This was my first Camilla Isley booked and I loved it. I will definitely be going back to read the first two books in this series.

The Roommate Experiment is the third book in the Funny Feelings series by Camilla Isley and at first I didn’t realise it was linked! But I absolutely loved the first two so when I did realise I was so happy that Hunter was getting her story. Especially since we got teasers of it in the last book!

Hunter has been head over heels for her best friend’s brother Dylan for years. But he’s never even noticed her as more than his sister’s friend. So when he moves in with her, the dream for Hunter, slowly becomes more and more unbearable. When the closer the two seem to get, the more Hunter can’t ignore her feelings….

So this has friends to lovers, forced proximity and definitely a slow burn feel to it. The only reason I gave the book 4 stars and not 5 was that the romance was a bit slow… I just wanted them to get together quicker, but maybe that’s just me being impatient?

I would definitely recommend this one as it’s such a fun read! Thank you Camilla Isley, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. The Roommate Experiment comes out on May 27th!

I really enjoyed this book! I love a good friends to lovers and best friends brother. So fun! I haven't read the other two books in the series. Normally, I would, but I just didn't have as much time and just wanted to read it. I still may go back and read the other two because I really enjoyed this one.

Hunter is so excited to have Dylan be her new roommate. She's has had a crush on him since she met him and now he was going to be living with her, she could get him to see her and move beyond just acquaintances/friends. Unfortunately, Dylan moves in and has a "girlfriend", it's pretty new, but now Hunter's plan can't happen. Except, now Dylan does get to really know Hunter and his feelings are about to change.

This book was just a really fun read. It was a bit slow on the couple getting together, but it was worth it. There's some pretty funny parts that I still think about and it's been over a week since I finished reading it. So, I take that as a win!

I think it could have been a 5 star read if the main couple had been able to get together a bit faster. I just would have liked a little bit more of seeing them together as a couple. But, at the same time, there wasn't a big fall out and I do appreciate that.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!!

Enjoyed this cute easy romance. Forced proximity, best friend's brother trope. This book was a slow burn that felt a little rushed in the end. Overall a good quick read with a sweet ending. Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for this ARC.

As usual from Camilla Isley we have a fun, feel-good, super bingeable rom-com! Her books have become my go-to palette cleanser between heavy novels or for a pick-me-up, and this book did not disappoint.

The Roommate Experiment is the third instalment in the Funny Feelings series but can be read as a standalone (I would 100% recommend reading the other books, not only because of the back story but because they’re great stories). It is a heartwarming and witty romantic comedy that blends forced proximity with slow-burn charm. With her signature light touch and knack for crafting endearing characters, Isley delivers a modern love story full of humour, awkward moments, and genuine emotional depth.

In the story we follow Hunter, a quirky scientist with the biggest crush on her best friend’s brother, Dylan, who is a charming, out-of-luck actor. They are thrown together as unlikely roommates where their clashing lifestyles—her rigid structure versus his laid-back spontaneity—set the stage for both comedic and romantic tension. As they navigate the new dynamic of their friendship, late-night conversations, and personal ambitions, their connection deepens in ways neither of them expects. But as always, there are complications that make their situation not so simple.

What sets this story apart is Isley’s ability to balance banter and vulnerability. The dialogue sparkles, yet it never overshadows the characters' emotional arcs. The chemistry feels authentic, but I will say it did feel a bit drawn out. It would have been nice to see more of their growth after they got together, as it happens quite late in the book.

It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after the final page—especially with that epilogue. Fans of Emily Henry or Ali Hazelwood will probably love this one too.

Tropes
📖 Opposites Attract
✔️Forced Proximity
❤️ Best Friend’s Brother
🛏️ Only one bed
🔥 Slow burn
😂 Funny and tension-filled


Plot: 💜💜💜💜
Characters: 🤩🤩🤩🤩
Spice: 🌶️
Writing: ✍️🏼✍️🏼✍️🏼✍️🏼
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is my first book by Camilla and I really liked it.

Hunter has been in love with Dylan for eleven years😳 and she thinks she finally has a chance to make him see her in a different way now that they are roommates but finds out he has a new girlfriend.

Dylan is Hunter's best friends brother. He needed a new place because his best friend and sister are moving in together so now he is living with Hunter😊

Dylan did kind of annoy me a bit because he had no backbone when it came to certain things you will see when you read👀 This is a very slow low spice romance. Will Hunter get the guy read and find out❤!!

Thank you NetGally and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was a really fun twist on the brother's best friend and close proximity troupe. It felt realistic for Dylan to move in and take over the lease - or at least realistic for NYC. The will they won't they went on for the right amount of time and there was plenty of funny scenes while they got there.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for a free copy of the book.

This was enjoyable, but not my favourite of the trilogy. There was a brief mention of the heroine having endometriosis, and I liked the conversation the hero and heroine had around it, but there could have been more of a focus on her symptoms outside of her period.

Finally the last installment of the Funny Feelings trilogy, the couple I was waiting for most!! It of course did not disappoint. It was my favorite out of the three. I flew right through it, that it was over way too soon!

✔️ Roommate to Lovers
✔️ Best Friends Brother
✔️ Forced Proximity

I loved reading Hunter and Dylan’s story. I laughed so many times. It was great. So excited to see what Camilla Isley has in store for us next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

This was a quick read and perfect for summer reading. I enjoyed the plotline with Theo and found the dates entertaining

I'm a fan of Camilla Isley so was delighted to receive an advance copy! Loved this book - acquaintances to lovers ( of the best kind!) - hard recommend!

