“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!

If you're looking for a happy queer story, this is it!

I enjoyed this book a lot! The characters were funny, silly, and memorable. Charlie, the beloved main character, is super relatable and so are his struggles. Jasper is a breath of fresh air for a love interest. He takes quirky to the next level. Somebody take cardboard cutouts away from him. The other characters were great! Blaze was hysterical and probably my favorite.

The plot is interesting (and a little implausible). But! Suspend your disbelief (it's a YA story after all), and you'll have a fun time. It's a bit predictable, but again, it makes for a fun read. The ending also feels a bit rushed, and I would have loved to have spent more time with our two main characters after they've figured things out.

Do recommend! It's a cute story, and thank you to NetGalley for approving my request to review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This little YA romance hit exactly right. Cute, queer, and full of heart, I fell in love with the setting of St. Valentine’s and the quirky cast of characters roaming its halls. I don’t know if it really falls into the category of “second chance romance” if the characters hadn’t even hit puberty when they had their first kiss. All the same, I appreciated the additional layer of familiarity and conflict between Charlie and Jasper, who had only known each other before Charlie’s transition.

The story itself was simple: a boy must keep his identity a secret for fear of losing his place at the prestigious academy, all while surviving grueling academic and social challenges, and coping with a massive crush on his roommate. What brought the story to life were the goofy side characters, like the twelve-year-old prodigy, the horse-obsessed teenage boy, and the genius musclehead. Charlie and Jasper orbited each other at the center of this island of oddities, pushed together and pulled apart again by circumstance and teenaged stubbornness.

While I can suspend my disbelief with the best of them, I did cringe a little at the repeated assertion that Jasper (a sixteen year old prep school student) was a “famous poet”. The level of academic pressure and some of the academy’s rules/reward systems also triggered an eye roll of two. But I still can’t help loving the setting, all the ridiculous characters, and the goofy love story between two adorable, idiotic, kindhearted, hormone-ridden teenagers.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Page Powars for the advanced reader copy!

All I can say is — this was such a fun reading experience!! The characters all had such a distinct voice and personality, and the banter made every scene come alive in the best way possible.

Charlie and Jasper’s dynamic was very entertaining, whether as enemies, begrudging acquaintances, or counterparts in a rekindled relationship.

Thank you again, I highly recommend this book to everyone that loves some boarding school hijinks, strong characters, and of course, enemies to lovers!

Page is truly the voice of a generation. His books are so fun and witty and heartfelt--I'm so glad trans teens have stories like this.

Absolutely adored And They Were Roommates! Jasper and Charlie's story hooked me from the start, and I absolutely binged this!

I was really looking forward to this book, but it fell flat for me. I don't think that there was much of a romance to the story. Charlie is a trans boy who is starting at an all boys boarding school, and he thinks that he will have his own dorm room. He is shocked to discover that he has a roommate... who was also his first and only kiss. Charlie met Jasper two years ago, and Jasper doesn't recognize him because it was before Charlie transitioned.

I was hoping for more of a reveal when Jasper learned more about Charlie, but it never really happened. The side plot with writing the letters to the all girls school took over too much of the story, and the side characters seemed like one dimensional caricatures.

DNF 19%

I adored Page Powars’ debut novel, and could not wait to get my hands on their sophomore release, but this just did not work for me. I thought I was going to have fun with this, but a lot of Charlie’s stress around being stealth was stressing me out to the point I struggle to sink into the story. When STRIP was revealed as a secret society, it started to feel too much like The Borrow-A-Boyfriend Club, and I just…lost interest. This is one-thousand percent a me problem and maybe I’ll want this book at a later date, but for now it just doesn’t work for me.

I loved this so much. One of my favorite tropes is an academic setting, make it gay and it’s just even better.
It’s campy, it’s cute, there’s LOVE LETTERS. How can you not love it.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK!

And they were roommates following Charlie who goes to Valentine Academy, for a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn. Once he arrives, he expects to walk into his solo room and breeze by the next couple years.
Except, he can’t do that. Why? Because he is roommates with the one guy who he used to like—now loathes.
What’s better? Jasper doesn’t recognize Charlie. Not just because of the years that passed but because Charlie’s identity is new.

You follow along on Charlie’s journey with self acceptance and feeling comfortable in his body. It was an absolute roller coaster of emotions reading Charlie’s inner monologue.

This was such a cute read. I’m so glad I found Page Powars, I’ve found a new go to author! Best believeeeeeee I’m buying the physical copyyyyyyy

If you want a book to put you right into your feelings, definitely check this out! You won’t regret it!

TROPES: DISLIKES TO LOVERS, FORCED PROXIMITY, TRANS REP, ACADEMIA SETTING

Til Next Review,
Sincerely, Lyssi

+1 for the title alone - I loved these characters. They were all likable and endearing in their own ways. This was a fun romp, packed with heart and humor.

I was completely captivated by this book. Even as I'm getting a bit older, and YA can be unpredictable, this truly stood out as a great and fun read. The humorous characters were a highlight, with the entire STRIP ensemble being a particular favorite. Jasper's incredibly endearing and flamboyant personality was a constant source of entertainment. And of course, Charlie, our central protagonist, was simply wonderful. What truly resonated with me was the thoughtful exploration of his fear of being outed as trans, contrasted with the powerful and heartwarming embrace he received from his friends once he came out. It was beautiful to witness his personal growth, as his initial emotional walls crumbled, allowing him to build a genuine found family by the end of the semester. While his developing relationship with Jasper was incredibly sweet, I do wish we'd had a bit more of their delightful interactions spread throughout the story, rather than concentrated in the concluding chapters.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC

I really liked the integration of the characters. Charlie made good friends who supported him in every way. My favorite characters are Jasper and Alex. Charlie is under a lot of pressure to get the best grades to get a scholarship, which makes him anxious throughout the book. I would have liked to see more interaction between Jasper and Charlie once they're together; there wasn't much information about Jasper either. Another issue I had was that the dialogue seemed weak at times.

