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The Roommate Arrangement
When Blair accidentally becomes college roommates with her brother’s best friend, sparks fly in this hilarious rom-com from bestselling author Samantha Markum, perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Emma Lord.
Blair might be a little type-A, but she never thought of herself as completely overbearing…that is, until her two best friends drop her from their housing arrangement a week before her pre-college summer coding program is about to start.
Blair knows if she switches to an on-campus dorm, her parents will make her give up her expensive sculpture class with her dream mentor in order to pay for it. Desperate, she agrees to be the fifth roommate to four off-campus sophomores who are also in a last-minute bind. But things get complicated when one of her new roommates turns out to be her brother’s best friend, Jamie Atwater.
Blair begs Jamie not to tell her brother about the new living arrangement. Her brother would go straight to their parents, who would definitely not approve, and all her plans would fall apart. So they strike a deal: she’ll help him finish coding the app he’s building if he promises to keep her secret.
Spending more time together shouldn’t be a problem. Sure, Jamie has a new haircut, a mysterious tattoo, and a year’s worth of earned muscle, but it’s not like Blair is noticing. After all, they’re only roommates, right?
Blair might be a little type-A, but she never thought of herself as completely overbearing…that is, until her two best friends drop her from their housing arrangement a week before her pre-college summer coding program is about to start.
Blair knows if she switches to an on-campus dorm, her parents will make her give up her expensive sculpture class with her dream mentor in order to pay for it. Desperate, she agrees to be the fifth roommate to four off-campus sophomores who are also in a last-minute bind. But things get complicated when one of her new roommates turns out to be her brother’s best friend, Jamie Atwater.
Blair begs Jamie not to tell her brother about the new living arrangement. Her brother would go straight to their parents, who would definitely not approve, and all her plans would fall apart. So they strike a deal: she’ll help him finish coding the app he’s building if he promises to keep her secret.
Spending more time together shouldn’t be a problem. Sure, Jamie has a new haircut, a mysterious tattoo, and a year’s worth of earned muscle, but it’s not like Blair is noticing. After all, they’re only roommates, right?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 2026
48 people are currently reading
1807 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Markum
5 books480 followersSamantha Markum is the USA Today bestselling author of Love, Off the Record, You Wouldn't Dare, and This May End Badly. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where she got her great literary start writing Newsies fan fiction in middle school. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing cozy video games, attempting to revive her half-dead house plants, and getting in bed before sunset. When she is writing, you can find her staring at the wall in search of inspiration. Visit her at samanthamarkum.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 324 reviews
February 4, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Blair knows she can be a little difficult, but she can’t be that bad. She doesn’t think she is until her friends drop her from her housing arrangement all of a sudden, leaving Blair scrambling to find somewhere to live before college starts. Luckily, she finds an apartment where the rent is cheap, and she has to live with four other people, but it’s better than telling her parents about her situation. But when her brother’s best friend, Jamie, finds out that Blair is now his new roommate, he threatens to tell her brother about their predicament. But, in desperation, Blair comes up with an idea: if he doesn’t tell anyone about her new living arrangement, she’ll help him finish coding the app he’s building. Reluctantly, Jamie agrees. As they spend more time together, Blair finds out things about her brother’s best friend that she didn’t think she’d want to know, like his mysterious tattoo, why he has a new haircut, and what it would feel like if she kissed him.
This was a pretty fun story!
At first, I was a bit skeptical about how much I would enjoy the book because I was a bit bored with the first 20-30% of the story, but I wanted to know how things ended, so I kept on reading. And, omg, the last 80 or 90% of the book was so sweet and crazy (blame her parents) at the same time! 😆 Jamie surprised Blair and me in so many ways, and I was rooting for those two the entire time because, excuse me, he kept what in his drawer this entire time? I literally hid under my blankets, screamed, and kicked my feet because, wow, that was so cute and romantic! I didn’t know Jamie had it in him, lol! And the confession at the end? Yeah, can we give this guy a round of applause because, ugh, that was so freaking sweet! 🥹🫶🏼
And even though Blair’s old friends sucked and her brother, Sawyer, sucked until he didn’t (brothers, am I right? 🙄😂), her roommates were the best! They were so funny, so supportive, and so awesome. It was always a blast whenever they were on the scene.
I bet you’re wondering why I haven’t given this book a higher rating since I liked a lot of things about it. Well, I’ve gotten to the age where YA is no longer as appealing to me as it used to be. Granted, I don’t think Blair was immature in the way she reacted to things or how she handled certain situations, and this is more New Adult, NA, than YA, but that's beside the point. 🤭 I just didn’t enjoy the writing as much as I would have a year or so ago. Now, I’m not saying the writing itself was bad. It was good, and it kept me on the edge of my seat, leaving me wondering if they will or they won’t because the tension is killing me here. 😂 But I guess it was too YA for me. 🤷♀
I do appreciate, however, that it wasn’t only about Blair and Jamie falling for each other, but Blair figuring out what she really wanted to do with her life, how she wanted to live it, and growing as a person and as an adult, because adulting is not easy, I’ll tell you that much. 😅
All in all, this was an enjoyable read, and I recommend it if you enjoy YA romances with tropes like brother’s best friend and forced proximity. 🩷
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book will be published on 01/27/2026!
