
Member Reviews

3.5. Admittedly, I am totally not the target audience for this. I don't usually like contemporary romance, am not always the biggest fan of YA, and I have no reason combining those things together would change anything...but "narrated by Ben Balmaceda" called to me like a Siren's Song.
That said, even though I'm very much not the target audience for this, I thought it was really cute. I liked the characters and thought they were very well written--they act like teenagers, but duh. I was really surprised by how unique and colorful the cast is. Charlie and Jasper especially were very cute. I thought the academy they were going to a bit...silly, maybe, but it was a fun setting overall.
I really loved the audio book, Ben Balmaceda is talented as always.

Page Powars does it again!
This was an absolute delight. A fabulous premise with an even better execution. It's funny, heart-warming, and all around entertaining. Jasper and Blaze were both standout characters with incredible humour, and Charlie was just so sweet and perfect. Can do no wrong! I finished it in a single evening and that was an evening very well spent.

(in addition to the earlier feedback i posted 4/2025:
"such an adorable novel!!! this statement is not simple bias due to the fact that the author is as much of a haikaveh enthusiast as I am that he asked for Ben Balmaceda (kaveh's voice actor) to narrate the audiobook version of this--which I'm also looking forward to listening to btw!! the cuteness of this book is plain fact.
It's set in an all-boys school in new york, and it's a school with rigid, traditional ideals. our beloved main character Charlie is a trans man, so obviously he's afraid to show his true self to his schoolmates/teachers/admins who may cause his expulsion from the school if they find out that he's trans.
This fear is further exacerbated by the fact that, not only was his request to occupy a single suit denied, he now also has to share a room with a boy who broke his heart two years ago, back when he hasn't transitioned yet. Worse (or better? depending on what perspective we're going for haha) this boy does NOT recognize him. IM LAUGHING SO HARD. from this premise alone i was already hooked, and as charlie's journey towards courage and self-acceptance unfolded, i got even more compelled to read further.
this boy is Jasper, poet/model/top student extraordinaire. it's so fun to watch Jasper, a boy of words, get tongue-tied around Charlie. and it's equally as fun to watch Charlie, incredibly intelligent and handsome boy, be unable to consider the fact of Jasper's massive crush on him. in charlie's defense, jasper broke his heart a couple years ago. in jasper's defense--there is none, really. he works hard though and he GOES THROUGH IT in the funniest way possible, so i think he's allowed to be uninhibitedly in love with his roommate, as a treat.
Overall, such a lovely book, would 100% recommend."
NEW ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK:
I also listened to the audiobook thereafter, and even though I already knew how everything was going to unfold, listening to ben balmaceda narrate this story gave it an even larger impact for me!! he's such a talented voice actor, his voice impressions on different characters are so on-point. the way he narrated was so freaking hilarious--he could just be narrating a normal exposition, and the parts in which i only gave a small snort/laugh when i was reading on my own, i now found myself flat out giggling at. i did not realize that it was possible for me to love this novel any more than i already do, but ben balmaceda made it possible.
Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC for the book and the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

irst of all; thank you to the Page´s publisher´s for giving me a chance at the Audio book Arc. it took me ALLLLL day to finish, but it was super cute.
I couldn´t help think of Professor Lock heart (From Harry Potter) when meeting Jasper for the first time, and then the entirety of High School Host Club when I was listening to Jasper´s pov. (the voice helped a little bit) --i want to insert memes here but this is for an ARC review so I don´t know how approprate that would be....
Also (spoiler a bit) LETS GET DOWN TO BUSINESS TO DEFEAT THE HUNS! That is all that was going through my head when I was listing to the gym training part.
Again, sorry for the unprofessional review, this was done at 2:15Am

A trans teen ends up rooming with the boy who once broke his heart - and while the setup had so much potential, I think YA romance just might not be for me. Parts of this felt a little too juvenile, and the love interest honestly gave me major Gilderoy Lockhart vibes (which was... a choice). But the side characters were super lovable, and I really appreciated the trans representation.
Thank you NetGalley for the ALC 💛

