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mehsi's review
5.0
I was one of the 500 lucky people who got an arc of this book on Netgalley!!! *dances*
This book is written from 2 POVs. You got Elizabeth or EB who lives in New Jersey and you got Lauren who lives in San Francisco.
The both are going to college soon, for one it means travelling over the whole continent, for another it is quite close to home. They find out they are roommates and they start with mailing each other. At first hesitant but soon more open.
I really, really loved this book! I was a bit worried it would only be emails that would be sent, but no it was also a story of 2 girls in different environments who are going through the phase of life that is college and moving away from house. They experience love, friendship and so much more.
I loved the characters. Both had their good sides and bad sides and it was all perfectly balanced. I loved the email parts, they made me smile or sad depending on what was said. I was cheering for them both, and I though I never moved away from college or something, I know the feeling of leaving home, leaving your friends and parents and I know that feeling is one of confusing and also a hint of sadness.
It all felt real, and I must say this is one of the better books about college/going to college and roommates. I will be sure to buy this book when it comes out in paperback.
I would recommend this to everyone. If you are going to college, in college or if you just want a good story about two girls and their lives, then this book is perfect for you.
This book is written from 2 POVs. You got Elizabeth or EB who lives in New Jersey and you got Lauren who lives in San Francisco.
The both are going to college soon, for one it means travelling over the whole continent, for another it is quite close to home. They find out they are roommates and they start with mailing each other. At first hesitant but soon more open.
I really, really loved this book! I was a bit worried it would only be emails that would be sent, but no it was also a story of 2 girls in different environments who are going through the phase of life that is college and moving away from house. They experience love, friendship and so much more.
I loved the characters. Both had their good sides and bad sides and it was all perfectly balanced. I loved the email parts, they made me smile or sad depending on what was said. I was cheering for them both, and I though I never moved away from college or something, I know the feeling of leaving home, leaving your friends and parents and I know that feeling is one of confusing and also a hint of sadness.
It all felt real, and I must say this is one of the better books about college/going to college and roommates. I will be sure to buy this book when it comes out in paperback.
I would recommend this to everyone. If you are going to college, in college or if you just want a good story about two girls and their lives, then this book is perfect for you.
nickscoby's review
4.0
In order for one to fully appreciate this YA novel, one has to suspend belief in three areas: 1) that pre-college students actually take the time to both read and reply emails of any length over two sentences; 2) that certain (spoilery) coincidences will happen in one's life; and 3) the main characters have the most patient, affirming and loyal teenage boyfriends this side of Pacey Witter.
But I gave in to it ALL and enjoyed myself completely. I did want to smack Elizabeth a few times though (DRAMA QUEEN) and the end was a little tedious with all of the multiple goodbyes (Goodbye, stairs. Goodbye, mailbox. Yada yada yada). But mostly, I feel like the authors did an excellent job of capturing some honest feelings about leaving for college.
Must give a special shout out to the Keyon character. Despite his minor status, he felt fully formed and real. His one liners had me cracking up. I want to know what happens next with them. Lo & Key 4 eva!!!
But I gave in to it ALL and enjoyed myself completely. I did want to smack Elizabeth a few times though (DRAMA QUEEN) and the end was a little tedious with all of the multiple goodbyes (Goodbye, stairs. Goodbye, mailbox. Yada yada yada). But mostly, I feel like the authors did an excellent job of capturing some honest feelings about leaving for college.
Must give a special shout out to the Keyon character. Despite his minor status, he felt fully formed and real. His one liners had me cracking up. I want to know what happens next with them. Lo & Key 4 eva!!!
katykelly's review
4.0
With thanks to Netgalley for the review copy.
In America there's a great system that allows students selected to be roommates to contact each other the summer before they move to college and share a room. And these days of course, that means sharing email addresses.
Roomies follows Elizabeth and Lauren, about to start courses in San Francisco, destined to share living space for their first year. Mostly this is a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening (for those in a similar position) portrait of two eighteen year olds about to leave home for the first time, both with family issues and love life problems. They begin to communicate, and we see their own relationship growing through their emails and see their lives in the weeks before they begin college.
It's not all enjoyable. Or it wasn't for me. For some reason I had to keep re-reading to remind myself who the minor characters were. I also found the girls a little too self-obsessed at times but maybe that's just me forgetting a little what it's like being 18 and about to leave home.
The portrayal of Lauren's large and happy family I found quite moving, as well as Elizabeth's strained one with her divorced parents. The love life part I could take or leave. The emails were great, the changing dynamics between the girls well-written and developed, and a spot-on ending that hit the mark.
