Charlie & Jasper.. ugh their angsty roommate second chance love is swoonworthy.

We start off with Charlie's first day at his dream school. Where he is under the impression he will have a single room but of course with a minor slip up he is assigned a roommate. Not just any roommate the boy who broke his heart 2 years prior at summer camp... Jasper.

This story follows their first semesters and the stress and trials they endure. With Charlie being the only transgender student he is anxious and worried what people may think if they find out. He tries to hide his true self at every turn. As time goes on and he starts to explore all that Valentine has to offer he slowly but surely starts coming out of his shell thanks to his new friends he has made along the way.

Jasper is hilarious, kinda annoying (in a good way) and nephew of the principal. He is a diva through and through and full of energy. He is a poet who is in search of his long lost love and desperate to find them at any costs. He decides to become Charlie's love tutor in hopes he can help assist him with writing secret love letters to their sister school which is a top secret Valentines tradition.

The found family the STRIP creates for both Charlie and Jasper is amazing and shows what true friendship means. The side characters are absolutely hilarious and I simply enjoyed all of them especially Blaze.

If you're looking for a book that makes you believe in love again this one is it.

Thank you to NetGally for an ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This book is everything to me. Charlie grows so much in the book that I truly grow to admire him. He learns to let go so much and it is something I needed to as well. The whole premise of the book hooked me in before I even began. And the title is hilarious. This is truly a heartwarming read that I would suggest to anyone.

There is a lot going for this book. I think it does a great job at approaching a trans, teen character and some of the fears and insecurities that these kids might face (especially--as is the case in this book--being isolated/removed from their support system). I think the rigorous academic setting in this book was really compelling and created a lot of natural and believable tension for Charlie. As the story built and as more and more gets added to Charlie's plate, I really felt for his sense of worry (as his scholarship was reliant upon a certain scholastic standing). I also really loved the friendships that are developed throughout the story. Seeing Charlie start to find his place and come into his own was really rewarding to read and made up a lot of the emotional weight of the story.

I will say, I struggled quite a bit with the central romance. We are told there is a past between the two MMCs, but beyond that, the story does very little to offer any explanation as to why they might like each other. Charlie goes quite out of his way to avoid Jasper and Jasper has an ulterior motive the entire book. I didn't feel like there were enough genuine scenes throughout the book that really made for a believable romance. It felt like the forced proximity trope was almost wasted (Jasper often came in late and left early). I think this affected my overall thoughts on the pacing of this story, as well. I had a hard time connecting with Charlie's investment in the STRIP traditions, so for a chunk of the story, I was largely uninterested in the primary plot that I was given and found myself just waiting for the more interpersonal plots to take center stage.
I also thought that there were a few plot points that were a touch unrealistic and took me out of the story. How does Jasper have a perfect score in literally everything (especially given how much time he has to sacrifice to STRIP), why would such a prestigious school (that encouraged Charlie to tutor) virtually punish him for being a good tutor and having academically excellent peers, why did the office worker believe that Charlie's mom was a contestant on the Gnome reality show??--the school definitely would have known about this in advance in case of any emergencies.

Overall, I did enjoy parts of this story and think that, while some of the pacing was off and my personal investment wavered, there are some definitely highlights in this story that I think would resonate with many readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Roaring Brook Press for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

I was doing SOOO good at not requesting too many ARCs and getting overwhelmed and reading them at the very last minute..and here we are. Here's Page Powars's "And They Were Roommates."

["Romance is the last thing on Charlie’s mind.

On his first day at Valentine Academy for Boys, Charlie’s carefully crafted plan to hide his identity as the school’s only trans student is set in motion. Only to be immediately destroyed. Charlie has been assigned the worst roommate in the world (possibly the universe): Jasper Grimes, the boy who broke Charlie’s heart the year before he transitioned.

Except, Jasper doesn’t recognize Charlie.