This was so great! The banter and tension is off the charts. After I heard the premise of this book I couldn’t stop thinking about it throughout the rest of the day. Once I realized that I knew I had to read this one! It’s so unique and full of fun challenges that things could shake out a million different ways. And it really did not disappoint!!!
Our MMC, Charlie, is so deeply unsure of himself throughout the book and it kinda broke my heart. Being a teen can be so hard… but being a teen at a new school? Where you have to have immaculate grades to keep your scholarship at a highly competitive school? After you’ve somewhat newly transitioned and feel different from your counterparts in so many ways? I was rooting for Charlie even though it was tough listening to so much self-doubt and loathing and anxious thoughts. It was relatable as hell, though. Charlie also has such a big heart and is so incredibly loveable. Seeing his classmates become friends and love him too - despite his best efforts to remain alone - really made me so happy.
And then there’s Jasper. Who appears so overly confident at first glance but you come to find out is really going through somewhat of a crisis within himself, too. There is so much depth within Jasper other than what you see on the surface. The unlimited amount of patience and forgiveness Jasper has for Charlie was one of my favorite things about Jasper. Charlie snapped at Jasper a LOT and brushed Jasper off so many times and yet Jasper kept reaching his hand out to Charlie. Jasper absolutely won me over with his continued and somewhat unexpected compassion.
The cast of characters was so great in And They Were Roommates. Blaze and Robbie and Xavier and Luis. (Sorry if I misspelled any of their names… I listened to this via audiobook!) Their big personalities and friendship *made* this book!!! For Charlie to realize that he had found his people… that little by little he showed each friend a little bit of himself despite being scared of rejection. And each time those friends accepted him and had Charlie’s back in THE BEST WAYS: Xavier training Charlie. Blaze telling Charlie he was like a brother. 🥹 Robbie asking for an update on Charlie’s love sickness — knowing it was about Jasper. 🥹🥹
As much as I WISH this would have been an adult love story for so many reasons, I am so glad it’s YA and that teens have this. And I LOVE where everyone ended up!!!
If you like —
•forced proximity 📚
•a little bit of: rivals/enemies to lovers + idiots to lovers 🖤
•secret identity 🤫
•sunny vs grumpy ☀️
•LGBTQ+ representation 🫶🏼
Then there is so much of what you love in this book!
A million thank you’s to Page for crafting this story and these wonderful characters and for Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy of this book!
Ben Balmaceda as the audiobook narrator helped bring so much life and personality to these characters!!! 10/10 for his performance and work within!

And They Were Roommates was my favorite YA book I have read in a long time! This book was witty, endearing and well-written.
The trans man representation in this was also done very well. I liked that even though Charlie was established in his gender identity this book tackled his everyday thoughts and insecurities. In addition, I liked that while his hiding his transness was a large point in the story, his transness was not his primary character trait. I also loved the literary references throughout. The overall setting of Valentine Academy and the nerdy quality to the characters was very endearing and made the book very cozy. All of the side characters were well-written as well. Charlie truly finds his family in this book and this made the story feel very lush and realistic despite the unbelievable circumstances surrounding the main love story. The side characters were very funny in the audiobook and really brought the story together. I loved the narrator for this book. The comedic timing and different character voices were immaculate. I thought that this really added a unique aspect to the audiobook version and I would recommend the audio to anyone who was interested in reading this book.

Very fun YA contemporary! I really liked the characters. I loved having a trans main character since we always are in need of more trans representation in books. I will admit Charlie could get on my nerves sometimes but I still loved him as our MC, he grows a lot through the story and it was great to see. The romance was cute but I did find myself wanting just a bit more. It not the main focus of the book, but that was fine since I can always appreciate a character driven book. I will say it's not a book you go in wanting a serious book, this book is fun chaos. It's very camp, it feels like reading a theatrical production in a way. (side note I'm visualizing this as a fun musical now and I really want that to happen) A lot of parts are over the top but in a very fun way. If you go in expecting a fun time you'll really enjoy this one!
Looking forward to reading more from Page in the future!

