In The Trouble with Roommates by Marie K. Savage, Aria Turner returns home after a year abroad only to find that her condo has been subleased to her worst enemy, Gabriel Landon—the same man who almost ruined her life three years ago. Now, as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolds, the two are stuck living together, forcing them to confront their past and the growing connection between them.

The author does a great job of capturing the early days of the pandemic, making the setting feel real and relatable. The side characters are also enjoyable and add warmth to the story. However, I felt that Aria and Gabriel’s relationship developed too quickly, especially considering their difficult history. A slower build-up would have made their romance more believable. Additionally, the ending felt a bit rushed, with a lot happening at once. A more gradual wrap-up could have made the story more satisfying.

Overall, The Trouble with Roommates has a strong premise and a realistic setting that many readers will appreciate. While I enjoyed parts of the story, especially the side characters and the setting, I wished the main plot had developed more slowly.

Such an interesting setting for what purports to be a romance. There are some really dark and triggering issues addressed in this book, so it would be a risk to dismiss it as a romance of the light hearted type. And it is not just the setting of a global pandemic. Some really challenging and topical issues are covered here. I do wonder how this book will age - will it become almost like historical fiction as a representation of the Covid pandemic, or will it be seen as dated and difficult to relate to as people start to forget what the global response was like?

CONTENT NOTICE: In this contemporary romance, characters express strong, politically charged opinions regarding responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and how the world was changing around them. It also includes subject matter related to LGBTQ relationships, online bullying, doxing, sexual assault, and suicide.

I think this was more of a "it's not you, it's me" kind of thing. There were elements I liked about the book, such as the banter between the main characters, Aria and Gabriel, and others I didn't as much. I felt as if the premise was good and it had a strong start, but along the way it was like I couldn't connect to the book and found myself wanting to start skimming as if I was bored.
If enemies-to-lovers turned roommates, second-chance, and a COVID backdrop sounds like something that could interest you, you should definitely give it a shot.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

This book was unlike any other that I've read. Like seriously, it's a romance book that discusses INCEL culture in it lmaoo

I liked a lot of things about this book: the side characters, the pets, and the "realness" of it all. A story set in lockdown doesn't seem like something you'd read for comfort, but oddly, I felt really comforted at times in this book by knowing that other people, even if they were characters, felt the same things I did back then. The book at times felt like a historical narrative with an added romance. The same reason why I connected to it is the same reason I couldn't fully. It was almost "too real" for me.

This book is just really different from others I've read recently. From the setting being the lockdown era, to the discussions of venture capital, misogyny in the media, and incel culture, this book pushes the boundaries to try to present a romance with unique realism and depth. While I would have loved to see more romantic gestures and cute relationship moments, I can see fans of fiction and romance connecting with the other great aspects of the story!

3/5
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

Tw: acoso, falta de consentimiento, violación y el libro ocurre durante la pandenia de covid 19.

Momentáneamente le pondré 3⭐️ en lo que lo digiero. Edit: La cambié a 4⭐️

Me gustó como se desarrollo todo a excepción de lo que paso 3 años antes, sino fuera por lo que hizo y dijo Gabriel no dudaría en la calificación.

Me pareció buena idea la aplicación que creó Gabriel para ayudar a las mujeres.

Me encantó que Callie sin conocer a Aria la apoyara, se pusiera de su lado y le dejara de hablar a su hermano.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:
The Trouble With Roommates was set back in 2020 in the beginning of COVID-19 and the uncertainty of what was to come and it definitely gave me some not so pleasant flashbacks from my own experiences during that time that slowed down my reading journey with this one. I LOVED the angsty banter and tension between Aria & Gabriel and enjoyed reading how their love story unfolded. However I found myself a tad bored reading this one until a surprise twist in the last 15% of the book, I do wish that was a longer scene in the story.

The Trouble With Roommates is a true enemy to lover contemporary romance with lots of politically charged opinions regarding online bullying and responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Favorite Quotes:
"The trouble with roommates was that they made her feel like she was intruding in her own space." 

"The trouble with roommates was that the last time he'd had any, he'd ended up almost ruining his life."

"You should never allow anyone to make you feel ashamed of something you had nothing to do with. The best thing for you to do is for you to be you and never let anyone else define who you are."

Rating: ️⭐️⭐️ ️.5

Thank you to the publisher & netGalley for Advance Copy Read (ACR) in exchange for my honest review!

