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A review by miglena
The Roommate by Rosie Danan
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.0
The book has forced proximinity, roommates to lovers, and subverts tropes like longtime friends to lovers and women hating each other who have been with the same man. This book is about sex workers and the porn industry and how they navigate the industry. It's also about love and how societal shame and stigma can be a barrier to fearlessly loving someone. It was Feminist, and I appreciated the sex-positive nature of the book. The sexual content wasn't that graphic (compared to other romance books).
This book felt rushed towards the end and I wish we got more on their background and childhoods. I easily would've read another 100 or 200 pages for more character development and background and more romance overall. The writing was good, reminded me of wattpad in a good way. It was interesting and different than the other romance books I've read this year.
Here are some quotes that I loved: SPOILER
"Change always comes with a closing cost.... But it's still worth trying. Not because the odds are particularly good, mind you, but considering the alternative. There's value in the struggle. Value and touching the raw and bloody parts of our souls, opening them up to the sunlight, and hoping they heal."
"I'm sorry I was too scared to accept it before. I always thought love was supposed to make you itchy. A crawling out of your skin kind of obsession. I thought love was synonymous with pining and logging. That I had to hurt.... But love isn't like that. At least not for me. Loving you is like sinking into a warm bath after a lifetime of feeling cold down to my bones..... It's having someone see me, past artifice and the posturing, and decide I'm more than enough.... My love for you isn't an addiction. Being with you doesn't provide some warped sense of validation for my life. You were never a fling I had to get out of my system. Our love feels like... Freedom. The kind people give their lives for."
This book felt rushed towards the end and I wish we got more on their background and childhoods. I easily would've read another 100 or 200 pages for more character development and background and more romance overall. The writing was good, reminded me of wattpad in a good way. It was interesting and different than the other romance books I've read this year.
Here are some quotes that I loved: SPOILER
"Change always comes with a closing cost.... But it's still worth trying. Not because the odds are particularly good, mind you, but considering the alternative. There's value in the struggle. Value and touching the raw and bloody parts of our souls, opening them up to the sunlight, and hoping they heal."
"I'm sorry I was too scared to accept it before. I always thought love was supposed to make you itchy. A crawling out of your skin kind of obsession. I thought love was synonymous with pining and logging. That I had to hurt.... But love isn't like that. At least not for me. Loving you is like sinking into a warm bath after a lifetime of feeling cold down to my bones..... It's having someone see me, past artifice and the posturing, and decide I'm more than enough.... My love for you isn't an addiction. Being with you doesn't provide some warped sense of validation for my life. You were never a fling I had to get out of my system. Our love feels like... Freedom. The kind people give their lives for."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, and Fatphobia
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment