Actual rating: 2.5/5 stars

Woah, damn. I did not vibe with this at all. Which is heartbreaking, because my excitement for this was next level. I mean, a trans boy?? A boarding school?? Roommate dynamics?? That's an incredible equation I should have eaten up??? Except a couple glaring hindrances really held me back.

The first and most glaring was by far Jasper Grimes. Dude is insufferable and ridiculous. I couldn't take him seriously as the love interest at all. No part of my brain could wrap around what Charlie saw in him, both in the past and in the present. And when you have a dislikeable (for me) love interest in a book whose main genre is romance, that's kind of a mood killer.

The other aspect was the school. There were too many weird quirks and rules for me to take the place seriously at all. Nor was I able to fully grasp the reasoning behind Charlie risking going there. Everything was just a bit too silly or too dramatic or too farfetched for me to be able to slide into the story and enjoy my time there.

Which truly is such a bummer for me, because I wanted to resonate with Charlie so badly. I wanted to enjoy watching him grow and experience love and work towards his goals and live his life. This book just needed a bit more grounding. Some serious, personable, relatable things to work through, and a love interest worth Charlie's time and affection.

DNF

I appreciated the concept thoroughly. The premise pulled me in especially the setting and circumstances.
However, the execution left much to be desired. I don't feel like I really knew these character; they felt underdeveloped yet overly exaggerated.
I'm not the target audience but the Casey comparisons feel unwarranted.

Another fun, goofy, heartwarming read from Page Powars! Just look at that premise and tell me it's not already brilliant—and the execution did not disappoint at all! Prepare to read this while shaking constantly because you'll be laughing, crying, gagging, vibrating with excitement, et cetera. Also, Jasper Grimes was by far my favorite character. One fun fact that I would like to pass along to prospective readers is that queer men also exist in real life. Loved this, 10/10!!!

This book is amazing! I had it preordered before my ARC got approved and I'm so excited to have a physical copy. Everything about this book is brilliant, from the writing to the characters. As a trans man, Charlie is such a good representation of what so many of us feel when operating under the radar, and it is so refreshing to see a trans character who feels so real. I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to read what Page writes next!

abdsolutely adorable! I loved seeing this couple get together. The titled was perfect for it because I loved it and the contact of the story and also the history of that comment. It was paced well and I loved seeing the relationship play out

Unspoken Rule for Rivals, Roommates, and a Second Chance

Page Powers delivers an engaging and heartfelt story in And They Were Roommates, a novel filled with academic rivalry, unspoken rules, and second-chance tension at the prestigious Valentine Academy for Boys.

Charlie von Hevringprinz, an Excellence Scholar, has everything to prove and even more to lose—especially with the pressure to stay in the top five of his class to maintain his scholarship. But things get infinitely more complicated when he discovers his new roommate is none other than Jasper Grimes, the school’s golden boy, top-ranked student, and, as if that weren’t enough, Charlie’s former summer camp crush—the one who shattered his heart years ago. Oh, and did I mention Jasper also happens to be the Principal’s nephew and a campus celebrity, dubbed the “Sexiest Poet of the Year”?

One of the standout aspects of the book is how it explores identity and belonging. As the only trans boy at an all-boys school, Charlie navigates his experience with a mix of determination and fear, adding layers of complexity to his academic and social struggles. It gave me She’s the Man vibes at times, with Charlie feeling like an outsider while trying to blend in and chase his dreams without exposing his secret.

The novel shines in its inclusivity, with a strong LGBTQIA+ presence woven naturally into the story. It’s refreshing to see trans representation in a YA setting, especially in a way that feels both authentic and empowering. The romance, tension, and witty banter between Charlie and Jasper make for a fun, easy read, while the emotional depth keeps you invested in their journey.

And They Were Roommates is a unique take on the academic rivals-to-lovers trope, filled with heart, humor, and a touch of poetic drama. Whether you’re here for the romance, the friendships, or the sheer chaos of boarding school life, this book delivers on all fronts.

Thank you Roaring Brook Press, NetGalley, and Page Powers for this enjoyable eARC!!

review to come!!! i accidentally submitted this review for the wrong book!!! i am currently reading this book and it is really good! im sorry for the confusion!

I requested and received an eARC of And They Were Roommates by Page Powars via NetGalley. On his first day at Valentine Academy for Bos, Charlie’s plan to conceal his identity is set into motion. Unfortunately, there’s one thing in his way: Jasper Grimes. Charlie requested a single room, but has been forced to share a room with the same boy who broke his heart the year before he transitioned. Jasper agrees to speak with his aunt, who happens to be the principal of their school, on the condition that Charlie join him in writing love letters to be sent back and forth between their classmates and the students at the neighboring girl’s school.

