In The Perfect Roommate, Minka Kent delivers a taut and twisty psychological suspense novel that proves just how dangerous secrets—and new friendships—can be.

When quiet, broke college student Meadow stumbles into the perfect housing arrangement with the effortlessly cool and generous Lauren, it feels like her luck is finally turning. No deposit, no questions, and a roommate who offers clothes, confidence, and a ready-made social life? For someone like Meadow, who’s never quite fit in, it feels too good to be true.

And of course, it is.

As their friendship deepens, it becomes clear that both women are keeping things buried. Kent skillfully builds tension through small, unsettling details—an odd comment here, a moment of emotional distance there—until suspicion begins to bloom. Are they bonding over shared experiences, or something far more sinister?

Clocking in at just over 200 pages, the story moves at a brisk pace, making it easy to read in a single sitting. Kent’s prose is clean and engaging, and she excels at creating an atmosphere of unease where readers are never quite sure who to trust—or what’s coming next.

The final act delivers a satisfying twist that reframes much of what came before without feeling contrived. While fans of darker psychological thrillers may wish for more edge, the novel delivers plenty of suspense and just the right amount of creepiness to keep you hooked.

Minka Kent is one of my favorite thriller authors. The Perfect Roommate has two young women, both needing a roommate, who see in each other a friend and confidant. Both women are showing their best selves, but how long can they maintain it? Full of tension, twists, and OH NO moments, this was a 5 star read for me.

Minka Kent hits another one out of the park. Consistency is hard to find sometimes with authors, Minka is the exception. Flawless delivery on one of the most fast paced, edge of your seat, heart thumping thrillers I have ever read. I was so sure I had this figured out....not only was I wrong but I was floored by the plot twist ending. I actually WOWed out loud. It was so dark and I was not expecting that at all but I was pleasantly surprised. I feel like I might need a psych evaluation because I enjoyed this book so much. Is that a bad thing? I'm not sure.

How i missed this book when it was originally published-I don't know, but I am now following Minka on so many platforms so I'm certain to never miss another book by her again. This will be in my top 10 favorite thrillers of all time. I feel honored to have been selected to read this masterpiece. BRAVO!

Minka Kent has. ot written a bad book in her life and she certainly didn't start now. This was tense, atmospheric, and a real page turner! If you aren't familiar with Minka Kent, you'll want to be!

Thank you and NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

An intriguing premise with some uneven execution

The Perfect Roommate starts off strong with a compelling setup and a steady undercurrent of tension. I enjoyed the mysterious atmosphere and the idea of secrets unraveling between close quarters. However, while the plot had potential, the pacing was inconsistent and some character motivations didn’t feel fully developed.

There were definitely moments that kept me hooked, but overall, I was left wanting a bit more depth and urgency. That said, fans of domestic suspense and twisty roommate dramas may still find this one worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an ARC of the rerelease of The Perfect Roommate!

This twisty thriller will leave readers wondering who to trust! Meadow needs a roommate, and Lauren is the perfect candidate… or maybe she isn’t.

When Lauren drags Meadow out from her quiet, lame life, Meadow begins to really like it. However, Lauren may be keeping secrets bigger than Meadow can imagine.

Will Meadow forgive and forget or will she risk her life unraveling Lauren’s secrets?

This book was exhilarating! The twist at the end is something I did not expect. I also really enjoyed that we never know who the “bag guy” is through out the novel. Solid thriller!

If you're looking for a twisty, psychological thriller that is the perfect summer read, look no further!!

Meadow is a college student with no support system and a mother who consistently puts men before her. Desperate for stability, she responds to a roommate ad and meets Lauren-charming, beautiful, and clearly wealthy.

Drawn in by Lauren's effortless confidence and generosity, Meadow soon finds herself enjoying designer cast-offs, beauty tips, and, for the first time in a long while, genuine companionship.

But everything changes when Meadow uncovers a devastating secret about Lauren—a betrayal so deep it shakes the foundation of their friendship.

As the tension mounts, the story races toward a shocking conclusion that leaves one haunting question: how well do you really know the person you live with?

oh are we ready for a book like this? yes, yes we are because what a twisted and unsettled book we find ourselves reading from start o finish and loving doing so! this book was dark but delicious. the story was told brilliantly and gripped me all the way through. my intrigue was piqued even from the blurb and didn't let up.the book is fast paced and grabs you in right from the off.
the book gives us Meadow who needs somewhere to live. she is desperate for it. its hard enough trying to get through college without coming back to the car instead of a home. thats when she spots the ad for a roommate and she jumps right for it.
Lauren needs a roommate and quickly. Meadow seems perfect for her. and soon the two are getting on and become fast friends. arent they? things start to occur that dont feel right, things are seen that dont sit right. things are becoming darker, tense, and more than messy.
i dont want to give these things away or just what chaotic alleys this goes down with our pair because i want the books gasp privilege to happen for you all. but my word you wont know how glad you are for me leaving it out until you get to those points, and then you'll be gleeful that you got no spoilers.
this is a fab book. the pages and chapters just swept on by and so did daylight!
fab.

The Perfect Roommate was your typical fast paced, Frida vibes read. Predictable? Yes. Still enjoyed? Also yes. I do feel these types of stories all follow the same “Lifetime movie” timeline making them overly predictable. But for a fast paced read, it was still fun

This is the first book I’ve read from Minka Kent and enjoyed it! It kept me super interested and it’s a fun and easy read. I wasn’t expecting that twist at all – especially the last paragraph and sentence – jaw literally dropped!! I will definitely pick up another Minka Kent book in the future! Thanks for the fun read ☺️ I give it 4/5 stars!

First, I love Minka Kent books and I may have read all of them but THIS one was extra psychological thriller than most! Told from the point of view of Meadow, a college student barely getting by who's looking for a place to live. Enter Lauren, the pretty, popular girl with a roommate opening and she welcomes Meadow into her home and her life in a weirdly unmean girl way and immediately the reader gets the idea that something isn't settling right! Meadow, who's always been unsure of herself and kind of a loner, suddenly begins changing into a replica of Lauren, first hesitantly, then rapidly morphing when she 'gets' some extra cash. But just when she feels she's fitting in, things begin to fall apart! Is Lauren having an affair with the handsome professor, everyone's favorite and someone that Meadow knows personally (she works for he and his doting wife) and she quickly begins doubting everything that has happened with this 'perfect' roommate! The conclusion completely took me by surprise and I loved it because typically I'm never shocked by an ending!

The Perfect Roommate by Minka Kent was tense, exciting and compelling.
This book was a really enjoyable read with strong characters.
The main characters are well fleshed out and Minka manages to make them interesting in different ways
A fast-paced, great suspense and intriguing read.
The story is easy to follow, easy to get lost into and I liked pacing from the very beginning.
Right from the first chapter I was hooked and I needed to keep turning the pages.

The Perfect Roommate by Minka Kent was an excellent read full of twists and turns from the very beginning and
a very "Dark" and "very unsettling" read, which turned out to be a great quick read for me, I could not turn the pages over to find out what happens next! For someone to know everything about someone is very clever and this book was!

Meadow has been evicted from her apartment, and she is a college student, she needs a place to live asap and answers an online ad for a room for rent. Perfect timing! Meadow is so excited and is heading to checkout her new potential place to live and to meet her new roommate called Lauren.
Now, Lauren sounds perfect, but she is everything Meadow will never be, Lauren is wealthy and very stylish. Meadow could never compete with her. When Meadow see's the place she say's Yes and they both form a good friendship with each other, Especially as Meadow wants a true friend, to go out with etc . . . . As time goes by, Meadow feels something is not right with this friendship but can not put her finger on it!

WoW this book is so good I loved it and just had to keep on reading until I finished! WoW Excellent book.

I highly recommend The Perfect Roommate and a Perfect book to lose yourself in.

Thanks Netgally and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC! This is a re-release of Minka Kent's thriller originally published in 2018, and my first time reading her work - but definitely not the last.
Meadow is down on her luck, living out of her car, when she stumbles across an ad for what seems like the perfect apartment. She's hesitant - shy, socially awkward, and unsure how she'll mesh with confident, popular Lauren, who also happens to be a student in the English Department . But to Meadow's surprise, Lauren welcomes her with open arms...maybe a little too quickly.
As their friendship grows, Meadow starts to notice strange behaviours that make her question everything.
This is a quick, bingeable read with short chapters that kept me hooked. Kent knows how to build tension, and deliver twists without over complicating the plot. I'm exicited to explore more of her thrillers soon!

The Perfect Roommate is a fast paced, twisty thriller that had me flying through this book! (Plus only 220 pages!)
Minka Kent did a great job building suspense and the eerie vibe of the story kept me on edge. I read Minka Kent back in 2020 and was curious how this author held up after all the reading I’ve been able to incorporate and happy to report that she’s just as good as I remember!

This was a quick read, perfect for a weekend binge and it delivers all the psychological thrills. If you’re in need of a weekend thriller then I definitely recommend this one!

Thank you Thomas and Mercer and author Minka Kent for the chance to read and review in exchange for my honest review.

First of all I want to start off by thanking Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for this eARC of The Perfect Roommate! If you are looking for a quick read-under 200 pages- that is packed full of twist and turns, that will keep you guessing until the very end, look no further The Perfect Roommate is the book for you!

Minka Kent has a way sucking you in. This was one wild ride. This was a fast-paced thriller I completely devoured in one sitting. In true Minka fashion, this has you needing more and "just one more chapter." Once you think you have things figured out, Bam, you're wrong. And that ending, though! Left me gasping out loud. I highly recommend this one.

This book has several things going on in it. We begin with Meadow who at the moment is homeless and in desperate need of a place to live until she finishes college this semester. When she sees an add for a room she thinks she’s hit the jackpot. Lauren has it all, a hot boyfriend, a lot of money and everything that goes with that, and confidence in herself. Meadow quickly mimics Lauren and her friends until she realizes they aren’t what they seem.

This will keep you guessing who to trust and who not. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of The Perfect Roommate!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🍱 hate sushi
🧽 work for a cleaning company
🪙 have ever stolen something
🌪️ enjoy unexpected twists

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

I need this girl to like me.

Meadow is a college student, quiet, studious, polite, and desperate for a cheap room to rent. That’s when she meets Lauren, who’s in need of a roommate. Lauren doesn’t require a credit check, a huge deposit, or a long lease. For Meadow, it’s not only a perfect arrangement—she believes that she’s found a new friend in Lauren, who generously takes Meadow under her wing.

Lauren gives Meadow clothes and a makeover, and introduces her to an affable social circle. For the first time on campus, Meadow feels like she belongs. It’s not really surprising. She and Lauren actually have a lot in common. They’re both liars. They both have secrets. But which one is willing to kill to keep her true self hidden?

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was a fun and easy read. I enjoyed Meadow’s character, though I didn’t always agree with her choices. Sometimes she did things that really confused me and felt conflicting with other parts of her personality, but overall, she was pretty clear cut. I honestly had no idea the direction this story was going in, and was pleasantly surprised by the twists. I guessed a little bit of the twist, but not fully. I also enjoyed the last bit of the story, seeing her and her mother finally get on some solid ground. The ending made me laugh - it wasn’t sinister, but it’s clear that Meadow didn’t learn her lesson, and she really needs to find herself and stop trying to be someone she’s not!

This was just an okay read but not one of my favourites from this author. It felt like a familiar story with a lot of the tropes we often see with the "bad roommate" stories. I was hoping the ending would make up for it, but it didn't quite land for me.