The Roommate Arrangement

by Jae

A feisty comedian. A former cop with a wounded heart. An unusual roommate arrangement…

Comedian Stephanie Renshaw hopes to finally get her big break in LA. A chance encounter lands her the perfect apartment close to the comedy clubs, but it comes with a catch: she needs a roommate to afford the rent.

Enter Rae Coleman, a former police officer working the door at one of the top comedy clubs. After getting injured in the line of duty and losing her job with the LAPD, Rae guards her wounded soul behind a tough exterior.

At first, the two clash horribly before a tentative friendship develops. Bit by bit, Steph manages to break through the walls Rae has built around her.

But Steph has never been in a relationship, preferring casual flings, and Rae isn’t sure she’s ready to be happy again. Will they find the courage to open themselves up to love?

Falling in love is not a laughing matter in this opposites-attract lesbian romance with a bit of a fake relationship thrown in.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Audiobook, LGBT, Queer, Lesbian Romance, Fiction

350 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2019

About the author

Jae is the author of twenty-six award-winning romances between women. She lives in the sunniest city of Germany, near the French and Swiss borders. The writing bug bit her at the age of eleven.

She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.

When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader of sapphic books, indulges her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watches way too many crime shows.

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just saying that this is a Jae book is enough to get most people to read this. Jae is a lesfic juggernaut and she doesn’t disappoint. Not only is this a fauxmance (yay) but it’s also a well done opposites attract story. And while the story stands on its own enough, this is actually a sequel to Jae’s hit Just for Show. If you enjoyed that book, you should be happy to connect with those characters again. You can read this without reading Just for Show, but Just is really good so you should read it first anyway.

This is a story about two people who could not be more different. Stephanie is an outgoing comic struggling to make a name for herself, and Rae is an introverted, ex police officer who suffered and injury server enough to lose her job over. When the perfect located apartment, that only rents to couples, becomes available Rae and Steph must decide if they can fake being together to have a chance at the great space. Can two people who are such opposites fake a relationship, and what happens if real feelings become involved?

Just for Show, was a favorite of mine so I was really excited to read this next installment. I do have to admit I didn’t love this as much as Just but this was classic Jae. I do want to make clear that this is a slow-burn romance. That’s my favorite kind but this one is really slow. I understand why due to the walls the characters had up, especially Rae, but I do think I would have liked a little more time with the characters actually together. On the good side since the romance takes a while to heat up, there is a good amount of time for chemistry to build. You will absolutely root for a HEA before the book ends.

I really enjoyed the character of Rae. I don’t know if it is because I just watched the new Batwoman, but I could not stop picturing a broody Ruby Rose as Rae. I also found Steph really easy to connect to. Stand-up comedians are not common character jobs so I liked that her job felt pretty fresh to read about. And while there are a few jokes, and I found even less funny, they were not annoying jokes like fake song lyrics of fake poetry lyrics can be in fiction books.

Besides wishing there was a little more couple time together, I think my only other small complaint was that I wished there was a little more conflict or angst in the book. Now most of you know too much angst can drive me nuts and I hate when it feels forced, but I felt like I needed something more for the characters to overcome even if it was them overcoming it together. Conflict doesn’t always have to be break-ups. I hate the obligatory break-ups in lesfic romance, so I’m always happy to read a more feel good romance like this book. However, I think I needed the conflict to feel more balanced. Rae grew a lot as a character and I didn’t feel that same struggle for Steph. She needed more to overcome besides a supportive family who apparently wasn’t supportive enough.

Even with a few little complaints, and this being a solid 4 instead of 5 star book, I still really enjoyed this. I would absolutely recommend this to romance fans and I think most people will enjoy reading this as much as I did. It’s always nice to get a new Jae book in my hands and I hope I won’t have to wait too long for another.

An ARC was given to me for a honest review.

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Stephanie Renshaw is a comedian hoping to get a big break in LA. When she finds an ideal apartment to rent close to the comedy clubs, she jumps at the opportunity. There's only a catch, the landlords only rent to couples. Stephanie is eternally single but a fake partner couldn't be so hard to find, can it? Rae Coleman, is a former police officer working as security at one of the top comedy clubs. After getting injured in the line of duty, she likes to keep to herself under a tough exterior. Against her own good judgment, she accepts Steph's proposition to become her fake relationship and share the apartment with her. After clashing badly, they manage to form a friendship that soon threatens to become more. Can Steph commit to a relationship and can Rae trust someone with her wounded heart?

'The roommate arrangement' is part of the universe of Jae's 'Just for show', which was one of my 2018 favourite books. It was good to reconnect with the beautiful lead couple and meet again the quirky Renshaw family. If you liked 'Just for show' you probably like this one too.

This is a very slow-burn romance, typical of Jae. There is not much conflict between the characters and their fake relationship agreement. I've noticed that some reviewers complained about the lack of conflict, but for me, a feel-good romance without much drama is up my alley. As usual, Jae builds the characters to perfection; to say that this is an opposites-attract romance is the understatement of the year. Steph is an extrovert, sociable, commitment-phobic comedian, while Rae is an introvert, broody, broken-hearted security guard. The author manages to make both characters absolutely lovable and it's easy to vouch for them. No complaints from me in that department!

