By iamsandykay on July 21, 2025 ( Leave a comment )

Book Review – And They Were Roommates

And They Were Roommates
by Page Powars

Note: Links in this post go to Bookshop.org where I earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Bookshop.com supports local independent books store across the United States.

Book Description:

Romance is the last thing on Charlie’s mind.
On his first day at Valentine Academy for Boys, Charlie’s carefully crafted plan to hide his identity as the school’s only trans student is set in motion. Only to be immediately destroyed. Charlie has been assigned the worst roommate in the world (possibly the universe): Jasper Grimes, the boy who broke Charlie’s heart the year before he transitioned.

Except, Jasper doesn’t recognize Charlie.
Who knows how long until Jasper realizes the truth? Charlie has one shot at freedom and a dorm room all to himself, but only if he helps Jasper write love letters on behalf of their fellow students first. No problem. Charlie can help Jasper with some silly letters.

Long nights spent discussing deep romantic feelings with Jasper? Surely, no unintended consequences will arise…

My Take:

I received a digital copy of this book from Macmillan Children’s and NetGally. I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars Book Review Graphic

Too much going on with little point.

I think I can tell what the author was going for with the way characters and setting were introduced, but the leap is still too difficult for me to have enjoyed it. It seems like the author wanted the reader to feel like Charlie on his first day in a new school and be a little lost and untethered, not knowing where things are or how things are done in this elite school. Instead, it was just irritating, and we kept coming across situations of “oh, you don’t know how to do this thing? That’s weird.” Eventually, Charlie does find his place and on-campus family, but the payoff was not worth the journey.

Unfortunately, I just didn’t care about the characters.

Along with the plot not really developing, I found myself just not caring about the characters themselves. I had to constantly remind myself that this was a private high school, not college. I am a parent and far from my teens, but so much of this story just didn’t work for me. The main characters are 15(ish) years old and the overarching story is a second chance at love … from 18 months prior. I know (and remember) that our first loves always seem the biggest and the first heartbreaks are always the worst, but the whining and dramatics of both main characters were not well-done enough to make them loveable and move the plot along. This whole story just fell flat.

The Final Verdict

My rating: 2 stars

Would I recommend? Maybe for the right reader

A second chance at love for two 15-year-olds. No thanks.