Thank you NetGalley for this review copy. I really loved this book of friends to lovers. I will definitely be reading more of Laura Starkey in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Spare Room by Laura Starkey in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I loved the cover and description so was very excited to be approved to read this ahead of all my friends and family. This was an absolutely lovely story and had so many funny situations that made me actually giggle out loud. I truly enjoyed this and can't wait to read more by this author in the future.

As much as I wanted to love this book, it fell short of my expectations.

It was an easy read (and even easier to predict) which was good to pass the time but that's about it.

Sadly I think that this is the type of story that would be brilliant in a screenplay, but falls flat as a novel.

2 stars ⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was a bit skeptical based on the cover but was pulled in by the description. I guess that’s why they say you can’t judge a book by its cover! The characters were great and the tag line was right! I did laugh out loud!

A quick, easy, fun rom com . Due to unforeseen circumstances Rosie ended up needing to make some money to afford the rent so she ends up renting her spare room to Aled .
An enjoyable read I would recommend
Thanks to Netgalley and Embla Books for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

The Spare Room is a light, fun read with a relatable premise, following a woman navigating life, love, and the chaos of unexpected cohabitation. While it has its moments of charm and humour, the story occasionally felt predictable, and the characters lacked the depth I was hoping for.

That said, it’s an enjoyable book for fans of contemporary romance who enjoy a cosy, easy-to-read story. A solid 3 out of 5 stars—it’s a pleasant read, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression.

Well, thank you to Embla Books for the gifted eARC of this one. These are my honest thoughts!

A very average women's fiction book that is rom-com adjacent. Gave vibes like The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (which I loved!!!) mixed with The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe (which I didn't enjoy all that much, either).

I did appreciate Rosie's character growth and how sweet Aled was. I liked a bunch of the side characters, like those at Rosie's new job at the cafe. I hated Rosie's family and especially her ex-boyfriend...

Definitely market as Women's Fiction in the future? It had rom-com elements, but it was heavier on topics about self care, finding yourself, and standing up for yourself. This might be a bit of a cultural difference as well, as I find a lot of British rom-coms to be more women's fiction oriented??? Could just be a me-thing. Maybe 3 stars?

If you need a laugh out loud read. This one is for you! Absolutely loved it, This is a book to give you all the feels. ALL OF THEM.

I loved the character growth of Rosie through the story.

I did find it a slower start but as soon as it picked up it was brilliant.

Humour, friendships and a charming romance.

I really liked the look of this book. The cover appealed and the synopsis grabbed my attention.

The book starts slowly. It’s worth bearing with, because it picks up around the 50-60% mark.

I liked Rosie and enjoyed reading about her background, the reasons why she was ‘walked over’ by others. The author detailed this from her boyfriend, family and employer.

Aled is an interesting character and there was so much potential to really build the chemistry between them, but I felt some of the focus was missing on their chemistry.

When things did get moving for Rosie and Aled, the bedroom door closed and the chapter ended. I don’t need graphic details but it was so abrupt. Then minimal reference afterwards.

I felt the final 10% of the book crammed so much into it. But I liked the ending and appreciated the epilogue.

Overall, an enjoyable read, but I really like the romance to be ramped up if I’m reading a romance book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

I was initially drawn to this novel's premise, but I found it boring and uninteresting. The storyline didn’t dive into any significant plot points, and I couldn’t help but compare it to The Flatshare, which has a similar plot but is much more engaging. The characters, Rosie and Aled, felt over-the-top and quirky, but their chemistry was forced and even a bit ridiculous.

The first four chapters were mainly filled with information about Rosie’s friend Niamh, her job, and her co-workers, which made it hard to stay interested. I enjoyed the stray cat that popped up, but even that felt cluttered, with the writing having too many random references. I also didn’t like the third-person POV—it made the whole book feel intolerable for me.

With the slow-paced writing, I wouldn’t recommend this book if you’re in a slump. It didn’t do it for me, and I don’t think it’s worth picking up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy for an honest review.

This was supposed to be a romance? This was so boring. There isn’t smut. That’s totally okay. Not every book needs smut. This is titled the spare room but Aled doesn’t even move in until halfway through. I didn’t feel a connection between the two characters either. This just wasn’t for me. Thank you NetGalley for an arc.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was a great read. I loved Rosie and Aled, and supporting characters such as Rhianne were written with equal depth which really added to the story. I enjoyed the concept immensely, and Starkey wrote this slow burn romance at the perfect pace.

This is a classic tale. It’s cosy, an easy read and curled up on a sofa you can get lost in their world. At times I found it a little slow and it’s also predictable (but that’s also why I enjoyed it). Its not one I feel passionately about… but it was a nice way to spend a few hours.

Overall, such a cute romance book with forced proximity. It was a very cute book with good characters! Quick read!

I absolutely loved reading this, 'The Spare Room' feels like you are reading a rom com and it was a pure joy to read. We start with Rosie's heart being broken then change to her inviting Aled to live in her spare room and then the will they/won't they begins and it is a pure delight. Of course there are emotional, more serious moments in this, however on the whole this provided a lot of laughter and put a big smile on my face.
The characters are wonderful as well in this book, I adored getting to know Rosie and Aled and seeing their relationship develop and change. This was a complete joy to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for an advance copy.

Just a cute book. I love the forced proximity trope. This one was really well written. I liked both of the characters and felt like their connection was written well and it all made sense. I read it quickly and enjoyed it.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

The trope of reluctant flatmates in a shared space suits Laura Starkey well. THE SPARE ROOM is an easy, breezy, and quick romantic read that I would recommend for the summer especially!

This was a really cute rom com. I absolutely devoured it and read it in one sitting. It made me laugh out loud and I really loved the characters and plot of this story. I gave it 5 stars and I would definitely continue reading anything by this author.

I Freaking loved this book!! This was onebof the best books I've read this year in romance!! So good and I couldn't put it down!!! I will be getting a hard copy of this and keeping it!! Absolutely stunning.
I just reviewed The Spare Room by Laura Starkey. #TheSpareRoom #NetGalley
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