Everything in this book just hit! The humor! The setting! The plot! The characters! I loved Charlie and Jasper so much it's not even funny. They felt like real people more than just characters in a book! The way Charlie's emotions were portrayed are really relatable and felt real! Jasper is so silly and goofy but also true to himself.

And They Were Roommates by Page Powers is a lovely examination of identity, weakness, and connection. Charlie and Jasper's is a heartbreaking and moving tale in equal measure, with characters so well-crafted it's impossible not to see aspects of yourself within them. I was impressed by the emotional resonance of this tale for real, and the pace kept me utterly engrossed - I read it in less than a day. For readers who are hungry for real representation, true romance, and books that capture the process of self-discovery, this novel is an absolute must-read.

Gods this was cute. I was iffy about Jasper at the start but he redeemed himself so well!!! I read Powars’ debut about a year ago and adored it. This book definitely shows their growth as an author. The story was heartfelt and sweet and perfectly teenager. As an adult reading it, at time I thought “AHHHHH JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER PROPERLY,” but that’s what being young is like. You’re running from one thing to another and panicking like your life depends on it. Charlie’s focus on grades and rankings takes me back to my own single minded focus in high school. Their chaos and confusion reminds me of my own stumbling flings back then. It’s a lovely read.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

On his first day at the Valentine Academy for Boys, Charlie has a plan to hide his identity as the school's only trans student, but his plans are ruined when his roommate is Jasper Grimes, the boy who broke his heart one year before his transition. But, weirdly, Jasper doesn't recognize him. Who knows how long he can hide the truth? In order to get the dorm room all to himself, he's forced to help Jasper write romantic letters on behalf of their fellow students. Spending the nights writing love letter won't change anything between them. Right?

This second-chance romance is absolutely the best. Perfect for those who wants to fall in love again and again, this book is intriguing, sweet and so cute. Well written, Page Powars talks aboute love and second chances, love letters and falling in love for the second time. Charlie is the best main character and I loved this relationship, so complex and well rounded, with Jasper and all their difficulties. I loved every single thing! You can't not love this book! It's irrestistible!

This YA romance was such a delight! Fans of Ouran High School Host Club will note similarities in Jasper Grimes. Charlie is such a relatable character with the high pressure he places on himself and fear of vulnerability. The supporting characters are equally lovable and fleshed out.

I adored this from start to finish — the voice, the heart, the pacing? Perfection. It gave me everything I didn’t know I needed, and then some. I’ll be thinking about this one (and recommending it nonstop) for a long time.

i heard so many good things about this book & i really adored the characters, but for me the slow burn was just wayyyy too slow (coming from someone who loves a slow burn, that's saying something). i also didn't realize it was YA (not that it makes a huge difference, i just wasn't aware) and i typically don't gravitate towards YA, but this was overall a good read!!

One of the things I really loved about this book was that although the basis for Charlie’s challenges is his transition and needing a single room, this never feels like an issue book. It's just a story of a trans kid who deserves his HEA. It’s fun and lighthearted. The ensemble cast is quirky and campy. And the building romance between Charlie and Jasper is a sweet one you can’t help rooting for.

A story about a prestigious, private, all boys high school, stringent scholarship rules, oblivious pretty boys, secret societies, and the stealth trans boy trying to navigate them all.

A cute YA story about the struggles of a stealth trans boy trying to stay stealth at an all boys school, when things like an unexpected roommate and required PE classes do their best to derail his plans.

I’d read more from this author. Solid 4 stars.

I wasn't a fan of this. The best friend of the main character seemed so unsupportive and belittled Charlie's anxiety when it came to their gender and being trans. I can't imagine being a trans teen and transferring to an all-boys school where the rules are unclear about trans students, and having your best friend that should have your back no matter what, brush off your concerns.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had fun with this read - the banter between Jasper and Charlie was really fun to experience and I loved the eccentric group of side characters from Valentine’s Academy.

I somehow didn’t realize that this was a YA novel until I started reading it, and that helped me set my expectations for the characters and their behaviors- the best friend being weird bc she felt felt behind, the administration changing procedure seemingly overnight, etc.

I giggled a lot while reading this book, but I loved that there was also the deeper theme of belonging and Charlie becoming more comfortable with himself and being out as a queer and trans person.

This was a delightful Achillean YA read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a fun rivals to lovers romance!

