"Poets are snobs." "You are a poet."

3.5 stars!

A fun romantic story following an determined scholarship student and dramatic lover boy. Focusing on the Valentine Academy boarding school for boys, the readers are brought on story through the focus of our trans lead and their journey to find their place in the school and themselves.

I think all the characters had fun personalities and they brought lots of humour and heart to the entire story. I loved following the development of the relationships between the top students in the academy, and I also enjoyed that we got to see lots of interactions between the main lead and lots of side characters - it really worked in giving the story a full and developed feeling with its characters.

I loved the concept of the story. The secret love letters were so cute and I loved it's importance to all the characters, it created such a cute romantic feel to this YA romance. Because I loved this premise, I would have love to have seen a bit more development with it overall in the story (I would loved for it to feel a stronger presence in the story and see more happening within it's group).

Thank you to Hachette Children's Group for sending me an eARC, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

p.s. does anyone else get vibes of ouran high school host club? or is that just me? 😂

3 1/2 stars

Thank you for NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t quite know how to rate this book. I vaguely enjoyed it. It was fine. I liked the end. I liked the side characters, they gave it a very high school musical vibe.

But I didn’t really care for Jasper. Or at least, I don’t think I picked up what the writer was putting down. He’s not an enjoyable love interest for me.

I thought that maybe Charlie would turn out to be an unreliable narrator and there’d be some kind of twist. There isn’t. Okay so Jasper is handsome, doesn’t really negate all of the other (to me) quite off putting things about him 🤔.

I also think the ages and timeframe make it feel quite unserious. They met at 13 or 14 and have been in love (or “ruined for love”) for 2 years without seeing or speaking to each other and now they’re 16 and one is somehow a published famous poet?? The characters read as if they’re way older. I feel it would work better if they met at 16 and they were currently 18. Or at the very least if it had only been 1 year and they’d met at 15?

Still, it was fun. Would be an enjoyable Disney channel movie.

There's not taking itself too seriously and then there's farcical. I'll let you guess what category this is in. For a book with a trans, gay character it's all about other people's straight relationships. Honestly it was ridiculous, badly paced and I couldn't even suspend enough disbelief to enjoy it, because what's there is just... Yeah. There's a slight plot about 60% through but it quickly derails.

This book was my first time hearing of Page but I must say, I'm impressed! I really enjoyed the story and the banter with these two - such a cute m/m romcom!

Honestly, I don't know what it is I'm missing about this book, but I just don't mesh with the writing style. In fact, when I first started to read it, I checked it wasn't translated fiction because I thought something about it just wasn't making sense.

Secondly, the characters do not talk or act in believable ways, which is a shame, because there need to be more books with trans representation. However, I'm worried if this is the standard.

There was zero chemistry between the leads, which is understandable because Jasper had to be the most obnoxious and irritating character to ever be written. Some of the side characters were much nicer but very undeveloped.

One thing I liked was I thought Charlie's worries and concerns about going to an all boys school were well represented. However, there was not enough time spent on this.

I'm sorry, but this was not for me.

I very much appreciate trans rep in YA books, and the representation in this book was... not terrible. Everything else was, though.

The plot was overly contrived, to the point of not hanging together. For example, the story hinges on the impossibility of boys talking to the girls in the school next door... but when Charlie needs to speak to his friend, he walks straight in.

The narrator was emotionally illiterate, for example telling his friends 'I have a fever! I must be ill!' instead of exploring the possibility that he had a crush.

The final straw was one of the side characters, Blaze. I think he was meant to be funny, but it came across as the author making someone with mental health problems the butt of a joke.

A fun and enjoyable story that I ate up in an afternoon. While it might not be the most revolutionary book, it was definitely a good way to spend a day. Reminded me of Alexis Hall and Casey McQuiston in the best way. I definitely would pick up something from Powars again, even though it didn't change my life.

