If These Walls Could Talk

by Alexandria Bellefleur

From USA Today bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur comes a heartfelt new adult romance about blurred boundaries, mutual misunderstandings, and the fears that keep us from following our hearts.

College sophomore Ryan Miller was born for the stage. But he’s living his father’s dream now, pursuing a teaching degree and sensible future. Everything’s on track until his new roommate walks in—and Ryan finds himself face-to-face with his old high school crush.

Colton Everett is talented, magnetic, and impossible to read. Their icy reunion eventually melts into late-night talks and whispered confidences, but their surprising friends-with-benefits arrangement feels far from casual. They make rules. Break them. And tiptoe around their feelings.

A visit from Colton’s sister, who thinks they’re just friends, brings their secret simmer to a boil. It’s hard to keep pretending—especially when forced to share a bed. And as Ryan struggles to balance family expectations with his own desires, a miscommunication threatens to destroy the only relationship that feels real. But just as he’s about to give up, a spark from an unexpected source offers one last chance to follow his heart.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Fiction, M M Romance, Young Adult

251 pages, Paperback

Expected publication December 8, 2026

About the author

Alexandria Bellefleur is a bestselling and award-winning author of swoony contemporary romance often featuring loveable grumps and the sunshine characters who bring them to their knees. A Pacific Northwesterner at heart, Alexandria has a weakness for good coffee, Pike IPA, and Voodoo Doughnuts. Her special skills include finding the best Pad Thai in every city she visits, remembering faces but not names, falling asleep in movie theaters, and keeping cool while reading smutty books in public. Her debut novel, Written in the Stars, was a 2021 Lambda Literary Award winner and a 2020 winner of The Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romantic Fiction.

Reviews

[annes_mesmerizing_books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover is cute, the story is nice, the writing is good, but…

That’s it, I guess. I just need more from a book. For a while I thought it might be a 3.5 star read, and maybe, just maybe, I’d round it up instead of down. But with all the miscommunication, especially so late in the story, my rating dropped. Maybe it wasn’t even miscommunication… maybe it was just drama to force a third‑act breakup. And I’m not a fan.

So in the end it’s a (generous?) three star rating for me.

For me, this story is a short summer fling. An in‑between read. Likable and smile worthy, but not really memorable.

Please check out other reviews if you want to read this book.

Thank you, Skyscape and NetGalley, for this ARC.

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[Kristy]

I love Alexandria Bellefleur's books. I have to admit this one wasn't my favorite, but it definitely has its good points.

The premise is a good one. Ryan finds himself stuck with a new college roommate; imagine his shock when he discovers it's Colton Everett, the kid he crushed on in high school, but who seemed to hate him for no reason. Over time, the two slowly become friends again, helped by late night chats and constant proximity, and they enter into a friends-with-benefits arrangement. That can't possibly go wrong, right?

The biggest issue with this book is that ... not a lot happens? Everything revolves around miscommunication, which you can't really begrudge the characters, as they are young 20-somethings without much relationship experience. Unfortunately, this makes for a bit of a slow tale.

Colton and Ryan are united by losses in their life, but otherwise there's minimal backstory and character building. We get a lot of allusion to the confusion in high school between the pair, but it takes forever to explain what happen (and honestly, it's a bit of a letdown). Ryan is an aspiring actor, but struggling to align his career aspirations with those of his father. Ryan and Colton attempt to work through these things and the confusion of their relationship, but with very little communication, and I sometimes found myself disconnected from the characters, or the outcome.

Still, Ryan and Colton are sweet guys--once you cut through their reluctance to communicate--and while this isn't always the most engaging story, it's worth a read. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Skyscape in return for an unbiased review. Look for this one in December 2026!

[cyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was super sweet but there wasn’t much plot. The characters get together super early in the book so there isn’t really time for any tension. The conflict is stupid and easily resolvable through simple communication but for the sake of dragging out the story isn’t solved until the ending. I was way more interested in the side characters than the main ones so I would definitely continue reading if this became a series. I just wanted more from this book and unfortunately didn’t get it.