REVIEW
I absolutely adored the side characters and our main character, Charlie. The book is very atmospheric at the boarding school and you will definitely love all the meaningful insight we get from Charlie being a closeted trans boy in an all boys school.
I didn’t fall for the love between Charlie and Jasper. Jasper is very privileged and pompous and while things happen in the book to help us turn our opinion of him around, I didn’t personally fully get there. I do also wish the resolutions in the end of the book were not so rapidly resolved. It felt somewhat rushed and I think contributed to my feelings on Jasper.
That said, I still cried, and Charlie is a cutie pie. The narrator did a fabulous job and the performance was very engaging!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Newly transitioned teen Charlie has been accepted at his dream prep boarding school as one of the very exclusive scholarship spots - an Excellence Scholar. To maintain his enrollment, he must remain ranked top 5 in his class. But that’s not the only stressor Charlie faces.
On move in day to the all boys Valentine Academy, Charlie realizes he was placed with a roommate when he swears he paid the fee for a private room. This is dire because not only does he crave privacy so new into his transition, but he quickly realizes his roommate is not even a stranger he can confidently hide from.
Jasper Grimes is his roommate and could anything be worse? Jasper was Charlie’s first kiss and first heart break pre-transition. If he recognizes and outs Charlie, would this traditional school kick him out?

<b><i>"Roses are red, violets are blue. I'm disappointed that I met you."</i></b>
Charlie is a trans teen determined to fly under the radar until he's forced to room with Jasper, his pre-transition crush who has no idea who he is. What follows is a mix of awkward tension, emotional vulnerability, and reluctant bonding as Charlie agrees to help Jasper write love letters for their classmates.
While this is a sweet YA romance full of heart and humor, in my opinion the story might have worked better with older characters. The emotional depth and romantic tension often feel more believable for college-aged teens than these young high schoolers.
<i>As always, shout-out to my homies at Netgally and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

It was nice to read this second chance story
And also nice to see all the supportive people in Charlie’s life
We need more of this in the world
I highly recommend this book. For all ages that would be reading a love story
Wholesome

5 ⭐ 0 🌶️ 4 🎧
I honestly enjoyed everything about this story. It was so freaking wholesome while covering a topic I was afraid would come chock full of phobic battles... But watching Charlie find friendship and love and a place he felt at home in Valentine Academy filled my cup and had me smiling ear to ear basically nonstop.
I don't think I've giggled and happy kicked my feet as much as I did with Jasper's big reveal. I mean, COME ON, could he be any cuter?! This was such a fun coming of age story for so many reasons, and that moment was one of my favorites.
And the audio was fantastic. Ben Balmaceda did a wonderful job narrating this story and I really loved this listen.
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

The RayView: ✨✨✨✨✨
The HeatRay:
How It Be Spicin’?:
.
What a funny and sweet and charming story. Going through teenage years is rough enough without the very real fears Charlie has to go through. Add a huge mix up in and being stuck in the same room as the guy who ruined love for you? Even worse. Too bad Jasper is so eye rollingly obnoxious he’s not easy to forget. This YA romance had me laughing so much. I absolutely loved these two. And the circle Charlie built for himself without realizing? Just absolutely amazing.
The narrator was *chef’s kiss.* Each character was unique and absolutely perfect. I could listen to this book multiple times over, for sure.

Onto the book itself! I actually really liked it on audio, and I thought Ben Balmaceda did a great job narrating Charlie's story. It is cute, and if you like mistaken identities and second-chance romance, this is a great book for you! I felt for Charlie, and how he was just trying to survive the school year. Especially after finding out that he wasn't going to have a private room, like he had requested. With the person who he was in love with at a long ago summer camp, and who initially didn't recognize Charlie as the person that he met before.
For me, this book was okay, and I can't quite figure out why. I mean, the narration was great, I liked Charlie and Jasper, and I liked the setting. STRIP and the letters were interesting too. I don't know that I like Jasper and Charlie together, but maybe have a few chapters from Jasper's perspective would have helped. It would have been nice to see what Jasper was thinking, and how he felt about Charlie.
I liked the elements individually, but I didn't love them together. I'm not sure why, but that's just how it worked out. I think a lot of people are going to love this book. It's not the book for me, but I think it's a book that will appeal to a lot of people.
My Rating: As much as I hate to do this, this book gets 2 stars. I liked each element on its own but not as a whole. It's cute, and I think a lot of people are going to love it!

