Omg this book is so cutesy and a total feel good read! I really liked how Sydney encouraged Jess to be her true self regardless of how scary change could be. She was so patient with her while she figured out what she truly wanted. 🥰 In this case, the slow burn was needed and so worth it! Their underlying flirting was too cute. The ending was phenomenal. Only complaints about the book is how long the chapters were and that it was 3rd person 🤣

This book was cute! It was less spicy than I usually pick, but that wasn’t a problem because I quickly became invested in the characters. Character development is important to me and it was done well in this book. I liked the inclusion of one main character trying to understand her sexuality. It felt very relatable and realistic. I also liked the emphasis on the importance of female relationships of all types including strong friendships, older mentors, and sisters.

I'm going to start this but saying I'm not the biggest fan of a slow burn, so it took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did I was hooked.

The Roommate is a beautifully written and the chemistry between Jess and Sydney was electric, but what truly stood out for me was the accuracy and depth of both their individual journeys. Jess’s struggle with her identity felt authentic and something I really related to, while Sydney’s patience added an undeniable charm. Forsythe’s ability to balance angst with moments of sweetness and humor had me hooked!

While the pacing could be uneven at times, the payoff was well worth it. Forsythe’s writing is captivating, and her knack for creating flawed but relatable characters shines throughout. This was my first book by her, but it certainly won’t be my last—I’m already eager to explore more of her work!

I definitely recommend this book if the premise interests you!

Thank you for the ARC, I will definitely be reading more of Claire Forsythe's books in the future. No doubt!

As much as I thought the premise of The Roommate was cute, it fell a bit flat for me. The reading experience was still enjoyable because of the fun side characters (I loved Ben!) and the quirky little details about soap and hairstylists and penguins. Unfortunately the main relationship didn’t have enough depth in it for me. By the end, it felt like I just finished a book about two new roommates/friends who went on one fun date, rather than two people who are in love for life. Jess staying with her boyfriend for that long was frustrating (and added to the lack of depth in her and Sydney’s relationship). I’m not sure if I would recommend this book but I would read more from this author because I do see the potential!

Meeting on the train Jess Black and Sydney Fletcher didn’t know each other, complete strangers. But neither could forget the beautiful woman and even though they said they’d exchange phone numbers, time got away from them and the exchange never happened.
Jess really had no business getting anyone's number, she was in a relationship with her boyfriend of three years, and had never felt even remotely interested in women. But there was just something about Sydney, she couldn’t stop thinking of her.
Sydney had know way to contact the beautiful lady from the train so she tried to just forget. It was never meant to happen. But in the meantime she had to find another place to live. When an ad was looking for a third roommate she was excited. Great place to live but little did she know one of her new roommates was none other Jess.
Now they were under the same roof, trying to ignore each other but it’s hard to do in an apartment where things like kitchens were shared. Jess fights the attraction while Sydney could only hope Jess would really start noticing her. A really nice read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

Enjoyable heartfelt read with likeable characters, well except for one. The meet cute had me smiling with how Jess and Sydney interacted with each other. Both were interested in knowing more but only one was "ready" to take the next step. The heart wants what the heart wants. Jess is realizing that settling is not a foundation for relationship happiness. Sydney understands that relationship happiness is not easy to find and when you do find it, you need to go for it. I liked Sydney's sister, Rachel and her son, Ben. I also thought their company was cool, Makes Scents. Jess's roommate Chloe was quite the character.

This was a beautifully done romance novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the way this was used in the description. The plot was everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed the overall concept of this book. Claire Forsythe has a strong writing style and that the characters had that feel that I was looking for.

A sweet slow burn romance. Jess and Sydney meet on a train and it is instant chemistry. They chat and flirt and agree to meet up again but Sydney misses the train. Weeks later Jess is still thinking about the woman she met on the train. Jess has a fiancé, her boyfriend of eight years so her interest in perplexing to her. When she lets her best friend select their new roommate she is stunned when Sydney moves in. Sydney also hasn’t forgotten Jess but tries to respect her boundaries and relationship. But the attraction is still there.

