Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

~ DNF

I got 15% into this book and was rolling my eyes every second sentence. Weighed down with so many typical romance novel cliches, the writing felt flat and boring.

I also struggled with the constant flipping back and forth between the MCs POV — paragraph to paragraph! Chapter to chapter would have made more sense. The flipping made keeping up with who was thinking/speaking difficult and gave the impression of the author not really having direction in who is actually telling the story.

Not for me.

What a good book! It was so enjoyable and I highly recommend it to fellow readers. Pick this one up!

3.5/5 stars.

The idea was there, it seemed a bit relatable in aspects because of the pandemic and all of us having to go through that.

Though it fell flat with me as the main character I just couldn’t connect with her? I think personalities could have been developed just a tad more.

It definitely is right about the Gen Z aspect, I’m a Gen Z and could feel that with the banter and so on too. this could be good or bad for someone reading.

The perspectives changing so much confused me a bit as well. But it’s still a book I would recommend reading and I’ll keep an eye on what this author brings out next.

A romance set during the Pandemic makes for a good story. The characters know each other and now have to live together. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Reading was enjoyable, but it was not the best book for me all year.

Title: The Trouble With Roommates

Author: Marie Savage

Rating: ★★★☆☆½
Release Date:17th September 2024

Marie Savage’s "The Trouble With Roommates" presents a contemporary romantic tale where pandemic circumstances force enemies-turned-roommates to confront their shared past and uncertain future. Here’s why this book earns three and a half stars for its engaging yet conflicted narrative.

Aria Turner returns home from London to find her condominium subleased to Gabriel Landon, a tech entrepreneur who once caused her profound distress with his fanatical following. Gabriel, in turn, is grappling with personal and professional setbacks as he attempts to rebuild his life in New York City. The unexpected convergence places them under one roof during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, amplifying tensions and stirring unresolved emotions.

As Aria and Gabriel navigate their forced cohabitation amidst pandemic-related challenges, they confront their shared history and deep-seated animosity. Despite initial resistance, proximity leads to understanding, forgiveness, and a rekindling of emotions they once thought buried. Amidst the chaos of lockdowns and uncertainty, they discover new perspectives on love, redemption, and the possibility of second chances.

What I Enjoyed:

1. Timely Setting: The novel adeptly captures the unique pressures and emotional strains brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, grounding the story in a relatable contemporary context that adds depth and authenticity to the characters’ experiences.
2. Character Development: Aria and Gabriel’s journey from adversaries to tentative allies is portrayed with sensitivity, highlighting their growth and introspection as they confront past hurts and reconsider their perceptions of each other.
3. Romantic Tension: The evolving relationship between Aria and Gabriel unfolds gradually, infused with moments of vulnerability and mutual discovery amidst the backdrop of quarantine restrictions and shared challenges.


"The Trouble With Roommates" by Marie Savage offers a contemporary romance that delves into complex emotions, redemption, and the transformative power of shared adversity.

While the narrative navigates familiar romantic tropes, its exploration of pandemic-era challenges and personal growth adds a compelling layer of depth to Aria and Gabriel’s evolving relationship.

For readers seeking a blend of romance, introspection, and timely themes set against the backdrop of modern-day turmoil, "The Trouble With Roommates" provides an engaging and thought-provoking read.

Thank you to The Publisher Blank Slate Communications | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles ,The Author Marie Savage & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

This book had a unique take on the second chance romance genre. The plot revolves around how an encounter between the main characters years ago led to a situation similar to Gamergate for the female lead. They attempt to work through forgiveness while sharing the same space. It was also intriguing to see a romance set during the early days of the pandemic.

Despite the interesting premise, I didn’t find the plot or the characters very engaging. The main characters seemed underdeveloped, and the writing often switched confusingly between the first-person perspective of one character and the omniscient thoughts of another. This made it hard to connect with them. The dialogue also felt awkward at times, especially during lengthy conversations about pandemic-related issues like mask-wearing and the struggles of essential workers. These moments, while important, came across more like lectures and disrupted the flow of the story. This style might appeal to some readers, but it made it hard for me to stay immersed in the book.

I really like the idea of this book. Not only are they Star-Crossed lovers, but they are forced together and truly cannot be apart. Having lived through the pandemic, I recall that not all the dates match up. It's not such a big deal, but why give dates if you can't get them right? I acknowledge this is nitpicky, but it was also so bothersome to me. Things like that and the author's not-so-subtle thoughts on the politics of the time really left a sour taste in my mouth. This wasn't meant to be a political book but a love story; so leave the politics out of it and stick to the story. Why do I need to know that the author feels certain ways about covid, gender politics, and presidential elections? 5/5 story, unfortunately 3/5 stars

This book fell flat for me overall. The concept was unique, and I enjoyed the overall story. I thought the main characters reconciled too quickly given their complicated history. I also felt some of the storylines were dragged out/over discussed, while some were rushed. While I was reading, I was fully immersed in the time period and felt like I was back in lockdown.

I would definitely try another read from this Author. I enjoyed the plot and the consistent communication, but I felt there were too many slow chapters with unnecessary information/ too many little details not needed. I do think it was cute how there was happiness and love found during times of covid within this book!

It was a good concept. I was enjoying it a lot until the 39% mark but then we learned in detail about why they became enemies (not really). And the reason just irked me throughout the entirety of the rest of the book. One more thing is that the relationship felt too physical and not emotional enough.
There were definitely some good scenes and some good dialogues.
Eg,
"When he looked up, the world stopped."
"Gabriel smiled up at her and her lungs suddenly seemed deprived of air."

This has an interesting concept for a second chance romance trope, with how an encounter between the characters years back is said to have ended in a Gamergate-like situation for the female main character and how the couple kinda works at forgiveness through a shared space trope.
It's also the first romance story I've read that is situated fully during the initial stages of the pandemic, so that was interesting too.

However I just wasn't gripped by the plot or the characters. The two leads felt underdeveloped to me - and the writing sometimes jumps confusingly from first person perspective of one character to like omniscient thoughts of what the other is thinking, which I think doesn't help in that regard. The dialogue at several moments felt heavy handed or stilted, such as paragraph-long discussions about people not masking or essential workers needing more support written a bit like diatribes with the benefit of hindsight. Which will work for some readers, but just took me out of the story.

In the end I didn't finish, but I think this can deservedly appeal to other romance readers!

Great book. Great plot. Realistic characters that resonated with me. I would read another book by this author.