Sneak Peek: And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

A little JD Salinger, a little Animal Farm, mixed together with The Secret History, but with a modern LGBTQ twist that somehow made everything I disliked about the books above tolerable, resulting in a story and characters that I’ve had stuck in my head since I finished the book.

I’m grateful to have received an advanced reader’s copy of And They Were Roommates via NetGalley!

The Sneak Peek

Charlie has finally been accepted to the school of his dreams, Valentine Academy for Boys. It’s the best school to set him up for a successful future. But in order to keep his scholarship, he needs to stay out of trouble and place in the top 5 of his class. Sounds easy enough, right?

Or not… at least, it’s not when problems arise. 1) Charlie requested a single room, but upon his arrival at Valentine, he finds out he’s in a double and sharing a room with his ex-summer-camp love interest. 2) It’s a major issue because Charlie is hiding his identity as the only trans student at Valentine — a school that prides itself on tradition. 3) In order to maintain his secret and get his single room, Charlie agrees to help Jasper deliver love letters between Valentine and the girls’ academy.

But as they spend more time together, they begin to uncover secrets and develop deeper feelings that lead to a potential second-chance romance.

What Victoria Loved

VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5

As I hinted above, And They Were Roommates felt like a modern, romantic take on Catcher in the Rye in the sense that it’s a bit pretentious. Granted, Valentine Academy for Boys is an elite private high school catering to the smartest / wealthiest kids in the US. But it’s Page’s character development that triggers the sense of entitlement and the aura of naiveté that reminds me of the classic. You have kids who excel academically and therefore find entertainment in rebellion, pursuing niche interests, and making up dialects (and some of the phrasing reminded me of Animal Farm, though you’ll have to read it yourself to understand why, comrade). None of it is bad, but it certainly different and reading from Charlie’s perspective, it’s clearly disorienting.

Additionally, we get a bit of The Secret History through the secret club the boys find themselves a part of — a tutoring program Charlie is signed up to partake in just so happens to be the same program organized and run by the Top 5 students in each year. It’s all a bit mysterious, but also one of my favorite escapes in this story. I’ve always loved finding hidden nooks and escaping within the sacred walls of the library. And there’s nothing like a book that encourages you to find your own happy place.

Ultimately, this was a charming read. The characters were definitely eccentric and it took me aback at times. But I had to remind myself that these are kiddos and they are definitely odd and going through a volatile time — their actions and interactions make a million times more sense when you view them as they are written vs. from your current POV.

I can see this ending up on summer reading lists, but I think it should also end up on back-to-school lists. This is a fun read to get you back into school spirit!

Pre-order your copy of And They Were Roommates (Amazon) and read with me!

Favorite Scene

“What you’re blaming yourself for sounds like your straight-up existence, Charlie,” Xavier adds, “and we’re not gonna hear that.”

- AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES by Page Powars

Similar Reads & Recommendations

• BACK TO SCHOOL WITH AN EX-FRIEND: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter (Amazon)

  An HoH Book Club Pick! THIS BOOK. Neighbors, childhood friends turned enemies with the potential lovers. A right-in-front-of-you, always been you type of love. *Swoon* !! Better Than the Movies is my middle school idea of high school romance come to life. If this book doesn’t make you wish you were heading back to school this fall, well, I don’t know if we can be friends anymore. (I kid!) But at the very least, I hope you’ll be glad you don’t have any homework to do anymore.

  VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5

• COMING OUT, SECOND-CHANCE: The Pairing by Casey McQuiston (Amazon)

  Fast forward to adulthood! A food tour across Europe brings exes back together in this foodie second-chance romance that I guarantee will make you hungry and inspire your next vacation. The perfect summer read.

  VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5

• A BOARDING SCHOOL WITH ECCENTRIC CHARACTERS: The Awakening (Zodiac Academy #1) by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti (Amazon)

  Note: This is not YA, this is a bully romance full of TWs! If that’s not for you, or you’re not ready to explore this sub-genre, this recommendation is not for you. That said, the Zodiac Academy kicks off with a bit of slow start (as in books 1-2), BUT the story is quite addicting from the beginning, even if the writing only improves at Book 3 — and then you’ll have plenty more books in the series to enjoy.

  VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5

• BY THE AUTHOR: This is the first of Page’s books that I have read; stay tuned!

Until the next chapter!

xo, Victoria

P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.