🌟 4.5/5
🌶 PG13++ (open door scenes, but descriptions are not overtly explicit)

📍NYC
• Librarian X Roommate's Grandson
• Forced proximity
• Strangers to friends to lovers to enemies who still want to be lovers
• Cute banter
• Multi-generational friendship
• LGBTQ representation - late in life coming out
• Jewish Representation
• Multiple HEAs

TW: Strained parental relationship, homophobia (but no violence or hateful speech), parental abandonment, death of a side family member (off page), health emergency, working through grief and regret

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⚠️ Caution: Possible Spoiler Ahead ⚠️

What I liked
• Unique Meet Cute
Sabrina, in need of a calmer lifestyle while she completed her masters degree, was looking for a roommate that was out of their party phase. she found 72 year-old Marcia on RoomBridge app. The app that matches

• Bookish Love Story
Who doesn't love a book that has MC's that are also bookworms. This book not only has that, but it's one of the things that brings the MMC and FMC together.

• Marcia's Story
Marcia is a septuagenarian widow. Upon losing the love of her life, she opens up to her family about being bisexual. She knows the world has progressed, and she can now live her truth.

• Unconditional Mom Love
Sabrina lives her life trying to be strong and independent because that is the example her mom showed Sabrina and her sister growing up. But being independent made Sabrina hesitant to ask for help, despite working full time and getting her masters degree. Several circumstances eventually leads Sabrina to ask her mom for help, and mom welcomes it with open arms.

ROOMMATING was a cute concept. Two twenty-somethings living with an older widow in NYC. One, the lady’s grandson. The other, a librarian student who connected with her on a housing app that matched older citizens with younger.

What I liked- The Jewish rep, Rocket (the dog), the end and it’s grand gesture that reminds you of all your favorite classic 2000 era rom-com movies, and how books played a big part in the storyline and the main characters.

What I struggled with- I felt the flow of this book was off, and it would have benefited from some story points being moved around. The main characters were a bit lackluster in my opinion. The writing style was a stilted and the dialogue didn’t flow at times.

Overall, this was a plot that held potential, but lacked execution and a few things that could have made it great.

Thank you Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is my own and reflects my thoughts and opinions.

I liked this book and story was clever! There were lots of great YA book references and I really liked the way the author snuck them into the story line! There was a bit too much focus on the grandmother's sexuality and I felt like it sidetracked from the story a bit, but still a quick and easy ready that I enjoyed!

I always enjoy Meredith Schorr's novels and her latest, Roommating, is a real treat from beginning to end! It has everything I love in a rom-com, all bundled into a perfect package. Full of humor, Jewish joy, a swoonworthy love interest, romance, steam, book references, pop culture, an adorable dog, etc. The NYC setting adds even more charm.
I liked the unique concept of this story. I've never read a novel where a young woman shares an apartment with an older woman, and then the older woman's grandson suddenly reappears in her life and it makes things complicated for the young woman. Meredith made everything seem like a lot of fun! There was a lot of great banter between the characters and the story never slowed down.

I found some aspects of the story relatable. I could understand and appreciate Sabrina's stress about money. I know she was trying hard to be independent and make ends meet, but that it got to a breaking point for her. I felt bad for her regarding her guilt over how she acted toward her grandma prior to her grandma's death. My heart also hurt for Marcia with being rejected by her son and having her grandson alienated from her.

My only concern is that I wish the competition had gone on longer. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a big deal that it was cut short. The story still had a lot going for it even without the competition.

Fun side note: My mom's name is Marcia and she spells it the same way as the one in this book. (People used to call us asking for Mar-see-a, even though Marcia Brady spelled it the same way too.)

This one is a winner for me and it will be for you too! Be sure to add it to your summer TBR for a relaxing and entertaining escape read.

Movie casting suggestions:
Sabrina: Iris Apatow
Adam: Jonah Hauer-King
Marcia: Judith Light
Audrina: Maude Apatow
(Trigger warnings at the bottom of the post.)

Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.
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TW: Homophobia (off page), death of parent (off page)

This book has everything: hot librarian(s), a small hurricane in dog form, a vivacious septuagenarian, boundary issues.

Sabrina and Marcia are SO perfectly matched as roommates and as friends - they bring the best parts out of each other and keep each other bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Adam, of course, is a welcome addition to their cozy little home - until he (through no fault of his own even though she has done nothing wrong) is suspicious of Sabrina’s intentions with his grandma. And Sabrina’s determination to ice him out is so swift and forceful (and awkward) that I was forced to look at my own reflection and admit that she and I have a lot in common.

There are so many different dynamics at play in this book - the push and pull of Sabrina and Adam’s rivalry-turned-affection-turned-rivalry-again, the wild affection they both feel for Marcia and the parallels of that to each of their complex relationships with their parents. Their determination to make things work for themselves despite constant roadblocks and obstacles - some of which are each other. And some of which (even more of which?) are themselves.

But that’s why we need other people around us; to help us over - or around - the hurdles.

This was really cute. I liked them together and it was cute how much they liked books. On that note though this did not need so many name drops of books, I get it, she's a librarian, but naming so many books would temporarily take me out of the book. Marcia was fun and I like how she was secretly rooting for the two of them to get together. I also didn't think the love confession at the end was earned. The book should have been a little longer with the two of them together for a while for that to be believable.

I received an arc through netgalley.

3-3.5 stars. There were some really great parts of this book that I enjoyed very much. Other parts didn’t work as well for me.

I’m a sucker for a friend/roommate setup between two different generations. It’s never disappointed me, and Sabrina and Marcia lived up to the fun I find in it. There’s so much that characters can learn from each other in that dynamic. I also really enjoyed Sabrina’s job at the library and appreciated the realistic financial challenges she was navigating, as well as the way her own pride added a burden to her challenges. It was an authentic experience she was facing and opened up a lot of good conversations.

As far as the romance/Adam element of the book, I was conflicted. For starters, I expected the “competition” for the roommate spot to be a much larger part of the plot than it actually was. I didn’t particularly enjoy it, so I’m honestly glad it wasn’t very long, but I felt like I was spending the whole first half of the book and then some wondering when that conflict was going to appear. And when it did, I was immediately cooled off on Adam and the way he reacted. Even before that, I wasn’t really invested in the relationship between the two of them and after I cared less. It ultimately worked out well in the end and I felt better about him, but the in between was rough for me.

Thank you to Forever via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute romcom, which I enjoyed reading in one sitting. Sabrina, a grad student who is struggling financially and ends up being a roommate with an elderly woman named Marcia. The arrangement was working well until Marcia's grandson moves into the apartment, and tension arises between Sabrina and Adam.

The book mentions some the realistic aspects that recent college graduates face in terms of finding employment and struggling financially. While this was a light hearted read, the book did not captivate my attention as a memorable read. I felt that both the main characters were not fully developed for me to feel invested in them individually or as a couple.

Thank you Forever Grand Central Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

This was such a fun and cute book!

First of all, I currently work at a public library while pursuing my MLIS. I loved that I could directly relate to Sabrina and that aspect of her life!!

Sabrina is a grad student and library page who is roommates with a septuagenarian named Marcia for low rent in exchange for helping with physical and techy aspects of Marcia's life. When Marcia invites her estranged grandson to stay with them for a while, Sabrina is suddenly sharing space with a hot single man around her age. Marcia's grandson Adam quickly entangles himself in both Marcia and Sabrina's lives, but this arrangement turns into a competition between Sabrina and Adam for who will get to stay permanently.

One of the things I loved most about this book is that it lingers in the happy, couple-y times a lot longer than I typically see in a rom-com book. I loved getting to read about Sabrina and Adam getting along, developing their feelings for one another, and communicating well for stretches between times of conflict.

I also ADORED how bookish all the characters were! The bookstore visits, library work, name-dropping of popular titles, and buddy-reading of YA books all made my heart so happy!