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions weight being made fun of & depression.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only kissing. (🌶/5)
Blair knows she can be a little difficult, but she can’t be that bad. She doesn’t think she is until her friends drop her from her housing arrangement all of a sudden, leaving Blair scrambling to find somewhere to live before college starts. Luckily, she finds an apartment where the rent is cheap, and she has to live with four other people, but it’s better than telling her parents about her situation. But when her brother’s best friend, Jamie, finds out that Blair is now his new roommate, he threatens to tell her brother about their predicament. But, in desperation, Blair comes up with an idea: if he doesn’t tell anyone about her new living arrangement, she’ll help him finish coding the app he’s building. Reluctantly, Jamie agrees. As they spend more time together, Blair finds out things about her brother’s best friend that she didn’t think she’d want to know, like his mysterious tattoo, why he has a new haircut, and what it would feel like if she kissed him.
This was a pretty fun story!
At first, I was a bit skeptical about how much I would enjoy the book because I was a bit bored with the first 20-30% of the story, but I wanted to know how things ended, so I kept on reading. And, omg, the last 80 or 90% of the book was so sweet and crazy (blame her parents) at the same time! 😆 Jamie surprised Blair and me in so many ways, and I was rooting for those two the entire time because, excuse me, he kept what in his drawer this entire time? I literally hid under my blankets, screamed, and kicked my feet because, wow, that was so cute and romantic! I didn’t know Jamie had it in him, lol! And the confession at the end? Yeah, can we give this guy a round of applause because, ugh, that was so freaking sweet! 🥹🫶🏼
And even though Blair’s old friends sucked and her brother, Sawyer, sucked until he didn’t (brothers, am I right? 🙄😂), her roommates were the best! They were so funny, so supportive, and so awesome. It was always a blast whenever they were on the scene.
I bet you’re wondering why I haven’t given this book a higher rating since I liked a lot of things about it. Well, I’ve gotten to the age where YA is no longer as appealing to me as it used to be. Granted, I don’t think Blair was immature in the way she reacted to things or how she handled certain situations, and this is more New Adult, NA, than YA, but that's beside the point. 🤭 I just didn’t enjoy the writing as much as I would have a year or so ago. Now, I’m not saying the writing itself was bad. It was good, and it kept me on the edge of my seat, leaving me wondering if they will or they won’t because the tension is killing me here. 😂 But I guess it was too YA for me. 🤷♀
I do appreciate, however, that it wasn’t only about Blair and Jamie falling for each other, but Blair figuring out what she really wanted to do with her life, how she wanted to live it, and growing as a person and as an adult, because adulting is not easy, I’ll tell you that much. 😅
All in all, this was an enjoyable read, and I recommend it if you enjoy YA romances with tropes like brother’s best friend and forced proximity. 🩷
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book will be published on 01/27/2026!
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions weight being made fun of & depression.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only kissing. (🌶/5)
March 3, 2026
What a pleasant surprise! I'm not sure what I anticipated picking this one up, but I'm definitely going to check out more books by Samantha Markum. CW: bully due to weight, borderline abusive parental figures, conversations surrounding depression.
What Worked: The Roommate Arrangement is a brilliant mix between contemporary romance/realistic fiction that explores the the complexities of friendship, found family, new relationships, and identity. Prior to diving into this novel, I thought that Markum simply wrote a novel about the relationship between a young girl and her relationship with her brother's best friend. Surprisingly enough, the narrative was so much more and contained unexpected layers. Not only do readers spend time learning about the relationship between Blair and Jamie, but there are also some great conversations about unhealthy relationship dynamics between friends, the overbearing nature of parents that borderlines abusive behavior, sibling rivalry, figuring out one's purpose, and more. Though it seems like a lot, Markum easily wove each one of these topics into a fun, engaging story that honestly pulled at my heartstrings. Like Blair and her brother, I have a mother that could not and still does not understand the importance of boundaries and allowing someone to figure out life on their own. It's led to the eventual demise of our relationship. I'm not sure I've seen that represented in a teen novel, but I think it was handled really well here. Though hard to read at certain points, it's clear that Markum handled it with both care and compassion. I adored the relationship between Jamie and Blair. It built slowly, but it was clear there was chemistry between them from the beginning. I appreciated Jamie's supportiveness of Blair and his encouragement even when she couldn't see her potential herself. Markum also wrote a FANTASTIC secondary cast of characters that exhibit a wealth of care and compassion for Blair. The importance of friendship and found family literally leaped off the page.
Honestly, this was a really good read. I'm surprised. I'm not sure I expected to go into this one feeling as though it would be a five star read, but I really enjoyed the storytelling and the characters. I'll definitely be reading more from Markum this year.
What Worked: The Roommate Arrangement is a brilliant mix between contemporary romance/realistic fiction that explores the the complexities of friendship, found family, new relationships, and identity. Prior to diving into this novel, I thought that Markum simply wrote a novel about the relationship between a young girl and her relationship with her brother's best friend. Surprisingly enough, the narrative was so much more and contained unexpected layers. Not only do readers spend time learning about the relationship between Blair and Jamie, but there are also some great conversations about unhealthy relationship dynamics between friends, the overbearing nature of parents that borderlines abusive behavior, sibling rivalry, figuring out one's purpose, and more. Though it seems like a lot, Markum easily wove each one of these topics into a fun, engaging story that honestly pulled at my heartstrings. Like Blair and her brother, I have a mother that could not and still does not understand the importance of boundaries and allowing someone to figure out life on their own. It's led to the eventual demise of our relationship. I'm not sure I've seen that represented in a teen novel, but I think it was handled really well here. Though hard to read at certain points, it's clear that Markum handled it with both care and compassion. I adored the relationship between Jamie and Blair. It built slowly, but it was clear there was chemistry between them from the beginning. I appreciated Jamie's supportiveness of Blair and his encouragement even when she couldn't see her potential herself. Markum also wrote a FANTASTIC secondary cast of characters that exhibit a wealth of care and compassion for Blair. The importance of friendship and found family literally leaped off the page.
