Based on the premise, I thought I would really like this book, but I think that the author was trying to do too much and it became increasingly over-the-top. While reading, I was often reminded of this exchange between Charlie and Nora at the beginning of Emily Henry's Book Lovers:
"“And the cast is caricatured—”
“Quirky,” I disagree. “We could scale them back, but it’s a large cast—their quirks help distinguish them.”" And They Were Roommates felt like this- a cast too big for the space which compelled the author to make each character quirky in a way that came off as unrealistic.

In addition, much of this sounded unlike any real boarding school I could imagine. A scholarship dependent on being ranked 1-5 in the class after your first semester? Two schools being so completely separated by gender that there is only one time for overlap each year (If this is so important to the school, then why are the summer camps co-ed?)

I think And They Were Roommates could have benefited from one more round of editing, scaling down the cast slightly, and building stakes outside of an unrealistic school system. This will find its audience though, and seems to already have, and I'm genuinely glad so many others are enjoying it.

Oh, this book is EVERYTHING to me.

I love a good "and they were roommates" trope in a book, but combine that with one of them secretly being trans and hiding the fact that he had a romantic past with his roommate before he transitioned? I'm completely obsessed.

This story is more than that, though. It shows Charlie's growth and acceptance for himself and for being a student at Valentine's Academy for Boys, which is such a huge part of this book on top of navigating Jasper Grimes as a person, roommate, poet, and past lover.

I can't wait for everyone to fall in love with the characters in this book. It's such a fun story to start off the summer and let's be honest, the title ALONE should peak everyone's interest.

Thank you so much Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Roaring Brook Press for the ARC. This was by far one of my most anticipated reads this year and I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this book.

This book is camp and I applied to be a counselor
🌟 95/100

“Next thing I know, he dashes across our room— or, rather, with so many books in the way , he hops— and snatches my hands. His flowery fragrance swirls around me, and his touch is as freezing as I remember it being. The cons of having a heart secretly made of ice.”

I saw the author promoting this book and was immediately drawn in by both the plot and the cover. I applied for an ARC approximately .02 seconds later, and checked my netgalley and email every 10 minutes for a couple weeks until I got it. What I'm saying is: I love the cover, love the concept 😂

This book had a nice, tight weave on the plot. Watching it all unravel was verrrry satisfying. Charlie is such a relatable character: watching him navigate the pressure of boarding school, the fear of failure, the dread of discovery, the hiding-who-you-are-becomes-hiding-who-people-thought-you-were, just everything? It absolutely screams of quintessential teenagerdom. And, of course, we love the beautiful, messy, authentic trans rep.

Special thanks to Bingo A. Dixon. Top tier character. Really, all the side characters were magical, I loved their humanization as Charlie progressed through his fear and leaned into his bravery.

You know what pissed me off, though? Jasper's bracelet broke and it DIDN'T MATTER. I was so ready for it to be a plot point 😭 Any other issues I had with this are of the sort that will likely be fixed in final edits!

And They Were Roommates
Page Powers
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:

Unspoken Guideline 20: And They Were Roommates should be read by everyone, immediately!

I had so much fun reading this book. It has been a while since I have read any YA and I’m so glad this was the first. While I am a sucker for romance, romance was a small part of this story. This was a story of belonging, finding your tribe and yourself and the struggles, not only of being a teenager, but a teenager who is trans and finding their way.

Charlie has so much going on! Transitioning, new school, isolation and having someone who can ruin everything sharing a room with you!!! That’s a lot for anyone to handle. He has some hectic moments of doubt and insecurity, but any teenager would have those especially a member of 🌈 community. I absolutely loved his relationship with Xavier, complete opposites, but they became close.

I wish we could have seen more of Jasper and his perspective and inner thoughts. I felt it would have added more to his character. He was a sweet guy. I’m pretty sure if you look up golden retriever, it would have his picture beside it. I loved his energy!

My favorite character was Blaze! I loved his extra-ness and all of his nerdiness! ❤️❤️❤️

I really enjoy this book and the authors writing. The story was well developed and pulled you in. I love seeing more trans representation. It’s so important to show the struggle our trans brothers and sisters go through. And They Were Roommates was a great second chances romance and a great way to start reading YA again!

Thank you to Page Powars and net galley for a chance to read this book early via an arc! The thoughts are completely my own and truly how I felt about the book.

I truly loved this book, definitely one of my fav books this year. The vibes were immaculate and it was such a fun read. I stayed up too late reading it and devoured the book quickly.

Charlie is a trans boy who starts at an all boy boarding school. He is trying to keep his head down and keep his trans identity under wraps in case it would be grounds for dismissal/ make him an outcast. Originally he’s supposed to be in a single room and instead ends up with a roommate who is a boy who broke his heart the year before he transitioned.

