This was a great thriller, from the first page it was off to a running start - I really could not have imagined where this book ended up and that is definitely exactly what you want in a thriller. I really enjoyed watching Meadow throughout the course of the book, as well as many of the supporting characters. When Meadow felt indignant and upset, I felt that way too, convinced she was on the right path when she thought so too. While I didn't see the plot twist coming, while it came it was super easy to look back and see the signs I missed, in everyone's behavior.


**SPOILERS**
I think the only problem for me, was the way the plot wrapped up, I really wish Tessa would have had a hand in the ending of the book, because it really felt as if that relationship was building into that, but I was a little let down in that regard.

3.5 - 3.75
After being forced out of her apartment, college student Meadow responds to an online advertisement for a room to rent. She meets Lauren, who is in search of a roommate, and they quickly form a connection. Meadow moves in right away.

As their friendship deepens, Meadow begins to believe she has finally found a true friend, but her perception shifts when she witnesses Lauren engaging in questionable behavior. Minka Kent masterfully crafts suspense in "The Perfect Roommate," as a growing sense of tension develops between the two characters, leading to increasingly chaotic situations. I found the main character, Meadow, to be unlikable, and while I guessed the main twist at the end, it remained an enjoyable, quick and fun read.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer.

And, Minka Kent is one of my faves! Love everything I've read and this read is no exception!

Loved this story in the familiar Monarch Falls. I kept guessing the entire time and the end left me still questioning Meadow!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC for my honest review.

#NetGalley #MinkaKent #ThePerfectRoommate

A quick read and engrossing psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the end.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this revised editorial version of the book. All opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for a super twisty, binge-worthy summer read…look no further!

Currently living out of her car, Meadow desperately needs somewhere to call home. She’s trying to work her way through college and nearly on her last leg. So when she notices an ad for a roommate, she jumps at the chance. Finally…Meadow's luck appears to have changed. A beautiful home and roommate! Too good to be true?!

Lauren just happens to need a roommate for the remainder of the semester. So when Meadow answers the ad, it’s perfect! Also majoring in English, she’s quiet, and painfully shy. Maybe Lauren can draw her out of her shell a bit.

Soon, the two are not only roommates but quickly becoming fast friends. That is until Meadow sees something that just doesn’t sit right, well…what’s a girl to do!?💁🏻‍♀️

Just when you think you’ve figured it out and it’s in the final wrap...BAM!

I’m not sure how it happened but I missed this book when it was originally released in 2018. So when I saw it was being re-released June 10 2025 I jumped at the chance to read it! I am now fully caught up on all Minka Kent’s books and ready for her next! Please hurry!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer

This book made me unease from the very beginning...Meadow is such an innocent shy girl and I didn't want anything bad happening to her...but then, somewhere along the way, I couldn't tell if Meadow or Lauren was "the perfect roommate". Great ending and the epilogue gave me actual chills...

Thank you NetGalle and Minka Kent for this copy.

⭐️ 3/5 stars

I usually enjoy Minka Kent’s thrillers, but The Perfect Roommate fell a bit flat for me. The story dragged for about 75% of the book, and the pacing made it tough to stay fully invested. The mystery had potential—creepy roommate, hidden secrets—but the suspense didn’t build as much as I expected.

That said, this book is for readers who enjoy a slow burn that eventually pays off. The last quarter picks up with some solid twists and tension, and the ending does deliver some payoff.

Overall, it’s my least favorite from this author so far, but I still love her writing and will continue to read her future books. Not every thriller has to be fast-paced to work—it just didn’t fully work for me this time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this eArc.

This novel is being republished through Thomas & Mercer next month. I’ve read most of Minka Kent’s books, but still had this one on my TBR, so I grabbed it when I saw it available on NetGalley. It is a quick read and a psychological rollercoaster through FMC, Meadow, POV. Meadow is desperate to find new housing and ends up finding the *perfect* roommate. The new home is beyond Meadow’s wildest dreams. It kickstarts a transformation, but before Meadow can get too comfy, things to start to seem off. The writing was on the juvenile side, which made sense with seeing everything no through Meadow’s eyes as a still immature young adult in college. As much as she made me cringe, I probably acted/thought similar things at that age-so it was appropriate. I liked the short chapters and found it easy to breeze through the book. Overall, I found some parts to be dull and the other parts to be almost too over-the-top. After reading several Kent books, I don’t think I connect with the earlier books like I do with the ones published in the past 5 years.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jun 10 2025

Thank you NetGalley. I love Minka Kent’s books. She packed a whole lot into this short novel and it had me sucked in right away. I did not see the twists and craziness coming

Meadow, a currently homeless college student, responds to an ad to rent a room in a house near campus. When she meets Lauren she immediately senses that this wealthy put together girl isn’t somebody she would ever hang around. When Lauren offers her the room she is stunned. Even more so when Lauren is so kind to her and includes her in her friend group, gives her clothing, all things Meadow never expected. As is usually the case, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Meadow senses something sinister., but she could never predict the roller coaster she unknowingly boarded.