🩵💜 And They Were Roommates ARC Review 💜🩵
Thank you so much to Page Powars and Roaring Book Press for the opportunity to read and review this book
And They Were Roommates is a standalone queer romantic comedy. Charlie has just started school at the Valentine Academy for Boys, and romance is the last thing on his mind. But Jasper, his former crush is his new roommate…who doesn’t recognize him because Charlie recently transitioned. Can Charlie keep his secret and succeed at his new school or will Jasper ruin everything??
This was a super cute read! I really enjoyed Charlie and his feelings were really relatable in this book. Jasper was such a fun character and a great match for him - I would have loved to see some of Jasper’s PoV throughout the story. The side characters were all well rounded too and I would love to see their own stories in the future.
Overall this was a cute 4 star read! I enjoyed the characters and the story but really found myself wanting some of Jasper’s PoV in a few parts. This book does have some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. While this book is an adorable romance, it has YA levels of on page spice, so one flame for spice
If you’re a fan of YA queer romance with mistaken identities, fun banter, and relatable characters, then definitely pick this one up!

This was a lot of ridiculous. I just couldn't get into it. I had trouble connecting to the main character and even more to the Love Interest. I didn't understand the appeal but, also, so much didn't really make sense to me. My suspension of disbelief just doesn't go that far I guess. A lot of it felt wrong to me. It was quite a fast read but maybe that kept me from being attached to any of it? I don't know, this just didn't work for me but it'll probably work for others!

I loved this audiobook! I was drawn in by cover and the story did not disappoint! The narrator was clear, emotional, and great. I was expecting a bit more romance, but the romance was still so good.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for this advanced copy! You can pick up And They Were Roommates on May 27, 2025.
This book was exactly what I needed -- an adorable, whirlwind YA romance with incredible characters and a fun plot. Charlie, a trans boy nervous about attending his first all-boys school, didn't expect to get paired up with a roommate when he requested a single room. Let alone that roommate being his first kiss, Jasper Grimes, back before he transitioned.
But it seems Jasper doesn't remember him.
Enter a wonderfully campy story about writing love letters together, befriending the school's other outcasts, and growing into yourself and your surroundings. Valentine's Academy for Boys may not have seemed like the perfect fit at first, but Charlie learns not to shy away from asking for what he wants and taking up space. His growth as a character and his developing relationships with all the side characters was unbelievably sweet, and the perfect dose of serotonin.
Def pick this one up if you love rivals to lovers but make it queer!

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
i stumbled upon this book after seeing the author describe it on their insta, and was immediately enamored by the title, which those who spent hours on vine back in 2014-2016 will remember fondly.
i loved this queer YA novel with an academic setting, and am always reminded how grateful i am to no longer have the stress of academics, extra-circulars, and maintaining scholarships looming over my shoulder like our mmc charlie does.
my only disappointment with this book was the miscommunication!! my most hated trope, but overall the rest of the book was such a fun time.
as for the audio, the narrator did a fantastic job!

I enjoyed this book. It's the first I've read from Powars and I'll likely seek out his first novel, too!
This story takes place in a fictional private school for the very wealthy, but Charlie is there on a scholarship. As a newly transitioning trans guy, Charlie has requested a private room, however, due to some sort of clerical error, he's ended up with a roommate, which is none other than the boy who broke his heart pre-transition, Jasper Grimes.
Overall, I did enjoy the story, though I found Charlie to be a bit unlikeable. Jasper doesn't recognize him, which is both a good and bad thing for Charlie. It just felt like Jasper was trying really hard to be his friend and Charlie just kept shutting it down, rather than talking. And I know that this is YA, so maybe I shouldn't expect those communication skills? But miscommunication or lack of communication is one of my least favourite tropes.
A really solid YA book that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.