The rest is pure Jae's prowess: naturally sounding dialogues, pent-up chemistry, funny scenes and cheerful moments. If you are looking for a lesbian feel-good romance book, maybe for the holiday season, this is a safe option. 4.5 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not counting any short stories or anthologies, this marks my 10th full length novel by Jae. And though I loved the majority of them, sadly every now and then I struggle to finish one of her books, like this one. Now before you gasp in horror, let me explain.

These two knuckleheads immediately get off on the wrong foot and that should have made for some very interesting situations. Except nothing really interesting happened throughout the book. Don't get me wrong there was a tremendous amount of character development and growth that happened for both Steph and Rae which is great.. but where were the sparks? The passion? The chemistry?

There were moments in the book where it was mentioned how one of the characters couldn't stop thinking about the other or couldn't stop staring at them but for some reason I wasn't really buying it. Of course imagining Rae as a female version of Tackleberry from Police Academy wasn't helping either. Can you imagine trying to get with someone like that:

"Is this turning you on?"
"Affirmative!"

That ↑ ladies is how you turn dirty talk into don't talk.

Don't let my nitpicking put you off reading this though, there are plenty of other reviewers who really liked the book so perhaps you will too. From me however only a 3* rating for this one. All that being said, I leave you with the following questions:

- If lesbians drive Subaru's, what do bisexuals drive?
- On what planet are comedians considered chick magnets?

Also, Rae not being a people person is me every day as soon as the clock strikes 3pm and especially during Monday Morning Meetings™

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humble romance with flawed yet likable characters.

Steph is a comedian who is tired of being on the road. She is losing faith in her career choice as she was meant to make it before the age of 30. She enjoys casual flings and does not desire commitment. Rae works security at a club because she was forced out of her job as a police officer. They enter into a roommate arrangement. The arrangement being a fake relationship because the landlords will only rent out to couples.

It took awhile for me to get into this one. Because of the issues these women were dealing with, it takes a lot of time to unpack it all and put them on the path toward healing and growth. In the beginning, Rae was so broody, I wondered how the two of them would ever get to appreciate each other in any way. I enjoyed how they naturally helped each other and their relationship grew organically regardless of their internal protests.

I'm a hard core romance fan. I generally get bored and/or apathetic with alternate story lines or side characters. I think this is the first time I ever cried in a book during a non romantic situation. Rae's struggle was heartbreaking. Also, Rae had a very original ailment. I was completely into her story.

Funny that two recent releases have comedian main characters. I feel like this one showcased the profession better. Also, the partial stand-up routines contained in this felt like genuine content. I thought most of it was really funny and could imagine sitting in the club listening to Steph.

I had no idea that this was a follow-up to 'Just for Show.' I had not read that prior to this, and don't think it mattered at all.

Overall, this was a solid slow burn love story with real characters and genuine growth.

I recommend this to those who enjoy reading about romance, comedy, police, dog walking, depth, and taking advantage of free samples to taste all the ice cream.

I received an ARC from YLVA publishing for an honest review.

[Joc · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, this is a well-rounded read by Jae with a story driven by the characters. Steph Renshaw is running out of time to make her mark in the world of comedians. She only has four months left of the time she promised herself and it doesn’t look like there’s a break on the horizon. She needs a place to stay near one of the good comedy clubs but the apartment she has her eye on is reserved for couples. A security guard/bouncer at the comedy club, Rae, also needs somewhere closer to the club but Steph definitely doesn’t fit the image of her ideal roommate let alone fake partner.

Jae’s books are longer than the standard 240 page read but it doesn’t feel like it. I enjoyed the complexity of Steph and Rae as characters, specifically that they didn’t fit into a stereotypical mould. I loved the way they communicated with each other and the secondary characters, both known (from Just for Show) and unknown.

Well worth reading.

Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.

[lov2laf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this one but it grew on me.

This is an opposites attract, fake relationship romance...though, that doesn't quite fit because the faux relationship part is barely a blip in the book. Rae and Steph just have to fake it to their landlords, who they see twice in the entire book. To everyone else, Rae and Steph are single...so it's more like an f/f version of the odd couple, where two opposites are forced to live with each other, minus the comedy. And through their minute interactions they slooooooowly start to evolve, going from adversaries to friendship to romantic relationship.

Jae is a solid author but I often find her books to be more wooden and methodical on the whole, with a few of her titles as exceptions. When you pick up a Jae read, you're going for slow burn with a lot of character development.

My main problem was Rae. She's so super stiff and guarded she was really hard to warm to. And Jae made a point of really getting her and Steph off on the wrong foot to such a point that I was thinking about Jae writing the scenes. I don't know. Just most of the time when I read a Jae book I can see plot points on a board, mapped out, to create the story and I definitely felt that here. (Again, not all of Jae's books feel this way to me but many do).

As Rae relaxed, and Steph and her gelled more, I did find myself more engaged and enjoying the experience. In a way, it's a shame because I can see a lot of heart poured into Rae's evolution and there are quite a few complex dynamics that are in the story. It's not a simple book. But, I still couldn't shake that arm's length aspect.

