Cassie feels like a failure: her art career isn't taking off, she's working part-time jobs outside of her field to make ends meet, and she's being evicted. So, when she sees a listing on craigslist for a roommate in a gorgeous lake-side home for $200, it seems too good to be true. However, Cassie is desperate, so she goes to see the place and meet her potential roommate and decides to move in. Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is extremely odd and old-fashioned, but well-meaning, kind, and she barely sees him anyway. The two start leaving notes for each other (because they're on totally opposite schedules) and slowly become friends...and possibly more. But it all goes to hell when Cassie runs back home early because she forgot something and discovers that Frederick has been keeping a secret: he's a vampire. Frederick convinces Cassie to help him assimilate to the modern world after he's been in a coma for the past 100 years.

The first half *really* grabbed my attention, but it slowly started losing it as the book went on. I enjoyed reading their letters back and forth, and Frederick's journal entries, but I felt there was an odd tonal shift once it was revealed that Frederick was a vampire. I started skipping paragraphs and just wanting to get the the conclusion.

The ending felt like a little bit of a let-down: Edwina was defeated in such a prompt manner, it felt like there wasn't much of a conflict at all. Cassie's constant insecurities bothered me, and the fact that Frederick immediately put Cassie on a pedestal felt somewhat juvenile. I wish the book had focused more on Frederick adjusting to his new time period.

This book is definitely for someone, but it wasn't necessarily me. I do think my library will be purchasing this title.

Romance novels are generally not plot heavy, but that is usually not an issue if there is great characterization and banter. Unfortunately, I was not enamored with most of the characters in this book. Including the leads. Cassie was fine, but I want more than fine in a lead.

I really started heavily struggling through the material around the 35% mark and and think it would have benefitted from much tighter editing as there were quite a few inconsistencies.

Ultimately i think the bones are there to make a great book but this needs some work to bring that out. I am interested in seeing if the next book is an improvement.

A huge thank you to Berkeley for the ARC

This started off very promising for me. But when the reveal happened, it became too formulaic for me. The nostalgia vibes of the early aughts vampire craze phase were very apparent here and I feel this book would have flourished then. Now however I need a bit more substance to a PNR. There was no real plot until roughly 50% and then the conflict was wrapped up so quickly. It read like the author was setting up all these options and then remember that they had to rush to get to a conflict and ending.

Despite what the above said it was a cute read and it is definitely breach read material that will be popular. But nothing made it stand out for me or differentiate it from any other vampire novels that came before it. .

Go ahead and pick this up if you like romance, vampires, and/or Austen-esque heroes.

Or if you’re on this page, really. I truly think this book has something for everyone!

Because the premise lands, folks- Cassie needs a new place to live that’s affordable, and due to a hilarious error, she winds up living with Frederick, who is very obviously a vampire.

And an anachronistic one— he doesn’t know what WiFi is or how to take out the trash, and he dresses in 3-piece suits.

But he’s also an utter cinnamon roll, and a sexy one, to boot.

He falls for Cassie fast, encouraging her with her art, and she opens up to him as she navigates figuring out her career.

Cassie is learning who she wants to be, and Freddie is learning *how* to be in the 21st century. It’s absolutely heart-warming, and really a cozy urban fantasy. Is that a genre? It should be!

I loved this book’s warmth, its pacing, and its humor. I never wanted to put it down, but I was also never stressed— only delighted with these lovable characters.

This Chicago-set world needs more stories in it! I’ll wait patiently.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for an advance copy!

This book will be published on August 29th, 2023.

I had been nervous going into this due to some mixed reviews I had heard but I thought let's give it a shot! And I thought it was a quirky, fun rom com!

I am not sure that I believed that they were lovers as it definitely came across as more friends especially as Cassie was trying to help Frederick become modern which I thought was a cute idea for the author to have. But of course I was living for them falling for each other. I love the relationship that Cassie and Frederick developed throughout the book & how they connected by leaving notes for each other.

Sometimes you just need an easy breezy read and this was it for me. If you are expecting a Twilight like book, this is not it. The only part that may be compared that I can remember is when they do become intimate and he doesn't want to hurt her.

