The Roommate

4.5 stars — There were parts of this story that just sucked me in and delighted me! But, as with all my books lately, I did find my mind wandering. I’m thinking it’s more indicative of my state right now than the books I’m reading though. Just having a hard time concentrating I guess. I saw this story recommended quite a few times, so I went in with pretty high expectations. That can be a good or bad thing, and in this case it was mostly good, though I can’t help but wonder if my high expectations are what is having me round down instead of up, you know? This was a seriously unique premise. I loved the exploration of what it means to have a career in the sex industry, and the stigma associated with that. I loved the exploration of women’s pleasure, and how the entertainment industry is seriously lacking in something for us. Josh was just a complete contradiction in so many ways. He was obviously very in touch with his sexual side, and craved the physical…which usually would give me playboy vibes. But he wasn’t actually like that at all…or least not what I’m usually fed. He was sweet, caring, super empowering and supportive, hilarious, adorable…you just wanted to hug him and let him do wicked things to you at the same time. I was worried that I wouldn’t fall in love with Clara, b/c she can be so rigid and uptight. But underneath all that conditioning from her family, she was such a positive force who appreciated people. I mean, I did want to smack her in one crucial moment, but I guess I still sort of understood what she was fighting against (years of conditioning). In the end I loved how she grew and flourished under Josh’s love, and how she found herself while doing something totally alien to her. I LOVED Josh’s almost tutorials with Clara. At first I was anxious about it, because I was waiting for the hurt. And while that did come, their relationship developed into so much more than I was expecting, and in a different order or something than I was expecting. You know, you start to anticipate how things are going to go, and while this one did have some formula to it, it also skirted that formula in quite a few moments. Holy wow was this book hot too. There is something seriously hot about someone who is all about the sex teaching someone else to appreciate their own body and the pleasure they deserve. Not sure if that makes sense, but seriously. I really appreciated the secondary story with Aunt Jill, and even Toni to a degree. Teddy Hamilton and Brittany Pressley were fantastic in this one. I feel like I recognize Ms. Pressley’s voice, and not from the other book I listened to her narrate, so now that’s driving me insane. They both gave the perfect amount of heat and emotion and humour when needed. So yeah. Definitely a hit, but I kind of wish I’d been in a better mood to listen to it, because I think it got shortchanged. Maybe I’ll reread it some day!

No need to read, now that a review totally spoiled it! Thx Lenore...

Cute book and good characters that you route for. Good weekend audiobook.