The Drummer's Roommate

by M.K. Hale

He burns for her… but she can’t hear him .

“ Unbelievably attractive male seeking roommate. Must be able to tolerate loud drumming and even louder sex. Serious inquiries only. ”

That was the ad “delicate” wallflower Thea replied to. Stuck in L.A.—jobless and homeless—after leaving her cheating ex, Thea’s best option is to move in with tattooed rocker and sex symbol Draven Maxwell. To Draven’s dismay, Thea does not trip all over herself when Draven plays his sexy music—mostly because she cannot hear it.

A drummer living with a deaf woman sounds like a match made in roommate heaven, but the scorching attraction between the two utter opposites is hot as hell.

She thinks he is a smug playboy, but he only craves her.

When the heartthrob drummer reveals he is learning sign language to communicate with her, Thea’s perception of bad boy Draven cracks. He’s…nice? And funny. And puts subtitles on the TV without her asking.

Could the cocky rocker have a heart of gold behind his chiseled chest? And what’s up with all those pining looks of agonized yearning every morning he sees her trudge around the apartment in modest pajamas and no makeup?

From enemy roommates to best friends, speaking different languages will not lessen their undeniable connection and sizzling chemistry. Through the thin walls, something becomes much louder than the nightly drum set, and it might sound like love.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2024

About the author

Also known as Meredith Hale

Romance Writer. Romance Reader. Comedian.

M. K. Hale writes romance novels starring dirty-talking heroes and the witty women who leave them tongue-tied. She specializes in romantic comedies and has dabbled in comedy for years, including standup, improv, and sketch comedy. She believes laughter is the best medicine, except for, you know, actual medicine.

She obtained her English degree from the University of Maryland and spends her free time reading as many romance novels as humanly possible. If you enjoy paranormal reverse harem romance with an abnormal amount of heat, she also writes under M. K. Kate.

Follow her on social media: @mkhaleauthor
Facebook Fan Group: “M. K. Hale’s Hotties”
Join her newsletter:
http://www.mkhale.com/contact.html


Reviews

[Irum · Rating 2 out of 5]

24% in and they r already in love 💀

Have to drop this the insta lust is making me cringe

[Yesmina · Rating 3 out of 5]

One must be very cautious when writing a spicy Rom-Com!
From my observation and humble experience: those are the hardest to write.

You know: usually rom-coms are about making you feel good/ about care-free characters or at least characters who solve their problems through the power of love and the awesomeness of fate.
Rom-Coms are about the difficult balance between giddy romantic feeling and humor.

And spice... Well we know what's that about. And it needs deeper characters, more vulnerable, more open to us.

That's what the author tried to accomplish with writing about a hot playful drummer who secretly has multiple insecurities and strives for validation. And the heroine as a deaf prim and proper girl who tries to learn how to let loose.

The book definitely held my interest despite the unnecessary length of the novel (not that it was super long. only 280 pages. But some conflicts were dragged)
What bothered me the most about the writing style was that it is in 3 person yet the characters talk in Italics in 1 person so often (like 10 times a page): so why bother with 3 person?

MMC needs to learn how to stand up for himself. His band-mates were so cruel to him that I wanted him to get alpha on them and teach them a lesson about respect.
The FMC was a bit reluctant in giving away her feelings. She was guarded in an uptight way which bothered me a bit.

But overall it was not a bad experience.

[Ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute read, my first from this author. The hero and heroine were really enjoyable, their chemistry was off the charts and the sexy times was super spicy.

What I absolutely HATED was their friends. They both have super trash friends who think the worst of our hero, Draven. And her friends act like she doesn't have a brain and can't figure out herself and her feelings. All these friends...garbage.

Also, this felt at times like the book belonged to a series, although I couldn't find any mention of one but if the friends are going to be such large characters within the storyline, I feel like there should be more of a detailed explanation earlier in the book to explain how the characters connect. It felt a bit disjointed for that because the information on how the main characters knew each other seemed to be parsed out in vert different parts of the book at different times.

Outside of that, I finished this book in one sitting, would recommend because it's cute and heartfelt.

[Serena Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

’Ella nunca había querido ese cuento de hadas del Príncipe Azul y la Princesa. Draven y Thea eran caballeros, dispuestos a luchar el uno por el otro en todo momento. Buscaban a tientas con una gruesa armadura, que era invisible para el mundo, pero la vieron y las cicatrices ocultas debajo. Sus heridas coincidían como tatuajes de pareja.’



•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.



The Drummers Roommate de M. K. Hale

Argumento:

Él arde por ella…pero ella no puede oírlo.

