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The Roommate Arrangement
Not yet published
Expected 27 Jan 26When Blair accidentally becomes college roommates with her brother’s best friend, sparks fly in this hilarious rom-com from bestselling author Samantha Markum, perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Emma Lord.
Blair might be a little type-A, but she never thought of herself as completely overbearing…that is, until her two best friends drop her from their housing arrangement a week before her pre-college summer coding program is about to start.
Blair knows if she switches to an on-campus dorm, her parents will make her give up her expensive sculpture class with her dream mentor in order to pay for it. Desperate, she agrees to be the fifth roommate to four off-campus sophomores who are also in a last-minute bind. But things get complicated when one of her new roommates turns out to be her brother’s best friend, Jamie Atwater.
Blair begs Jamie not to tell her brother about the new living arrangement. Her brother would go straight to their parents, who would definitely not approve, and all her plans would fall apart. So they strike a deal: she’ll help him finish coding the app he’s building if he promises to keep her secret.
Spending more time together shouldn’t be a problem. Sure, Jamie has a new haircut, a mysterious tattoo, and a year’s worth of earned muscle, but it’s not like Blair is noticing. After all, they’re only roommates, right?
Blair might be a little type-A, but she never thought of herself as completely overbearing…that is, until her two best friends drop her from their housing arrangement a week before her pre-college summer coding program is about to start.
Blair knows if she switches to an on-campus dorm, her parents will make her give up her expensive sculpture class with her dream mentor in order to pay for it. Desperate, she agrees to be the fifth roommate to four off-campus sophomores who are also in a last-minute bind. But things get complicated when one of her new roommates turns out to be her brother’s best friend, Jamie Atwater.
Blair begs Jamie not to tell her brother about the new living arrangement. Her brother would go straight to their parents, who would definitely not approve, and all her plans would fall apart. So they strike a deal: she’ll help him finish coding the app he’s building if he promises to keep her secret.
Spending more time together shouldn’t be a problem. Sure, Jamie has a new haircut, a mysterious tattoo, and a year’s worth of earned muscle, but it’s not like Blair is noticing. After all, they’re only roommates, right?
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 27, 2026
24 people are currently reading
776 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Markum
4 books454 followersSamantha Markum is the USA Today bestselling author of Love, Off the Record, You Wouldn't Dare, and This May End Badly. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where she got her great literary start writing Newsies fan fiction in middle school. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing cozy video games, attempting to revive her half-dead house plants, and getting in bed before sunset. When she is writing, you can find her staring at the wall in search of inspiration. Visit her at samanthamarkum.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a delightful brother's best friend YA Romcom.
It's full of clever banter, keeping secrets, roommate tension, forced proximity, found family and coming of age.
These characters captured my interest from page one. I li tened to the audiobook in one sitting, it had me grinning like a idiot and I might have even shed a tear or two. The family dynamics were both relatable and jarring, the author paints a authentic home picture, wich makes the whole plot feel believable and the struggles of our FMC's true to live.
The narrator's voice was the exact right vibe for this story. The voice sounds young enough to be realistic and the feelings of the protagonist are projected convincingly. Overall an enrichment to the story told.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia, Simon Teen, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and the author Samantha Markum for the eARC.
It's full of clever banter, keeping secrets, roommate tension, forced proximity, found family and coming of age.
These characters captured my interest from page one. I li tened to the audiobook in one sitting, it had me grinning like a idiot and I might have even shed a tear or two. The family dynamics were both relatable and jarring, the author paints a authentic home picture, wich makes the whole plot feel believable and the struggles of our FMC's true to live.
The narrator's voice was the exact right vibe for this story. The voice sounds young enough to be realistic and the feelings of the protagonist are projected convincingly. Overall an enrichment to the story told.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia, Simon Teen, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and the author Samantha Markum for the eARC.
January 20, 2026
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I was interested in this one as soon as I heard about it, but I did not realize I would end up loving it so much! This was such a good read, so hard to put down. I identified so much with Blair in feeling left behind by friends - not all for the same reasons as I am probably a little bit messy myself. Then all the other awkwardness she had. I also got the whole feeling of being considered "smart" in high school and before that, but then going to college and all of a sudden doing poorly and not at all being the smart one anymore. Blair had a lot of issues to deal with as well, her allergies were so bad, a scene at the beach even led to a moment with Jamie that furthered their way to a relationship, and then there was even a panic attack scene that resonated for me as well.
But besides how I connected with Blair on those levels, the romance with her and Jamie was so good. While I definitely got frustrated with him for not just coming out and saying things, there were also times she needed to speak up as well. Blair's parents were definitely such a problem in this story. It was easy to feel sorry for her, and even her brother, although her brother did have some issues and was bit of a jerk. Once she and her brother got time to talk though towards the end, and figure out all the things between them, I liked how their relationship went at that point.
All of Blair's new roommates were so much fun. I totally would have loved to live with people like that. I like to think later in my life, I found a group of friends for a short time that were quirky and fun like that, when I worked at the bookstore. And while I've never been a part of the in-crowd in any part of my life, and yes I do have good friends from my years in the sorority, I've always kind of been happiest I think when I'm with my quirky groups of friends.
While this is listed as YA, and definitely doesn't have anything I'd worry about putting in my high school library, I often feel like college aged books are more New Adult, just because of the age. However Blair is just out of high school, so definitely a story my high schoolers can enjoy. Pretty sure this is going to go down as one of my favorites of the year!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
But besides how I connected with Blair on those levels, the romance with her and Jamie was so good. While I definitely got frustrated with him for not just coming out and saying things, there were also times she needed to speak up as well. Blair's parents were definitely such a problem in this story. It was easy to feel sorry for her, and even her brother, although her brother did have some issues and was bit of a jerk. Once she and her brother got time to talk though towards the end, and figure out all the things between them, I liked how their relationship went at that point.
All of Blair's new roommates were so much fun. I totally would have loved to live with people like that. I like to think later in my life, I found a group of friends for a short time that were quirky and fun like that, when I worked at the bookstore. And while I've never been a part of the in-crowd in any part of my life, and yes I do have good friends from my years in the sorority, I've always kind of been happiest I think when I'm with my quirky groups of friends.
While this is listed as YA, and definitely doesn't have anything I'd worry about putting in my high school library, I often feel like college aged books are more New Adult, just because of the age. However Blair is just out of high school, so definitely a story my high schoolers can enjoy. Pretty sure this is going to go down as one of my favorites of the year!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sometimes the path to peace involves ditching STEM.
This a perfect YA coming-of-age romance!
Blair's perfect future plans of moving in with her best friends for first year and starting her advanced STEM program gets blown up when her turd friends kick her out a week before move in. She also realizes they talk mad smack about her when she's not there. She's better than me cause I would have potentially committed arson.
Anyways, this leads her to a way cooler group of roommates with one of them being her brother's very smart, vert hot, very bald (it's a buzz cut) best friend. The romance was very sweet and very realistic for two highly stressed out teenagers in a forced proximity situation.
I cried like twice because damn being that age was so hard. I love when an author doesn't shy away from the tough topics.
Still, this is a hopeful story about finding your own way and finding the people that make it all worth it.
[4.5 overall]
This a perfect YA coming-of-age romance!
