2023 American Fiction Awards Romantic Comedy 2023 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Romantic Comedy
"A study in humor, irony, romantic encounters, and the evolution of a friendship…"Midwest Book Review
Brian Hawkins has had the worst year. He watched his girlfriend marry another man, lost his job and his apartment, and after a summer under his parents' roof, has taken refuge with his younger sister. A quiet few months in Philadelphia are just what he needs to clear his head and get back on his feet. But he's barely unpacked before the bane of his existence, his sister's best friend, shows up. His planned solitude is replaced by pop songs, rom-coms, and bright-pink hair. All that would be bearable, except there's only one extra bed, and there's no way he's sharing it with her.
Sarah Webb didn't think anything could be worse than a marriage-proposal-gone-wrong walk of shame to her best friend's apartment. But she was wrong. So wrong. Because she's not just staying with Jess. She's also sharing space with Jess's older brother. Brian is grumpy and stubborn and—not that Sarah would ever admit it out loud—totally hot. He's also off limits, which is why she should let him have the bedroom, stop staring at his abs, and keep her distance. But playing nice isn't in her nature.
As Sarah and Brian pull pranks and place wagers over who can lay claim to the bed, things between them start to shift. Sarah can admit that Brian has his moments, and Brian sees a side of Sarah she usually keeps hidden. When she needs a last-minute date for a charity gala where her doctor-ex is going to be in attendance, Brian seems like the perfect fake date. But as they spin around the dance floor, their fledgling friendship turns to something unexpected—and only one thing's more than just the bed is up for grabs.
I loved Sarah and Brian as MC's, and their bantering dynamic was so fun to follow along. I really enjoyed following Sarah's career, and her passion for what she does was apparent. I also liked Brian's progression from being isolated and unemployed to building a solid friend network while deciding what path he wanted to take career wise. I found myself rooting for him and his happiness the whole way. The two of them together felt very balanced between their sweet moments, their (sometimes snarky) banter, and their spicy moments.
I was not a big fan of Jess though and her character arc. She came across as very juvenile and hypocritical, especially with how she handled her part in the third act conflict. I also feel like she really didn't do anything to deserve a redemption for her actions and yet she was forgiven with no questions asked. We know she was hiding something the entire book and it just coloured her wrong the whole time. I felt like there was so much more potential with her that we didn't get to see.
While it only took me a couple days to read, it did feel like I was reading for a long time, despite it only being 310 pages. The pacing just felt a bit off for me at times, with not much happening at times that felt important to the plot at all. I also wasn't a huge fan of the ending. It seemed a bit rushed and bit too over-the-top dramatic for my personal taste.
I loved the story as a whole though and forced proximity is one of my favourite tropes. Sarah and Brian definitely carried the story (as main characters should) and I felt like, although I have my issues with the book, it didn't take away from my enjoyment.
Thank you to Netgalley and Red Adept Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Get a Room is another engaging and fun contemporary romance by Casey Dembowski! I love the characters, the amazing banter, and the enemies-to-lovers, best friend's brother love story!
Sarah and Brian are at crossroads in their lives when they end up fighting over space in an apartment with her best friend, who is also Brian's sister. Though they begin as enemies, their feelings toward each other slowly change, though I have a sneaking suspicion some of that animosity and antagonism is really how they dealt with their underlying feelings and chemistry. They have amazing banter, and the chemistry between them is *chef's kiss* fantasticness. They actually start pranking each other to get the spare bedroom, and some of the pranks are hysterical. I love these scenes because they highlight the changing relationship and ease Sarah and Brian have with each other. And their romantic moments are so swoon-worthy - lovely and heart-warming with a few spicy moments too!
I also like the character growth throughout the story, especially with Brian. I wasn't sure if I was going to like him because, as a minor character in When We're Thirty, he was pretty unlikable. However, gaining his perspective on everything definitely changed my opinion of him. It really makes you think about how different stories are when told from different people's perspectives.