It's a good read if you're new to the LGBT romance genre.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

Have you ever wanted Ouran High School Host Club to be a novel where Haruhi is a transgender student and unfortunate enough to have a history with Tamaki-senpai and now they're roommates? Well, do I have a book for you! haha. Thank you Netgalley for the arc. I had a very fun time with this. It has a few expected tropes but I really liked the characters and setting of this. You really feel the pressure that Charlie is under and the second-hand stress was palpable to me. It's a quick read and has the vibes of a story that easily could be a hit teen movie with the shenanigans that happen and just an amazingly quirky cast of characters. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

This is a cute teenage love story & friendship. I had fun reading this, but sadly, the MC is kind of insufferable (for me). I love his inner monologue but the way he acts just annoy the hell out of me ;(
It's still funny and refreshing though, so I might recommend this to anyone who loves YA queer romcom.

I requested this ARC based on the cute cover and it did not disappoint. Charlie who finally gets into the school of his dreams, finds himself being roommates with an ex. A very cute ex who doesn’t recognize him after transitioning.

Matching the cute cover, this was such a cute story. We got to follow Charlie’s emotional journey into finding his circle of friends and the spark between roommates.

An ARC was received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed And They Were Roommates. One of the standout aspects for me was how deeply the story explored Charlie's emotional journey. The way he was forced to confront the feelings he had been avoiding for Jasper felt both authentic and powerful. Page Powars did a great job of balancing humor and heart, but it was that emotional reckoning that stuck with me most. Especially Charlie's vulnerability and growth. It added a layer of depth that made this more than just a fun romance; it became a moving story about identity, love, and healing.

(Also, Jasper having a cutout of himself made me put the book down and wipe my tears from the ridiculousness.)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!

I really loved Page's first book, so I was really excited when I got approved for the arc for this one. I'm glad to say that his sophomore book doesn't disappoint! I absolutely adored Charlie and Jasper and the dynamic that they had. They were insanely cute. I do wish we got to see more cute moments with Charlie and Jasper as a couple, but I still love the moments we got with them. I also really loved getting to see Charlie grow and become more confident as the story progressed. This book gave me serious shojo manga/anime vibes with how dramatic everything was and I'm 100% here for it. Overall, I really loved this and I'm excited to read more from Page in the future.

actual rating: 4.5 stars

And They Were Roommates is exactly what the title promises - a fun, light-hearted novel about Charlie forced to become roommates with his ex, who does not recognise him after his transition. It’s the sort of book you pick up at the end of a stressful day in order to relax, laugh, and finish off on a good note.

First off, I really like Powars’ style of light-hearted humour that maintained an even, light-hearted tone throughout the book and led to some lines that made me genuinely snort out in laughter. I was giggling and clutching my metaphorical pearls for a large portion of this book. Also, I’d expected a sole focus on romance, but And They Were Roommates surprised me by spotlighting platonic and familial relationships as well in a very sweet way. A few platonic moments may have had me smiling hysterically and being overjoyed on Charlie’s behalf, which is how you know you’ve done a good job on portraying friendships.

The characters took some time to fully warm up to, but it was completely worth it when I did. One thing I’d like to note is that I was slightly charmed by Jasper even during his very first scene, so in hindsight, it’s hilarious that Jasper’s charisma transcended the confines of the e-book pages and had me thoroughly intrigued in his and Charlie’s dynamic, despite the fact that I didn’t trust him much then. Their dynamic felt like the heart of this book, along with Charlie’s gradual discovery of figuring out what he wants.

My main critiques have to do with wanting more of specific elements of the plot or seeing more of specific characters, but they are very minor critiques and don’t take away from how wonderful it was to read this book. I think this was a solid 4-star read. And They Were Roommates is a fun, captivating rom-com novel that will leave you with a warm buzz of joy in your chest at the end of it.

3.5 "oh my god, they were roommates" stars. The cover is gorgeous. The concept is cute and wholesome and mostly well-executed. Pacing was fine; I didn't tear through it, but there was never a point where it felt like slog. I'm always for more trans romance books, especially trans YA romance books. More books about queer found family, especially queer teen found family. I appreciated that while Charlie's transness was definitely a conflict in the book (i.e. him having to hide it), it wasn't *the* conflict. The book was much more about Charlie's personal struggle to open up, accept help, and balance his need for academic success. It was a lovely coming of age. If I'd read this as a teen, I think I would have liked this a lot better. The characters are kids so of course they did things that were illogical or silly. I had to keep reminding myself that I'm adult and this ultimately book isn't for me.

However, Jasper (the main LI) didn't really work for me. He felt almost like a caricature. And I know he's a gay teenage poet™, but he spoke like a bad impression of a Victorian dandy. I know this was intentional because Charlie and other characters had perfectly normal dialogue. There's also another poet character who speaks like this, so I think he and Jasper were just supposed to sound erudite and flowery. It was distracting. I found myself intentionally skimming his dialogue so I could keep up with the scene without having to encounter the awkward language. I kept waiting for the reveal that Jasper's way of speaking/acting was a front he would drop when he and Charlie finally had their big emotional reckoning, but that didn't happen. This is all mostly personal preference, I'm sure, which is why I rounded up to 4 stars. But still, a little disappointing for a book I was looking forward to.