Blair's perfect future plans of moving in with her best friends for first year and starting her advanced STEM program gets blown up when her turd friends kick her out a week before move in. She also realizes they talk mad smack about her when she's not there. She's better than me cause I would have potentially committed arson.
Anyways, this leads her to a way cooler group of roommates with one of them being her brother's very smart, vert hot, very bald (it's a buzz cut) best friend. The romance was very sweet and very realistic for two highly stressed out teenagers in a forced proximity situation.
I cried like twice because damn being that age was so hard. I love when an author doesn't shy away from the tough topics.
Still, this is a hopeful story about finding your own way and finding the people that make it all worth it.
[4.5 overall]
August 11, 2025
Thank you Simon Teen for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
• My Reading Experience: Enjoyed!!
• Book Spice: None
• Content Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the college dorm-apartment setting in this book. The setting felt believable and all of the characters had a distinct personality. I loved how nerdy the main characters are with their love of coding and DND.
There were several relatable moments in this book that made me reflect on how I approach and think about things in my own life.
The romance itself was cute, but I wish there had been more depth to their connection — more little moments where we could see it growing and developing. Still, I absolutely loved the FMC’s journey towards learning to embrace being the champion of her own life. That growth was easily my favorite part of the story. Go you, boo! 💜
• My Reading Experience: Enjoyed!!
• Book Spice: None
• Content Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the college dorm-apartment setting in this book. The setting felt believable and all of the characters had a distinct personality. I loved how nerdy the main characters are with their love of coding and DND.
There were several relatable moments in this book that made me reflect on how I approach and think about things in my own life.
The romance itself was cute, but I wish there had been more depth to their connection — more little moments where we could see it growing and developing. Still, I absolutely loved the FMC’s journey towards learning to embrace being the champion of her own life. That growth was easily my favorite part of the story. Go you, boo! 💜
October 24, 2025
Wow! I wasn’t expecting to sit down and read this in one sitting, but that is exactly what happened, because I couldn’t put it down! I’ve read all of Samantha Markum’s previous books, and I have to say that she is well in her way to becoming one of the big names in YA. Her books are never afraid to tackle big topics, and The Roommate Arrangement was no exception.
The Roommate arrangement focuses on Blair, whose freshman year is basically every college student's worst nightmares come true. Her housing falls through, she get put in a class with a rude professor who targets her, and worst of all, she has to live with her older brother's annoying friend.
What I liked:
-open discussions about mental health issues. I love that characters in this book were open about their struggles, and that panic attack scene was so well written. I also appreciated that not everyone’s problems were solved by the end, but that the characters were still able to grow.
-Blair! I don’t know if it’s just because I sympathize with her everything-keeps-getting-worse situation, or if I was able to recognize myself in her, but she was by far my favorite character. Her character felt so real to me, and I think she was honestly the shining star of the novel. I loved the ways she handled her struggles with kindness (well, most of them), yet wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
- Saywer. I can’t say too much because of spoilers, but it takes skill to make a character whom I HATED into one of my favorites.
What I didn’t like:
(Keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily bad things, just things I didn’t enjoy quite as much)
-Jamie. I don’t have any issues with him, per se, but I felt that he was just…kinda… there. Which is funny, because he does play a pretty crucial part in the plot and in Blair’s character development. He is such a kindhearted, sweet boy, but I honestly didn’t feel attached to him the same way I felt attached to Blair.
The Roommate Arrangement was a fantastic read. The characters felt real, and it touched on problems like issues with parents, mental health, and false friends. If you’re a fan of K.L Walther or Lynn Painter, this is absolutely for you!
I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this phenomenal e-arc! all opinions expressed are my own
The Roommate arrangement focuses on Blair, whose freshman year is basically every college student's worst nightmares come true. Her housing falls through, she get put in a class with a rude professor who targets her, and worst of all, she has to live with her older brother's annoying friend.
What I liked:
-open discussions about mental health issues. I love that characters in this book were open about their struggles, and that panic attack scene was so well written. I also appreciated that not everyone’s problems were solved by the end, but that the characters were still able to grow.
-Blair! I don’t know if it’s just because I sympathize with her everything-keeps-getting-worse situation, or if I was able to recognize myself in her, but she was by far my favorite character. Her character felt so real to me, and I think she was honestly the shining star of the novel. I loved the ways she handled her struggles with kindness (well, most of them), yet wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
- Saywer. I can’t say too much because of spoilers, but it takes skill to make a character whom I HATED into one of my favorites.
What I didn’t like:
(Keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily bad things, just things I didn’t enjoy quite as much)
-Jamie. I don’t have any issues with him, per se, but I felt that he was just…kinda… there. Which is funny, because he does play a pretty crucial part in the plot and in Blair’s character development. He is such a kindhearted, sweet boy, but I honestly didn’t feel attached to him the same way I felt attached to Blair.
The Roommate Arrangement was a fantastic read. The characters felt real, and it touched on problems like issues with parents, mental health, and false friends. If you’re a fan of K.L Walther or Lynn Painter, this is absolutely for you!
I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this phenomenal e-arc! all opinions expressed are my own
October 11, 2025
Well, I didn’t intend to read this in a single day but here we are…
This was SUCH an enjoyable YA contemporary! As I was reading I was thinking to myself that I haven’t enjoyed a YA contemporary this much in a long time, so yay! I loved this one!
I’ve read all of this author’s books, and she writes romantic tension and banter SO WELL. The chemistry between Blair and Jamie absolutely SIZZLED. I loved every scene with them together. Their dislike of each other was spot on, and you can really see the dynamic of their relationship change as time passes. Something as simple as the intensity of the gaze between them had me swooning.
The romance was my favorite part of this book for sure, but I also LOVED the secondary characters and the friendship that develops there as well.
Basically, the summer before their first semester of college, Blair is planning to rent a place with her two best friends and live with them. However, just before it’s time to move in, it falls through, leaving her scrambling. She answers an ad for a roommate in desperation and ends up (accidentally) living with Jamie (her brother’s best friend) and several others in a shared apartment.
While I loved Jamie the best of course, I also really liked getting to know the new roommates. The dynamic between everyone was really fun. Blair isn’t particularly comfortable with them either, so it was nice to see friendship develop.
This is a very character driven story as well, with Blair learning a lot about herself and who she is as a person. I want to be vague because of spoilers but I will just say that I loved seeing that in her. She’s definitely a very different character by the end of the book.
If you want a cute and fun contemporary that also occasionally touches on some more serious subjects, you’d definitely like this one!
This was SUCH an enjoyable YA contemporary! As I was reading I was thinking to myself that I haven’t enjoyed a YA contemporary this much in a long time, so yay! I loved this one!
I’ve read all of this author’s books, and she writes romantic tension and banter SO WELL. The chemistry between Blair and Jamie absolutely SIZZLED. I loved every scene with them together. Their dislike of each other was spot on, and you can really see the dynamic of their relationship change as time passes. Something as simple as the intensity of the gaze between them had me swooning.
The romance was my favorite part of this book for sure, but I also LOVED the secondary characters and the friendship that develops there as well.
Basically, the summer before their first semester of college, Blair is planning to rent a place with her two best friends and live with them. However, just before it’s time to move in, it falls through, leaving her scrambling. She answers an ad for a roommate in desperation and ends up (accidentally) living with Jamie (her brother’s best friend) and several others in a shared apartment.
