The Roommate Risk is book 2 in the Midnight Heat Collection. This is a steamy friends to lovers tale that follows Rahul and Jasmine.
Jasmine has commitment issues and after a one night stand, Rahul settled for being her friend so as to keep her in his life.

Rahul has always been in love with Jasmine and he was such a sweetheart but Jasmine really frustrated me.


The angst and pinning in the story was well written but there were some predictable moments. I like that we got an interracial couple, but I really couldn't connect with them mostly because of the fmc.


🎧🎧🎧
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated in dual narration by Rooke Kingston and Keval Shah. They were new to me and I enjoyed their British accent. They did a good job with the narration but still couldn't get me to connect with the fmc.

This re-release of a 2018 audiobook has updated cover art that gives somewhat more YA vibes. It's part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. Had I known either of these facts I wouldn't have requested an ALC but would have missed out on a good story. Fans of Hibbert's other works and those readers looking for diversity in their romance characters will enjoy this friends to lovers story.

I normally love Talia Hibbert but I had a really hard time getting into this book. I wasn't able to connect with the character's very easily and that made it for a slow read. I overall did not enjoy this one personally.

DNF @ 46%

Unfortunately just not invested in this one and I know if I finish, it wouldn’t be more than a 3⭐️ anyways.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley.

Talia Hibbert is one of the best at writing fierce, strong, snarky FMCs and we love to see it. I enjoyed this Friends-to-Lovers story and think everyone deserves someone who thinks about them the way Rahul thinks about Jasmine.

Talia Hibbert is wonderful but the narration really missed the mark for me and I had to DNF halfway through.

I would potentially still recommend this one to fans of very spicy friends to lovers.

Thanks you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the chance to review.

It's always a fun ride with Hibbert's books. Here longing and pining suffuse the page as desires are held back until they can't be hidden any longer. The tension and palpable sexual heat is always a draw in her books.

A sweet friends-to-lovers story between love interests Jasmine and Rahul, but at times I did feel their chemistry lacking.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-forced proximity
-friends to lovers
-steamy

*many thanks to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

A fun romcom, great new cover. This wasn't my favorite, but I did enjoy the spice and romance! Talia Hibbert is a great author and I loved her other novels. I think others will enjoy this more than I did. Still a good read though!

Ok wait wow that was so spicy 😅

Jasmine doesn’t do love. Rahul is her best friend, but can’t help that he’s completely and irrevocably in love with her. When her apartment floods, she had to stay at his flat and things become COMPLICATED.

I can’t emphasize enough how spicy this was and I loved it! Overall I didn’t feel like there was enough plot, which made the book feel long. But the chemistry and spice made it very very VERY worth it.

4/5 stars!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


Talia Hibbert comes back with spicy romances! I looked forward to reading about Jasmine and Rahul's complicated friendship that turned into... a spicy situationship. Brace yourself for lots of steamy conversations!



-what is it about-
Jasmine Allen is homeless (sort of, at least). A plumbing disaster made her search for a place to stay but the solution is not what she expected. Rahul Khan would do everything for her (that's what's expected from the best friend, at least). However, the complications and steamy situations make their friendship turn into something they are not ready to name yet. Are they prepared to risk and cross the line between friendship and love?


-what I loved?-

→ It was pretty fast-paced therefore it helped me a lot with getting to know Jasmine and Rahul's story. It was also fun to have two different perspectives (with two different narrators!) as it uncovered a lot about a particular character's personality and thoughts.
-> The vibe of the book was light and fun - I couldn't help smiling at some point but such chapters happened only a few times throughout the novel.



-what did I not love?-

→ The main characters were so irritating. I couldn't understand Jasmine's actions as she behaved in a childlike way without any reason for it. I hoped for a thorough character development but nothing happened till the end of the novel. Even Rahul's personality sometimes lacked depth which would additionally help their chemistry-lacking relationship.
→ I had a huge issue with getting into this story. Listening to it, I got bored with every next chapter as Talia Hibbert forgot to show the crucial development of the tropes used in the story. However, nothing happened besides the complicated and messy love relationship.
→ I'm truly sorry but... the spice wasn't it. And it was too much at some point. I wanted more character development or important family themes.

rating: 2/5 ✮✮
genre: Romance
themes: love, friends to lovers, spicy scenes, parental neglect, death, and alcohol dependence

I have enjoyed many Talia Hibbert books and this one was no different I love a good friends to lovers and forced proximity. The narration was great.

Jasmine Allen, a lifelong cynic and serial one-night-stand enthusiast, is suddenly thrown into chaos when a plumbing disaster forces her out of her home. With nowhere else to go, she turns to her best friend, Rahul Khan, for help.

For Rahul, this is a dangerous situation. He has been secretly in love with Jasmine for seven years, abiding by his own strict rules: don’t touch her, don’t ogle her, and most importantly, don’t confess his feelings. Letting her move in with him violates all these rules, and it isn’t long before he finds himself struggling to maintain the careful distance he’s kept between them.

As the two best friends navigate their new living arrangement, late-night kisses and tender moments start to blur the lines of their relationship. Rahul must decide if he’s willing to risk it all by confessing his feelings, while Jasmine must confront her fear of vulnerability and decide if she’s ready to let love in.

Tropes
- Friends-to-Lovers
- Unrequited Love
- Forced Proximity
- Emotional Vulnerability

It is a compelling romance that masterfully balances steamy chemistry with deep emotional connection. Talia Hibbert crafts two highly relatable characters in Jasmine and Rahul—both flawed, real, and grappling with their insecurities. Jasmine, with her cynicism towards love, and Rahul, with his quiet, unwavering affection, make for an engaging dynamic that keeps readers rooting for them.

The novel’s strength lies in its emotional resonance, particularly in how it handles the tension between friendship and romantic desire. Hibbert brilliantly captures Rahul’s internal conflict as he struggles to maintain boundaries with the woman he’s loved for years. Jasmine’s journey of learning to trust and open her heart is equally well-handled, making their romance feel authentic and earned.

The narration by Rooke Kingston and Keval Shah adds depth to the story, bringing the characters’ emotions to life and enhancing the romantic tension. Their performances complement the alternating perspectives of Jasmine and Rahul, immersing listeners in their journey from friends to lovers.

It is a heartfelt, swoon-worthy romance that fans of friends-to-lovers tropes will adore. With its witty dialogue, complex characters, and emotional depth, Talia Hibbert has created a romance that’s as tender as it is passionate. This is a must-read (or listen) for anyone who enjoys stories about love, friendship, and taking chances.

I was excited to dive into The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert, especially after loving her Brown Sisters series. However, this book fell flat for me. While the premise of a strong friendship turning into something more had potential, I struggled to connect with Jasmine as a character. Her behavior was problematic throughout the entire story, and her sudden maturity and self-improvement in the last 20 pages felt rushed and unearned. It took too long to understand why Jasmine was so commitment-phobic, and by the time her backstory was revealed, I had already lost interest. Additionally, the lack of intervention from her friends when she clearly needed help was frustrating. Overall, the book dragged on, and I just couldn't get invested in Jasmine's journey.

There was something that didn't jibe in this book and I'm wondering if it was just a case of the narrator not working for me. I usually really enjoy Talia Hibbert's books, so this is probably the case. The other issue I had reading this is that it jumped immediately into a very intimate physical relationship and I think I just wasn't ready for that. I'm pretty sure I'd really enjoy this if I read it in print, so I'm keeping it on my tbr list even though I 50% DNF'd the audio version.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

#TheRoommateRisk
#netgalley

I am a BIG FAN of Talia's books, but this one fell flat. I ended up DNFing.
It was steamy, but I felt the characters had no actual chemistry so the romance was off for me.
I may pick this one up later.

This is an engaging read but doesn’t quite hit the mark for a higher rating. I found the voice acting disconcerting and a tad annoying at times. If you’re a fan of steamy romance with a touch of angst, you might still find it enjoyable. However, it may not leave a lasting impression.

"The Roommate Risk" is inaccurately categorized as "romance," when it is essentially erotica. So it is not at all what I thought I was going to be reading based on the description and book category. I did try to give it a chance, but DNF halfway through.

The "story" Follows the relationship of Rahul and Jas. She doesn't date. She simply "has" men when she feels the urge. And she feels the urge a lot.

Rahul, on the other hand, is "in love" with Jas, although the only way we know that is because he continually tells us that, but then fixates on her physically all the time. Anyway, he knows that in order to keep her in his life, he can't let her know how he feels about her. So he keeps her at arm's length and only crosses boundaries when it's at her instigation. While there is a ton of physical intimacy built into the storyline, there is very little emotional intimacy, which to me is what makes a romance story work.

Throughout the story, there are open door scenes, and while I like my romance reading to leave me feeling warm and fuzzy, this is more likely to leave readers hot and bothered. Just something to be aware of as you decide whether this book is right for you.

Thank you to Talia Hibbert, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

A VERY spicy friends-to-lovers romance about Rahul, who has been in love with Jasmine for years but has maintained a best friendship with her in order to keep her in his life. And then she needs a place to live. And he has room. And she moves in. And sparks fly. I liked the way the relationship happened organically and the way it wasn't an instant success. I wish there was more depth to their relationship development and less spice, not because I don't like the spice, but because I felt like it overpowered the story.