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
This was so cute! When Ryan moves into his new apartment at the start of the semester, he's shocked to discover that his new roommate his none other than Colton, his high school crush.

Ryan and Colton slowly build up a friendship, hanging out around their apartment and talking about their school and families. I do wish we got to see a little more of that friendship? It took so long to build but it also always felt like there were walls between them. Ryan for his part was always holding himself back, afraid of being too much and frightening Colton off. And Colton never quite opened up.

Once they got together, again I wish they had opened up a little more. They were very cute together and had some sweet moments, but never quite felt like a soul-deep connection. I enjoyed the banter between these two- Ryan talked a mile a minute and once Colton got comfortable, he had a fun sarcasm going on

This story is LARGLY built off miscommunication which while a little frustrating, was honestly just realistic. These are two guys in their early 20s who (I think) have never been in relationships before. Of course they're going to suck at communicating! They're only just learning how

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[maddie's reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

Rtc

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I love Alexandria Bellefleur!! And I think one of my favorite things are the friendships in the books. Cause Cassidy??? That woman is the top tier best friend. Calling shit out and giving tough love (while also being funny and supportive)! I adore her.

Colton and Ryan are the two biggest idiots in love and I mean you have to love them for that. But these men need to start communicating and not making assumptions because you know what they say about assumptions …. 🤷🏻‍♀️ the themes of loss and grief and vulnerability were so powerful and so well written. I was sobbing with these characters.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing style, so for me this wasn’t my favorite AB book, but I can absolutely see why and how this would be a favorite for some folks!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced electronic readers copy in exchange for a fair but honest review 💕🫶🏻

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was adorable!!

I have to admit that it did not contain a whole lot of action, but I loved this setting of the two MMC’s flat being the center point of their relationship and of everyone else’s visits, and it definitely had its charm. I loved both our main characters and the depiction of their grief, and I found this story touching and genuinely adorable. It was a binged-in-one-day kind of novel, and I love it!

Thank you so much Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
4 ⭐️

[Matt]

eh too YA for me

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

adored the premise of this book and really appreciated the deep topics discussed, including from mental health, family loss, family expectations vs dreams, and they were all written with such care.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️/5

I would recommend this if you enjoy:
- College romances
- LGBTQIA+ romances
- MM romances
- Gay MMC x Bi MMC
- New adult romances
- Forced proximity
- Roommates to friends to lovers
- Spicy scenes

Thank you to Netgalley and Skyscape for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

TWs:Grief, death of loved ones, parent with c*ncer.

This book follows Ryan, studying to be a teacher with an interest in drama, and Colton, a student who likes art, who meet in high school but they don't get along until they become roommates in college. Colton is 2 years older than Ryan but nothing happened in high school.

This book isn't my first Alexandria Bellefleur book but it is my favourite so far. I already knew I enjoyed this authors writing as well as MM romances so it was a no-brainer to grab this. It perfectly encapsulated the giddy feeling of getting a crush and falling in love as a new adult and was joyful from start to finish.

Throughout it is only Ryan's POV, and he was a likeable enough character that I didn't mind being in his head. He was studying to become a teacher as well as taking theatre classes and he struggled with which to pursue more after his mother's death. The author did a great job at conveying Ryan's inner debate and I was curious as to what he would choose. Colton was a great guy and it was heartbreaking to hear about his family's trauma. He had been carrying around that pain but he persevered in life and was a great brother to Evie.

I liked Ryan and Colton as a couple and they were adorably themselves. They had that initial awkwardness of being roommates and the miscommunication felt realistic for them and it was sweet seeing them develop feelings for one another. I enjoyed the discussions they had after getting past the high school misunderstanding and the way they were there for one another and eagerly listened was so nice to see. The author wrote the growing tension and the friends with benefits conversation well and the moments with the peanut butter and flowers were some of my favourites.