I like that they can have outings as friends giving them time to know each other better. Side characters like Sydney’s sister and nephew are great. Jess has her salon owners who are giving their input as well. But the book reads slowly. Sydney respects Jess’s relationship so even though they are doing things together they aren’t flirting or upping the will they/won’t they tension. But otherwise I have no negatives other than Jess needs to communicate better. Which she learns to do. I also like how much everything is tied up by the ending. (3.5 Stars)

Good start. Knew from the blurb they would be unexpected room mates and was a bit impatient for that to start. The first meeting as room mates I felt so sorry for Sydney. Keen to read more.
Dream scene didn't work for me. I enjoyed the book but felt the forbidden longing went on a bit. Enjoyed some bits above a 3, but other bits a bit less, so settled to a 3.

Thank you so much to Claire Forsythe, NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an ARC! This review is my honest opinion.

I started this book around three hours ago and have just finished it, I didn't put it down once - it was so gripping and compelling.

Overall, I loved the plot, I loved the characters (except Austin; fuck you, Austin), I loved everything about it.

Jess; I enjoyed Jess's character, I think it was very relatable although she did frustrate me occasionally. She basically thought she was straight her entire life, she is in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend but then she realises that she may not be so straight after all... I understand why she was so reluctant when it came to her feelings - realising your sexuality might not be what you thought it was is overwhelming! I do think she should have had better communication though. Other than that, I loved her.


Sydney; Sydney might be my favourite character, I adore her so much. She was very mature and level-headed, I found her to be a beautifully written character. I don't have much to say about her character because I didn't notice any flaws - she was right to be hurt and hesitant, but I did love how she overcame it and allowed herself to love Jess.

Austin; I have no words for Austin, fuck you Austin.

Chloe; I loved Chloe's character, she was a really good best friend. Although one plot hole is that the other friend that moved out, the previous roommate? She's never mentioned again. I felt bad for Chloe, I won't say why because it's a spoiler but I'm really glad she got her happy ending.

Pam & Violet; they were such perfect side characters, they were so nosy and lovable. Pam, always the mischievous one and then Violet, the more demure of the two! I really enjoyed having these two in this story, I think they just made it so much better.

Ben & Rachel; I don't have much to say about them either - I loved Rachel's sisterly protectiveness over Sydney! It was very realistic. I love reading about siblings bonds in books. As for Ben, he was a sweet side character, I really adored how he immediately bonded with Jess and was so friendly and sweet.

As a woman that loves women (a lot, so much), I think this book was perfect representation for us sapphics. Jess slowly realising her sexuality isn't what she thought it was, combined with Sydney's longing for Jess made for such a beautiful read.

This book was definitely insta-love, although there was a major slow burn for them to actually get together. It was filled with tension, longing and yearning. There was a spicy scene near the end, but there was so much built-up tension before it that it just made the scene more passionate.

I really did enjoy this book, the only reason why I didn't give it a 5🌟 was because I felt the situation between Austin and Jess was too cliche - I think she should have broken up with him much earlier than she did. Other than that, I would definitely recommend it! I am going to recommend it to a couple of friends that I know will enjoy it.

Again, thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc. I am really grateful and I had so much fun reading this book.

This is my first book by Claire Forsythe, and I absolutely adored it. Now, I want to go read her backlog.
The meeting was cute and fun. This book had the push and pull, angsty throughout. Yet, the MCs were able to have some kind of relationship. It was flirty and not too heavy.
The secondary characters were delightful and added to the story. From the co-workers to the sister and nephew, all were intricate. I loved the make-up scene and what it involved..
I look forward to more books by this author in the future.

This book fell very flat for me and I really struggled to finish. The chapters are unnecessarily long. The constant switch in character POVs was confusing.

This was a slow burn romance between Jess and Sydney. From them meeting on the train, then meeting again as roommate. There's quite a bit of angst and drama throughout this book, and a lot of back and forth by Jess. The characters are well written and the secondary characters are written too help the story move along. The romance between the main characters was believable and very entertaining at times. I would recommend this story and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Really enjoyed this book! I loved the premise & the way the story developed. The characters were extremely likeable and you are routing for them from the get go.

2.5 stars

The pacing of this book was a bit off. The middle dragged on for too long, and even though romances do typically have a shorter and fast-paced ending, it was more noticeable in this book. My other main critique is that the POV's weren't distinct enough. It was difficult to know who you were reading from until a name was mentioned, and the frequent shifting didn't help with that.

But I love slow burn romances and this was a good one. I enjoy the way Claire Forsythe writes romance and will pick up future books of hers.