At the start, Brian is floundering. He has no job, no friends, he's in a new city, and he's struggling. It was great to see him slowly finding himself, new friends, his self-confidence, and more. I also like that he resolved some of his regrets from the past. I feel like he owned his mistakes and found the closure he needed. Sarah shows a lot of growth too, and she is also layered and interesting. I love how passionate she is about her job and how she refuses to let her ex sabotage her position. She starts to fight for herself, which is great to see.
Some of the actions of Sarah and her best friend frustrated me toward the end of the book, and I wanted to shake some sense into both of them. But at the same time, I think those actions show more layers to the characters. They are all flawed, and they make mistakes, and they learn from them. Their characters are realistic and compelling, and even when they don't make the best decisions, I understood why they reacted in certain ways.
A few characters from Dembowski's previous books have minor roles in Get a Room, which is fantastic! I always love seeing what has happened to the characters and relationships from other books. However, this totally works as a standalone, and you can easily read it without having read the author's other books. It's a heart-warming, fun, and entertaining contemporary romance!
Special thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
tropes: ➺ best friends brother ➺ fake dating ➺ forced proximity ➺ forbidden romance ➺ "enemies" to lovers ➺ one bed ➺ dual pov in the third person
Casey Dembowski might have to stay on my radar after this one. I love a good best friend’s brother and for me, this delivered just enough, plus it was an easy read.
Plot
Sarah (h) and Brian (H) have known each other since college through Jess -h's best friend and H's little sister. They’ve never been particularly fond of one another but, when both of their lives have been turned upside down and neither has anywhere else to go, they are forced to move into Jess’ apartment, where there is only one extra room😏 Thrown into such close proximity with no prior notice these two are bound to kill each other… or not. What starts as a plow to make Sarah’s ex-boyfriend jealous brews into something a lot heavier than either of them expected.
“There were so many possible responses– ‘You're beautiful… I've wanted you since you fell into my lap… How could I not?’”
✽ I’m surprised to say that Sarah and Brian were both very likable characters and acted their age. They knew how they wanted to live their lives but also went through such real obstacles. I loved that Sarah worked in a field that was so personable and while it didn't provide her with many financial means she didn't magically live in some penthouse (and instead was a very relatable character).
✽ In the beginning, a few of the chapters felt unfinished or like I was missing a scene. I somewhat think that more background or just info on Sarah’s family and her relationship with them could’ve been interesting because it was kind of just mentioned then the subject dropped but her mom would pop up in another chapter. It might've helped me understand her a bit better but at the same time, it would've dragged the plot on.
✽ The banter between the two of them was *chef’s kiss* I loved how easily they meshed and the conversation just flowed.
✽ I don’t know if I would really count this as an enemies-to-lovers book hence the quotation marks earlier. I think it was the typical best friend's brother relationship where neither likes the other as a default. There was nothing mentioned about what sparked the initial dislike so it was kind of shallow and they gave more frenemies/rivals (idk😭)
✽ These two were so cute I felt sick to my stomach reading some of this stuff and the ending was so corny but again cute I had to stop myself from kicking my feet🤭
✽ I LOVED Tasha and Ethan they were my absolute faves. A book on either of them would be welcome bc they were real ones (rooting for the MCS since day one and we love to see it).
✽ I was not a fan of Jess that girl annoyed me with her attitude but hey what can you do?
Conclusion
While I didn't enjoy the 80% mark conflict per sayyy, it was right on schedule, and expected so I can't really complain.
*ARC provided by Red Adept Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Sarah is a girl who gets dumped on her birthday, after her boyfriend tries proposing and when she turns it down, he kicks her out. She is forced to go back to her best friend’s apartment where she used to live.
Turns out, the same day she shows up there, her best friends brother, Brian, also shows up stay.
The problem? They are sworn enemies. They’ve always disliked each other since they met, and now living together and fighting over one bedroom? It’s made their dislike grow stronger.
Until the pranks they play, the fake dating they start, and the bets they cast make them grow closer and closer.
This was such a cute story! Forced proximity, fake dating trope, and best friends brother all in one! I can even forgive the third act breakup (and my real tears) because of how cute/ funny/ and spicy this story was!
Thank you Casey Dembowski, red adept publishing, and netgalley for the arc!