Lori Prince was the narrator for this story and she did an okay job. I honestly am not sure if it was her choice to make Rae so stiff or if it was Jae's writing of her, or both, but Rae all around...I was just always aware, pulled out of the story, when her character was speaking.

It's an okay story and I appreciated Jae having a character with a disability (Rae) and how that was treated. But, overall, I had an "eh" response to the book.

3.5 stars

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not really a people person (yeah, that’s not breaking news) so the idea of sharing my space with someone who is not my wife or my daughter makes me cringe. I lived with two flatmates for a year when I was a student in Scotland and did my best to politely avoid them as often as I could. Even friends staying with us for a weekend is exhausting. So I could totally relate to Rae’s uncertainty about sharing an apartment with someone she didn’t know.

After months on the road, Steph has decided to settle back in Los Angeles and give her career as a comic its last chance. She’ll be thirty in a few months and she has vowed that she’d make it by then or try another path. Her sister and her sister’s fiancée (Claire and Lana from Just for Show) have agreed to let her use their guest room but when Steph hears about the perfect apartment, she has to have it. The only problem is, the landlord won’t rent to single people or roommates. Rae is the new girl working security at one of the biggest clubs in L.A. A former cop, she’s had to change careers after her life got turned upside down in tragic circumstances a few months ago. She’s earnest and private, and obviously well-respected by her new colleagues. When she first meets Steph, the bubbly and chatty comic grates on her. But she needs a new place so she agrees to pretend they’re a couple so they can get this perfect apartment.

Fake romance novels are definitely in vogue lately, and some are wonderful (one of my favorite is G Benson’s Who'd Have Thought) but in this book, the fake romance is only the starting point. It’s far from the whole story, since Rae and Steph only have to pretend when their landlord and landlady are around. For most of the book, they actually have to remind their friends and loved ones that they are definitely not a couple. But of course that’s only because it takes them longer than others to see the chemistry between them, and the fragile and at first reluctant friendship that seems, to them, to come out of nowhere. The two women are very different people, from very different backgrounds (Steph’s family is filthy rich, Rae’s parents are hippies) and with very different life experiences. What Rae has gone through in recent months, and the hidden disability she’s had to get used to, make her cautious. She’s not used to accepting help or showing weakness and would like nothing more than to keep to herself. Steph, on the contrary, is friends with everyone. She’s also kind and understanding. And impossible not to like, as she herself points out.

The Roommate Arrangement is a very sweet story, with some angst (mostly on Rae’s part) but not too much. Maybe not enough. Rae’s character grows a lot in the course of a few months, and Jae tells it well. Steph doesn’t change much, she grows into herself more than anything.

This book can be read as a standalone. I didn’t remember Claire and Lana because my memory sucks, and I don’t think it took anything from the story. I’m totally re-reading Just for Show next, though.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know this before reading the book, but this one is a sequel to Jae’s «Just for Show». We meet again with the Renshaw-Family. You don’t have to read these books in order, but I recommend it. «The Roommate Arrangement» is no exception from the rule, that Jae is a fantastic story writer. A fake relationship mixed with opposite attracts a great combination.

Both MCs are looking for an apartment. When the perfect opportunity arises, there is only one problem, the landlords rent only to couples. But, Rae, is very introvert and likes to be alone. She is an ex-cop, who has lost more than her partner and her job during an incident while doing the job. She is still suffering from the injury and is still searching for her new place in life, as she can’t be a cop anymore. Her maybe soon to be roommate is the opposite. Stephanie is an extravert stand-up comedian, who has set her thirtieth birthday as the deadline to make a name of herself in the scene. They have to be good actors to play the role of two lovebirds.

This is a very slow-burning romance and for that, we get to know Rae and Stephanie very good. And there was enough time to build up the chemistry until it sparked. I liked both women, but it was Rae, who got me from the beginning, and I read with keen attention, how she slowly changed back to her former self, to the person she was before the tragic incident. Stephanie too is not only the funny comedian, but she also has a lot more going than just cracking jokes about everybody including her family. And with her empathy she got the wall around Rae to tear and break. Jae is not only extremely good at creating complex main characters, but also some very good secondary characters. And it was great to meet Claire and Lana again from «Just for Show».

It is a very smooth romance with only a little angst or drama. As always with Jae, it’s very well written at a good pace But I would have liked a little more time with them as a real couple and maybe one or two hurdles more to overcome. For me, it was almost a little bit too smooth.

My rating 4.25 stars
Many thanks to Ylva Publishing for receiving an ARC for an honest review.

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is a standalone novel, kind of. It's a follow-on of Just for Show because Steph is Claire's sister. So you get a bit of continuity in that family dynamic. I don't think there's anything that would disrupt this one if you haven't read that one, though.

I let this review go a couple of weeks and I really hate when I do that. This is a pseudo marriage of convenience novel for reasons that are only a little bit contrived. I actually liked how well that worked out. And I liked both protagonists rather a lot, though each had aspects that pulled me out of the story a bit. I mean, Rae's background is some serious drama and I think her misplaced guilt from it was either too much or too easily overcome once it progressed far enough in the story for her to overcome it. And Steph's background of never having had an actual, successful relationship and being scared of commitment felt forced as well.

