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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!
barefootmegz's review
3.0
[Longer review with pictures at http://barefootmeds.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/book-review-roomies/ ]
This is the narrative of two girls at opposite ends the USA, preparing for their Freshman year of college and their time together as roommates. Elizabeth (EB), from the East Coast, grew up as an only child with a single mom, while Lauren from San Francisco has a bustling, big family with many little kids needing looking-after.
Sent each other’s details by Berkeley’s administration, EB emails Lauren under the guise of logistics. After a somewhat rocky start, their emails pick up speed and their friendship grows.
DEVIANTART VIA TOONGROWNER, CLICK IMAGE FOR SOURCE.
Of course, it is the Summer before they begin college: for the first time, they really are free from school, and this freedom comes with inherent change. How will they leave their families behind? How will they balance work, school and play in the semester to come? And how does one deal with saying goodbye to the oldest friends?
Roomies is a sweet tale of all these things, and it is an on-point description of that crazy, life-changing summer in-between.
What I liked about the story was that it was realistic. I read a few summer-before-college stories when I was younger, and they were so full of partying, snogging and going crazy that there was very little character development. I though that Lauren and EB developed well throughout the plot, and the romantic parts were sweet and not over-the-top. There is some drama that threatens to get annoying at times, but it contributes well to the plot-development.
I don’t think that adult readers will necessarily find too much joy in Roomies, simply because this is kind of a niche-book. I think high school girls will love this, especially high school seniors.
Things I missed in this book: I think the fact that roommates do not have to be best buddies was missing from this. Of course it is necessary to be on a good footing, and to be able to honest but considerate, but expecting to be best friends can lead to disappointment. I also kind of wished that we could read a little more of EB and Lauren’s Freshman year. I think Zarr and Altebrando make a great writing team. At the same time I can understand that the story ends nicely on the day EB and Lauren meet, and the reader can fantasise about the rest of their adventures.
Roomies made me miss my first year, which rarely happens. It also makes me a huge proponent of “meeting” a roommate before Day 1 – I wish I had met my roommates the summer before!
Disclaimer: I received this as an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the narrative of two girls at opposite ends the USA, preparing for their Freshman year of college and their time together as roommates. Elizabeth (EB), from the East Coast, grew up as an only child with a single mom, while Lauren from San Francisco has a bustling, big family with many little kids needing looking-after.
Sent each other’s details by Berkeley’s administration, EB emails Lauren under the guise of logistics. After a somewhat rocky start, their emails pick up speed and their friendship grows.
DEVIANTART VIA TOONGROWNER, CLICK IMAGE FOR SOURCE.
Of course, it is the Summer before they begin college: for the first time, they really are free from school, and this freedom comes with inherent change. How will they leave their families behind? How will they balance work, school and play in the semester to come? And how does one deal with saying goodbye to the oldest friends?
Roomies is a sweet tale of all these things, and it is an on-point description of that crazy, life-changing summer in-between.
What I liked about the story was that it was realistic. I read a few summer-before-college stories when I was younger, and they were so full of partying, snogging and going crazy that there was very little character development. I though that Lauren and EB developed well throughout the plot, and the romantic parts were sweet and not over-the-top. There is some drama that threatens to get annoying at times, but it contributes well to the plot-development.
I don’t think that adult readers will necessarily find too much joy in Roomies, simply because this is kind of a niche-book. I think high school girls will love this, especially high school seniors.
Things I missed in this book: I think the fact that roommates do not have to be best buddies was missing from this. Of course it is necessary to be on a good footing, and to be able to honest but considerate, but expecting to be best friends can lead to disappointment. I also kind of wished that we could read a little more of EB and Lauren’s Freshman year. I think Zarr and Altebrando make a great writing team. At the same time I can understand that the story ends nicely on the day EB and Lauren meet, and the reader can fantasise about the rest of their adventures.
Roomies made me miss my first year, which rarely happens. It also makes me a huge proponent of “meeting” a roommate before Day 1 – I wish I had met my roommates the summer before!
Disclaimer: I received this as an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
squirrelsohno's review
3.0
Find more of my reviews at BOOK BRATS
ROOMIES was a much anticipated book for me, a girl who dreams about reliving her college days - not the partying part (hahaha, like that even happened) but the classes, the learning, the Model UN conferences. Yes, I am a huge nerd. But what I didn't expect about ROOMIES was that really, it was not about girls living together, more about the process of girls getting to know one another from a distance, preparing to spend hours upon hours a day in close quarters. It's about two girls sharing emails over the course of the summer before they meet, and all internet users know that internet communication is asking for drama.
"IS SHE BLACK, TOO?"
I'll just get my biggest qualm about this book out of the way first - the focus on race in this book really annoyed me. I loved that Lauren, our San Francisco roomie coming from a poor background, dates outside her race, but at the same time, I did not like how her and Elizabeth (aka EB) the preppy New Jersey roomie constantly focused on Keyon being black. For a long stretch of the book, his race was mentioned on every other page, accompanied by questioning perceptions, worrying about it, wondering about it, etc. Above the main aspects of the book, this is what I recall the most - Keyon was black, you guys! His entire family is black! Lauren is dating a black guy! Is Lauren black, too?
It's important for YA books to incorporate diversity, but to make it a front and center aspect of all discussion? It was a rather large turnoff.
Keyon is black, ladies. Move on and get to the more important parts of life, like...
LIFE BEFORE THE COLLEGE DORM
One part I loved about this novel was about the ups and downs of finding out more about a person before your lives become tangled together against your will. Welcome to the summer before freshman year. Unlike Lauren and Elizabeth, I knew nothing about my roommate before I moved into my dorm since she was a late admission. And we did not get along at all, probably due to our radically different lives and personalities.
EB and Lauren, like me and my roommate, have completely different personalities, backgrounds, and outlooks on life. And as such, their solutions to problems lead the other to have completely different solutions that often result in anger, distrust, and confusion. I know from personal experience that this is what college is - a lot of anger, distrust, and confusion, plus sex, alcohol, and Adderall.
While ROOMIES succeeded on this front, I still think it fell short in the characterization department. Their actions at times were very foolish, and their reactions - particularly that of Elizabeth with the situation surrounding her father - seemed forced and unrealistic. I still enjoyed this novel, just not to the extent I had hoped, but I am now very attuned to finding more college YA novels - just not NA as much.
VERDICT: Although beset by a number of issues, ROOMIES is a great story for fans of FANGIRL looking for more of the early college experience. Check it out.
♥♥♥ - THREE HEARTS
ROOMIES was a much anticipated book for me, a girl who dreams about reliving her college days - not the partying part (hahaha, like that even happened) but the classes, the learning, the Model UN conferences. Yes, I am a huge nerd. But what I didn't expect about ROOMIES was that really, it was not about girls living together, more about the process of girls getting to know one another from a distance, preparing to spend hours upon hours a day in close quarters. It's about two girls sharing emails over the course of the summer before they meet, and all internet users know that internet communication is asking for drama.
"IS SHE BLACK, TOO?"
I'll just get my biggest qualm about this book out of the way first - the focus on race in this book really annoyed me. I loved that Lauren, our San Francisco roomie coming from a poor background, dates outside her race, but at the same time, I did not like how her and Elizabeth (aka EB) the preppy New Jersey roomie constantly focused on Keyon being black. For a long stretch of the book, his race was mentioned on every other page, accompanied by questioning perceptions, worrying about it, wondering about it, etc. Above the main aspects of the book, this is what I recall the most - Keyon was black, you guys! His entire family is black! Lauren is dating a black guy! Is Lauren black, too?
It's important for YA books to incorporate diversity, but to make it a front and center aspect of all discussion? It was a rather large turnoff.
Keyon is black, ladies. Move on and get to the more important parts of life, like...