I am looking forward to see what is next for Jenna! And hoping that maybe she will do a book for Reginald as he was such a great side character.

Also bonus - love to hear my city mentioned when talking about Taylor Swift

If you are looking for a not so serious romance that include a vampire trying to live in modern times - this is for you!

Swoon: 2/10
Karaoke: Sadly no

My Roommate Is a Vampire follows Cassie Greenberg, who loves being an artist. Unfortunately, art doesn’t pay the rent, so on the brink of eviction, Cassie decides to find herself a roommate. When she answers the ad for a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful neighbourhood, Cassie can’t believe her luck: there has to be something wrong with the apartment. As it turns out, there is a catch. Her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam may be charming and talks like he’s walked out of a regency era novel, but there are secrets he hides, one in particular, as Cassie realises when she finds bags of blood stocked in their shared fridge…and suddenly, there’s more at stake than just her new accommodations as Frederick proposes a deal unlike any other.

My Roommate Is a Vampire had a lot going for it. With a fun premise, kooky characters, and some very fun interactions, the novel definitely had me invested. I loved how awkward Frederick was and how he tried to learn “how to be human” in this very contemporary setting he wasn’t used to at all. Cassie, meanwhile, has a true passion for her art and is willing to stand up for her values and her talent when people try to tell her that making a living with art isn’t what she should be pursuing. Together, Cassie and Frederick had an interesting chemistry and their set-up as roommates caused many hilarious incidents, one of them being Cassie finding out Frederick’s little secret.

Overall, I did have some issues with the novel though. For one, the characters felt a bit one-dimensional. Cassie defines herself through her art and Frederick’s personality was very much based on him being a vampire and his past that the reader learns on very late, which made him a charming but almost interchangeable love interest. There are of course a lot of funny moments with him googling certain things he doesn’t know or asking his friend for help on how to be “hip” but through that, the reader doesn’t really get to know him.

I also did wish that the vampire aspect was better connected to the overall plot of the novel. Frederick’s backstory is quite important, yet comes in quite late after teasing it many times which might count as a slow burn but feels frustrating at a certain point.

While it also impacts the romance, it often feels quite distanced from the overall story arc and makes other plot lines and scenes between for example Cassie and her friends (or Cassie and her love for art) struggle to live up to their full potential because the connections between it all aren’t as clear as they could be.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed Levine’s witty writing and especially Frederick’s dry humour, his attempt at acclimating to the contemporary world and his clear devotion to making Cassie happy right from the beginning. If you ever wanted a roommate who knows how to compromise, you’re sure to fall head over heels for Frederick.

Lovers of paranormal romance and the and they were roommates trope will find a delightful romp in My Roommate Is a Vampire.

One-word review: Charming
Emojis: 🧛🏻‍♂️💞👱🏻‍♀️
Rating: 4🌟s

My thoughts:

The mention of Buffy the Vampire Slayer hooked me! The comparison delighted me, and the story kept me laughing and entertained for the entire evening, primarily when Cassie and Fredrick worked on getting him caught up with societal workings. He’s been asleep for 100 years thanks to a curse and has no idea how to blend in on the streets of Chicago.

The story is relatively fast-paced, but there is one part that I would like to have seen more developed, and that was the last big scene before the HEA. It was full of possibilities and provided the big tense moment in the story, which it needed. That type of thriller aspect is appropriate because of the vampires and adds a bit of zip to a sweet story. But it stopped short where it should have forged ahead.

However, the romance is fun, and there is a bit of spice with some open-door scenes. Also, the characters are well-developed for the story. I loved getting to know Cassie, an artist who works in a medium that isn’t understood by many, and Fredrick who is so old-timey and respectful that he’s a breath of fresh air. His letters to Cassie provided a charming break in the prose and gave insight into his character.

This is the perfect fall read for people who aren’t into horror but love romance and romantic comedies.

Cassie is a struggling artist who lives in Chicago, about to be evicted. She can’t believe her luck when she finds an apartment for rent that’s dirt cheap, and in a great neighborhood. With no other real options to speak of, but no high hopes either, she answers the ad.

When Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, her perspective roommate, responds confirming the room is indeed available, she still thinks he (and the situation) are batty, but agrees to Frederick’s terms. Since he sleeps all day, he asks for her to be quiet, and to steer clear of a few sacred spots in the apartment.

Although they barely see one another due to having opposite schedules, Frederick and Cassie begin to communicate through old school, handwritten notes. Cassie can’t help but to find the formal Frederick funny, even if he and his place are a bit odd. Meanwhile Frederick can’t help but to find himself enjoying Cassie’s company. Then Cassie comes home one day and makes a shocking discovery, turning everything to-quite literal-bloody hell.

My Roommate is a Vampire is an inventive rom com by debut author, Jenna Levine. The initial wacky premise worked, mainly due to the comical quips the “fish out of water” Frederick made. However, the second half of the book devolved a bit into typical spicy romance fare. While it’s hard to take vampire romances seriously, this still somehow this felt like a bit of a missed opportunity to really create an original romance readers could sink their teeth into.

Cassie is a struggling artist that finds herself soon to be evicted from her Chicago apartment. Her best friend shows her a “too good to be true” listing on Craigslist for a roommate in a perfect location for a ridiculous amount of rent . There has to be catch, nothing is this good and nothing this good ever happens to Cassie. After meeting the strange but incredibly handsome Frederick J Fitzwilliam, Cassie decides to throw caution to the wind and move in. There are a few rules that might be a red flag…he sleeps all day and must never be disturbed and there is a secret room that is completely off limits. On the flip side Frederick is as charming as he is handsome and begins to leave Cassie cute little notes around the apartment. That all comes crashing down when Cassie discovers bags of blood in the fridge.
She is justifiably frightened but the two come to an agreement that helps them both.

This started out so cute, and absolutely had me hooked. The relationship between Cassie and Frederick was really good but as their feelings developed and the conflict began it just kind of fell flat. There wasn’t enough tension or strong enough plot to propel the story forward. It was still fun and had some cute parts but I feel like it was missing a stronger storyline. Loved Reginald so I am hoping the next book will tell his story and will have more substance.


3 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Cassie agrees to be Frederick's roommate because of the low rent, the last thing she expects him to be is a vampire. When Frederick needs help adapting to the modern world, Cassie agrees to help him. Along the way, their roommate status turns into something more...

MY ROOMMATE IS A VAMPIRE by Jenna Levine is a fun and delightful story!

This book was so much fun! Cassie is sweet, if a bit naive, and down on her luck enough that she is willing to respond to an ad for a roommate that knows has to be either a creeper or a scam. She decides it’s worth checking out anyway and finds Frederick to be eccentric, but not actually creepy. However, once they’ve been roomies for a while, Cassie begins to notice that Frederick’s eccentricities seem to be adding up in one direction … but she’s also noticed he’s very attractive…now she has to decide what to do about it all.

See? A very fun premise that is executed on well! Levine’s characters have depth and the pacing of the book is great. I zoomed through this is just a couple of days.

What a delight. Cassie's about to be evicted (again) when she finds an ad for a roommate in a desirable area for only $200 per month! That's enough to let her continues working on her art while keeping herself going with multiple part time jobs. If the landlord Frederick seems a little odd, well, it's ok and they start a relationship via notes on the kitchen table. And then she comes home unexpectedly one day and discovers the refrigerator is suddenly filled with bags of blood. He's a vampire, a vampire who needs help understanding the modern world because he's 300 years old and was in a coma of sorts for the last 100. Once Cassie gets over the shock, she gets into the job and.....the two of them realize there's a real spark between them that will, never fear, get very steamy. Frederick's POV is provided via texts to his buddy. Cassie, for her part, acknowledges that her only knowledge of vampires comes via teen novels and old movies. To be fair, this skims over vampire issues (although that smell from the hall closet!) and that's ok because this is rom com. It's a hoot. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I almost skipped this one because, well, vampire, but that would have been a big mistake because I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

I am such a sucker for anachronistic vampires living in the modern world. I love how adorable Frederick J. Fitzwilliam was as he attempted to navigate the 21st century.

This book was charming and hilarious. The situations between Cassie and Frederick set the loveable tone throughout the entire book. Is it the best written? No, but I think the author does a fine enough job to make it funny and engaging.

Solid debut. I really enjoyed myself.

ooooh my god this was so much fun! i read it in one sitting it was so addicting. frederick and cassie are so cute and i loved getting to watch her teach him about the modern world. i appreciated the amount of Buffy content too. i cannot recommend this enough!

I really liked this one. I loved watching two very different worlds collide as a vampire learned how to be a 21st century human man. Cute romance, some nice spice (though I wanted more LOL). Excited for my patrons to read this.

This was SO CUTE!! I loved Fredrick from the get go, and Cassie was such a great protagonist! I loved the ending, though I won’t give details so as not to spoil… it was super fun, a little cliche in places but like - that adds to the charm!! I can’t wait to recommend this!!

Thank you to the publisher, the author, and netgalley for sending me the ARC.

Unfortunately i had to DNF at 53%
I truly tried to go on as the book is not bad but in all honesty i was bored out of my mind as nothing was happening. And i couldn’t do this for 50% more.
I went in expecting some good LOL moments, a Twilight “You’re a vampire” moment but alas, i was disappointed.
Will give the cover a 5/5 though.

What a fun and corny book! This is the true definition of a romantic comedy. I laughed out loud multiple times, and I quickly became invested in Cassie and Fredrick's relationship. From reluctant roommates to genuine friends the progression was excellent and over the top at the same time. This story was so lighthearted and carefree. It was impossible not to love every word on the page.

My Roommate Is a Vampire is a debut romance novel by Jenna Levine.

This book follows Cassie, a 30-something year-old woman who struggles to make a living as an artist. One day, she comes across a too good to be true ad that rents out a room for only $200 in one of the best neighborhoods in Chicago. Willing to risk it all for the price, Cassie moves in. The man renting the room out is eccentric and, truth be told, kind of weird. He only comes out at night (this is, in fact, a reference to Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo, even if the song does not relate to the story at all), has a set of rules to follow but seems like a decent person.

I really wanted to love this story because the premise is SO fun. Unfortunately, I did not.

I will start with Cassie, our main character, I don't think I vibed with her, unfortunately. I think I did not understand how she was so into Frederick when she just met him and didn't know who he truly was. It could be a me issue, however, because I need a lot of time to actually like a person. I felt like she jumped right into the feelings for him without explanation.

Next, Frederick. He was charming at first, but he quickly got on my nerves. I did not see what he saw in Cassie, and his infatuation with her was kind of creepy at times. I did find it adorable how they communicated at first, that was nice.

This book also mentions current apps like TikTok and media like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Taylor Swift. It felt forced, if I am being honest. And I say this as a big Taylor and Buffy fan.

Overall, the pacing felt off, I didn't feel the connection between the characters. I also didn't fall in love with any of the side characters, which is a bummer.

There is a spice scene, but it's lukewarm, to be honest.

Give this a go if you want an easy autumn read with minimal fantasy elements and quirky characters and laugh-out-loud moments.

3.5/5

Thank you, Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!

I didn’t expect to L O V E this book as much as I did!! An amazing debut by this author. This was easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given. I love vampires and I love rom coms so mix the two together and my heart is beyond happy 🥹🥰

♡︎ Forced Proximity
♡︎ Slow burn
♡︎ opposites attract
♡︎ Blood play 🧛‍♀️🩸

Such a cozy and cute paranormal romance. The low stakes and watching Fredrick navigate 21st century life was hilarious!! I genuinely laughed out loud many times and I couldn’t stop smiling. Cassie and Fredrick talking about Buffy the vampire slayer was one of my favourite scenes!!

Fredrick is an absolute cinnamon roll marshmallow vampire!! I adored him!! He made soup for Cassie, wore Kermit the frog pjs and watched kdramas on Netflix like HELLO how couldn’t you fall in love with him?????!! 😩😩😩

I really loved following Cassie as the main character. She was relatable and adorable. I loved how we get glimpses into Fredrick’s pov through his diary and notes at the beginning of each chapter!! it was the best parts😂🤭

I NEED this book physically in my hands gah 🥰🥰🥹🥹