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The Roof Over Our Heads
A charming YA novel about a family who puts on an immersive, interactive play to save their historical home
Finn lives in a family of theater lovers. His older brothers are both actors, and one of his moms is an actor and the other one is a director. They even live in an enormous historic mansion owned by the Beauregard, Minnesota's largest regional theater. Finn is desperate to be an actor, too, despite the fact that he can never seem to remember his lines. When a new artistic director threatens to sell the Jorgensen house and kick out his family from the only home he's ever known, his family puts on a show—an immersive 1890s experience unlike anything else out there. But will it be too much for his mom Lula, who is recovering from cancer? Will Finn connect with his crush and deal with his long-time rival, Jade? Will saving the house save Finn's acting career? Funny, warm, and full of Victorian hijinks, this is a novel for anyone looking for a place to belong.
Finn lives in a family of theater lovers. His older brothers are both actors, and one of his moms is an actor and the other one is a director. They even live in an enormous historic mansion owned by the Beauregard, Minnesota's largest regional theater. Finn is desperate to be an actor, too, despite the fact that he can never seem to remember his lines. When a new artistic director threatens to sell the Jorgensen house and kick out his family from the only home he's ever known, his family puts on a show—an immersive 1890s experience unlike anything else out there. But will it be too much for his mom Lula, who is recovering from cancer? Will Finn connect with his crush and deal with his long-time rival, Jade? Will saving the house save Finn's acting career? Funny, warm, and full of Victorian hijinks, this is a novel for anyone looking for a place to belong.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 3, 2023
13 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 10, 2023
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“Not everyone understands you only need two ingredients to make a family,” she’d said, stroking my hair. “People and love.”
Because when it all came down to it, that is very much the core theme of The Roof Over Our Heads. Finn Turner's family and his struggle to keep it together - to hold himself together, for the sake of his parents and his brothers was what stood out for me more than the romance and mystery element of this heart-warming if not chaotic glimpse of life in the theater. Especially when it runs in the family!
“What circle of hell was this?”
That does honestly sum up so well exactly what Finn had to endure for the course of two weeks, as his family effortlessly worked to bring to life a murder mystery play set during the Victorian Era. I enjoyed Finn's voice as the narrator - he is such a likable guy, just trying to get by, just trying to do what's right for everyone, while still juggling his conflicting feelings for new girl, Alexa and his best friend since 6th grade, Jade. To top it all of, he's burdened with his parents own troubles of trying to stage a successful performance that will prevent their family theater home from being sold.
It's a helluva burden to place upon a young seventeen year old's shoulder, but Nicole Kronzer's writing maintains such a beautifully balanced pace between the theatrics of the theaters and the inner conflicts of his own personal life, that I never once felt myself standing still! 😅😅 It felt as if I HAD been transported into the time frame of Finn's difficulties - both professionally and personally.
There's a wonderful array of colorful and very well-rounded characters - honestly, there's a little bit of something for everyone to relate to here that they seem to come alive before you. And the effort they bring to work together is so seamless and handled so well, I really was quite impressed. 💗💗 Despite how much everything was falling apart around them, somehow, they were holding it up by working together as one.
The dynamics between Finn with all the respective supporting characters - from his older twin brothers and their own personal issues, from his apparent and unwitting love triangle between the girl of his desires and the girl by his side all this time, and his innate fear that his mother's fight with cancer may not be over as much as he'd hoped - everything felt so genuine, so palpable, so very honest, that this YA book weaved a life that enveloped you into it - that you became part of the cast. ✨✨
I also really appreciated the healthy representation of both queer and interracial relationships; the story was just overflowing with love and acceptance and a genuine compassion of just belonging as you are. 🫂 Finn was tackling so much - first love, stage fright, family health concerns, Victorian mysteries - the details of it all kept me engaged with everything that he was experiencing. And to see his own personal self-growth shine, his friendships blossom into something more, his family bonds strengthen in the toughest of times, all together made for a very heart-warming, if not at times exhausting ride of a read!
“Not everyone understands you only need two ingredients to make a family,” she’d said, stroking my hair. “People and love.”
Because when it all came down to it, that is very much the core theme of The Roof Over Our Heads. Finn Turner's family and his struggle to keep it together - to hold himself together, for the sake of his parents and his brothers was what stood out for me more than the romance and mystery element of this heart-warming if not chaotic glimpse of life in the theater. Especially when it runs in the family!
“What circle of hell was this?”
That does honestly sum up so well exactly what Finn had to endure for the course of two weeks, as his family effortlessly worked to bring to life a murder mystery play set during the Victorian Era. I enjoyed Finn's voice as the narrator - he is such a likable guy, just trying to get by, just trying to do what's right for everyone, while still juggling his conflicting feelings for new girl, Alexa and his best friend since 6th grade, Jade. To top it all of, he's burdened with his parents own troubles of trying to stage a successful performance that will prevent their family theater home from being sold.
It's a helluva burden to place upon a young seventeen year old's shoulder, but Nicole Kronzer's writing maintains such a beautifully balanced pace between the theatrics of the theaters and the inner conflicts of his own personal life, that I never once felt myself standing still! 😅😅 It felt as if I HAD been transported into the time frame of Finn's difficulties - both professionally and personally.
There's a wonderful array of colorful and very well-rounded characters - honestly, there's a little bit of something for everyone to relate to here that they seem to come alive before you. And the effort they bring to work together is so seamless and handled so well, I really was quite impressed. 💗💗 Despite how much everything was falling apart around them, somehow, they were holding it up by working together as one.
