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Roommates #1
Roommates
Ariella Mason has the perfect life.
Perfect job? Check.
Perfect home? Check.
Perfect fiancé? Check.
None of this is by accident. Ariella is a card-carrying perfectionist.
On the other side of the city lives Ariella’s polar opposite. Caleb Black is an unrepentant smart-ass, seat-of-his-pants, arrogant party-boy getting through life on charisma and raw sex appeal (his words).
So why, one night, does Ariella turn up with her bags, asking to rent Caleb’s spare room?
Ariella has done a complete 180 on her life. And nothing good could ever come of this… Could it?
Be captivated by this hilarious and oftentimes heartbreaking journey into both Ariella’s and Caleb’s worlds, as one tries to rebuild their once-perfect life while the other struggles with just how much theirs could change forever. The perfect read for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Beth O’Leary and Sophie Kinsella.
Perfect job? Check.
Perfect home? Check.
Perfect fiancé? Check.
None of this is by accident. Ariella is a card-carrying perfectionist.
On the other side of the city lives Ariella’s polar opposite. Caleb Black is an unrepentant smart-ass, seat-of-his-pants, arrogant party-boy getting through life on charisma and raw sex appeal (his words).
So why, one night, does Ariella turn up with her bags, asking to rent Caleb’s spare room?
Ariella has done a complete 180 on her life. And nothing good could ever come of this… Could it?
Be captivated by this hilarious and oftentimes heartbreaking journey into both Ariella’s and Caleb’s worlds, as one tries to rebuild their once-perfect life while the other struggles with just how much theirs could change forever. The perfect read for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Beth O’Leary and Sophie Kinsella.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2023
140 people are currently reading
822 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
December 19, 2023
Whew these some of the most unlike characters I’ve come across. FMC kept making one dumb decision after the other and never held accountable. Instead everyone kept infantilizing her smh. Then we have the MMC who was an asshole not the even the fun kind from the get go.
Although the characters were unlikely, the story itself was actually a little decent for the most part. The ending felt a little rushed which I’m guessing is because there’s a book two and I’d definitely be reading that 🤡
Although the characters were unlikely, the story itself was actually a little decent for the most part. The ending felt a little rushed which I’m guessing is because there’s a book two and I’d definitely be reading that 🤡
January 8, 2025
I went into this book with high hopes, expecting a captivating narrative that would draw me in and keep me invested. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The author showed promise in the beginning, weaving a beautifully crafted story that had me hooked. The writing was engaging, and the characters seemed well-developed.
However, around 40% in, the story started to unravel. The plot became repetitive, with recycled events and implausible situations that felt like they were added solely for dramatic effect. The dialogue, which had initially seemed natural and authentic, began to lack depth, feeling more like surface-level conversations.
Furthermore, the excessive focus on sex talk was frustrating and felt unnecessary. It didn't add anything meaningful to the story and instead felt like a way to fill space. I found myself rolling my eyes at the constant innuendos and explicit conversations.
Sadly, the more I read, the more disappointed I became. The story's potential was wasted, and I couldn't help but feel let down. The characters that had initially shown promise became one-dimensional and predictable. The plot twists were obvious, and the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying.
Overall, this book fell flat for me, and I couldn't connect with the narrative. Despite its promising start, it failed to deliver a compelling story that would keep me engaged.
However, around 40% in, the story started to unravel. The plot became repetitive, with recycled events and implausible situations that felt like they were added solely for dramatic effect. The dialogue, which had initially seemed natural and authentic, began to lack depth, feeling more like surface-level conversations.
Furthermore, the excessive focus on sex talk was frustrating and felt unnecessary. It didn't add anything meaningful to the story and instead felt like a way to fill space. I found myself rolling my eyes at the constant innuendos and explicit conversations.
Sadly, the more I read, the more disappointed I became. The story's potential was wasted, and I couldn't help but feel let down. The characters that had initially shown promise became one-dimensional and predictable. The plot twists were obvious, and the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying.
Overall, this book fell flat for me, and I couldn't connect with the narrative. Despite its promising start, it failed to deliver a compelling story that would keep me engaged.
August 25, 2023
This book has:
- Forced proximity
- He falls first
-Playboy mmc
-Complex characters
- Dislike to friends to lovers
- Complicated relationships
- Opposites attract
When I saw this on Netgalley and the authors Nigerian name I had to request this. This book was very easy to read, it had a slow start but once it found its stride the pacing gets better. The main characters Ariella and Caleb become roomates after Ariella leaves her boyfriend. Caleb is a playboy while Ariella loves a perfect life. At first they don’t like understand each other but as they get to know each other and their families their friendship and relationship grows.
These characters were complex, they made mistakes and it was annoying at times. I liked the romance progression even when I didn’t always like the actions of the main characters. The ending felt a little rushed and ended abruptly but I saw that that there’s going to be a sequel so I think that’s why. Overall a nice debut it’s not without its issues but I would recommend it for romcom and women’s fiction lovers.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this arc for an honest review.
- Forced proximity
- He falls first
-Playboy mmc
-Complex characters
- Dislike to friends to lovers
- Complicated relationships
- Opposites attract
When I saw this on Netgalley and the authors Nigerian name I had to request this. This book was very easy to read, it had a slow start but once it found its stride the pacing gets better. The main characters Ariella and Caleb become roomates after Ariella leaves her boyfriend. Caleb is a playboy while Ariella loves a perfect life. At first they don’t like understand each other but as they get to know each other and their families their friendship and relationship grows.
These characters were complex, they made mistakes and it was annoying at times. I liked the romance progression even when I didn’t always like the actions of the main characters. The ending felt a little rushed and ended abruptly but I saw that that there’s going to be a sequel so I think that’s why. Overall a nice debut it’s not without its issues but I would recommend it for romcom and women’s fiction lovers.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this arc for an honest review.
April 21, 2025
4,75 stars - rolling up to 5.
I absolute adored and loved this book, the characters gripped me quite fast, and I love how it shows life with its ups and downs. There was this one scene that gave me the ick so for me its not a full 5 stars, but it still gave me the giggles, kicking the feet and smiling emotions all over. Also really fun that Norway was mentioned quite abit!
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and Ola for letting me read this. Ola seems like such a sweetheart. :)
I absolute adored and loved this book, the characters gripped me quite fast, and I love how it shows life with its ups and downs. There was this one scene that gave me the ick so for me its not a full 5 stars, but it still gave me the giggles, kicking the feet and smiling emotions all over. Also really fun that Norway was mentioned quite abit!
