I'm not sure how to rate this. I was intrigued by the story and read it very quickly. This was partly because of the prologue which read like sexual assault (not a panic attack - which you don't find out about for a long time) and I needed to know the woman was safe, I genuinely thought she was leaving her relationship so suddenly because of SA. I was rooting for Aari and Caleb and then the last few chapters happened. By the end, the characters are so unlikeable. It definitely ends feeling very unfinished.

The book covers a lot of good (BIPOC, anxiety) and bad (DV that's ignored and joked about, racism). A few of the characters feel half formed (why is Tim bringing flowers when he loves his wife?) and like they've been added for conflict (Luciana and Genevieve, Piers). I finished the book hours ago and I'm getting more and more bothered by the content of the book.

I don't know if I want to know what's going to happen next. I can already tell from the description of book 2 that I'm not going to enjoy it, having read about Melissa in this book - especially her actions at the end of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. (Although the review is a little delayed!)

Ola Tundun's "Roommates" is a captivating exploration of friendship, personal growth, and the dynamics of shared living. Set in a vibrant urban backdrop, the novel follows a diverse group of roommates as they navigate the highs and lows of cohabitation. Tundun's writing is engaging and perceptive, skillfully delving into the complexities of each character's background and relationships. The story is rich with humor, emotional depth, and insightful observations about human connection. "Roommates" is a delightful and thought-provoking read that offers a fresh perspective on the bonds formed within the intimate space of shared living.

Whew these some of the most unlike characters I’ve come across. FMC kept making one dumb decision after the other and never held accountable. Instead everyone kept infantilizing her smh. Then we have the MMC who was an asshole not the even the fun kind from the get go.

The cover is cute. The book is repetitive and I didn't connect with the characters on any level. I personally won't be recommending this book. But I hope others enjoy it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
This was a great book and I'll be purchasing it for the library.

An enjoyable read which captures the depths of friends to lovers. It captures the nuances of dating and the complexities of life.

Thank you for my earc of this book. I wanted to live this but I couldn’t get on with it at all. I didn’t feel with the characters and the chemistry fell flat for me so I DNF

Don’t let this cutesy book cover fool you. This book is atrocious. The characters are all super toxic. Caleb is a steaming pile of garbage. He is so mean to Ariella, and while she’s not the best character either, she doesn’t deserve to be belittled by a stupid man-child. It’s bad enough that women have to endure this crap in real life. We don’t also need to read about it.

I would thank NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy in exchange for my honest opinion, but I’m sorry I even requested this. This is one of the worst books I’ve read in a long time and after the run of bad books I’ve been on recently, that’s really saying something.

I wanted to love this because the premise seemed promising but in the end it fell flat for me and I had to push myself to finish. I think the makings of a great story are here but, unfortunately, this was a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

This was a delightful book with a fun and enjoyable plot and great chemistry! This is a great book to pick up for a light-hearted and funny read.

I loved this book and the sequel so much!! I definitely will be looking for more books by this author and will recommend this book! Such a sweet, rom-com book!

3✨

BIPOC author. Debut author. Dual POV. Anxiety rep. Workplace romance. Boy falls first.

Roommates is about Arielle, a woman with the perfect life (good job, fiance, etc., etc.) who one night shows up at her philandering co-workers, Caleb’s, place and asks him to rent his spare room.

I have so many feelings about this one. I’ll start in the middle because this was my favorite part. I went from hating Caleb and being undecided about Arielle to loving them both together. The character arc up until 90% of the novel was impeccable. The banter in this story was giving! Not gonna lie, I laughed out loud in several occasions. I loved their relationship and the slow-burn nature of it, and the mental health rep was well-executed. I also appreciated the rep of an abusive relationship with a female perpetrator. It did a good job of depicting something a lot of people think is rare or can’t happen, and I thought the handling of it was flawed in a way honest to the characters.