So I know I planned on giving this four stars because I liked both of them so much. Also, Jae does an incredible job giving us just enough of Steph's comedy for us to buy it but not leaning on it too heavily. Plus, bonus, those parts were actually funny, which I'm guessing is way harder than it looks to achieve. I wish I could give you more, but I've forgotten any other details I might have included.

A note about the narrator: Rae has a prosthetic eye from the drama in her background. And the narrator kept pronouncing that word with a hard t followed by the aspiration you'd get from a lone h. So it was like prost-hetic and prost-hesis. Which was weird but so consistent that I looked it up just to be sure I wasn't hallucinating how I thought those words needed to be pronounced. And yes, I remember this one aspect and forgot some of the good stuff. Argh.

A note about Steamy: There's one explicit sex scene and another shorter one with less detail putting this on the light side of my steam tolerance.

[Bugs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A follow-up to "Just For Show," only this time, this story featured Stephanie aka Steph, Claire's sister, who appeared in "JFS," where Jae briefly introduced her as the family's "black sheep," who defied everything expected of her, from her rebellious lifestyle to her profession as a stand-up comedian. In other words, Steph couldn't be more different than "goody two shoes" Claire. Anyway, Jae's latest, "The Roommate Arrangement," can be read as a stand-alone, obviously, but if you're curious, I'd highly recommend that you read "Just For Show" just so you could have a wider picture of Steph's character and her family including Jae's inclusion of Claire and her now-fiancée, Lana, the MCs of "JFS" in this book. To me, "Just For Show" and "The Roommate Arrangement" are perfect companion pieces to read because they complement each other. And like JFS, TRA is a heartwarming tale of self-discovery, finding love in the most unlikely of places and circumstances, from friends to lovers, a slow-burn romance that will tug at your heart strings especially when you delve into Rae's story!

Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words

**I was given, with much thanks and appreciation, an ARC of this book, by Ylva in return for an honest review.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh! I just love Jae - writes superbly and with such assurance and wit, brings out all emotions, real class. Linked with 'Just for Show' they make the perfect pair.

[Luce · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars for yet another enjoyable, feel good romance by Jae.

I was looking forward to reading this book. It ticked off a number of tropes or what I enjoy reading – its written by Jae, a fake relationship, opposites attract, slow burn, butch character, family, location etc. It didn’t disappoint.

The two main characters are stand-up comedian Stephanie Renshaw and Rae Coleman, an ex-cop, and now security at one of the comedy clubs in West Hollywood. Steph finds out that a 2 bdr apartment will be available in an ideal location for relatively affordable price (in West Hollywood/LA area). Ah, but there is a catch - the landlord only rents to couples and not singles. Now Steph will have to find a fake partner/roommate before the apartment is snatched up. She meets Rae, who is looking for an apt. within walking distance to the club. Although they irritate each other upon first meeting – Steph is a smart-ass, “always the comedian” who tried to get past Rae at the club door and Rae, a hard ass, by the rules, 5foot ten, ex-cop now a bouncer. But Rae is desperate and agrees to go along with Steph’s scheme.

I really liked both characters. Stephanie is the sister of Claire Renshaw, the psychologist in Jae’s book Just for Show. Both Claire and her girlfriend Lana are in this book. You don’t have to read Just for Show first. But do read it. Huh, I guess fake relationships run in the family? However, Steph is very unlike her family. Steph is always cracking jokes but she is goal oriented, working very hard and long hours at her craft. She is constantly working for nothing to practically nothing in small clubs, working towards her “big break”. Of the two MCs, I think I liked Rae a bit more. Probably because she is a bit of a mystery. We don’t know much about her at the very beginning - such as why she is no longer a cop, when it is obvious being a cop was her life. The two have rough go as they learn to tolerate living with each other. OK, I think Rae had the harder time because she likes things orderly and just so. While Steph, not so much. However, I don’t think Steph does it to intentionally irritate Rae. In that way, they are alike – they are both nice people but with very different personalities.

I give kudos to Jae – she really does her homework on locations. I understand she hasn’t visited California/Los Angeles. Yet she gets some of the details many non-Angelenos/So. Californians get wrong. Most often it is traffic. When someone asks how far point A is to point B – we answer in time not miles. It’s not 20 miles away, it’s an hour in “normal traffic”. Depending on how important it is to be on time, you leave even earlier. Jae got it right. I read one book which a character drove from LA to San Diego and back in the middle of a weekday in a time frame that would only be possible if they had a time machine or wings. And places – Jae included Descanso Gardens! I lived near there. It’s relatively less known than the larger public gardens in the area.

Some reviewers thought the story needed some conflict or angst. Personally, I didn't miss it. Funny, as I wrote this review, I realized I enjoyed this book much more than I thought and that I need to re-read Just for Show…

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars - So, I hadn’t realized this was a sequel to Jae’s previous faux-romance Just For Show before I actually started it. No idea how I missed that, but I was pretty stoked when I figured it out. Both can be read and enjoyed on their own, but I totally recommend you read Just For Show first. Not only was it good, but I think you’ll enjoy this sequel even more if you know Claire and Lana.

Having just come back from tour, stand-up comedian Stephanie Renshaw is looking for a place to stay in LA. With luck on her side, she finds the perfect place at a walking distance from one of the best comedy clubs in the city. The only problem is that the landlord only rents to couples and Steph is very single. Enters Rae Coleman, an ex-police officer who suffered a severe head trauma and had to leave the force. Introverted and keen on following the rules, Rae is Steph’s total opposite and they clash as soon as they meet. When Steph suggests they fake a relationship to get the place, Rae’s pretty skeptical, but she agrees anyway. After all, they only have to pretend long enough to sign the lease, right?

Disclaimer: I was in a little reading slump when it happened, but when I first started reading The Roommate Arrangement, some of the recap for just for show seemed a little forced in the first chapters and it really put me off. So much that I actually put the book down and was dreading picking it up again, but once I did, I didn’t regret it. I enjoyed The Roommate Arrangement even more than I liked its prequel!

Admittedly, I was a little apprehensive at first regarding Steph’s job. Having a character who’s a comedian means Steph has to actually be funny to be believable and be taken seriously, but it turns out I worried for nothing. We don’t really see much of Steph’s routine, and what we do see of her show is pretty good and she’s got a really engaging personality. I didn’t roll my eyes or cringe once, so that's always good :p The entire book had this underlying humour throughout that I really enjoyed.

Steph and Rae have this amazing chemistry, and I love how naturally their relationship developed and grew. This was a beautiful slow-burn with a little bit of the enemies to friends to lovers trope. Jae is really good at writing credible romances and making you feel and root for her characters. It’s probably not a secret now that I love a good, tough on the outside, soft on the inside with a bit of a tragic background character so you can bet I have a massive little crush on Rae.

Whether you’re new to the lesfic genre or not, Jae’s books are pretty much always a sure bet. She keeps her stories fresh and diverse and they keep getting better. Highly recommend! :)

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Corrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jae is a prolific author and an established lesfic romance writer. I read 12 of her books (anthologies included) and she never disappoints (but she doesn't leave me breathless either).

The Roommate Arrangement is a butch-femme fauxmance and was quite a slow burn for such a doorstopper-sized book. If you are looking for hot action throughout the book you will have to look elsewhere. Not much sizzle between the two mains (in fact there was hardly a spark).

Fans of the brooding, silent butch type will hit the jackpot because ex-cop Rae does a lot of that. Comedian Stephanie is slutty bi-sexual who needs a roommate. Rae seems to be the unlikely candidate. Let the games begin.

f/f one explicit scene at the end.

Themes: stand up comedian, brooding ex-cop, commitment phobes, learning to cope with disability.

3.4 stars

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going to make a comment like ‘looks like I read this before it was published . . . .’ but then a Kindle version appeared on the Goodreads page, moving the publication date from October 16 to October 13. Still, I did start this on the 11th and finish on the 12th so I can still make a comment. Bah. Fine, quick comment: no I did not read an ARC, no I was not given a copy for a fair review, no I was not lent this book, nor did I steal it. No, I bought it off the publisher’s website. I suppose this paragraph could have been boiled down to: 1) I do not need an ARC disclaimer as this isn’t/wasn’t an ARC; 2) Remember, many publishers (at least Lesbian Fiction publishers; and some Science Fiction publishers) offer their new books days, or weeks before ‘official’ publication (though Baen tends to sell ARCs (at least it did in the early 2000s, while the Lesbian Fiction publishers sell ‘completed’ works).

Right, now after all that, let me see if I remember this book.

This book has two point of views (POV). Stephanie Renshaw, comedian, and Rae Coleman, bouncer. Renshaw is not related to R.M. Renshaw from Dracula, and Coleman is not related to Dabney Colman (9 to 5; Short Time films) or Gary Coleman (of Different Strokes). Stephanie Renshaw is, though, related to Claire Renshaw from Jae’s Just for Show.

If you read that early 2018 book, Just for Show, then you might remember the nature of the book. Or if not, the big plot point/trope/idea is that Claire gets into a fake relationship with Lana Henderson because Claire is a couples therapist who had just released (or was just about to release?) a couples book and her longtime companion/fiancée, departs and Claire needs a quick replacement (I thought at the time: most match-makers/marriage specialists seem to be infamously bad at their own relationships, one of those ‘better at telling others than doing’, but eh, any excuse to have a fake relationship). This isn’t that book, of course, so I’ll depart by noting that Stephanie does make an appearance in that book, then move on.

Now, as noted, that prior book is a pretend relationship book, and this is a completely different book. Instead of being a pretend relationship book to ‘save’ and/or advance a career, it’s a pretend relationship book to have a good apartment (like that television show ‘Three’s Company’, where Jack pretended to be gay so he could shack up with two women – my references are always so dated, I mean, really, Gary Coleman? Dabney Coleman, Three’s Company? I’m so old). But I’m skipping ahead about a paragraph or chapter or something.

