Roomies was such a fun trip down memory lane for me! It follows the summer before college in the life of two potential roomies. Elizabeth (EB) is ready to leave New Jersey for San Francisco, so when she gets the name and email of her assigned roommate, she emails her immediately. Lauren is a SF native, living in a house packed with younger siblings. She’s just moving across town, but she was hoping for a single, since she’s shared a room with her much younger sister for so long.
We follow EB and Lauren’s ups and downs that summer with boyfriends, friends, hookups, parent trouble, as they work out questions about who they are and who they’ll be in college. Because Lauren has a lame phone, the girls stick to email, and it’s not even an immediate back and forth, which gave it an old fashioned pen pal feel.
I remember my freshman year all too well. Back in the fall of 1988, I didn’t even get my roomie’s name until I checked into my dorm on move-in day! I think that’s probably just as well, because even though I count her as a friend now, we were different types in high school, and had we compared notes looking for a soulmate, we might have been disappointed before we even met.
As it was, we meshed pretty well. We lived in a dorm with community baths, so we each let the other get ready in our room at our sink. That included using the hairdryer and turning on the small light over the sink to do our makeup. We each at 8am classes, but on alternating days, so it was a win/win situation for both of us.
We switched roommates sophomore year, but we both stayed in the dorm, and our friendship grew stronger over the years. We both had a lot of growing up to do, and I’m glad that we gave each other the grace and the space to do it.
CONTENT NOTE: This is considered a “new adult” book, which is a distinction I like. Young Adult is so broad, from 12 and up. I consider New Adult to be for older teens and even adults who like YA (though I notice that is still marking it as the standard 12 and up, 7th grade and up). There is a fair amount of profanity as well as some sexual content.
See the authors on tour
Sara and Tara’s confirmed tour dates:
- January 12, 2014 – New York, NY: McNally Jackson [venue link]
- January 15, 2014 – Salt Lake City, UT: The King’s English [venue link]
- January 16, 2014 – Provo, UT: Provo Library [venue link]
- February 4, 2014 – San Francisco, CA: Books Inc, Opera Plaza [venue link]
- February 5, 2015 – Petaluma, CA: Copperfield’s Books [venue link]
Enter to Win
One of you (U.S. only) could win a signed copy of ROOMIES plus a fun shower tote caddy so you can relive your own roomie days (or get ready to meet your first one!).
Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our email feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.
My roomie and I knew each other from church during high school!
I attended university in my home city so lived at home with family.
When I went to college, you were never pre-introduced to your roommate. You just showed up to your room and were stuck with whomever was assigned to the room with you. I had three different roommates over the course of 2 years and never became friends with any of them. After that, I got a single room and also roomed with real friends.
I didn’t know my roomate until the first day of college, but we became good friends quickly and still keep in touch!
My first legit “roomate” was my sister because we always shared a room. Keeps sisters close though!
I met my first roomie at my work- JC Penny’s
I met my first roomie at my Mom’s friends house.
I first roomie was a friend of mine from high school.
I met him on the day he moves in! I had the last orientation, so I’d been in the dorm for a week before he arrived.
ive never had a roomie but my son did in college they met the first day of school,but had been talking before then
I lived at home.
My roomie was my old friend.
I didn’t have a roomie because I go always commute to and from our house 😀
We were friends in high school.
I went to college at Duke University in NC years ago, and they sent us letters telling us who our roommate would be. So my roommate and I wrote letters to each other so we’d know something about each other before meeting in person! (I told you it was years ago — before email!)
Wow, this brings back a lot of memories! Freshman year was rough but my roomie was very nice and we kept in touch for a long time. I got lucky. My suitemate, on the otherhand, was a total nightmare! Lol
We met in 9th grade gym class.
I meet my first roomie in high school.
My roomie and I met at Freshman Orientation and were surprised to find out that we were assigned as room mates on Move In Day. We were close friends throughout college and for several years after. We are still friends on Facebook.