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A review by mandikaye
Roomies by Tara Altebrando, Sara Zarr
4.0
I have to be honest with you. I don't know why I decided that I should read this book. While I do sometimes read Contemporary YA, it's not very often. And I don't always enjoy it when I do.
But Roomies was getting a little bit of buzz on Twitter. And the cover is reminiscent of a comic book. And then... Netgalley offered it to me for free. It was a goddamn trifecta. How was I supposed to turn it down after that? So I downloaded it. And then it sat in my Kindle library for weeks (if not months) before I finally got around to reading it.
And then something strange happened.
I found myself liking a book in which I couldn't really relate to either of the main characters.
Elizabeth (EB) and Lauren were randomly assigned as college roommates for their freshman year. This book covers the summer before college, as the two build a fledgling friendship over email. Lauren is the oldest of 6 kids and has never really had the "sibling" experience, because she's always been an extra parent in the house. She's anxiously awaiting the day she can leave and finally get some peace. EB is an only child whose parents are divorced (and she's estranged from her dad... who is gay). She also discovers that her mom is dating a married man, who turns out to be the father of her new boyfriend.
Not really relatable.
And usually, not relating to the characters would throw up a huge wall between me and the story, but in this case it didn't. The book was so well written that I could still experience what the girls did and have empathy for them without completely sharing their emotions or thought processes. Though I will admit - EB and I do have one thing in common. We both have one heck of a temper. Even when it's irrational for it to flare.
Roomies was worth the read, and I recommend it if you like coming of age stories that focus more on the journey than the romance or the drama (though don't get me wrong - this book was chock full of drama).
But Roomies was getting a little bit of buzz on Twitter. And the cover is reminiscent of a comic book. And then... Netgalley offered it to me for free. It was a goddamn trifecta. How was I supposed to turn it down after that? So I downloaded it. And then it sat in my Kindle library for weeks (if not months) before I finally got around to reading it.
And then something strange happened.
I found myself liking a book in which I couldn't really relate to either of the main characters.
Elizabeth (EB) and Lauren were randomly assigned as college roommates for their freshman year. This book covers the summer before college, as the two build a fledgling friendship over email. Lauren is the oldest of 6 kids and has never really had the "sibling" experience, because she's always been an extra parent in the house. She's anxiously awaiting the day she can leave and finally get some peace. EB is an only child whose parents are divorced (and she's estranged from her dad... who is gay). She also discovers that her mom is dating a married man, who turns out to be the father of her new boyfriend.
Not really relatable.
And usually, not relating to the characters would throw up a huge wall between me and the story, but in this case it didn't. The book was so well written that I could still experience what the girls did and have empathy for them without completely sharing their emotions or thought processes. Though I will admit - EB and I do have one thing in common. We both have one heck of a temper. Even when it's irrational for it to flare.
Roomies was worth the read, and I recommend it if you like coming of age stories that focus more on the journey than the romance or the drama (though don't get me wrong - this book was chock full of drama).