In Your Room

by Jordanna Fraiberg

Molly and Charlie have fallen head over heels in love, although they've never met. Molly is a fashion-conscious city girl in L.A., and Charlie is an earthy, mountain-biking dude from Boulder, Colorado. Each of them has big plans with their respective friends for the summer until they discover that their parents decide to swap houses! Luckily there's no amount of homesickness that a bit of snooping can't cure. Charlie and Molly begin crawling under beds and poking around in closets to find out a little more about each other. Can Charlie and Molly's long-distance romance survive jealousy, misunderstandings and the thousand miles between them?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Teen, Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary, Summer Reads

203 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

Jordanna Fraiberg was born in Montreal, Quebec, and currently lives in L.A., where she settled after receiving degrees from Harvard and Oxford. A former national squash champion and Hollywood film executive, she now divides her time between dreaming up stories and chasing her toddler. She is the author of Our Song and In Your Room. Check out her website at www.jordannafraiberg.com

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charlie's character bothered me. I didn't buy the whole seduction subplot. He should have been able to put an end to it before it got to the point it did -- if we are made to believe he really cared about Molly as much as he did. Also, their correspondence was cute but I didn't think enough to convince me they were "falling in love".

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly’s mother is getting married again, and she is dreading having a new potential father. She’s even less thrilled to be joining the newly weds on their honeymoon.

Charlie was looking forward to his summer riding his bike in the mountains of Colorado discovering new trails to conquer. However, his two mothers have a different summer planned for the family and it’s nowhere near the snowy peaks.

Little do they know Molly and Charlie are in for the most memorable summer of their lives. Molly’s family will be heading to Colorado and Charlie’s family will be heading to L.A. it’s a house swap!

Getting to know the other person by staying in each others rooms is one thing, but these two end up finding out more about themselves in someone else’s room.

Let me just start out saying that I loved this book! It was fun, it was fast, it was cute! I’m a sucker for a good love story, what can I say?! Yes, it was a love story, but it wasn’t an over the top too cheesy even for me love story. It was balanced and possibly even believable. So, don’t let that turn you away!

We have Molly the fashion guru, timid, pretty, afraid to get her heart broken. Then there’s Charlie, the mountain bike maniac, genuine, hot, 100% guy. I don’t know if you could get much different, but somehow it works.

I love the fact that they literally fall in love with each other’s personalities, I mean it’s like match.com, but without the stupid questionnaire and compatibility test. Not that I’ve ever been to match.com, or even know that they have a questionnaire. I mean you’ve seen the commercials too, right? Anyway, it’s like they bring out the best in each other and they do it from thousands of miles away. Sucker for the romantics, I know!

Still, Charlie isn’t like some made up version of a guy from a Nicholas Sparks novel, he is flawed and the poor guy he screws up. I can’t say that I really blame him though, but that’s beside the point. The point is their relationship works, because they have this crazy thing that they do called communication! It also helps that they are actually attracted to each other too, I mean you do have to have some level of attraction, I don’t care what you say!

I can’t really pinpoint one thing that made me like the story so much, I think maybe it was a combination of the characters and just the whole premise of the novel itself, but I just picked it up and I just had to know.... are these two ever going to get together!

And believe me, you’ll want to know too!

My only complaint..... I want more!

[♥ Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 - 2.5 stars

I hate it when the trailer is better than the actual movie itself. Or when the trailer ends up showing all the good bits. That's kind of how In Your Room was like for me.

I really loved the premise of this story, falling in love with someone's personality online + house swap. So I thought it would be a quirky, cutesy mix of The Holiday and Flat-Out Love. But it turned out to be a poor man's version of both. The online emails & IMs were too short and superficial and bland. It was just too unrealistic for me to believe they "fell in love" from those exchanges, then they kiss the first time they ever meet...Also, the book ends the first time they meet, so 99 percent of the relationship takes place "online."

I really wanted to like Charlie, and he did some really sweet things, but I had the hardest time connecting with him. And I felt a bit queasy when he & YOUKNOWWHO hooked up. It doesn't make sense that he would turn away such a HOT girl that's right in front of him for some girl he's never met in real life. And then when he finally DOES it's equally disappointing and just annoying.

I just didn't connect with either Charlie or Molly. This book had so much potential, but ultimately fell completely flat for me.

