A review by gluvsbooks
And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-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

4.0

I so very much enjoyed this queer YA contemporary, coming-of-age trans romance with an academic setting. This story centres around Charlie—a young trans kid trying to hide his identity at an all boys school. Though, when Charlie arrives he realises he’s been mistakenly paired with a roommate—Jasper Grimes—who just so happens to be the same boy who broke his heart two years ago at summer camp. Jasper convinces Charlie to help him write love letters for their classmates; with the promise of ensuring Charlie will get the single room he was supposed to have. Charlie’s adamant to take on everything, whatever it takes to rank in the top 5 and keep his place at Valentine Academy. 

Charlie’s character is a complex one. I’ll admit in the beginning I was annoyed with him a few times but that quickly morphed into understanding. Plus, who likes a clean-cut perfect main character anyway? That’d be no fun. Charlie really tries to take everything in his shoulders and he does, it’s not that he fails it’s just that no one person can do everything without also exhausting themselves out, which is a very real expectation people put on themselves—Charlie embodies that. At first Charlie comes across as cynical when it comes to love, he’s allowed his heartbreak to affect how he sees it. So, it’s such a lovely thing to see in his character development. I feel like it was most noticeable in his love letter writing. 

Jasper and Charlie as a duo made for an interesting read as they are such opposites to the other which is probably why they gel well together too. I really liked Jasper’s character he’s an enigma. We never get his POV in the book which I think would have been a great addition, I would have loved to be inside his head because while he does come across as odd and uncaring at times that only one of those things is untrue. 

The side characters were amazing, so fun and full of life. Each one of them added to the found family vibes. The book had its serious moments and its unserious moments, which the side characters definitely had a play in. It made for a very fun campy read. 

Overall, a great read I’d recommend to anyone wanting a bit of fun. If you’re looking for a romance heavy book then maybe this might not be for you as it’s definitely more of a character drive story with the romance being a subplot—Charlie and Jasper’s story is definitely a slow-burn for sure! Though for me that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book in the slightest.