The dynamics between Finn with all the respective supporting characters - from his older twin brothers and their own personal issues, from his apparent and unwitting love triangle between the girl of his desires and the girl by his side all this time, and his innate fear that his mother's fight with cancer may not be over as much as he'd hoped - everything felt so genuine, so palpable, so very honest, that this YA book weaved a life that enveloped you into it - that you became part of the cast. ✨✨
I also really appreciated the healthy representation of both queer and interracial relationships; the story was just overflowing with love and acceptance and a genuine compassion of just belonging as you are. 🫂 Finn was tackling so much - first love, stage fright, family health concerns, Victorian mysteries - the details of it all kept me engaged with everything that he was experiencing. And to see his own personal self-growth shine, his friendships blossom into something more, his family bonds strengthen in the toughest of times, all together made for a very heart-warming, if not at times exhausting ride of a read!
January 2, 2023
This book is so much fun! I haven’t read many books set in Minnesota, and as a St Paul native with familiarity with the James J Hill house (which at least partially inspired the Jorgensen House), I was having such a fun time imagining the lives of the characters.
Personal connection aside, each of these characters is just so likable! Finn especially, a character who is juggling so much of not only his own issues, but taking on problems in other areas as well. I love the idea of an old mansion being a live-in historical experience and with the characters staging an authentic theater production in an effort to save the Jorgensen House, I was briefly tempted to look into acting myself. (Like Finn, however, I would struggle with memorizing lines.) Though the story focuses on Finn, I do like that we get little stories from everyone who has banded together in this production. Rather than being just names on a page, Kronzer introduces each member of the cast and includes their lives in the story as well.
Every aspect of this book, from the descriptions to the characters to the house itself felt familiar to me, as though I was the invisible, silent audience that the crew at the House welcomed during their show. As a reader, you are welcomed in to the story. It is a fun, comforting read about the importance of family and the meaning of home.
Personal connection aside, each of these characters is just so likable! Finn especially, a character who is juggling so much of not only his own issues, but taking on problems in other areas as well. I love the idea of an old mansion being a live-in historical experience and with the characters staging an authentic theater production in an effort to save the Jorgensen House, I was briefly tempted to look into acting myself. (Like Finn, however, I would struggle with memorizing lines.) Though the story focuses on Finn, I do like that we get little stories from everyone who has banded together in this production. Rather than being just names on a page, Kronzer introduces each member of the cast and includes their lives in the story as well.
Every aspect of this book, from the descriptions to the characters to the house itself felt familiar to me, as though I was the invisible, silent audience that the crew at the House welcomed during their show. As a reader, you are welcomed in to the story. It is a fun, comforting read about the importance of family and the meaning of home.
February 8, 2023
THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS
Nicole Kronzer
The main character in this story is Finn Turner who has grown up in an acting family and finds his position a bit intimidating. He can't remember his lines which frustrates him and causes anxiety. He has to deal with lots of family issues, his moms, for one, and a sick one at that. The story is about a total immersion play set in the family home (HUGE MANSION) set at the turn of the century, with butlers, footmen, maids, and the like.
After looking for love in all the wrong places he determines that he is straight and has to tell his parents who really didn't care one way or the other. A super humor twist on the issue. But Finn is a man of the house and finds himself doing so much to keep the house moving forward. I felt like he might be overburdened by his responsibilities, but he dealt with them well.
This was a busy novel plot and had lots of side trails to fill the time and pages. I thought that a few side runs would have allowed Kronzer the ability to develop some of the characters who were superficial sketches.
While the story centers around the idea of home, Finn finds out that it is not the house that defines that term. Sort of a typical YA romance and rather predictable, but entirely entertaining.
3.6 stars
Happy Reading!
Nicole Kronzer
The main character in this story is Finn Turner who has grown up in an acting family and finds his position a bit intimidating. He can't remember his lines which frustrates him and causes anxiety. He has to deal with lots of family issues, his moms, for one, and a sick one at that. The story is about a total immersion play set in the family home (HUGE MANSION) set at the turn of the century, with butlers, footmen, maids, and the like.
After looking for love in all the wrong places he determines that he is straight and has to tell his parents who really didn't care one way or the other. A super humor twist on the issue. But Finn is a man of the house and finds himself doing so much to keep the house moving forward. I felt like he might be overburdened by his responsibilities, but he dealt with them well.
This was a busy novel plot and had lots of side trails to fill the time and pages. I thought that a few side runs would have allowed Kronzer the ability to develop some of the characters who were superficial sketches.
While the story centers around the idea of home, Finn finds out that it is not the house that defines that term. Sort of a typical YA romance and rather predictable, but entirely entertaining.
3.6 stars
Happy Reading!
July 1, 2023
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I know I usually only review books that I think highly of.
As a theatre kid who lives in a town with historic houses (and similar immersive experiences exist) this one hit the nail on so many heads.
Finn and his family turn their historic home into an immersive murder mystery play that silent guests will solve. Everything must go according to plan. Naturally, very little does, but when you have a family of theatre people, a diverse theatre and history-loving cast of supporting characters, and mishaps galore, you're in for a treat.
I LOVE the diversity, the family dynamic, how certain situations might make a reader second-guess some things but Nicole Kronzer writes them soooo smoothly, there's no room for contest, the awkwardness of the mishaps, FINN as the protagonist (he really is one of those great root-for-them protagonists), the 'unspoken' dialogue of most of the primary characters is often hilarious and very accurately portrayed in the family and theatrical cast dynamics, the historical details of the house/the fake family/the Victorian customs and fashion were all very thoroughly researched and included, but from a fun perspective so it never felt like it dragged the story.
I realize that this is probably the world's worst run-on sentence, but....
Let me just say a gist about this read: 1) If you like Historical reenactment or immersion, you'll enjoy this book. 2) If you like the upstairs/downstairs drama of Downton Abbey (I know, slightly different time periods), 3) If you love heroes you can root for, 4) If you like books about theatre, 5) if you like diversified family dynamics, 6) if you like good humor, you will probably enjoy this book.