Who knows how long until Jasper realizes the truth? Charlie has one shot at freedom and a dorm room all to himself, but only if he helps Jasper write love letters on behalf of their fellow students first. No problem. Charlie can help Jasper with some silly letters.

Long nights spent discussing deep romantic feelings with Jasper? Surely, no unintended consequences will arise…"]

I've been wanting this book for AGES! The cover, the blurb, everything.

And it was SO worth the wait. This book was cute and funny and just the right amount of angsty.

#netgalley #arcs #arcteammember
#andtheywereroommates #pagepowars #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Simply the best book ever written by a powerhouse author with so many more stories to share. Consider Page Powars an auto-buy for me.

Thanks for the early read! I thought this book was adorable. It made me laugh and feel all that YA giddy goodness. I loved the tension between Charlie and Jasper. I actually loved the whole STRIP crew and each of their relationships with Charlie. It was all very sweet even if very silly at times. Some of the book, especially explanations of their past together, felt a little rushed. I also wish there was more time with them as a couple in the end. Maybe an epilogue?? Overall, I really enjoyed ready this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Page Powars for an eARC of And They Were Roommates in exchange for an honest review. 

I had heard so much about this book through social media and was so excited to get my hands on a copy!

I’m totally obsessed with both Charlie and Jasper and loved following their journey throughout the novel. I appreciated how this novel explored what it means to be in all male settings as the only trans guy because even though everyone is just a guy, it can feel isolating when you are not cis.

The dialogue between the characters felt really natural and I found I was laughing to myself at times because of how funny and witty the discussions were.

I feel some of the problems that arose were solved a little too easily or without too much trouble when there maybe could’ve been a little more tension, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Because of this, I am giving this book 4/5 stars.

Review also posted to Goodreads

ATWR was one of my most anticipated new releases of 2025. I loved the concept of “my ex doesn’t recognize me post-transition”.

Jasper’s characterization was a bit over the top for me at first, but it all made sense in the end and I enjoyed his character arc.
I was wondering how Charlie could keep anything hidden from Jasper with a last name like von Hevringprinz.
New favorite character coming out of left field with Blaze.

This was Powars’ sophomore release and I feel like I definitely have a solid sense of what to expect from him in terms of writing style in the future.
My only drawback on this story was one element that felt VERY similar to The Borrow A Boyfriend Club (don’t wanna post spoilers) and I hope to see Powars’ branch out more in future projects.

A fun queer YA romcom that's a perfect spiritual sequel for fans of "The Borrow a Boyfriend Club."

I can't imagine how impacting this kind of representation would be for queer and trans youth, but I bet it'll be incredibly affirming and empowering for those in the target demo. It's funny, it's witty, it captures characters at an important time of change across the board, and it's filled with such a broad range of people that surely everyone can find someone to root for.--or at least relate to.

Even as someone outside the target demo, I was intrigued by the premise--a new transfer student to a prestigious private academy realizes he'll be rooming with the boy he dated before he transitioned--and the stakes are raised: If his roommate recognizes this, what will happen? Will his roommate apologize for the way things ended between them? Will he reveal his transition to the school and possibly get him kicked out or jeopardize his scholarship?

I liked how the book explored not only being trapped in such close quarters with an ex but also how that impacted pursuing demanding academic and extracurricular interests and existing and burgeoning friendships. In short, it's a fun read for those both near and far from high school.

Not my absolute favorite, but didn’t hate it. This is a good queer YA book - the academic setting is an added bonus. Well written and enjoyable, but just wasn’t for me. However, I know others will absolutely enjoy this.

Okay ABSOLUTELY FREAKING PRECIOUS 5/5 rating

This one was another immediate love. The author wrote our mc in such a realistic, authentic way of struggling to find their identity in a way they always felt. Often times the transgender struggle of fitting in once their gender identity has been confirmed has been overlook. in reality it’s just started. The imposter syndrome, the dysphoria, the self isolation and even anxiety of it all was so real. Then add the drama of the boy who broke your heart as your roommate into the mix and holy smokes you get an amazing story. My only complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed and it all fell into place a little too well to be truly believable. The absolute sweetness of the ending really makes up for it but there were part in the last four chapters that really felt rush. All and all I adored this.