Would be a great book to give children/friends about to head off to Uni for the first time.
In America there's a great system that allows students selected to be roommates to contact each other the summer before they move to college and share a room. And these days of course, that means sharing email addresses.
Roomies follows Elizabeth and Lauren, about to start courses in San Francisco, destined to share living space for their first year. Mostly this is a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening (for those in a similar position) portrait of two eighteen year olds about to leave home for the first time, both with family issues and love life problems. They begin to communicate, and we see their own relationship growing through their emails and see their lives in the weeks before they begin college.
It's not all enjoyable. Or it wasn't for me. For some reason I had to keep re-reading to remind myself who the minor characters were. I also found the girls a little too self-obsessed at times but maybe that's just me forgetting a little what it's like being 18 and about to leave home.
The portrayal of Lauren's large and happy family I found quite moving, as well as Elizabeth's strained one with her divorced parents. The love life part I could take or leave. The emails were great, the changing dynamics between the girls well-written and developed, and a spot-on ending that hit the mark.
Would be a great book to give children/friends about to head off to Uni for the first time.
marieintheraw's review
2.0
Super quick and realistic, but I doubt that it's a book that will stay with me.
shhchar's review
3.0
Roomies was fun to read as someone who will be going off to college in less than two years. It had interesting, dynamic relationships and wasn't as fluffy as the reader is led to believe by the cover.
Oddly enough, one of my favorite things about this book was when the two girls didn't get along. It was a lot more realistic than having them hit it off immediately. When one of them would take forever to respond to an email, I really felt their pain.
BUT, there were a few things that nagged me the entire time I was reading. One, the preoccupation of Keyon being a name that a black person would have. And how awful the gay dad was for leaving EB behind. I felt like this book tried to have an opinion on socially relevant issues today, but failed at it pretty hard. Reasons like, it's San Francisco, so this stuff should be normal, didn't really excuse it for me.
Note: I'm having trouble articulating my thoughts in the above paragraph. I think it's easier to discuss with someone else who has actually read the book, so don't let me discourage you away from it.
Those reasons knocked off two stars for me, and would've knocked off more, but I did enjoy the second half of the book. This author is very good at writing relationships, and the side ones between EB and Justine, and Lauren and Zoe were the most intriguing. I recommend it for any high school student wondering about college!
Oddly enough, one of my favorite things about this book was when the two girls didn't get along. It was a lot more realistic than having them hit it off immediately. When one of them would take forever to respond to an email, I really felt their pain.
BUT, there were a few things that nagged me the entire time I was reading. One, the preoccupation of Keyon being a name that a black person would have. And how awful the gay dad was for leaving EB behind. I felt like this book tried to have an opinion on socially relevant issues today, but failed at it pretty hard. Reasons like, it's San Francisco, so this stuff should be normal, didn't really excuse it for me.
Note: I'm having trouble articulating my thoughts in the above paragraph. I think it's easier to discuss with someone else who has actually read the book, so don't let me discourage you away from it.
Those reasons knocked off two stars for me, and would've knocked off more, but I did enjoy the second half of the book. This author is very good at writing relationships, and the side ones between EB and Justine, and Lauren and Zoe were the most intriguing. I recommend it for any high school student wondering about college!
ironqueenbex's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
christiana's review
4.0
I had high hopes for the execution of this book and I was not disappointed. I'm surprised this storyline has not been explored that much in literature. It's ripe for good storytelling.
I was slightly annoyed by this Catholic dig early on that probably no one else will notice. It makes me mad that a lot of this book had to do with how everyone pretends race isn't an issue anymore, but it still is, but it's fine to lump all people of a certain belief together. Not ok.
I know this is being touted as a great new adult title, but I think it's much more YA than NA (although there is a ton of questioning whether to lose virginity or not, so you know, not a middle school book). Either way, I enjoyed it.
I was slightly annoyed by this Catholic dig early on that probably no one else will notice. It makes me mad that a lot of this book had to do with how everyone pretends race isn't an issue anymore, but it still is, but it's fine to lump all people of a certain belief together. Not ok.
I know this is being touted as a great new adult title, but I think it's much more YA than NA (although there is a ton of questioning whether to lose virginity or not, so you know, not a middle school book). Either way, I enjoyed it.
jillec's review
5.0
This is my new guide to life. Really great base and continuing throught the story. The characters really evolved and it was really enjoyable!