While I loved Jamie the best of course, I also really liked getting to know the new roommates. The dynamic between everyone was really fun. Blair isn’t particularly comfortable with them either, so it was nice to see friendship develop.
This is a very character driven story as well, with Blair learning a lot about herself and who she is as a person. I want to be vague because of spoilers but I will just say that I loved seeing that in her. She’s definitely a very different character by the end of the book.
If you want a cute and fun contemporary that also occasionally touches on some more serious subjects, you’d definitely like this one!
November 9, 2025
Five stars!
“ And maybe it isn’t real, but it doesn’t matter because I fell in love with you anyway. More and more every time I saw you. Love at every sight.”
All thanks to the author and NetGalley for this e-ARC. It’s been months since I’ve been able to really get into a book and not feel like reading was a chore. This book was nothing like a chore, it was incomprehensibly perfect. It wasn’t like something I’ve read before but it’s also not something wow-ing-ly new either. The idea was familiar, but the execution was extraordinary. Not only did I feel connected to the characters but I felt like I was a third party included in all of the action. From not reading to devouring this book in 3 days, I’d say it’s worth the five star rating.
“ And maybe it isn’t real, but it doesn’t matter because I fell in love with you anyway. More and more every time I saw you. Love at every sight.”
All thanks to the author and NetGalley for this e-ARC. It’s been months since I’ve been able to really get into a book and not feel like reading was a chore. This book was nothing like a chore, it was incomprehensibly perfect. It wasn’t like something I’ve read before but it’s also not something wow-ing-ly new either. The idea was familiar, but the execution was extraordinary. Not only did I feel connected to the characters but I felt like I was a third party included in all of the action. From not reading to devouring this book in 3 days, I’d say it’s worth the five star rating.
November 11, 2025
june 10th, 2025
omg cant wait
i love you samantha markum
nov 11th, 2025
this is what's gonna make me a reader again
omg cant wait
i love you samantha markum
nov 11th, 2025
this is what's gonna make me a reader again
October 26, 2025
samantha markum knows how to write the buzziest books like that’s sooooo crazy
September 27, 2025
Thank you so much, Simon Teen, for the physical and electronic ARCs in exchange for my honest thoughts.
CW: overbearing parents, on page panic attack, fat-phobic comments
Blair is left scrambling to find housing after her two best friends tell her they don’t want her living with them just one week before college summer classes begin. In a moment of desperation, Blair answers a random ad looking for a fifth roommate…and ends up rooming with her brother’s best friend.
Ok, let me start off by saying THANK GOD Blair’s friends ditched her because omg THEY SUCKED SO BAD. And also, Blair’s parents suck. So, I was glad she ended up in a random apartment full of new people, because they turned out to be the best friends and best found family for our girl. Her old friends and parents really really made me mad. 😆
I really enjoyed this book. Sam Markum really brought the enemies to lovers energy I like. It was filled with sharp banter, pining, and so so much physical comedy (which I always love). There was one moment early one where I highlighted a line and noted “AGH!!! SECRET PINING!! I love a good long haul pining. I thought Markum’s writing really shined in the full apartment scenes - whether it was band practice, or DnD night, or anything else. Give her a ton of people and a ton of volleying dialogue and she SHINES.
I have to be honest and say I struggled with Blair’s lying…but I had to remind myself that she is 18 and does not have a fully formed pre-frontal cortex, so I can give her some grace. But every lie stacked on top of another one just really crushed me. I did enjoy the ending though - the lessons Blair learned in the midst of the mess really felt earned.
Read this if you like a college setting, first person single POV, messy relationships, brother’s best friend, forbidden romance, secrets, banter, playfulness, and found family.
CW: overbearing parents, on page panic attack, fat-phobic comments
Blair is left scrambling to find housing after her two best friends tell her they don’t want her living with them just one week before college summer classes begin. In a moment of desperation, Blair answers a random ad looking for a fifth roommate…and ends up rooming with her brother’s best friend.
Ok, let me start off by saying THANK GOD Blair’s friends ditched her because omg THEY SUCKED SO BAD. And also, Blair’s parents suck. So, I was glad she ended up in a random apartment full of new people, because they turned out to be the best friends and best found family for our girl. Her old friends and parents really really made me mad. 😆
I really enjoyed this book. Sam Markum really brought the enemies to lovers energy I like. It was filled with sharp banter, pining, and so so much physical comedy (which I always love). There was one moment early one where I highlighted a line and noted “AGH!!! SECRET PINING!! I love a good long haul pining. I thought Markum’s writing really shined in the full apartment scenes - whether it was band practice, or DnD night, or anything else. Give her a ton of people and a ton of volleying dialogue and she SHINES.
I have to be honest and say I struggled with Blair’s lying…but I had to remind myself that she is 18 and does not have a fully formed pre-frontal cortex, so I can give her some grace. But every lie stacked on top of another one just really crushed me. I did enjoy the ending though - the lessons Blair learned in the midst of the mess really felt earned.
Read this if you like a college setting, first person single POV, messy relationships, brother’s best friend, forbidden romance, secrets, banter, playfulness, and found family.
November 20, 2025
This was so delightful! I basically read it all in one sitting. I've been in such a reading slump that this was so fun to read. I kept giggling and kicking my feet and talking to the book, which I haven't done in a long time. There's slow burn, a lot of will they/won't they, but the romance happens early enough that we get to enjoy everything.
I feel like I've definitely wanted to write something like this, about the complexity of dealing with family relationships as you first start to become an adult, and thought it was so well done here. The main character has a complicated relationship with her brother but also her parents, who are overly controlling and demanding, and I liked the way it showed her struggle with this and forming her own path while also being realistic about how hard it could be.
I love the found family vibes, the mental health exploration, also the exploration of what it means to not be good at something right away or to realize that the plan you originally had might not be the best one. Also this was so romantic! I don't know guys! This made me so happy! It was just what I needed.
I feel like I've definitely wanted to write something like this, about the complexity of dealing with family relationships as you first start to become an adult, and thought it was so well done here. The main character has a complicated relationship with her brother but also her parents, who are overly controlling and demanding, and I liked the way it showed her struggle with this and forming her own path while also being realistic about how hard it could be.
I love the found family vibes, the mental health exploration, also the exploration of what it means to not be good at something right away or to realize that the plan you originally had might not be the best one. Also this was so romantic! I don't know guys! This made me so happy! It was just what I needed.
October 30, 2025
IM SCREAMING THIS WAS EVERYTHING
I will start by saying I almost stopped reading when Blair was attending Central Florida State University in Orlando because I attended UCF in Orlando but this worked out so well with a made up college, I was not perceived!!
This was SO cute, I felt extremely represented by Blair as someone who also pursued a STEM major and felt crushed by the pressure of it. I also really liked the fat rep!
As much as I loved the romance, my favorite part of this book was Blair’s growth as a person and where she stands in her family dynamic. I cried and cheered her on so much, this was EVERYTHING.
I will start by saying I almost stopped reading when Blair was attending Central Florida State University in Orlando because I attended UCF in Orlando but this worked out so well with a made up college, I was not perceived!!
This was SO cute, I felt extremely represented by Blair as someone who also pursued a STEM major and felt crushed by the pressure of it. I also really liked the fat rep!
As much as I loved the romance, my favorite part of this book was Blair’s growth as a person and where she stands in her family dynamic. I cried and cheered her on so much, this was EVERYTHING.
November 23, 2025
Jamie is everything to me and he deserves the world. His buzz cut should have sonnets written about it. Now, one thing to know, is that the fmc is messyyyy. And in her life, everything is going wrong for the majority of this book. I got very frustrated with the situations she put herself/was put in. But the interactions between her and Jamie? 10/10. Made everything worth it. She was just figuring life out, ya know? I loved the message of the book and the ending was really good! The rest of it was really good, too, and I read ¾ of the book in one sitting, but like I said a lot of the situations frustrated me. 😅 Samantha Markum is defs an auto-read author for me!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc in exchange for my honest review.
December 7, 2025
nothing like a samantha markum YA!! they're always funny, sweet, include a great lesson, and feature slightly messy but very endearing women. jamie and blair's relationship was cute but i wish we got a little bit more of their relationship before living together because it would've added to the "it's always been you" of it all. i liked blair's found family with her roommates, but would have liked a little bit more of the college setting because i love a campus novel.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!!
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!!
October 16, 2025
4.5 stars
Blair works hard and does as she's asked without question. A week before she leaves to get an early start with summer school, her two best friends drop her as a roommate with little to no explanation. Blair is hurt and confused by their callous attitudes. Scrambling to fix her housing, she switches to an off-campus dorm with less than savory recommendations. Moving in to the mixed housing, Blair is also confronted with her enemy/brother's best friend, Jamie.
As soon as I saw that Samantha Markum was coming out with another book, I requested it in as many ways as possible. I recognize that this is a bit much but that's how enthusiastic I am for the way she sucks me into her stories. Blair is endearing, Jamie is thoughtfully resistant to her helplessness and charm, and I loved it. There is one scene that felt a bit incongruous to the rest of the book, but otherwise, this was an absolute knock out. I highlighted multiple one-liners and will definitely revisit in the future for a re-read.
Thank you to Simon Teen and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Blair works hard and does as she's asked without question. A week before she leaves to get an early start with summer school, her two best friends drop her as a roommate with little to no explanation. Blair is hurt and confused by their callous attitudes. Scrambling to fix her housing, she switches to an off-campus dorm with less than savory recommendations. Moving in to the mixed housing, Blair is also confronted with her enemy/brother's best friend, Jamie.
As soon as I saw that Samantha Markum was coming out with another book, I requested it in as many ways as possible. I recognize that this is a bit much but that's how enthusiastic I am for the way she sucks me into her stories. Blair is endearing, Jamie is thoughtfully resistant to her helplessness and charm, and I loved it. There is one scene that felt a bit incongruous to the rest of the book, but otherwise, this was an absolute knock out. I highlighted multiple one-liners and will definitely revisit in the future for a re-read.
Thank you to Simon Teen and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
December 9, 2025
samantha markum doesn’t miss
January 21, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
I identified with Blair so easily and I wanted to hug her so badly. At that age I was a little bit awkward, felt left behind, and got hurt by a few so-called “friends,” so her experience really hit home. It’s such a hard, confusing age and this book captured that feeling really well.. My heart was hurting so much for her ❤️🩹
The banter between Blair and Jamie was everything. Two nerds, constant teasing, and that “I hate your guts” slow burn? Yes please.
I do wish this was dual POV though because I knew Jamie has been down bad since they were kids and I would’ve absolutely eaten up the yearning for his POV..
Her “so called friend” made me so mad but I think her parents actually pissed me off even more. They’re the adults, they’re supposed to know better and to have your back. They did thought they knew better, but they really didn’t. I wanted to shake them. Let the girl breathe. Let her and her brother make their own choices and mistakes. You can’t control what you don’t understand, just show up with love and support, it’s not that hard. Well I guess it was for them though. Yeah you can tell I’m still mad.
I ADORED the roommates. Such a messy, imperfect little found family. The way they showed up for Blair made me sooo emotional. Truly the family she didn’t even know she needed. I also really how they brought conversation about mental health and gender, so honest and important..
Overall, this was such a cute, funny, emotional read with great character growth. I really love these characters (I also hated at least 4 of them though iykyk..) and I really had an amazing time listenning to their story.
The audiobook was really good. Laura Knight Keating did an amazing job bringing Blair to life and really added to the emotions and banter. I literally listened to this in less than two days because I was completely immersed.
“And maybe it isn’t real, but it doesn’t matter because I fell in love with you anyway. More and more every time I saw you. Love at every sight.”
Add this to your TBR if you like:
🧡 college setting
🩷 single POV
🧡 messy relationships
🩷 brother’s best friend
🧡 banter
🩷 found family
I identified with Blair so easily and I wanted to hug her so badly. At that age I was a little bit awkward, felt left behind, and got hurt by a few so-called “friends,” so her experience really hit home. It’s such a hard, confusing age and this book captured that feeling really well.. My heart was hurting so much for her ❤️🩹
The banter between Blair and Jamie was everything. Two nerds, constant teasing, and that “I hate your guts” slow burn? Yes please.
I do wish this was dual POV though because I knew Jamie has been down bad since they were kids and I would’ve absolutely eaten up the yearning for his POV..
Her “so called friend” made me so mad but I think her parents actually pissed me off even more. They’re the adults, they’re supposed to know better and to have your back. They did thought they knew better, but they really didn’t. I wanted to shake them. Let the girl breathe. Let her and her brother make their own choices and mistakes. You can’t control what you don’t understand, just show up with love and support, it’s not that hard. Well I guess it was for them though. Yeah you can tell I’m still mad.
I ADORED the roommates. Such a messy, imperfect little found family. The way they showed up for Blair made me sooo emotional. Truly the family she didn’t even know she needed. I also really how they brought conversation about mental health and gender, so honest and important..
Overall, this was such a cute, funny, emotional read with great character growth. I really love these characters (I also hated at least 4 of them though iykyk..) and I really had an amazing time listenning to their story.
The audiobook was really good. Laura Knight Keating did an amazing job bringing Blair to life and really added to the emotions and banter. I literally listened to this in less than two days because I was completely immersed.
“And maybe it isn’t real, but it doesn’t matter because I fell in love with you anyway. More and more every time I saw you. Love at every sight.”
Add this to your TBR if you like:
🧡 college setting
🩷 single POV
🧡 messy relationships
🩷 brother’s best friend
🧡 banter
🩷 found family
October 31, 2025
Current rating: 4.25 stars
This May End Badly was such an enjoyable read for me, so naturally, I was ecstatic when I received the physical ARC and eARC for The Roommate Arrangement!
I was already smiling when I started the first chapter due to Samantha Markum's fun writing style and quickly devoured what I could of this book whenever I had free time. I loved the diverse cast and the various relationships Blair formed with the other characters were nice to read about! It was heartwarming to see her connect with better people, as the treatment from those she should have been able to trust was actually appalling. Blair's arc was definitely a ride, as her journey to better understanding what she truly wanted and finding the strength to do so was a difficult one, for which the rigid expectations placed on her are partially to blame 👀 Some ppl will like Blair, some ppl won't, but I found her completely understandable, even during moments (usually w/ Jamie) when I wanted to shake her a bit (lovingly).