“Hombre increíblemente atractivo que busca compañero de piso. Debe poder tolerar tambores fuertes y sexo aún más fuerte. Solo consultas serias ”

Ese fue el anuncio al que respondió la “delicada” Thea. Atrapada en Los Ángeles, sin trabajo y sin hogar, después de dejar a su ex infiel, la mejor opción de Thea es mudarse con el rockero tatuado y símbolo sexual Draven Maxwell. Para consternación de Draven, Thea no se pone nerviosa cuando Draven toca su música sexy, principalmente porque no puede escucharla.

Un baterista que vive con una mujer sorda suena como una pareja perfecta para compartir habitación, pero la atracción abrasadora entre dos polos opuestos es tremenda.
Ella piensa que él es un playboy engreído, pero él sólo la desea.

Cuando el rompecorazones baterista revela que está aprendiendo lenguaje de señas para comunicarse con ella, la percepción que tiene Thea del chico malo Draven se resquebraja. Él es… ¿amable? Y divertido. Y pone subtítulos en la televisión sin que ella se lo pida.

¿Podría el rockero engreído tener un corazón de oro detrás de su pecho cincelado? ¿Y qué pasa con todas esas miradas de anhelo agonizante cada mañana cuando la ve caminar con dificultad por el apartamento en pijama modesto y sin maquillaje?

Desde compañeros de habitación enemigos hasta mejores amigos, hablar idiomas diferentes no disminuirá su innegable conexión y su química chispeante. A través de las delgadas paredes, algo se vuelve mucho más fuerte que la batería nocturna y podría sonar como amor.



Mi humilde opinión:

Romance de enemigos a mejores amigos a amantes, polos opuestos, compañeros de piso, estrella de rock.

Ellos son de mundos diferentes, él es el sexy baterista de la banda de rock del momento, tatuado y sonrisa arrogante, y ella es una chica que usa perlas junto con vestidos de los 50 que trabaja en finanzas y que además es sorda. No deberían haber funcionado juntos pero entre peleas por la leche y hostiles notitas Post-it se dieron cuenta que eran mas parecidos de lo que pensaron. Él piensa que no es suciente y ella que no merece el esfuerzo. Al final deberán vencer sus propias inseguridades para demostrarles a todos que son el uno para el otro.

La historia de Thea y Draven fue linda, picante, con humor y también con un poco de angustia en medio. Él quiso a Thea desde el primer momento en que la vio pero ella lo ve como un mujeriego que siempre esta de fiesta, así que cuando empiezan a vivir juntos se da cuenta que juzgó mal a Draven. Es alguien que ama a su familia, es dulce, considerado, gracioso, quiere ser más que una noche de diversión, quiere que realmente lo vean. Me gustó como se desarrolló su relación, la tensión, la química, la quemadura lenta. Me gustaron sus momentos de peleas tontas pero divertidas, los compartidos en compañerismo viendo películas o apoyándose en un mal momento. Ellos son una pareja dulce pero apasionada. Mi momento favorito fue cuando él se disculpa con Thea con un montón de notas románticas, me mató todo lo que le escribió!

Ellos no tienen grandes conflictos, cuando finalmente se juntan, sus amigos y la familia de Thea están en contra de su relación pero a los dos no les importa lo que digan sus amigos. Me molestó mucho la falta de apoyo en cuanto a su relación. No tenían a nadie de su lado o contención de un amigo. Si todos veían lo felices que eran juntos por que no lo aceptaban? Los amigos de Draven, la banda que conocía desde que eran chicos, lo trataran y juzgaran mal, lo acusaran de cosas que no hacia, sobre todo Wren. Qué clase de amigos eran que no estaban al tanto de la vida de Draven? O no se molestaban en preguntarle si estaba bien? Me sorprendió la forma en que lo trataban, como si no lo conocieran. Yo entendí la preocupación de las amigas de Thea pero de nuevo me molestó que no le dieran la oportunidad a Draven cuando estaban viendo que adoraba a Thea, se preocupaba por ella, aprendió señas para poder comunicarse mejor con ella y la empujaba a seguir sus sueños. Los padres de Thea me parecieron horribles, como le piden a la hija que regrese con el ex cuando la engaño, que regrese con él para tener estabilidad? Este era el mayor obstáculo de la pareja, toda la negatividad que les tiraban encima. Y eso fue lo que los separa. Draven escucha a Wren. Detesté a Wren, en serio, encima nunca se disculpó apropiadamente.

Un aparte ue también e importante, me molestó, muchas veces estando Thea presente con el grupo de amigos hablaban de ella sin hacer señas, lo que encontré tremendamente irrespetuoso.