Honestly, this was a really good read. I'm surprised. I'm not sure I expected to go into this one feeling as though it would be a five star read, but I really enjoyed the storytelling and the characters. I'll definitely be reading more from Markum this year.
February 6, 2026
It has been a while since I’ve read a good YA book🙈
The protagonist Blair was so funny and chaotic. She is not perfect by any means, but her flaws just made me adore her even more. She had a softer side as well. I enjoyed reading about her growth throughout the book. She learnt to stand on her own two feet and became such a confident and unapologetic version of herself. I also loved her chemistry and banter with Jamie. Those two might have bickered and argued a ton, but you can’t deny the tension. Their romance progressed naturally and I loved them together so much.
As for the supporting characters, I really loved Blair’s roommates. There were so many crazy moments with them and it was just so hilarious to read about. It goes without saying that I hated Blair’s best friends’ Leni and Starr. They were trash and Blair deserved better. I’m so happy she realized that by the end. I do wish we got to see more of her brother Sawyer though. I would have liked getting to see them rebuild their relationship. Everything felt kind of rushed at the end with their parents and I think the book could have used a few more chapters to flesh everything out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Samantha Markum has cemented herself as one of my favorite YA authors.
The protagonist Blair was so funny and chaotic. She is not perfect by any means, but her flaws just made me adore her even more. She had a softer side as well. I enjoyed reading about her growth throughout the book. She learnt to stand on her own two feet and became such a confident and unapologetic version of herself. I also loved her chemistry and banter with Jamie. Those two might have bickered and argued a ton, but you can’t deny the tension. Their romance progressed naturally and I loved them together so much.
As for the supporting characters, I really loved Blair’s roommates. There were so many crazy moments with them and it was just so hilarious to read about. It goes without saying that I hated Blair’s best friends’ Leni and Starr. They were trash and Blair deserved better. I’m so happy she realized that by the end. I do wish we got to see more of her brother Sawyer though. I would have liked getting to see them rebuild their relationship. Everything felt kind of rushed at the end with their parents and I think the book could have used a few more chapters to flesh everything out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Samantha Markum has cemented herself as one of my favorite YA authors.
February 4, 2026
Lowkey don’t know why he loved her from the beginning but I liked the story 3.75/5
April 26, 2026
OK, I’m actually bumping this up to a five star, because I think about this book a lot and it remains my favorite new release that I’ve read this year. RTC
January 20, 2026
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I was interested in this one as soon as I heard about it, but I did not realize I would end up loving it so much! This was such a good read, so hard to put down. I identified so much with Blair in feeling left behind by friends - not all for the same reasons as I am probably a little bit messy myself. Then all the other awkwardness she had. I also got the whole feeling of being considered "smart" in high school and before that, but then going to college and all of a sudden doing poorly and not at all being the smart one anymore. Blair had a lot of issues to deal with as well, her allergies were so bad, a scene at the beach even led to a moment with Jamie that furthered their way to a relationship, and then there was even a panic attack scene that resonated for me as well.
But besides how I connected with Blair on those levels, the romance with her and Jamie was so good. While I definitely got frustrated with him for not just coming out and saying things, there were also times she needed to speak up as well. Blair's parents were definitely such a problem in this story. It was easy to feel sorry for her, and even her brother, although her brother did have some issues and was bit of a jerk. Once she and her brother got time to talk though towards the end, and figure out all the things between them, I liked how their relationship went at that point.
All of Blair's new roommates were so much fun. I totally would have loved to live with people like that. I like to think later in my life, I found a group of friends for a short time that were quirky and fun like that, when I worked at the bookstore. And while I've never been a part of the in-crowd in any part of my life, and yes I do have good friends from my years in the sorority, I've always kind of been happiest I think when I'm with my quirky groups of friends.
While this is listed as YA, and definitely doesn't have anything I'd worry about putting in my high school library, I often feel like college aged books are more New Adult, just because of the age. However Blair is just out of high school, so definitely a story my high schoolers can enjoy. Pretty sure this is going to go down as one of my favorites of the year!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
But besides how I connected with Blair on those levels, the romance with her and Jamie was so good. While I definitely got frustrated with him for not just coming out and saying things, there were also times she needed to speak up as well. Blair's parents were definitely such a problem in this story. It was easy to feel sorry for her, and even her brother, although her brother did have some issues and was bit of a jerk. Once she and her brother got time to talk though towards the end, and figure out all the things between them, I liked how their relationship went at that point.
All of Blair's new roommates were so much fun. I totally would have loved to live with people like that. I like to think later in my life, I found a group of friends for a short time that were quirky and fun like that, when I worked at the bookstore. And while I've never been a part of the in-crowd in any part of my life, and yes I do have good friends from my years in the sorority, I've always kind of been happiest I think when I'm with my quirky groups of friends.
While this is listed as YA, and definitely doesn't have anything I'd worry about putting in my high school library, I often feel like college aged books are more New Adult, just because of the age. However Blair is just out of high school, so definitely a story my high schoolers can enjoy. Pretty sure this is going to go down as one of my favorites of the year!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
October 11, 2025
Well, I didn’t intend to read this in a single day but here we are…
This was SUCH an enjoyable YA contemporary! As I was reading I was thinking to myself that I haven’t enjoyed a YA contemporary this much in a long time, so yay! I loved this one!