As for the romance, I really liked Jamie as the love interest and getting to learn more about him along with Blair. Their progression from annoyances to lovers was done well, and Samantha Markum writes the best couch scenes, specifically of the tension-filled, late-night kind. Only minor gripe is that some romantic moments kinda came in a way where I felt like it was a bit more intense for the stage they were in at the time, but I can understand that things can sometimes happen in the moment, so it wasn't too shocking.
Overall, a fun read, and I'm excited for whatever Samantha Markum writes next!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC + eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This May End Badly was such an enjoyable read for me, so naturally, I was ecstatic when I received the physical ARC and eARC for The Roommate Arrangement!
I was already smiling when I started the first chapter due to Samantha Markum's fun writing style and quickly devoured what I could of this book whenever I had free time. I loved the diverse cast and the various relationships Blair formed with the other characters were nice to read about! It was heartwarming to see her connect with better people, as the treatment from those she should have been able to trust was actually appalling. Blair's arc was definitely a ride, as her journey to better understanding what she truly wanted and finding the strength to do so was a difficult one, for which the rigid expectations placed on her are partially to blame 👀 Some ppl will like Blair, some ppl won't, but I found her completely understandable, even during moments (usually w/ Jamie) when I wanted to shake her a bit (lovingly).
As for the romance, I really liked Jamie as the love interest and getting to learn more about him along with Blair. Their progression from annoyances to lovers was done well, and Samantha Markum writes the best couch scenes, specifically of the tension-filled, late-night kind. Only minor gripe is that some romantic moments kinda came in a way where I felt like it was a bit more intense for the stage they were in at the time, but I can understand that things can sometimes happen in the moment, so it wasn't too shocking.
Overall, a fun read, and I'm excited for whatever Samantha Markum writes next!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC + eARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 20, 2026
I am writing this review on four hours of sleep as this book caused me to stay up until 4:00 AM TO FINISH IT!
I was only 20% through when I picked it back up last night and OMG. I COULDN’T PUT IT BACK DOWN.
There is so much I loved about this book! For starters, I find myself just quickly becoming a big fan of YA romance! They make me so giddy and excited, and The Roommate Arrangement was no exception! I really liked both Blair and Jamie as characters! I felt they were both so well developed and I enjoyed being in Blair’s head!
It quickly became so clear to me that Jamie already liked Blair… I’m convinced I was giggling like a madwoman while reading. All the rides home? The lightsaber scene? The first-aid kit scene? THE SCULPTING SCENE?! I’m pretty sure I died and came back to life like twenty different times.
Their banter was top tier and their chemistry was undeniable. This was a contemporary “enemies” to lovers done right, AND the fact that Jamie was her brother’s best friend?!?! (Excuse me while I just go scream real quick.)
I also loved the little found family aspect! Mikey, Liss, and Andres were the sweetest, I loved all of them! Their unwavering support for one another made my heart melt on more than one occasion.
I will be screaming about this book from the rooftops. I want a sequel. I want a movie. I JUST NEED MORE!! (But heavy emphasis on the movie—I feel this book would make for one of the BEST film adaptations!!)
This was my first time reading a book by Samantha Markum, but it definitely won’t be my last!
What a great romance read, I can’t wait to recommend it to everyone!! 💖
**Thank you so much to SimonTeen and NetGalley for the free eARC! This is an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was only 20% through when I picked it back up last night and OMG. I COULDN’T PUT IT BACK DOWN.
There is so much I loved about this book! For starters, I find myself just quickly becoming a big fan of YA romance! They make me so giddy and excited, and The Roommate Arrangement was no exception! I really liked both Blair and Jamie as characters! I felt they were both so well developed and I enjoyed being in Blair’s head!
It quickly became so clear to me that Jamie already liked Blair… I’m convinced I was giggling like a madwoman while reading. All the rides home? The lightsaber scene? The first-aid kit scene? THE SCULPTING SCENE?! I’m pretty sure I died and came back to life like twenty different times.
Their banter was top tier and their chemistry was undeniable. This was a contemporary “enemies” to lovers done right, AND the fact that Jamie was her brother’s best friend?!?! (Excuse me while I just go scream real quick.)
I also loved the little found family aspect! Mikey, Liss, and Andres were the sweetest, I loved all of them! Their unwavering support for one another made my heart melt on more than one occasion.
I will be screaming about this book from the rooftops. I want a sequel. I want a movie. I JUST NEED MORE!! (But heavy emphasis on the movie—I feel this book would make for one of the BEST film adaptations!!)
This was my first time reading a book by Samantha Markum, but it definitely won’t be my last!
What a great romance read, I can’t wait to recommend it to everyone!! 💖
**Thank you so much to SimonTeen and NetGalley for the free eARC! This is an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Blair and her 2 best friends are off to university. They are rooming together off campus. But days before the move her 2 bestie decide to ditch her, saying she's too type A for their taste. Blair, scrambling for a place to stay, answers an ad and starts staying with an eclectic group of people. The only problem is one of them is her brother's best friend. And she needs her family not to find out about this.
4 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and RBmedia for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and RBmedia for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2025
The Roommate Arrangement felt like rediscovering romance for the first time: each trope was entirely fresh, the tension struck every single page. Jamie and Blair literally invented being in love! Samantha Markum has totally captured the sparkling quality of Lynn Painter and Ali Hazelwood -- utterly addictive and big-hearted. Add in a side of outgrowing friendships, body acceptance, and overcoming parental expectations and you've got a five star, no notes, absolutely perfect romance.
October 12, 2025
I loved this! Self discovery, rejecting others’ narratives for your life, first love and found family?! I mean what’s not to love!
I rooted so hard for Blair! She’s trying so hard to figure out who she wants to be, and I loved following the journey with her!
Shout out to what I think is a reference to my Alma mater UCF (Central Florida State in the book)! I think I could even guess what off campus housing UGH was inspired by lol. Loved these local details!
I rooted so hard for Blair! She’s trying so hard to figure out who she wants to be, and I loved following the journey with her!
Shout out to what I think is a reference to my Alma mater UCF (Central Florida State in the book)! I think I could even guess what off campus housing UGH was inspired by lol. Loved these local details!
October 31, 2025
I think Samantha Markum hit another one out of the park. This book was so engaging and relatable and, at times, very difficult to read. But I still felt really optimistic at the end, despite the MCs big struggles. Markum is such a bright spot in the YA/New Adult romance genre. Thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC.
July 31, 2025
Samantha Markum has done it again. There were several romantic lines that made me (metaphorically) scream into a pillow.
Content warnings: panic attacks, controlling parents, fatphobia (Blair is body-positive; there are a few snide remarks from others)
Content warnings: panic attacks, controlling parents, fatphobia (Blair is body-positive; there are a few snide remarks from others)
January 1, 2026
The Roommate Arrangement was a fun, fast-paced rom-com that I flew through. The accidental roommates and brother’s-best-friend trope made this an easy, entertaining read from the start.
I really enjoyed Blair and Jamie as characters and loved watching their relationship develop. Their chemistry felt natural, and the roommate dynamics were a highlight—fun, warm, and full of great banter that gave the story a strong found-family feel.
However, the family pressure, especially from Blair’s parents, was not something I enjoyed. Their rigid expectations and prioritizing rules over their children’s happiness felt frustrating rather than compelling, and those moments were my least favorite parts of the book. That said, I did appreciate Blair’s growth and was glad to see her stand up for herself by the end.
I also liked the character growth we see from Blair’s brother, Sawyer, which added depth to the family dynamic without overshadowing the romance.
Overall, The Roommate Arrangement is a light, charming read with strong characters, fun roommate dynamics, and a satisfying romance.
I really enjoyed Blair and Jamie as characters and loved watching their relationship develop. Their chemistry felt natural, and the roommate dynamics were a highlight—fun, warm, and full of great banter that gave the story a strong found-family feel.
However, the family pressure, especially from Blair’s parents, was not something I enjoyed. Their rigid expectations and prioritizing rules over their children’s happiness felt frustrating rather than compelling, and those moments were my least favorite parts of the book. That said, I did appreciate Blair’s growth and was glad to see her stand up for herself by the end.
I also liked the character growth we see from Blair’s brother, Sawyer, which added depth to the family dynamic without overshadowing the romance.
Overall, The Roommate Arrangement is a light, charming read with strong characters, fun roommate dynamics, and a satisfying romance.
December 6, 2025
Thank you to Simon Teen for the eARC & physical ARC.
4.5 stars.
I ended up reading this all in one day, I was absolutely hooked.
Blair gets dropped by her “best friends” right before she’s supposed to start her summer college course, and after a last minute scramble, she ends up in a roommate situation with her brother’s best friend. The brother that acts like he hates her… Oh, let the bickering start.
This was such a story of growth. Blair struggles with doing what she really wants or what her strict stepdad and mom want for her. I loved seeing her grow, especially once she had some true support. The side characters really shone here, creating a found family feel.
And the romance was just right. While Blair and Jamie initially bicker and try to ignore each other, it’s clear that the boy has been down bad for her for a long time.
I loved this one and I’ll happily read more from this author.
4.5 stars.
I ended up reading this all in one day, I was absolutely hooked.
Blair gets dropped by her “best friends” right before she’s supposed to start her summer college course, and after a last minute scramble, she ends up in a roommate situation with her brother’s best friend. The brother that acts like he hates her… Oh, let the bickering start.
This was such a story of growth. Blair struggles with doing what she really wants or what her strict stepdad and mom want for her. I loved seeing her grow, especially once she had some true support. The side characters really shone here, creating a found family feel.
And the romance was just right. While Blair and Jamie initially bicker and try to ignore each other, it’s clear that the boy has been down bad for her for a long time.
I loved this one and I’ll happily read more from this author.
January 19, 2026
This is my second Samantha Markum book, and it has just solidified my opinion that she is quickly becoming one of my new favorites for YA! The Roommate Arrangement brought out lots of emotions for me. I cried a few times, I giggled a lot, and there was also quite a bit of swoon involved! The pang of nostalgia I felt while reading this was reminiscent of the best stories of my high school YA reading, and I loved that I was able to feel that feeling again through this story and these characters!
The Roommate Arrangement follows our FMC Blair as she has to navigate being thrust upon the real world without the safety nets and comfort of the expected- She is moving away from home early to start college with a summer program, and a few days before she leaves, she finds out that her housing falls through, and she is left scrambling to amend that. Because of her parent's strictness, she takes matters in her own hands so as to not lose the one thing that is keeping her sane through it all- the sculpting class she is getting to take that is taught by her art world idol. What she does not expect to find at her new living arrangements is one of her new roommates is her older brother's mysterious best friend, Jamie.
There was so many moving parts to this book. I liked that there were a lot of threads to follow, and how Markum weaved everything together to create a story that felt very urgent and true to being of the age where these big life changes make a big impact and really start to define who you are to become going into adulthood. Blair grows so much through all of her trials in this, and I appreciated that Markum did not wrap things up with a neat bow at the conclusion of the story; not everything was fixed and people still had their problems, and that made it feel more real. Blair had been put through the wringer, and she now has the tools and the found family/support system to really begin living how she wants to. By the end, the moments where she was able to stand up for herself felt very earned. This book was so nuanced by way of tackling familial expectations and relationships, and how incredibly hard it can be to break free of that weight and start living just for yourself. It is a thing that is so hard to navigate because it can be so personal; the logical options are not always the path you are able to take. I am 27 years old and still struggle with that! It was a balm to go on that journey through Blair.
I loved all of her interactions she had with her new roommates- they were so lovely, funny, and supportive. It was cool to see their friendships develop and Blair to find that being her unfiltered self is not something she needs to reign in, because the right people and the right friends will love and support you no matter what. I liked that we got to experience those raw moments between Blair and her new roommates/friends, and see how they bonded organically through them. The mental health rep in this book felt very natural and normalized. I appreciated how it was handled and that it played a big part in this story for a lot of the characters. I want to gather Felicity, Mikey, and Andres in a big hug! Ugh I love them.
Markum is so freaking good at writing banter, and her characters are so wonderfully witty and biting. Blair and Jamie clearly from the start have disdain for each other, and that definitely comes from not being able to fully understand one another, born from having walls up and the pressures of her family to act a certain way. They have "known" each other forever, and I loved that this was challenged by this newfound forced proximity. It set the stage for getting down into the weeds of who they actually are, and that discovery of truly being known really fed the natural progression of their relationship. Jamie had such a fierce protectiveness for Blair and the undercurrents of that love was felt long before it was said. Swoon. Jamie was a character that I immediately felt drawn to, and I loved discovering all the layers his character had. I loved the slower burn of their relationship, and their chemistry was physically palpable. The way Markum writes physicality between her characters is so so good. The weighted stares, the casual way in which they handle/touch each other, both romantically and nonromantic, was so heady and had me squeeing. The romance was romancing, and Markum is so excellent at showing that to us in subtle but effective ways. It really builds to such a satisfying payoff.
Overall, this was a great contemporary YA read. The fat rep, the focus on mental health, Blair's humor and voice, our MMC and secondary characters- all of it was a 10 for me. It was such a delight to experience, and I loved every moment of it! This book will for sure be added to the regular re-read rotation!
The Roommate Arrangement follows our FMC Blair as she has to navigate being thrust upon the real world without the safety nets and comfort of the expected- She is moving away from home early to start college with a summer program, and a few days before she leaves, she finds out that her housing falls through, and she is left scrambling to amend that. Because of her parent's strictness, she takes matters in her own hands so as to not lose the one thing that is keeping her sane through it all- the sculpting class she is getting to take that is taught by her art world idol. What she does not expect to find at her new living arrangements is one of her new roommates is her older brother's mysterious best friend, Jamie.
There was so many moving parts to this book. I liked that there were a lot of threads to follow, and how Markum weaved everything together to create a story that felt very urgent and true to being of the age where these big life changes make a big impact and really start to define who you are to become going into adulthood. Blair grows so much through all of her trials in this, and I appreciated that Markum did not wrap things up with a neat bow at the conclusion of the story; not everything was fixed and people still had their problems, and that made it feel more real. Blair had been put through the wringer, and she now has the tools and the found family/support system to really begin living how she wants to. By the end, the moments where she was able to stand up for herself felt very earned. This book was so nuanced by way of tackling familial expectations and relationships, and how incredibly hard it can be to break free of that weight and start living just for yourself. It is a thing that is so hard to navigate because it can be so personal; the logical options are not always the path you are able to take. I am 27 years old and still struggle with that! It was a balm to go on that journey through Blair.