LIFE BEFORE THE COLLEGE DORM
One part I loved about this novel was about the ups and downs of finding out more about a person before your lives become tangled together against your will. Welcome to the summer before freshman year. Unlike Lauren and Elizabeth, I knew nothing about my roommate before I moved into my dorm since she was a late admission. And we did not get along at all, probably due to our radically different lives and personalities.
EB and Lauren, like me and my roommate, have completely different personalities, backgrounds, and outlooks on life. And as such, their solutions to problems lead the other to have completely different solutions that often result in anger, distrust, and confusion. I know from personal experience that this is what college is - a lot of anger, distrust, and confusion, plus sex, alcohol, and Adderall.
While ROOMIES succeeded on this front, I still think it fell short in the characterization department. Their actions at times were very foolish, and their reactions - particularly that of Elizabeth with the situation surrounding her father - seemed forced and unrealistic. I still enjoyed this novel, just not to the extent I had hoped, but I am now very attuned to finding more college YA novels - just not NA as much.
VERDICT: Although beset by a number of issues, ROOMIES is a great story for fans of FANGIRL looking for more of the early college experience. Check it out.
♥♥♥ - THREE HEARTS
missbookiverse's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 STERNE
Das ganze Semester über ein einziges Zimmer mit einer oder sogar zwei fremden Personen teilen? Für die meisten von uns klingt das absurd. Man wohnt zu Hause, mit dem Partner zusammen oder mit Freunden in einer WG. Gerade wenn man in eine fremde Stadt zieht, ist die WG auch mal voller Unbekannter, aber selbst da hat man immer noch sein eigenes Zimmer, in das man sich zurückziehen kann.
In den USA läuft das ganz anders. Dorm Rooms, die man sich mit einer zugewiesenen Person teilt, sind da Gang und Gebe. Zu schade aber, dass sich das Buch gar nicht wirklich mit dem titelgebenden Thema beschäftigt sondern einen Sommer weiter vorne ansetzt.
Lauren und Elizabeth leben an entgegengesetzten Küsten, haben sich noch nie in ihrem Leben gesehen und werden einander einen Sommer bevor sie ihr erstes Collegejahr starten als Roomies, also Mitbewohner, zugeteilt. Ums College an sich und das neue Leben, das einen erwartet, geht es dabei weniger. Zum Glück setzen die Autoren sich aber trotzdem mit interessanten Themen auseinander. Die Protagonisten leiden darunter ihr bisheriges Leben zurücklassen zu müssen, sie haben Angst, Panikattacken, freuen sich aber auch auf das neue Unbekannte. Was passiert mit der besten Freundin, die in einem anderen Staat studieren geht? Lässt man zu, dass der aufkeimende Sommerflirt sich zu einer Beziehung wandelt oder ist es das nicht wert, wenn man in wenigen Wochen Stunden auseinander wohnen wird? Wie kommen die Eltern und Geschwister mit dem plötzlichen Fehlen einer ganzen Person klar? All das teilen sie dem Leser und sich gegenseitig abwechselnd direkt aus ihrer Perspektive und manchmal in E-Mails mit.
Richtung gelungen fand ich die Thematisierung vom Umgang mit schwarzen/weißen Menschen. Eines der Mädchen verliebt sich nämlich in einen schwarzen Jungen und obwohl das für beide kein Problem darstellt, entstehen doch immer wieder Situationen, in denen man eigentlich total cool und weltoffen mit der Sache umgehen will, aber gleichzeitig nicht abstreiten kann, dass es wie ein rosa Elefant im Raum steht.
Diese und viele weitere Stellen habe ich mir während des Lesens notiert. Das Buch hat wirklich einige schlaue Gedanken zu bieten.
Umso enttäuschender ist es, dass mir trotzdem der Tiefgang gefehlt hat. Das Buch sagt so clevere Sachen und schneidet so unverbrauchte Themen an, trotzdem hatte ich das Gefühl eher leichte Sommerlektüre zu lesen. Spaß macht das, aber irgendwas fehlt.
