It's with great reluctance that I admit this book was a disappointment for me. While Roomates wasn't my favorite book in the world, I did thoroughly enjoy reading it -- but the same cannot be said about its sequel.

Miscommunication tropes are not typically my cup of tea just because I feel like they're so hard to do well, and often times they're just plain overdone. In this case, it just felt very childish, and the manipulation involved was the cherry on top.

Maybe I went in with my hopes too high, but this was not what I hoped it would be and that's devastating.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC I'm exchange for an honest review! When I saw this book on NetGalley, I've never hit "request" so fast in my life. I read Roommates, the prequel to Complicated, earlier this year, and I was beyond excited when I got it approved the next day!

"Complicated" is definitely a fitting name for this story. Ariella and Caleb getting together at the end of the previous book was not the start of their happily ever after - with Ariella's disapproving father, Ariella's ex-fiancé Jasper still hanging around, and what happened between Caleb and Melissa the last time Caleb was in Singapore... It was bound to be complicated. And that's before the events of this book even begins! If there's one thing you need to know, it's that the story definitely lives up to the title!!

Caleb and Aari... Aari and Caleb... Why won't you just communicate with each other?! I feel like so much of their pain and suffering is inflicted by themselves because they're not talking to each other, and it's infuriating!! Yet, I understand Caleb's hesitancy, his fears and worries. And Aari's anxiety is definitely something I can relate to! That being said, she seems to make a lot of assumptions, which is something I don't really like about her.

I'm still rooting for them though. The steamy scenes were steamy, even though I believe there were fewer of them in Complicated than there were in Roommates, and I WANT them to be together; despite everything, I really do believe they're soulmates that belong together!

Again, I found myself into the 90%s, wondering how one earth this story could be finished within the next couple of chapters. And considering this is the second time this has happened now, I don't know why I was surprised to learn that there will be a third and final book in this series! I don't know when it'll come, but I'll be keeping all my eyes and ears pierced, (im)patiently waiting to see where this story goes, after yet another intense cliffhanger!

I'm still hoping for that Happily Ever After for Caleb and Aari!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me: it was good, but I got a little frustrated with the characters at various points. However, the writing is great, the drama and tension is amazing, and I can’t wait to see how the story ends! Please don’t make us wait too long!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for an early copy of Complicated by Ola Tundun. I am excited to read the squeal to the roommates. I cannot wait to see what happens with these love birds, Caleb and Ariella. It's a nice rom-com for the new year.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy for review: I fell in love with Caleb and Ari in book one, so I was very excited to continue on with their story. What I enjoyed most about this story is the balance of fun, drama and depth. These characters…all of them are flawed but very real. I found myself smiling or giggling at Caleb’s antics as well as frowning and tearing up at something that they were experiencing in the story…oh and the workplace drama! I loved Ari’s family and the support that these characters had through family and friends… The story held my attention from start to finish, and I loved that it was set in the UK and Singapore. Overall amazing read! You can’t help rooting for Caleb and Ari.

Ariella just wants to move forward with her relationship with reformed bad boy Caleb. But when her new boss, Melissa, sets her sights on Ariella, little did Ariella know there was some history between her and Caleb. Suddenly, more than just her relationship is in jeopardy!
This is the second book of a three part series. That was not very clear when I received it, and knowing that would have made a big difference. This is not a standalone. You really do need to read the first one. Not that I couldn’t figure it out, but I think I would have cared more about the relationship between the two characters if I knew their history.
So as the title suggests, rather than a romance this is more of a complicated drama. It starts with talk of secrets and hurt and betrayal. Without knowing the history of what they’ve gone through, I wasn’t committed to them working through it. So it took a while to get into the story. Once I got through that, it did pick up a bit. But there was repeated miscommunication (or noncommunication), third act breakups, and manipulation. I think that those who started from the first book, Roommates and realized this was more drama than a light romance had a totally different outlook on this book.

This book is the 2nd in a series, and yet nowhere in the cover or description does it tell you this. I never would have requested this had I known that.

In saying that, the start is utterly confusing without the knowledge from the first book and the characters are frustrating (I mean what grown woman still refers to her parents as 'mummy and daddy'). I feel that I would have enjoyed this one a lot more if I had read the first book.

As always, please don't let my review put you off reading this as there seems to be many positive reviews out there.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

I didn’t realize this was the 2nd book in a series. I did have a hard time keeping up. It was still a good book I just wish j would have read the first book.

