“Roomies” by Christina Lauren
Release Date: December 5th, 2017
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Page Length: 368 pages (electronic review copy)
Synopsis:
Marriages of convenience are so…inconvenient.
Rescued by Calvin McLoughlin from a would-be subway attacker, Holland Bakker pays the brilliant musician back by pulling some of her errand-girl strings and getting him an audition with a big-time musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until he admits his student visa has expired and he’s in the country illegally.
Holland impulsively offers to wed the Irishman to keep him in New York, her growing infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers, Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway. In the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting, what will it take for Holland and Calvin to realise that they both stopped pretending a long time ago? (description from Goodreads)
Review:
Roomies is my first Christina Lauren read! I’m a huge romance reader and I’m glad i saw this on Netgalley. The story follows Holland an aspiring novel writer who works in a theater with a small job, hopefully that one day she get her big break in NY. She is close with her uncles one of whom is heavily involved in the Broadway scene. Calvin is a subway guitar player who is an incredibly talented musician. Holland has had a crush on him since she first laid eyes on him and there’s no denying when they first meet that there is some chemistry between the two.
Because Calvin is living in the us illegally a plan is concocted for Holland and him to get marry. They are strangers and they’ll have to open up to get to know each other especially since they live in close quarters. Lauren paints a good portrait of a bustling new York and life in the theater. How crazy things can get with life behind the stage and the hectic pace that the cast and crew work at. The pacing is smooth and the writing was so engaging that I didn’t want to put the book down.
Calvin and Holland were likable and relatable main characters. They have natural chemistry with each other and they both work on the same wavelength. Both also feel loyal to their family; Calvin to his family back at home and Holland to her uncles helping her stay financially float in New York City. Holland has big dreams but her biggest problem besides writers block is being the supporting character in her own life. She lacks confidence in her abilities. Until Calvin gets his big break he feels as if he’s been wasting his degree, he has talent, but he could never get noticed. I liked watching both characters work on their own issues and while helping on another.
Overall this is such a good romance book! Though it was a bit formulaic in the plot, the rhythm of the story plus its engaging cast of characters made for such a fun story. I would have like a bit more diversity character-wise, but that is my only complaint. The story was binge worthy and I would definitely check out more of the author’s works. I like the way the characters evolved and how it took time for their relationship to develop rather than fall in love at first sight.
Final Verdict:
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from Negalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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