Picking up where Roommates left off, we follow Ariella and Caleb as they publicly announce their relationship to their friends and family. Everything seems to be going great until someone from Calebs past shows up to the office of Ivory and Bow. Melissa has offered Ariella a job running the Singapore division of Ivory & Bow. Excited with the opportunity to explore a new country, and challenge herself at work, she accepts. Caleb is suspicious of the job offer and tries (and fails) to convince Ariella to decline. What follows next is an up and down rollercoaster of emotions while Ariella and Caleb try to work through their relationship problems.

I loved Roommates, and Complicated is no different! I can't wait to see how Ariella and Calebs relationship continues in the next book! Thanks so much to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

While I enjoyed this book overall, it had some parts I had trouble with. First off, when I requested this book from NetGalley I wasn’t aware it was book two of a series. I feel like it would have helped a lot to have book one since there is a lot of backstory that isn’t well covered at the beginning of this book. Over the first half of the book I felt like I had finally pieced together most of what I needed to know but some quick recapping would be useful for anyone really as there is time between releases and it’s hard sometimes to keep track of everything that happened before.

Lots happened too! This is a book filled to the brim with drama! The back and forth and will they, won’t they will keep you on the edge of your seat. Some of the drama felt a little too unrealistic to me. The whole Melissa thing about showing up and starting a business and threatening and manipulating two people into this twisted game she was playing felt far fetched. I decided just to enjoy it for what it was in the end.

Ariella is hard to like or root for. She is written to be this powerful, strong woman but she often makes decisions that make her seem weak willed or easily manipulated. I was surprised by her reactions throughout the book thinking she would do differently but I guess people are like that.

With the cliffhanger ending I’m not sure where this series is headed next but I’m sure it will be wild and filled with drama!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had a really hard time with this book, and I had high hopes. I do wish it was marked as the second in a series, because I did go google the book, saw it was a series, and find Roommates when I was 20% in and nothing made sense. Anyways, I wanted to love Ariella and Caleb but my god, that man was toxic. Not like okay can overlook this slightly, but like mean, vindictive, jealous toxic.
(SPOILER)

Now, I gave him a lot of grace bc of what happened with Melissa, but to go the entire book and not tell Aari about it? Even when she kept asking? It's really hard to root for him. Now that may have been the point, but after the first one, it seemed like Aari was going back into the patterns she left Jasper for? Like being a bit of a doormat and that was hard. Love and being pulled into toxic situations aren't easy, but none of her friends were really helpful, so it was hard to really finish and make it through this book.

Sometimes it felt like there were 3 different plot lines and none of them had resolution. I know there's another book coming, but everything felt a bit rushed? Like the fraud story was underlying then blew up and the resolution was a bit rushed. Melissa and Caleb and him not telling Aari was played the entire book, not resolved. Aari taking care of herself? Barely mentioned outside of how Caleb saw her and his girls. I had high hopes and maybe the finale will be better? Thanks to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for providing access to this copy.

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book that is so toxic - the main relationship, the friendships, and even the workplace and job. Everyone and everything was just so, so toxic.

I was tempted to DNF but stuck with it to the end - it just got more toxic with every page flip. I was hoping that a female COO of a company was going to be great girl power… sadly that’s where so much toxicity started. Caleb and Aari (even the spelling of the nickname annoyed me - Aari isn’t short for Ariella, why the double a??!) were completely toxic together.

I cannot suggest anyone else try this one. I didn’t read the first book and thought about it, and now glad I didn’t. This book gives us info about what toxic things happen in it. Sounds even worse.

2.5 stars very generously provided but really more on the lower end of 2. I read over 450 books last year and nothing was anywhere near what I just put myself through with this one. Save yourselves the time of 405 pages and read literally anything else!

I cannot say this enough - this series shouldn't have been two books, but three books is ridiculous. As I imagined, the storyline was crazy - -up and down - with constant break ups and back together as well as pure drama - this matched the first book
but the one thing that I can't deal with is the undoing of what was done - as in we move forward, and one decision or lie undoes the whole book and puts us back at square one to do again

I already didn't love the main characters, and the wrong things were focused on as far as each of their journeys.