En general me pareció una lectura entretenida, con sus momentos lindos y un final romántico pero esperaba mas en el epilogo a cuatro años después.

[Olivia (to infinity & books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found this in early September and I was intrigued to check it out due to the premise of being roommates and that our fmc was deaf. I had never read from M. K. Hale before, nor head of her until this book.

I thought it all started off well enough, and it was steamy for most of the time, the spice only kicked in once I was 70-ish% of the way. I just felt towards the end it started to lack and the name choices for the side characters were a little off putting for me too, names such as ‘Armie’ 😅. It just sounded very wattpad to me, and our hero being called Draven made me always think of The Crow 🤭.

This being said, I thought this was a quick pass the time palette cleanser type of read. The spice (when it arrived) was ok and swoony in places, but it did take a while to get there imo. I assumed the timeline spanned a month or two but to realise all this occurred in a week to 2 weeks was leaving me raising an eyebrow 🤨.

All in all though, I didn’t hate this book, I’ve read worse and I do think for the most part it had its moments. But it’s nothing memorable or special. It was cute and simple ✌🏻.

•tropes/genres•
🛏roommates to lovers
👥forced proximity
👂🏻deaf fmc
🥁drummer mmc
💖romantic comedy
👋🏻he learns sign language for her
🫦steamy/spicy
👗50s fashion wearing heroine
📖3rd person pov
🤓37 chapters & epilogue
🙏🏻HEA guarantee

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable romance with likeable characters<3
I appreciated how tender and considerate Draven was with Thea (contrary to his bad-boy drummer reputation), and I was totally rooting for their HEA. If you enjoy a dash of spice with your rom-com, coupled with humor that makes you laugh out loud, give it a read!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this and I am a huge FAN! Im telling all my book besties about this book.. because its a gem and a must read if you love a good romcom 😍. The Deaf POV was represented so well and I adored Draven. Their attraction to one another was so honest and believable. Two misunderstood people who see themselves in each other.

[Atousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an incredible romance story with spicy scenes that had me all hot and bothered 🥵 I was on the edge of my seat the whole time so I just had to finish it all in one sitting!! Highly recommend if you want your world rocked and your standards of love increased 🤩

[John Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been following this author for a while, she does events in the local area that I sometimes attend and is always delightful to chat with. So glad she's putting out more work. I liked the plot progression in this book, definitely as good as some other's she's put out (shoutout to Timeshare Boyfriend)

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZINGGGGG. A tattooed, strong drummer who will literally learn your language?! Say less. This man is now my number one book bf and I finished this book in one sitting. Highly recommend, fun, funny, I was laughing out loud, and also clenching the thighs 😆 Draven is goals♡

[Sabrina]

dnf'd at 23%. This is NOT for me. Everything is insta. These two are immediately hot for each other and within 2 days the playboy drummer is writing lyrics about her. Oh please.

Also, it could do with an editor.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely, funny romance novel that will leave you with a strong desire to read the author's next novel!

[Ki Ki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and fun with a good amount of spice. I was hooked from the start.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was short and sweet, I liked that she explored the unique challenges with the main character's deafness and how both felt misunderstood by stereotypes.

[Rija Sajid]

She was all over him from the start.. I freakin hate such books labelled as enemies to lovers ..

[AllyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 💫

[ReadonReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This incredible story had me from the very first page and I devoured it all almost instantly. Thea and Draven have mutual friends in common and when Thea needs a place to crash her only option is to stay with the famous playboy, Draven. Draven is the drummer for a famous band and all his band mates warn him away from Thea because they all have this preconceived idea of Draven, which is wayyyy off. Thea doesn’t fall at Draven’s feet with admiration like most girls do and this kind of irks him, but it also endears him to her in ways. Thea is deaf and when Draven needs to practice this seems like a roommate match made in heaven except Thea has ideas about who Draven is as well. I found both Thea and Draven such beautiful characters that carry the weight of their worlds on their shoulders while keeping walls up because they’ve been burned before. The more time they spend around each other this chemistry brewing between them keeps burning brighter even though they try to fight it, but when they try to get to know the heart of each other something more beautiful starts to bloom. This story will have you swooning one second to laughing the next and then your heart will shatter at the heartache of both their family’s and friend’s that you want to throat punch at times because when all they see are deficiencies in these characters, we see their true hearts and that’s the most beautiful thing of all. Two people fighting to be who they are and seeing their true selves in each other is exactly what Draven and Thea are and I LOVED their epic story.