Having previously enjoyed The Borrow A Boyfriend Club by Page Powars, I was keen to read And They Were Roommates. The novel is a queer YA rom-com set at an elite boarding school. Charlie joins Valentine Academy for Boys as the new scholarship student. He needs perfect grades to maintain his scholarship and hopes to get through the year without anyone discovering that he is trans. But right from the start, things don’t go as planned. Instead of a private room, Charlie has to share with golden boy Jasper, a published poet and also Charlie’s ex-camp romance. Jasper doesn’t recognise Charlie. The two strike up a deal – Jasper will request a new room if Charlie helps him write and deliver secret letters between the boys school and the neighbouring girls academy.
I overall enjoyed reading this novel, but the premise definitely felt more far-fetched than the previous novel I’d read by this author. As the novel is told from Charlies point of view, it’s easier to connect with him than with Jasper, who came across as arrogant at times, and a bit oblivious, too, as we weren’t privy to his thoughts. It’s nice to have well-written trans rep in YA novels, and if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll find it in this novel. Expect boarding school antics and a very slow-burn romance.

What drew me to this book the most you might ask? The US cover.

Yes, that's right. It is a masterpiece and I am in mourning the UK doesn't have the same one. It's a chef's kiss from me.

When it comes to the book itself, this was definitely a fun read, which was exactly what I was after when I requested it. Maybe a little bit too much fun, if I am being honest. Some parts fell short for me for being too humorus and unrealisitc, or frankly, chaotic. As did its characters. Rather than feeling like they had multitudes, some felt like they were there to serve only one function such as 'the jock' or 'the nerd'. Which, perhaps, was a conscious choice to add to the irony of it all.

Overall, this book reminded me of reading a fanfic on Ao3. Take that as you will.
(I think the author has made Tiktoks about it being alhaitham/kaveh so...)

I will give it 4 stars for the splendid queer joy, but 3 for the actual plot and setting.

I loved Page Powers' last book and this one was no different! I love how they write queer characters and relationships without making said topics the main focus of the book. Their characters sexualities are not their defining quality. I of course look forward to reading more from Powars soon!
3.5

this book is the perfect mixture of unhinged and endearing. like the love interest hangs posters of himself on the wall, but it's about allowing yourself to exist despite your fear. the way the two go together is incredible.

and jasper was annoying but in a good way and I fell in love with him, which goes to show how the author portrays the characters so good.

• trans, bi MC • queer awakening • kinda second chance • traditional elite high school • a story about learning and stuggling in more than one way. • light academia vibes || I really tried and wanted to love this one, but sadly something was missing. Also the whole "He is the nephew and doesn't have to try to do something, but he gets 100 points everywhere, even tho they're not close" was ... much... and boring. || It was well written and kept me awake 'til late in the night, the characters are endearing and lovely, but yeah, idk, it was lacking at some point.

Thank you for the eARC

This review contains spoilers.

After loving The Borrow a Boyfriend Club, I was hoping for the same fun, heartfelt and often silly shenanigans with this book. Add to that a phenomenal Goodreads cover and I was hyped.

Unfortunately, this book upped the silly factor without backing it with any of the heart that attached me to the first one.

For clarity: I read fully to 40% and then skim read from then onwards.

My main issue with this book were with Jasper. Whilst I enjoy the trope of a popular arrogant seeming character secretly being soft and confused and using the persona as armour, this was not the case for Jasper. Whilst trying to make him seem big-headed he became practically irredeemable from the jump. Between his conceited nature, selfishness, random pretentious ramblings, putting posters of HIMSELF in their shared room - there was very little that could convince me he was a realistic character or in any way likeable. Whilst he later acknowledged some of these faults his character never actually showed real change outside of his feelings for Charlie.

Whilst there were some elements that were reused from TBaBC (secret clubs, school setting, friendship group dynamics) this book falls under the rare category of 'YA books I think I might be too old to enjoy'.
The flaws of the characters could have been the driving force behind the story but instead were eventually accepted and even praised. Whilst miscommunication drove the plot forward.

As I chose to skim the later half of this book I will not sharing a public review beyond marking as 'read' on various public platforms. But ultimately this book did not work for me. I will continue to enjoy the author's previous work, and admire the wonderful Goodreads cover for this book.