I won't be reading book three - I was curious to read this one, but I am not crazy enough to put myself through book three.

This romance needs to end so we can be at peace.

This book is not for me; I was confused, the speed was all over the place, and I spent a lot of time in it saying, " But why did she/he do that?"

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. I couldn't stop reading this book due to its gripping tension and complex characters. Caleb, a former playboy, falls for Ariella, and with the addition of a mysterious investor, Melissa, drama ensues. I eagerly want to see if their love survives the challenges.

I enjoyed the characters and their complicated relationships. The mix of personal and professional challenges kept me hooked, even if some moments were frustrating.

This is the second book in the Roommates series and could be confusing without reading the first book. I am eagerly awaiting the third installment.

This was a big disappointment. It was messy(not the fun kind) and really hard to read. The story didn’t flow well, the characters were unlikable and borderline annoying. The only reason I managed to get through and not DNF was because it was an ARC *sigh*

But thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Loved this book by Ola mainly because it was about something completely different to many books on the market these days.

Roommates by Ola Tundan ended on a twisted yet hopeful note; Caleb and Ariella are still trying to navigate their relationship but with unique methodology. They have both stepped outside of their fledgling couple ship but handled the fallout in different ways: Ariella confessed her confused feelings AND the encounter while Caleb, in a mixture of trepidation and hurt, did not disclose Melissa’s manipulation and pressure. The next installment in this series is called Complicated. This title gives us only a mild hint at all the hijinks, gaslighting, subterfuge and pure evilness we will wade through! Caleb remains wonderfully broken; he wants to do better and be better but continues to self-sabotage. He had so many opportunities to be candid about situations but allowed Ariella to enter the business arena blind. However, Ariella more than rose to the challenge and her growth trajectory was inspiring to witness. The story ends on a cliffhanger, and we are all wondering what else does Melissa have in store and will other challenges come from other angles.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the E-ARC

❄️ Mini ARC Review #2 ❄️

Title: Complicated
Author: Ola Tundun
Series: Roommates, #2
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Release: January 5th, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ebook
Length: 406 pages
Finished: January 4th, 2023
Thoughts:

Happy Pub Day! Complicated is out today and again, another cliffhanger ending and now I’m desperate!!! What a series so far! And also again, I devoured this book in one sitting. “Complicated” sucked me in just as much as the first and man, the ride this book takes you on is a complete mind explosion 🤯

We continue to follow Ariella and Caleb as they navigate their relationship as well as their individual growth. This is what I LOVE SO MUCH ABOUT THIS SERIES! It is so REAL. I literally say this every time I tell someone about this book. It is so realistic in a way I haven’t seen in other contemporary romance novels. It is so HUMAN. It showcases growth, bad habits, betrayal, sadness, depression, victories, badass moves. Everything makes sense. Every MOVE makes sense. And the progression to making those choices and the consequences/successes after said choices is so smooth. Nothing in this book is choppy. Nothing made me think “wait, how did we get here?” Or “why did they make such a rash and random decision?”. This book is written so well. I am so so impressed.

I knew this book series would be one of my favorites and embed itself on my soul when Aari (Ariella’s nickname) is with Caleb after a big moment has happened and she watches the tears well up in his eyes and he “quickly pinches the top of his nose with his thumb and index finger”. That is such a natural human movement that is never really described in books and it made my heart BREAK. Ola Tundun…Ola Tundun…Queen Ola. You can write, girl. You can write! The buildups in this book hold you and when Tundun hits the ground running during that last act...Oh my god! My poor heart! I cried, I jumped for joy, I yelled. All the reactions came out of me!

Watching Aari’s growth from this baby rabbit to a phoenix in the last act was beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! Watching her choose herself, recognizing and no longer regretting doing that…beautiful. Watching Caleb accept his actions, consequences, and feelings and being okay with being vulnerable…beautiful. But I will say that the miscommunication went on a tad bit longer than I wanted to the point it seemed like straight manipulation, but it worked in the end.