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and Ola for letting me read this. Ola seems like such a sweetheart. :)
May 29, 2024
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for early access to the audiobook! now available as of oct. 4th, 2023.
nepo baby with something akin to stockholm syndrome leaves her "perfect" fiance, jasper, randomly and rents a room let out by the charismatic playboy with a troubled past, caleb black, having never spoken to him... even though they work at the same company. although she literally can't for the life of herself get over jasper (whom everyone - except for her and her family- can see is extremely controlling and manipulative?), she finds herself drawn to caleb because of the way he lives his life with freedom (ie. messing around with everything that moves and not caring about them; or anyone else for that matter). it feels long af, the side characters shine, ariella is insufferable after a while, and of course caleb, after sharing a space with the one woman whom he doesn't want to sleep with, can ~finally see what love can be~
good if you like multiple plot points.
bad if you want to see them all to completion.
the dual pov on this was masterfully done, i will say. we'll often see something from ari's POV, and then go a bit back in time and see it from caleb's POV, meeting somewhere in the middle. i felt really connected to the story in that way.
this was an interesting one. the narrator ate this uppp, she was so good! her different accents were on point.
it's only 400~ish pages, but the audiobook felt so loooong. a lot of things happen, and while it did drag, i never felt bored. however, at this point, i can feel that i've already forgotten half the book. i enjoyed the character development between caleb and ari, i honestly think this may have worked better platonically. they brought out the best in each other by showing each other a different side of life.
there are so many plot points and different things happening that i'm honestly at a loss for what to include and what not to, so i'll just say - for a book as long as this, the ending was horribly rushed. criminally rushed. it has a second climax around the 90% mark and so much is left to just, think about?? also one of the mcs basically gets SAed and nothing is said about it, the book ends before they get to tell the other person about it? for sooooooo much to happen, so many tiny, little plot points to be dragged out, i was really disappointed that the mcs were left to dry by the end. like, it's so much of a cliffhanger, i'm wondering if they're gearing up for a book two?
i won't hold my breath though.
there is great character development in the first half of the book. then, seemingly out of nowhere, it's almost like they just reverted back to how they were in the beginning, the great communication they had replaced by (eye roll, please) rampant miscommunication. i think we as the readers understand why ari left jasper, but it really bothered me that she, herself never came to understand why, only that she started to feel more for caleb. and (without too much info) for all the development caleb went through, for ari to apparently stop taking that into consideration and think of him one-dimensionally made me want to throw something.
i liked it because it mostly felt realistic. the people and their families are flawed, and it touches on some quite sensitive topics, albeit only lightly for most. had this had the fleshed-out ending it deserved, it would've been a four, possibly five.
(idk why i'm in my long review era. thanks for reading if you got this far!)
nepo baby with something akin to stockholm syndrome leaves her "perfect" fiance, jasper, randomly and rents a room let out by the charismatic playboy with a troubled past, caleb black, having never spoken to him... even though they work at the same company. although she literally can't for the life of herself get over jasper (whom everyone - except for her and her family- can see is extremely controlling and manipulative?), she finds herself drawn to caleb because of the way he lives his life with freedom (ie. messing around with everything that moves and not caring about them; or anyone else for that matter). it feels long af, the side characters shine, ariella is insufferable after a while, and of course caleb, after sharing a space with the one woman whom he doesn't want to sleep with, can ~finally see what love can be~
good if you like multiple plot points.
bad if you want to see them all to completion.
the dual pov on this was masterfully done, i will say. we'll often see something from ari's POV, and then go a bit back in time and see it from caleb's POV, meeting somewhere in the middle. i felt really connected to the story in that way.
this was an interesting one. the narrator ate this uppp, she was so good! her different accents were on point.
it's only 400~ish pages, but the audiobook felt so loooong. a lot of things happen, and while it did drag, i never felt bored. however, at this point, i can feel that i've already forgotten half the book. i enjoyed the character development between caleb and ari, i honestly think this may have worked better platonically. they brought out the best in each other by showing each other a different side of life.
there are so many plot points and different things happening that i'm honestly at a loss for what to include and what not to, so i'll just say - for a book as long as this, the ending was horribly rushed. criminally rushed. it has a second climax around the 90% mark and so much is left to just, think about?? also one of the mcs basically gets SAed and nothing is said about it, the book ends before they get to tell the other person about it? for sooooooo much to happen, so many tiny, little plot points to be dragged out, i was really disappointed that the mcs were left to dry by the end. like, it's so much of a cliffhanger, i'm wondering if they're gearing up for a book two?
i won't hold my breath though.
there is great character development in the first half of the book. then, seemingly out of nowhere, it's almost like they just reverted back to how they were in the beginning, the great communication they had replaced by (eye roll, please) rampant miscommunication. i think we as the readers understand why ari left jasper, but it really bothered me that she, herself never came to understand why, only that she started to feel more for caleb. and (without too much info) for all the development caleb went through, for ari to apparently stop taking that into consideration and think of him one-dimensionally made me want to throw something.
i liked it because it mostly felt realistic. the people and their families are flawed, and it touches on some quite sensitive topics, albeit only lightly for most. had this had the fleshed-out ending it deserved, it would've been a four, possibly five.
(idk why i'm in my long review era. thanks for reading if you got this far!)
August 31, 2023
Roomates by Ola Tundun
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: sept. 20, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a gifted ARC of this book- my review is voluntary and my honest opinion.
Ariella has everything she’s ever wanted. So why is she not happy? In a desperate attempt to answer that question she moves out of the home that she shares with the only man she’s ever loved and rents a spare room from a coworker. Caleb is her total opposite and drives her more than a little crazy. She’s not sure she can survive being his flat mate. But Aari isn’t sure who she is, and she knows she’ll never figure it out if she stays inside her ex’s orbit. She has to make this work.
Caleb is more than a little resistant to the idea of a female flat mate, especially one as stale and stuck up as Ariella. But she’s willing to pay an obscene amount over his asking price so he can’t refuse. He has no idea what he’s getting himself into…
This story was nothing like I thought it was going to be. It was real and gritty and it gave me lots of feels. I was fully invested. I was just as surprised about Caleb capturing my heart as he was about Aari capturing his. But I loved him. I can decide if I’m mad or elated that their story isn’t over 😂.
This was seriously such a good story by Ola Tundun! I cannot believe this was a debut. It does not read like a debut at all!
If you like slowburns, forced proximity, and he falls first, give this book a try!
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: sept. 20, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a gifted ARC of this book- my review is voluntary and my honest opinion.
Ariella has everything she’s ever wanted. So why is she not happy? In a desperate attempt to answer that question she moves out of the home that she shares with the only man she’s ever loved and rents a spare room from a coworker. Caleb is her total opposite and drives her more than a little crazy. She’s not sure she can survive being his flat mate. But Aari isn’t sure who she is, and she knows she’ll never figure it out if she stays inside her ex’s orbit. She has to make this work.
Caleb is more than a little resistant to the idea of a female flat mate, especially one as stale and stuck up as Ariella. But she’s willing to pay an obscene amount over his asking price so he can’t refuse. He has no idea what he’s getting himself into…
This story was nothing like I thought it was going to be. It was real and gritty and it gave me lots of feels. I was fully invested. I was just as surprised about Caleb capturing my heart as he was about Aari capturing his. But I loved him. I can decide if I’m mad or elated that their story isn’t over 😂.
This was seriously such a good story by Ola Tundun! I cannot believe this was a debut. It does not read like a debut at all!
If you like slowburns, forced proximity, and he falls first, give this book a try!