I really wanted a light, cute, fluffy YA-romance with engaging dialogue and intense chemistry. Everything in this story was half-assed & too watered down / shallow for my tastes. But I did like the premise and Charlie did have his cute moments. I guess it was OK but definitely not worth the $8.99.

[Sammee (I Want to Read That) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really sweet love story. Both Molly and Charlie are really likeable characters – in fact I really REALLY liked Charlie - and there was a realistic connection between the two. You could see how they pushed each other to be better and do things they may not have done otherwise. I also liked that you got the story from both points of view and enjoyed reading the emails they sent each other.

Molly’s struggle to except her stepfather Ron was also done really well and I liked the focus on Molly’s interest in fashion – it gave the story more believability and stopped it just being a love story. Charlie’s wish for a real connection in a relationship felt refreshing and made me like him even more.

I really recommend this – it was great fun and I had a really goofy smile on my face by the end!

[Ruby]

The book i read is called " In Your Room". You may think that its a book about two teens in the same room or something sexual. This book is the complete opposite of that whole idea. This story is basically about two teens who live in two different states. Molly lives in LA and Charlie lives in Colorado. Molly and Charlie's parents unfortunatly decided to trade houses for the summer.

Molly and Charlie keep in touch through the e-mailing each other and chatting. They both stay in each others rooms and learn new things about each other. They never met yet but they do really like each other. Molly of coarse really really likes him and fell madly in love with the kid. Charlie tells Molly that she has a great talent in fashion designing and recommends she should go farther into this with a good career. He knows her talent should be revealed to the world to see.

Celeste is a friend of Mollys who shows Charlie around LA and the fun things they do. But one night that went a little too far. Which changed everything for both Molly and Charlie. Did Molly still continue talking to Charlie? Did she give him a chance to actually meet her in person and give him another chance? Check out the book and read it yourself. I would mostly recommend this book to girls. On the other hand boys wouldnt really want to read a book about two people in a love relationship.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Your Room was the epitome of cuteness. It was an entertaining, fun and enjoyable read. It was one of those books that are just there for our pure enjoyment and allows us to learn again that love can conquer everything. Cliché, I know, but still!

What I loved about In Your Room was the plot. I always loved the cliché “boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy makes mistake with girl, girl forgives boy, etc.” plot. Even though it’s so common, it’s always fun to read about it.

I felt Molly was really whiny though. She’s always hesitant about everything she does and she easily gets hurt, emotionally I mean. There are times where she’s strong but then she crumples at the slightest touch.

Charlie was someone I had really mixed feelings about. It was a ride filled with ups and down. One moment, he seemed like the greatest, cutest boy ever. The next? Not so much. There was that part where he breaks up with his ex-girlfriend, I felt like he was the world’s biggest jerk. He just told her bluntly that he didn’t like her. I mean, how rude is that? At least let it go softly.

Overall, the plot was basically the main reason why I adored this novel. If Charlie could’ve been better portrayed and Molly not be so whiny, it would’ve been tons better!

[Mariam Tsetskhladze]

iconic

[Liza Wiemer]

A sweet, meaningful, romantic read, perfect for reluctant readers. Embraces diversity.

Meet Charlie: he's a outdoorsy guy, who loves to ride his dirt bike and is living in Boulder, CO with his moms and his sisters.

Meet Molly: she's a talented clothing designer living in LA with her parents and is has several very close friends.

When Charlie and Molly's parents decide to swap homes for the summer, Molly and Charlie end up in each other's bedrooms. Through series of emails and IMs, Charlie and Molly begin to communicate a lot. The more they "talk" the more comfortable they are with each other. Charlie encourages Molly to ride his bikes. He ends up sending Molly maps of some of his favorite places to explore in Boulder. They share some deep, personal stuff that they haven’t shared with other people. Their support and encouragement for one another makes a big difference in each other’s lives.

Things I love about IN YOUR ROOM:

1. The communication. Molly and Charlie talk to each other over deep issues. They’re honest and it comes through in their words to each other.
2. Their relationship builds into something more meaningful, from strangers to people who care deeply for the other.
3. Cheese the cat.
4. Charlie and Molly each have their personal struggles, but when they “talk" to each other, they no longer seem insurmountable. They help each other work through them.
5. The ex-girlfriend.
6. Exchange of bedrooms and their exploration of them.
7. Suggestions of things to do in each other’s cities.
8. Miscommunications and fixing them.
9.Diverse characters.
10. Stars!!!!!
11. Second Chances!!!!