The plot and characters all had the right ingredients, but unfortunately, they never fully came together for me. It felt a bit too formulaic, lacking the uniqueness or depth in characters needed to really stand out. Not a bad read, I'm sure this fits the bill for many, but it just didn’t leave a lasting impression or make me *feel* the characters and their emotions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

Camilla Isley's 'The Roommate Experiment' immerses readers in the all-too-familiar and sometimes laugh-out-loud universe of secret crushes and surprising roommates. Hunter has been quietly in love with Dylan, her best friend's brother, a man who hardly notices she exists outside of his sister's life. Stranded in an infuriating "friend zone adjacent" limbo, Hunter's life is set to shift on its axis when Dylan suddenly requires a roof over his head, and her spare room becomes his temporary home. The author skillfully manipulates the age-old trope of unrequited love developing under shared living space, infusing it with a good measure of humor and cringe-worthy awkwardness.

The first thrill of having her crush down the hall turns rapidly into a daily tightrope act for Hunter. Dylan, who appears not to notice her feelings, brings his own brand of complication, setting boundaries that Hunter couldn't have anticipated. This adds a fascinating level of forbidden attraction, heightening tension and the stakes. The power of the novel is in Hunter's inner dialogue and her efforts to keep her growing feelings secret.

Her internal struggles with staring at Dylan standing in a towel, not daring to think of what's hidden underneath, and not swooning over his gestures of kindness, such as making cookies, are both humorous and profoundly sympathetic. The reader will find themselves cheering Hunter on as she negotiates this tricky situation, struggling to keep her cool as her heart flips acrobats. Dylan, who at first seems a bit clueless, is developed with a subtle charm that gradually reveals itself as the novel goes on. The author skillfully introduces his character through Hunter's observant eyes and their mutual experiences, suggesting depths beyond his initial affable personality. The reasons why he is "off-limits" create a sense of suspense and keep the story from being a simple crush realization.

The secondary cast, specifically Hunter's best friend (Dylan's sister), introduces yet another level of depth to the dynamic. She creates both challenges and possibilities for Hunter, further underscoring the fragile balance she has to maintain. The enforced closeness over a weekend spent at Dylan's parents' home, building up to the much-dreaded shared sofa bed experience, is a key turning point, testing Hunter's skillfully erected emotional barriers to the breaking point.

The writing of the author is light and entertaining, full of humorous observations and inner humor that aptly describes Hunter's dilemma. The pace is well handled so that the romance between Hunter and Dylan develops naturally among the comedic mayhem of their living arrangement. The tension is built skillfully by the author so that the reader is really cared about whether Hunter confesses her feelings or moves on to spare her heart.

'The Roommate Experiment' is a charming and endearing romantic comedy that delves into the intricacies of unrequited love and the twists life can take.

Hunter's odyssey is both funny and touching, and the tension between her and Dylan bubbles with a smoldering intensity. If you like reading about secret crushes, surprise roommates, and the bravery it takes to risk everything for love, this book is a delightful and entertaining read that will put you in a good mood.

‼️ARC REVIEW‼️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We love a slow burn, y’all! Hunter and Dylan have always been friendly acquaintances until they start to live together. The awkward, embarrassing moments, the witty banter, and the friendship that develops leads to the most beautiful, authentic relationship. The epilogue gave readers the best peek into their future and it was everything I imagined it being. ❤️

The Roommate Experience was a great read that kept me turning the page to see if Dylan and Hunter finally ended up together. There were some parts where I just wanted them to tell each other already but glad it ended the way it did! Great summer read. It’s funny, heartfelt, and a great love read!

3.5 ⭐️ The cutest friends to lovers meets roommates to lovers trope. Loved the character building of the whole friend group and the relationship dynamic of Hunter and Dylan. Only thing that took me out of the story, although I love her, were the Taylor Swift references and the BookTok references. The NYC and Hamptons settings were fun!

I loved Camilla Isley's “First Comes Love " series, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read another one. The Roommate Experiment is the third book in the “Funny Feelings” series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Unfortunately, this story didn’t quite work for me overall.

Although Dylan and Hunter are in their thirties, I had the impression of reading interactions between teenagers in high school. Hunter has an important engineering job but is only pining for her long-time crush. I found that Dylan’s thoughts were not developed enough. Was she attracted to Dylan for 10 years just for his good looks? Maybe I couldn't feel the chemistry because it was a slow burn.

It was also a little boring that Dylan and Hunter are beautiful and have perfect jobs. However, we get little about how they live their jobs.

Nevertheless, it was an easy read. If you're a fan of slow-burn romance, forced proximity, the best friend's sibling dynamic, and a touch of will-they-won’t-they suspense, this story will likely be right up your alley.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Netgalley and Boldwood Books. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

The roommate experiment was my first book I read by Camilla Isley. I loved the plot, the friend group, the nod to the fake dating from the other couple getting engaged, the plotting and how the couple got together.

Roommates to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I love all the secret pining and yearning.

I'm glad Dylan made a point not to cheat in the book and to not let Hunter be the rebound girl.

I like how everything fell together and now I want to read the second book. The pace of the book flowed well too, I liked the author's writing style. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review. This was a 5 star rating.

I'll post to blog eventually. I post on Goodreads and Instagram more.

The Roommate Experiment is a light, heartwarming romantic comedy that delivers both laughs and sweet moments. Camilla Isley brings together two people who have known each for long time. Their evolving relationship is full of banter, vulnerability, and emotional depth, making it easy to root for them. With engaging writing and a feel-good vibe, this book is a perfect pick for summer holidays