Ganz anstrengend fand ich außerdem Elizabeth, vor allem in der letzten Hälfte des Buches. Immer öfter benimmt sie sich wie ein verwöhntes, pessimistisches Gör. Ich weiß gar nicht, ob ich das unbedingt als negativ bewerten möchte, es ist ein Kontrast zu Laurens Verhalten und Situation, aber ich wollte Elizabeth in diesen Momenten trotzdem mit ihrem eigenen Buch eins überbraten.
Eine besondere Erwähnung haben Laurens Eltern sich verdient. Sie sind so so süß und lustig und liebevoll und einfach totale Traumeltern.
Alles in allem ist Roomies leichte Lektüre mit unverbrauchten Themen, genau den richtigen Worten, aber irgendwo fehlt das besondere Etwas.
Das ganze Semester über ein einziges Zimmer mit einer oder sogar zwei fremden Personen teilen? Für die meisten von uns klingt das absurd. Man wohnt zu Hause, mit dem Partner zusammen oder mit Freunden in einer WG. Gerade wenn man in eine fremde Stadt zieht, ist die WG auch mal voller Unbekannter, aber selbst da hat man immer noch sein eigenes Zimmer, in das man sich zurückziehen kann.
In den USA läuft das ganz anders. Dorm Rooms, die man sich mit einer zugewiesenen Person teilt, sind da Gang und Gebe. Zu schade aber, dass sich das Buch gar nicht wirklich mit dem titelgebenden Thema beschäftigt sondern einen Sommer weiter vorne ansetzt.
Lauren und Elizabeth leben an entgegengesetzten Küsten, haben sich noch nie in ihrem Leben gesehen und werden einander einen Sommer bevor sie ihr erstes Collegejahr starten als Roomies, also Mitbewohner, zugeteilt. Ums College an sich und das neue Leben, das einen erwartet, geht es dabei weniger. Zum Glück setzen die Autoren sich aber trotzdem mit interessanten Themen auseinander. Die Protagonisten leiden darunter ihr bisheriges Leben zurücklassen zu müssen, sie haben Angst, Panikattacken, freuen sich aber auch auf das neue Unbekannte. Was passiert mit der besten Freundin, die in einem anderen Staat studieren geht? Lässt man zu, dass der aufkeimende Sommerflirt sich zu einer Beziehung wandelt oder ist es das nicht wert, wenn man in wenigen Wochen Stunden auseinander wohnen wird? Wie kommen die Eltern und Geschwister mit dem plötzlichen Fehlen einer ganzen Person klar? All das teilen sie dem Leser und sich gegenseitig abwechselnd direkt aus ihrer Perspektive und manchmal in E-Mails mit.
Richtung gelungen fand ich die Thematisierung vom Umgang mit schwarzen/weißen Menschen. Eines der Mädchen verliebt sich nämlich in einen schwarzen Jungen und obwohl das für beide kein Problem darstellt, entstehen doch immer wieder Situationen, in denen man eigentlich total cool und weltoffen mit der Sache umgehen will, aber gleichzeitig nicht abstreiten kann, dass es wie ein rosa Elefant im Raum steht.
Race. It’s so tricky, even though we’re all supposedly enlightend and color-blind. I don’t want it to be a Thing. But it kind of is a Thing, isn’t it?
Diese und viele weitere Stellen habe ich mir während des Lesens notiert. Das Buch hat wirklich einige schlaue Gedanken zu bieten.
Umso enttäuschender ist es, dass mir trotzdem der Tiefgang gefehlt hat. Das Buch sagt so clevere Sachen und schneidet so unverbrauchte Themen an, trotzdem hatte ich das Gefühl eher leichte Sommerlektüre zu lesen. Spaß macht das, aber irgendwas fehlt.