I liked the friendship group and the way they encouraged Ryan to talk to Colton was cute. I'm wondering if the author will write spin-offs for those characters as from what I remember everyone was wonderfully queer and not ashamed of it either which I loved. I would definitely pick them up and from the brief crumbs in this book, I would love to see their friend Cassidy and Colton's sister Evie get a book.

There were a few things that stopped this book from becoming a 5 star rating. Firstly, the development from being roommates to lovers felt slightly too fast due to the time jumps which led the first spicy scene happening faster than I would've liked and I wanted more build up. Secondly, I really wanted Colton's POV as he was also struggling internally and I think having his inner monologue would've benefitted not only the book but also Colton's character and added more emotional depth. Thirdly, I wasn't a huge fan of the third act breakup. I think if they communicated it would've helped immensely.

Overall, I would recommend this book and re-read it as it brought a smile to my face and it was beautifully written. I would definitely reach for another of this authors books.

[Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often, when I read college romances with similar premises, there's nothing to give context, or there's too much context way too soon, if that makes sense? The story doesn't unfold in a way that lends itself to staying engaged.

This book wasn't like that! Ryan and Colton were incredibly sweet as they navigated being thrown into a roommate situation after the way their last meeting had gone, and all the changes they'd been through since. We meet the characters before we find out what tore them apart, and that went a long way in establishing both of them as their own person.

Ryan moves into an apartment after a roommate mishap only to find that the guy he's going to be living with is none other than the guy who'd virtually ghosted him (friendship wise) in high school. He'd never gotten any answers for it, and then the years went on and it didn't matter as much, but all of it comes to the forefront of his mind when he sets down a box only to see Colton on the other end.

It was fun watching them try to navigate this new situation and move forward, trying to break the ice so they didn't spend the year tiptoeing around their own residence. I also wasn't quite expecting that Colton was going to tell Ryan that he's gay right off the bat, but not in a bad way - it just surprised me, since Colton keeps most things close to the chest, even as the story goes on. He does open up, but not as readily.

Outside of the daily goings of college life, we get to see how they come together, bound by different forms of art. They also have a connection through their grief that weighs both of them down in different ways, and I'm so glad we didn't get a brush off of it as the story went on.

However, the only thing that got me about this book was that even towards the end, it felt like there were still walls between them. Maybe it's because of the single POV, or maybe because the focus towards the end shifts more towards Ryan's future and him trying to untangle grief from his life's purpose, but something about the misunderstanding at the end just felt like it didn't work. In fact, a good chunk of this story is based around misunderstandings to begin with, which makes sense, but you do stop to wonder when they'll get better at communicating with each other about the things they need.

The story was very cute, and it was a good afternoon read!

This ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publishing team in exchange for an honest review.

[Shana kay Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this ARC.

This was a 4-star read for me!

What starts as an enemies-to-lovers story quickly evolves into a heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance. Ryan and Colton are opposites in every way imaginable. Ryan is talkative, expressive, and messy, while Colton is quiet, reserved, and incredibly organized. Ryan has harbored a crush on Colton since high school, believing his feelings were completely unrequited. When Colton suddenly stopped talking to him and Ryan later transferred schools with his family, he thought that chapter of his life was closed. So imagine his surprise when, during his sophomore year of college, he discovers that his new roommate is none other than Colton.

Living together forces them to confront the unresolved hurt and misunderstandings from their past, and I loved watching their relationship develop from there. One of my favorite things about Colton was the way he showed up for Ryan. He wasn’t always the best with words, but he listened, supported, and remained a steady presence when Ryan needed him most.

There is some miscommunication throughout the story, but it never felt frustrating or overdone. Considering the characters are young and still figuring themselves out, it felt realistic and beautifully handled. When words failed them, their actions spoke volumes, helping to bridge the gaps and clear up misunderstandings.

Both Ryan and Colton are carrying the weight of significant loss and grief, and I appreciated how the story explored the different ways they processed those experiences. Their emotional journeys added depth to the romance and made their connection feel even more meaningful.