Title: The Trouble with Roomates
Author: Marie Savage
ISBN: 9780998425979
Retail Price: $ 17.95
Pages: 370
Publication date: September 17, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Read📕: Kindle
Rating🌟: 🌟🌟🌟
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, Second chances, Roomates

This book is set in the COVID-19 scene. While reading it was crazy to think it has been 4 years since the world went through this. Aria and Gabriel had excellent banter (enemies) times where I would giggle. The way of navigating being roommates was wonderfully written. Another character I liked was Gabriel's sister who helped him with working though the issues Aria and Gabriel endured 3 years prior (really ridiculous) Gabriel works really hard with really big grand gestures for women bullied online which I appreciate Marie showing that even though we are in 2024 there is still a mass amount of bullying online. I liked Gabriel's true character who cared greatly for his family. The feel of this book is wonderful perfect weekend read, throws you back to COVID days. I am shocked there is not more books with the pandemic setting.

Thank you to the publisher & netGalley for Advance Copy Read (ACR) IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW🤍

I really enjoyed this book, I'm actually surprised that there aren't more books that have the pandemic as such a large part of the story so it was a really interesting perspective to have on the story. I thought the characters were fun and likable, and overall the book was a nice light read.

I am very ambivalent about this novel. The author is a fine writer overall, but the POV seemed fuzzy; it wasn't clear if Savage was writing from an omniscient POV or a close third person POV and switching back and forth between main characters frequently. Romance readers may well love this novel, especially if they are comfortable with frequent hot sex scenes and love that seems lust-driven on both sides. Some of the text is strongly political and I'm not sure how conservative readers will react, but moderates and liberals will likely be very comfortable and appreciative. It's, of course, filled with tropes, but I think that's what readers in this genre expect and will like, especially the HEA ending. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The few things I did not enjoy about the book are the man crying(too much), the way seven wonders gaming was played out, and I still do not understand Q.BC block chain.

The premise of this one sounded really fun, and I was, admittedly, almost immediately sucked in. Unfortunately, the more I read the less invested I was. I thought the pandemic was a very interesting setting for the book, and it definitely brought back some of the feelings that I (and we all) felt throughout such an unprecedented (I still hate that word) time.

Aria and Gabriel were fairly entertaining main characters. I thought their banter was often great, but something kept me from ever fully connecting with them. That might be a me problem though, so don’t let my feelings keep you from giving this one I try!

Even though this wasn't the book for me, thank you so much to NetGalley and Blank Slate Communications for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The author has brilliantly used the real life scenarios from pandemic which makes it more relatable and more easier to read and understand too.
The topics of love at first sight, second chances and forgiveness was used well by the author as the plot knitted in by these topics indeed kept me hooked for the whole time, right from the starting till the very end.
The plot was well paced and the narration was an easy one this I was able to finish this book in few sittings only. I had a great time reading this.

loved this romance of enemies to lovers over a interview gone wrong and living as room mates during covid. loved his sister and reconnecting with family

Aria and Gabriel are two people who met three years ago. Due to issues after they met, they spend the last three years ignoring each other. This is a acquaintance to enemies to loves story that hits on a heavy topic. In lieu of the heavy topic, they have to navigate on how to be roommates during a governmental shutdown. This book has many funny moments, light romance, and touches on certain topics. The few things I did not enjoy about the book is the man crying(too much), the way seven wonders gaming was played out, and I still do not understand Q.BC block chain.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I have mixed feelings about this book. The concept was great, but the prose was long and repetitive at points. Savage created some great, believable characters.

"You should never allow anyone to make you feel ashamed of something you had nothing to do with. The best thing for you to do is for you to be you and never let anyone else define who you are. "

The trouble with roommates did bring me some nostalgia as it was set in a COVID-19 backdrop. I liked the hilarious banter of Aria Turner and Gabriel Landon. The only thing I enjoyed throughout the book. I waded through this book, as it bored me a lot. I liked Callie's character, a perfect sister to Gabriel who helped him patch up with Aria, after their fallout years ago. I also liked the grand gesture made by Gabriel towards women who were bullied online & also as an apology to Aria for what seemed to be a mistake made by one of his interns. t also has a found family angle as Aria and Caldwell finally patch up. I loved how Gabriel cared for his sister, Mother & grandmother.

All in all trouble in roommate is a great weekend read. if you enjoy enemies to lovers, laugh out loud, and social message tropes in a book, I recommend this book as a perfect grab to save your day.

Thank you, for letting me read this novel.

Let me tell you, I was so excited to begin this book.

I really enjoyed the story and spend a nice time with Gabriel.

The only thing, I am not completely sure about, is the fact, that it's a third person story.
I am not the biggest fan of it, because it can be really confusing!

Good overall story; brought me back (viscerally at times!) to the pandemic lockdowns! Definitely needs a few editing tweaks; a handful of typos, etc. overall enjoyed the story; would read this author again and would recommend.