3.5/5

I sat on this review for awhile because I needed to let some things process, and I need to sort out how much of my experience was shaped by incorrect expectations. I requested this book as an ARC based off of a Tiktok I saw and nothing else. From that Tiktok, I assumed the characters were college/graduate school age at least, and thus the book was adult rom com. As i quickly figured out, the book is YA and set in boarding school with the characters being (mostly) teenagers. Knowing it is YA would not have deterred me from reading it, but it would have helped my experience some.

As I reflect on it as a YA novel, I believe the characters behaved as teenagers do. In that aspect, they were well written. One thing I find endearing about teens is they don't know how to have a mild emotion, and the characters in this story were no exception. I appreciated being in Charlie's head throughout the story, and I'm certain we all knew a Jasper in school. I found the friend circle in the book to be pleasantly surprising.

I did find the first half of the book to be a bit messy(?). There were a lot of elements introduced and I found there was not enough time to incorporate the information into my understanding of the story before another came alone. If that was the author's intent, for the reader to have a mirrored experience to Charlie, that was not clear. I either need one less thing or more time/information on all the things. The second half of the book felt better paced and I was more invested in what was happening.

I did not fall in love with this book like I'd hoped too, but I did find it likeable enough overall.

I really wanted to like this one but unfortunately I didn’t really feel the connection between the two MMC’s until the end and the plot felt almost forced to me to get them to interact with each other. The ending redeemed the book for me but overall it was just meh to me. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

I was so absorbed reading this book that I missed my train stop which hasn't happened in years so you know this book is good!!

I love this so much, this book is so cute and goofy, Jasper is the most ridiculous love interest I've come across in a minute, he is so dramatic and silly, and like, the cardboard cutout of himself?? What even!!! I love their grumpy/sunshine dynamic, I love how smart and stupid Charlie and Jasper are, like they are both so smart and also so oblivious omgggg.

While this book is very silly, there are also some more serious moments. It's not a huge focus, but Charlie's feelings of heartbreak and loneliness and academic stress are very real, and I appreciate that his struggles aren't played off as gags and are treated with the seriousness it deserves.

One important thing to note: you will have to suspend your belief big time to enjoy this, because everything—the characters, the plot, the setting—is over the top tropey. Personally, I had to suspend a lot of belief at certain plot points, but if you are able to, like, go with the flow, this won't be a problem.

Overall, I love this schmoopy swooney romcom, and I will def be reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me have this eArc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Here. We. Go.
Our MC, Charlie has decided that not only going to a prestigious and extremely challenging boarding school isn’t enough stress for a teenager but he goes with his own secret as well: he is trans. He had requested for a single room but lo and behold, he is roomed with the last person he ever thought he could be (and would want to be): the guy who broke his heart two summers ago, recently voted this year’s Sexiest Poet, Jasper. Shenanigans ensue, boundaries pushed and lots of really cute and sweet moments and not just between our love interests.
Most of the time when I read any young adult novel that takes place in a school, very little time is spent on the school work. Not this one! I was stressed every single moment with Charlie and it made it impossible to put this book down because I worried about Charlie’s success just as much as he did. The relationship development is a slow burn and it was so delightfully frustrating; I threw my reader more than once. :)
If you’re looking for a super cute time in these trying times of ours, this is definitely one to pick up. I’m gonna be fixated on the little plot twists in the book for the next 3-5 business years; they were so clever.

🩵💜 And They Were Roommates ARC Review 💜🩵

Thank you so much to Page Powars and Roaring Book Press for the opportunity to read and review this book

And They Were Roommates is a standalone queer romantic comedy. Charlie has just started school at the Valentine Academy for Boys, and romance is the last thing on his mind. But Jasper, his former crush is his new roommate…who doesn’t recognize him because Charlie recently transitioned. Can Charlie keep his secret and succeed at his new school or will Jasper ruin everything??

This was a super cute read! I really enjoyed Charlie and his feelings were really relatable in this book. Jasper was such a fun character and a great match for him - I would have loved to see some of Jasper’s PoV throughout the story. The side characters were all well rounded too and I would love to see their own stories in the future.

Overall this was a cute 4 star read! I enjoyed the characters and the story but really found myself wanting some of Jasper’s PoV in a few parts. This book does have some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. While this book is an adorable romance, it has YA levels of on page spice, so one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of YA queer romance with mistaken identities, fun banter, and relatable characters, then definitely pick this one up!