2.5⭐ | A Promising Premise That Misses the Mark

I really wanted to enjoy The Roommate by Claire Forsythe. The setup had all the ingredients for a compelling slow-burn romance: an unexpected meet-cute, a forced proximity situation, and the added tension of forbidden attraction. Unfortunately, while there were moments that shone, the overall execution left me underwhelmed.

The premise had promise: Jess, a confident woman with her life seemingly in order, meets Sydney, a free-spirited woman who throws her emotions into turmoil. The idea of a housemate situation forcing them to confront their feelings sounded like a great setup for chemistry and tension. Sadly, that chemistry never quite landed for me. The attraction between Jess and Sydney felt more told than shown, making it difficult to root for their eventual connection.

What Worked:
- The meet-cute on the train was charming and set a strong foundation for what I hoped would be a great story.
- Sydney was a bright spot—likable and relatable, even when the narrative didn’t do her justice.
- Ben, Sydney’s nephew, added some warmth and levity to the story.


What Didn’t Work:

-Jess’s characterization: Her insistence on being “straight” felt forced and frustrating, especially when her actions clearly contradicted her words. Her unwillingness to let go of her awful boyfriend, despite obvious issues, dragged the story down.
-Pacing issues: While I love a good slow burn, this one felt unnecessarily drawn out. The push-pull dynamic between Jess and Sydney became repetitive and exhausting by the halfway point.
- Confusing POV shifts: The frequent switching between Jess and Sydney’s perspectives made it difficult to stay immersed in the story. It often took me a while to figure out whose head I was in, which disrupted the flow.
- The boyfriend trope: Jess’s boyfriend felt like a caricature of every bad romance trope. His awfulness was so over-the-top that it detracted from the narrative rather than enhancing it.

While the book is relatively short, it somehow felt like it dragged on, especially in the middle chapters. The obstacles keeping Jess and Sydney apart felt more like plot devices than organic conflicts, and their eventual resolution came too late to feel satisfying.

Ultimately, The Roommate wasn’t a bad book, but it failed to deliver on its potential. Fans of slow-burn romances might still find something to enjoy here, but for me, the lack of chemistry, pacing issues, and underdeveloped characters made this a frustrating read. It’s not one I’d revisit, but I can see how it might work for others looking for a low-stakes, slice-of-life romance.

A well written slow burn story that's humorous and captivating. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it.


Thanks NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

This was an enjoyable story. I was glad when Jess finally realized what a jerk Austin was. I knew all along that he was lying to her. So glad the two MC’s finally got together. Ben was a total sweetheart, and Rachel and Chloe were great character additions. Well done.

Jess and Sydney’s story begins with a sweet meet-cute on a train. Jess is on her way to yet another one of her dad’s weddings, frustrated by the whole situation, while Sydney is nursing the wounds of a recent breakup. A delayed train leads to an instant connection, and though they plan to meet again, life pulls them in different directions. Fate intervenes when Jess is searching for a new roommate with her friend Chloe—and who shows up but Sydney, the woman Jess can’t stop thinking about.

From there, the tension builds. Jess struggles with her feelings for Sydney, clinging to her relationship with her boyfriend despite the obvious sparks. Adding to the drama, Chloe confesses her own crush on Sydney, giving Jess another reason to keep her emotions buried. Sydney, however, remains patient, quietly holding out hope as she navigates her new living arrangement and deepening feelings for Jess.

This was a cute and enjoyable read, though Jess’s reluctance to break things off with her boyfriend dragged a bit. The story shines in its exploration of found family—especially Jess’s work crew—and Sydney’s sweet relationship with her sister.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of *The Roommate* in exchange for my honest review.

I love easy reads. The Roommate is one of those books where you can just pick it up and easily fall into the story, laugh at the jokes and feel the myriad of emotions the characters experience throughout the book.

Forced proximity is one of my favourite tropes to read about and this book absolutely delivered on it. What starts out as a chance encounter on the train for Jess turns into a real predicament when she realises her new roommate is the same woman from the train that brought out confusing feelings for Jess. Even though Jess has a boyfriend who she's convinced she's happy with.

Sydney on the other hand has no problem admitting that she's attracted to Jess. Hence, cue the constant hot and cold and highly tensed exchanges back and forth between the pair with tension so thick, you could cut it.

Lastly, the one thing i really liked about the book was how real and flawed the author kept the characters, they were relatable, frustrating and endearing. A well balanced story celebrating girlhood, friendship and love with a sprinkle of meddling families.