While there was so much I enjoyed about this book, the beginning and the end definitely hurt my enjoyment of the book. The most glaring issue was that the book was just way too long. 400+ pages for a romance definitely became painful at times. Another thing that didn’t work for me was the narrative style. There was so much telling as opposed to showing, especially at the beginning. I found myself slogging through pages of info dump backstory that muted the pacing of the book. I also struggled with the same event being recounted from both points of view. It read like an unnecessary “Previously on,” and hurt the pacing of the story more than it helped the progression of the narrative. The character arc was difficult to swallow. I went from disliking to loving to hating the main characters. It was emotional whiplash in the most devastating way possible. My biggest hangup, however, was the ending. It left me frustrated and unsatisfied. Don’t get me wrong I like a bitter sweet ending, but this ending was just annoying.

Altogether, there was a lot to like about this book and a lot of issues. I’ll admit that some of the hangups I had with this story was owing to the fact that I didn’t know that there was going to be a sequel (which felt wholly unnecessary after the 400+ page chonker of a first book.) You should definitely know that there is a sequel to this book so as not to be as frustrated by the end. I’d consider reading the next book, but for now, I definitely need a break from the characters.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes any/all of its various tropes (workplace romance, boy falls first, interracial romance, etc.), likes or doesn’t mind dual POV, and can hang with a lengthier romance novel.

Much thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Roommates is a close proximity grump/sunshine slow burn romance. It features co-workers Ariella Mason and Caleb Black who at first only know each other in passing. That is until Ariella shows up in Caleb's office asking about his posting in the break room looking for a new roommate. She is the exact opposite of what he is looking for in a roommate but, he can tell that she is desperate so he decides to give her a chance.

Prior to Ariella needing a new place to live, it looked like she had the perfect life. She had a good job, a nice house, and a fiancée'. All of that changes one day when she realizes that what is planned out for her future is not truly what she wants and she lives it all behind. Her plan is to use Caleb's apartment as a hideaway while she continues to work and figure out what her next step is. Admittedly she knows nothing about him and he knows nothing about her which is why she thinks that it will be the perfect arrangement. She just didn't expect there to be an attraction between them.

Caleb is a douchecanoe. I tried to like him but every time I started to think he was going to be redeemable, he went and did something stupid that made him revert back to the same arrogant player. His attraction to Ariella confuses him because she is nothing like what he normally would go for. The attraction also makes him nervous because it forces him to wonder if he is actually good for her. He has never had to think of this before, and while it does make him think of his behavior, his actions do not change.

Ariella makes this huge decision to move away from her "perfect" life and start over yet she comes across as completely naïve. As the reader, I could tell that she had always been a little bit coddled as she was growing up. She has never really had to make a decision for herself until she steps away from everything and even then she's not ready to accept the consequences for her actions. At first, I wanted to be like "you go girl, you reclaim your life!" but the more the story progressed the more I was like "seriously girl? you're still doing this? have you not learned anything yet?". It was just very frustrating as a reader.

The other part that was frustrating as a reader was how repetitive everything was. The story is told is in a dual point of view but instead of moving the story forward it felt like it was back stepping to include both points of view on something that happens between Ariella and Caleb. For example, anything spicy that may happen between them was usually told in two chapters, one from each of their points of view. I understand why Ola Tundun wrote the story like this but, I think there was a better way to do it. Instead of two chapters, each from one characters point of view regarding what just happened, I think it could have been done where the event happen in one point of view, and then aftermath in the other characters point of view. This would have also helped move the story along instead of it feeling like the same thing over and over again

I had so much hope for Roommates based on the synopsis but unfortunately it did not live up it. There were several times when I felt like I was forcing myself to finish a chapter hoping that it was going to get better. Overall, it just didn't though. I felt no real growth from these characters which made it hard for me wanting them to be together. Plus, the ending is a total cliff hanger which I was NOT expecting. There was nothing to indicate this story was going to have a sequel and honestly I have very little interested in seeing how it is all going to end.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF at 47% I started it last year and tried picking it up again earlier this but I the ick had set in. Caleb was too much of an arsehole to stomach. Ariella was too passive and made too many stupid decisions. Also, who randomly involves themselves in their roommate's family drama? I get that it was meant to show how nice and caring Ariella is, but it just came off as weird and unrealistic. And frankly it was reckless when she doesn't know these people from Adam.