Final thing: I work in a public library so I am fortunate enough to be able to read a lot without purchasing a book, BUT, I enjoyed this one so much, its going on my to-own shelf!
I know I usually only review books that I think highly of.
As a theatre kid who lives in a town with historic houses (and similar immersive experiences exist) this one hit the nail on so many heads.
Finn and his family turn their historic home into an immersive murder mystery play that silent guests will solve. Everything must go according to plan. Naturally, very little does, but when you have a family of theatre people, a diverse theatre and history-loving cast of supporting characters, and mishaps galore, you're in for a treat.
I LOVE the diversity, the family dynamic, how certain situations might make a reader second-guess some things but Nicole Kronzer writes them soooo smoothly, there's no room for contest, the awkwardness of the mishaps, FINN as the protagonist (he really is one of those great root-for-them protagonists), the 'unspoken' dialogue of most of the primary characters is often hilarious and very accurately portrayed in the family and theatrical cast dynamics, the historical details of the house/the fake family/the Victorian customs and fashion were all very thoroughly researched and included, but from a fun perspective so it never felt like it dragged the story.
I realize that this is probably the world's worst run-on sentence, but....
Let me just say a gist about this read: 1) If you like Historical reenactment or immersion, you'll enjoy this book. 2) If you like the upstairs/downstairs drama of Downton Abbey (I know, slightly different time periods), 3) If you love heroes you can root for, 4) If you like books about theatre, 5) if you like diversified family dynamics, 6) if you like good humor, you will probably enjoy this book.
Final thing: I work in a public library so I am fortunate enough to be able to read a lot without purchasing a book, BUT, I enjoyed this one so much, its going on my to-own shelf!
January 21, 2025
3.5/5
In The Roof Over Our Head Finn and his family try to save their historic home by turning it into a huge Victorian murder mystery play that silent guests will solve. What a great setting for a cute book about family and about teen romance. The family and cast is diverse, especially in LGBTQ+ identities. If you like theatre, historical reenactments or cute YA romances you should totally read this. However, if predictable elements in YA novels aren’t your cup of tea, you might want to pass on this one.
In The Roof Over Our Head Finn and his family try to save their historic home by turning it into a huge Victorian murder mystery play that silent guests will solve. What a great setting for a cute book about family and about teen romance. The family and cast is diverse, especially in LGBTQ+ identities. If you like theatre, historical reenactments or cute YA romances you should totally read this. However, if predictable elements in YA novels aren’t your cup of tea, you might want to pass on this one.
April 6, 2023
very cute and wholesome but not showstoppingly spectacular (3.5 stars)
December 27, 2022
THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS is an engaging and charming YA contemporary about family, finding your own path, and falling in love. Finn's family lives in an old Victorian mansion owned by the theatre company where one of his mothers works. The mansion is beginning to fall into disrepair, and the new owner of the theatre company wants to sell unless they can prove that it is profitable. One of his mothers has written a locked room murder-mystery that is to be performed there with the staff living as though they are in Victorian times and the guests dining with them while trying to figure out whodunnit.
Finn is not as talented at theatre as everyone else in his family, and he is painfully aware of it. He wants to help and wants to have a real role, but it feels like a big challenge, especially since he'll be doing some of the cooking until the person hired to cook in the Victorian style arrives. His former BFF and current enemy, Jade, is playing one of the characters, and she wants to search for the lost treasure thought to be hidden in the house with his help, just like they used to when they were little. In return, she promises to help him to get with his crush, Alexa.
However, nothing seems to be going as planned, and Finn and his family must work with the cast to try to create the experience they have worked so hard to provide.
What I loved: This was such a consuming and sweet story with thought-provoking themes around family, finding your place, the importance of allowing people to change, misunderstandings, falling in love, determination, and acting. One frequent thread of the book is around family, which his mothers frequently insist only requires people and love. Finn is afraid of letting them down and not being the best son, but he is still figuring out exactly what that means. As he begins to hear others' experiences with their own families, including one of his mother's stories, he realizes how much the love part of that equation matters as well as how much support plays a role.
Finn is in a family dedicated to the theatre, and he is not great at acting. While he is trying to force himself to be great at it and prove that he can join the theatre group at the school to the teacher for it who is also in the play, he begins to learn more about his own strengths and the ways in which those are also important. Additionally, there are strong themes around allowing people to change, as people learn from their mistakes or may not always follow the same patterns you expect. This comes into play not only with Jade and Finn, but also with Finn's brother, Kendrick, who is growing and changing in his own ways.
Finn is a really compelling character, who cares so deeply about his family and wants to be everything for them while also figuring out himself. His growth during the story is really strong as he begins to learn more about those he loves and himself. Jade is another strong character who brings in some additional themes and is so easy to love. Their past friendship and current animosity is a stumbling block that needs to be resolved during the course of the story but also brings up new feelings. The romance was really easy to cheer for and buy into, and while there were some mishaps along the way, they were resolved well.
Final verdict: THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS is an enthralling and delightful YA contemporary about family, love, and the theatre. Highly recommend picking up this gem!
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Finn is not as talented at theatre as everyone else in his family, and he is painfully aware of it. He wants to help and wants to have a real role, but it feels like a big challenge, especially since he'll be doing some of the cooking until the person hired to cook in the Victorian style arrives. His former BFF and current enemy, Jade, is playing one of the characters, and she wants to search for the lost treasure thought to be hidden in the house with his help, just like they used to when they were little. In return, she promises to help him to get with his crush, Alexa.
However, nothing seems to be going as planned, and Finn and his family must work with the cast to try to create the experience they have worked so hard to provide.