This book is amazing! I loved it. Sarah and Brian are such interesting characters. A beautiful enemies to lovers I think everyone will love!
We first meet Sarah after she has been through a messy breakup with a surgeon and doctors everyone love. She is kicked out from where she was living and decides to go back and live with her best-friend, Jess. The problem is, Jess already gave Sarah’s old room to her brother Brian. Brain is jobless and trying to do everything not to end up back in his home town. After he went through a breakup that changed him forever, he has struggled to understand himself. Of course Sarah and Brian hate each other, disliking the fact they have to be so close. Jess suggests Sarah get Brian help make her ex jealous by having a Fake relationship.
I really enjoy this book. It did take a bit longer for me to read than it would have due to my life being everywhere rn. But I think it’s quite a cute romance. I wish we did get to see Sarah and her Mums relationship a bit more.
You deserve to be loved by someone who loves all the things about you. Who understands everything that you are.
A wink and a dimple—it was more than any woman could handle.
Super cute and fun!
Sarah just broke things with her boyfriend because she didn't need to marry him. Brian needed to move out from his home town and make new life for himself. And so they both turn to Jess. She's Sarah's best friend and Brian's sister. Unfortunately, Jess has only one spare room for one of them, and since she doesn't want to choose, she let them decide it on their own.
And so the three end up in the same apartment, trying to earn the spare bedroom.
Sarah and Brian knew each other for years because of their connection to Jess, but they never got along. Now when they need to share apartment together, between bickering and pranks, they also get closer.
“Stop brainstorming ways to piss off my brother,” Jess said, picking up their wineglasses. “But it’s, like, one of my best skills.”
The chemistry between them can't be missed. I had such a good time reading it. The push and pull and the struggles to avoid their connection was full of tension.
Sarah was off-limits and a very, very bad idea.
“You two have an energy that could easily be confused for sexual tension.” She gave Sarah a pointed look. “Trust me.”
Brian Hawkins was hot. Like, actually hot. As in, if they weren’t mortal enemies and his sister wasn’t her best friend, she would tackle him right then and there.
I liked Sarah a lot. She's strong and confident and kind of cocky and I liked it about her. It was refreshing to see the fmc being more confident than the mmc for a change. That she was the one who was put together and he was still searching where to start his life. She was the one pulling the strings in this relationship.
“We all make bad choices. Mine is Tyler. Yours is, like, the whole last decade of your life.”
This was the best bad idea he’d ever had. And maybe after the past year, he needed a good bad idea.
“We’ll have to be quiet,” she whispered. “I can be quiet,” he said, brushing his lips against the soft skin of her neck. Sarah giggled. “What? I can be quiet. This weekend I just chose not to be.”
See what I mean? Usually in books this conversation is about the fmc not being quiet, and I just loved this small moments that were so different.
There were a lot of funny moments and bantering that I enjoyed and it felt like these two were really meant for one another.
“Please, no more talk of my sister’s sex life.” “Fine.” She smiled at him innocently. “We’ll talk about yours. Oh, wait.” “Real funny.”
She rested her head over his heart, and it felt right in a way nothing had in his whole life. She fit. Sarah Webb, the bane of his existence for the last eight years, fit perfectly.
Imagine it's your birthday, you are coming home from work and all you want is to have a nice evening with your boyfriend. But he proposed and after you declined he threw you out of the apartment and your best friend just promised her guest bedroom to your arch nemesis (aka her brother). A banter-rich war breaks out between the two of them over who gets the bedroom. Be prepared for slow-burn with flirtatious rivalry, and fizzy humor.
Thank you to NetGalley and Red Adept Publisher for this eArc.
Get a Room is a heartwarming romance that I devoured in less than a day! Brian and Sarah are an endearing couple, who have about a million reasons not to get together, so of course they fall for each other! Their journey is filled with pitfalls; she’s nursing a bruised heart, he’s trying to restart his career, and his sister has forbidden Sarah to date him! Once sworn enemies, all that goes out the window when fake dating leads to all kinds of feelings—and it is quite a ride! Lots of emotions to unpack in this compelling story, and I was happy to be along for the ride!