The book is sweet and captures teenage angst perfectly, as well as the added stress of transitioning and hiding it. It’s a lovely coming of age story and Charlie really grows into himself and becomes more confident. It also takes place in a boarding school and has love letters!! What more do I need to say! I definitely will read this book again and will purchase a physical copy for my shelf.

I am so glad books like this exist. However, I struggled to find myself fully immersed in the story. The premise was absurd. It definitely felt in the YA genre, which will land for many! Just full a bit flat for me.

I did not find the main love interest (Jasper) to be compelling. His aloofness and the forced proximity that came from his desire to spend time with Charlie felt uncomfy at best. Alas. I look forward to reading future books from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for a complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was absurd in such a hilarious way. It was adorable. Some words used were really cringey and the continuity of some of it was off, so hopefully that was caught before publishing. I do wish there was more time spent on the romance and after they both admitted they liked each other.
Overall, this was really cute. The epilogue was a little random and I’m not sure who would actually appreciate what Taylor set up, but to each their own.

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️Random notes from my read: CAN BE CONSIDERED SPOILERY⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

* Jasper is both socially awkward and a little full of himself. It’s kind of hilarious and I love him
* Charlie is kind of mean sometimes and also expects jasper to still talk to and seem interested in him, when he’s made it clear he wants nothing to do with jasper
* Okay, that was kind of crappy, jasper
* Also crappy of you Charlie
* I have to remind myself these are teenagers
* Okay, but that’s a good Robert Frost poem
* Okay, what is actually up with this P. M. mess?
* Jasper coming out swinging with the emotional maturity! Heck yeah
* “I try to find the logical map for him meaning friend again.” *snort laugh*
* Jazz hands!
* Hahaha he thought he was falling for her brother. Hilarious
* Not the wedding invitations! Lolololol
* HISSING BASILISK
* Not just normal, but very very normal lol
* Not the koolaid man run!
* I would marry Delilah
* I was NOT expecting Jasper to be my favorite. Man, he oozes emotional maturity
* What an interesting choice of the start of a love letter. Going to give someone a heart attack lol



Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 3 stars

Overall, this is a cute story but it fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed getting to know Charlie's character as he figured how to navigate the world as a trans boy. Page did a great job of illustrating the overthinking and anxiety that comes with being trans, and the struggle to make genuine connections with others while in the closet. I also loved the found family elements and the wholesome friend group.

However, I found myself struggling to really get into and feel invested in the story. I didn't find the main conflict (jasper and Charlie's falling out at camp) to be believable and I didn't feel chemistry between them. It felt like the author was telling me these characters had a passionate and emotional past and connection, but I really didn't feel those feelings come through throughout the story.

It had funny moments and a cute ending, but I can't say this one will stick with me.

A delightful and engaging romance. The tension between the two main characters as their relationship develops over the course of the book makes for a delightful romantic read. And the development of Charlie's self-confidence and ease is inspiring to follow. Well written, with humor, sincerity, and romance throughout.

This book was extremely cute and so funny. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions. The romance was so sweet but the story was so much more than a romance. Charlie's journey of coming out of his shell was so beautifully written. Every character was so unique. None of the side characters bled into the background. I loved that everything was just a little bit over the top. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes and I really enjoyed the light academia setting.

I also felt like it gave a lot of insight into what it's like to be a trans boy but also a teenage boy in general. I truly appreciate that perspective. This is such an important story! I definitely want to go read the author's other work.

I received an Advanced Copy From NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

So I want to preface this by saying I am not a trans person and I think more weight should be placed on reviews written by trans people. Trans readers could have different perspectives and experiences that connect to this book.

This is a Ya with some angsty romance. Charlie is a trans boy who's entering a prestigious boarding school on a very strict and competitive scholarship while hiding that he's trans. Through a mix-up he is accidentally given a roommate. The roommate is Jasper, who broke Charlie's heart the year before he transitioned. And now Charlie has to deal with an extremely competitive education, balancing his life, and dealing with his feelings and friendship with Jasper.

At first, Jasper was a little difficult to like. It starts with him having a literal poster of himself on the ceiling lol. BUT, once I imagined him as a young Stede (from Our flag means death) I found him quite charming.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. It's not just a cute angsty romance, it's a story about self discovery, discovering true friendships, and the importance of learning healthy boundaries. I think this is an amazing book not just for young trans people, but anyone who felt like maybe they just didn't fit in "the right way". It's also probably a great book for friends of trans people, to help get a deeper understanding of how they're feeling. Anyway, it was a very cozy and charming read and I really sped through it since it was deeply charming.