October 5, 2023
This book could've easily been a 5 star book to me if it had at least one more chapter, right now it sits at 4.5 cause those likes 4 chapters had me in a crisis.
Ariella and Caleb had a chokehold in my life for the last two days. Every thought was about them and every time my work phone rang I wanted to scream cause people were interrupting the beauty of the book. The friendship is chef kiss, the way this man was falling for this girl and not realizing it, AAAAAAAAh.
I hate love triangles and I hated every single second of the conflict of going back to Jasper or not, but it still didn't make me hate the book. I loved it.
Ariella and Caleb had a chokehold in my life for the last two days. Every thought was about them and every time my work phone rang I wanted to scream cause people were interrupting the beauty of the book. The friendship is chef kiss, the way this man was falling for this girl and not realizing it, AAAAAAAAh.
I hate love triangles and I hated every single second of the conflict of going back to Jasper or not, but it still didn't make me hate the book. I loved it.
September 20, 2023
Im not going to lied, and I will admit that I choose this book because his cover. I though that this was going to be an amazing romcom with the enemies-to friends-to lover trope, and I was loving already without even started, but what a surprise I got once I started to read it.
In this story we have Ariella Mason, whoa has the perfect life. A gre3at fiancé, a great job and a amazing family, but for some reason she doesn't not feel happy with all that, and in order to make some change in er life, she move in with her co-worker Caleb Black, who is the typical playboy who gives a damn about everything.
The relationship that is build between Ariella and Caleb is one of the most honest and amazing things that I have read this year. I love how Ola gives us so honest and human characters. I love how Ariella and Caleb try to discover themselves and how any of the characters ink this book as a dark side and a white side. Everything here is grey and I loved that.
I can't believe this is Ola's debut novel because is so good written, and the story is so amazing. Please, do yourself a favor and buy this book, you will not regret it..
In addition, I just want to say that this is my first 5start review since I get here in Netgallery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a gifted ARC of this book- my review is voluntary and my honest opinion.
In this story we have Ariella Mason, whoa has the perfect life. A gre3at fiancé, a great job and a amazing family, but for some reason she doesn't not feel happy with all that, and in order to make some change in er life, she move in with her co-worker Caleb Black, who is the typical playboy who gives a damn about everything.
The relationship that is build between Ariella and Caleb is one of the most honest and amazing things that I have read this year. I love how Ola gives us so honest and human characters. I love how Ariella and Caleb try to discover themselves and how any of the characters ink this book as a dark side and a white side. Everything here is grey and I loved that.
I can't believe this is Ola's debut novel because is so good written, and the story is so amazing. Please, do yourself a favor and buy this book, you will not regret it..
In addition, I just want to say that this is my first 5start review since I get here in Netgallery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a gifted ARC of this book- my review is voluntary and my honest opinion.
September 20, 2023
Im not going to lied, and I will admit that I choose this book because his cover. I though that this was going to be an amazing romcom with the enemies-to friends-to lover trope, and I was loving already without even started, but what a surprise I got once I started to read it.
In this story we have Ariella Mason, whoa has the perfect life. A gre3at fiancé, a great job and a amazing family, but for some reason she doesn't not feel happy with all that, and in order to make some change in er life, she move in with her co-worker Caleb Black, who is the typical playboy who gives a damn about everything.
The relationship that is build between Ariella and Caleb is one of the most honest and amazing things that I have read this year. I love how Ola gives us so honest and human characters. I love how Ariella and Caleb try to discover themselves and how any of the characters ink this book as a dark side and a white side. Everything here is grey and I loved that.
I can't believe this is Ola's debut novel because is so good written, and the story is so amazing. Please, do yourself a favor and buy this book, you will not regret it..
In addition, I just want to say that this is my first 5start review since I get here in Netgallery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a gifted ARC of this book- my review is voluntary and my honest opinion.
In this story we have Ariella Mason, whoa has the perfect life. A gre3at fiancé, a great job and a amazing family, but for some reason she doesn't not feel happy with all that, and in order to make some change in er life, she move in with her co-worker Caleb Black, who is the typical playboy who gives a damn about everything.
The relationship that is build between Ariella and Caleb is one of the most honest and amazing things that I have read this year. I love how Ola gives us so honest and human characters. I love how Ariella and Caleb try to discover themselves and how any of the characters ink this book as a dark side and a white side. Everything here is grey and I loved that.
I can't believe this is Ola's debut novel because is so good written, and the story is so amazing. Please, do yourself a favor and buy this book, you will not regret it..
In addition, I just want to say that this is my first 5start review since I get here in Netgallery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a gifted ARC of this book- my review is voluntary and my honest opinion.
September 25, 2023
Dear Ola Tundun,
OMG with this ending! Are you kidding me right now? Just yank the heart right out of my chest. You made me fall in love with this book, painfully rooting for these two flawed characters to get their acts together. To finally realize how much they mean to each other.
It was an absolute joy to read a story without the requisite over-the-top quirky characters. Loved it, great writing, so funny in spots, etc. Now long do I have to wait for more? Really, you’ve broken my heart just let me know when the next book will be out.
Sincerely,
Your newest fan
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
OMG with this ending! Are you kidding me right now? Just yank the heart right out of my chest. You made me fall in love with this book, painfully rooting for these two flawed characters to get their acts together. To finally realize how much they mean to each other.
It was an absolute joy to read a story without the requisite over-the-top quirky characters. Loved it, great writing, so funny in spots, etc. Now long do I have to wait for more? Really, you’ve broken my heart just let me know when the next book will be out.
Sincerely,
Your newest fan
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 2, 2024
Ari and Caleb’s romance in The Roommates is a whirlwind and the emotional roller coaster these two characters road mimicked the back and forth so many couples actually go through, until they feel settled and confident that they made the right choice. Although their love story was the main storyline, the secondary characters were also stars and I would love to see more of their stories throughout this series. This novel was so much more than a romance as it tackled race, death, workplace dynamics, abuse, and more, making it a well rounded book with unforgettable characters.
October 4, 2023
I still have so many questions!?!?!?!?!?! Is there a sequel? I feel like this is a sign of great book. I am so invested in the characters and their stories that I want to know what happens next.
I loved watching Ariella and Caleb's friendship blossom and grow. It was so sweet. It felt like they both really needed each other. The narrator did a fantastic job - when she was voicing Ariella's mother she reminded me of Beyoncé.
I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another book by Ola Tundun.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved watching Ariella and Caleb's friendship blossom and grow. It was so sweet. It felt like they both really needed each other. The narrator did a fantastic job - when she was voicing Ariella's mother she reminded me of Beyoncé.
I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another book by Ola Tundun.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 6, 2023
Absolutely loved this!
Ariella is not sure that what she wants is really what she wants...Jasper is a childhood friend turned boyfriend turned fiancé but something is missing.
When she decides to do a flit and move out her world suddenly becomes much bigger and her journey to find the missing thing is romantic, funny and in places cringy!
A joyful read with an ending that will leave you wanting more (and thankfully the implication is there will be another book!)