What I loved: This was such a consuming and sweet story with thought-provoking themes around family, finding your place, the importance of allowing people to change, misunderstandings, falling in love, determination, and acting. One frequent thread of the book is around family, which his mothers frequently insist only requires people and love. Finn is afraid of letting them down and not being the best son, but he is still figuring out exactly what that means. As he begins to hear others' experiences with their own families, including one of his mother's stories, he realizes how much the love part of that equation matters as well as how much support plays a role.
Finn is in a family dedicated to the theatre, and he is not great at acting. While he is trying to force himself to be great at it and prove that he can join the theatre group at the school to the teacher for it who is also in the play, he begins to learn more about his own strengths and the ways in which those are also important. Additionally, there are strong themes around allowing people to change, as people learn from their mistakes or may not always follow the same patterns you expect. This comes into play not only with Jade and Finn, but also with Finn's brother, Kendrick, who is growing and changing in his own ways.
Finn is a really compelling character, who cares so deeply about his family and wants to be everything for them while also figuring out himself. His growth during the story is really strong as he begins to learn more about those he loves and himself. Jade is another strong character who brings in some additional themes and is so easy to love. Their past friendship and current animosity is a stumbling block that needs to be resolved during the course of the story but also brings up new feelings. The romance was really easy to cheer for and buy into, and while there were some mishaps along the way, they were resolved well.
Final verdict: THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS is an enthralling and delightful YA contemporary about family, love, and the theatre. Highly recommend picking up this gem!
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
December 22, 2022
“The story of this house had been started by the Jorgensens, but we were characters in that story, too. We couldn’t lose it.”
Many teens spend their summers before senior year of high school traveling or at the beach or hanging out with friends. Not Finn Turner. He’s spending two weeks of his summer vacation putting on an immersive Victorian show in the historic mansion his family lives in. They’re desperate to save the only home they’ve ever known, but despite Finn’s entire family being actors, he always seems to have trouble remembering his lines. Still, this is their only chance, and Finn is determined to do what it takes. But with things going wrong, his longtime rival Jade seemingly everywhere, and his crush too busy to connect with him, Finn is in for an exciting two weeks. Will they manage to save the house in time? Or will everything come crashing down…maybe even literally?
As a theatre nerd, I absolutely loved this book! As a Victorian nerd, I absolutely loved this book! And as a book nerd, I absolutely loved this book! THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS is such a fun romp with moments that simultaneously made me laugh out loud and wrenched my heart. All of the characters are very fleshed out and realistic, and I felt like they might jump off the page. Plus, the concept of the play is so unique! I wish I could both act in and see a play like this! Need a book to warm you up during these chilly winter months? Then find yourself a copy of THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS right away and immerse yourself in Nicole Kronzer’s incredible story!
Content Warnings: Mild language, character with cancer, homophobia, mentioned racism and sexism, blood, theatrical murder, mentioned abandonment
THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS by Nicole Kronzer releases January 3, 2023 from Amulet Books.
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)
Many teens spend their summers before senior year of high school traveling or at the beach or hanging out with friends. Not Finn Turner. He’s spending two weeks of his summer vacation putting on an immersive Victorian show in the historic mansion his family lives in. They’re desperate to save the only home they’ve ever known, but despite Finn’s entire family being actors, he always seems to have trouble remembering his lines. Still, this is their only chance, and Finn is determined to do what it takes. But with things going wrong, his longtime rival Jade seemingly everywhere, and his crush too busy to connect with him, Finn is in for an exciting two weeks. Will they manage to save the house in time? Or will everything come crashing down…maybe even literally?
As a theatre nerd, I absolutely loved this book! As a Victorian nerd, I absolutely loved this book! And as a book nerd, I absolutely loved this book! THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS is such a fun romp with moments that simultaneously made me laugh out loud and wrenched my heart. All of the characters are very fleshed out and realistic, and I felt like they might jump off the page. Plus, the concept of the play is so unique! I wish I could both act in and see a play like this! Need a book to warm you up during these chilly winter months? Then find yourself a copy of THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS right away and immerse yourself in Nicole Kronzer’s incredible story!
Content Warnings: Mild language, character with cancer, homophobia, mentioned racism and sexism, blood, theatrical murder, mentioned abandonment
THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS by Nicole Kronzer releases January 3, 2023 from Amulet Books.
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)
August 21, 2023
I enjoyed this lighthearted romance novel. The characters were engaging, and the premise of an immersion theater/murder mystery party/escape room event in a historic mansion made me wonder if I can ever find such a cool event going on in my area! What I liked best were the themes about consent and about constructive self-advocacy. When I was young, I was not taught how, and not even really encouraged to have difficult conversations with adults or to advocate for myself with adults. I love the idea of showing young people how to speak up for their own needs, not only with their peers, but also with their adults. Besides all that, the fast-paced storyline kept me hooked and the ending was satisfying and realistic.
April 20, 2023
l loooooved this book! i went to the author event (she’s local to me) and wanted to read it but the bookstore was sold out! i waited patiently for a library copy. i learned a lot about local history, even with things renamed, and i enjoyed the different dynamics of school/family/work/romance happening all in the same place at the same time, the unique setting and premise, all of that made it a really unique and engaging book. i thought it was very well done and must have been a big challenge to write!
January 17, 2023
I enjoyed this book soooooo much. I didn’t want it to end. A theatrical family lives in a mansion (j j hill) and they decide to live as authentically as they can in 1891 for two weeks while putting on a play to raise money to save the house. Each character has their own objective but together they learn from one another and become even better humans. Lots of love in this book! First loves and family love. Theatre kids will really enjoy this book!
