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hereisenough's review
1.0
[read a while ago but forgot to add] *spoilers*
This had so. much. promise.
And then I got grossed out.
By the whole 'I just found out my mom's having an affair with a marries guy. I'm making out with this one other guy... who i just found out is my mom's guy's son! Yay!'
um okay.
This had so. much. promise.
And then I got grossed out.
By the whole 'I just found out my mom's having an affair with a marries guy. I'm making out with this one other guy... who i just found out is my mom's guy's son! Yay!'
um okay.
blakehalsey's review
5.0
I'm a huge fan of Sara Zarr and so I was super excited to read this book. After reading some mixed reviews, I'm happy to say I loved it. This sweet tale took me back to that fresh, exciting, and terrifying feeling of starting over and letting go and was exactly what I needed to read today (er...yeah, I read it in the course of about six hours, after finishing a heavy series). I loved the individual voices (the only way I really like co-authored books) and the ways in which Lo and EB grew, challenged and complimented each other really worked for me.
loveathena98's review
4.0
I think the book was alright. I enjoyed both blossoming romances. I also liked Lauren's huge family even though I hate my own. I guess I related to her more. I didn't really relate to Elizabeth because I haven't really had to deal with that type of parent crap. The prose was good.
cr33pycrawlspace's review
3.0
Roomies is a light read geared for girls going away to college for the first time. It could definitely be considered "chik-lit" and is not something I would normally pick out for myself. However, I very much enjoyed reading it. It goes a lot deeper than I anticipated which was a pleasant surprise. I also appreciated that it wasn't a story of collegiate sexual debauchery which is what I more or less predicted it to be. My only complaint is that the ending intentionally leaves you hanging. I closed the book really wanting to know more about what happens with the characters. That was probably the authors' desired effect. I would recommend this book for practically any woman under the age of thirty.
sandraagee's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I loved the way that this book used the two characters' differing viewpoints. Readers can really see how two people might look at the same situation in a different way, which I appreciated. It was interesting to see how Elizabeth and Lauren's lives were certainly different, but how they also shared a lot of common ground.
kimreadsthings's review
2.0
2.5
This was a fairly frustrating read. I really wanted to like it, and there were many aspects I did enjoy. Sadly, though, they were overshadowed. On reflection, I think my lower rating is solely to do with just one of our characters, Elizabeth or “EB”.
The book is told both in dual 1st person POV and also through the email and text message exchanges between the two “roomies”. It’s so strange that in the beginning of the book I found Lauren to be the rude one and by the end I could barely stand EB. I feel like if this was a book just about Lauren and Keyon it would definitely be a 3 ½ if not more. If it was just a book about EB I doubt I’d finish it. So, here we end up at 2 ½.
It’s a shame, really. The writing, the storytelling, the plot, and pacing...it’s all there. But my strong dislike of one of the two main characters just ensured that this fell flat to me. “What was so objectionable about this EB?”, I’m sure you’re wondering by now. Well, I’ll tell you.
She’s rather petty and prissy. Judgmental and irrational. She holds others to standards she barely abides by. She slutshames her mother. Slutshaming by a protagonist is an almost 100% guaranteed book ruiner for me. I mean, she refers to her mother as a “desperate whore” for dating one man. Yikes. Ew. Gross.
EB’s roommate, Lauren, comes from a large family with two parents who are still together. EB “only” has her mother and, as witnessed by the above, is none too thrilled with her. When Lauren, responding to a question from EB on what her parents are like, says that she’s pretty happy with her parents EB responds with what I can only refer to as petty, immature snarling. It’s a no-no to quote from books that aren’t released yet but I really wish I could quote for you here how ridiculous she is.
Seriously. She’s an asshole. She continues to have extremely uncharitable thoughts about Lauren throughout the rest of the book. Referring to her as “holier than thou” when she hasn’t responded to an email quickly enough for EB’s liking. Not an exaggeration, not kidding. I kept finding myself thinking “Who wants to read a book about a gigantic jerkface like this?” Not me!
When an event happens later on in the story that would be genuinely upsetting for anyone, even EB, she again reacts in the most petty and snot nosed manner possible. She is just one giant ball of selfishness and impotent rage.
Lauren, Keyon, you two were really cool and awesome and I loved your story. I’m sorry EB had to crap all over the parade. I loved Lauren and her family. Her interactions with her younger siblings were really touching and sweet. Also, there’s a scene between Lauren and her dad that was so genuinely moving I had tears in my eyes. Her relationship with Keyon was also realistically developed, sweet and just the right amount of adorably awkward.
I’d recommend this for the Lauren parts. Disregard EB over there being all petty in the corner.
4 stars for Lauren. 1 star for EB.
These words, and other fun, can also be found at my blog.
This was a fairly frustrating read. I really wanted to like it, and there were many aspects I did enjoy. Sadly, though, they were overshadowed. On reflection, I think my lower rating is solely to do with just one of our characters, Elizabeth or “EB”.
The book is told both in dual 1st person POV and also through the email and text message exchanges between the two “roomies”. It’s so strange that in the beginning of the book I found Lauren to be the rude one and by the end I could barely stand EB. I feel like if this was a book just about Lauren and Keyon it would definitely be a 3 ½ if not more. If it was just a book about EB I doubt I’d finish it. So, here we end up at 2 ½.
It’s a shame, really. The writing, the storytelling, the plot, and pacing...it’s all there. But my strong dislike of one of the two main characters just ensured that this fell flat to me. “What was so objectionable about this EB?”, I’m sure you’re wondering by now. Well, I’ll tell you.
She’s rather petty and prissy. Judgmental and irrational. She holds others to standards she barely abides by. She slutshames her mother. Slutshaming by a protagonist is an almost 100% guaranteed book ruiner for me. I mean, she refers to her mother as a “desperate whore” for dating one man. Yikes. Ew. Gross.
EB’s roommate, Lauren, comes from a large family with two parents who are still together. EB “only” has her mother and, as witnessed by the above, is none too thrilled with her. When Lauren, responding to a question from EB on what her parents are like, says that she’s pretty happy with her parents EB responds with what I can only refer to as petty, immature snarling. It’s a no-no to quote from books that aren’t released yet but I really wish I could quote for you here how ridiculous she is.
Seriously. She’s an asshole. She continues to have extremely uncharitable thoughts about Lauren throughout the rest of the book. Referring to her as “holier than thou” when she hasn’t responded to an email quickly enough for EB’s liking. Not an exaggeration, not kidding. I kept finding myself thinking “Who wants to read a book about a gigantic jerkface like this?” Not me!
When an event happens later on in the story that would be genuinely upsetting for anyone, even EB, she again reacts in the most petty and snot nosed manner possible. She is just one giant ball of selfishness and impotent rage.
Lauren, Keyon, you two were really cool and awesome and I loved your story. I’m sorry EB had to crap all over the parade. I loved Lauren and her family. Her interactions with her younger siblings were really touching and sweet. Also, there’s a scene between Lauren and her dad that was so genuinely moving I had tears in my eyes. Her relationship with Keyon was also realistically developed, sweet and just the right amount of adorably awkward.
I’d recommend this for the Lauren parts. Disregard EB over there being all petty in the corner.
4 stars for Lauren. 1 star for EB.
These words, and other fun, can also be found at my blog.
mamma_calls_me_francis's review
5.0
Ok, I really enjoyed this. Two girls across the country from each other email back and forth before they start rooming together at UC Berkeley. They both have different lives but similar problems. They become closer as their semester approaches. Lauren and Elizabeth go through a lot together and help each other become stronger women.
I don’t know how I feel about the ending...the book ends right before Elizabeth walks through the dorm room door. So we don’t learn what happens in person. I felt like the ending was enough though. Even if there wasn’t closure, I felt at peace with it. It made me happy.
I don’t know how I feel about the ending...the book ends right before Elizabeth walks through the dorm room door. So we don’t learn what happens in person. I felt like the ending was enough though. Even if there wasn’t closure, I felt at peace with it. It made me happy.
rachielove9's review
3.0
This was fun. I don't think it's groundbreaking by any means, but I enjoyed reading it, and it brought some "summer before freshmen year of college" nostalgia with it.
I've asked it once and I'll ask it again: Why aren't there MORE YA books about college? Instead of just the summer before?! Someone write me one, stat. Thanks.
I've asked it once and I'll ask it again: Why aren't there MORE YA books about college? Instead of just the summer before?! Someone write me one, stat. Thanks.
dhyey77's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
A lovely read. This book captured all of the emotions behind leaving a place, and the people in that place supremely well.