I’ve read all of this author’s books, and she writes romantic tension and banter SO WELL. The chemistry between Blair and Jamie absolutely SIZZLED. I loved every scene with them together. Their dislike of each other was spot on, and you can really see the dynamic of their relationship change as time passes. Something as simple as the intensity of the gaze between them had me swooning.
The romance was my favorite part of this book for sure, but I also LOVED the secondary characters and the friendship that develops there as well.
Basically, the summer before their first semester of college, Blair is planning to rent a place with her two best friends and live with them. However, just before it’s time to move in, it falls through, leaving her scrambling. She answers an ad for a roommate in desperation and ends up (accidentally) living with Jamie (her brother’s best friend) and several others in a shared apartment.
While I loved Jamie the best of course, I also really liked getting to know the new roommates. The dynamic between everyone was really fun. Blair isn’t particularly comfortable with them either, so it was nice to see friendship develop.
This is a very character driven story as well, with Blair learning a lot about herself and who she is as a person. I want to be vague because of spoilers but I will just say that I loved seeing that in her. She’s definitely a very different character by the end of the book.
If you want a cute and fun contemporary that also occasionally touches on some more serious subjects, you’d definitely like this one!
This was SUCH an enjoyable YA contemporary! As I was reading I was thinking to myself that I haven’t enjoyed a YA contemporary this much in a long time, so yay! I loved this one!
I’ve read all of this author’s books, and she writes romantic tension and banter SO WELL. The chemistry between Blair and Jamie absolutely SIZZLED. I loved every scene with them together. Their dislike of each other was spot on, and you can really see the dynamic of their relationship change as time passes. Something as simple as the intensity of the gaze between them had me swooning.
The romance was my favorite part of this book for sure, but I also LOVED the secondary characters and the friendship that develops there as well.
Basically, the summer before their first semester of college, Blair is planning to rent a place with her two best friends and live with them. However, just before it’s time to move in, it falls through, leaving her scrambling. She answers an ad for a roommate in desperation and ends up (accidentally) living with Jamie (her brother’s best friend) and several others in a shared apartment.
While I loved Jamie the best of course, I also really liked getting to know the new roommates. The dynamic between everyone was really fun. Blair isn’t particularly comfortable with them either, so it was nice to see friendship develop.
This is a very character driven story as well, with Blair learning a lot about herself and who she is as a person. I want to be vague because of spoilers but I will just say that I loved seeing that in her. She’s definitely a very different character by the end of the book.
If you want a cute and fun contemporary that also occasionally touches on some more serious subjects, you’d definitely like this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a delightful brother's best friend YA Romcom.
It's full of clever banter, keeping secrets, roommate tension, forced proximity, found family and coming of age.
These characters captured my interest from page one. I li tened to the audiobook in one sitting, it had me grinning like a idiot and I might have even shed a tear or two. The family dynamics were both relatable and jarring, the author paints a authentic home picture, wich makes the whole plot feel believable and the struggles of our FMC's true to live.
The narrator's voice was the exact right vibe for this story. The voice sounds young enough to be realistic and the feelings of the protagonist are projected convincingly. Overall an enrichment to the story told.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia, Simon Teen, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and the author Samantha Markum for the eARC.
It's full of clever banter, keeping secrets, roommate tension, forced proximity, found family and coming of age.
These characters captured my interest from page one. I li tened to the audiobook in one sitting, it had me grinning like a idiot and I might have even shed a tear or two. The family dynamics were both relatable and jarring, the author paints a authentic home picture, wich makes the whole plot feel believable and the struggles of our FMC's true to live.
The narrator's voice was the exact right vibe for this story. The voice sounds young enough to be realistic and the feelings of the protagonist are projected convincingly. Overall an enrichment to the story told.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia, Simon Teen, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and the author Samantha Markum for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sometimes the path to peace involves ditching STEM.
This a perfect YA coming-of-age romance!
Blair's perfect future plans of moving in with her best friends for first year and starting her advanced STEM program gets blown up when her turd friends kick her out a week before move in. She also realizes they talk mad smack about her when she's not there. She's better than me cause I would have potentially committed arson.
Anyways, this leads her to a way cooler group of roommates with one of them being her brother's very smart, vert hot, very bald (it's a buzz cut) best friend. The romance was very sweet and very realistic for two highly stressed out teenagers in a forced proximity situation.
I cried like twice because damn being that age was so hard. I love when an author doesn't shy away from the tough topics.
Still, this is a hopeful story about finding your own way and finding the people that make it all worth it.
[4.5 overall]
This a perfect YA coming-of-age romance!
Blair's perfect future plans of moving in with her best friends for first year and starting her advanced STEM program gets blown up when her turd friends kick her out a week before move in. She also realizes they talk mad smack about her when she's not there. She's better than me cause I would have potentially committed arson.
Anyways, this leads her to a way cooler group of roommates with one of them being her brother's very smart, vert hot, very bald (it's a buzz cut) best friend. The romance was very sweet and very realistic for two highly stressed out teenagers in a forced proximity situation.
I cried like twice because damn being that age was so hard. I love when an author doesn't shy away from the tough topics.
Still, this is a hopeful story about finding your own way and finding the people that make it all worth it.
[4.5 overall]
August 11, 2025
Thank you Simon Teen for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
• My Reading Experience: Enjoyed!!