I can not say enough good things about this book. I can not say enough good things about this series. Now I’m going to stalk NetGalley for the third book when it’s ready because I need it. NEED IT!!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my free ARC copies of the Roommates series.

After reading the first book and throughly enjoying it I couldn't wait to delve into this next book, and oh my was it super! Love this authors style of writing they know how to hook you in and keep your attention. The story itself is fantastic, I loved it so much. Can't wait for the next book!

📚 Arc - review 📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Complicated by Ola Tundun

Publication date: Today,5th of January ✨

I started this book not knowing that it was the second book in the Roommates series.Even though I was a bit confused in the beginning,I got to know the characters and their stories pretty quickly.Complicated - I don’t think there is a better word to describe the relationship between Caleb and Ariella. They go through a lot,there are so many emotions and plot twists that kept my attention picked throughout the book. Overall it was a great read,but I would really recommend that you read Roommates first,which is the first book in Caleb and Ariella’s story,so you can get the whole context.


✨Synopsis: Ariella doesn’t want drama. Well, that’s too bad.
All she wants is to stay wrapped up in her lemon-scented love bubble with reformed playboy Caleb. But then her new boss turns up, the high-flying, high-maintenance Melissa, who has a mysterious history with Caleb.
Suddenly Ariella finds herself working miles from home, fighting with Caleb, and wondering where it all went wrong?
And just as they’re about to sort it out, real trouble comes knocking…
Fans of Emily Henry, Tia Williams and Lucy Score will adore this romantic, sexy and joyful novel.

♥ Slow burn ♥
♥ Pining hero ♥
♥ Love triangle ♥
♥ Opposites attract ♥

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Happy publication day @olatundunx 🤗

♥ Slow burn ♥
♥ Pining hero ♥
♥ Love triangle ♥
♥ Opposites attract ♥

thank you for letting me read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. This is the second book of Roomates and I enjoyed it. I liked this one more than the first. The writing was well done. I want to read more from this author.

I didn't realise that the first book by this author was going to be the first in a series, I kind of liked it ended with a will they won't they - having said that I have read the second book - now I am desperate for the third book so I can see how the story ends!

This was a very interesting story with lots of twists and turns and a very apt title. Fascinating read with a look behind the development of a company and the interactions between the characters, Looking forward to the conclusion.

I didn’t realize that this was the second book in this series, and haven’t yet had the chance to read Roommates. As a result, I was pretty confused and couldn’t get into it

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

didnt realise this was the second book in the series so was a bit confused when i started this one....

i had hoped i could get into it but alas i have to say it isnt for me.... and i can see that most people liked this one but i can say it doesnt hold my attention enough and thats down to me

sorry

what a lovely time to spend reading this, the vibes just so good and of course the plot and writing is good.💘💘

Note: This is NOT a stand-alone romance. It's part 2 of a trilogy.

Ariella doesn't want or like drama. Well, she doesn't really have much of a choice in that when she accepts a new lucrative job and her boyfriend Caleb's old playboy lifestyle rears its ugly head. But, as always it's a "keep calm (on the outside) and carry on (while falling apart behind close doors)" type of scenario for her. And like the boss-babe that she is, she endures.

This is the 2nd installment of Ariella and Caleb's love story and it had me riveted from page one. Even though it heavily leans on the billionaire trope I usually despise. (I loved in the first book that she turned away from her 1%er lifestyle to find herself and found Caleb in that while they were both navigating the world of the same 1%ers for their work).

<spoiler> One of the things I love about Ola Tundun's work is that she deftly discusses the realities of hard topics like domestic abuse and sexual assault but flips the tables, making the male characters the victims and showing the realities of how such situations can affect relationships even when they are not disclosed to one's partner. Caleb's sexual assault at the end of book one has a drastic and devastating effect on Ariella and his relationship in this book. </spoiler>

The book is filled with pining, heartbreak, professional intrigue, bantery best friends, and unexpected friendships.

Stars: 4/5
Spice: 3/5