Book Review – Roomhate by Penelope Ward

So yes… a more “traditional contemporary romance”, but with all of the touches that make a book ours.

Cheryl: I finished Roomhate and loved it. I could use Amy’s nail analogy too because I kept waiting for the “hammer” to drop. I just couldn’t put it down today. I enjoyed the banter between Justin and Amelia, especially early on when Justin was so angry. It did surprise me a couple times with events I didn’t see coming. My gut wasn’t in knots from angst, more the tension of wondering what was going to happen next and just how this was going to end.

Tessa: Finished Roomhate and one word, super sweet. I have to admit, I didn’t feel angsty throughout the book, just happy. However, I’m still smiling over it.  

DG: Read RoomHate and LOVED it. Justin gave me the ‘queasy’ tingles in the beginning…but it was so worth it!

Lisa M: RoomHate by Penelope Douglas!!! Wow!!! Talk about angst,anger & love!! Yup it was one of those days work read work read & sneak a lil more reading !! Good thing I work from home or I’d be fired!! Good thing my boss is my hubby or I’d be fired!! Shhh!! I was productive today!! …I would highly recommend!!

Ela: I finished Roomhate and really enjoyed it.

Jean: Finished Roomhate and even though I flew through it, couldn’t put it down, and did love the whole storyline, I didn’t feel a big connection to the characters for some reason. Still definitely worth the read!

So what’s it about?

Amelia and Justin used to be best friends all throughout their childhood and teenage years. Absolute sweetness (you will fall in love with him and how much he protected her) and an obvious crush kept the two inseparable. But he was keeping a secret, and once she discovered it, all bets were off,

Justin ran after me. “Patch, wait. Please!”

I turned around and spewed, “You knew about this?”

… and she deserted him.

Justin never got over it, and even though she’s tried to reconnect through her older years, he had refused her at every turn. That is… until they are forced together when they both inherit a beautiful beach house that once belonged to someone they both loved dearly.

“You think Nana would be happy right now with your attitude? Something tells me she didn’t leave us this house so that we could fight with each other.”

“She left us both this house because we each meant something to her. That doesn’t mean we have to mean anything to each other.”

Oooooh BURN!! Tee hee.  I’m so corny. DO we even say “burn” anymore? 😛

But I digress… either way, there is no way the other is selling their half, and now it’s time to finally confront one another.

“I’d better be leaving—”

“That’s what you’re good at, isn’t it?” a deep voice I hardly recognized interrupted me from behind.

“What’s that?” I asked, swallowing nervously and refusing to turn around to look at him.

“Leaving,” he said louder. “That’s what you’re good at.”

And oh boy, what a confrontation. I cringed!! And so did his girlfriend.

Justin chuckled. “Is that why you can’t find a man?”

I dropped my fork. “You’re a pr!ck. Seriously. I don’t recognize you anymore. How were we ever best friends?”

“I used to ask myself that all the time before I stopped giving a sh!t.”

Eeeeep! No love lost there. Or is there? And that’s when the real fun comes in! 😀

Well no, the whole thing was fun, and in fact, my only complaint is that, considering that title, I would have loved for the hate part of their love-hate relationship to have lasted longer… to have made her (and therefore us) agonize harder. To have made the slow change from hate, to resistance, to undeniable need for the other, that much sweeter. That much more intense.

Oh and umm… speaking of intense. THIS ONE IS STEAMY!!!!!!!! HOLY HOTNESS BATMAN! *waggles eyebrows*

Still, even though the jerkish part didn’t last as long as I expected (well you know what? I take that back! Going over my favorite quotes, even when he’s not a jerk, he still kind of is. LOL!!! Throughout! Typical “guy-guy” with no filter, ya know? You’ll see!).

“I think you’re right. This is a little skimpy.”

“A little skimpy? Hustler would be calling you tomorrow if I sent them a picture.”

“Alright. A lot skimpy.”

“You can’t figure this sh!t out on your own? It’s pretty simple. You cover your t!ts and a$$. Done.”

Tee hee! See? There’s a TON of that in here.

“How about this?”

“Slutty.”

“This one?”

“Sluttier.”

“Okay. This?”

“You got Birkenstocks to go with it?”

LOL!!!! Yeah… I loved him.

And, anyway, the author did hit us with a few angsty curveballs as the story progressed, turning this one into a meaningful journey for two people that thought they had it all figured out. And the best, most hilarious and sweetest part that had me solidly connected? A bumblebee!

You’ll see. 😉

It’s an endearing read, with realistic, fleshed-out characters that stay true to their personalities, and are wholeheartedly believable. Plus, you can’t go wrong with that touching epilogue that will steal your heart!

Jean: The more I’m thinking about Roomhate, it is making me smile like crazy! The end and the Epilogue….perfection! And for anyone interested, the entire book is her POV….epilogue his POV.

4 stars!

P.S. Thank you to the author for sending me a review copy!