Book Review: The American Roommate Experiment
This was a nice surprise sequel to the best-selling Spanish Love Deception that I read last year. This time around, however, the romance focuses on Lina’s best friend Rosie and Lina’s cousin Lucas. I mean, it's not rocket science as to what happens but I must say the journey to get there was extremely satisfying. Yes, this is another romance novel – yet here you are.
So, what happens is (without giving away the ending – like you don’t already know) Rosie has a problem - and that problem is the gaping hole in her apartment ceiling giving her an unparalleled view of her upstairs neighbours' boxershorts – or lack thereof. So, what's a girl to do? Her best friend Lina is on her honeymoon which leaves her apartment free! Win! So she heads over, and just as she is settling in…. the doorknob rattles. After several empty threats, a couple of ‘dios mios’ and a bizarre phone call with a 911 operator, later. The mystery person turns out to be… Lucas. And Lucas was told he could stay in this apartment for the duration of his stay. Awkward much. Then comes this strange kinship. And I mean it, it's strange. They enter an agreement that they live together for the foreseeable future because 1. Rosie’s apartment is unliveable. 2. Lucas lost his debit card and thus can’t book a hotel (was this set in a time before Apple Pay?). 3. Rosie has lowkey been stalking Lucas on Instagram and harbours a secret crush on him. 4. Rosie is a romance novelist and Lucas agrees to take her out on fake dates because Rosie has writer's block and she needs inspiration. So yeah, strange. Oh, and they haven’t told Lina, yet.
What follows is some really rather seriously lovely romantic dates and gestures from both parties that will leave you weak at the knees and serves as a reminder to all single ladies out there: know your worth and don’t settle for anything less than fantastic. We deserve to feel seen, treasured, heard, taken on romantic dates and most importantly, loved. So, THANK YOU, Elena, for reminding me (personally) of that fact. I also adore the foreword: “To those waiting on love, be patient. Love is a total drama queen, it’s just waiting to make an entrance” 10/10 made me feel 100% better. But as to the rest of the book - this is a little more fluently written than other romance books I’ve read this year and it’s a good one for the slow burn read – I read this book in about two days because of the anticipation, the build-up to that magical sparkling moment when Lucas and Rosie stop being idiots and admit the inevitable.
Okay, sure this is one of many romance novels I’ve read this year, but it’s summer, the weather is lovely and the evening air is filled with the scent of Pimm’s and sausages on the BBQ. Everyone is laid back and slightly pink from sunburn. It’s hot outside, so why not raise the temperature a couple more degrees?