This was such a cute book & it had some of my favorite tropes! It was funny, heartwarming and such a fun read! I loved the friendships & the romance!!

i don’t usually gravitate toward ya, so i wasn’t sure how much i’d be into this, but this one really surprised me in a good way! it had an actual plot driving things forward beyond just the romance, which definitely kept me engaged. the romance itself was super cute and definitely gave me some heartstopper vibes at times. i also loved the side characters!! they were fun and added a lot to the story without feeling like filler. the writing was solid overall, though there were a few moments that felt a little too classic ya for me—some dialogue or tropes that leaned a bit predictable or overdone. but honestly, that’s probably just my personal taste. if you’re into queer ya romances with heart, humor, and a solid emotional core, this one’s worth picking up.

thank you to netgalley and macmillan childrens publishing group for the arc!

IThis book is truly something else, as an adult trans man I never got to grow up reading stories of teenage love that truly showed characters that were like me. This book kind of healed my former teenage self in a way. The way that Charlie has been written with so much care and consideration for the life experience of trans men truly touched me in a way that honestly did make me cry a little bit. So at this point And They Were Roommates has done it all; it's made me laugh, feel emotionally fulfilled, AND it made me cry. I've gotten to have a full emotional circle while reading this. I really appreciate the author's care in subtle dysphoria and showing how isolating it can be to be a trans man, you constantly compare yourself to cis men and take notice of things about yourself (like a uniform not fitting you the same way it fits someone else) that other people don't really pay attention to. The constant internal comparisons can kind of lead to retreating into yourself which is exactly what Charlie did by focusing in so much on schoolwork, not wanting to eat in the dining hall, not talking to Jasper or any other students to try and make friends and it's something that was handled beautifully in this book.

I'm also not usually one to read (or request to read) romance novels, I don't gravitate towards them naturally and typically only tolerate romance in subplots but this romance between Charlie and Jasper is one I found myself constantly rooting for. From both of them being clumsy teenagers to watching them fight, I was LOCKED IN on their relationship working out. Part of me really does want to see all of this book but from Jasper's perspective because no spoilers but 57% of the way into this book was a WILD moment for me and recontextualized the entire first half of the book.

Of course I can't review this without mentioning Charlie's friends; Delilah is truly an icon and her love for spontaneous arson is an inspiration, Xavier is an incredible character and I love his willingness to throat punch the school admin. Blaze is my son now, I've adopted him, nuff said. I also really loved the teachers, including the principal they were very well written and all distinct from each other which is a problem that I usually have with contemporary novels where every teacher/authority figure tends to blend together because they're so far in the background compared to everyone else in the cast.

So yes, this is absolutely a 5/5 and part of me wants more but part of me also likes that the ending isn't really a conclusion, because of course their story isn't really over, it's just the end of the first term of the year.

and in an entirely unrelated note I read the authors note from the beginning of the book and I desperately need to know if the "video games that require corkboards and string" is Kingdom Hearts

As soon as I started reading this book I knew it was going to be a whole lot of fun. Valentines has a very picturesque themed academic atmosphere and I really enjoyed visualizing the characters there. And I really loved a lot of the characters, Jasper and Charlie were a great blend of personalities and their (not so) subtle pining was very fitting for two 16 year olds. And of course Xavier was one of my faves. There were a few side characters however that I wasn’t much of a fan of unfortunately,, The idea of STRIP as a club was really intriguing and I loved seeing Charlie actually tutoring and it being a way of him making friends at the school regardless of his fear of being the center of attention. Touching more on Charlie’s fears I liked the representation of parental and situational academic pressure and his fears of the schools traditional values creating a transphobic atmosphere was both understandable and realistic. It was a just good book to me plot wise, a bit better than okay but nothing life-changing! There were a few plot holes and moments where I felt the character development fell short but it was a fun read over valentines Day and I’m really grateful to have received the ARC.

3.5/5 Stars

This was a lot of ridiculous. I just couldn't get into it. I had trouble connecting to the main character and even more to the Love Interest. I didn't understand the appeal but, also, so much didn't really make sense to me. My suspension of disbelief just doesn't go that far I guess. A lot of it felt wrong to me. It was quite a fast read but maybe that kept me from being attached to any of it? I don't know, this just didn't work for me but it'll probably work for others!

Second chance romance between two queer roommates who end also end up writing love letters for their fellow classmates while falling for each other. Charlie never intended to fall in love when he started his first dat at Valentine Academy for Boys, in fact his only goal is to make sure his secret, that he is the school's only trans student, stays a secret and that would all hinge on his goal of having a bedroom to himself... only it's immediately destroyed when he finds out that he's been assigned a roommate... and not just any roommate but Jasper Grimes, the boy who not only broke his heart the year before he transitioned by the principal's nephew and the school's popular boy. Charlie wants nothing to do with Jasper and it appears like Jasper doesn't recognize Charlie at all but that doesn't stop Jasper from hounding Charlie into becoming his friend. Jasper and Charlie strike a deal: if Charlie can help Jasper write love letters on behalf of their fellow students then Jasper will give up the room, but the only problem is that Charlie has no experience in writing love poems and Jasper has made it his mission to tutor him in romance. Can these two roommates work it out or will Jasper finally recognize Charlie and what happens next? This definitely was a very YA novel and the misunderstanding was eh. I guess I just wasn't feeling the story as much as I had wanted to. The romance was okay and the overall book was fine, it just didn't spark anything in me. I do think other YA readers who enjoy a queer romance will have fun with this and should absolutely give it a read.

