Review: Roomies by Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando
SYNOPSIS:
It’s time to meet your new roomie.
When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl’s summer—and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.
As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they’ve never met.
REVIEW:
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
This was a cute, quick read that follows the journey of Elizabeth and Lauren as the go from strangers who were paired together by college housing to friends who finally meet each other in person while moving in. I enjoyed the back and forth between Elizabeth and Lauren, their friendship forged felt authentic and realistic. Like these correspondences could actually happen. Both girls are personable and each have their own plate full but they manage to stay in touch over the course of the summer. Obviously, some drama and chaos will ensue but the girls work through it and find friendship.
Now what I didn’t like was that both girls jumped into relationships right before leaving for college…*sigh*. This just rubs me the wrong way, I would have loved to have seen one of them being independent and care-free. But if they are going to incorporate these relationships, I have to applaud the way the authors tackled race in this book. What can be a tricky topic was done artfully, with respect and a dose of reality.
I did miss the depth in this story. Everything felt very superficial and the book was sprinkled with surface problems. And while the authors did wrap everything up in a nice little bow, I felt very meh as I closed the story. It took me a week to finish and these characters didn’t stick with me and I forgot their names in between reads. I wish there was more substance to these characters, but they are very one-dimensional. What you read is what you get, and there is no growth over the course of the story. Neither had an epiphany and tried to become a better person but maybe that’s not necessary as they are only 18.
I just felt like something was missing from the story, that ‘wow’ factor that would have taken it to the next level was absent. Overall, a light read that will go by quickly but not a book that I will come back to or pick up again.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
