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adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Self harm, Transphobia
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This Is the first book I’ve read by Page Powars and I loved it. Charlie and Jasper were so fun to get to know & root for🥹 They were funny, clever & adorable!!!!! I also had such a great time in the boarding school setting, & thought the second chance/forced proximity/frenemies to lovers was done very well 💕 Thank you to Libro FM for the audiobook ALC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Dysphoria
Moderate: Infidelity, Transphobia, Classism
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Outing
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was the first Page Powars book I’ve ever read and it was such a fun, heartfelt and beautifully queer read that I absolutely adored!
The coming-of-age-style premise, endearing MC and cast of vibrant, quirky characters who (embraced our protagonist in the sweetest, most found family of ways) stole my heart almost instantly.
But it was Powars’ blend of humour, introspective (teenage) angst and character driven storytelling that really made And They Were Roommates such a satisfying read.
Capturing the awkward teenage emotions of Charlie, and really touching on the struggles he faces as a trans person navigating a rigid, tradition-based setting. Powars gives us an insightful, compelling and joyfully affirming look into how gender identity intersects with the day to day experiences of trans teens.
And I really liked Charlie. When we first meet him, he’s so afraid of judgement he chooses to isolate himself from the other students than risk getting hurt. But after being drawn into the (secretly rebellious) student group STRIP, we finally see him let down his walls and begin to trust the supportive, and slightly chaotic group who take him under their wing.
Their banter and witty dialogue was wonderful too, and I loved delving into both the platonic and romantic relationships that Charlie begins to build. But of course, it was his romance with Jasper (who really comes into his own in the last half of the book), and the subtle exploration of their mutual history that really made this a stand out to me, (along with the swoony loaded silences and chemistry-filled stolen glances.)
So, if you enjoy YA romances filled with emotion, gentle (realistic) portrayals of intimacy, or endearingly awkward MCs. Then you definitely have to consider checking this out.
Also, thanks to Hodder Children’s/ Team Bookmark for the PB copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Dysphoria
Moderate: Infidelity, Transphobia, Classism
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Outing
slow-paced
"He’s the most obnoxious person I’ve ever met but one of the most inspiring minds I’ve ever known. I’m thinking about Jasper. Always."
Very cute, very sweet.
More about learning to love yourself than letting yourself love another. And filled with a reminder to take it easy, instead of overworking yourself.
The main character had major low self-esteem, and that was kind of a bummer to read. but the group dynamic of STRIP was really fun. This author really likes school secret societies. BaBC was better though 😗
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm