“But Speed has a uniquely endearing ensemble. There’s that nerdy tourist in the blazer, you know? I relate to him. I, too, came to L.A. with big dreams only to wind up circling the airport on a bus with a bomb.”
Josh raised his eyebrows as he returned to his seat.
“A metaphorical bus, obviously.”
“Wait.” He frowned and paused the movie. “Am I the bomb?”
“Don’t be silly.” She grabbed the remote and hit resume. Josh was absolutely the bomb. He was a big tangle of hormones trying to lure her to an untimely end. A bomb masked by cheesy jokes and kind eyes. One that could blow up her whole life if triggered at the wrong moment.
What’s this book about?
Clara moves across the country to live in the spare room of her childhood crush’s house. Only when she shows up she finds out that he rented out his room to some guy he found on Craigslist. How rude. When the socialite finds out what her new roommate does for a living, it sparks Clara’s desire to help fight the stigma around female pleasure.
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:
***THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS TURN AWAY NOW IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED***
I enjoyed this book, but I think if I hadn’t heard all of the hype beforehand I would’ve enjoyed it more.
The book is funny. It’s kinda steamy. It sort of subverts the boy next door/jealous ex-gf tropes. Which was cool. Although I was expecting Clara to feel more jealousy towards Naomi at first beyond just the physical.
But The Rommate only brushes briefly on a few really complex issues. I think the book tried to do too much. That’s the problem with having so few truly pro-sex worker books out there, is that the ones that do exist feel compelled to try to tackle too much. I think Rosie would’ve been more successful if she had only chosen to tackle one or two topics, and instead just wrote more rom-coms starring porn stars and tackle the other topics there instead. She tried to do too much, and succeeded in only brushing a little of a lot of really complex issues.
Also I’m kinda pissed that for 99% of their time living together, Josh is on a work hiatus. So basically he’s a retired porn star. And while there is still a stigma around what his job was, it doesn’t really matter (imo)?! They don’t even have to begin to navigate what it’s like to date a person who’s job is to have sex with other people. Idk this just kinda annoyed me. I feel like the book took the easy way out. It could address the some of the stigma of being a porn start without actually having to deal with some of the largest complexities of the job. Literally the only book I’ve read where the love interest is a porn star and stays a porn star while dating the main character is a Wattpad story (Professional Lover by Orchid_27 (I don’t recall it being a romcom though)). I’m just tired of books with a porn star love interest quitting porn as soon as they start dating. Or in this case, being on a hiatus the entire time. If you know of any romances where the porn star keeps working for all or most of the book, then please send me a rec!
Another problem I had was that Clara was described as being curvy, but it’s some super skinny chick on the cover. Just let curvy women be on covers please! I know the author doesn’t have control over this but still!
One last grrr complaint: I wish they had more discussions around Clara’s financial privilege. I know her and Josh had one quick conversation about it, and then Naomi brought it up when she mentioned how Clara could pull their funding and fuck them all over if Josh pisses her off. But Clara never had her own realization of her privilege. Also I hate how we didn’t get to see Clara interacting with her parents. At all. For them to be such a big figure hanging over her head, we never get to see it. It was frustrating.
Oooh I did love the whole this doesn’t feel like love scene. That hurt. In a good way? I love how that conversation didn’t go how it usually does in romance books!!
I did enjoy this book. But I really think I would’ve liked it more if it hadn’t been so hyped. Also I wish it hadn’t glossed over certain topics. I liked how it did address some of the stigma that revolves around being a sex worker. Also loved Josh’s return home scene with his mom. That was sweet.
All in all a fun rom-com. I’ve read several rom-coms with the same level of steam as this book. I don’t think it’s quite a genre breaking as people are making it out to be. Again, I think if it hadn’t been so damn hyped I would’ve enjoyed it more.
Content Warnings: car crash, panic attack, alcohol consumption, mentions of revenge porn
booksneedcaffeinetoo 
That’s interesting about his being a retired porn star. I started the book but have not finished it. But I agree with you, it’s an easy way out for the author. His job makes for an interesting background but that’s pretty much it.
~ Corina | The Brown Eyed Bookworm
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EXACTLY! It makes for an interesting background, but without actually having to tackle the problems around what it’s like to date a sex worker who’s job it is to have sex with other people for a living. I’m also mad they never had any discussions around whether he would return to doing porn or just doing the voiceover work instead.
It sucks, because I enjoyed the book, but I was really hoping to have a romcom where the porn star stays in the industry. (I’ve read too many romances with a porn star love interest quits because of ‘true love’. I want a positive sex worker book where the sex worker dates, finds love and happiness and STILL stays a sex worker because they love their job.)
I’m eager to hear your thoughts when you finish the book!
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