• Book Spice: None
• Content Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the college dorm-apartment setting in this book. The setting felt believable and all of the characters had a distinct personality. I loved how nerdy the main characters are with their love of coding and DND.
There were several relatable moments in this book that made me reflect on how I approach and think about things in my own life.
The romance itself was cute, but I wish there had been more depth to their connection — more little moments where we could see it growing and developing. Still, I absolutely loved the FMC’s journey towards learning to embrace being the champion of her own life. That growth was easily my favorite part of the story. Go you, boo! 💜
• My Reading Experience: Enjoyed!!
• Book Spice: None
• Content Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the college dorm-apartment setting in this book. The setting felt believable and all of the characters had a distinct personality. I loved how nerdy the main characters are with their love of coding and DND.
There were several relatable moments in this book that made me reflect on how I approach and think about things in my own life.
The romance itself was cute, but I wish there had been more depth to their connection — more little moments where we could see it growing and developing. Still, I absolutely loved the FMC’s journey towards learning to embrace being the champion of her own life. That growth was easily my favorite part of the story. Go you, boo! 💜
October 24, 2025
Wow! I wasn’t expecting to sit down and read this in one sitting, but that is exactly what happened, because I couldn’t put it down! I’ve read all of Samantha Markum’s previous books, and I have to say that she is well in her way to becoming one of the big names in YA. Her books are never afraid to tackle big topics, and The Roommate Arrangement was no exception.
The Roommate arrangement focuses on Blair, whose freshman year is basically every college student's worst nightmares come true. Her housing falls through, she get put in a class with a rude professor who targets her, and worst of all, she has to live with her older brother's annoying friend.
What I liked:
-open discussions about mental health issues. I love that characters in this book were open about their struggles, and that panic attack scene was so well written. I also appreciated that not everyone’s problems were solved by the end, but that the characters were still able to grow.
-Blair! I don’t know if it’s just because I sympathize with her everything-keeps-getting-worse situation, or if I was able to recognize myself in her, but she was by far my favorite character. Her character felt so real to me, and I think she was honestly the shining star of the novel. I loved the ways she handled her struggles with kindness (well, most of them), yet wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
- Saywer. I can’t say too much because of spoilers, but it takes skill to make a character whom I HATED into one of my favorites.
What I didn’t like:
(Keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily bad things, just things I didn’t enjoy quite as much)
-Jamie. I don’t have any issues with him, per se, but I felt that he was just…kinda… there. Which is funny, because he does play a pretty crucial part in the plot and in Blair’s character development. He is such a kindhearted, sweet boy, but I honestly didn’t feel attached to him the same way I felt attached to Blair.
The Roommate Arrangement was a fantastic read. The characters felt real, and it touched on problems like issues with parents, mental health, and false friends. If you’re a fan of K.L Walther or Lynn Painter, this is absolutely for you!
I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this phenomenal e-arc! all opinions expressed are my own
The Roommate arrangement focuses on Blair, whose freshman year is basically every college student's worst nightmares come true. Her housing falls through, she get put in a class with a rude professor who targets her, and worst of all, she has to live with her older brother's annoying friend.
What I liked:
-open discussions about mental health issues. I love that characters in this book were open about their struggles, and that panic attack scene was so well written. I also appreciated that not everyone’s problems were solved by the end, but that the characters were still able to grow.
-Blair! I don’t know if it’s just because I sympathize with her everything-keeps-getting-worse situation, or if I was able to recognize myself in her, but she was by far my favorite character. Her character felt so real to me, and I think she was honestly the shining star of the novel. I loved the ways she handled her struggles with kindness (well, most of them), yet wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
- Saywer. I can’t say too much because of spoilers, but it takes skill to make a character whom I HATED into one of my favorites.
What I didn’t like:
(Keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily bad things, just things I didn’t enjoy quite as much)
-Jamie. I don’t have any issues with him, per se, but I felt that he was just…kinda… there. Which is funny, because he does play a pretty crucial part in the plot and in Blair’s character development. He is such a kindhearted, sweet boy, but I honestly didn’t feel attached to him the same way I felt attached to Blair.
The Roommate Arrangement was a fantastic read. The characters felt real, and it touched on problems like issues with parents, mental health, and false friends. If you’re a fan of K.L Walther or Lynn Painter, this is absolutely for you!
I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this phenomenal e-arc! all opinions expressed are my own
November 9, 2025
Five stars!
“ And maybe it isn’t real, but it doesn’t matter because I fell in love with you anyway. More and more every time I saw you. Love at every sight.”
All thanks to the author and NetGalley for this e-ARC. It’s been months since I’ve been able to really get into a book and not feel like reading was a chore. This book was nothing like a chore, it was incomprehensibly perfect. It wasn’t like something I’ve read before but it’s also not something wow-ing-ly new either. The idea was familiar, but the execution was extraordinary. Not only did I feel connected to the characters but I felt like I was a third party included in all of the action. From not reading to devouring this book in 3 days, I’d say it’s worth the five star rating.
“ And maybe it isn’t real, but it doesn’t matter because I fell in love with you anyway. More and more every time I saw you. Love at every sight.”
All thanks to the author and NetGalley for this e-ARC. It’s been months since I’ve been able to really get into a book and not feel like reading was a chore. This book was nothing like a chore, it was incomprehensibly perfect. It wasn’t like something I’ve read before but it’s also not something wow-ing-ly new either. The idea was familiar, but the execution was extraordinary. Not only did I feel connected to the characters but I felt like I was a third party included in all of the action. From not reading to devouring this book in 3 days, I’d say it’s worth the five star rating.