June 16, 2023
Rating: 4.5/5
Pros:
-the plot is insanely cool, it was a mix of contemporary with historical elements through the Victorian immersive experience
-the pacing was really nice and it didn’t feel like there were any slow moments
-the characters were all fully-developed and I was interested in every single one
-all of the relationships were written very well (even the ones existing within the play)
Cons:
-none!
Pros:
-the plot is insanely cool, it was a mix of contemporary with historical elements through the Victorian immersive experience
-the pacing was really nice and it didn’t feel like there were any slow moments
-the characters were all fully-developed and I was interested in every single one
-all of the relationships were written very well (even the ones existing within the play)
Cons:
-none!
May 2, 2023
This book is great! Truly. Finn is such a compelling narrator and I spent the whole book wanting everything to work out for him and his family. If you want to find out whether or not they do, you’ll have to read the book! (Cue Reading Rainbow theme music)
February 6, 2023
The only word to describe this is “cute.” This entire book is SO. STINKING. CUTE. I loved every adorable moment in this adorable book.
January 7, 2023
I love this author!! This is her second, and strongest book. I have found it hard to find good young adult books that explore the special relationships that form among theatre people. This book is that and so much more. The action is non-stop. The characters are genuinely likable, adding a depth and relatability to the plot that kept me deeply engrossed the whole time. I may have accidentally ignored my family for the duration of this read, so consider yourself warned—section off the appropriate time to read this, because once you start, you won’t want to stop.
May 25, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘼 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝘼 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚.
📍 Read if you like:
• Family Relationships
• YA Love Stories
• Fun Reads
• Acting/Theatre
I love when stories focus on families and how far they would go to save their home and each other. This was such an interesting premise and it sounded so intriguing.
I enjoyed the idea behind a theatrical play to save these characters’ home. A Victorian murder mystery play was so fascinating and had me wanting to read more.
This is a Young Adult book and it definitely reads that way. While I didn’t mind it too much, I couldn’t really connect with the characters. I enjoyed them but didn’t relate to them.
There’s a lot of family drama and “finding your own path” vibes. The romance was good and I enjoyed the queer rep.
I don’t think I was the intended reader of this story. I was never a theatre/play person, but I do think those who love those will enjoy this.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Amulet Books for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Anxiety, cursing, character with cancer, homophobia, racism, sexism, blood, abandonment
𝘼 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝘼 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚.
📍 Read if you like:
• Family Relationships
• YA Love Stories
• Fun Reads
• Acting/Theatre
I love when stories focus on families and how far they would go to save their home and each other. This was such an interesting premise and it sounded so intriguing.
I enjoyed the idea behind a theatrical play to save these characters’ home. A Victorian murder mystery play was so fascinating and had me wanting to read more.
This is a Young Adult book and it definitely reads that way. While I didn’t mind it too much, I couldn’t really connect with the characters. I enjoyed them but didn’t relate to them.
There’s a lot of family drama and “finding your own path” vibes. The romance was good and I enjoyed the queer rep.
I don’t think I was the intended reader of this story. I was never a theatre/play person, but I do think those who love those will enjoy this.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Amulet Books for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Anxiety, cursing, character with cancer, homophobia, racism, sexism, blood, abandonment
July 15, 2022
Thanks to Abrams Kids + Amulet books for the e-publicity copy of THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS, by Nicole Kronzer, expected pub date January 3, 2023.
THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS is an incredible ode to family, theater, and the power of relationships.
What starts off as a fun theater story of saving a historical house (MN friends, you'll totally feel like you're on Summit Ave with this one) through an immersive Victorian theater experience becomes a story of growth, self-realization, family bonds, the power of friendship, and thoughtful explorations into relationships that weren't accepted in the Victorian era including racism and LGBTQIAP+.
Definitely put this one on your TBR - it's one I'll be recommending for sure.
THE ROOF OVER OUR HEADS is an incredible ode to family, theater, and the power of relationships.
What starts off as a fun theater story of saving a historical house (MN friends, you'll totally feel like you're on Summit Ave with this one) through an immersive Victorian theater experience becomes a story of growth, self-realization, family bonds, the power of friendship, and thoughtful explorations into relationships that weren't accepted in the Victorian era including racism and LGBTQIAP+.
Definitely put this one on your TBR - it's one I'll be recommending for sure.
June 23, 2023
Fun characters and local read for me (MN -based) so the tweets like going to Cosetta’s before the show made me smile (and made me hungry).
It read more like a middle grade novel than a YAL. The characters never arched the way the do in YAL, but more of gentle glide into growth. The crushes and dating also made it feel more middle grade.
If you like realistic fiction with storylines wrapped up nicely, you’ll enjoy.
It read more like a middle grade novel than a YAL. The characters never arched the way the do in YAL, but more of gentle glide into growth. The crushes and dating also made it feel more middle grade.
If you like realistic fiction with storylines wrapped up nicely, you’ll enjoy.
April 23, 2023
If you've ever been a theatre kid then this book is a perfect way to relive the glory days! In this novel, we follow Finn Turner who is a struggling actor of a different sort. Finn struggles to remember his lines in a family that is famous for their theatrical performances. At the start of this novel, Finn's mother has written a play based on the original owners of their family home with the funds from this play meant to help with repairs of said aging mansion. However, the family is also hosting the cast in an immersive experience inside the family home to prepare for their performance set in 1891. Can they pull it off to keep the roof over their heads? Or will it all come crashing down?