And They Were Roommates (Publication Day 5/27/25) is Page Powars’s second published book, and is set at the Saint Valentine’s Academy for Boys, an exclusive boarding school that promises that those who excel there have their pick of Ivies. Charlie is going as a scholarship student, the same as his Mom, who went to the sister academy right next door. Phones are confiscated at dropoff and not returned until departure, so the students on each side need to actually interact with each other. As a trans student who is not out, Charlie had requested a single room, but finds out that there was a problem with his deposit and so he has a roommate. That roommate happens to be Jasper, the boy who broke Charlie’s heart the summer before he transitioned, when they were at a writing summer camp on opposite sides of the wall, and Jasper doesn’t recognize Charlie.

Charlie does his best to stay away from Jasper, but they have every class together, and they are part of a semi-secret group that takes unauthorized messages across the wall (which they nickname the “cockblockade”) to the sister school, and students pay Jasper to write poetry as part of the messages. Charlie does meet some nice guys, and no one seems to guess his secret, but he has to work harder than he ever has before, with PE, especially.

It’s cute, not an earth-shattering book, but there are some interesting characters, and I appreciated both Charlie’s and Jasper’s growth through the book, and the fact that Charlie was able to make friends who he could trust with his true self, including Jasper. It was also completely weight-neutral, no anti-fat bias at all

This is the first YA romance I've read in a long time, and I am so glad that I got to read "And They Were Roommates". I think what I enjoyed the most was the antics of the students trying to get letters to their sister school. Blad was such a fun additional character, and I will gladly join him in his war against the arachnids.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun quick read. I read the entire book on a 4 hour flight, the perfect way to spend my trip!

I really really enjoyed this book. It was very propulsive and captivating; I didn't want to put it down. I loved the side characters and, more importantly, I loved the main characters. Jasper was just pretentious enough to make me laugh, but not enough to annoy me. Charlie was worried about his secret getting out in a realistic way and I was so glad to see him open up and trust some of his friends. I wish we could get a sequel and we could see Charlie and Jasper in Junior year.

And They Were Roommates was the exact kind of queer YA romance I needed. I loved the characters and the absolutely ridiculous energy they all bring. Is it wholly realistic? No! But I did not give a single shit. It's peak fictional school, and I had the time of my life reading it. As long as you can suspend your belief, too, it should be a great time! Everything about this was just a hit for me.
Charlie is just trying to fit in to his new all-boys school, while making sure no one discovers he's trans and kicks him out. The person who's most likely to recognize him? His roommate, who is OBSESSED with him. I have never found miscommunication so hilarious. These two refuse to talk and just jump to the WILDEST conclusions.
My last note on this book is that it's peak CAMP! There is a 12-year-old who goes by Blaze Alpha Destroyer and speaks like a medieval knight. It could be so angsty but instead ozzes queer joy. Genuinely, what was not to love?

Page Powers' debut novel had me hooked like a freaking fish from the depths of the pond. Each chapter reeling me in little by little. Each character I enjoyed getting to know and loved their interaction and relationship with Charlie. I will admit Jasper aggravated me in the beginning but like a good little rivals story he grew on me, I was even cheering for him in the end.
If this is what Page can slap on the table I'm so vehemently excited to see the next project.

I would like to thank the author and NetGalley for providing this ARC read in exchange for an honest review.

This was honestly such a cute book. I knew I would like it based on the title, but I liked it even more than I thought I would. The romance between Charlie and Jasper was just so funny. I’ve seen it described as enemies to lovers and while I might tentatively agree with that, I’m not sure if enemies to lovers really counts when one of them doesn’t realize the whole time that they are enemies – haha. I loved that Jasper seemed so absolutely oblivious to Charlie’s dislike and even if he did realize it – was so focused on becoming friends with Charlie that he just ignored it.

