There was never a dull moment reading this book! Fantastic banter and chemistry, great pace and flow, a wonderful and relatable heroine and a guitar-playing Irishman who will melt your heart with his music and accent. Plus, it’s a slow burn, marriage of convenience romance, so duh. Of course, it’s a win for me.
Holland Bakker had no idea she’d go from admiring the uber-handsome and talented busker she dubbed as Jack at the subway to actually talking to him and getting to know him, let alone marrying him, but that’s what happens. She wants to do something to help her uncle Robert, the man who gave her a job in Broadway—all backstage since she’s not as musically talented as her uncle—and when an incident happens that might leave his play hanging, she knows she’s found a way to actually do something.
Calvin McLoughlin has been staying illegally in the US since he graduated from music school, hoping he’d reach his dreams in New York. Four years later, an opportunity finally comes knocking on his door. Unfortunately, his decision to stay illegally bites him in the a** and he can’t accept the part to play in one of his favorite plays on Broadway. But then the pretty girl he kind of saved at the subway, who is coincidentally related to the man behind the play, offers to marry him, and the rest is history.
I love Calvin and Holland, both as individuals and as a couple! Holland is a twenty-five-year-old woman who hasn’t figured out how to do what she wants to do in life. She put everyone in her life first and did everything she can to help them. She did a lot of growing up in this book, and I’m so happy she did! Calvin knows what he wants from the very start and is passionate about his dreams and music. While it looks like Holland gave more to help Calvin reach his dreams, I think Calvin helped her just as much. He pushed her to step out of her comfort zone and encouraged her to pursue writing, her real passion.
I love that the whole applying for a visa thing did not go on the back burner like some marriage of convenience novels of this nature tend to do. We saw how nerve-wracking it is, saw what Holland and Calvin needed to do—the forms, the interviews, everything. And most importantly, we saw how difficult and emotionally taxing it is for the couple. Because of that, I felt more connected to them as a couple and as people.
It’s pretty light throughout the story, but there were a few angsty scenes here that made my heart ache. Fauxmances and marriages of convenience tend to become messy when lines are blurred and people involved in the arrangement aren’t sure if it’s still just a purely business deal or a gateway to happily ever after. Since Calvin and Holland are practically strangers, there are a lot of things they don’t know about each other, things they might not understand at first.
It’s not as steamy as this duo’s previous works, but it’s still filled with sexual tension and its fair share of bedroom antics, if not sweeter than the others. The feel of this book is more similar to Dating You/Hating You, the book they released before Roomies, than Beautiful Bastard, but the humor, great flow and character dynamic, and a writing style that’s entertaining and addictive is still very present.
Roomies is a sweet, fun, and romantic read that was perfect to end the year on a high note. I know there are still a few days to go before we say goodbye to 2017, but this book definitely made my year in book blogging a more fun one.
Special mention to Robert and Jeff Okai for being amazing uncles to Holland. I love their family dynamic, Holland and Robert’s especially.
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Celebrities—Broadway
POV: First Person, Female POV
Standalone: Yes
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Cute story
🔘Marriage of convenience🔘Musician mmcHolland Bakker finds herself in an unconventional situation, trying to save her uncle's struggling Broadway show. In a desperate attempt to breathe life into the production, she concocts a plan to marry Calvin McLoughlin, an Irish musician who has overstayed his student visa. However, her motives for doing so run much deeper than just fulfilling her uncle's wishes.Unbeknownst to Calvin, Holland has been harboring a secret crush on him. Her unrequited feelings for him push her to go out of her way to see him perform, even if he remains blissfully unaware of her feelings.This story is filled with all the signature flavor of the Christina Lauren writing duo. The book bears resemblance to Sweet Filthy Boy, which sparked my curiosity to delve into this story, both in written and audio form.However, Holland, our female protagonist, did leave me somewhat perplexed at times. It seemed as though she lacked direction or motivation, merely going through the motions. Her impulsive decision to marry a complete stranger came across as quite audacious, considering her calm demeanor. Despite this, I found myself growing attached to Holland, finding her endearing in her own unique way.Calvin, our male lead, did remind me of Ansel from Sweet Filthy Boy. Yet, due to the story being told solely from Holland's perspective, it felt as though we only scratched the surface of his character. This limited insight made it somewhat challenging to establish a connection with him, as we were only granted brief glimpses into his playful personality.Overall, this book was an enjoyable read, offering a delightful slow burn with a marriage of convenience.
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Reviewed in Spain on April 4, 2023