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Red Adapt Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Brian Hawkins has had the worst year. He watched his girlfriend marry another man, lost his job and his apartment, and, after a summer under his parents’ roof, has taken refuge with his younger sister. A quiet few months in Philadelphia is just what he needs to clear his head and get back on his feet. But he’s barely unpacked before the bane of his existence, his sister’s best friend shows up. His planned solitude is replaced by pop songs, rom-coms, and bright pink hair. Which would be fine, except there’s only one extra bed, and there’s no way he’s sharing it with her.
Sarah Webb didn’t think anything could be worse than a marriage-proposal-gone-wrong walk of shame to her best friend’s apartment. But she was wrong. So wrong. Because she’s not just staying with Jess, but with Jess’s older brother. Brian is grumpy and stubborn and—not that Sarah would ever admit it out loud—totally hot. He’s also off limits. Which is why she should let him have the bedroom, stop staring at his abs, and keep her distance. But playing nice isn’t in her nature.
As Sarah and Brian pull pranks and place wagers over who can lay claim to the bed, things between the rivals start to shift. Sarah can admit that Brian has his moments, and Brian sees a side of Sarah she usually keeps hidden. When she needs a last-minute date for a charity gala where her doctor-ex is going to be in attendance, Brian seems like the perfect fake date. But as they spin around the dance floor, their fledgling friendship turns to something unexpected—and only one thing’s certain… more than just the bed is up for grabs.
My Thoughts: Our MCs Sarah and Brian were wonderfully portrayed in this story. Sarah had a relationship go south and needed somewhere to crash while she got her life together, which happens to be her best friend. Brain’s relationship went really south when his girlfriend left him for someone else, lost his job, then his apartment, trying to get a fresh spin on life, he decided to stay with his sister with only one spare room. Now the only spare room has two guests that have to battle out for keeps. The story follows the tropes of forced proximity, best friend’s brother, pranks, enemies to lovers, and grumpy v sunshine.
The story is narrated in a dual narration by both Sarah and Brian, in their perspectives. The characters are flawed, make their share of mistakes, and are authentic and realistic. Some of the decisions made did not seem like the best, but the story is written in a way that makes you understand why those decisions were made. Sarah is upbeat, social, and is really passionate about her job. Brian played a minor character in a previous book and was unlikable then, however, he has had life thrown at him in every way possible, he is still standing, maybe a bit grumpy, but is trying to get his life on track. Jess (sister and best friend) kind of annoyed me, I felt like her character could have been blended better, and the conflict she created seems unnecessary. Both Brian and Sarah have a tremendous amount of character growth throughout the story, which I love. The initial rivalry develops into a friendship with vulnerabilities revealed that deepened their bond. The characters were created with depth, they had amazing witty banter with each other, chemistry, were creatively done, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, layered, humorous, passionate, and engaging.
This was an endearing, heartwarming, romcom that will play at your heartstrings. It has a great balance of funny with romance, even blended with a little seriousness. I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a clean romcom that just makes you feel good.
“you deserve to be loved by someone who loves all the things about you. who understands everything that you are.”
rating: 3.5☆
honestly, this book was not as good as i expected it to be. i requested this book on netgalley after seeing the cute cover and the synopsis, but it didn't live up to my expectations. it may be because of the third person pov. i love 3rd person pov but not in romance books. when i read romance books i want all their thoughts and emotions, and not from another's person pov.
there are a few tropes in this book that i did like, like best friend's brother, fake dating, and not exactly enemies to lovers, but they disliked each other a lot.
i loved reading about sarah and brian, seeing them slowly fall in love. their banter was great and just them hanging out was so fun. i did feel like the book moved too fast but that might just be me.
i did not like sarah's best friend, jess. i didn't like behavior and how unsupportive and hypocritical she was. i'm sorry but first of all, being mad at sarah for not telling her when she's been hiding her relationship for 3 months?? you can't be mad at her for doing the same thing you do. and the ultimatum she gave sarah in the end made me dislike her even more. who are you to come between their happiness just because of something that happened when you were in high school??
overall it was a very fun and light read, but i will not re-read this book. thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Get a Room is a delightful rom-com that will leave you smiling from beginning to end. The story follows Brian Hawkins, who is trying to get his life back on track after a series of unfortunate events. He seeks solace in his sister's apartment, only to find himself sharing the space with Sarah Webb, his sister's best friend and the bane of his existence.