One of the things that really made the story for me though was the side characters. Robby and his horse obsession were so funny. Xavier and his weird little, tiny spoon that he carried everywhere, and his giant teddy bear attitude were just too cute. Little Blaze who spoke like some sort of medieval knight who was sort of adopted by the other 4 as their unofficial little brother friend was literally adorable. As much as I liked Charlie and Jasper and watching them interact, I will never get over Robby, Xavier, and Blaze. They were my favorite part of the story.

The ending just felt a little bit weird. It wasn’t strange enough for me to completely change my rating from a 5 to a 4 but it did drop it to a 4.5. It felt a little bit like the ending just suddenly happened. I was expecting a little bit more resolution to the story I guess – maybe a peek into the next year and how it’s going in a epilogue. Don’t get me wrong – everything was resolved! But it still somehow felt a little out of place. I did appreciate that the YA rating was kept too though, and it was actually what I would consider a YA book. A level 1 spice book.

Overall, I would give this book a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. Super cute palette cleanser read for me between some other more intense books. I loved it.

REVIEW

I absolutely adored the side characters and our main character, Charlie. The book is very atmospheric at the boarding school and you will definitely love all the meaningful insight we get from Charlie being a closeted trans boy in an all boys school.

I didn’t fall for the love between Charlie and Jasper. Jasper is very privileged and pompous and while things happen in the book to help us turn our opinion of him around, I didn’t personally fully get there. I do also wish the resolutions in the end of the book were not so rapidly resolved. It felt somewhat rushed and I think contributed to my feelings on Jasper.

That said, I still cried, and Charlie is a cutie pie.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Newly transitioned teen Charlie has been accepted at his dream prep boarding school as one of the very exclusive scholarship spots - an Excellence Scholar. To maintain his enrollment, he must remain ranked top 5 in his class. But that’s not the only stressor Charlie faces.

On move in day to the all boys Valentine Academy, Charlie realizes he was placed with a roommate when he swears he paid the fee for a private room. This is dire because not only does he crave privacy so new into his transition, but he quickly realizes his roommate is not even a stranger he can confidently hide from.

Jasper Grimes is his roommate and could anything be worse? Jasper was Charlie’s first kiss and first heart break pre-transition. If he recognizes and outs Charlie, would this traditional school kick him out?

If you like school settings for your RomComs, this might be the book for you. Charlie has won a scholarship to attend an all-male boarding school. He is nervous because he has to keep his grades up to stay, and he doesn't anyone to know about his recent gender transition. He paid extra for a single room, but arrives to find out that his camp nemesis and first kiss Jasper is his roommate, I think I would have been fine with that many obstacles, but there's also a bit of a bananas plot about a secret society that writes love letters. People who love really overwrought plot will enjoy this drama, The other thing that I had difficulty with is some of the poetry in this book (it's not great). Maybe because these kids are supposed to be poets the author writes them with very unnatural and stuffy voices? It just didn't seem plausible to me, but I also recognize this might be the whole point. If you're looking for a book about a transgender teen trying to find love, and you don't mind a pretty madcap plot, this book might resonate with you,

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

MM (FTM) Trans RomCom
YA-All Boys Boarding School
No Rating

DNF @ 20ish%

I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m the problem, it’s me. I don’t want to say anything negative about this book because it should be celebrated. It’s traditionally published and features a FTM trans main character which is a huge deal. My reasons for DNFing are just that I detest Jasper although I guess he could grow on me if I was in the right mood for this book but unfortunately I am a mood reader and am just not vibing with the campy, laugh out loud comedy this is. I’ve had a lot of loss in the past couple months and I’m too melancholy to enjoy this. When my mood improves I will buy a copy of this to support the author.