Ariella is not sure that what she wants is really what she wants...Jasper is a childhood friend turned boyfriend turned fiancé but something is missing.
When she decides to do a flit and move out her world suddenly becomes much bigger and her journey to find the missing thing is romantic, funny and in places cringy!
A joyful read with an ending that will leave you wanting more (and thankfully the implication is there will be another book!)
September 21, 2023
Ariella Mason is a reserved young woman who starts this book by breaking up with her fiancee, Jasper, via a Post-It note. She rents a room from her coworker Caleb Black, a man with a tragic childhood who has done well for himself and who has found meaningful friendships and meaningless sex as an adult. Ariella and Caleb start out as reluctant roommates, and move through friendship and beyond in their time together.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. At all. There is no real plot to speak of. It is a series of scenes with "friends" who treat each other terribly. Ariella supposedly has a close relationship with her family, but they don't try to support her when she and Jasper break up and instead continue to spend time with him and invite him to family events. Caleb and his friends talk about how controlling Jasper was to Ariella, and then immediately control her themselves, literally carrying her around the apartment as though she is a child. If I didn't know better, I would think Ariella was written by a man, she is so naive and timid, and has the whole "you don't know you're beautiful" thing going on.
I think this book really wants to be a story of a woman finding herself sexually and emotionally, and of a man learning that sex and emotional connection can be meaningful. It fell short in this regard. None of their changes made sense, and even when the characters mentally felt one thing they often acted completely opposite their feelings. The dialog rang completely false and the writing style felt stilted.
I also want to include a trigger warning here for sexual assault. At one point Caleb is spending time with a woman who has some control over his career, and with whom he has had a sexual relationship in the past. He tells her that he does not want to have sex with her, but she essentially forces him to, because he is worried that if he refuses he will lose clients and money. This just... happens. There is no real examination of the situation or its impact on Caleb, the author really doesn't make a statement about it, it's just another vignette in this strange, meandering story.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. You may enjoy this book if you don't mind a book with minimal plot and if you like reading unlikeable characters. The (consensual) sex scenes are pretty good, even if they felt out of place. I know there are readers who loved this book, which I'm so glad of because I love it that author Ola Tundun achieved her dream of publishing a novel.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. At all. There is no real plot to speak of. It is a series of scenes with "friends" who treat each other terribly. Ariella supposedly has a close relationship with her family, but they don't try to support her when she and Jasper break up and instead continue to spend time with him and invite him to family events. Caleb and his friends talk about how controlling Jasper was to Ariella, and then immediately control her themselves, literally carrying her around the apartment as though she is a child. If I didn't know better, I would think Ariella was written by a man, she is so naive and timid, and has the whole "you don't know you're beautiful" thing going on.
I think this book really wants to be a story of a woman finding herself sexually and emotionally, and of a man learning that sex and emotional connection can be meaningful. It fell short in this regard. None of their changes made sense, and even when the characters mentally felt one thing they often acted completely opposite their feelings. The dialog rang completely false and the writing style felt stilted.
I also want to include a trigger warning here for sexual assault. At one point Caleb is spending time with a woman who has some control over his career, and with whom he has had a sexual relationship in the past. He tells her that he does not want to have sex with her, but she essentially forces him to, because he is worried that if he refuses he will lose clients and money. This just... happens. There is no real examination of the situation or its impact on Caleb, the author really doesn't make a statement about it, it's just another vignette in this strange, meandering story.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. You may enjoy this book if you don't mind a book with minimal plot and if you like reading unlikeable characters. The (consensual) sex scenes are pretty good, even if they felt out of place. I know there are readers who loved this book, which I'm so glad of because I love it that author Ola Tundun achieved her dream of publishing a novel.
September 24, 2023
"Roommates" by Ola Tundun is an engaging and contemporary romance novel that explores themes of friendship, love, and personal growth against the backdrop of shared living arrangements.
The story revolves around the two protagonists who become roommates under somewhat unexpected circumstances. As they navigate the challenges of living together, Tundun skillfully portrays their evolving relationship and the dynamics of their shared space.
The characters in the novel are relatable and well-drawn, and their individual journeys of self-discovery and personal growth are central to the story. The romance that unfolds is both heartwarming and passionate, and it is woven into a narrative that celebrates the power of connection and the magic of unexpected love.
Tundun's writing captures the essence of modern relationships, with its mix of humor, tension, and genuine emotion. While "Roommates" follows certain romance genre conventions, it distinguishes itself through its focus on the dynamics of shared living and the depth of the characters' experiences.
In conclusion, "Roommates" is an enjoyable and relatable contemporary romance that explores the complexities of modern relationships and the transformative nature of love. If you appreciate romance novels that prioritize character-driven storytelling, friendship, and personal growth, this book is a compelling and worthwhile read. Ola Tundun's storytelling talent shines through in this heartfelt and engaging tale of love and connection between roommates-turned-lovers.
The story revolves around the two protagonists who become roommates under somewhat unexpected circumstances. As they navigate the challenges of living together, Tundun skillfully portrays their evolving relationship and the dynamics of their shared space.
The characters in the novel are relatable and well-drawn, and their individual journeys of self-discovery and personal growth are central to the story. The romance that unfolds is both heartwarming and passionate, and it is woven into a narrative that celebrates the power of connection and the magic of unexpected love.
Tundun's writing captures the essence of modern relationships, with its mix of humor, tension, and genuine emotion. While "Roommates" follows certain romance genre conventions, it distinguishes itself through its focus on the dynamics of shared living and the depth of the characters' experiences.
In conclusion, "Roommates" is an enjoyable and relatable contemporary romance that explores the complexities of modern relationships and the transformative nature of love. If you appreciate romance novels that prioritize character-driven storytelling, friendship, and personal growth, this book is a compelling and worthwhile read. Ola Tundun's storytelling talent shines through in this heartfelt and engaging tale of love and connection between roommates-turned-lovers.
Read
October 4, 2023dnf at 39%
I really tried to finish this book but I could not stand the main characters. This got very repetitive.
Ariella was literally so annoying and I get it you broke off your engagement but that doesn’t mean she literally has to mention this is every chapter.
Ariella’s dependance on Jasper also was very weird. Like he had to be the one to allow her to do stuff. Like she did everything according to him. I do think that leaving a notes behind as saying we’re done is honestly disgusting.
Caleb was a bit better but I could not stand him saying that he wants nothing to do with Nicole and when she dresses so lovely he changes his mind. He’s sexist, judgemental.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me an arc for a honest review!
I really tried to finish this book but I could not stand the main characters. This got very repetitive.
Ariella was literally so annoying and I get it you broke off your engagement but that doesn’t mean she literally has to mention this is every chapter.
Ariella’s dependance on Jasper also was very weird. Like he had to be the one to allow her to do stuff. Like she did everything according to him. I do think that leaving a notes behind as saying we’re done is honestly disgusting.
Caleb was a bit better but I could not stand him saying that he wants nothing to do with Nicole and when she dresses so lovely he changes his mind. He’s sexist, judgemental.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me an arc for a honest review!