SIDE NOTE: In this story the sophomore Charlie has had top surgery. In many states you must be 18, and sometimes 21 to have top surgery. And while some states allow you to be 16, many doctors will not do it that young. I assume the book is written this way because the reality of breast binding and the body dysmorphia would make this story a lot more heart breaking. Top surgery is a life saving surgery. If you are unfamiliar with gender affirming care and surgery, please please look this up.

This book was so cute and fun. I totally misunderstood that it wasn't a college book, and instead high school but I still had a great time reading it. Loved the trans rep and queer romance. Loved the side characters as well!

This was such a cute story! Truthfully it took me a minute to get into (because I haven’t read YA in a while) but once I got rolling I loved it! The cast of characters was so chaotic and funny, the whole books is the definition of boys will be boys (but in the most non toxic way possible).

The romance was sweet, I think it might have been better if the characters were aged up a little. But I do have to remember 16yr olds have big feelings too.

Ultimately a wonderful LGBTQ book for young adults looking for their place in the world.

I definitely had different expectations going into this book than what it ended up turning out to be, but in the best way possible. The summary is what made me want to pick this up in the first place but by the end of the book, I think it’s missing a focus on the relationships of the characters that really made this book what it is. The story plot was a really good arc that tied it all together and intrigued me, but the characters are truly where this book shined for me!
Charlie is easily one of my favorite main characters that I have read from and I love that while his experiences with being transgender were a constant underlying factor, that was not all that made him up. The emotions and experiences we see through Charlie’s point of view were ones I feel that most people in his shoes would make, even if we all know they are not always the best. Powars did an incredible job of toeing a line that made Charlie truly feel like someone that is both relatable and real.
The love interest, Jasper, comes across as a little insufferable and full of himself but in a way that makes him so fun. He also felt like a real person instead of a character on a page for me which really just made me root for him so much. Especially as the book progresses and we hit the peak of the romance plot, I absolutely fell in love with the characterization of him. He’s built up as this character who is supposed to have a big head and an ego the size of a country but there’s these subtle moments we see through Charlie’s eyes that show more depth to him, even when the book isn’t told in his perspective.
The rest of the cast of characters and the way they interact with both each other but also Charlie truly made this such a solid read. I feel that emulating the found family trope or a close-knit friend group in non-fantasy settings can be difficult because of the nature of their environment but the way Powars wrote it was beautiful. If you’re looking for something that will feel like the characters are real people with real flaws, I suggest picking this up when it releases.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

SCREAMING DELIGHTEDLY this is such an adorable novel!!! this statement is not simple bias due to the fact that the author is as much of a haikaveh enthusiast as I am that he asked for Ben Balmaceda (kaveh's voice actor) to narrate the audiobook version of this--which I'm also looking forward to listening to btw!! the cuteness of this book is plain fact.
It's set in an all-boys school in new york, and it's a school with rigid, traditional ideals. our beloved main character Charlie is a trans man, so obviously he's afraid to show his true self to his schoolmates/teachers/admins who may cause his expulsion from the school if they find out that he's trans.
This fear is further exacerbated by the fact that, not only was his request to occupy a single suit denied, he now also has to share a room with a boy who broke his heart two years ago, back when he hasn't transitioned yet. Worse (or better? depending on what perspective we're going for haha) this boy does NOT recognize him. IM LAUGHING SO HARD. from this premise alone i was already hooked, and as charlie's journey towards courage and self-acceptance unfolded, i got even more compelled to read further.
this boy is Jasper, poet/model/top student extraordinaire. it's so fun to watch Jasper, a boy of words, get tongue-tied around Charlie. and it's equally as fun to watch Charlie, incredibly intelligent and handsome boy, be unable to consider the fact of Jasper's massive crush on him. in charlie's defense, jasper broke his heart a couple years ago. in jasper's defense--there is none, really. he works hard though and he GOES THROUGH IT in the funniest way possible, so i think he's allowed to be uninhibitedly in love with his roommate, as a treat.

Overall, such a lovely book, would 100% recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars was everything I hoped it would be. The story was enthralling and kept me guessing on what would happen next. It was a good balance of predictable and surprising. I did find myself kicking my feet a few times.

I find that I do not always like a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, but with Charlie and Jasper, it is very endearing. The driving force for Charlie is his goal was to lay low and rank in the top 5. However, Jasper and the other members of STRIP had other plans and it was delightful. It captures that true companionship can come from the most unlikely of sources.

I gave this book 4.5 / 5 stars and would most definitely recommend picking it up when it comes out in May. Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy to read and review.