If you enjoy forced proximity, found family, golden retriever energy, and a sweet opposites-attract romance with plenty of heart, this book is definitely worth picking up.

[Ruben Martinez Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.8★

If These Walls Could Talk is a sweet, spicy M/M romance that almost reads a bit YA—more on that later. Ryan and Colton went to high school together, and after a series of unfortunate events, unexpectedly find themselves back together as college roommates—a situation which dredges up unresolved crushes, complicated feelings, and requires plenty of emotional growth from both of them. Ryan and Colton are both carrying their own baggage into the relationship, and much of the story revolves around them learning how to be honest with themselves, their families, and with each other.

One thing that surprised me (as compared to some of Bellefleur’s other books which I’ve loved) was how much the book read like a YA romance in terms of voice, despite featuring decidedly adult situations and steamier scenes. That isn’t necessarily a criticism, and it makes sense for the age of these main characters, but it’s worth noting for readers deciding whether it’s their cup of tea. The central romance is charming, and while nearly every major conflict could probably be solved by Ryan or Colton communicating their feelings five minutes earlier, that’s also a pretty realistic depiction of being emotionally overwhelmed as a college-aged person.

I enjoyed watching both characters work through their respective insecurities and family pressures. The supporting cast of friends is fun without ever overshadowing the main couple, and there’s some very obvious groundwork being laid for what appears to be an upcoming F/F romance in the next installment, which I’m absolutely here for.

Overall, this was a cute, heartfelt romance with plenty of chemistry, a satisfying emotional arc, and just enough setup to leave me curious about where the series goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out December 8th.

If this book wasn’t by Alexandria Bellefleur I likely wouldn’t have picked it up and if it was any longer I likely wouldn’t have finished it. This book wasn’t bad per se but it was unoriginal and incredibly predictable. Of course, romance novels have a formula with beats they have to follow, but this book did nothing even remotely surprising or original.

The plot is very simple: our main character Ryan had a crush on Colton in high school but thought Colton hated him. Now, they’re college roommates and the crush is as strong as ever and it turns out Colton returns his feelings and never hated him in the first place. They kiss but for some reason Ryan insists they be friends with benefits instead of boyfriends. Of course, they realize they want to be boyfriends and live happily ever after.

The characters were similarly underdeveloped. Ryan’s biggest personality trait is that he talks too much, while Colton’s is that he finds it hard to talk. Ryan likes to act and Colton likes to draw. That’s really all I could tell you about them.

They’ve also both lost someone they love (Ryan’s mom to cancer and Colton’s sister to a car accident), but neither death had much of an effect on the plot.

Alexandria has mentioned that this is one of her earliest projects and I think it shows. It’s nowhere near as strong as the other books I’ve read by her. I’m used to her wittiness and more inventive takes on tropes.

I will continue to pick up books by Alexandria since I think my issues with this book stem from the fact that she wasn’t as strong as a writer back when she originally wrote this.

Overall, I think there are much better romance books out there. If These Walls Could Talk didn’t do anything to offend me though, thus the mid rating of 3 stars.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so adorable and such a perfect palate cleanser! It's just so sweet, heartfelt, and guaranteed to make you smile like I did, especially during Pride Month. I highly recommend this MM romance!

My mission to read more queer/LGBTQIA+ books this month continues, and this was such a fun one. The whole story reminded me of those early 2000s WB shows where two young people clearly have feelings for each other but don't quite realize it yet. There's that same feeling of young adults trying to figure out life, relationships, and who they want to be, all wrapped up in a cute and charming romance.

I loved that Ryan and Colton go from reluctant roommates to tentative friends and then something more. Their relationship developed in a way that felt sweet and natural, despite kind of getting off on the wrong foot, and I thought they were just so cute. The late night conversations, growing feelings, and all the little moments between them were my favorite parts of the book.