September 23, 2023
1.5 stars
I didn't like this at all.
I hated the toxic relationships Ariella has with virtually everyone around her.
I hated the poor, making decisions everyone in this book made.
But what I hated the most was Caleb. He's a sexist judgemental pig. Our first introduction with him, I wanted to punch him in the face. From then onwards, I just dislike him even more.
Overall, this was definitely not a book for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't like this at all.
I hated the toxic relationships Ariella has with virtually everyone around her.
I hated the poor, making decisions everyone in this book made.
But what I hated the most was Caleb. He's a sexist judgemental pig. Our first introduction with him, I wanted to punch him in the face. From then onwards, I just dislike him even more.
Overall, this was definitely not a book for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2025
✨He falls first. She falls apart.
Cue the emotional chaos.
Okayyyy… this book was not what I expected and I mean that in the best way.
I thought I was signing up for a cute romcom with some opposites attract tension and maybe a few flirty kitchen moments.
What I got? A slowburn emotional detox featuring one very tightly wound woman, one deeply chaotic man, and a house full of heartbreak, healing, and some A+ tension so thick you could cut it with a dull butter knife.
Let’s break it down:
👩💼 Ariella: Type-A. High-achiever. Engaged to a man she thinks she loves. On paper? Perfect. In practice? Imploding.
😈 Caleb: Tattooed, reckless, gorgeous disaster with a tragic backstory and an unshakable habit of pretending everything’s fine when it so clearly is not.
Together: Roommates with wildly different energies, mutual disdain, and slowly crumbling walls.
The dynamic is chef’s kiss: forced proximity + enemies to reluctant friends to oh no I caught feelings.
Caleb falls first (and hard), and watching this man, a self-proclaimed playboy, absolutely spiral over this buttoned up woman? I was eating it up like a midnight snack.
Ariella, on the other hand, is a masterclass in self sabotage and emotional repression and while she frustrated me at times, I felt for her.
⚠️ Yes, there’s miscommunication.
⚠️ Yes, some plot threads don’t get fully tied up.
⚠️ Yes, the ending felt criminally rushed (HELLO? I needed closure, not chaos?!).
But this book hit.
It tackled identity, trauma, emotional unlearning, and the messy, necessary kind of growth that doesn’t wrap up in a tidy bow. The side characters were so well done, and the dual POV was executed to perfection, Caleb’s voice especially gutted me more than once.
✨Highlights:
Slowburn, emotionally messy AF romance
Forced proximity with a lot of hallway tension
He falls first and pines like a pro
Complex characters who don’t always make the right choices
A love story that isn't always lovely, but feels real
If you love books that are heavy on emotional mess, complicated people, and a romance that feels earned through actual growth then this one's worth the ride.
Cue the emotional chaos.
Okayyyy… this book was not what I expected and I mean that in the best way.
I thought I was signing up for a cute romcom with some opposites attract tension and maybe a few flirty kitchen moments.
What I got? A slowburn emotional detox featuring one very tightly wound woman, one deeply chaotic man, and a house full of heartbreak, healing, and some A+ tension so thick you could cut it with a dull butter knife.
Let’s break it down:
👩💼 Ariella: Type-A. High-achiever. Engaged to a man she thinks she loves. On paper? Perfect. In practice? Imploding.
😈 Caleb: Tattooed, reckless, gorgeous disaster with a tragic backstory and an unshakable habit of pretending everything’s fine when it so clearly is not.
Together: Roommates with wildly different energies, mutual disdain, and slowly crumbling walls.
The dynamic is chef’s kiss: forced proximity + enemies to reluctant friends to oh no I caught feelings.
Caleb falls first (and hard), and watching this man, a self-proclaimed playboy, absolutely spiral over this buttoned up woman? I was eating it up like a midnight snack.
Ariella, on the other hand, is a masterclass in self sabotage and emotional repression and while she frustrated me at times, I felt for her.
⚠️ Yes, there’s miscommunication.
⚠️ Yes, some plot threads don’t get fully tied up.
⚠️ Yes, the ending felt criminally rushed (HELLO? I needed closure, not chaos?!).
But this book hit.
It tackled identity, trauma, emotional unlearning, and the messy, necessary kind of growth that doesn’t wrap up in a tidy bow. The side characters were so well done, and the dual POV was executed to perfection, Caleb’s voice especially gutted me more than once.
✨Highlights:
Slowburn, emotionally messy AF romance
Forced proximity with a lot of hallway tension
He falls first and pines like a pro
Complex characters who don’t always make the right choices
A love story that isn't always lovely, but feels real
If you love books that are heavy on emotional mess, complicated people, and a romance that feels earned through actual growth then this one's worth the ride.
October 7, 2023
"Home used to be a place where I happily shut myself away, but with you here it's a place where I feel safe to open up."
I really enjoyed reading Roommates by Ola Tundun over the last few days. The beginning really drew me in - what was Ariella up to, and why?! I enjoyed finding out about her and her relationship to Jasper, as well as why she ended it on a postit note and by packing up and moving out in the space of a few minutes before he got home from work. I enjoyed seeing Caleb discover why Ariella is the way she is, and going from being reluctant flatmate to good friend. Caleb was funny and smart and thoughtful, and I loved Ariella's guts in standing up to people, even if her indecision about her own feelings drove me crazy at times. When I had only 5% left of the book, I found myself wondering how on earth this story is going to be resolved in just a few more pages?! As it turns out, it ended as it began - in the middle of a scene. But it sounds like there will definitely be a sequel, so I'm excited for that!!
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of Roommates - it has been a pleasure! ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 from me.
I really enjoyed reading Roommates by Ola Tundun over the last few days. The beginning really drew me in - what was Ariella up to, and why?! I enjoyed finding out about her and her relationship to Jasper, as well as why she ended it on a postit note and by packing up and moving out in the space of a few minutes before he got home from work. I enjoyed seeing Caleb discover why Ariella is the way she is, and going from being reluctant flatmate to good friend. Caleb was funny and smart and thoughtful, and I loved Ariella's guts in standing up to people, even if her indecision about her own feelings drove me crazy at times. When I had only 5% left of the book, I found myself wondering how on earth this story is going to be resolved in just a few more pages?! As it turns out, it ended as it began - in the middle of a scene. But it sounds like there will definitely be a sequel, so I'm excited for that!!
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of Roommates - it has been a pleasure! ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 from me.
August 28, 2023
I will not lie to y'all; the cover immediately caught my eye while scrolling. The cover and the synopsis gave Rom-Com, and you know I love a good Rom-Com. Roommates is about Ariella Mason, a natural perfectionist who rents a room in her co-worker Caleb Black's apartment after some relationship problems. Now, while Ariella is the introverted perfectionist, Caleb is the charismatic playboy with the ever-revolving door.
