Roomies by Christina Lauren Published by Gallery Books on December 5th 2017
Pages: 368
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Marriages of convenience are so…inconvenient.
Rescued by Calvin McLoughlin from a would-be subway attacker, Holland Bakker pays the brilliant musician back by pulling some of her errand-girl strings and getting him an audition with a big-time musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until he admits his student visa has expired and he’s in the country illegally.
Holland impulsively offers to wed the Irishman to keep him in New York, her growing infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers, Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway. In the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting, what will it take for Holland and Calvin to realise that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?
My first love has always been musical theatre, and I’ve now read two books in a row centering around the lives and loves of Broadway performers. It could be that I’m in a sentimental mood, but reading Roomies released mega endorphins and, quite simply, it made my heart happy.
It was so easy for me to connect with Holland and her struggle to find passion in her stagnant life. With the support of her uncles—one a famous Broadway composer—she is able to live a comfortable life in Manhattan. Comfortable doesn’t mean happy or even satisfied, though. With her Masters degree gathering dust, she feels like an uninspired spectator to the achievements of those around her.
Calvin is a street—or in this case, subway—performer as well as Holland’s longtime secret crush. He’s Irish—bonus sexy points for the accent—and musically gifted, but he’s also in the United States illegally. Holland is normally very cautious; however, there are several motives behind her impulsive decision to marry Calvin so that he can get a Green Card. I loved all the different angles.
Holland is extremely giving and patient, and Calvin is artistically passionate with an overall easygoing nature. The humor, the camaraderie, and the peek at life behind the velvet curtains really help sell the story. I simply adored Holland’s two uncles. I wanted them to adopt me.
This book re-affirmed my affection for Christina Lauren’s storytelling. Filled with tenderness, delicious tension, wit, and impeccable timing, Roomies is a highly charming romance that kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning.
Recommended for fans of:
Musical theatre
Irishmen
Fake marriages
Subways
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
About Christina Lauren
Yes, there are two of us! Lauren (on the left) and Christina (on the right).
Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received multiple starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal, been selected as one of NPR’s Top 100 Swoon-Worthy Romances, and won both the Seal of Excellence award and Book of the Year from RT Magazine.
Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, bestie to a shoe-stealer, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.
Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. These days you’ll probably find her on tumblr. She is married and absolutely not old enough to be the mom of a 16 year old (right??), thinks she’s the luckiest person in the world to write books with her best friend, and is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter. She also likes to steal Lo’s shoes.
Great review Angela! This is on my TBR and I am looking forward to read this 🙂