I loved all of her interactions she had with her new roommates- they were so lovely, funny, and supportive. It was cool to see their friendships develop and Blair to find that being her unfiltered self is not something she needs to reign in, because the right people and the right friends will love and support you no matter what. I liked that we got to experience those raw moments between Blair and her new roommates/friends, and see how they bonded organically through them. The mental health rep in this book felt very natural and normalized. I appreciated how it was handled and that it played a big part in this story for a lot of the characters. I want to gather Felicity, Mikey, and Andres in a big hug! Ugh I love them.
Markum is so freaking good at writing banter, and her characters are so wonderfully witty and biting. Blair and Jamie clearly from the start have disdain for each other, and that definitely comes from not being able to fully understand one another, born from having walls up and the pressures of her family to act a certain way. They have "known" each other forever, and I loved that this was challenged by this newfound forced proximity. It set the stage for getting down into the weeds of who they actually are, and that discovery of truly being known really fed the natural progression of their relationship. Jamie had such a fierce protectiveness for Blair and the undercurrents of that love was felt long before it was said. Swoon. Jamie was a character that I immediately felt drawn to, and I loved discovering all the layers his character had. I loved the slower burn of their relationship, and their chemistry was physically palpable. The way Markum writes physicality between her characters is so so good. The weighted stares, the casual way in which they handle/touch each other, both romantically and nonromantic, was so heady and had me squeeing. The romance was romancing, and Markum is so excellent at showing that to us in subtle but effective ways. It really builds to such a satisfying payoff.
Overall, this was a great contemporary YA read. The fat rep, the focus on mental health, Blair's humor and voice, our MMC and secondary characters- all of it was a 10 for me. It was such a delight to experience, and I loved every moment of it! This book will for sure be added to the regular re-read rotation!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am an official Samantha Markum fan now. I loved LOVE OFF THE RECORD, I still think about it and recommend it all the time. So I have been looking forward to this book and I was not disappointed at all. I read it in one sitting. Markum did what I love best in contemporary romances which is make the characters feel real and flawed, as well as create GREAT romantic tension. The FMC Blair is a rule follower, high achiever who wants to succeed and please her parents but after going to college starts to struggle academically for the first time. I think that is something a lot of students can relate to. How to deal with that struggle and how that impacts not only their own self-perception/esteem but also their relationship with their parents. Freshmen in college also often confront the issue of how much to reveal and how much to keep from their parents when they’re away for the first time.
I also appreciated that Markum not only created great romantic tension but managed something that seems increasingly rare in YA novels: The physical scenes were very tension-filled and satisfying without being too mature/graphic (IMO). HUGE props on this. I feel like I could give this to both teens who don’t want something too graphic and who want a little older/edgier feeling. And who doesn’t love a great “my hand is barely touching his but OMG this is setting my stomach aquiver with excitement” scene? (BTW *spoiler* they eventually do more than touch hands but there’s a lot of other light touches like this that happen too that are just as important and exciting.)
Other things I really liked are the great secondary characters and the friendships they provided, Blair’s realistic character details like having food allergies and being thoughtful and fine with being fat, and a complicated relationship with her brother.
A few minor things I would have changed (spoiler-y):
Blair’s HS friends seemed almost too villainous to be believed. I was thinking for sure there would be some scene where her new roommates would encounter her old friends somehow and be like “Too neat and controlling? Blair? Are we talking about the same person?” And that character thread wasn’t a huge part of the book but it could have had a little bit more in terms of “is Blair contorting herself too much for her new friends and trying to be someone she isn’t” (or let her neatness/controlling thoughts/impulses come out a little bit more while she’s living in the new house but it’s not something terrible like her HS friends made it out to be or that can’t be dealt with).
And definitely spoilers here:
I loved Jamie and yes there were things Blair and her parents thought badly about him but they all kind of seemed to be misunderstanding non-issues (except his dangerous car - loved that recurring detail!). He ended up being almost too perfect, especially when he ends up revealing he was in love with her since the first time he met her. I would honestly have preferred he came to love her as he got to know her more as college students apart from Sawyer and their parents.
The post it-note-drawer scene 💗☠️
The hands-barely-touch-couch-scene 🤲😍
“The treasure-hoarding dragon in me wants to gobble up these moments like gold and gems”🤩😲⭐️⭐️⭐️
I also appreciated that Markum not only created great romantic tension but managed something that seems increasingly rare in YA novels: The physical scenes were very tension-filled and satisfying without being too mature/graphic (IMO). HUGE props on this. I feel like I could give this to both teens who don’t want something too graphic and who want a little older/edgier feeling. And who doesn’t love a great “my hand is barely touching his but OMG this is setting my stomach aquiver with excitement” scene? (BTW *spoiler* they eventually do more than touch hands but there’s a lot of other light touches like this that happen too that are just as important and exciting.)
Other things I really liked are the great secondary characters and the friendships they provided, Blair’s realistic character details like having food allergies and being thoughtful and fine with being fat, and a complicated relationship with her brother.
A few minor things I would have changed (spoiler-y):
Blair’s HS friends seemed almost too villainous to be believed. I was thinking for sure there would be some scene where her new roommates would encounter her old friends somehow and be like “Too neat and controlling? Blair? Are we talking about the same person?” And that character thread wasn’t a huge part of the book but it could have had a little bit more in terms of “is Blair contorting herself too much for her new friends and trying to be someone she isn’t” (or let her neatness/controlling thoughts/impulses come out a little bit more while she’s living in the new house but it’s not something terrible like her HS friends made it out to be or that can’t be dealt with).
And definitely spoilers here:
I loved Jamie and yes there were things Blair and her parents thought badly about him but they all kind of seemed to be misunderstanding non-issues (except his dangerous car - loved that recurring detail!). He ended up being almost too perfect, especially when he ends up revealing he was in love with her since the first time he met her. I would honestly have preferred he came to love her as he got to know her more as college students apart from Sawyer and their parents.
The post it-note-drawer scene 💗☠️
The hands-barely-touch-couch-scene 🤲😍
“The treasure-hoarding dragon in me wants to gobble up these moments like gold and gems”🤩😲⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 15, 2025
3.25/5⭐
This was just what I needed. I was in the trenches of a reading slump and Samantha Markum pulled me right out of it.
I was instantly sucked into this world. Blair's passion for the arts was so enthralling to read about. I love how we got to see her in her art classes, as slowly begins defeating the need for 'perfection' in all that she tries which was a nice contrast to her computer science class where she was dealing with the same issues but in a negative way. I love the way this was tackled and how Blair gained agency throughout the book, learning from her past mistakes in both her art and in the way that she thought about things.
Jamie was a little nerd and I loveeeeee that so much. His aloof personality coupled with his utter yearning for Blair was incredible. I thought his character was very interesting as a whole though. I found myself beginning to hate the way he treated Blair. Some of his comments felt like pure meanness instead of some harsh banter. I think that he was too hard on her in many ways and I didn't understand why especially if he actually likes her like he said. I just couldn't get behind that.
Jamie and Blair together was SO CUTE at times and the tension was amazing (hello, sickness scene/panic attack) but I did find their relationship progression to be not as satisfactory as I felt like I didn't see enough of them as individuals with complimentary personalities to envision them as a couple and then they were together.
