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thebookcrook 's review for:
And They Were Roommates
by Page Powars
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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 was a really fun, quick, easy read. Charlie’s development as a character is lovely. I don’t know why but I’m a little obsessed with the valentines pink/red theming of everything. Blaze absolutely killed me anytime his dialogue came up. I think I see a bit of myself in him tbh. Trans rep was phenomenal as always.
There’s nothing really bad I have to say about this book. The plot wasn’t the most complex mind-blowing thing ever but it’s not meant to be one of those books and I think it was balanced quite well. If I had to be super picky I wanted more build up to Jasper figuring out who Charlie was. Build up in the sense of more close calls. The encounters they did have with that felt a bit subtle/too safe for me. Same with the eventual romance. I wanted more flirting and tension before their kiss. Lastly, I felt like Luis’s character kind of floated off the pages after a while and only came back really randomly once in the end as if the author suddenly remembered he existed lol. Other than those picky things I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book and I will always read anything Page Powars writes.
Maybe because I’m a bit older now but the mc and love interest and everybody in the book really just felt sooo young to me and it’s cause they are (like 16 I think?? Sophomores). Guess I haven’t read a YA romance in a while lol!
I am also curious to see how the book would have turned out differently for someone who did not yet have access to gender-affirming care and/or someone who was trans but didn’t want to make any surgical or hormonal changes. I think part of why Charlie didn’t encounter a lot of negativity towards him being trans is because he was extremely passing. I think it’s important to share those kinds of stories too because those who don’t “pass” or ascribe to definitive gender performance binaries are often the most vulnerable.
There’s nothing really bad I have to say about this book. The plot wasn’t the most complex mind-blowing thing ever but it’s not meant to be one of those books and I think it was balanced quite well. If I had to be super picky I wanted more build up to Jasper figuring out who Charlie was. Build up in the sense of more close calls. The encounters they did have with that felt a bit subtle/too safe for me. Same with the eventual romance. I wanted more flirting and tension before their kiss. Lastly, I felt like Luis’s character kind of floated off the pages after a while and only came back really randomly once in the end as if the author suddenly remembered he existed lol. Other than those picky things I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book and I will always read anything Page Powars writes.
Maybe because I’m a bit older now but the mc and love interest and everybody in the book really just felt sooo young to me and it’s cause they are (like 16 I think?? Sophomores). Guess I haven’t read a YA romance in a while lol!
I am also curious to see how the book would have turned out differently for someone who did not yet have access to gender-affirming care and/or someone who was trans but didn’t want to make any surgical or hormonal changes. I think part of why Charlie didn’t encounter a lot of negativity towards him being trans is because he was extremely passing. I think it’s important to share those kinds of stories too because those who don’t “pass” or ascribe to definitive gender performance binaries are often the most vulnerable.