Sarah is vibrant, outgoing, and impossible to ignore. Despite their initial clashes, Brian finds himself drawn to her undeniable charm and infectious energy. As they navigate their living arrangements and engage in playful pranks, their animosity slowly transforms into something more. Sparks fly, and a deep connection begins to develop between them.
The chemistry between Sarah and Brian is palpable, and their witty banter and playful interactions make for a delightful read. As they grow closer, both characters reveal vulnerabilities and secrets that deepen their bond. Their journey is filled with humour, heart, and unexpected twists that keep you eagerly turning the pages.
Get a Room is a feel-good rom-com that explores themes of friendship, love, and taking chances. The writing is engaging and filled with warmth, making it easy to get lost in the story. The vibrant characters and their amusing antics will leave you laughing and rooting for their happily ever after.
If you're looking for a light-hearted and charming read that will put a smile on your face, Get a Room is the perfect choice. It's a delightful escape into the world of unexpected romance and the power of letting go of inhibitions.
My Review: Get a Room by Casey Dembowski is a gen-fic romance. It is a quick read that presents as a standalone.
About the Book: Brian Hawkins was in love with his sister's best friend. He needed Sarah Webb in his life. Although they started out irritating each other to no end, they soon grew to have strong feelings for each other. What they had was a forever kind of love. They both wanted it to last. Unfortunately, Brian's sister stood in the way as a major obstacle to their relationship.
Question to Consider: Is the love of a lifetime worth losing your best friend over?
My Final Say: This novel was so good. It started solidly and had a good pace. The last section of the book, however, hit its stride and took off. It was the emotional conflict that really grabbed my attention. Brian fell on his sword for love. Obviously, there is more that I could say, but I don't want to spoil it for other readers.
Other: Brian's sister was ridiculous. She wasn't the only immature character though. The author did a great job with writing her and the doctor who shall not be named.
Rating: 4/5 Recommend: Yes Audience: A Status/Level: 👍💬
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Red Adept Publishing, LLC), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review this title. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own.
I've given this 4 stars but would say it's more of a 3.5
Thankyou NetGalley for a free Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
There's a few different tropes within this book which I wasnt sure about how they would all work together but it ended up being a good read even if it did take me longer than I would have thought to read. If you're a fan of fake dating, best friends brother,enemies to lovers,close proximity and 1 room tropes then I'm sure you'll love this book.
Get A Room is dual P.OV which follows Sarah & Brian as they navigate living together with Jess and chuck (Brian's sister, Sarah's best friend and her cat) after bad breakups of their own. As main couples go I liked their dynamic and seeing both of their personalities, how they fit together and their growth throughout the book not only as a couple but individually.
I love that at the end of the book Brian ends up adopting a Ginger Tabby and calling it BB-8 even though he's allergic to cats because chuck grew on him and Sarah wanted a pet it was so cute!
I didn't realise Brian was a side character from a previous book of Casey Dembowski so it looks like I've got to add another book on to my TBR now 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A fun, enjoyably sweet romance with some very cute MC’s and easy to follow writing. Get A Room is my first book by this author and I had high expectations. Whilst they weren’t all met, I still had a lot of fun with this and particular loved the first 30% of the book. I really enjoyed the writing style and found it easy to digest but nothing too complex. The characters were lovable and sweet. I enjoy the romance but found it to be slightly forced and juvenile? I don’t know, something about the romance between Sarah and Brian was just cute really, very immature kind of teens in love vibes. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I don’t think it was for me. I loved the fact Brian started Zumba Wednesdays with Sarah and the Star Wars references they made. Also the cat!!!!! I’d probably recommend this to people ages 16 and up because there were some slight explicit content but nothing too out there. I would read something from this author again for a quick read I think!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is an enemies-to-lovers, with perfect banter and amazing character. I caught myself smiling so many times while reading.
