Series: Standalone
Publication Date: December 5th 2017
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
From subway to Broadway to happily ever after. Modern love in all its thrill, hilarity, and uncertainty has never been so compulsively readable as in New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren’s (Beautiful Bastard, Dating You / Hating You) new romance.
Marriages of convenience are so…inconvenient.
For months Holland Bakker has invented excuses to descend into the subway station near her apartment, drawn to the captivating music performed by her street musician crush. Lacking the nerve to actually talk to the gorgeous stranger, fate steps in one night in the form of a drunken attacker. Calvin McLoughlin rescues her, but quickly disappears when the police start asking questions.
Using the only resource she has to pay the brilliant musician back, Holland gets Calvin an audition with her uncle, Broadway’s hottest musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until his reason for disappearing earlier becomes clear: he’s in the country illegally, his student visa having expired years ago.
Seeing that her uncle needs Calvin as much as Calvin needs him, a wild idea takes hold of her. Impulsively, she marries the Irishman, her infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves and Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway—in the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting—will Holland and Calvin to realize that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?
This is the kind of read that, when you finish, makes you say, “WHY DID THIS BOOK HAVE TO END!?” I couldn’t get enough of Roomies! I knew, as soon as I heard what it was about (marriage! of! convenience!) that I HAD to get my hands on it. I don’t typically read the marriage of convenience trope if it’s not a historical romance, but I had to give Christina Lauren’s modern take of the trope a try – and it was FANTASTIC. It’s an all-consuming, delightful read that I literally couldn’t put down. If you love well-written, unique, adorable contemporary romances, READ ROOMIES!
Every week, Holland Bakker goes out of her way in New York City to go to a certain subway station to admire the street musician who plays captivating music on his guitar. She’s developed a crush over the past few months watching and listening to him, but she’s never actually gone up to him and talked to him. Until one day she’s being attacked by a homeless man and the musician saves her… but leaves before she gets to thank him.
Holland wants to find a way to show Calvin her gratitude (and totally not because he’s gorgeous and has an Irish accent), and coincidentally, her Broadway musical director uncle is in need of a brilliant musician. Calvin blows the theater away with his music, but unfortunately can’t take the job… because he’s been living in the U.S. illegally for four years. Holland, wanting to do everything possible for this opportunity to work, offers to marry Calvin and pretend to be in love to help him gain U.S. citizenship. Ignoring the fact that she’s got feelings for him and oh, they’re lying to the government, everything should work out, right?
I swear that I was smiling for 90% of Roomies, it’s THAT much fun to read. I got swept away in the story, NEEDING Calvin and Holland to make their fake marriage a real one, and hoping alongside these characters that Calvin gets to stay in the U.S. I adored all the characters in the story – Holland in all her awkwardness and slow self-discovery, Calvin and his growing devotion and adoration for Holland, Holland’s supportive uncles who are so in love and compliment each other so well. I love that Roomies is not just about the romance between Holland and Calvin (though that shines pretty freaking well all on its own) but also about music and developing self-worth and being content in who you are. This book is brilliant, though I didn’t expect any less from Christina Lauren. I didn’t want Roomies to end, and am already craving more of Calvin and Holland. I highly recommend this book!
Also by Christina Lauren:
Dating You / Hating You: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Autoboyography: Ebook • Hardcover • Audible • Goodreads
Love and Other Words: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads (April 10, 2018)
Reading Order: Beautiful Bastard series
#1 ~ Beautiful Bastard: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Beautiful Bitch: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Beautiful Stranger: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Beautiful Bombshell: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Beautiful Player: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3.5 ~ Beautiful Beginning: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3.6 ~ Beautiful Beloved: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Beautiful Secret: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4.5 ~ Beautiful Boss: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Beautiful: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Reading Order: Wild Seasons series
#1 ~ Sweet Filthy Boy: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Dirty Rowdy Thing: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Dark Wild Night: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Wicked Sexy Liar: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
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Wow, so glad to see you enjoyed this! I have only read The House by Christina Lauren and I absolutely loved it. I did get a copy of this one but I’ve been super busy and haven’t had a chance to pick it up yet. Looking forward to reading it – great review!
The House is actually the one Christina Lauren book I haven’t read yet, ha! I hope you love Roomies as much as you loved The House, though! ❤