Title: Roomies
Author: Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando
Series: Standalone
Genre: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary
Publication Date: November 26, 2013
My Rating: 4 Stars
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.
National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful e-mail that assigns your college roommate
Before I start my review, I would just like to thank Pinoy Book Tours for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
Elizabeth just received an email about her college roommate assignment, and decides to email her roommate, Lauren, for arrangements like who is going to bring what. Then they soon talk about other things like family, boys and the likes, and this stars a series of emails between the two for the weeks before they finally meet each other in person. This continues on, until one day, these emails are what the girls look forward to after a crappy day.
Roomies is the type of book that one can easily relate to because of the many real life situations presented in the book. I can especially relate to this book because I'm in my last year in high school, and will be attending my first year in college next year. Though I wont be leaving home, this book is still good because of all the things people my age a re experiencing. The anxiety of college, boys, crappy family situations - all these are presented in a very realistic manner in the novel.
Elizabeth, or EB for short, lives in New Jersey and is an only daughter of a gay dad and a mom who is always dating. Sometimes she gets so lonely she wishes for more siblings. Lauren, or Lo, on the other hand, lives in San Francisco, has amazing parents, but too many siblings for her to have a quiet time at home. She fantasizes what it must be like to be just an only child. These two characters couldn't be more different, and they haven't even met yet, but because of each of their circumstances, they grew closer, and soon found comfort in each other.
I really enjoyed reading Roomies I would recommend to anyone, but especially to teens going to college soon!
“Life is one of those experiments meant to be conducted in a stimulating, messy environment.”
"It's not about the hand all the time (being dealt a crappy hand). It's about how you play it, whether you bluff or not."Labels: 4 Stars, Blog Tour, Contemporary, Review, Romance, Young Adult