When I started this book, my mind had the story going in a very fluffy direction. The story was a lot more emotional than I was expecting. You really felt for Ariella once the reason she needed to rent a room suddenly began to unravel. You form an attachment to Ariella and Caleb as the story goes on and watch them grow into themselves while trying to start a connection with each other. There was a lot of miscommunication between the two and too many unsaid words. That is not really my jam, but I know some people love that slow burn and the miscommunication. Their back-and-forth of "Are they or aren't they?" wore on me after a while. Once you got to the ending, it felt abrupt. You grow this attachment to them, and it ends. In a world where almost every book has an epilogue now, you definitely want a decent ending when you get to the end of the book.
Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for this ARC for an honest review. #Roommates #NetGalley
When I started this book, my mind had the story going in a very fluffy direction. The story was a lot more emotional than I was expecting. You really felt for Ariella once the reason she needed to rent a room suddenly began to unravel. You form an attachment to Ariella and Caleb as the story goes on and watch them grow into themselves while trying to start a connection with each other. There was a lot of miscommunication between the two and too many unsaid words. That is not really my jam, but I know some people love that slow burn and the miscommunication. Their back-and-forth of "Are they or aren't they?" wore on me after a while. Once you got to the ending, it felt abrupt. You grow this attachment to them, and it ends. In a world where almost every book has an epilogue now, you definitely want a decent ending when you get to the end of the book.
Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for this ARC for an honest review. #Roommates #NetGalley
August 24, 2023
Has 35 Chapters and ends in a CLIFFHANGER.
The ARC was provided by NetGalley and didn't offer any trigger warnings.
Possible trigger warnings would have been severe panic attacks, abandonment, physical and mental abuse in a relationship, mention of child abuse, non-consensual sex, and/or drugging without consent.
What captivated me into reading Roommates originally was the cover. Under Roommates it mentions “His Space, His/Our Rule” scratching ‘His’ for ‘Our’ but I never saw that happen. One of the few conversations they had was for Ariella to not provide breakfast/chit-chat to the one-night stands Caleb brought late at night, and for Caleb to keep the noise to a minimum and announce his arrival when he walks in late at night to make Ariella know that is not a break-in. The extra title made me imply that they had a serious conversation where they made a list of who makes dinner, washes the dishes, laundry, clean, shopping, TV/Music use and schedule, etc. In addition, the cover has a quote stating that Roommates is ‘A totally uplifting, dramatic and emotional women’s fiction novel’. It is emotional and dramatic for the characters in the book, and I kept waiting to feel uplifted. There were 2 moments in the book where I giggled out loud but throughout, I was mostly confused as to how this relates to the information on the cover and with the summary provided.
Cover aside the content itself is good enough. I wanted to keep reading to know what would happen next even if it was predictable. As Ariella and Caleb started to grow on me, I ended up not appreciating how the book itself finished and their growth itself ended up being wasted in their final chapters. On the other hand, the writing style is not clear and mentions other characters without significant backstory to make a point. Organizing the message that the author wanted to convey as well as filling out plot holes left throughout the book would’ve been enough for this to be just one book. I don’t feel compelled to read a sequel to finish plot holes that were made with no real impact to the characters development.
Cover and writing style aside, the characters in Roommate for me were disappointing.
The two main characters are Ariella and Caleb. Every other chapter is from either one’s point of view, meaning one chapter is from Ariella’s POV and the next chapter is from Caleb’s POV. Depending on the book I don’t mind these changes but, in this case, I felt that jumping from one character to the next quickly felt that the information to the reader was incomplete leaving unnecessary plot holes.
Ariella works in this company with a questionable work ethic. She comes from a rich family that somehow protected her in such a way that is clueless about how the ‘real’ world works and is questionably naïve. She suffers from undetermined severe panic attacks and night terrors. Left her fiancée via a sticky note and throughout the book she is trying to understand if she truly loves Jasper (her ex-fiancée) or if she is falling in love with Caleb (her housemate).
Lara is supposedly Ariella’s best friend, but Ariella is also her boss. Lara also makes several questionable life choices such as putting Ariella (her boss and supposed best friend) in a difficult situation where she hits on her clients’ fiancée. Take this as you wish. The need for this information is to say that Lara is lesbian and to mention that the client provided drugs as a party gift just because and is used later in the book.
Caleb works at the same company as Ariella and Lara. Does not know how important Ariella is even if the books imply that they do similar work, and he should’ve been privy to her importance to the company. My immediate impression is that he loves hooking around with anything that moves and he believes he is being honest as to the intentions with those women but inadvertently string them on. At the end of the book, he judges Ariella in such a way that left much to be desired when he used to be a player.
Jasper is Ariella’s ex-fiancée. He gave me a rollercoaster of emotions whether to like his character but ended more into the dislike pile. He ‘inadvertently’ was keeping Ariella in a relationship that is borderline mentally abusive. Since he wanted her safe and sound, he wanted her to be at their house as soon as she was out of work. Groceries were brought to the house. They never went anywhere alone. She worked full-time plus kept the house clean and provided the meals HE wanted based on the mood HE gave during the morning. Zero relationship conversations were made.
Ariella’s parents. I have no complaints about her mom, but her father should be nowhere near Ariella in my opinion. Her parents ‘adopted’ Jasper into their life in a way. Jasper is Ariella’s brothers’ best friend. Ariella’s father knowingly decided to support Jasper in getting back with Ariella without appreciating or acknowledging her emotions and the decisions she made.
Caleb’s family involvement, I don’t believe was necessary to their character growth as well. Caleb’s mother emotionally abandoning her child and letting his father physically abuse him is not a character defining moment for me. As well as Caleb’s friends which were amazing except for the unnecessary included drama between Kyle and his fiancée Louisa who is physically and mentally abusing Kyle. Enough said.
A small back story about Caleb’s childhood and maybe a more optimistic change in Caleb’s friends’ history would’ve been enough as to merit a future book with a more dive in look into their worlds but not for Ariella and Caleb. In the end neither Ariella nor Caleb defined their relationship or discussed their feelings. Everything was more physical, and they ended up ‘cheating’ on their prospective partners with an excuse that they have not defined their relationship yet. I don’t see this as an uplifting book about their non-existing growth development.
The ARC was provided by NetGalley and didn't offer any trigger warnings.
Possible trigger warnings would have been severe panic attacks, abandonment, physical and mental abuse in a relationship, mention of child abuse, non-consensual sex, and/or drugging without consent.
What captivated me into reading Roommates originally was the cover. Under Roommates it mentions “His Space, His/Our Rule” scratching ‘His’ for ‘Our’ but I never saw that happen. One of the few conversations they had was for Ariella to not provide breakfast/chit-chat to the one-night stands Caleb brought late at night, and for Caleb to keep the noise to a minimum and announce his arrival when he walks in late at night to make Ariella know that is not a break-in. The extra title made me imply that they had a serious conversation where they made a list of who makes dinner, washes the dishes, laundry, clean, shopping, TV/Music use and schedule, etc. In addition, the cover has a quote stating that Roommates is ‘A totally uplifting, dramatic and emotional women’s fiction novel’. It is emotional and dramatic for the characters in the book, and I kept waiting to feel uplifted. There were 2 moments in the book where I giggled out loud but throughout, I was mostly confused as to how this relates to the information on the cover and with the summary provided.
