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marshmaellows 's review for:
And They Were Roommates
by Page Powars
This was... not it. For a YA novel, it read much younger than that. To be fair, one of the side characters was a twelve year old who always talked like he was playing D&D or LARPing or something, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. That character just made me roll my eyes and cringe a lot, by the way – just felt way too childish, but I digress.
The main characters, Charlie and Jasper, were victims of the ever annoying miscommunication trope. So many of their issues could have been resolved if they just talked to one another instead of storming off or yelling at the other to leave (it was always Charlie doing the yelling, btw). The main issue that Charlie even had with Jasper seemed so petty and, again, could probably have been easily resolved had they just talked it out two years prior when the initial issue first took place. And honestly, Jasper seemed like a good guy, so I can't even understand why Charlie was so pissed at him for so long over a misconception. Just talk!
The main conflict in the story (besides the main characters' relationship) was so unserious that I just couldn't get behind it. Exchanging letters secretly between the girls' and boys' campuses so they could have dates for the eventual mixer, and so current lovebirds could stay in touch? Really? All of the boys and girls just stood around awkwardly at the mixer until Charlie and co. swooped in and delivered last minute love letters, after which everyone found their dates and had a grand old time. Woo. How about, I don't know... mingling and finding love naturally? And also, if your relationship is so flimsy that not being able to communicate for a while during the school year is enough to ruin your relationship, then your relationship would likely not last very long anyway.
Don't get me started on the other conflict in regards to Charlie's position at the school, as both a transgender student in an all boys school, and being an excellence scholar which required him to reach and maintain at least rank 5 on their grade board. That was so easily fixed that I questioned why it was even an issue in the first place. Don't constantly mention how Valentine is so OLD FASHIONED TRADITIONS if they are going to conveniently throw those traditions in the trash right away. Charlie worked so hard for it, too, so having it solved so simply just seemed like it was all for nothing anyway. Not a satisfying win in my book.
The cover was cute, though.
The main characters, Charlie and Jasper, were victims of the ever annoying miscommunication trope. So many of their issues could have been resolved if they just talked to one another instead of storming off or yelling at the other to leave (it was always Charlie doing the yelling, btw). The main issue that Charlie even had with Jasper seemed so petty and, again, could probably have been easily resolved had they just talked it out two years prior when the initial issue first took place. And honestly, Jasper seemed like a good guy, so I can't even understand why Charlie was so pissed at him for so long over a misconception. Just talk!
The main conflict in the story (besides the main characters' relationship) was so unserious that I just couldn't get behind it. Exchanging letters secretly between the girls' and boys' campuses so they could have dates for the eventual mixer, and so current lovebirds could stay in touch? Really? All of the boys and girls just stood around awkwardly at the mixer until Charlie and co. swooped in and delivered last minute love letters, after which everyone found their dates and had a grand old time. Woo. How about, I don't know... mingling and finding love naturally? And also, if your relationship is so flimsy that not being able to communicate for a while during the school year is enough to ruin your relationship, then your relationship would likely not last very long anyway.
Don't get me started on the other conflict in regards to Charlie's position at the school, as both a transgender student in an all boys school, and being an excellence scholar which required him to reach and maintain at least rank 5 on their grade board. That was so easily fixed that I questioned why it was even an issue in the first place. Don't constantly mention how Valentine is so OLD FASHIONED TRADITIONS if they are going to conveniently throw those traditions in the trash right away. Charlie worked so hard for it, too, so having it solved so simply just seemed like it was all for nothing anyway. Not a satisfying win in my book.
The cover was cute, though.