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. This is not a thrilling or fast-paced story; it is actually quite slow. However, there is a lot of attention to detail that made this story incredibly immersive. The descriptions of the cast living the 1891 life were incredibly detailed and I loved Joan's character as the local historian - it made this history nerd feel very seen! I felt like I could vividly picture the house and all of the characters in the play. This has a large cast, so I was shocked at how unique each character felt. The characters were incredibly well-rounded and I liked that it was a mix of characters enthusiastic for the play and people just roped in to help so that there were all kinds of personality types. I also felt like there was a good amount of depth to both the friendships and familial relationships throughout the book. I really liked how the author had people communicate with one another and have genuine conversations that built up character relationships without feeling forced. In the romance plot-line there was also such great banter and a real chemistry between the couple that had me swooning for them! In general, there were a lot of comedic moments that had me literally laughing out loud at the story and I liked the balance of comedy and seriousness.
However, I did have a few issues with certain elements of the story. The pacing of the novel was really uneven. The beginning was slow-moving with roughly 30-40% of the first half being only one day. Then, the second half of the novel rushed through multiple days and the actual performances of the play. I personally would have liked to get more from that second half because while major progress is happening in terms of character development and plot lines, there had been so much build up about the play in the first half that it was just odd to barely focus on it. Another issue I had is the trope used in this story, which I think was made unnecessarily complicated. Lastly, it was very weird to me that Finn's height was brought up so often and frequently a source of negativity/conflict with other characters. It seemed over-exaggerated to me and again just unnecessary.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I wished would have been a bit better paced and chosen a slightly different trope. However, the good greatly outweighed my issues and I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves theatre, history, and witty banter!
Thank you to the publisher Harry n. Abrams for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. This is not a thrilling or fast-paced story; it is actually quite slow. However, there is a lot of attention to detail that made this story incredibly immersive. The descriptions of the cast living the 1891 life were incredibly detailed and I loved Joan's character as the local historian - it made this history nerd feel very seen! I felt like I could vividly picture the house and all of the characters in the play. This has a large cast, so I was shocked at how unique each character felt. The characters were incredibly well-rounded and I liked that it was a mix of characters enthusiastic for the play and people just roped in to help so that there were all kinds of personality types. I also felt like there was a good amount of depth to both the friendships and familial relationships throughout the book. I really liked how the author had people communicate with one another and have genuine conversations that built up character relationships without feeling forced. In the romance plot-line there was also such great banter and a real chemistry between the couple that had me swooning for them! In general, there were a lot of comedic moments that had me literally laughing out loud at the story and I liked the balance of comedy and seriousness.
However, I did have a few issues with certain elements of the story. The pacing of the novel was really uneven. The beginning was slow-moving with roughly 30-40% of the first half being only one day. Then, the second half of the novel rushed through multiple days and the actual performances of the play. I personally would have liked to get more from that second half because while major progress is happening in terms of character development and plot lines, there had been so much build up about the play in the first half that it was just odd to barely focus on it. Another issue I had is the trope used in this story, which I think was made unnecessarily complicated. Lastly, it was very weird to me that Finn's height was brought up so often and frequently a source of negativity/conflict with other characters. It seemed over-exaggerated to me and again just unnecessary.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I wished would have been a bit better paced and chosen a slightly different trope. However, the good greatly outweighed my issues and I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves theatre, history, and witty banter!
Thank you to the publisher Harry n. Abrams for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
February 3, 2023
Nicole Kronzer’s young adult novel The Roof Over Our Heads is a wonderful love letter to theater, families, and belonging. The main character of the novel is Finn Turner, a 17-year-old who lives with his two mothers and two brothers in a Victorian mansion owned by a theater company. But the theater has a new artistic director who isn’t convinced that the expense of the mansion is worth it to the theater’s bottom line. Finn’s mothers get the idea to perform an interactive play in the house—while the cast lives in the mansion as though it’s 1891.
The plot is a clever spin on the old “Hey, let’s do the show right here!” trope, and Kronzer’s sense of humor is evident in the terrific title of the play: A Midsummer Night’s Art Heist Garden Party Escape Room Murder. Finn has to navigate through many complications, including figuring out how he will successfully memorize his lines, and how his footman character will be able to chat with his crush Alexa, playing one of the daughters of the household. The other daughter of the household is played by Jade, who used to be best friends with Finn in middle school, but now their friendship has hit a rockier patch. Throw in a drama teacher who is relentless about staying in character, and a dude-ish organ performance major, among others, and you have a recipe for delightful comedy.
The condensed time structure of The Roof Over Our Heads heightens the tension, and the narrative drive will keep you turning pages. The Roof Over Our Heads is funny, heartwarming, and charming. Anyone who has experienced the magic inherent in theater will enjoy immersing themselves in the backstage dramas contained herein. Nicole Kronzer’s first novel, 2020’s delightful Unscripted, also had a theater theme, and even though my own acting career was limited to high school, I loved being back in that universe in The Roof Over Our Heads.
I knew that I was going to like The Roof Over Our Heads long before I actually read it. The first time I met Nicole Kronzer was in the fall of 2021—our mutual friend, the talented illustrator Katharine Woodman-Maynard, was taking one of my F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tours, and she had invited Nicole as well. I think about the third sentence Nicole said to me was “My next novel is set in the James J. Hill house!” I replied, “I used to be a tour guide there!” Although the house in The Roof Over Our Heads is called the Jorgensen House, it shares many characteristics with the James J. Hill House, and it was with gleeful pleasure that I read Kronzer’s beautiful descriptions of a place that I know so well. The next time I go to the Hill House I’ll be imagining Finn and the other characters running from one wing to another, running lines as they go, preparing for the next performance of A Midsummer Night’s Art Heist Garden Party Escape Room Murder.
The plot is a clever spin on the old “Hey, let’s do the show right here!” trope, and Kronzer’s sense of humor is evident in the terrific title of the play: A Midsummer Night’s Art Heist Garden Party Escape Room Murder. Finn has to navigate through many complications, including figuring out how he will successfully memorize his lines, and how his footman character will be able to chat with his crush Alexa, playing one of the daughters of the household. The other daughter of the household is played by Jade, who used to be best friends with Finn in middle school, but now their friendship has hit a rockier patch. Throw in a drama teacher who is relentless about staying in character, and a dude-ish organ performance major, among others, and you have a recipe for delightful comedy.
