Roommating by Meredith Schorr was the perfect cozy read. I loved the characters, particularly Marcia, and how Adam and Sabrina grew closer by sharing the things they love and reading.

Perfect for romance readers who love stories set in NYC, forced proximity, roommates to lovers, librarians, found family and repairing familial relationships.

e-ARC: 3.75⭐️ rounded up — this was a lovely, fun, adorable, quick read. An incredibly engaging slow-burn with such a fun premise; I loved seeing the inter-generational interactions and also the depth of family dynamics and relationships for both characters.

I didn’t LOVE the vibes of the “competition” to stay Gram’s roommate, mostly because I felt like their actions undercut a lot of the strengths of their developing relationship. It weakened the dynamics for me and really solidified the ending as a HFN rather than a definite HEA. Which, isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the first 60-70% of the book was so upbeat and lighthearted, so the tonal shift was somewhat distracting.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I really liked the premise of this book, and honestly I liked the plot too. My struggle is that I want to feel the emotion of a couple falling in love in a romance novel, but I felt like this novel told more than it showed. It didn’t have the level of emotion I’m used to in a romance, and that’s what I enjoy most. The constant pop culture references were a little excessive too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sabrina’s got enough on her plate—grad school, a library job, and trying to afford life in NYC—so the last thing she needs is a distraction. But when her elderly roommate, Marcia, invites her estranged grandson Adam to crash at their place, Sabrina suddenly finds herself living with a very attractive, funny, book-loving new roommate. And after one too many late-night run-ins (him shirtless, of course), the tension between them is impossible to ignore.
Then Marcia has a health scare, and suddenly there’s only room for one of them in the apartment. Instead of acting like adults, Sabrina and Adam go full send into a competition to prove who deserves to stay. But when keeping the apartment means losing each other, things get complicated real fast.
This one had everything I love—forced proximity, great banter, and a slow-burn romance with plenty of steam. Adam is the perfect mix of charming and a little lost, and Sabrina is so relatable with her grad school struggles. Marcia completely steals the show (I need more older characters like her in romance books!), and there’s even an adorable dog. If you love bookish romances with heart and humor, definitely check this one out!

᪥ Roommate s To Lovers
᪥ NYC
᪥ Slow Burn
᪥ Close Proximity
᪥ Single POV
᪥ Librarian MC’s

DNF @ 50 but I feel like I can effectively review this. This was so hard for me to read. I don’t want to sound overly rude, but the writing of this did not impress me to the point of it becoming difficult to read. There were also so many scenes thar felt too predictable or slightly cringey. There was no way I would have been able to happily finish this.

What a warm hug of a romance! I loved everything about this read, from the dynamic between Sabrina and Marcia to the tension Adam brought to the table! Such a fun premise and such an easy read, I couldn't get enough!

2.25⭐

LIKED:
- The story of Sabrina, a woman in her early twenties, being roommates with Marcia, a woman in her early seventies who she is not related to, is very sweet. I also really liked the correlation between Sabrina’s relationship with Marcia and the companionship that she is missing from her late grandmother. That side of the story is really charming and I honestly wish there was more of it.
- Marcia’s relationship with her late-in-life coming out story, dysfunctional relationship with her son that also effectively stagnates her relationship with her grandson, and her dating experience are also lovely. Genuinely, Marcia was my favorite part of the story. She had a lot of depth and I wish she had more time on the page.
- Sabrina is 23, so there’s a lot she’s still figuring out in her life. She knows what she wants to do, but she doesn’t know how to do it, due to money, confidence, and many things. It’s very relatable and endears her to the reader.
- This cover is lovely. I love the set dressing and the colors. My only critique is that Rocket (the dog) kind of looks terrifying. Also, somewhat begrudgingly…I like the title. It’s cute, it makes sense to the story. I just wish it made more sense to the story.

LAMENTED:
- Adam. Is. Boring. Honestly, it’s not even that he’s boring…he reads kind of eerily young. When she takes him to the strand at the beginning of the book, he acts like he’s a tween in the city for the first time. We also barely learn why he’s working at the library? Does he like books as much as Sabrina does? Maybe I just don’t remember, but we needed more of his adventures in trying to find what he wanted to do with his life. He just felt so underdeveloped and childish. A lot of this book read really young and I think it would be more successful under the YA umbrella in many ways.
- This is not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb, but when Marcia has her health scare and the two MCs need to figure out who gets to stay…that happens at 60% of the way through the book. I spent 2/3 of this book waiting for it to happen. And most of the story leading up to that point felt very banal and pretty uninteresting for the most part. This little “who gets to stay” competition would have been a great driving force through the majority of the book that added more stakes that were pretty much non-existent. And the competition is so brief in the end. I don’t understand this choice in pacing.
- The choice for the two MCs to sleep together for the first time when they did was beyond odd to me. I get that it’s a way to relieve tension but…what. It was tonal whiplash.
- There are way too many references to pop culture, especially other published books. We get it, she’s in the library, but it was so many title drops like The Midnight Library and Colleen Hoover. Oof.
- Gabe was annoying and didn’t really add anything. Especially since there was also Carley who also didn’t really add anything. They should have been combined or made more distinct.

LONGED FOR:
- More depth to Adam.
- More of the friendship between Sabrina and Marcia (and, generally, just more Marcia).
- More stakes, like more exploration of the actual roommate situation.

Will I read the next one? : No. This is the second book by Schorr I’ve read (I DNF-ed the first one) and I just don’t think her writing style and characters are for me.