Jasper is a bit of a tool from the start and I certainly understood Charlie’s frustration with his character. I liked that I was kept in suspense about what actually occurred between Jasper and Charlie during that summer for a good portion of the book. This absolutely helped to maintain my interest in the story. I also think that Charlie and Jasper make particularly interesting characters to share space with because of the lingering tension between the pair, that Jasper seems almost oblivious to. There’s some level of jealousy that Charlie feels toward Jasper that I could identify with. Seeing someone so confident and at home within themselves can truly be difficult when you struggle with those things. I’ve grappled with that feeling many times, so it really helped me to foster a sense of kinship with Charlie.

I wasn’t totally sold on the school’s rules and the terms of Charlie’s scholarship, but I really enjoyed reading about his experiences as a student at Valentine and meeting the friends he makes along the way. Xavier, Luis, and Blaze all felt fully realized and I couldn’t help but wish that Delilah and Charlie’s mother had been given a bit more depth. Charlie and Jasper seem to be experiencing very serious feelings, so I think maybe a bit more background with their history would have been helpful in making the book feel more even. I found And They Were Roommates to be a sweet and fun read that will definitely work well for some readers!

I probably could’ve predicted my feelings about this book from the title, but I didn’t want to judge. I just wasn’t a fan about most aspects of the book. It felt almost fantasy like but with no fantasy? The summer camp backstory fell a little flat, and the relationship that was built just felt off for some reason. I also think there was a lot of unresolved tension with delilah and his mom. Also the solution to the ranks at the end hello???? We really just said get rid of it and conveniently solve all problems?? Point being, there were a lot of loose ends. also, the whole roommate situation weirded me TF out.

This book was wacky. I knew the author said it would be but I was nevertheless unprepared.
And in a lot of ways I think it worked. In others, it hurt the novel more than it helped.

To be clear, I enjoyed this. I had a good time reading it and I liked the characters a lot. Charlie was a very fun protagonist, and I enjoyed seeing him make connections with other people and build his life at Valentine’s. The side characters, for the most part, were also pretty great. I liked the entire STRIP crew, and their depth. They were also very odd but that was part of the good odd.

Jasper was a little on the fence for me. He’s sweet in some way but in others entirely unbearable. It took me half the novel to start to like him, and for traits that make no sense whatsoever and never change.

I do think that this book had too many tiny side plots going on and they were never really fulfilled. Charlie’s best friend, for example, gets like 15 pages of time and we have yet to figure out how they became best friends when they couldn’t talk during the school years previous. His little plot with his mom was also pretty hollow, and was very rushed at the end. With the emphasis on her story, I also thought there would be something there and there wasn’t.

What I do think this book did well was a) nerdiness about English Lit (more that I ever had as someone who studied it in undergrad) b) the main romance/overall plot and c) themes. I enjoyed the minor commentary on the ridiculousness of gender division in schools and the much less minor commentary on how making grades the be all end all hurts more than it helps.

I think I enjoyed his debut more, but this one is fun if you’re ready for characters and a plot that fits more in movie-style fiction than any semblance of real life.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

many thanks for the author and publisher for the e-arc of this book.

not gonna lie, i will say i thought this book would be a cliche, considering the that the trope is the title of it. and in some ways, i was right, but those ways are good ways. also in good ways were the ones i was wrong. (i read one book on poetry and this is what happens to me. god.)

i love myself a second chance romance, and this is almost one. i love the aspect of hidden identity of Charlie's end, and somehow the way Jasper falls for him again without knowing his past. Jasper is sweet and such a golden retriever, yet i am surprised by the complexity of his character that yes he is pompous and privileged, but he can still be hurt and cares deeply for others, and it shows. it's in the way he swats a spider away, gives his blanket or coat, the way he takes on the letters. i really wish there was more to the mixer scene, especially when it was so important to STRIP and both the girls and boys campuses at Valentine.

the found family in this book is astounding, by the way. i found myself caring for all of them even Blaze's chuunibyou and Robby's horses. Xavier and Delilah were a plot twist i never saw coming, but welcome all the same.

now, the plot. it got a tiny bit convoluted at points with the letter writing and delivery and finals and getting caught. but i loved how famous works are references in the chaptet titles, and Othello being mentioned and analysed in depth, even if i didn't 100% get it. poetry as an allegory for romance is cliche, but an effective one. lgbtq rep is solid as expected as well.

anyway. totally worth reading at 6am when the flu got me up. though this book is probably a good one when you're in the mood for any kind of light read. the angst is spot on without being heavy and is enough to hook me to finish in one sitting.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy And They Were Roomates as much as I anticipated. While the characters and plot were appealing, it missed the mark for me. I didn’t feel very tied to either of those things during this read. I enjoyed the characters, but felt like I didn’t fully get the chance to know them. The story itself was fun, but could’ve been expanded upon. Ultimately, I wanted a longer story. I wanted more of a slow burn. The writing was enjoyable however. All in all, I don’t think this one was for me.

actual rating: 1.25. i believe in trans people having rights. however, i do not believe in ANNOYING people having rights. it, once again, might be a me thing, but i did not vibe with any of the characters. all of the characters felt like they were written as if it were an alien who had only ever heard of humans trying to write human characters. nobody felt real. everyone felt over exaggerated to the max level. i would never willingly interact with any of these people 😭

This was the perfect queer lighthearted romcom I needed right now! I really enjoyed the academia setting and some of the more silly aspects of the plot. Jasper and Charlie’s relationship was so sweet, but I with Jasper’s character was a bit more likable at times. Regardless, it is definitely a feel-good kinda read!