When Sarah's boyfriend proposes, and she says no, she has to go back to her apartment she shared with her best friend. But her old bedroom already has a new occupant, Brian, her best friend's brother.
Sarah and Brian can't get along, and now they have to live together. They start a war for the room, and it's pretty funny to read. But from the forced proximity, they get to know each other better and even be friendly. Until the moment Brian agrees to be Sarah's date to a fundraiser gala, everything changes.
I really liked Sarah and Brian. The banter between them was * chef kiss *. I appreciated how the story of the two developed, but I got irritated with the 3rd act breakup, I really hated Jess for the involvement she had.
It is a good read, and I recommend this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Casey Dembowski, for this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It may be Sarah's birthday, but it isn't going as planned. Rejecting her boyfriend's proposal and being kicked out of his home wasn't on her wish list! Thankfully she knows she has a safe place to land in her long term best friend Jess, whose apartment she shared until recently.
Presuming she would simply move back into her old room, she's shocked to find its been promised to Jess' brother Brian. Made redundant and taking time to regroup, he's moved to Philadelphia for a fresh start and has no intentions of sharing his space. What ensues is a prank war to determine who can have the bedroom, and who will be left with the couch.
But when Sarah discovers that her ex is planning to upstage her at her own work event, she knows she needs to up the ante. Desperate to 'win' the break up, she and Jess hatch a plan... she'll bring Brian along as her fake boyfriend. Jess has always imposed a strict rule in regards to Brian and dating her friends, but she's willing to bend it for this one event. Will one night of faking it change everything for Sarah and Brian? Or will their pranks continue until one of them is forced to leave?
Thank you to @casey_dembowski @xpressotours & @netgalley for providing me with this ARC. Look out for pub day on July 18th 🥳
I had so much fun reading this story. Sarah is such a quirky character, and I loved that she changed her hair colour so regularly. I tend to do the same after a big life change! Brian was a great guy (love a hot nerdy type) and he was the perfect compliment to Sarah and Jess' friendship. The banter and pranks were brilliant and left me giggling at their antics. I'm always a fan of a well written enemies to lovers, fake dating romance and this was SO enjoyable. If you love these too, definitely give this book a read!
Thank you @Casey_Dembowski @KateRockBookTours @RedAdeptPublishing for a copy of this book.
We met Brian in When We Were Thirty and I was excited to hear his story. We meet Brian who moved in with his sister with being in funk of losing his job and fiancé. Sarah, who is his sister's BFF, moves back in as well. Brian and Sarah have an adversary relationship and I love to see it turn to more. There was such great banter and tension in the story. This was so much fun.
The characters in this book were interesting and had a solid personality. I liked every one except the sister.
The book had a premise that was intriguing but felt a bit flat in execution, but the scene featuring Sarah and Brian were amazing. Their banter was lovely and their passions for their work was also nice to read about.
The sister was problematic and her redemption felt very flat. She never really grovels but was forgiven in an instant.
For the length of the book, it had many characters introduced but the personalities of each of them were so unique that they never blended or confused the reader.
Overall, a very nice summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for the arc!
*Arc provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own*
5 ⭐️ 2🌶
- Best friends brother - Forced proximity - Fake dating - Dual POV - Third person
I very rarely read books in third person, so I wasn't actually expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. This very quickly became a 5 star read for me, the connection between Brian and Sarah was believable and didn't feel rushed. I was rooting for them from the start!
Brian had the worst year in love and moved in with his younger sister He's interrupted by Sarah who has a bad year in love too. Forced to share a room together, they fight and fall in love.
