Reviews with content warning for Classism - The Roommate

Reviews tagging 'Classism'

thereadinghammock's review

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Josh absolutely saved this book for me in the beginning. Clara's foolish "follow your heart" only to be left by the dumb guy she'd been chasing since high school, only to have her continue to pine after him once she decided to stay in LA, and I almost gave up on this book in chapter 2. But Josh's outrage and exclamation that her pleasure is just as important as any partner's and he would prove it to her right then and there and I was smitten with his golden retriever/sex god energy for the rest of the book.

Once Clara got shaken out of her east coast prudish ways she was so much more fun to read. I did want to shake them both through about 2/3 of the book and just say "TALK TO EACH OTHER!!!" so they could stop pussy-footing around their obvious feelings for each other. The "She's too good for me/I'm nothing like the kind of woman he'd want forever" schtick was real old, real fast. And while I'm not a fan of third act break-ups on the whole, seeing Clara drive out to what-his-nuts last tour stop only to realize she only liked the idea of him and told him that to his face, and for him to take the ego hit and let her go gracefully was a nice just desserts.

I did love the ultimate resolution, with the DA coming around, sticking it to the creeper porn industry guy, and the absolutely ADORABLE epilogue

Content Warnings

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. Most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book.

I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not.

Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial

This was a steamy fun “teach me” romcom. It was hard for me to feel bad for Clara in the beginning because I was like “honey buns, what are you DOING?!” (wrt moving across the country to LA to move in with her bff that she has had unrequited love for in the past decade or so just because he suggested it?!). However, I can’t blame anyone for doing something wild for love and shooting their shot! Except, her bestie Everett immediately leaves her to go on tour with his band and rents out his room to Josh, adult entertainment star, so Clara spends exactly zero time with the guy she moved across the country for. Again, couldn’t be me (I think & also because I am perpetually convinced no man is worth that😭) but I understand why she tried.

Anyway, this was steamy, funny, and a fun lil romp to read in one sitting. Josh and Clara had lots of tension, and their dynamic of experienced x sheltered was entertaining but I also don’t entirely know how I feel about the trope of “teach me” in general. I clearly have lots to unpack in my own biases here 😂 I liked that Josh called out Clara’s financial privilege because she was a bit sheltered and naive. I also understand that the feelings were reciprocated but it made me sad that she fetishized him the moment she found out he was a porn star. Like I just imagine that happens to so many adult entertainers and the fact that she couldn’t not think about him sexually once during any interaction was wild to me. The steam is probably 2.5-3/5 🌶️

Content Warnings

rharwood's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A fun book all around. Fun premise, a east coast trust fund socialite finds herself abandoned by her crush and becomes roommates with a pornstar. They both grow and realize their flaws and how it has negatively affected those they love.

I loved how caring Josh was with her when they were being intimate. Also, the ex gf/ business partner was very fun. I hope she gets a book.

Content Warnings