This is a very difficult book for me to review, not a fault of it as such, more that it is part two where it is essential to have read part one first - which, of course, I hadn't. As per the title it is very complicated, and not having read the first one it took me a third of the way through to start understanding what is going on. If you enjoy books with convoluted plots, don't mind the occasional spicy moment, you will like this one and I have rated it accordingly, even though it wasn't my cup of tea. A word of warning though - it ends on a cliffhanger.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Definitely is as the title describes! If you like love triangles then this is for you but I got to the point where I just thought they should either get on with it or let it go. It was driving me mad! Still, it was an interesting web and the background was good.

complicated was the correct title for this book because there was so much drama and tension, and it was definitely complicated, and frustrating.
i felt so many different emotions while following aari and caleb’s story - i was laughing, gasping, and almost tearing up throughout it.
unfortunately i hadn’t realised this was the 2nd book to the “roommates” series, but i will definitely be going back and reading the 1st one!
overall, i really enjoyed this book, the writing style really made you feel the emotions, and you don’t get that with every book!

First off, didn't know it was a sequel – my bad. No context at the start, left me scratching my head. Not the book's fault, just my lack of prep.

The title nails it – complicated. A wild mix of plots, miscommunication galore, and a touch of manipulation. Characters evolve, but all of that unnecessary pettiness was a vibe killer for me. Like, how do you possibly root for them in the romance department now?

Maybe reading the first book would've helped, but this didn't click. My main problem? The miscommunication trope being so overdone. Drove me bonkers – seriously, couldn't handle it.

Then the whole on-again, off-again vibe was like a never-ending loop. It's the kind of stuff that makes me want to pull my hair out.

Honestly, I almost DNFed, but there were some scenes that kept me going. Those moments that had me throwing my device, screaming, and blushing like a schoolgirl. I pushed through, but still, those moments were like rare gems in a sea of frustration.

Shoutout for the ARC – it's been a ride, even if this review sounds really negative.

An enjoyable second book in the series- but you definitely need to read them in order to really understand the complex relationships between some of the characters!
I was a bit disappointed not to have more of Singapore described as a backdrop to the action- a little more of the culture and a few less hickeys would have been nice!
That said it is another good book for whiling away a rainy day in the company of some interesting and crazy characters!

Book 2 in the Roommates series, Complicated is a continuation of the story between two colleagues/roommates who start dating. The story is compelling, but heavy at times. There is discussion on sexual assault, cheating, and miscommunication all around. Would I recommend reading it, yes, but start from the first book and know it's not a 'fun' read.

I was intrigued by the blurb of this book by Ola Tundun, but it turns out that Complicated is just not for me.

I am HERE for any drama that does not involve me :) Complicated fits the bill from the very beginning! Wish I had read the first book in this Roommates series so I wasn't as confused right from the get. However, super enjoyable plot and characters!

Thank you Storm Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Complicated is the perfect way to describe this book.
I had to quickly read book 1 and I am so glad I did although not essential!
We contunie to follow Aari and Caleb through lots of drama and ups and downs in their personal and working lives. The author did a great job developing these characters throughout the book, and I enjoyed seeing their growth as individuals and together.
I am looking forward to Book 3

This is not a stand alone novel, you need to read the first book to follow this novel. I didn't really enjoy the characters or dialogue. The dialogue felt wordy and it did not flow. I also felt like the novel was longer than needed, especially with almost no character development from the two main characters.

I won’t say too much about this book because it’s the 2nd in the series, BUT I want to thank @olatundunx for creating Ariella and Caleb (and the rest of the gang). In these past two books you have brought to life books that I’ll treasure for a lifetime!!

Let me not go on and on about how I love this series …but I’ll just say another 5⭐️ read from @olatundunx!!! AND DARE I SAY THIS IS MY CURRENT #1 ROMANCE IF 2024 (I’ve already read a few great ones but this ELITE👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾)

⭐️THIS BOOK COMES OUT JANUARY 5TH 2024 SO BE SURE TO PREORDER AND READ THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES ‘ROOMATES’⭐️

Special thanks to @stormbooks_co for being so wonderful and giving me the opportunity to once again be an early reader/reviewer!! All thoughts and opinions are my own!!

Loved this book!! It's the perfect mix of slow burn, with a hunky pining hero and the love triangle was perfection. I can't wait to read more from this author, excellent writing! Four stars :)

So this is the second book in a series which I wasn't aware of so I can't say if reading the first one would be needed. I struggled to get into this story but it was an on read.