I like the banter in the book. Brian and Sarah are so cute together. They fit each other so well. Love their fights and pranks. Lots of fun.
thank you so much to netgalley and red adept publishing for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!! ——⭐️⭐️⭐️—— after brian hawkins loses his job, watches his girlfriend marry another man, and loses his apartment, his sister takes him in for a few months to get him back on his feet. all of a sudden, the peaceful solitude of the apartment is broken when his sister’s best friend sarah moves in.
sarah webb was proposed to by her boyfriend a mere three months into dating, and she rejected this proposal. so, she’s now living with her best friend jess… in jess’ two-bedroom apartment… with jess’ insufferable brother.
sarah and brian slowly grow more friendly as they begin to make bets for who gets the bed. when sarah needs a date to a charity gala to put her ex to shame, brian is the one who goes with her. but, what do they do when more than just friendly feelings arise?
what i liked: -dual povs -the general feel of this book
what i didn’t like: -tyler. -the epilogue was a bit cheesy -“a thousand times yes”
tropes: -fake dating -enemies to friends to lovers -one bed
read if you like: -fake dating -roommates -enemies to friends to lovers
overall, this book was okay. it wasn’t a favorite of mine, but it was cute for a quick read!
once again, thank you so much to netgalley and red adept publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The concept is Sarah and Brian fight for the one spare room in a mutual connection's home: Sarah's best friend and Brian's sister. The chapters switch between Sarah and Brian so readers gain great insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings for each other from start to finish. Both of them have their individual woes and struggles, putting Jess in the middle of their ordeal, and the story follows their attempts to stand back on their feet. Their situations make Sarah and Brian bitter and stubborn. This is a sweet romance, dialogue-driven story.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily. Thank you to Booksprout, Hidden Gems Books, and author.
Get A Room by Casey Dembowski is her best book yet! The more I read from Casey, the more I love her books. This is her third published book. I’ve read her from the start and begged to be on her review team. She is awesome.
Casey writes characters that are flawed and lovable at the same time. She brings them through relationships and writes about family love and loyalty. She has a heart and you can see it in her writing. Casey Dembowski needs to keep writing for years to come. I need books like these in my life!
Sarah and her friend Jess are besties and have been there through thick and thin. Can you give up your best friend for a boyfriend? This book deals with the answer. Brian is the boyfriend in this book and also the brother of Jess. Jess made her brother promise years ago he would never date her friends. She also made Sarah promise she wouldn’t date her brother. Why? You’ll have to read the book. The promise they both made wasn’t had to keep. They hated each other! For literally years!
This story has a few spicy scenes in it but nothing I was shocked by. They weren’t over the top and were really quite sweet. Of course, this doesn’t bother me much. I think it can enhance a story depending on how it is used.
Toward the end of the book I felt like my own heart was being ripped out. I wanted to throw my tablet across the room and I wanted to cry. I had to save the end of the book to finish in the morning. That wasn’t a good idea because I didn’t have a restful night worrying about the characters. I know it’s crazy! I really get involved with my books and this was an easy one to take to heart.
If you love to read a good love story, this is it! Casey Dembowski did an exceptional job of writing Get A Room. Get your book asap! You’ll fall in love. Until next time…Happy Reading!
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
First of all, I want to thank the author, Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Get A Room by Casey Dembowski will be coming out on July 18th, 2023.
What is the book about? Brian Hawkins, facing a series of personal setbacks, seeks solace with his sister in Philadelphia, only to find himself sharing living space with her best friend, Sarah Webb.
Despite their initial clashes, a connection develops as they engage in pranks and vie for the extra bed. As their friendship deepens, they navigate their attraction while pretending to be a couple at a charity gala.
Their evolving bond leads to unexpected feelings and a realization that their connection extends beyond their shared living arrangement.
Tropes and themes: • Rivals to lovers • Forced proximity • Fake dating • Best friend’s brother • Forbidden romance
My review: This was such a cute and sweet rom-com! Brian and Sarah really held the story and their banter was amazing!
Jess was a bit annoying most of the time and I didn’t understand why she was still bothered for something that happened in high school —especially when she was the one who had the idea of them fake dating. I feel like her character needed more addressing because it seemed like she was hiding something we’ll never know about.
Anyway, I was hooked since the beginning on Brian and Sarah’s relationship. Overall, it was a nice and enjoyable read.
My favourite quotes: ”She rested her head over his heart, and it felt right in a way nothing had in his whole life. She fit. Sarah Webb, the bane of his existence for the last eight years, fit perfectly.”