Book opens with Stephanie Renshaw on the road as an on the road comedian. Bouncing from city to city, town to town, performing. Her current stop on the road, though, is her last (she plans) for she’s going to give one last shot at being a comedian in her home town before looking for other work. She had given herself ten years to ‘make it’, and those ten years are almost up. Her home town is Los Angeles.

A friend, the owner of a dog walking company (I think/assume), someone who Stephanie works for as a dog walker, mentions a ‘great’ apartment blocks from two famous comedy clubs. One catch: the owners only rent to couples. And Stephanie is a, let’s try clean language, one night stand type of woman, not a relationship type. So, problematic.

Well, that’s one half of the two-person POV team. The other is Rae Coleman. I wasn’t going to do it, but because it’s wrong, I’m going to lift Rae’s description from the book description on Goodreads: ‘Enter Rae Coleman, a former police officer working the door at one of the top comedy clubs. After getting injured in the line of duty and losing her job with the LAPD, Rae guards her wounded soul behind a tough exterior.’ Rae did not lose her job. Yes she was injured in the line of duty, but she didn’t lose her job because of that. She left on her own because she didn’t want to take a desk job. Most people don’t know that particular factor, though – well the exact nature of her injury since she tries her best to cover her injury. She’s, as noted, ‘working the door’, you know, a bouncer, at ‘one of the top comedy clubs’. One that is one of Stephanie’s favorites to visit, though she’s never been able to be a headliner there (though she has performed and/or hosted).

That’s how they meet, by the way, Stephanie tries to enter the club without paying a cover charge (‘I’m a comic!’), while Rae tries to block her. So they meet badly. Then Stephanie, who is looking for a roommate to fake a relationship with, learns that a new worker there is looking for an apartment. Someone she assumes is male when she hears ‘Ray’ for the given name. So she bumps into Rae again, or, I should say, Rae overhears her talking to some other bouncer asking of that person if they, ‘Ray’, wanted a new apartment. ‘Ray’ says they aren’t Ray and has a girlfriend. Cutting this shorter (and yes, I actually did cut a massive amount of text just now, that isn’t just a phrase to insert), Rae and Stephanie agree to pretend to be a couple to get an apartment.

Rae’s interested, by the way, in a new apartment because she wants one closer to work. Especially since she gets off work at night and has trouble driving at night. Due to the lack of an eyeball.

And here I insert: for two people ‘pretending’ to be in a ‘fake relationship’, they sure did like wandering around and telling every bloody person they meet that they were in, wait for it, a fake relationship. Good thing that apartment complex is owned and run by . . . oops, no, they live right there in the building. Well, um, good thing they apparently, no, they like throwing parties, and being very up into the business of their renters. Um . . . good thing the owners are . . . morons who never . . no, that doesn’t work, they listen to gossip. Well, then ‘obviously’ this will bite Rae and Stephanie on the ass fairly quickly, eh? Despite loudly proclaiming, constantly, I believe even while wandering around the apartment building (at least I’ve a vague recollection of a comment or two while moving) that the relationship is fake, the owners are too stupid to ever notice; though their reasons for wanting a couple is stupid (something about how more stable, calm, etc. etc. couples are – the loudest people in all of the apartment complexes I’ve ever lived in, and the ones most like to punch holes in walls, and put weird damaging crap all over the apartment have been couples, so, bah). That last part probably doesn’t need to be in spoiler, but I got away from myself.

I had a thought, while reading the book that having as a main character that is a comedian is very difficult to pull off. And it almost never seems to be pulled off well. Mostly because the tv/movie/book reader, or just me?, expects a certain level of humor to be showcased in the entertainment. Except for films of comics doing standing, the only ones that seem to work either deliberately move away from humor, like have the comedian be a serial killer, bouncing from city to city, performing and killing; or are television shows that didn’t actually work until enough time had passed and the audience built up (Seinfeld). Eh, had a thought, can’t really express it well. I’ll stop this particular paragraph with the thought: the author did a good enough job with having a comedian as a main character.

By the 50% mark I was thinking that this was a quite good book that I’d end up rating highly. I’ve read too many books in between to recall what exactly occurred, but I finished the book enjoying it, I recall, but not at a 5+ level. Just a solid five star level. Eh, informative, no?

I liked the characters. I liked the story. I liked how the two came together into a real relationship. Good book.

Rating: 5.0

October 16, 2019

[K.J. Charles]

An opposites attract romance, with bisexual commitmentphobe Steph, a stand-up comedian, and grumpy lesbian Rae, an ex cop and now bouncer, dealing with a recent trauma in which she lost an eye.

It's exceedingly slow burn, and very low conflict. I'd say what they have is issues rather than conflicts--they talk out their problems throughout, and if you're exasperated by the 'everything could have been resolved by a five minute chat' romance thing, here's your antidote. And in general, they were both emotionally mature, mutually understanding, and generous towards one another. It did mean for me that the stakes felt a bit low, but sometimes that sort of low-angst, 'people being kind to one another' safe space is exactly what you want in a read. Well written and edited.

However, I struggled with Rae's casting as a white US police officer in Los Angeles with 14 years on the job. That's just not a value-neutral role for a character in these times, and there's nothing addressed in the book about her experience except for the shooting that ended it. That felt like a very big elephant in the room to me.