The story is told entirely from Ryan's POV, which worked well, but I do think having Colton's perspective would have made the story even stronger. I would have loved to get inside his head and see what he was thinking throughout everything.

My only other complaint is that the miscommunication trope got a little frustrating at times. There were definitely moments where a simple conversation could have solved a lot of problems. But I did enjoy the story so much that I was willing to roll with it and overlook that.

Ugh, this was just such a cute, comforting read that made me feel kind of nostalgic and like a young person in love. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Skyscape for the eARC of this book.

[Topo Chicas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Alexandria Bellefleur’s adult romances for years, so when I heard she was writing a new adult romance, I knew I had to read it!

Ryan, a sophomore theater arts major, finds himself at the beginning of the fall semester without a place to stay. As luck would have it, a room opens up and he jumps at the chance to take it, only to find a blast from the past as his new roommate. Colton, a senior art major, was a classmate of Ryan’s from high school. Since their initial meeting in high school, the two have butted heads, despite Ryan’s physical attraction to Colton. But as the semester progresses and as Ryan and Colton get to really know each other, the two find that there’s a very fine line between hate and love.

This was a fun one! I don’t usually read many new adult novels, but I always enjoy Alexandria’s books and wanted to give this one a try. I will admit, it took me a little bit to connect with Ryan’s character. There were times when I wanted a little more maturity from him, but I ended up really enjoying his character growth as the story progressed.

I also really liked the angst, tension, and buildup of the relationship between Ryan and Colton. I couldn’t stop myself from rooting for their relationship to succeed. I do think having Colton’s point of view interspersed with Ryan’s would have added more depth to the story, but I still had a good time reading it either way.

If you enjoyed books like Red, White, and Royal Blue, Something Wild and Wonderful, and What If It’s Us, then consider grabbing this one when it’s out later this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for the ARC!

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

If These Walls Could Talk is a romance novel about two college students with a past who find themselves sharing an apartment. Ryan is a theatre student trying to be sensible and prepare for a career in teaching. Colton is Ryan's old high school crush who suddenly stopped speaking to him. When Ryan ends up as Colton's new roommate, it seems like it is going to be supremely awkward, with Colton icy and unspeaking, but then they get closer, and soon Ryan has to think about what he wants.

I usually find Alexandria Bellefleur's books just fine, but I thought I'd give this one a go as it sounded like the relationship could be compelling to read. The narrative is entirely from Ryan's point of view, which perhaps doesn't work as well given the amount of miscommunication in this book as it leads the reader to really not knowing what Colton is thinking. The story is almost entirely about miscommunication of their own feelings and unfortunately this is such obvious miscommunication that it just feels a bit flat and forced (though I suppose you do have to remember that they're college students so they're pretty young and maybe are just that stupid).

There's not that much other plot, though I did like Ryan's storyline about finding his own dream rather than doing what his dad wants. Ryan's best friend is a decent side character, but their other friends basically disappear for most of the book and suddenly reappear in the epilogue, when I could barely remember who they were. Overall, this is a light read that's perfectly decent and maybe works better if you're a big fan of miscommunication as the main plot device.

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Skyscape and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I loved this one! As Ryan enters his sophomore year of college he is scrambling to find a place to stay after his initial plan fell through. He finally finds someone that lets him sublet his room, it just comes with a roommate he won’t have had a chance to meet. He doesn’t love that but it’ll have to do. But when he finds out the roommate is Colton, he’s not sure he’ll make it. You see they know each other from their middle school and high school days. They started out friends but then when Ryan became a freshmen his locker was right next to Colton’s, only Colton acted like he couldn’t stand Ryan. Things never got better and then Colton moved away. And from what Ryan can tell, Colton still doesn’t like him. Their roommateship is tense and sometimes even hostil feeling. None of this is helped by Ryan’s immense attraction to Colton. And when they start to get to know each other a little better he’ll learn that the attraction goes both ways. With both of them busy with school and wanting to focus on that a friends with benefits situation seems like the perfect solution. Only the more time they spend together the more Ryan will realize that he feels so much more for Colton then just physical. But does Colton feel the same way? A sweet and tender read about relationships and how key communication is! Alexandria Bellefleur characters felt real and earnest and I loved the connection between Ryan and Colton, their yearning, obliviousness, and chemistry! I loved the humor and sweet moments, even got a little teary in this one! Really enjoyed this one, was a nice lighthearted cosy new adult romance!

