A review by ashnuit
And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

This was such a good time! There was something about the setting, the characters, and the various dynamics which were very reminiscent of Ouran High School Host Club. iykyk. 

Overall, I felt this had the right about goofiness to offset the stress Charlie is under, and a lot of these moments paved the way for heartfelt connections between him and the other boys. Without them I do not think this would have been as successful of a story, plus it’s funny to see how strange boys can be in their own environment. I also liked that, despite Charlie’s worries, his identity was not made into a crisis by those around him—the other accepted him, the faculty listened, and it didn’t overshadow his experience of just being a boy who is falling in love despite the awkward situation he finds himself in. This was clunky and moody and so representative of being a teenager which was very endearing, though sometimes also meant certain moments felt overblown—but again, teenager. There was a layer of improbability and ridiculousness that simultaneously kept this entire story afloat while also making certain things difficult for me as a reader. (Fine, it was the uniforms. I had to dissociate from what they were intended to look like for my own sanity. I couldn’t get into a romance when they were all dressed like THAT. Sry.) 

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an ARC of this to read and review!