Books about trans teens that are not overly sexualised or spicy are in such short supply that this was a delightful discovery - I’ll definitely be purchasing a copy when it comes out for the library I work in.

I will admit the plot of this book is incredibly predictable but I think that it’s kind of the point, and I do love it. Queer characters are missing from so many classic love stories that it is wonderful to see common cliches in such a diverse way.

The writing throughout is not masterful but the story and the characters are so compelling that you completely forget that, it pulls you along in wonderful cute bliss.

The one big gripe I have with this book is Blaze, I found myself eye-rolling every time he spoke, but maybe his characterisation has just gone over my head. I don’t think the way he is adds anything to the story or his character and all of his parts could have been completed by literally any other character.

3.75 stars because the queer joy I feel reading this trumps absolutely everything else. 100% recommend if you enjoy diverse romances 🥰

And They Were Roommates is a very cute LGBT+ slow burn that has a very similar feel to Page Powers’ other book, The Borrow a Boyfriend Club, in that the trans main character changes school and wants to remain stealth but ends up being caught up in very elaborate school secrets and making friends who really love him.

This book follows Charlie, the new scholarship kid in an elite boys boarding school. After planning to have a single room, he ends up in a dorm with someone who knew him pre-transition, but who also broke his heart.
While Charlie wants nothing more than for Jasper to move out, Jasper wants Charlie to help him write love letters for the other students.

It’s a fun, genuine slow burn (like, no romance until 80% in slow burn) with some great tenderness and angst, and is a classic academic setting YA. It was very easy to read and kept me entertained the whole way through. Definitely recommend if you enjoyed Powars’ first book, or if you enjoy good, harmless queer YA.

Thank you to Hachette Children’s Group and Netgalley for the ARC!

And they were roommates By Page Powars

3.5/5 Stars 🌟

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Children’s Group for providing me with this eARC!

I enjoyed this book greatly but at the same time it just didn’t hit me as hard as I’d have liked it too. The characters, the boarding school aspect and the story were all extremely good in their own ways. Charlie was exciting and interesting but Jasper was just too much sometimes and made me feel bored reading about him.

The school name and love tutoring was funny and it definitely had an interesting concept and you could honestly feel Charlie’s stress throughout the book, I just felt it missed something personally. I do recommend having a read and seeing how you feel!

A cute LGBT+ read that had me gushing and also made me want to bang some characters’ heads together, because how did they not realise they loved each other?

This has a very similar feel to Page Powers’ other book, The Borrow a Boyfriend Club, in that the Trans main character changes school and wants to keep his head down so no one notices he’s Trans and gives him a hard time about it, but ends up being caught up in school shenanigans and making friends who love him along the way. If you loved that book, you will definitely love this one. It has the same vibes. The storyline, however, is completely different.

This book follows Charlie, a Trans boy who decides to join an elite boarding school. But there are several problems that happen: he ends up with a roommate, and that roommate is someone who not only knew him pre-transition, Jasper was Charlie’s first kiss and the person who broke his heart. Jasper doesn’t remember him, but Charlie still needs him to move out (he’s the headteacher’s nephew, so he can leverage that relationship to get a single room). The only problem, Jasper wants Charlie to help him write love letters in return.

There is laughter, there is crying, there is anger and there is a lot of ‘can you just talk already’. But of course these are hormonal teenagers, so they literally cannot talk. It creates some great situations that were fun to read and navigate with Charlie. It was very easy to read and kept me thoroughly entertained. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group for providing me with an ARC.

And They Were Roommates, aside from having a genius title borrowed from a hilarious and well-known meme, is a YA teen romance about a trans boy navigating life and love in Valentine Academy for Boys, a traditional and strict boarding school for the ultra-elite and ultra intelligent.
I raced through this book so fast, it truly got me out of my reading slump! I fell in love with this book almost immediately, it is so easy to read and entertaining and cute, it’s everything I wanted from the premise. I loved the boarding school setting and the characters were all so personable, I could totally picture this as a film, and now I really want a film adaptation ASAP!
Charlie is such a great character who truly deserves the world and I’m so glad he got his happy ending!