[Melanie DirtyLittleSmut_Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a delight! *If These Walls Could Talk* had everything I love in a romance: incredible chemistry, excellent spice, and a relationship that had me grinning the entire time.

I'm always a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers story, but what made this one especially satisfying was that it wasn't really enemies-to-lovers at all. One of the characters had been quietly pining the whole time, which gave every interaction so much extra depth and tension. Watching those feelings finally come to the surface was absolutely worth the wait.

I also loved the *Pride & Prejudice* parallels woven throughout the story. The fact that Ryan is cast as Mr. Darcy in the play while remaining completely oblivious to the fact that Colton has basically been living his own Darcy-style yearning for years was both hilarious and adorable. The references felt thoughtful rather than gimmicky and added another layer of charm to an already sweet romance.

The romance was tender, the banter was fun, the emotional payoff delivered, and the spice absolutely spiced. Alexandria Bellefleur perfectly balanced heart, humor, and heat, making this one of those books that's just a joy to read from beginning to end. If you're a fan of pining, *Pride & Prejudice*-inspired romances, and couples who are clearly meant to be together long before they realize it themselves, I highly recommend picking this one up.

[donutdot · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!!

3.5☆ (rounded up)

maybe i just wasn't in the mood for this level of introspection, or that wasn't what the synopsis 100% led me to believe. i thought it was gonna be a second chance romance between a guy who crushed on another guy in high school who was now roommates with him in college. and it was, but it was also a lot more. (also the sister evie doesn't show up until 2/3 of the book at least)

this book made me tear up quite a few times, with the family beats between ryan and his dad, not wanting to disappoint him, and his mother's possessions especially.

i was very intrigued by colton and ryan. with as little spoilers as possible, i think this is a very good roommates to friends to casual to lovers thing. i love their quiet bonding moments, through colton's drawings and ryan rambling, talking about things that matter to them. yes it is cliche that the reveal is that they have been in love with each other the whole time, but bellefleur has done it in a way that convinces me.

though for a new adult (honestly a new adult is an adult, i don't really get this genre) book, there is an amount of smut for the length of it. somehow every one of those scenes conveyed the angst so well that i can't fault it.

i also loved the themes of chasing your dreams and what makes you happy vs taking the past of least resistance. a very universal theme and something i have struggled with too.

ps. i would be up for reading the author's other works sometime. manifesting a book for cassie and evie.

[Katie • forevermorepages · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely one of the better Alexandria Bellefleur books, even if it wasn't a perfect romance for me. I did really enjoy the dynamic between Ryan and Colton and definitely felt the chemistry between them. I enjoyed the college setting because it gave the young love, YA vibe that I still do adore in a romance book. And I like the layers about grief and family.

The miscommunication did have me wanting to bang my head on the wall a little bit. The reasoning for Ryan to propose friends with benefits instead of a real relationship just felt silly to me and I wanted to shake him. But I enjoyed watching them get together and admit their feelings to each other. It was sweet. I'm also just a sucker for characters having feelings for the other person for years/since childhood.

I enjoyed seeing AB's first foray into M/M romance here, and shouldn't have been surprised by how filthy it was. Though I do believe we were promised face-fucking that was not delivered on.... Her books are always more smutty than they look on the outside. So beware that this isn't a cutesy upper YA romance, this is very much an adult book! The age of the characters is just a little lower (19 and 21 I think?)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy! It in no way impacted my review of the book.