📚💘 BOOK REVIEW TIME 💘📚
Roommating by Meredith Schorr

This book?? GAVE. ME. LIFE. 🫶🔥

Grad student 📚 + hot, shirtless roommate 🚿 = a rom-com I could not put down!! Sabrina’s just tryna survive grad school and her job at the library 📖, but when Marcia (iconic elder roommate 👵💅) invites her estranged — and ridiculously hot — grandson Adam to stay with them, things get complicated FAST.

We're talking:
🏙️ NYC apartment drama
💥 Accidental bathroom meet-cutes
🥵 Slow burn tension
💗 Mutual bookworm love
😢 Emotional family healing
🤣 Laugh-out-loud sabotage to win the lease

Adam?? Certified book boyfriend material 💁‍♂️✨
Marcia?? MVP of this entire story 🐐

The chemistry was sizzling 🌡️🔥 but the friendship made it tender and REAL. And when the plot took a turn after Marcia’s health scare? I was crying in the club 😭❤️

💬 “All’s fair in love and real estate” might just be my new life motto 🏠💔

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Steam level: 🌶️🌶️
Feels level: 😍😭🤣
Roommate trope? Chef’s kiss 👩‍❤️‍👨

If you love:
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Nerdy soft boys
✨ Grandmas who meddle (but mean well)
✨ NYC vibes
✨ Rom-coms that make you both swoon and laugh

…Roommating is for YOU 🏃‍♀️💨

This was my first book by this author but I enjoyed it so much it won't be my last!
This was a super cute feel good book and the relationship between the characters felt very genuine.

This was such a cute book!

It’s pretty low conflict, very much a feel-good book (other than some underlying themes of homophobia and financial stress) - perfect for a quick summer read!

There’s a loving grandmother, a chaotic dog, and lots of scenes set at the library. If you’re looking for a sweet romance, definitely pick this one up!

Imagine having a grandma like figure as a roommate and start falling for her grandson when he needs a place to stay. A meet cute that feels like it could turn into something. Until after awhile, only one of them can stay in the apartment. You have a lease but the grandson wants to spend more time with his grandma, who he hasn't seen in 10 years. Instead of going on dates, you're competing for a room. Who will win??? And will it be worth it???

A cute quick read with a little spice

This is a very sweet and light romance. It does skew a little young for me—the protagonists are in their early twenties and the writing is definitely in that voice. But I loved the premise, the library backdrop, and the charming grandma. It’s definitely my fave by Schorr so far!

Meredith Schorr romances never miss! Set in the backdrop of both NYC and library workers (two things I love), this story is about a woman who lives for reduced rent with a senior citizen she helps out in exchange for that rent discount. But when the senior citizen's hot grandson crashes on the couch temporarily, things heat up in the best possible way, and the two vie for spots in the apartment and in each other's hearts.


Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review!

I enjoyed this in the beginning; the roommate situation, the library and even the grandson coming to stay was all great but the competition really threw me. The mmc was also a bit flat and boring. I probably would have enjoyed this more without the romance and it was just about the FMC and her own life.

Room Mating by Meredith Schorr is a cute and funny romance about living together, falling in love, and figuring out life along the way.

Sabrina is working hard in grad school while living with Marcia, her sweet but nosy elderly roommate. Things get complicated when Marcia’s grandson, Adam, moves in—and suddenly, the apartment feels way too small. Sparks fly, arguments happen, and their late-night run-ins make things interesting. But when Marcia’s health takes a turn, Adam and Sabrina have to decide who stays and who goes.

What I liked:
✨ The playful, funny conversations between Adam and Sabrina.
✨ Marcia is the best—kind, hilarious, and the glue holding everything together.
✨ The story has just enough drama to keep things exciting but stays light and fun.

If you love stories about roommates, fun banter, and romance that feels real, Room Mating is a great pick!

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC! I truly appreciate the opportunity to read the book and provide my honest feedback.

Super cute & cozy read!

This is a perfect summer day reading in the park book. It's a wonderful, cozy, feel-good escape that's also a cute romance. It's heartwarming and funny. I had a great time immersing myself in this world.

The characters are a hoot but also realistic. This felt like an ode to sweet natured people if you will. I enjoyed the elderly roommate plot and thought it was unique for a romcom.

The romance was delightful. Full of chemistry, bookish, swoony and steamy. What more could you ask for?

The pacing was well done and the setting was so good. I loved he libraries and being able to sight see in Manhattan.

A well-rounded, delightfully charming romcom!

I love the forced proximity trope, and Roommating was such a fun take on it! Funny, tender, and sexy, it was a quick, cozy read. Thanks, NetGalley, for the advance copy!

this book fell a little flat for me....... the characters seemed very one note and couldn't seem to get excited for the relationship. I didn't feel that they had chemistry it felt forced.

A lot of steamy sex and some foul language. Not what I expected from this author whose previous books have been "clean/cozy".. It is a good story and more in line with modern ideas.

Apartment owner Marcia Haber, 72, has leased out her 2nd bedroom to 24 yr old Sabrina. In exchange for a lower rent, Sabrina will help with chores. Sabrina is happy with the arrangement. All is well until Marcia's grandson Adam asks Marcia if he can stay on her couch while he settles in to attend a NYC summer MBA program. Sabrina is concerned when a few weeks seems to stretch longer and her attraction to Adam, and Adam's to Sabrina, becomes a problem..

The situations were fun and lighthearted.

This book was such a cozy read. FLIRTY ROMANCE! Sabrina and Adam were pure entertainment with the love and heartless competition. Adam constantly teasing and messing with Sabrina was one of my favorite things in this book😂💕 This book had its signature charm for all my book lovers.