Kent is an amazing storyteller. This story is dark and mysterious and has just enough twists and turns. This would be a fantastic show on Netflix!

This book had me intrigued throughout. I read it pretty fast but was kind of disappointed in the end. It sort of read like a lifetime movie. Would make a great movie if hasn’t been already but I probably wouldn’t recommend this read to any of my friends. Thank you for the opportunity to read!

I really enjoyed this book, it was well paced with a good amount of tension and suspense. The twists kept me guessing and at times I felt like I couldn't breathe with the atmosphere on the page. I loved it

Release: June 10, 2025
Author: Minka Kent
Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Rating: 3 ★ 

Meadow, a quiet college student in desperate need of housing, jumps at the chance to move in with Lauren—a confident, generous stranger who seems to offer everything Meadow’s been missing: friendship, stability, and a sense of belonging. But as the two grow closer, it becomes clear they’re both hiding something. Behind the new clothes and friendly smiles, secrets are lurking—and one of them might just be deadly.

This was a fast, easy read that started off strong with an intriguing setup—Meadow, a college student, ends up moving in with a stranger she finds through an online ad. Right away, there’s a creepy undertone that kept me turning pages. I liked Meadow’s voice; she’s quirky, snarky, and a bit jaded, which made her perspective fun to follow.

The pacing was quick, which worked in some places but hurt the payoff in others. The twists were decent—one caught me off guard, one I saw coming—but they felt a little rushed and didn’t really stick. The ending especially felt abrupt and kind of pointless. It needed either more development or to be cut altogether.

Overall, it’s a solid, suspenseful read if you’re in the mood for something quick and atmospheric, but it does leave you wishing for a little more depth and shock.

Favorite Quote:
"if I were a superhero, social awkwardness would be my superpower."

What a wild ride! This book went from 0-60mph almost halfway through and then straight up to 100 in no time flat. Twisty and turny and I could not put it down!

Thanks to a Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Awkward and broke loner, Meadow needs a place to live and miraculously finds a room in a house with a cool girl who accepts her and helps her make herself over but things aren’t as rosy as they seem.

This was my first Minka Kent and likely my last. On the positive side it was a short quick read and I welcomed that since I whined in my last review about the book being entirely too long. Beyond that I agree with other reviewers that likened this to a bad lifetime movie. I didn’t get the ending or the motivations for what was going on and it wrapped up so quickly with minimal explanation. It was ok at best.

The Perfect Roommate by Minka Kent

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A quick paced thriller!

Meadows is a young broke college student looking for a place to live when she sees a housing ad. When she meets Lauren she is immediately drawn to her perfect life, everything Meadows wishes she had. Their friendship develops but soon Meadows learns her roommate is not as perfect as he seems.

The Perfect Roommate is fast paced addicting read that grabs you by your feet on the first page. I COULD not put this down...

I have to say that some authors just have such talent and Minka is definitely one of them. Her writing style is beautiful and the words are delivered effortlessly across the pages.

Definitely not my favorite by Minka Kent, an author I usually enjoy very much. I found the plot to be far fetched and rough. Several times throughout the book I thought I might have missed a page (or several) because things escalated so quickly that it didn't make sense. The premise of the story had potential, but the execution fell flat for me.

Another of Minka Kent's off the bat book. The Perfect Roommate had all the elements that I loved. I also finished this book in one seating and was always on the edge of my feet.

The story starts with Meadow seeing an apartment/room for rent add and is heading to check out a new apartment and meeting her possible new roommate, Lauren. Lauren is everything that Meadow isn’t, she’s wealthy, stylish and sophisticated and Meadow is in awe. The sense of uneasiness is evident right from the beginning, you just know that this won’t end well but at no point did I have things figured out. It’s a twisty, entertaining and fast paced ride that I highly recommend for fans of this genre.

I would definitely recommend this to those who love Minka Kent and for those who haven't tried her works yet.

This is such a good book!!! It is a perfect thriller with so many twists and turns. You never really know where the book is going. I think it was full of emotion and great writing! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!