'This was definitely not what I expected', was the first thing I thought, when I eventually figured out the plot of this novel.
It is nice to see romance that defies the stereotypical contemporary romance, and really relieving to see sex discussed about in a positive way, and not in some derogatory and degrading light.
And that is exactly what the author, Rosie Danan achieved with this book.
Prior to actually reading this book, when it came out as far back as 2020, there were people who swore that this book was the sexiest thing next to a Harlequin romance novel, they had ever read. Which was actually one of things that made me very reluctant to read it.
First, I was afraid to be disappointed, seeing that it happens a lot when I eventually get to read a book that everyone is raving about.
Another reason would be that I have a very particular bias towards Harlequin romance and it's sexual portrayal in contemporary romance generally, and I wasn't entirely sure if there was another novel that could not only make sex a pleasurable romance tool, but also keep it positive, until I defied my initial reluctance, and read this novel.
What do I think about 'The Roommate ' ? Well let's dive into reviewing this novel.
'The Roommate ', starts off with Clara Wheaton, an over-achieving, predictable, live-by-the-books rich girl, who impulsively decides to move cross-country, when her childhood crush, Everett who she hasn't stopped pinning for invites her over.
Clara assumes that all has eventually become okay in her fantasy dreamland, and that just maybe Everett would stop seeing her as his nerdy friend, and eventually fall in love with her, sweep her off her feet, and go on dates that ends with them on the couch, sharing junks, and doing all the steamy things couples should do, except she was wrong.
Which actually makes me very happy, because not to sound antagonizing or anything, but I have had my fair share of reading contemporary rom coms that sees the girls abandoning everything for a childhood crush who might not reciprocate the gesture, and if this novel had turned out to be one of them, where she has to fight for him to make him interested, I'll have had a hard pass on reading it.
Everett, however has a totally different plan, and immediately abandons her to go on tour with his band, leaving her at the mercy of Josh, who she has to become roommates with.
She is understandably hurt by Everett's actions, and the idea of being roommates with Josh doesn't actually sound bad, especially with her well written laid-down set of rules, until she finds out, that Josh is a porn star.
Not just any kind of porn star, but a really good one.
How does nerdy, never-orgasmed Clara deal with living with Josh, one of the hottest names in the porn industry, without crossing the lines, and smudging the ink across the lines of rules she has made?
This book had so many surprises. I knew it was meant to be steamy, judging from the various reviews and talks about it, but what I didn't expect, was for one of the main characters to be a porn star.
I mean, don't blame me, it is very rare to see contemporary romance that centers on porn stars finding love.
Porn stars, especially in books, are only seen as a tool of sexual satisfaction.
Which is why, I was truly surprised, and might have laughed out just a little , when I discovered that Josh was a porn star.
I totally enjoyed their banter! Initially, Josh seemed like a nice carefree guy, who loved to get under people's skin, and Clara, like an uptight millennial, who definitely needed some loosening up.
Josh teased Clara about almost everything, and it was nice to see that the dynamics of their relationship didn't start of with a sexual tone.
Let's not even get started on their chemistry. There was so much built up tension, and sizzling hot anticipation, that I might have skipped some pages to see when they eventually explored their desires for each other.
There was also a lot of sex positivity and consent talks in this novel.
I love when authors can draw the line between supposed romance, and pleasure that is mutually consensual.
I also loved the fact that the subject of women having a say, especially in the porn industry was brought up.
It is really sad to see women used only as objects and tools of sexual satisfaction, and this book might have done a good job of showing that they have a say as well when it comes to sexual activities.
I know that pornography is not often a comfortable topic, and that infact people shy away a lot from it, but this novel, not only highlights how exploitative the porn industry is, but how much of sex is not bases of mutual consent.
Then there's the fact, that this author did not base the entirely plot or the interaction between the characters only on sex , but she found a way to ensure that the healthy part of their relationship was equally highlighted.
Sure, there were some things I didn't quite like, especially when Clara, who had a PHD, and is wealthy, abandons everything on impulse, and moves miles away from home, over an unrequited crush.
It is saddening to see that there are women who throw themselves under the bus for men, who wouldn't do same or even cast them a second glance.
However, on the flip side, if she didn't make that one impulsive decision, then we never could have gotten to read the steamy stories of Josh and Clara.
Do I recommend this novel? Absolutely! I do. The hype around it was well deserved, and I think people should cast aside their biases on pornography and porn stars in generally, and get to read and enjoy the amazing plot that makes up the novel, 'The Roommate '.