Cover aside the content itself is good enough. I wanted to keep reading to know what would happen next even if it was predictable. As Ariella and Caleb started to grow on me, I ended up not appreciating how the book itself finished and their growth itself ended up being wasted in their final chapters. On the other hand, the writing style is not clear and mentions other characters without significant backstory to make a point. Organizing the message that the author wanted to convey as well as filling out plot holes left throughout the book would’ve been enough for this to be just one book. I don’t feel compelled to read a sequel to finish plot holes that were made with no real impact to the characters development.
Cover and writing style aside, the characters in Roommate for me were disappointing.
The two main characters are Ariella and Caleb. Every other chapter is from either one’s point of view, meaning one chapter is from Ariella’s POV and the next chapter is from Caleb’s POV. Depending on the book I don’t mind these changes but, in this case, I felt that jumping from one character to the next quickly felt that the information to the reader was incomplete leaving unnecessary plot holes.
Ariella works in this company with a questionable work ethic. She comes from a rich family that somehow protected her in such a way that is clueless about how the ‘real’ world works and is questionably naïve. She suffers from undetermined severe panic attacks and night terrors. Left her fiancée via a sticky note and throughout the book she is trying to understand if she truly loves Jasper (her ex-fiancée) or if she is falling in love with Caleb (her housemate).
Lara is supposedly Ariella’s best friend, but Ariella is also her boss. Lara also makes several questionable life choices such as putting Ariella (her boss and supposed best friend) in a difficult situation where she hits on her clients’ fiancée. Take this as you wish. The need for this information is to say that Lara is lesbian and to mention that the client provided drugs as a party gift just because and is used later in the book.
Caleb works at the same company as Ariella and Lara. Does not know how important Ariella is even if the books imply that they do similar work, and he should’ve been privy to her importance to the company. My immediate impression is that he loves hooking around with anything that moves and he believes he is being honest as to the intentions with those women but inadvertently string them on. At the end of the book, he judges Ariella in such a way that left much to be desired when he used to be a player.
Jasper is Ariella’s ex-fiancée. He gave me a rollercoaster of emotions whether to like his character but ended more into the dislike pile. He ‘inadvertently’ was keeping Ariella in a relationship that is borderline mentally abusive. Since he wanted her safe and sound, he wanted her to be at their house as soon as she was out of work. Groceries were brought to the house. They never went anywhere alone. She worked full-time plus kept the house clean and provided the meals HE wanted based on the mood HE gave during the morning. Zero relationship conversations were made.
Ariella’s parents. I have no complaints about her mom, but her father should be nowhere near Ariella in my opinion. Her parents ‘adopted’ Jasper into their life in a way. Jasper is Ariella’s brothers’ best friend. Ariella’s father knowingly decided to support Jasper in getting back with Ariella without appreciating or acknowledging her emotions and the decisions she made.
Caleb’s family involvement, I don’t believe was necessary to their character growth as well. Caleb’s mother emotionally abandoning her child and letting his father physically abuse him is not a character defining moment for me. As well as Caleb’s friends which were amazing except for the unnecessary included drama between Kyle and his fiancée Louisa who is physically and mentally abusing Kyle. Enough said.
A small back story about Caleb’s childhood and maybe a more optimistic change in Caleb’s friends’ history would’ve been enough as to merit a future book with a more dive in look into their worlds but not for Ariella and Caleb. In the end neither Ariella nor Caleb defined their relationship or discussed their feelings. Everything was more physical, and they ended up ‘cheating’ on their prospective partners with an excuse that they have not defined their relationship yet. I don’t see this as an uplifting book about their non-existing growth development.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2024
Great
I am into this book big time. Did not think it was a series. First read by this author and I am not disappointed. I don’t see how there can be a happy ending but I am willing to find out.
I am into this book big time. Did not think it was a series. First read by this author and I am not disappointed. I don’t see how there can be a happy ending but I am willing to find out.
October 19, 2024
This reminded me of magnolia Parks with better writing and an adult cast.
It is messy and sometimes you want to shake the characters but I couldn’t put it down. There is definitely character growth and a story arc.
There are 3 books in the series and I can’t wait to continue.
It is messy and sometimes you want to shake the characters but I couldn’t put it down. There is definitely character growth and a story arc.
There are 3 books in the series and I can’t wait to continue.
Read
November 7, 2024**This book definitely caught my interest. Ariella rents a room from her coworker Caleb after she unexpectantly makes a big change in her life. Caleb and Ariella are opposites so how will they fare living together? It was entertaining to find out! I enjoyed this book and was eager to read the next book in the series.
September 5, 2023
I enjoyed this story for its realness. The characters and situations felt messy and real to me. Ariella Mason is a bit of a character who is regularly misunderstood for her stand-off personality. when in reality she is just super shy. I loved that her relationship breakup wasn't so white and black and her ventures into the dating world. Her supportive family was great to read about.
Caleb is a mess and he is using his sex appeal as a wall between true feelings. he is known as the guy who slept with the whole office
I loved the relationship and friendship between Caleb and Ariella was fun. The dry humour was a nice cherry on top
I loved that some of the standards we would associate with women were applied to men to show us that these situations can happen to men as well and that they are just as serious even those the gender roles are reversed.
I would have given this book a 4 and up had the last couple of chapters taken a turn. it was very clear that instead of leading the last chapers to a HEA. The last chapters started to create an almost new problem to leave us on a cliffhanger and have a second book.
I firmly believe that romance doesn't need two books. This book should have ended here - I will read the second book but I will judge it harder because it seems like a stretch to have this story be a series
Caleb is a mess and he is using his sex appeal as a wall between true feelings. he is known as the guy who slept with the whole office
I loved the relationship and friendship between Caleb and Ariella was fun. The dry humour was a nice cherry on top
I loved that some of the standards we would associate with women were applied to men to show us that these situations can happen to men as well and that they are just as serious even those the gender roles are reversed.
I would have given this book a 4 and up had the last couple of chapters taken a turn. it was very clear that instead of leading the last chapers to a HEA. The last chapters started to create an almost new problem to leave us on a cliffhanger and have a second book.
I firmly believe that romance doesn't need two books. This book should have ended here - I will read the second book but I will judge it harder because it seems like a stretch to have this story be a series
January 4, 2024
❄️ Mini Book Review ❄️
Title: Roommates
Author: Ola Tundun
Series: Roommates, #1
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Release: September 20, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ebook | Audiobook
Length: 417 pages
Finished: January 2nd, 2023
Thoughts:
Oh my goodness, OH MY GOODNESS! What a way to start the new year. I have no idea what I was expecting, but this book took my soul for the day. I literally sat at 6pm and finished this book at 1am with maybe two breaks. It was THAT GOOD. This is one of those series that needs to be a movie or a tv show. I need this on the screens pronto!
The feeling of the story and chemistry between Caleb and Ariella is so real. SO REAL. This could happen to you or your best friend, and having that feeling that you can relate made me love it so much more. Ola is a fantastic writer with such a beautiful observant style. She builds the scenes around you, instills the feeling of the MCs within you. It was such a delightful reading experience. I am a fan! She is now Autobuy for me!