Ganz anstrengend fand ich außerdem Elizabeth, vor allem in der letzten Hälfte des Buches. Immer öfter benimmt sie sich wie ein verwöhntes, pessimistisches Gör. Ich weiß gar nicht, ob ich das unbedingt als negativ bewerten möchte, es ist ein Kontrast zu Laurens Verhalten und Situation, aber ich wollte Elizabeth in diesen Momenten trotzdem mit ihrem eigenen Buch eins überbraten.
Eine besondere Erwähnung haben Laurens Eltern sich verdient. Sie sind so so süß und lustig und liebevoll und einfach totale Traumeltern.
Alles in allem ist Roomies leichte Lektüre mit unverbrauchten Themen, genau den richtigen Worten, aber irgendwo fehlt das besondere Etwas.
michalice's review against another edition
3.0
When I got an email from netgalley about Roomies, and that there was a set amount of 'Read Now' copies available I quickly logged on to get a copy. Having already read a book by Sara Zarr I knew what to expect from her and knew I liked her writing.
Told in alternating chapters between Lauren in San Francisco, and Elizabeth in New Jersey, Roomies is a story about two complete strangers getting to know each other via email before they go off to college and have to share a room.
Lauren has lots of siblings and initially wanted a single room, finding out she has to share rooms was not in her plan, Elizabeth, eager to get to college, initiates contact between this duo and they slowly get to learn more about each other, even the parts they did not want to know.
I'm not going to say too much about the plot itself, but write how I felt about the book and the characters themselves. Roomies was an enjoyable read that I quickly found myself engrossed with. I enjoyed getting to see a friendship develop between two complete strangers, that have been thrown together in the roommate lottery, but also see how having two strangers with opposite personalities doesn't always work in the roommate lottery and while a friendship is built up, it is also quick to fall apart. The girls have the usual ups and downs like with any friendship, but it's harder and takes more effort on behalf of both of these girls to keep that friendship going.
Having Roomies told in alternating voices also lets us look into both of these girls lives, seeing how they live and what they experience, even though they come from opposite ends of the social ladder they have similar struggles like other teenagers, but also struggles that revolve around themselves and their conscience.
Finishing Roomies I have no idea which author wrote which part, but it also has me interested in Tara's work, so that's more books for me to research.
Told in alternating chapters between Lauren in San Francisco, and Elizabeth in New Jersey, Roomies is a story about two complete strangers getting to know each other via email before they go off to college and have to share a room.
Lauren has lots of siblings and initially wanted a single room, finding out she has to share rooms was not in her plan, Elizabeth, eager to get to college, initiates contact between this duo and they slowly get to learn more about each other, even the parts they did not want to know.
I'm not going to say too much about the plot itself, but write how I felt about the book and the characters themselves. Roomies was an enjoyable read that I quickly found myself engrossed with. I enjoyed getting to see a friendship develop between two complete strangers, that have been thrown together in the roommate lottery, but also see how having two strangers with opposite personalities doesn't always work in the roommate lottery and while a friendship is built up, it is also quick to fall apart. The girls have the usual ups and downs like with any friendship, but it's harder and takes more effort on behalf of both of these girls to keep that friendship going.
Having Roomies told in alternating voices also lets us look into both of these girls lives, seeing how they live and what they experience, even though they come from opposite ends of the social ladder they have similar struggles like other teenagers, but also struggles that revolve around themselves and their conscience.
Finishing Roomies I have no idea which author wrote which part, but it also has me interested in Tara's work, so that's more books for me to research.
alboyer6's review
4.0
Having read books by Sara Zarr before, I knew I wanted to read this one and I was glad I did. Reading it as an adult, it took me back to when I was all nervous about meeting my roommate. And I can see high school teens enjoying this title too, anticipating this exciting time in their owns lives. The characters seem true and real. Imperfect parents who are just trying, teen girls who are discovering how much of their own person they truly are and written in two distinct voices. Great book that I know I'll be buying for my teen collection.
ARC courtesy of publisher and Netgalley
ARC courtesy of publisher and Netgalley
mandikaye's review
4.0
I have to be honest with you. I don't know why I decided that I should read this book. While I do sometimes read Contemporary YA, it's not very often. And I don't always enjoy it when I do.