[Sam]

DNF 40%

It’s just not holding my attention. Books about comedians with some ill attempt at humour don’t always work for me. This is one of them. On top of that I generally have a bit of hard time connecting with Jae’s writing, best to just quit while I’m ahead 😉

[Sky Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really great. But it was bit as AMAZING as I was expecting. I really loved the MCs, the story line and the pacing.

[Tierney Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Jae at her very best, for me. I struggled to feel the chemistry between the leads, despite really liking them both as individuals.

I did, tho, very much enjoy the choice of Steph's job as a comedienne and the background to that kind of life being showcased.

This book is a loose sequel to Just For Show and features Claire and Lana in a few scenes (alas too brief for me as I really love that couple!).

A very sold 4, but even at 80%, I find Jae's stories are more enjoyable than a lot of writers at their best :).

[Jo reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost a 4*

A fun read, chemistry from the onset with the main character. A real good storyline.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read a book written by Jae, there are certain elements I expect to see in the novel. I know the tale will be well written. The plot line will draw me into the story to the point that I ignore what is happening around me. The characters will be well-developed and will seem real to me. And of course the romance will be a slow-burn that will make me go “aww” at least once before the end. I can happily tell you everything mentioned above is present in The Roommate Arrangement.

This is the story of Stephanie (Steph) Renshaw, a comedian for the last ten years, who is trying to reach the big time in Los Angeles. She hasn’t made it yet, but she feels she needs to soon or it will be too late. She needs a place to live in L.A. while she works on her career. A chance encounter on the road leads her to an apartment that is very close to a venue she wants to perform at, but the landlord of the apartment only rents to couples in steady relationships. This is where the reader meets Rae Coleman, a former police officer working as security for the comedy club. Rae needs a place to live close by because of an injury that causes her to have trouble driving at night. The two meet at the club and despite a rocky start, agree to pretend to be in a relationship and rent the apartment together. Of course you know this arrangement is going to lead to a lot more than these two expect or plan.

Steph is not a brand new character. She appeared briefly in another book by Jae called Just for Show. Steph is the sister of Claire in that book. She is described as the “black sheep” of the family since both Claire and their parents are psychologists. The family considers being a comedian to be a less than desirable career choice. This story element carries into this tale also, and Claire, her fiancée Lana, and Steph’s parents are secondary characters in this book.

This is a lovely slow-burn, opposites attract romance. I especially connected with Rae. Seeing how her past has affected her and watching her grow past her injuries and learn to open herself to others again is very moving. Some characters touch me more than others. Rae is one of those.
The Roommate Arrangement is a stand-alone novel even though it is connected to the book, Just for Show. You don’t have to read them both to enjoy them. I will tell you that both books are very good, and reading them in order would not be a hardship at all. In fact, I think it would be an excellent idea.

I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love romance. I love a slow burn romance even more. Tell me it’s written by Jae and here I come running. Jae 100% of the time gives you a great read with characters that will steal your heart and keep you invested till the very last page. Her latest book, The Roommate Arrangement is no exception. This is a fantastic read that had me hooked all the way through.

If you have read Just for Show, you might remember Claire’s younger sister, Steph. She is one of our two main characters. (If you didn’t read it seriously no worries it won't matter, but you should it’s a fantastic read as well). Steph is a stand-up comedian that is trying to make her big break. For the last year, she has spent her life on the road, gig after gig in run-down bars in the middle of nowhere. She knows she has to make it in Los Angeles or give up her dream for good. Steph refuses to take money from her wealthy Beverly Hills family, so she needs a roommate desperately to afford life near the comedy clubs on Melrose.

Rae is our other main, and yep you guessed it Steph’s new roommate. Rae is the strong silent type, the direct opposite of the fun and perky comedian. Rae used to be a police officer with LAPD, but after a tragic shooting that left Rae injured and killed her best friend, she left the force. She now is security for one of the biggest and most prominent comedy clubs in LA. She is less than thrilled when Steph lets her know that they must pretend to be a couple to secure the new lease.

This is a true slow-burn romance. The two mains start off dancing around even tolerating the other one. As you read they become more open and honest with each other, showing vulnerability and beginning to trust and respect each other. A friendship develops and then more. I loved how Jae took her time bringing them together. It felt natural and added so much to the story. Rae and Steph are fantastic characters, I just loved them! A great read that I highly recommend. 4.5 stars

[Sapphic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jae is quickly becoming one of my favourite comfort authors, consistently delivering sweet sapphic romances with well-developed, intricate characters. I adored the slow-burn romance between commitment-averse Steph and the guarded but resilient Rae. Their relationship felt authentic, as they navigated complex issues like survivor’s guilt and career challenges with maturity, patience, and genuine care for each other.

It was also a joy to see the Renshaw family and Lana make a return from Just for Show—they bring such warmth and depth to the story.

As a side note, for readers like me who appreciated the tender, thoughtful moments involving Rae's prosthetic, I’d also recommend A Heart Full of Hope by Cheyenne Blue, which beautifully explores similar themes of gentle, loving connection.