Thank you to Page Powars, Macmillan, and Netgalley for the copy of this book!

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars is a queer coming of age book set in a very exclusive boarding school in upstate New York. The main character, Charlie, is dealing with internal and external pressures that set him apart from his peers. Not only is he the Excellence Scholar for his year and needs to maintain a top five class rank to keep his scholarship, he is trying to keep his trans identity a secret from everyone for fear of expulsion from such an institution and because he desperately wants to be perceived by others as the boy he is. To make matters worse, he is having trouble adjusting to the rigor and intense nature of school, and the boy who broke his heart at camp pre-transition is his current roommate, who doesn’t recognize him. Filled with hijinks surrounding a love letter writing and delivery scheme run by a secret society in exchange for a single room, Charlie explores who he is as a person and how to become more comfortable with himself. Furthermore, the book is filled with other very wacky and diverse supporting characters that make Charlie’s first semester at Valentine Academy for Boys even more memorable.

If you can’t tell, I enjoyed this book. The writing is phenomenal, and I love how all the characters were self-centered, imperfect, and annoying, albeit to differing degrees, because that is how actual teenagers are. My one issue is that it was assumed that a large part of why Charlie wanted a single room is because he wants to keep his being trans a secret from the school and the other students, for fear of being judged or treated differently. This makes complete sense. However, Charlie is also distraught that he is going to be kicked out of the academy if they find out that he is trans, which was simply stated as a fact. It is assumed that describing the academy as ‘traditional’ immediately means that they have outdated beliefs and prejudices, which I did not find to be the case, despite the bizarre grade-based ranking system and strict separation between the boys’ and girls’ schools. I think this nuance could have been better explained and explored, especially at the start of the book. That being said, this book got better and better the more I read, and I am looking forward to reading more from Powars as he has a meaningful perspective and a unique writing style that makes his books engaging and challenging in all the right ways. (3.75 stars rounded up to four)

I wanted so badly to love this book. I love a roommate trope, I love a good LGBTQ+ book, but this book just didn’t snatch me up like I wanted it to.
I’m so happy to see that many others didn’t share my feelings, and I hope it continues garnering love and fans. I’ll definitely give it another go, I just don’t think I was in the right place for it at the time.

Great title. Great concept. This was a stressful read at times. The protagonist is so stressed all the time, and we live in their head. The plot is also a little forced at times. I think I enjoyed The Borrow A Boyfriend Club more, but I look forward to Page's next book.

I received an arc of this and loved the book. It was a great and quick read with quirky characters that made it a page turner.

Cue the viral vine, "And they were roommates!" Thank you, Roaring Press, for the ARC!

Charlie is the first trans student at an all boys school. He’s super excited, until he meets his roommate, Jasper, who used to bully Charlie before his transition. The twist? Jasper doesn’t even recognize him.

Charlie ends up helping Jasper write love letters on behalf of their fellow students, and I was kicking my feet the whole time! It’s swoony, emotional, and honestly such an impactful read. I loved every moment of it.

I wanted so desperately to like this more than I did. The cast of characters were all really charming, and I liked the storyline. I thought the writing was really good; my only qualm was the love interest. It felt like he changed into a completely different person halfway through the book for no reason. I really loved him in the second half, but he was kinda annoying in the first. It felt like two separate people. Other than that, it was a great story. I really felt for the main character and his struggles.

I. Loved. This. Book. I could not stop smiling while I read it. I loved the boarding school world we were introduced to, and the family that Charlie managed to find there. Jasper was a little over the top in the beginning but I quickly got over it. This was not only the perfect book to read during Pride Month, but it’s the perfect book to read any month!

I loved this book and its quirky cast of characters. It’s set at Valentines, an exclusive boarding school which we all know is my favorite. It’s a great way to dispense with inconvenient parents. Charlie arrives at school and discovers his roommate is Jasper, whom he dated from camp before his transition. I thought this ended beautifully and I enjoyed seeing the relationships develop. Not just the romantic one but the friend ones. The other thing that kept it from five stars was the STRIP hijinks. It was too much after a while.

I don't love to give books negative reviews. Often, I feel like I'm the issue, not the book. But this book did not work for me. It didn't hold my attention, it didn't feel particularly unique...it felt like the media presence of the book outshone the book, honestly. Not for me, but I hope it finds its audience.