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marquessa17 's review for:
My Roommate from Hell
by Cale Dietrich
This is a weird book for me to review because I absolutely devoured it in one sitting—something that rarely happens—so clearly, I was fully invested in the story. That’s a big plus. That said, I also found myself skimming chunks, which is why it ultimately wasn’t a five-star read for me.
We follow Owen, an anxious incoming college freshman whose best friend decides not to attend. To make matters even more intense, a newly discovered hell-dimension is sending its very own prince to enroll as well. And yes, that Prince Zarmenus ends up as Owen’s roommate.
I really enjoyed the characters and the deep, hellish vibes that the Minous brought to the table. But I had two major issues:
Pacing felt uneven. The first part dragged, and we didn’t hit the fake-dating trope (which I was eager for) until much later than expected.
Too much repetition. Scenes kept hammering home how terrible Zar was as a roommate. By the end, I found myself liking him more than Owen, which made me wish we’d seen the story from Zar's perspective too.
Two other thoughts: This is solidly YA—and leans toward older YA, which isn’t a bad thing—but as an adult reader, that voice was noticeable. I also craved more “steam”—while I understand it wouldn’t fit a younger audience, its absence left me wanting deeper romantic layers.
Overall, 3 stars from me. I’d recommend it to YA fans who enjoy supernatural college setups—it just didn’t fully align with my taste.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—all opinions are my own.
We follow Owen, an anxious incoming college freshman whose best friend decides not to attend. To make matters even more intense, a newly discovered hell-dimension is sending its very own prince to enroll as well. And yes, that Prince Zarmenus ends up as Owen’s roommate.
I really enjoyed the characters and the deep, hellish vibes that the Minous brought to the table. But I had two major issues:
Pacing felt uneven. The first part dragged, and we didn’t hit the fake-dating trope (which I was eager for) until much later than expected.
Too much repetition. Scenes kept hammering home how terrible Zar was as a roommate. By the end, I found myself liking him more than Owen, which made me wish we’d seen the story from Zar's perspective too.
Two other thoughts: This is solidly YA—and leans toward older YA, which isn’t a bad thing—but as an adult reader, that voice was noticeable. I also craved more “steam”—while I understand it wouldn’t fit a younger audience, its absence left me wanting deeper romantic layers.
Overall, 3 stars from me. I’d recommend it to YA fans who enjoy supernatural college setups—it just didn’t fully align with my taste.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC—all opinions are my own.