Title: Get a Room Author: Casey Dembowski Genre: Romance Tropes: Enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother, forced proximity, fake dating, dual POV, he fell first Spice: 🌶️🌶️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After a marriage proposal gone wrong on Sarah’s birthday, she needs to find a new place to live…immediately. But when she arrives at her best friend’s house, where she used to live, it seems that someone has beat her to the room by mere minutes. Her best friend’s brother Brian, who also happens to be her nemesis, isn’t going to give up the room without a fight.
I devoured this book. It was amazing…everything an enemies to lovers book should be. Sarah is so relatable. At first I was worried that she was going to be one of those enemies to lovers FMC that was super bratty, but she wasn’t. She is the perfect combination of sweet and sassy and I am here for all of it.
I can’t say enough about Brian. The writing really does make you feel like you’re going through everything with Brian, from the job search and decision, to making his new friends, and ultimately discovering his feelings for Sarah. While he doesn’t want to hurt his sister by dating her friend, he knows enough about love to understand that sometimes it’s worth fighting for.
I was so excited to get this ARC. The writing is amazing and the banter between Sarah and Brian is perfection. If you need a great summer beach read, this is it. The book releases July 18th.
Thanks to Net Galley and Red Adept Publishing LLC for the chance to read it!
This was such a cute, easy, and light read! I loved how the author included so many book tropes! I especially loved her take on best friend’s brother! There was also fake dating and the one bed trope!
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a super easy read! You really do not have think that much to understand the plot of this book, which was so nice! After a month of reading so many fantasies, this was a perfect read in between those!
However, there definitely were some things that I did not like which lowered my rating. For example, the romance moved WAY too fast for me. It just did not feel realistic at all. I also thought the romance was extremely cringey. The epilogue was so hard for me to read because of all the cringey quotes. I also just felt like this book did not have much of a plot, which made the book drag on.
I would, however, recommend this book if you want an easy, fun read! It would be perfect in between fantasy! I just personally do not think this book was for me, but that doesn’t me it isn’t for everyone!
This book had a little bit of everything: best friends brother, fake dating, enemies to lovers (sort of). The characters had good chemistry, but I will say the pacing felt a little off at times for me in the first half.
I loved reading the parts with Sarah’s job, I thought that was done really well and kept things interesting. I wish there was a little more detail into her family backstory and more on her last years with Jess and Brian’s family. The banter was so good and the little tidbits of Brian’s Star Wars nerd was cute, though I wish they covered that a little more. I think my only critiques would be that I wish there was a little more backstory added in.
I laughed, I cried, I was thoroughly entertained, though I wish there was a little more spice, but that’s just a personal preference. Over all a cute easy romance read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Red Adept Publishing for the advanced copy.
This book was a fun quick read. I really liked Sarah and Brian and how their relation developed! This book was short and easy to read!
I didn’t like Jess, at the end she was really childish and I just didn’t really like her personality. I also thought that Brian was a bit immature at the start. Although I love forced proximity living with your sister isn’t my thing. This is just my opinion and I think lots of other people wouldn’t mind it.
I would definitely recommend it to everyone who loves a quick and enjoyable romance read!
Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion!
Get a Room by Casey Dembowski is a light, easy read, romantic comedy filled with several tropes including:
🩷 Enemies to Lovers 🩵 Best Friends Brother 💜 Only One Bed 💚 Fake Dating ❤️ Close Proximity
Within minutes of starting to read this book, you can predict the basic premise of the story. I suppose the surety of a happily ever after is what I like about the romance genre. I tend to rate books based on how they make me feel and how engaged I was when reading the book. I enjoyed reading Get a Room, however, it does not stand out to me. I have rated this book 3/5. Thank you to NetGallery and the Publisher for the ARC of this book.
In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting Get a Room to hit me as hard as it did. As Sarah and Brian’s story unfolded, not only was I rooting for their relationship, but I was rooting for them as individuals.
At one point in their journey to happiness I found myself tearing up, something that is not an everyday occurrence for me, as I was hit with unexpected emotions for these fictional characters.
Fans of fake-dating, best friend’s sibling tropes should absolutely give this story a try.
I can’t wait to read other titles by Casey Dembowski after finishing Get a Room.