Overall, I thought the entire books pacing was off. There was a lot of skipping around in time and while I still feel like we got to see what the characters were doing, I also feel like we missed out on some events as they would be talked about but not shown. There is one chapter about a game night and we see them set up the game and have all this banter but then the chapter ends and we never know who won/how the game play went. Small things like that would have benefitted from expansion and more in-depth discussion. I also don't think Blair's transition to having a rocky relationship with her parents was explored enough, nor do I understand their family dynamic in the slightest- especially Jamie's family situation. More subtle comments/recounting of past memories would have made this clearer.
The friend group was so fun and I thought that the ins-and-outs of being roommates with complete strangers was done really well. The way they began to truly come together at the end was so good!!!
I think this book was lacking in the banter department for me and just depth in areas that I wanted more or less of. I also had crazy high expectations because I LOVED Love, Off The Record by the same author. But I would recommend this one to someone who wants a romance that has deeper topics weaved in and leaves you with something to think about while still giving you a stay-up-till-3am experience because you just want the characters to kiss already!!
A big thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and Simon Teen for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!
This was just what I needed. I was in the trenches of a reading slump and Samantha Markum pulled me right out of it.
I was instantly sucked into this world. Blair's passion for the arts was so enthralling to read about. I love how we got to see her in her art classes, as slowly begins defeating the need for 'perfection' in all that she tries which was a nice contrast to her computer science class where she was dealing with the same issues but in a negative way. I love the way this was tackled and how Blair gained agency throughout the book, learning from her past mistakes in both her art and in the way that she thought about things.
Jamie was a little nerd and I loveeeeee that so much. His aloof personality coupled with his utter yearning for Blair was incredible. I thought his character was very interesting as a whole though. I found myself beginning to hate the way he treated Blair. Some of his comments felt like pure meanness instead of some harsh banter. I think that he was too hard on her in many ways and I didn't understand why especially if he actually likes her like he said. I just couldn't get behind that.
Jamie and Blair together was SO CUTE at times and the tension was amazing (hello, sickness scene/panic attack) but I did find their relationship progression to be not as satisfactory as I felt like I didn't see enough of them as individuals with complimentary personalities to envision them as a couple and then they were together.
Overall, I thought the entire books pacing was off. There was a lot of skipping around in time and while I still feel like we got to see what the characters were doing, I also feel like we missed out on some events as they would be talked about but not shown. There is one chapter about a game night and we see them set up the game and have all this banter but then the chapter ends and we never know who won/how the game play went. Small things like that would have benefitted from expansion and more in-depth discussion. I also don't think Blair's transition to having a rocky relationship with her parents was explored enough, nor do I understand their family dynamic in the slightest- especially Jamie's family situation. More subtle comments/recounting of past memories would have made this clearer.
The friend group was so fun and I thought that the ins-and-outs of being roommates with complete strangers was done really well. The way they began to truly come together at the end was so good!!!
I think this book was lacking in the banter department for me and just depth in areas that I wanted more or less of. I also had crazy high expectations because I LOVED Love, Off The Record by the same author. But I would recommend this one to someone who wants a romance that has deeper topics weaved in and leaves you with something to think about while still giving you a stay-up-till-3am experience because you just want the characters to kiss already!!
A big thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and Simon Teen for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I like the fact that while The Roommate Arrangement is categorized as YA, it follows 18/19 year old college students so it has the air of being new adult without, basically, any spice. If you like deeper topics intertwined with a bit less romance, this book is a great choice! I was definitely engrossed the whole time, considering I read it in basically two sittings.
The story made sense - you have a girl who doesn’t get along with her family, especially her older brother and his friend, who has a falling out with her friends and has to scramble for last minute college housing for her summer accelerated program. Blair is a complex character who is headstrong, adamant, but still has some youthful ignorance and growing to do in her role.
I don’t like perfect characters and no one in this book was perfect (least of all her parents who I actually feel like were made too hateable because I still despise their behavior).
I struggled with my rating, it’s probably a 3.75 that I’m rounding up because even if I found Blair and Jamie frustrating at time, the end resolution with the parents, while probably a likelihood for some people, didn’t sit right for me and actually made me feel physically angry. The rocky parental situation could have been explored more clearly, because I didn’t necessarily agree with the arrangement by the end. Victor, I actually hate you!
The mental health representation was well done here! Seeing the agony Blair went through over feeling inadequate in her class was hard but ultimately she needed to realize a few things to deal with it. While I certainly had harsh professors in college (and I was never in an advanced program like Blair) I did think the meanness of the professor was dramatized. Maybe it’s not the same since I was never in computer science, but not all professors will be like that and I think that’s an important thing to note - because that portrayal could scare someone off! Then again, the juxtaposition from the art class/teacher did help balance some of the toxicity going on in the APM 🤷🏻♀️
Sam Markum became an auto-read author for me after Love, Off The Record. While The Roommate Arrangement was enjoyable, it didn’t scratch the itch that LOTR did for me! Especially in terms of plus size rep. It’s stated maybe ambiguously for a while until Blair says something about being fat. I would’ve liked it to be a smudge less subtle, but it also didn’t have anything to do with a weigh loss journey which I appreciated. More love and pining after fat girls!!!
I did like Blair and Jamie when they did finally realize each other’s feelings, but the chemistry felt a little more forced proximity than the actual he fell first vibe. Jamie was hard to read but eventually seeing more of his layers helped make me feel like he was more wholesome than expected. The post it’s!! The thing about it is, Jamie will never be Three for me!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Great for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Lynn Painter.
The story made sense - you have a girl who doesn’t get along with her family, especially her older brother and his friend, who has a falling out with her friends and has to scramble for last minute college housing for her summer accelerated program. Blair is a complex character who is headstrong, adamant, but still has some youthful ignorance and growing to do in her role.
I don’t like perfect characters and no one in this book was perfect (least of all her parents who I actually feel like were made too hateable because I still despise their behavior).
I struggled with my rating, it’s probably a 3.75 that I’m rounding up because even if I found Blair and Jamie frustrating at time, the end resolution with the parents, while probably a likelihood for some people, didn’t sit right for me and actually made me feel physically angry. The rocky parental situation could have been explored more clearly, because I didn’t necessarily agree with the arrangement by the end. Victor, I actually hate you!
The mental health representation was well done here! Seeing the agony Blair went through over feeling inadequate in her class was hard but ultimately she needed to realize a few things to deal with it. While I certainly had harsh professors in college (and I was never in an advanced program like Blair) I did think the meanness of the professor was dramatized. Maybe it’s not the same since I was never in computer science, but not all professors will be like that and I think that’s an important thing to note - because that portrayal could scare someone off! Then again, the juxtaposition from the art class/teacher did help balance some of the toxicity going on in the APM 🤷🏻♀️
Sam Markum became an auto-read author for me after Love, Off The Record. While The Roommate Arrangement was enjoyable, it didn’t scratch the itch that LOTR did for me! Especially in terms of plus size rep. It’s stated maybe ambiguously for a while until Blair says something about being fat. I would’ve liked it to be a smudge less subtle, but it also didn’t have anything to do with a weigh loss journey which I appreciated. More love and pining after fat girls!!!
I did like Blair and Jamie when they did finally realize each other’s feelings, but the chemistry felt a little more forced proximity than the actual he fell first vibe. Jamie was hard to read but eventually seeing more of his layers helped make me feel like he was more wholesome than expected. The post it’s!! The thing about it is, Jamie will never be Three for me!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Great for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Lynn Painter.
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