Caleb is an absolutely sexy MMC. Not because of sex appeal alone, but because of his heart and when he recognized he loved that girl…woo! Nothing was going to stop him! Ariella, our FMC, is so pure, trusting, and humble. Because she was constantly surrounded by such a protective loving family, when she recognized that she wanted to go out into the world and find out who she is, you have to root for her. She cares soooo much about everyone and everything and seeing people try to hurt and manipulate her broke my heart. But she is such a strong woman who truly fought for her own. I LOVED THAT!
I read along with the audiobook and the narrator, Savannah Davies was fantastic! I really hope she narrates the sequel, Complicated.
The ending broke my heart for Caleb (it is also triggering moment) and I hope to explore that situation more in the sequel. I want to avenge my boy!!! Luckily I have the ARC for “Complicated” and will start that ASAP. I highly recommend this series.
Title: Roommates
Author: Ola Tundun
Series: Roommates, #1
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Release: September 20, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ebook | Audiobook
Length: 417 pages
Finished: January 2nd, 2023
Thoughts:
Oh my goodness, OH MY GOODNESS! What a way to start the new year. I have no idea what I was expecting, but this book took my soul for the day. I literally sat at 6pm and finished this book at 1am with maybe two breaks. It was THAT GOOD. This is one of those series that needs to be a movie or a tv show. I need this on the screens pronto!
The feeling of the story and chemistry between Caleb and Ariella is so real. SO REAL. This could happen to you or your best friend, and having that feeling that you can relate made me love it so much more. Ola is a fantastic writer with such a beautiful observant style. She builds the scenes around you, instills the feeling of the MCs within you. It was such a delightful reading experience. I am a fan! She is now Autobuy for me!
Caleb is an absolutely sexy MMC. Not because of sex appeal alone, but because of his heart and when he recognized he loved that girl…woo! Nothing was going to stop him! Ariella, our FMC, is so pure, trusting, and humble. Because she was constantly surrounded by such a protective loving family, when she recognized that she wanted to go out into the world and find out who she is, you have to root for her. She cares soooo much about everyone and everything and seeing people try to hurt and manipulate her broke my heart. But she is such a strong woman who truly fought for her own. I LOVED THAT!
I read along with the audiobook and the narrator, Savannah Davies was fantastic! I really hope she narrates the sequel, Complicated.
The ending broke my heart for Caleb (it is also triggering moment) and I hope to explore that situation more in the sequel. I want to avenge my boy!!! Luckily I have the ARC for “Complicated” and will start that ASAP. I highly recommend this series.
January 23, 2024
I appreciated how real these characters were - at times infuriating but also they felt more to me like people I could know than characters in other romances. I loved the will-they-won't-they for most of the story and ultimately it kept me hooked. Overall, I enjoyed the pacing, hilarious friends to the main characters, and the nuances/backstories. Grateful the second book in this series is already out so I can keep enjoying this story!
August 29, 2023
Short Review: 3.5/5 ⭐️” Ola Tundun approaches the main characters emotions and actions so realistically, that my delusional self couldn’t even process it right”
Long Review: Just completed the ARC to this beauty today ! I just want to preface this review by saying love triangles stress.me.out.!!! And that being said I was on a little emotional roller coaster while reading Roommates by Ola Tundun . A beautiful one too ! The story was set in London which always gives me cozy vibes and is about Aari , a POC that has been in a very long term relationship and questions if that relationship is even what she wants anymore . I find this extremely realistic and to be expected but what sets this train wreck in motion is the fact that the FMC just up and left with only a note to her then fiancé !! Am not only did she leave but she moved in with another man , Caleb , who is also her coworker and standard playboy of the story . So you can only imagine the shenanigans these characters get up tooooo . Ola Tundun approaches these characters emotions and actions so realistically, that my delusional self couldn’t even process it right 😭 I strongly suggest you give this book a read when it gets published, which is on MY BIRTHDAY might I add 🥰
Long Review: Just completed the ARC to this beauty today ! I just want to preface this review by saying love triangles stress.me.out.!!! And that being said I was on a little emotional roller coaster while reading Roommates by Ola Tundun . A beautiful one too ! The story was set in London which always gives me cozy vibes and is about Aari , a POC that has been in a very long term relationship and questions if that relationship is even what she wants anymore . I find this extremely realistic and to be expected but what sets this train wreck in motion is the fact that the FMC just up and left with only a note to her then fiancé !! Am not only did she leave but she moved in with another man , Caleb , who is also her coworker and standard playboy of the story . So you can only imagine the shenanigans these characters get up tooooo . Ola Tundun approaches these characters emotions and actions so realistically, that my delusional self couldn’t even process it right 😭 I strongly suggest you give this book a read when it gets published, which is on MY BIRTHDAY might I add 🥰
January 21, 2025
Roommates by Ola Tundun is a sparkling romcom with a sweet emotional resonance. Ms. Tundun brings a fresh perspective to several romantic novel tropes, proximity, slow burn, friends to lovers, opposites attract and workplace romance. The story is told from the point of view of both characters, so we are given insight into the unfolding narrative from both sides. Looking from the outside, Ariella Mason should feel like she is on the top of the world; she is wealthy, beautiful, has an awesome, rewarding job, and has a long-term fiancé who adores her. Unfortunately, Ariella’s life is TOO perfect and controlled; she feels like she is slowly smothering. When she sees that coworker Caleb Black has a room for rent, she hastily obtains the space. Caleb is the office lothario but proves to be both sensitive and supportive. Soon Ariella and Caleb have intertwined their lives and depended on each other. Their connection is complicated by Ariella's ex and Caleb's messy love life. Caleb and Ariella had areas of brokenness but with eventual understanding, love, and support they were able to forge a fledgling relationship. Ms, Tundun tells her story in a leisurely fashion and sets up the upcoming sequel nicely, I absolutely enjoyed this quirky, cute story!
September 29, 2023
Ariella Mason has it all. From the outside at least. She has a perfect loving fiancé she's known since childhood. A job that she's respected and has moved up in. A loving family that supports her unconditionally. But on the inside Ariella feels trapped. So, when she moves out of their shared home and breaks up with her fiancé with a post it notes, safe to say, the people around her are confused. But when she moves into a spare room with a well-known bachelor at work, Caleb Black, she finally feels like she can breathe. While these two try to settle into some sort of routine, they find themselves actually enjoying each other's companies, against all odds. Caleb helps tightly wound Ariella loosen up a bit, while Ariella helps Caleb be more empathetic to the people around him, Through the book we see the characters dodge their way around rumors at work, ex-fiancés wanting answers, and disapproving family members.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it went a bit fast towards the end, but when I realized there will be a second book I was very excited we get to continue to follow Ariella and Caleb. journey!
Thank you to Netgalley, Storm publishing, and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it went a bit fast towards the end, but when I realized there will be a second book I was very excited we get to continue to follow Ariella and Caleb. journey!
Thank you to Netgalley, Storm publishing, and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
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