But Roomies was getting a little bit of buzz on Twitter. And the cover is reminiscent of a comic book. And then... Netgalley offered it to me for free. It was a goddamn trifecta. How was I supposed to turn it down after that? So I downloaded it. And then it sat in my Kindle library for weeks (if not months) before I finally got around to reading it.
And then something strange happened.
I found myself liking a book in which I couldn't really relate to either of the main characters.
Elizabeth (EB) and Lauren were randomly assigned as college roommates for their freshman year. This book covers the summer before college, as the two build a fledgling friendship over email. Lauren is the oldest of 6 kids and has never really had the "sibling" experience, because she's always been an extra parent in the house. She's anxiously awaiting the day she can leave and finally get some peace. EB is an only child whose parents are divorced (and she's estranged from her dad... who is gay). She also discovers that her mom is dating a married man, who turns out to be the father of her new boyfriend.
Not really relatable.
And usually, not relating to the characters would throw up a huge wall between me and the story, but in this case it didn't. The book was so well written that I could still experience what the girls did and have empathy for them without completely sharing their emotions or thought processes. Though I will admit - EB and I do have one thing in common. We both have one heck of a temper. Even when it's irrational for it to flare.
Roomies was worth the read, and I recommend it if you like coming of age stories that focus more on the journey than the romance or the drama (though don't get me wrong - this book was chock full of drama).
But Roomies was getting a little bit of buzz on Twitter. And the cover is reminiscent of a comic book. And then... Netgalley offered it to me for free. It was a goddamn trifecta. How was I supposed to turn it down after that? So I downloaded it. And then it sat in my Kindle library for weeks (if not months) before I finally got around to reading it.
And then something strange happened.
I found myself liking a book in which I couldn't really relate to either of the main characters.
Elizabeth (EB) and Lauren were randomly assigned as college roommates for their freshman year. This book covers the summer before college, as the two build a fledgling friendship over email. Lauren is the oldest of 6 kids and has never really had the "sibling" experience, because she's always been an extra parent in the house. She's anxiously awaiting the day she can leave and finally get some peace. EB is an only child whose parents are divorced (and she's estranged from her dad... who is gay). She also discovers that her mom is dating a married man, who turns out to be the father of her new boyfriend.
Not really relatable.
And usually, not relating to the characters would throw up a huge wall between me and the story, but in this case it didn't. The book was so well written that I could still experience what the girls did and have empathy for them without completely sharing their emotions or thought processes. Though I will admit - EB and I do have one thing in common. We both have one heck of a temper. Even when it's irrational for it to flare.
Roomies was worth the read, and I recommend it if you like coming of age stories that focus more on the journey than the romance or the drama (though don't get me wrong - this book was chock full of drama).
justlily's review
Literally made it two pages before the writing style sent me running. This is my second DNF book by Sara Zarr so I think we're officially broken up.
surreptitiously's review
4.0
I received an advance copy of this from NetGalley.
When Elizabeth (EB) receives a letter naming her freshman-year roommate, she's excited. Finally, the idea of college is becoming more tangible! As she reaches out to her future roomie, Lauren, the two become entangled in a series of technological exchanges that spark the beginning of a complex relationship. Starting from the basic platitudes introducing themselves and squaring away the preliminary question of who is bringing what appliances, the girls begin to connect on a deeper level while dealing with the changes taking place and re-examining their family life. Both girls must deal with their families, current friends, and new summer crushes while anticipating a major change that will completely rock their world.
Each girl comes from a different background and upbringing; EB is from the East Coast and has lived with her single mother for most of her life. She's an only child who feels lonely, even around her friends, who seem to have more fun with one another without her. She suffers from the "grass is greener" syndrome. She feels mostly unhappy in her home life and hopes that relocating herself across the country will solve her problems. Lauren lives in Cali with a huge family and is only moving an hour away for college. She stresses over money and taking care of her 5 siblings, so she rarely allows herself downtime by herself or with friends. She hoped to have a single suite and not have to share her living space with a roommate, so she causes the relationship to start of rocky as she tries to remain as inaccessible as possible. She has an air of moral superiority and has her boundaries pushed throughout the course of the novel.
