.

Thank you NetGalley s for this ARC for my honest review!

I was so excited to see this available! I thought Lina and Aaron were goals, but I was so so wrong. For some reason I connected with this one more than the first. There was something about Rosie and her self doubt that was so real. And Lucas... Holy Mother of God. He might be the best book boyfriend ever. This was so good. I would give it a million stars if I could.