Release Date: May 27, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

-this was definitely out of my comfort zone when it came to genre
-I found all of the characters easy to love
-the character development we see from Charlie is truly beautiful and inspiring
-I found the end to be wrapped up a bit quickly, but all in all I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!
-release date is May 27th, 2025! Make sure to snag you a copy! I have a feeling they’ll go quick :)

This book had a lot of laughable moments, as well as having some tense one. Charlie is trying to fit in in an all boy's school, while trying not to give away the fact they are trans. Their secret is what tries to stop them from making friends or getting close, but as their plan to stay under the radar starts to fail, they find themselves in a whirlwind of activity, as well as trying to keep their scholarship to keep them in the school. They weren't expecting to have a roommate, and for that person to be the only person they kissed pre-transition. I liked that there was this past connection to the characters, especially since Jasper didn't know who Charlie was, but also when Jasper learns, how they handle it. Charlie definitely doesn't trust a lot of people, and I think at some point that is a detrament to them, but they seem to heal from that the more they learn that people dont care who they were, but instead care about who they are now.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. Please note that I chose to DNF this book at 55%.

I was initially really excited about this book, the premise sounded fresh and fun. And to its credit, I did enjoy the main character, Charlie, and the internal conflicts he navigates around hiding his transition and identity.

That said, I found myself waiting (and waiting) for the romance to really take shape. Given that this was marketed as a second-chance romance, I expected a more compelling storyline between Charlie and Jasper. By the 55% mark, there were only the smallest hints of a connection (minuscule, really), and unfortunately, there just wasn't any chemistry that made me want to keep turning the pages.

Additionally, the dialogue didn't quite work for me. It felt a bit strange and awkward at times, and it just was not my cup of tea.

This one had so much potential, but in the end, I think it just wasn't the right fit for me.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

i stumbled upon this book after seeing the author describe it on their insta, and was immediately enamored by the title, which those who spent hours on vine back in 2014-2016 will remember fondly.

i loved this queer YA novel with an academic setting, and am always reminded how grateful i am to no longer have the stress of academics, extra-circulars, and maintaining scholarships looming over my shoulder like our mmc charlie does.

my only disappointment with this book was the miscommunication!! my most hated trope, but overall the rest of the book was such a fun time.

as for the audio, the narrator did a fantastic job!

4.5 Stars

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for giving me an ARC to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I start with this book, I was not expecting to love it as much as I ended up doing. Normally romance books don't engage me so I went into this book with low expectations but I was so so so very wrong. Let's get the first thing out of the way, it is VERY silly and the ridiculousness of it make it that much more funny. A trans YA book that I don't feel meh about??!!

Let's start with Charlie and how awesome his character development was. As a trans person I'm rarely ever able to connect with the main trans protagonist in books but Charlie felt so real. He wasn't defined by being trans but him trying to live life and being trans was an important part of the book. I loved the little glimpses of him trying to figure out how to do a bro hug or being self conscious if he's passing. While this wasn't the main theme of the book, it was effortless natural to see some of his thoughts as he navigates going to a boys school after transitioning. I loved his personality and how willing he was to help, listen people out, owning to his mistakes, and learning to grow. A+

Jasper. What a funny character, an over the top dramatic dude who at first glance I wondered if I was going to like as the love interest. But he's so earnest in his love for Charlie that you can't help but fall in love for him as well. He gives me Tamaki vibes from Ouran High School, like reading poetry to your roommate while he tries to sleep the first night you meet him? Iconic.

STRIP - Yes that's the name of the Tutor session. Again this book is ridiculous but that's what makes it cute. The STRIP baddies, all great friends that Charlie didn't set up on making but ended up making anyways.

Delilah - was surprised by the friendship between her and charlie, and their communication issues but also them trying to work through it. It was refreshing to see that sometimes things aren't straight forward but if you care for someone you will work through it.

Overall this book had me giggling, laughing and at the end bawling my eyes out. I do wish we would have cut the whole letters thing a bit shorter so we would have had a longer time at the Winter Mixer which felt like went by super fast. But hey that's just a small criticism on a great book. Def buying this book next week when it comes out.