This was a pretty good ya romance. I liked the boarding school setting and following Charlie in this story. I didn’t particularly care for Jasper’s character especially at first which made it harder to get into the book, but I didn’t mind him as much as the story went on. There was a lot packed into this story making it overall an enjoyable read.

Read this if you like:

📖 Second chance romance
📖 Boarding school settings
📖 Lgbtq reps
📖 Found family

Thank you to @fiercereads for the gifted arc.

This was utterly ridiculous, and I loved every second of it. Charlie is a new student at Valentine Academy For Boys and his goal is twofold: maintain his standing so he can keep his scholarship, and keep his trans identity a secret. However his plans are immediately derailed when he gets assigned Jasper Grimes as a roommate. The same Jasper who broke Charlie’s heart before he transitioned. While he hasn’t recognized him yet, it’s only a matter of time before he does and it could ruin everything for Charlie.

Jasper and Charlie are so Tamaki and Haruhi from Ouran HS Host Club. One of my favorite tropes will always be the melodramatic egocentric character is secretly overcompensating for how lonely and sad they really are. Jasper is a flirtatious vain poet. Like having a cardboard cutout of himself in their room kind of vain. He’s overly positive, a big believer in romance, and absolutely obsessed with Charlie. And a Charlie is the exact opposite in every way. He’s insecure, awkward, and frazzled at all times. He’s been burned by love, has a more cynical outlook on life, and tries to avoid Jasper at all costs. But as the story progresses we see Charlie learn to open himself up to others, to gain confidence, form friendships, and fall in love. And we get to see Jasper’s softer side as well, his own shyness and insecurity. I do wish we learned a little more about Jasper. While we know about Charlie’s home life we don’t really get to know Jasper’s, and even his relationship with his aunt is skimmed over.

A large plot point is STRIP, Valentine’s official tutoring service that has actually been used as a cover for the student’s century long love letter smuggling operation. No communication is allowed between Valentine Academy and their sister school next door, but STRIP is a way around this rule. After being dragged into STRIP by Jasper, Charlie begins to form a friendship with the top students behind this operation. The very eccentric group consisting of buff Xavier, horse obsessed Robby, the fantasy roleplaying 12 yr old Blaze, and of course our resident love poet Jasper. This group offers a very absurd and hysterical influence to the story.

This was a fun romance with charming characters and outlandish scenarios. Very humorous and over the top, I think many people will enjoy this.

The description of this book really grabbed me. It had a lot of great aspects to it, but overall was not what I expected. With that said, I’m not the target audience though, and I think this story would work really well for others. The characters were difficult to connect with and at times were unbelievable. There were a lot of quirky personalities and it became a little too distracting. Likewise, some of their actions and dialogue seemed over exaggerated and inconsistent with what seems logical. I don’t mind that, but in this case it just got hard to follow. I also had a hard time with the part of the plot about writing secret letters. The stakes just did not feel reasonable to me and it was hard to feel connected to it.
While this wasn’t a book I personally enjoyed as much as I wanted to, there are some things I did enjoy and thought were done well. I really liked the representation, not just with gender and sexuality identity, but with race as well. I almost wanted a little more of this, especially with the separate boys and girls schools. The main character’s anxiety and difficulties were also handled well, and brings awareness to a lot of outdated ideas, especially in regard to transgender teens.

This book had a good and compelling storyline and a synopsis that drew me in. The writing was technically good and easy to read and comprehend, maybe even playing more towards the gen z idea of simplicity. The descriptions of characters and places was able to pull a picture to my mind and imagine it all. I liked that it was told from a first person point of view. I felt like it helped me connect with Charlie and feel his anxiety and pain and loneliness. While I had many good things to say about this book, there were some things I didn't like about it. I felt like while physically the setting was good, the reality of it felt a bit skewed. not in the sense of the boarding school, it doesn't seem far fetched for parents to send their kids off like that. But I felt it was a bit odd to have these freshman and sophomores in high school talking about their one true love. Teens do always tend to think everything is the biggest of deals, but I felt like there needed to be a bit of realism in "We don't 100% know what the future holds but for now this is great." While I understand that it's just Jasper's character, he seemed very over the top. It was kind of jarring. If that's what the authors meant to do though, then great job. I think it could have been cute to have a little flashback and Charlie and Jasper at camp 2 years ago at some point. And I felt like the story danced around the word transgender for a bit too long. It's only said once in the whole book, and even then it's in the last like, 20 or so pages. I understand not wanting to say it to friends or teachers or anything, given the situation and setting, but I feel like even in the privacy of his own thoughts it should have been mentioned. Not using the word until the end of the book felt a bit too "hiding" for me.