I loved this book and the sequel so much!! I definitely will be looking for more books by this author and will recommend this book! Such a sweet, rom-com book!

I loved this book so much! I want more!! I didn't want this book to end!
I just reviewed The Roommate Experiment by Ola Tundun. #TheRoommateExperiment #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I didn’t enjoy this one. Unfortunately, I found most of the characters to be pretty unlikeable for most of the story. Caleb wasn’t so bad in the last quarter of the book, until it all got ruined in the final act. I also didn’t understand how the story set Jasper up to be an antagonist, but then in the end, even Caleb admits that he’s a good guy???

While it was a happy-ish ending, there were some elements near the end that I deeply disliked, including what I would consider to be a rape scene. It wasn’t addressed in the story as rape, but it was clearly a non-consensual situation. It was completely unnecessary in every way, and remained unresolved for the remainder of the book.

The romance that developed between Caleb and Ariella (the point of the plot) was really sweet, but that hardly redeemed the rest of the story. I really struggled with Ariella as a character for most of the story. Her constant lack of self-awareness drove me crazy. There’s a lot I disliked about her, unfortunately.

I feel conflicted though, because I think Ola Tundun did a good job of creating a tricky situation for the characters to navigate. And they navigated it like humans—imperfectly. The characters in this book were complex and layered, but not lovable. At the end, it all still felt too much like a grey area for the ending to be truly happy. Tundun definitely knows how to engage a reader. I just didn’t enjoy the plot of this story.

Fun little Romance , did have some similarities to other books with a similar title though so it got a little predictable but it was a fun quick read

Find my review over on the new title, Roommates!

You can also find reviews on goodreads, StoryGraph and at my blog, bethanys-bookshelf.blogspot.com

Changed to title to Roommates so this will be a double review. Good book, good story and didn't want to put it down, looking forward to the next book. 4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

ROOMMATES

I was hit in the feels with this one. A formerly Miss Perfect?? I’d read that by itself, but add in a Mr. Ego with more ego than good sense? And banter??

I had to have it. It did NOT disappoint. Bonus points for feeling inclusive.

I didn’t do much needed laundry to read this, and I’m okay with that. What else did you need to know? Check it out!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
Ariella works in a London PR firm. She’s successful but also good at hiding in the wings. But her secret is that behind the wealthy fiancé, she’s feeling claustrophobic in her relationship with Jasper, her brother’s best family and neighbour growing up. When she takes the plunge and moves out without telling Jasper, she becomes roommates with Caleb that works in their sales department. With a different woman over almost every night, it’s a real challenge for the two to get along, nevermind more.

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Roommates is Ola Tundun’s debut novel. Set in London with very well developed characters, we get to see so many sides of both Caleb and Ariella and soon understand how their worlds have shaped them. I really enjoyed stepping into their shoes and seeing how their relationships developed. It does feel like that last half/ third of the story is quite drawn out, and then seems to end on a bit of a cliffhanger. It would have been nice to have an ending wrapping up the story.

Read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher
My rating 3.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Pub Date 20 Sep 2023

Old Tundun's Roommates is a realistic & authentic read. Ariella and Caleb couldn't be poles apart, but together, they bring out the best and learn to navigate the worst. The push and pull between the protagonists amidst personal and professional fronts had me rooting for them from the beginning. The mix of humour, wisdom, chemistry, and reliability was well-infused throughout the book.

I have to ping the trigger warnings of crippling anxiety, panic attacks, elements of cheating and unwilling drugging, which could be interpreted as non-consensual sex. An interesting perspective is that the women are the perpetrators. The ending, albeit abrupt and unexpected, got me bad! I can't wait to see how Ariella and Caleb's futures unfold.

Thank you Storm Publishing & NetGalley for providing an e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

I wanted to love this book - enemies to lovers forced proximity, etc etc - but I just couldn't. None of the characters were nice - except maybe Ari's mom. Everyone seems to have a myriad of toxic traits & very little redeeming qualities.

The ending was rushed and made me dislike the protagonists even more.

Trigger warnings for Domestic abuse, child abuse, and a myriad of other things should be included also.

This is a new author for me and I must say I enjoyed the story. It was quite a long one with many ups and downs along the way. I liked the characters, especially Lana! One thing that did bother me a bit is how American this book set in England was. Things right down to the use of feet instead of metres, Sesame Street as the beloved childrens show, words like feral and my personal grievance, the word Mommy. I know that her mother is Jamaican but growing up in England with an English dad...mommy??! No. I was a bit surprised to find out there was a sequel as the book was very long. I think leaving out a very dramatic part to ensure the reader reads on, meant that the story wasn't whole somehow. I really wished she hadn't. All in all, an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Don't forget! Come back to your Review on the pub date, 20 Sep 2023, to post to retailers

DNF at 30%. This is nothing against the author or the writing. The story is written well, it's more my hate for the characters. I cannot see myself reading anything further about Caleb and his womanizing ways. I do not want to watch (or read) our other main character, Ariella, fall for this complete douchebag. And the way Ariella just ups and leaves her fiancee with nothing but a sticky note and then spends her time debating about her leaving. So far everything about all the characters scream toxicity and dysfunction and I just cannot continue.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

This was a very good book, as I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. I'm anxious to read more of your books!

Great story! I enjoyed reading this, and hoping that it would end the way I wanted it to. My only complaint, is that the ending was abrupt. It is clear that there will be a sequel, but it could have been a cleaner ending.

Good story. Glad they changed the title to Roommates. Overall I liked the book. Neutral feelings about it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a fresh dual viewpoint relationship read featuring two very different new housemates and a great mixed bag of surrounding characters. In honesty I didn’t get a great feel on either of the characters but I loved their differences and the impact each had on the other, both had very different childhoods and led different lives but this meant they had a lot to offer the other. The ending was more ambiguous than I would have liked but I’m intrigued to see if the next book will continue their story or focus on one of their friends as there’s definitely a couple I’d like to read more about. 7/10