[Best Lesfic Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stand-up comedienne, Stephanie Renshaw, had given herself a timeline to make a name for herself in the field. Starting off at twenty as a stand-up comic, she’d given herself a decade. Now she is a few months away from her self-imposed deadline. As a last ditch effort, she abandons touring across the country and the new plan is to concentrate on making waves in her hometown, LA. Steph has a place with her sister to crash while she finds her feet, but getting her own place is as urgent as getting good gigs. A dream house in walking distance to the biggest comedy club is up for the taking – except that the owners will not rent it to single people. Steph ropes in Rae, a security officer at the club in which Steph is desperately looking for a spot, as her faux girlfriend to land the house. Rae, for reasons of her own is looking for a house close to her place of work, and despite reservations – primarily due to the polar opposite personalities – she agrees.

Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite thing about Jae's novels is the way she slows the pace down to give you a very sweet, slow-burn romantic novel. The Roommate Arrangement is a prime example of this.

Rae and Steph were fantastic characters and I loved their romantic story but more than that, I loved how real they felt. I really liked the way Jae dealt with Rae's disability and her vulnerability that stems from it. This is my first novel that had a main who was a stand-up comic, and reading about Steph and her career was compelling.

I have a bad habit of sometimes becoming a little disinterested in a novel once the couple pairs up and I have to admit I did get to this stage with this novel. I think mainly because it was a little too insta-love for me and with very little passion felt between the two mains.

It's still a very sweet romantic novel that I enjoyed though.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rae and Steph are the perfect opposites-attract pairing and I enjoyed seeing them move from strangers to caring about each other, to eventually falling in love. I especially appreciated seeing why they were reluctant to open their hearts: Steph had never had a serious relationship before and Rae had had one, but it had crashed and burned. It helped me believe in their happily ever after, since they each had so much to overcome and they did it together.

Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/the-...

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm.... This was a good read, not great just good. I can’t put my finger as to what exactly is missing from this book - Something is just off for me. Maybe I was just expecting this to be better than Just For Show (which I really loved) since the story is now on Stephanie (Claire’s younger and more colourful sister). Or maybe I can’t click/wrap my head around the 2 main characters. Nonetheless it was still a good read.

Ratings - 3.5 ⭐️

[Sanaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate how Jae takes the time to build the characterization of both Rae and Stepth through small details, mannerisms, and passing thoughts it really allows for them to be better understood as individuals and therefore makes their romance even more believable and lovely.

I love a story that has confidence in the reader and in themselves to simply show instead of constantly telling what the reader should believe and this book was definitely it.

I also really enjoyed the pacing and I think it did a great service to the story and romance overall.

I need to read Just For Show immediately though because Clare irritated me in this story and I'm hoping I can warm up to her in that book

Towards the end, the message the book was trying deliver in regards to Rae started to feel repetitive, but I was feeling so gushy about Steph and Rae at that point that didn't care.

Overall 4.5 stars really cozy and sweet read

[Tinything · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first impression i had for Steph when i started reading was just like Rae but somehow she’s not only manage to sneak through Rae but me as well. I came to like her alots as the story go on and i came to enjoyed the book too. And i’m sorry i dont know what else to say 😐 beside i really enjoy the book. ☺️

🙈 And i dont remember Clair and Lana at all eventhough i read their story. Completely forget! 🙈 sorry Clair and Lana, i might go back to reread your story one day.

[MJSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received via Ylva in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, Jae never writes a bad book, but this one wasn’t one of my favourites, which surprised me because the fauxmance is one of my favourite tropes.

This is a direct sequel to Just for Show and features Claire’s sister Steph as the MC. Steph is a stand-up comedian, bi, and has never had a long term relationship. She’s heading back to LA after being in the road for awhile and hears about an apartment that’s perfectly located, but will require her having a roommate to afford it. The only wrinkle is the landlords of the apartment only rent to couples. Enter Rae, an ex-cop with a disability that led to her leaving the force who now works as security at the club where Steph works. They strike up a deal to pretend to be a couple and score the apartment.

Now this differs from Just for Show because pretty much everyone knows about the fauxmance. It also differs from Just for Show because I didn’t see/feel any chemistry between the characters. I believed they were friends but nothing more. Even the cliched ‘walk in on each other in the bathroom’ scenes didn’t set that up. I don’t know what it was but even though each character was interesting in their own right, together they bored me.

I loved Steph’s job, I don’t think I’ve read another lesfic about a comedian, I also loved how Jae wrote Rae’s disability and Steph’s reaction to it. I didn’t love Steph’s family, including Claire, which annoyed me because I loved her in Just for Show, but here both she and her parents were completely unsupportive of Steph, and like Steph, I found their eventual support too little too late.

Rae was lovely, but I have to be honest, she had more chemistry with Kim (widow of her police partner) and I honestly wish Jae had written that story instead. Falling for the wife of your dead partner? That’s a storyline that would have held my interest.

Jae doesn’t usually write contrived breakup/drama crap in her books, for which I am grateful. But this book could have used some angst/drama/tension, there just wasn���t anything for me to really sink my teeth into. I’d give it 3.5 but am rounding down, it’s not 4 stars.