Thanks to Roaring Brook Press and Macmillan Children’s for letting me read and review this book early. All thoughts are my own!!

And They Were Roommates follows Charlie as he goes to an all-boys boarding school to follow in his mother’s footsteps. While he’s there, he ends up rooming with Jasper, someone from his past who could upend everything Charlie is working towards.

WOW DID I LOVE THIS BOOK!! I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect since I didn’t read a ton about it beforehand, but it absolutely is a new favorite for me. It’s such a good blend of funny and emotional moments. The characters in this book were delightful and layered. Every interaction in this book left me either laughing or feeling connected to them even more.

Charlie’s journey, specifically, really got to me. He’s navigating this new school that has “traditional values” as a trans student. He’s both wanting to live his life without hiding and also having to be careful out of fear he’d be kicked out. It’s genuinely such an emotional journey for him and for the reader.

I love when a book makes me feel like I’m there with the characters. The writing really kept me involved in the story, and the atmosphere and environment were really captivating. I just really loved this book so much. I just wanted to give all of them a hug honestly.

I can’t wait for my physical copy to come so I can just hold it in my hands and reread my favorite parts. Can’t wait for everyone else to read this book too!!

It took me a long time to understand why I was just not vibing with this book at all, and I finally realized it’s because the tone and dialogue are SO reminiscent of manga/anime. Once I had that in my head, suddenly all of the things I had previously been so baffled by (the near-fantasy setting, the academic stakes, the secret clubs, and especially the melodrama) all fit together in a way I understood. Unfortunately, this didn’t really help with my enjoyment of the book. This kind of writing style just does not work on me and I couldn’t connect to the story being told. I’d be very curious if it would work better for someone who enjoys manga because I think it’d be great if this book had an audience! It just isn’t me. Page Powars, I am BEGGING you to just write fantasy.

I finished this book feeling quite lukewarm. A lot of the humor didn't quite work for me---it's funny that, in this universe, mediocre poets are insanely rich and successful, but the fact that a fifteen year old was selected as the Sexiest Poet Alive or whatever was, as Charlie often says, cringe.

This was very trope-y and goofy, which was clearly deliberate. Whether that works for you will be up to individual taste. My biggest problem, and the reason that this sat at three stars for me, is the fact that in the midst of an otherwise very silly plot, Charlie's main "problem" is that he's trying to pass as cisgender. He's very focused on passing. He's worried about the consequences for passing, and his mom is afraid that he won't pass. Did I just say the word "pass" a lot? The book never does, but Charlie's recurring fear is that he won't, and I... didn't love that. Especially in the context of the extreme goofiness going on with the other characters. I have some thoughts and feelings about trying to change a flawed system of nepotism from the inside, which I won't get into here, because this book wasn't trying to be that deep. I'm much older than the target audience, and I think I'd have liked this more if I was closer to that age and not overthinking choices that were meant to be fairly lighthearted. Still, the choice to focus on passing and make being outed a source of danger, while the other kids are yelling about being the chosen one to fight a spider army or collecting sparkly horse trading cards, kind of rubbed me the wrong way.

Other things this book focuses on, like academic burnout, were handled well. And other things aside, Charlie's attempts to analyze how to best project manliness in this venue kept being undermined by the erratic behavior of his friends and classmates, which had some good moments. In some ways, Charlie plays the straight man in a world of over-the-top side characters, which had its charms. I think if I could have gotten past some of the implications of Charlie's storyline I'd have enjoyed this more, and I would certainly read Powars's other work to see if that was a better fit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I can see this in film format; it's very cinematic, and I think this would work well for upper MG/lower YA readers. I didn't realize how young the target audience was when I picked this up (the characters are 15, I believe) so that's something to keep in mind.

“And They Were Roommates” by Page Powars is one of those books you pick up for the fun premise and end up staying up way too late reading because you have to know what happens next. It’s funny in all the right ways; full of hilarious moments, romantic mishaps, and plenty of choas.

Charlie is a wonderfully relatable protagonist, juggling identity, past heartbreak, and the wild mess that is teenage emotion, all while trying to ghostwrite love letters for his former crush/current roommate, who is a very oblivious, internet-famous teenage poet. The setup feels like a classic rom-com but with a refreshing, progressive twist. The representation here is so important and so thoughtfully handled, and it’s woven seamlessly into a story that’s equal parts charming and meaningful.

Yes, it’s fun. Yes, it’s fluffy. But it also speaks to something bigger: acceptance, the messiness of growing up, and finding love (and friendship) not in spite of who you are, but because of it.

Would I read it again? Absolutely. It’s the kind of book that makes you laugh, ache, and root for every character!