[Svea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little story perfect as a palate cleanser between heavier reads. The protagonist is honestly the same kind of protagonist you've already read in dozens or more other mm romcoms, the talks-too-much-but-in-an-endearing-way kind of messy sweetheart that doesn't really have any true flaws, but if you like that kind of protagonist you'll also like Ryan. His love interest, Colton, remains a little flat because he doesn't have his own pov, but he's cute and loveable nonetheless. They're a sweet couple and fun to read for the most part.
The biggest issue I had with this book is the absolutely forced, flat-out nonsensical conflict between them. It's clearly there because there has to be a conflict but it would have been so easily resolved it makes both characters look stupid-but-not-in-an-endearing-way. That part is just a little frustrating, to be honest.
The side characters also remain rather uninteresting apart from one, that one is pretty awesome though and I love her. Still, the couple has chemistry, the writing flows well, it's a quick and fun read and that's all I wanted from it. For what it wants to be it's pretty good. Also keep in mind I'm not usually the biggest contemporary romance gal so fans and veterans of the genre might have very different thoughts!

Many thanks to Skyscape and Netgalley for the arc!

[charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read! If These Walls Could Talk follows Ryan, a theatre major, who learns he's now roommates with Colton, an art major and former high school locker neighbor. Things are rocky at first as they aren't on the best terms, but the tension quickly shifts into something more as Ryan starts to develop feelings for Colton.

Overall, there wasn't much to it, and the tension ultimately boiled down to a lack of communication, which isn't my favorite thing in the world, but I didn't hate it. Both Ryan and Colton were genuinely likable and believable and I really enjoyed how the story explored difficult topics like grief and learning to put yourself and your wants above parental or societal expectations. I'm normally not a big reader of spice, but I appreciated how the sex scenes actually served the overarching plot rather than just being there for the sake of being there.

I also really enjoyed the writing style (this is my first time reading anything by Bellefleur) and felt that the story was well-paced. It was a cute and lighthearted M/M romance that I would definitely recommend to readers of this genre.

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book introduces you to Ryan – a theatre student who doesn’t stop talking, is determined to not disappoint his dad, and is very messy to live with – and Colton – a student who wants to just keep his head down and is the opposite of messy. We’re introduced to Ryan’s POV and it took me a couple of chapters to get used to it, because he is a very energetic character.

It’s a good premise for a romance – forced proximity, tension and history. There’s a good flow to the storyline, with each character having their own backstory and subplot. I found the dialogue authentic, and as someone who hates miscommunication tropes, I can tell you that this one is handled well (in my opinion).

I felt for both characters, as they try to work out what they want for the future and how to be happy, and as they try to navigate their own feelings for each other.

There isn’t a lot of spice, which suited me fine, because I don’t mind if there’s a lot or not.

Trigger warnings (spoilers required so look away if you don’t want to know, but some people need to know!):
bereavement, grief, cancer, drunk driving, mild drug use, alcohol.

[ObscureVi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Miscommunication trope is usually a big hit or miss for me, since it solely depends on how the book/author portrays it, but here? I was so fully on board for it.

Imagine finding out that your high school crush (that you also didn't really had a great relationship with because of one tiny incident) is your new roommate.

Ryan and Colton felt real, both of them had their own problems, their own personality, their own baggage and you could feel it. I enjoyed how the relationship between them slowly bloomed. I was living for the banter scenes, especially Colton's sarcasm, which made me laugh once or twice. I just wish we gotten his POV, because that man had a lot in his head and I feel like it would make us get into his shoes a bit more.

The only thing that I didn't really enjoy was the third act breakup, it happened fast and honestly it ended almost as fast, which made it feel a bit unnecessary and/or forced for me?

I do hope we will get an interconnected standalone on Cassidy and Evie since I feel like we kinda got it teased and I'm hoping that it's not just me imagining it.

I will definitely check the author out, since I had a great time with the book.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early. What a fantastic way to start pride month :)

This book was beautifully written. I like that, although this story follows many of the same romance tropes as other books, it still feels fresh. The author did a good job of humanizing both of the leads, making me want to root for them. I liked that both struggled with grief in different ways, and that helped them be there for each other. I don’t really know how describe it other than it was so incredibly sweet to read. I also loveeee the miscommunication trope (where the two leads think the other hates each them, only to find out that was never the case).

I already said this, but I really did like the writing. The sequence of events flowed smoothly, the characters all had depth, the plot was interesting, and I was emotionally invested in everything happening. I always love when a book can hook me like that. I’m excited for this book to release - I need more people to experience Ryan and Colton’s story ❤️

[Rachel Kerwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy. This was a quick and enjoyable romcom/enemies-to-lovers/grumpy-sunshine light read. 3.5 stars.

Personally, I find dual pov works better with this style as it fleshes out both main characters and has the opportunity for greater reader response - but as I said - that’s a personal preference.

The adult content in the book would not lead me to recommend for Teen/YA under which it is categorised on NetGalley. The description states Adult so I requested the book to see for myself. Definitely adult and I read a lot of YA! The characters are at college/university so 18+ and behaving as such.

The two main characters were fun and frustrating so perfect for a quick, entertaining read leading to an inevitable break up and resolution. A feisty, snarky female best friend was also an enjoyable character. I can see the beginnings of a ‘next in series’ with Cassie and Evie…I will be there for it!

If you enjoy reading MM, theatre kids, and romcom tropes, you will enjoy this. A solid ‘schools out for summer’ read.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC! I thought this was a great queer romance! I saw this categorized as YA and it reads YA but does have multiple sex scenes. I would put this in new adult to adult.

That aside, it was very enjoyable and a cute romance. It flows two college students who get a second chance at their high school crushes because they get paired as roommates. Ryan and Colton are both dealing with family pressures, and uncertainty around what they want out of life. They also suck at communicating and their immaturity shows, but in a super realistic college way.

One of my favorite moments was in the beginning when they were trying to hate each other and Ryan realized all his friends liked Colton and maybe he wasn’t so bad. I also loved how they both thought casual was the answer but as readers we knew how silly they were being. I loved the side characters and Colton’s fiercely protective sister. I loved Ryan’s convo with his dad and his struggles with doing college classes he wasn’t passionate about.

Finally I sobbed at Ryan’s mom’s letter. Sobbed.

[Amanda Toney-Velázquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexandria Bellefleur has delivered another absolute win! If These Walls Could Talk is a gorgeous, emotional, and deeply satisfying New Adult romance that completely nailed the tropes.
The contrast between the leads is incredible. You have Colton—the stoic, quiet type carrying the heavy weight of family trauma after losing his sister—and Ryan, a chaotic theatre student who literally cannot stop talking, desperate to honor his late mom's memory and make his dad proud. Watching their dynamic shift from dynamic sparring to enemies to friends-with-benefits was top-tier tension.
The heart of this book, though, is the sheer yearning. The "it's always been you" energy and the payoff of a true second chance made every emotional beat hit hard. Colton’s quiet devotion paired with Ryan’s overwhelming passion made their chemistry absolute fire.
It earned a solid 4 stars from me—the pacing stretched a tiny bit in the middle, but the emotional payoff, banter, and heart-wrenching tender moments made it an absolute must-read. Add this to your TBR immediately!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I literally picked it up and finished it in one sitting.

I wish though it'd been a bit longer. There are certainly points in the book that could be further expanded and I always love a dual POV in a romcom but really this book was pretty perfect.

Colton & Ryan were relatable students, and I appreciated the details around Eugene and LOVED the accuracy of the occasional Seattle detail thrown in. Considering this book didn't even take place in Seattle, the details could have been completely left out - but as a proud Seattleite, one of my big pet peeves are Seattle inaccuracies in books & other media and this one got every one perfect, down to the perfection of a Dicks milkshake. SO LOVE <3 <3

Would and plan on recommending this book to others for a quick afternoon read and palate cleanser.

thanks so much to Netgalley and Skyscape for the opportunity to read & review!