[b:Roomies|17573559|Roomies|Sara Zarr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369636433l/17573559._SY75_.jpg|24513624] is an ambitious work that perfectly captures the emotions and complexities of the transition period between graduating high school and starting college. It recreates the nuances of social interactions to a tee with all the overthinking, hidden meaning, and unspoken social rules that come with navigating adult interactions. It lightly deals with sex and virginity; EB feels pressured by her friends and boyfriend for "being a prude," but I love that she stands up for what she wants and owns up to her decisions. The authors also touch on long-distance relationships and friendships coming to a natural end.
A reoccuring theme is technology being a hinderance to really developing a meaningful relationship with someone you've never met, something I feel is an accurate assessment although a little overstated. It is admittedly difficult to discern tone and personality from text, which can lead to insecurities and second-guessing a person's intentions. Lauren is constantly eschewing technology for being impersonal and creating faux personal relationships as exemplified by her constant waffling opinions and wild (negative) assumptions about EB's character. I feel her reasoning has more to do with her unwillingness to open herself up to other people and less of a technological fault.
Roomies is a bittersweet novel that triggers nostalgia from my college days. I recommend this to anyone looking for an emotionally intense YA read. People who have gone (or are about to go) away to college will especially relate.
When Elizabeth (EB) receives a letter naming her freshman-year roommate, she's excited. Finally, the idea of college is becoming more tangible! As she reaches out to her future roomie, Lauren, the two become entangled in a series of technological exchanges that spark the beginning of a complex relationship. Starting from the basic platitudes introducing themselves and squaring away the preliminary question of who is bringing what appliances, the girls begin to connect on a deeper level while dealing with the changes taking place and re-examining their family life. Both girls must deal with their families, current friends, and new summer crushes while anticipating a major change that will completely rock their world.
Each girl comes from a different background and upbringing; EB is from the East Coast and has lived with her single mother for most of her life. She's an only child who feels lonely, even around her friends, who seem to have more fun with one another without her. She suffers from the "grass is greener" syndrome. She feels mostly unhappy in her home life and hopes that relocating herself across the country will solve her problems. Lauren lives in Cali with a huge family and is only moving an hour away for college. She stresses over money and taking care of her 5 siblings, so she rarely allows herself downtime by herself or with friends. She hoped to have a single suite and not have to share her living space with a roommate, so she causes the relationship to start of rocky as she tries to remain as inaccessible as possible. She has an air of moral superiority and has her boundaries pushed throughout the course of the novel.
[b:Roomies|17573559|Roomies|Sara Zarr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369636433l/17573559._SY75_.jpg|24513624] is an ambitious work that perfectly captures the emotions and complexities of the transition period between graduating high school and starting college. It recreates the nuances of social interactions to a tee with all the overthinking, hidden meaning, and unspoken social rules that come with navigating adult interactions. It lightly deals with sex and virginity; EB feels pressured by her friends and boyfriend for "being a prude," but I love that she stands up for what she wants and owns up to her decisions. The authors also touch on long-distance relationships and friendships coming to a natural end.
A reoccuring theme is technology being a hinderance to really developing a meaningful relationship with someone you've never met, something I feel is an accurate assessment although a little overstated. It is admittedly difficult to discern tone and personality from text, which can lead to insecurities and second-guessing a person's intentions. Lauren is constantly eschewing technology for being impersonal and creating faux personal relationships as exemplified by her constant waffling opinions and wild (negative) assumptions about EB's character. I feel her reasoning has more to do with her unwillingness to open herself up to other people and less of a technological fault.
Roomies is a bittersweet novel that triggers nostalgia from my college days. I recommend this to anyone looking for an emotionally intense YA read. People who have gone (or are about to go) away to college will especially relate.