October 26, 2025
samantha markum knows how to write the buzziest books like that’s sooooo crazy
December 9, 2025
samantha markum doesn’t miss
January 28, 2026
• arc review •
release date - january 27th, 2026
thank you to simon teen/recorded books for a gifted arc copy of the roommate arrangement, in exchange for my honest review.
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First Samantha Markum book complete and now I have to read the rest of her books asap!! I had a great time with this book and some of its characters (side eyeing her parents and the two friends at the beginning).
Blair's friend group at the beginning of the story made me want to pull my hair out, and the excuse of not wanting to ruin their friendship living together during school was lame. I mean I also get it, sometimes it can ruin a group friendship but to say they could still be friends and then just completely dropped her was mean. Don't even get me started on how they treat Blair towards the end of the book either. I loved that they dropped her as a roommate though because then she wouldn't have found her new found family, and fall in love in the process. Blair and Sawyer's (her brother) parents can catch these hands.
The Roommate Arrangement was so good and I think if you want a plus size fmc who falls for her best friend's brother and a coming of age story with found family, then you should read this book.
release date - january 27th, 2026
thank you to simon teen/recorded books for a gifted arc copy of the roommate arrangement, in exchange for my honest review.
———————
First Samantha Markum book complete and now I have to read the rest of her books asap!! I had a great time with this book and some of its characters (side eyeing her parents and the two friends at the beginning).
Blair's friend group at the beginning of the story made me want to pull my hair out, and the excuse of not wanting to ruin their friendship living together during school was lame. I mean I also get it, sometimes it can ruin a group friendship but to say they could still be friends and then just completely dropped her was mean. Don't even get me started on how they treat Blair towards the end of the book either. I loved that they dropped her as a roommate though because then she wouldn't have found her new found family, and fall in love in the process. Blair and Sawyer's (her brother) parents can catch these hands.
The Roommate Arrangement was so good and I think if you want a plus size fmc who falls for her best friend's brother and a coming of age story with found family, then you should read this book.
March 27, 2026
got war flashbacks from the descriptions of the totally-not-ucf campus but otherwise i had a great time
February 13, 2026
Thank you Simon Teen for this amazing ARC!
I devoured this in one sitting! I enjoyed this book and these characters so so much! They had so much depth to them and went through such difficult things at such young ages. This is an amazing coming of age story. A story about taking a leap even when it's scary, or trusting your gut even when it could potentially disappoint someone else. It discusses friendships both losing and gaining, relationships both romantic and familial, and how to navigate being on your own for the first time. There are definitely some heavy topics discussed, but I think Samantha Markum did such an amazing job writing them into the story. You care so much about not just the main character, but all of the side characters as well. I truly felt so much love for Blair and wanted her to find her way and succeed. Sawyer was rough around the edges, but so relatable. Jamie was truly such a teddy bear under all of that hard exterior. I love a story with amazing found family and such realistic problems and obstacles that the characters face. I am so glad I had the opportunity to experience this book early, but also at all. I genuinely don't think this would've been something I had read on my own, so take this as a sign to step outside your comfort zone and pick up a book you wouldn't normally gravitate towards!
I devoured this in one sitting! I enjoyed this book and these characters so so much! They had so much depth to them and went through such difficult things at such young ages. This is an amazing coming of age story. A story about taking a leap even when it's scary, or trusting your gut even when it could potentially disappoint someone else. It discusses friendships both losing and gaining, relationships both romantic and familial, and how to navigate being on your own for the first time. There are definitely some heavy topics discussed, but I think Samantha Markum did such an amazing job writing them into the story. You care so much about not just the main character, but all of the side characters as well. I truly felt so much love for Blair and wanted her to find her way and succeed. Sawyer was rough around the edges, but so relatable. Jamie was truly such a teddy bear under all of that hard exterior. I love a story with amazing found family and such realistic problems and obstacles that the characters face. I am so glad I had the opportunity to experience this book early, but also at all. I genuinely don't think this would've been something I had read on my own, so take this as a sign to step outside your comfort zone and pick up a book you wouldn't normally gravitate towards!
March 14, 2026
when i say i love brothers best friend, please know that this is the specific book im thinking about
October 30, 2025
IM SCREAMING THIS WAS EVERYTHING
I will start by saying I almost stopped reading when Blair was attending Central Florida State University in Orlando because I attended UCF in Orlando but this worked out so well with a made up college, I was not perceived!!
This was SO cute, I felt extremely represented by Blair as someone who also pursued a STEM major and felt crushed by the pressure of it. I also really liked the fat rep!
As much as I loved the romance, my favorite part of this book was Blair’s growth as a person and where she stands in her family dynamic. I cried and cheered her on so much, this was EVERYTHING.
I will start by saying I almost stopped reading when Blair was attending Central Florida State University in Orlando because I attended UCF in Orlando but this worked out so well with a made up college, I was not perceived!!
This was SO cute, I felt extremely represented by Blair as someone who also pursued a STEM major and felt crushed by the pressure of it. I also really liked the fat rep!
As much as I loved the romance, my favorite part of this book was Blair’s growth as a person and where she stands in her family dynamic. I cried and cheered her on so much, this was EVERYTHING.
March 8, 2026
june 10th, 2025
omg cant wait
i love you samantha markum
nov 11th, 2025
this is what's gonna make me a reader again
march 8th, 2026
i love every singke one of this woman's books
omg cant wait
i love you samantha markum
nov 11th, 2025
this is what's gonna make me a reader again
march 8th, 2026
i love every singke one of this woman's books
February 12, 2026
Thank you, Netgalley and publisher, for the ALC. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.