I absolutely adored this book. The duality of wanting to be accepted but being terrified for anyone to know your secret is such a real queer experience. I love a good boarding school trope, and this one had all of the best parts of one. Definitely will recommend!

I received an advanced copy of this book.

I'm not usually a YA reader but I'm happy I requested this eARC because it was a fun read!

Charlie and Jasper are great, engaging characters and their road to romance had just the right amount of angst. All in all it was a sweet, charming story that left me feeling glad I read it.

thank you to netgalley and macmillan children's publishing group for this eARC!

i thoroughly enjoyed this book. it was freaking adorable.
powars did an outstanding job writing teenagers that spoke like teenagers. any cringe i felt about dialogue in this book was an “ew high school boy” cringe not an “ew that’s not how high schoolers talk” cringe.

the conflict was great. it was the perfect blend of absurd and realistic; it for sure felt like some silly high school shenanigans. the issues charlie was having also felt very realistic. a teenage boy would one hundred percent hold that kind of grudge. 

the side characters were great. they felt well-developed enough for their level of involvement in the story and they were all so fun to read. there was a really good balance of your classic teen boy and adorable softies.

i didn’t really love jasper by the end the way i usually hope to with romance novels. i don’t think we spent enough time with him after his facade “falls” to really know him as a character. that said, he was very fun to read and he is definitely a cutie.

i kind of hated delilah? to an extent i get it—she’s a teenage girl—but i feel like charlie was too easily forgiving with her. she was kind of a jerk when he was going through a lot and didn’t ever sincerely apologize for it.

all in all, this was so fun to read. it’s exactly what i’m looking for in this style of novel and i will 100% recommend this anytime i can.

The tongue in cheek title really sets the town for the book. It is a great second chance rom-com and the humor is front and center. The only thing that felt a little off for me was the characters were so young. Not to say that teens cannot have deep love and relationships, but the idea that these two had a deep and intimate relationship, separated and then came back together by the 10th grade felt like a little much. At least make them seniors. I loved that it combines typical teenage shenanigans with the love and joy of a traditional romance. The trans and queer rep was great too!

Keeping in mind that this is a YA novel (and therefore suspending my disbelief about the characters being too young for love), it wasn't bad. I really appreciate trans rep in books, especially YA books. But most of the side characters didn't really feel well developed and I don't think there was much resolution to most of the conflicts throughout the book.

What I loved:
- Charlie as a main character! I didn’t always LIKE him, but he felt very real to me. The total trans acceptance was amazing. There was only the fear of transphobia, never demonstrated transphobia.
- The setting! I just love boarding school settings, and a boarding school with a bunch of geniuses? Amazing
- The secret love letter sending club. Kids are so innovative; when they wanna do something, they’ll find a way to do it. So this seemed believable to me.
- The friendships between Charlie and Luis and Charlie and Xavier! These felt like two of the most developed side characters (see below), and I just adored them. Especially the big manly man gym bro Xavier who had a heart of gold.

What didn’t work for me:
- The ages of the characters: to me, this would have worked better if Charlie was a junior or senior in HS (rather than a sophomore). He met and fell in love with Jasper two summers ago, which seems kinda young to me.
- I found it unbelievable that Jasper was still pining over Charlie after two years. Again, he’s a HS sophomore.
- some of the side characters (like Delilah [Charlie’s best friend], Charlie’s mom, even sometimes Jasper) felt one-dimensional and like caricatures. They just fell flat and not fleshed out.
- Jasper grew on me, but his extreme self-centeredness is really off-putting. I mean, posters of himself on the ceiling? And a huge cardboard cutout of himself? We never really get an understanding of why Jasper is this way, but anybody this outwardly obsessed with themselves has a reason for it, don't they?
- The romance didn’t even really pick up until like 88% through the book. And even then we didn’t get to see them together as a couple like at all. So it didn’t even really feel like a slow burn, it just felt mostly non existent.
- OH almost forgot: is it not EXTREMELY weird that Jasper is supposedly one of the "sexiest" poets alive (according to a magazine or something)? He's 15 or 16. There's no discussion of how gross this in the book... are adults voting for a minor in a sexy poets contest? Bc that's v creepy

I would definitely recommend this book! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book!