The condensed time structure of The Roof Over Our Heads heightens the tension, and the narrative drive will keep you turning pages. The Roof Over Our Heads is funny, heartwarming, and charming. Anyone who has experienced the magic inherent in theater will enjoy immersing themselves in the backstage dramas contained herein. Nicole Kronzer’s first novel, 2020’s delightful Unscripted, also had a theater theme, and even though my own acting career was limited to high school, I loved being back in that universe in The Roof Over Our Heads.
I knew that I was going to like The Roof Over Our Heads long before I actually read it. The first time I met Nicole Kronzer was in the fall of 2021—our mutual friend, the talented illustrator Katharine Woodman-Maynard, was taking one of my F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tours, and she had invited Nicole as well. I think about the third sentence Nicole said to me was “My next novel is set in the James J. Hill house!” I replied, “I used to be a tour guide there!” Although the house in The Roof Over Our Heads is called the Jorgensen House, it shares many characteristics with the James J. Hill House, and it was with gleeful pleasure that I read Kronzer’s beautiful descriptions of a place that I know so well. The next time I go to the Hill House I’ll be imagining Finn and the other characters running from one wing to another, running lines as they go, preparing for the next performance of A Midsummer Night’s Art Heist Garden Party Escape Room Murder.
February 17, 2023
The Roof Over Our Heads is an extremely relatable book with an internal character struggle that many people can or have been able to relate to in their lifetime: who we are and how to reconcile that with familial expectations.
Finn is your average guy: he has two moms and two older brothers. Sounds normal, right? Well, let's add in the family's notoriety as a theater family. And while we are at it, Finn and his family live in a historical house that will never be theirs. But Finn is struggling... in so many things and in so many ways. The house is falling down around him, his moms are concerned with the house being shut down and knocked down, and Finn can for the love of goodness ever remember his lines! It is an embarrassment to be in a theater family and to not be able to remember his lines! But Finn has a plan to.piggyback off of his mom's plan to save the house they love.
Enter a living theater. Finn and his family as well as friends and the community come together to take part in Nomi and Lula's Victorian level scheme to save the only house be has ever known. And of course there are girls in the mix and a treasure to find and a personal discovery to attend to as well. Over the course of prepping g for the immersive show, Finn has pressure galore to singlehandedly keep the house together, protect Lula from her self in her road to.recovery, cook, act, and think ten steps ahead to make sure everything stays afloat. As the days pass, things become more and more complicated and Finn is thrust into one of the lead roles, he must discover what he wants and how to make his family proud and of course vet the girl. The only question though: which one will he get?
This book was a fun read that had you rooting for all the characters despite them being very human. It is easy to relate to Finn as you read his journey of self realization about what he loves and who is family expects him to be. Many can and will relate to the internal struggle of finding out who you are and loving yourself for it. And who doesn't loves good trope?!? Friends to enemies to lovers? I was definitely here for it!
Finn is your average guy: he has two moms and two older brothers. Sounds normal, right? Well, let's add in the family's notoriety as a theater family. And while we are at it, Finn and his family live in a historical house that will never be theirs. But Finn is struggling... in so many things and in so many ways. The house is falling down around him, his moms are concerned with the house being shut down and knocked down, and Finn can for the love of goodness ever remember his lines! It is an embarrassment to be in a theater family and to not be able to remember his lines! But Finn has a plan to.piggyback off of his mom's plan to save the house they love.
Enter a living theater. Finn and his family as well as friends and the community come together to take part in Nomi and Lula's Victorian level scheme to save the only house be has ever known. And of course there are girls in the mix and a treasure to find and a personal discovery to attend to as well. Over the course of prepping g for the immersive show, Finn has pressure galore to singlehandedly keep the house together, protect Lula from her self in her road to.recovery, cook, act, and think ten steps ahead to make sure everything stays afloat. As the days pass, things become more and more complicated and Finn is thrust into one of the lead roles, he must discover what he wants and how to make his family proud and of course vet the girl. The only question though: which one will he get?
This book was a fun read that had you rooting for all the characters despite them being very human. It is easy to relate to Finn as you read his journey of self realization about what he loves and who is family expects him to be. Many can and will relate to the internal struggle of finding out who you are and loving yourself for it. And who doesn't loves good trope?!? Friends to enemies to lovers? I was definitely here for it!
April 24, 2023
Finn and his theater loving family have had a heck of a year. His twin brothers have left the nest for college, his mom, Lula, has been battling cancer, the roof in the historical Victorian house they live in is leaking - everywhere - and they are about to lose the only home he’s ever known. In an attempt to convince the man who now owns their home to not sell it, they put on an immersive Victorian experience where actors will come & stay at the house for 2 weeks and live as though it were truly Victorian times. No cellphones, no modern conveniences, and proper Victorian etiquette for all. These actors will rehearse while there and then perform an immersive murder mystery play for paying guests as a way to raise money to save the home. The only problem? Jade - Finn’s ex-best friend & bane of his existence - is one of the actors now living under his roof. Chaos ensues as the two struggle with being forced back together but as they say, “The show must go on!”
• • •
Finn is dealing with a lot of heavy emotional issues and feeling like he has to take care of everything on his own. With Lula being sick, he has taken on the roles of cook - something it turns out he loves & is good at - and home repairman - something he’s not so good at but it turns out it builds him lots of muscles. He is stressed about keeping up the family tradition of being a phenomenal theater person - & completely failing at his lines. The poor kid needs a break from all the stress he is putting on himself & you really feel for how much he wants to be there for his family, especially his moms.