Read this book if you like:
- Libraries
- New York City
- Spunky Old People
- The Roommate Trope
- Healthy Communication between MCs
- Rivalry and Competition between MCs

Thank you so much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute one! My favorite character in the book was Marcia, she was so funny and I would’ve easily read an entire book focused around just her!

Ok, Roommating was adorable and kind of makes me want to have a grandma did a roommate 🤣

This was so cute and such a fun read!

SWOOOOOON! I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting when I started this, but it was not to be so completely captivated and charmed! I finished this in one sitting and could not stop smiling. It was absolutely PRECIOUS. Did I mention I could not stop smiling??? Even with this heavier topics that made an appearance, you finish this book feeling wrapped in a warm, happy hug. 🤗

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I'll be thinking about this one and smiling for a long, long time. It's definitely made my list of go-to cozy, feel-good reads for the future.

Didn’t relate and did not felt a natural flow on the writing. It’s cute but I expected more since I enjoyed her previous workd

Cute premise, decent execution. I think I tend to feel a little underwhelmed with Schorr’s books, even though on paper it sounds like something I would love. I firmly believe that every book is meant for some readers, I just don’t think I’m necessarily the right audience for this one.

Whenever there is a relationship between a younger FMC with an older character, I always love to see the dynamics. We have Sabrina renting a room from Marcia and helps her with technology and other things. Their friendship is so special and I love how strong it was.

Things are all fine until, Adam, Marcia's grandson stays temporarily with them. He is reconnecting with her as they lost touch the last 10 years. I loved how they both instantly connected and didn't miss a beat.

The ode to love of books was a fun touch between Adam and Sabrina. I love the slow burn between the two and how they resisted each other.

This was such an entertaining forced proximity romance. Thank you @readforeverpub for a copy of the book.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I always love a story about readers/authors/librarians. I liked the choice of having the grandma be the roommate.

3.5 stars. Roommating by Meredith Schorr was a cute read—if you love forced proximity, healing intergenerational trauma, and a book-loving FMC, this is for you!! The plot was refreshing, pace was realistic, and who doesn't love a man who is sweet to his grandmother?? I was personally a big fan of Sabrina's and Adam's character development, and it was an absolute JOY to read Marcia living her authentic life.

Roommating follows Sabrina, a twenty-something pursuing her Master's in Library Sciences degree by working as a library page. How does she afford that, you might ask? She found a septuagenarian roommate through an online app. Marcia rents out a room in her gorgeous New York City apartment in exchange for cheap rent, help with daily tasks, and good company. They have a sweet setup until Marcia's attractive grandson, Adam, crashes. While the end date of his time in their apartment is nowhere in sight, Adam and Sabrina's chemistry is undeniable and clear to everyone around them.

This was a super cute read! I appreciated that certain dynamics, such as the age-gap roommate situation & the FMC’s pursuit to become a librarian, were unique, especially for a new release set in modern-day. Ultimately not an earth-shattering plot but felt like a well-written, easy, mindless read, which is sometimes all you need!

Thank you to NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read! I absolutely loved this book!!!

Roommating 🏙️🏡🩵
DNF / 1 ⭐️
3🌶️

Thank you so much to Forever for the chance to read this advanced copy. All feedback and opinions are my own!

I was really excited about the concept of this book- a NYC setting, multi-generational friendships, roommates to lovers, and forced proximity all sound like a recipe for a really delicious story!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. Do you ever read something and get second-hand embarrassment? Sadly, that’s the way I felt with this book. So many of the lines made me physically cringe and shudder, and the spicy scenes were more flabbergasting than they were sexy. I genuinely am surprised that some of the lines in this book made it past edits: “Adam giggles-legit giggles- and it’s so cute I nearly piss myself” girl WHAT??? 😀

While this book wasn’t for me personally, I do think that it will find its intended audience among readers who can separate lines that are very silly and goofy from the meaning behind the story.