I loved how Samantha has touched a lot of sensitive subjects in the book, and I was able to relate to Blair (our FMC, who has just started as a fresher in college ) . She reminded me a lot about my college days .
Blurb - Blair was going to live with her two friends in the place they had selected, but later they dropped her at the very end moment . Later she is somehow is living with Jamie (who is her best friend's brother) and 3 more people in a small apartment for one semester.
From her fallout with her friends to setting boundaries with her toxic parents Blair had came a long way when you see her journey . Her growth as a person is something might be not be exponential as we think but it was it was full of ups and downs but what I loved the most about her is that she was finally was able to stand up for herself at the end . She made new friends who were there for her in her tough time and didn't leave her . I love each and every side character (the roommates ) .
If you are looking for a book with YA but a small to little romance and spice then this book is for you !!
Tropes :
🤍 college romance
🤍 girl-in-STEM-in-art
🤍 overbearing parents
🤍 just a sprinkle of anxiety—oh, whoops, the lid fell off
🤍 passive-aggressive post-its
🤍 magic tricks (????)
🤍 lightsabers (?????????)
🤍 found family
🤍 “I’ve never been good enough for you” versus “you’ve never paid attention to me”
🤍 the beach! and more!
🤍 Plus Size FMC
I loved how Samantha has touched a lot of sensitive subjects in the book, and I was able to relate to Blair (our FMC, who has just started as a fresher in college ) . She reminded me a lot about my college days .
Blurb - Blair was going to live with her two friends in the place they had selected, but later they dropped her at the very end moment . Later she is somehow is living with Jamie (who is her best friend's brother) and 3 more people in a small apartment for one semester.
From her fallout with her friends to setting boundaries with her toxic parents Blair had came a long way when you see her journey . Her growth as a person is something might be not be exponential as we think but it was it was full of ups and downs but what I loved the most about her is that she was finally was able to stand up for herself at the end . She made new friends who were there for her in her tough time and didn't leave her . I love each and every side character (the roommates ) .
If you are looking for a book with YA but a small to little romance and spice then this book is for you !!
Tropes :
🤍 college romance
🤍 girl-in-STEM-in-art
🤍 overbearing parents
🤍 just a sprinkle of anxiety—oh, whoops, the lid fell off
🤍 passive-aggressive post-its
🤍 magic tricks (????)
🤍 lightsabers (?????????)
🤍 found family
🤍 “I’ve never been good enough for you” versus “you’ve never paid attention to me”
🤍 the beach! and more!
🤍 Plus Size FMC
September 27, 2025
Thank you so much, Simon Teen, for the physical and electronic ARCs in exchange for my honest thoughts.
CW: overbearing parents, on page panic attack, fat-phobic comments
Blair is left scrambling to find housing after her two best friends tell her they don’t want her living with them just one week before college summer classes begin. In a moment of desperation, Blair answers a random ad looking for a fifth roommate…and ends up rooming with her brother’s best friend.
Ok, let me start off by saying THANK GOD Blair’s friends ditched her because omg THEY SUCKED SO BAD. And also, Blair’s parents suck. So, I was glad she ended up in a random apartment full of new people, because they turned out to be the best friends and best found family for our girl. Her old friends and parents really really made me mad. 😆
I really enjoyed this book. Sam Markum really brought the enemies to lovers energy I like. It was filled with sharp banter, pining, and so so much physical comedy (which I always love). There was one moment early one where I highlighted a line and noted “AGH!!! SECRET PINING!! I love a good long haul pining. I thought Markum’s writing really shined in the full apartment scenes - whether it was band practice, or DnD night, or anything else. Give her a ton of people and a ton of volleying dialogue and she SHINES.
I have to be honest and say I struggled with Blair’s lying…but I had to remind myself that she is 18 and does not have a fully formed pre-frontal cortex, so I can give her some grace. But every lie stacked on top of another one just really crushed me. I did enjoy the ending though - the lessons Blair learned in the midst of the mess really felt earned.
Read this if you like a college setting, first person single POV, messy relationships, brother’s best friend, forbidden romance, secrets, banter, playfulness, and found family.
CW: overbearing parents, on page panic attack, fat-phobic comments
Blair is left scrambling to find housing after her two best friends tell her they don’t want her living with them just one week before college summer classes begin. In a moment of desperation, Blair answers a random ad looking for a fifth roommate…and ends up rooming with her brother’s best friend.
Ok, let me start off by saying THANK GOD Blair’s friends ditched her because omg THEY SUCKED SO BAD. And also, Blair’s parents suck. So, I was glad she ended up in a random apartment full of new people, because they turned out to be the best friends and best found family for our girl. Her old friends and parents really really made me mad. 😆
I really enjoyed this book. Sam Markum really brought the enemies to lovers energy I like. It was filled with sharp banter, pining, and so so much physical comedy (which I always love). There was one moment early one where I highlighted a line and noted “AGH!!! SECRET PINING!! I love a good long haul pining. I thought Markum’s writing really shined in the full apartment scenes - whether it was band practice, or DnD night, or anything else. Give her a ton of people and a ton of volleying dialogue and she SHINES.
I have to be honest and say I struggled with Blair’s lying…but I had to remind myself that she is 18 and does not have a fully formed pre-frontal cortex, so I can give her some grace. But every lie stacked on top of another one just really crushed me. I did enjoy the ending though - the lessons Blair learned in the midst of the mess really felt earned.
