Book Review | The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas
Author: Elena Armas
Published by: September 6, 2022
Rating: ★★
Genre: Contemporary Romance
SYNOPSIS
From the author of the Goodreads Choice Award winner The Spanish Love Deception, the eagerly anticipated follow-up featuring Rosie Graham and Lucas Martín, who are forced to share a New York apartment.
Rosie Graham has a problem. A few, actually. She just quit her well paid job to focus on her secret career as a romance writer. She hasn’t told her family and now has terrible writer’s block. Then, the ceiling of her New York apartment literally crumbles on her. Luckily she has her best friend Lina’s spare key while she’s out of town. But Rosie doesn’t know that Lina has already lent her apartment to her cousin Lucas, who Rosie has been stalking—for lack of a better word—on Instagram for the last few months. Lucas seems intent on coming to her rescue like a Spanish knight in shining armor. Only this one strolls around the place in a towel, has a distracting grin, and an irresistible accent. Oh, and he cooks.
Lucas offers to let Rosie stay with him, at least until she can find some affordable temporary housing. And then he proposes an outrageous experiment to bring back her literary muse and meet her deadline: He’ll take her on a series of experimental dates meant to jump-start her romantic inspiration. Rosie has nothing to lose. Her silly, online crush is totally under control—but Lucas’s time in New York has an expiration date, and six weeks may not be enough, for either her or her deadline.
Well, let me spill the tea on this one – "The American Roommate Experiment" was a step up from "The Spanish Love Deception," a book that had me DNF it 3 times due to how annoying Lina was.
The 'Slow Burn' That Never Quite Ignites:
I felt the chemistry between them was more like an instant love, leaving me yearning for more individual depth from Rosie and Lucas. Since it was an instant attraction, I felt like the slow burn served no purpose. We really didn’t watch their relationship develop because of this sudden attraction, so the “slow burn” throughout the whole book did not make any sense.
“I've waited enough. I've waited a lifetime without me knowing. So why don't you open this door and let me show you?”
Repetitive Inner Monologues:
Both Rosie and Lucas spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on their thoughts, and this inner dialogue became so repetitive. At times, I found myself skimming through pages, as their repetitive musings didn't add much depth to the story.
However, one surprising turn of events was Lina's character. Compared to her portrayal in "The Spanish Love Deception," she came across as more mature and less irritating. Her presence added some life to the plot, especially as Lucas and Rosie's constant back-and-forth was getting annoying.
In Conclusion:
"The American Roommate Experiment" may not have reached the heights of literary brilliance, but it did manage to bring some entertaining moments to the table. If you're looking for a light-hearted read with a dash of humor and a generous helping of attraction, it might just hit the spot. However, if you're seeking a deep and emotionally resonant romance, you may find yourself wishing for a bit more substance beneath the surface.
“Everything I didn't believe of myself, everything I couldn't possibly think you saw in me, was there. I saw myself through your eyes. You loved me.”
TROPES:
✔️ Friends to Lovers
✔️ Roommates
✔️ Secret Crush
✔️ Insta Love
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Cinnamon Roll Hero
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An Egyptian Bookstagrammer and book blogger. My world revolves around books, and I'm here to share my passion, book recommendations, and talk about the incredible stories I have devoured. Or just rant about books!