2.75 stars

1/23/24 I truly don’t know how I feel about this! The FMC was driving me crazy. I’ve never been so annoyed by someone’s indecisiveness. I don’t even want to go into the other characters. I was also pissed that this is apparently 3 books! Why? I will update this review when after I sit with my thoughts for a few days.

1/31/24

After sitting with my thoughts, I don't think I will be moving forward with this series. Below are my thoughts.

Tropes:
- Forced Proximity
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Slow Burn

Pros:

This book held my attention for the first half of the book as I was getting to know the characters. Surprisingly, I loved the angst between Caleb and Ariella. I didn't think I would believe their chemistry when the book started because Caleb was a straight play boy and she was a prissy, sheltered and did not understand the way the world worked. I loved how close Ariella was to her family and the way they loved each other was super cute.

Cons:

I don't even know where to start. Ariella was dead wrong for what she did to her fiancé and so called best friend. If I was him, I would have dropped kicked her on sight. Instead of explaining her fears, she ran, played around and then wanted to try a relationship with him again. Then Caleb low key kept calling her ugly and then we are supposed to believe he all of a sudden stopped messing with his pretty blondes and fell for her. Also, how in the heck did Caleb get mad when she slept with his ex when he slept with the heiress. I was so over both of their games.

Again, this story had me for a little while although I was annoyed with the characters. I really wanted to see a happy ending. I honestly don't see why this story should be dragged out into 3 books. I know I said I won't pick up the second one and maybe one day I will change my mind. As of right now I am stopping with this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for sending me this free arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the first one of the series and i constantly find myself being kinder to the first books of a series because they have to set the world for the other stories to follow, and the author did such a good job setting that world that i am afraid to read the follow stories because how you keep up with that and do it better, who am i kidding i will read it.

The characters and the story is just SO GOOD.

The main characters have annoyed me a lot and I can't stand the miscommunication trope at all, it's awful because I'm reading like ??? wondering how is it possible that adults are not capable of talking things out in a normal way. However, I found the way the dual POV is done to be very good.

☆ Thanks to Ola Tundun, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC ☆

Book one in Roommates series and it's a great book a good laugh and funny characters.
If you want a laugh pick up this book. Can't wait to read book 2

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this read. I am not sure why this review was not posted as I read it before the second book and it should have been posted. This was a good book and it was entertaining.

❄️ Mini Book Review ❄️

Title: Roommates
Author: Ola Tundun
Series: Roommates, #1
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Release: September 20, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ebook | Audiobook
Length: 417 pages
Finished: January 2nd, 2023
Thoughts:

Oh my goodness, OH MY GOODNESS! What a way to start the new year. I have no idea what I was expecting, but this book took my soul for the day. I literally sat at 6pm and finished this book at 1am with maybe two breaks. It was THAT GOOD. This is one of those series that needs to be a movie or a tv show. I need this on the screens pronto!

The feeling of the story and chemistry between Caleb and Ariella is so real. SO REAL. This could happen to you or your best friend, and having that feeling that you can relate made me love it so much more. Ola is a fantastic writer with such a beautiful observant style. She builds the scenes around you, instills the feeling of the MCs within you. It was such a delightful reading experience. I am a fan! She is now Autobuy for me!

Caleb is an absolutely sexy MMC. Not because of sex appeal alone, but because of his heart and when he recognized he loved that girl…woo! Nothing was going to stop him! Ariella, our FMC, is so pure, trusting, and humble. Because she was constantly surrounded by such a protective loving family, when she recognized that she wanted to go out into the world and find out who she is, you have to root for her. She cares soooo much about everyone and everything and seeing people try to hurt and manipulate her broke my heart. But she is such a strong woman who truly fought for her own. I LOVED THAT!

I read along with the audiobook and the narrator, Savannah Davies was fantastic! I really hope she narrates the sequel, Complicated.

The ending broke my heart for Caleb (it is also triggering moment) and I hope to explore that situation more in the sequel. I want to avenge my boy!!! Luckily I have the ARC for “Complicated” and will start that ASAP. I highly recommend this series.