Read this if you like a college setting, first person single POV, messy relationships, brother’s best friend, forbidden romance, secrets, banter, playfulness, and found family.
February 11, 2026
The Roommate Arrangement is a fun STEM, brother's best friend romance. I appreciated that a lot of the book centered around challenging relationship dynamics -- with friends and family. I appreciated the representation of Blair's family -- the pressure for her to do what they think is best, to succeed, and to not disappoint them. I think many teens deal with this challenge of family expectations and I appreciated that by the end of the book Blair was able to push back and figure out what she wanted and articulate that to her family. At the beginning of the book Blair is left in the lurch when her friends decide she can't live with them anymore. She responds to an add for a roommate in a suite living situation and discovers that she signed the lease to live with her brother's best friend and she and her brother do not get along. She convinces him, Jamie, not to tell her brother, Sawyer, if she helps him with his coding project. I loved seeing Jamie's green flags and the mental health rep in Blair and her roommates and how they all take care of each other, especially in contrast to her relationship with her ex-best friends. This was probably my favorite aspect. Blair learns to take care of herself as others take care of her the way she needs it for the first time. I also really loved the relationship between Blair and her brother, Sawyer, and how they were able to understand each other better over time and Blair owned up to her part in their relationship dynamic. If you're looking for a YA book that has some romance but no spice (there's only kissing) then this is for you or your readers. If you like YA romance, definitely check this one out! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
November 20, 2025
This was so delightful! I basically read it all in one sitting. I've been in such a reading slump that this was so fun to read. I kept giggling and kicking my feet and talking to the book, which I haven't done in a long time. There's slow burn, a lot of will they/won't they, but the romance happens early enough that we get to enjoy everything.
I feel like I've definitely wanted to write something like this, about the complexity of dealing with family relationships as you first start to become an adult, and thought it was so well done here. The main character has a complicated relationship with her brother but also her parents, who are overly controlling and demanding, and I liked the way it showed her struggle with this and forming her own path while also being realistic about how hard it could be.
I love the found family vibes, the mental health exploration, also the exploration of what it means to not be good at something right away or to realize that the plan you originally had might not be the best one. Also this was so romantic! I don't know guys! This made me so happy! It was just what I needed.
I feel like I've definitely wanted to write something like this, about the complexity of dealing with family relationships as you first start to become an adult, and thought it was so well done here. The main character has a complicated relationship with her brother but also her parents, who are overly controlling and demanding, and I liked the way it showed her struggle with this and forming her own path while also being realistic about how hard it could be.
I love the found family vibes, the mental health exploration, also the exploration of what it means to not be good at something right away or to realize that the plan you originally had might not be the best one. Also this was so romantic! I don't know guys! This made me so happy! It was just what I needed.
November 23, 2025
Jamie is everything to me and he deserves the world. His buzz cut should have sonnets written about it. Now, one thing to know, is that the fmc is messyyyy. And in her life, everything is going wrong for the majority of this book. I got very frustrated with the situations she put herself/was put in. But the interactions between her and Jamie? 10/10. Made everything worth it. She was just figuring life out, ya know? I loved the message of the book and the ending was really good! The rest of it was really good, too, and I read ¾ of the book in one sitting, but like I said a lot of the situations frustrated me. 😅 Samantha Markum is defs an auto-read author for me!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc in exchange for my honest review.
December 7, 2025
nothing like a samantha markum YA!! they're always funny, sweet, include a great lesson, and feature slightly messy but very endearing women. jamie and blair's relationship was cute but i wish we got a little bit more of their relationship before living together because it would've added to the "it's always been you" of it all. i liked blair's found family with her roommates, but would have liked a little bit more of the college setting because i love a campus novel.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!!
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!!
March 5, 2026
Samantha Markum's The Roommate Arrangement is a fun story! I enjoyed the pacing of this tale. I read it as an audiobook and the way the drama evolves is beautifully contructed. Clear explanations all along help to advance the plot.
I've been out of college a long while, but some things still ring true lol - Markum does good work with it. Everyone can relate to parts of what goes on with these characters.
The audio version of The Roommate Arrangement was provided by RBmedia | Recorded Books, via NetGalley for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own.
I've been out of college a long while, but some things still ring true lol - Markum does good work with it. Everyone can relate to parts of what goes on with these characters.
The audio version of The Roommate Arrangement was provided by RBmedia | Recorded Books, via NetGalley for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own.
January 30, 2026
such an enjoyable YA. it hits some real life topics that i’m sure a lot of people can relate to and i think a lot of people will see themselves in this book.
i loved the found family aspect of this book and the slow burn romance between blair and jamie.
it felt a bit slow at some points which is why i’m only giving it 3 stars but other than that it was an enjoyable read
i loved the found family aspect of this book and the slow burn romance between blair and jamie.
it felt a bit slow at some points which is why i’m only giving it 3 stars but other than that it was an enjoyable read
March 23, 2026
I always love Sam Markum’s books, and this is no exception. The feels. The chaotic experience of being a teenager and making mistakes. Complex family relationships and found family. The passion of teenage love and pain of broken friendships. Finding people who value you for who you are. Perhaps my new favorite of her novels. Oh, and the cameo of her other book characters was very fun!
March 29, 2026
This one made me cry as I felt all too seen from burdening myself to the point of breaking and panicking to please others. I loved Blair, but I loved Jamie even more.
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