I spoke with my friend Heidi from YA Bibliophile. She’s a middle grade librarian. And even though IN YOUR ROOM is YA, she has this book in her library. We both agreed it’s perfect for girls who are reluctant readers. It’s fast-paced, has strong, interesting characters, a sweet romance appealing to people of all ages.

So, even though this novel has been out for awhile, it’s definitely one to pick up and read. The story passes the test of time! Loved it.

Thank you to Jordanna for sending me an ARC copy for review.

[Julie]

This book? Five kinds of adorable.

I loved Molly and Charlie. They were both sweet and fun characters. I loved how much they changed while they were spending time in each others rooms. Both were kind of single minded with this is what I like and I can't believe I'm leaving it for a summer thinking. But they spent a summer talking and learning and having new experiences and they came out better for it.

I loved their relationship too. It was honest and real and their looks honestly didn't matter and I thought that was wonderful. How many times do we read a book and hear about how attractive the love interest is? Isn't that always how the relationship starts? Well that wasn't an option in this book, which made it immediately stand out.

Charlie and Molly also had some family/personal problems that were touched on, too. That kinda balance is always good, you know?

I know this is a pretty crappy endorsement, but I read this in February, so it's kind of blurry in my memory. I DO know that I loved this book a whole lot and y'all should pick it up.

[Laurel Garver]

The inventive premise hooked me: a teen boy and girl strike up a long-distance relationship when their families house-swap and they have to spend the summer in one another's rooms. Told from alternating points-of-view (limited third person) plus e-mail and IM exchanges, the story clips along at a nice pace. I liked especially how Molly develops over the course of the book. Her yearning to become a fashion designer moves from a secret passion to something she throws herself into as she works hard to develop her skills. Charlie's voice is well drawn, though we don't get quite the same level of detail about how he spends his summer or how it changes him.

There are hints throughout of deeper psychological issues: Molly's grieving her father's death 10 years prior and adjusting to her step-dad, Charlie's struggle to be real and honest with girls when he lives in a female-dominated world (a two-mom household with twin sisters). The potential to go deeply angsty was certainly there, but Fraiberg's lighter touch was a breath of fresh air.

[Kori Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was amazing! The characters all face some type of challenge that they have to overcome. For example, Molly wanted to apply for an internship with her favorite fashion designer, Cynthia Vincent. However, she couldn't come up with any ideas for a dress that she should make. She didn't have any inspiration or motivation until later in the story. Some people could also relate to this story because this book includes a long distance relationship, which some people do. This book also includes problems with long distance relationships. One problem this book includes is that you don't ever know what your partner is doing and if he or she is being honest about it. I love how this book switches between Charlie's life in Molly's hometown and Molly's life in Charlie's hometown during the house swap. By switching between the two's lives you can really see what they are thinking and what they are doing and sometimes their thoughts and actions add on to the drama in the story. Fraiberg did a stupendous job on this book and I hope she continues to make more books like this one.

[BookChic Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me preface this by saying that I will be gushing about this book even more so than I usually do. This story is so romantic, and the ending just had me in smiles even after I had closed the book. Told from both Molly and Charlie's POVs, as well as emails and IMs with each other and their friends, the story unravels quickly and makes the pages fly by. Fraiberg's debut is fantastic, especially with tackling the tough task of writing realistically from the opposite sex's point of view, but she handles it effortlessly and it doesn't come across as forced. Also, this book is hilarious and filled with laugh-out-loud moments. Keep an eye out for this author- she's sure to dazzle us even more with her future books.

[Dani D 8 Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book In Your Room by Jordana Fraiberg. In Your Room is about these two kids and their families do a house swap for the summer. There is Molly and Charlie. Molly lives in LA with her mom who gets remarried and for the summer they go to Colorado to celebrate the honeymoon for her parents. Molly does not want to go but is forced to. Then there is Charlie who is a outdoors guy who lives in Colorado. His family wants to take a vacation to LA so they swap hosues with Molly and her family. The tow kids meet through e-mails, texting, and long nights IMing. They learn each others secrets, stories, and dreams. Can complete strangers be perfect for each other and fall in love? Find out in the book In Your Room.

[Maeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww what a cute book! :D Okay, so mainly the book is about two characters, Molly Hill and Charlie Richards. Molly's mom's new husband, Ron decided that it would be a good idea that as their honeymoon, they could do a house swap for the Summer until August. The houses included was Charlie's, which was in Boulder [Colorado:], and Molly's which was in Los Angeles [California:]. During the swap, Molly and Charlie talk to each other through E-mail and IM conversations. AS they did so, they were both slowly starting to fall in love with each other! And they haven't even met yet! This book was really really good and i highly recommend it to anyone :)

[Jamison · Rating 4 out of 5]

a mountain bike boy from colorado and a hopeful designer girl from los angelos swap houses for the summer. they first learn about each other from emailing back and forth, then they find out more through each other's friends, and ex-girlfriends.

this was actually a well written book. i didn't mind the plot twists half as much, because the couple was one you really wanted to see to-gether. but, must there always be a boy-crazy girl that you have to be friends with, even if she's mercenary in her hunt for men?

each chapter had some very good quotes on love, and getting to know each other. i wouldn't mind seeing this as a movie . . .

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one of those books that took me a few hours to read, but it was really good and hilarious. The title sounds kind of sketchy, but it's not like that. It's about these two families who switch houses for the summer. One house is in L.A. where the girl lives and the boy moves into, and the other is in the suburbs. Somewhere like Nevada of Orego, can't remember. Basically they email each other all summer and end up liking each other, and then they decide to meet, but some people get in the way.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

ehhh, it was ok. it just annoyed me with how quickly they were like..."ooooh, some girl/guy is staying in my room and i've never met them before. weird." and then a few pages later. "i think i'm falling in love with this strange girl/guy who is staying in my room that i've never met before" idk, it just happened too fast and it seemed like they were more friends than anything. and how they talked was little too chirpy for me. i don't know, it was ok. a nice thing to think that could happen to you, definitely, if that makes sense. lol.

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I liked In Your Room. I admit that I had preconceived notions about the story. I liked how the story unfolded; it was different than my initial impressions. I felt that the story was sweet, gentle, and tender. I really liked the characters—Charlie, Molly, and the secondary characters. I look forward to reading more of Jordanna Fraiberg’s work.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember when I read this exactly, btu I remember reading it and loving it(:

[Jaidyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a really interesting book! c:

[Amber Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this several years ago. Great YA fiction. It's quirky, fun, and the story is told in various ways (narrated by POV, as well as through email). I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing book. I love it because it was about romance and it would keep us on the story.

[Jituška Schusserová · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautiful book!!

[Just A Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awwwww... Awwww!.. AWWWW! :) Gosh that put me STRAIGHT into the lovey dovey mood. Uhm hello where's my sexy man in his coastguard uniform when I need him. :(. This will make you want a man if you're single, long for your man if you're not!

Such a cute story and not in the way of aww what cute kids but such a fresh romance! Definitly a chick lit but worth your time. I wasn't going to pick it up at Half Priced Books but I'm SOO glad I did. It gives you all you need heartache, heartbreak, and heartthrob! A nice summer read! Put this on your to read I don't care if you're stuck on your fantasy you need a dash of this!

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ok book except it...definitely has some let's say last-decade sensibilities. Like being obsessed with a guy just by being in his bedroom and of course the guy is going to be physically perfect and make all the guys swoon over him and literally loose control of themselves but whatever. Also minus a star (star and a half?) for not only clingy obsessive ex-girlfriend (that doesn't even go anywhere and gets dropped super-fast) but for also her being a redhead.

[Abi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read, I probably would’ve rated this a 5 * if I was 16/17...

However, I do really think that YA romance is really adapting these days (HELLO HOLLY BOURNE) and this is a very stereotypical, boy meets girl, boy messes up, girl forgives so I just can’t rate it any higher than 3!

I did enjoy this though! It was cute.

[Judie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really didn't like this book because it did not grab my attention, and I felt like I knew what was going to happen in every paragraph, and I felt like it wasn't romance, it felt more like a drama book. But there were some good parts in the book where they started to talk to each other and started getting feelings for each other and how they wanted to meet but they were thousands of miles away. So I feel like it had more drama in it than romance so the genre should have been a drama instead of romance. I gave it three stars because I liked it.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending is actually so anti-climatic and rushed, and sends a terrible message about relationships. There should have also been some resolution with her best friend, instead of never even confronting the issue.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It had so much romantic suspense but not too much to make you wanna gag. I recommend this to people who are iffy about if they like romantic books or not.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book to read if your interested in a teen romance. The book had a very different love story that makes it more eager to keep reading and know what happens next.