This is really a story about family & the lengths one will go to in order to be there for their loved ones. It’s also a coming of age story as Finn struggles with figuring out who he is & where his true passions lie.
• • •
💛🎭💧🪣📱🎼📕🏳️🌈💛
• • •
#2023reads #bookstagram #MsMcCallaRecommends #TheRoofOverOurHeads #YAcontemporary #YAromance #lgbtq
• • •
Finn is dealing with a lot of heavy emotional issues and feeling like he has to take care of everything on his own. With Lula being sick, he has taken on the roles of cook - something it turns out he loves & is good at - and home repairman - something he’s not so good at but it turns out it builds him lots of muscles. He is stressed about keeping up the family tradition of being a phenomenal theater person - & completely failing at his lines. The poor kid needs a break from all the stress he is putting on himself & you really feel for how much he wants to be there for his family, especially his moms.
This is really a story about family & the lengths one will go to in order to be there for their loved ones. It’s also a coming of age story as Finn struggles with figuring out who he is & where his true passions lie.
• • •
💛🎭💧🪣📱🎼📕🏳️🌈💛
• • •
#2023reads #bookstagram #MsMcCallaRecommends #TheRoofOverOurHeads #YAcontemporary #YAromance #lgbtq
December 19, 2022
Although the romantic intrigue in this novel is resolved pretty handily and predictably--yes, readers who have read this sort of YA title before won't be surprised at how the book's protagonist finds love in a (to him) surprising place-the idea of hosting an immersive Victorian murder mystery is unique enough to hold readers' attention the whole way through. Finn Turner, the main character, has grown up in a family of actors, but try as he might, he struggles in being able to remember his lines in the play. Still, he rises to the occasion and pitches in wherever he can, even if it means being the chef for the final night's performance. There's quite a lot going on in this novel, including misplaced affections, family drama, identity, and belonging. Several of the characters aren't fully developed, but readers will certainly root for Finn to find his heart's desire as he helps his two mothers with their plan to save the Beauregard, the mansion they have always called home. But as so many others like Finn have come to realize, a house isn't necessarily a home and even though family dynamics may be messy and complicated, they offer unbreakable bonds. Drama kids and those who march to their own drums may enjoy this one.
December 24, 2022
If you could spend two weeks living in 1890 would you? Finn has lived his whole life with his moms and brothers in one of the Victorian mansions on St. Paul's Summit Ave. They have been restoring the Jorgenson House, which is owned by a local theater company who his moms work for. One mom is an actor, the other is a director. Now the roof is in serious disrepair and they need to raise money quickly or the house will be sold. So his moms put together an immersive theater experience -- the actors will live in the house as if it were 1890 for two weeks, while performing a murder mystery play for guests. It's all hands on deck to pull it together and save the mansion. Finn is desperate to save his home. Along the way he also learns more about himself, his friends, and what truly makes a family. At times laugh out loud funny, this was a heart warming look at a community pulling together. Highly recommended for grades 8 & up, especially theater kids.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
November 28, 2022
This was a jam-packed romp. Kronzer had a lot of characters and sub-plots, but you know what? It all seemed to come together in a fun and entertaining way. Once again, the author showed her love for theatre, and what a fun show it was. Not sure if Victorian immersion is for me, but I had a good time reading about it. Aside from all the antics and show stuff, there were wonderful storylines dedicated to family, friendship, as well as finding your place in this world. I especially appreciated Finn's struggle with feeling like the family outsider, but I was happy that he was able to forge his own path.
*ARC provided by publisher
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*ARC provided by publisher
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February 1, 2023
This was a fun read, especially since the location is based on the James J. Hill house on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul. I have been in that house a few times but I still wished Kronzer had included a map of the home's interior. Many interesting themes - a family is actually living in this century-old home even though the roof is leaking and it has maintenance issues, theater kids are performing a play inside the house to raise money to get those things fixed, costumes are late 19th century, a "friends romance" and a gay romance - just lots of fun things that all work together to make a great story about family, theater and friendships.
March 26, 2023
Even though this book did not hit anywhere as hard as Unscripted, Kronzer's debut novel, this book proved that Kronzer can write really well. This book features a male protagonist struggling to figure out what he really wants in the midst of participating in a fully immersive theatre experience put on to save the historic home in which he and his family live. It's fairly low stakes but stakes do exist and provide Kronzer the ability to explore character relationships in a truly remarkable way.l
November 10, 2022
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Fun book combining 1900 House vibes with theatre. Lots of characters and a more philoshophical twist makes this a bit more appealing to high school rather than middle school readers, but if there's a lot of interest in theater, this might work for your younger crowd as well.
Fun book combining 1900 House vibes with theatre. Lots of characters and a more philoshophical twist makes this a bit more appealing to high school rather than middle school readers, but if there's a lot of interest in theater, this might work for your younger crowd as well.
January 7, 2023
Thoroughly original and aggressively creative-- This is for you if you watched Bridgerton and thought "Gee, I wish this was about modern theater teens and also that it was more queer" and also "I wish there was a murder mystery/art heist/treasure hunt happening" and ALSO "I wish this had a Hallmark 'save the historical house and find love along the way' fundraiser vibe about it."
January 29, 2023
Kronzer nails her second book with an incredibly funny story of earnest Finn, trying to help his family and figure out his own desires, all while juggling memorizing lines and maintaining an aging mansion.
Phenomenal comedic timing, tear jerking scenes, and the sweetest parental and familial love are masterfully displayed in this fun and engaging read.
Phenomenal comedic timing, tear jerking scenes, and the sweetest parental and familial love are masterfully displayed in this fun and engaging read.
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