The American Roommate Experiment: A Novel (The Love Deception Series)

I don't know how anyone is rating this 4 stars. Maybe I'm just an absolute sucker but this book has immediately gone onto my favorites of all time list. Lucas is the new standard. I don't usually like the more "sunshine-y" male MCs, but dang Lucas is ridiculous. In the best possible way. Every time he talked to Rosie, or went out of his way to make her comfortable, or freakin COOKED FOR HER, I died a little more. The way that he immediately noticed she was uncomfortable with their situation at first won him his first gold star. Something about a guy who respects a girl's boundaries without demanding to know why she is wary-or getting all weird and alpha-is just ridiculously hot. And yes, I know, the bar is in hell. But come on, Lucas cannot exist in real life. He has some very tangible faults though, which I appreciated even more. Without spoiling, I really liked how he was a strong character who had very real insecurities. It made my heart hurt sometimes, but I also understood. Rosie's struggles with her career and responsibilities really hit me hard. It just made sense why Lucas was the one for her. Having always been the responsible, put-together girl, made her falling for Lucas' caring personality a no-brainer. xxx *minor spoiler*: I wish we had gotten more about what exactly her second book was about. I felt like her writing wasn't explored enough, especially since it was pretty much the basis for their experiment. It would've been nice to hear about how her inspiration from Lucas manifested in her novel. xxx okay, rant over. I'm usually a die hard simp for "He falls first" books, so consider me pleasantly surprised. Rosie technically fell first, after all she has been insta stalking him for months (lol); but somehow it felt like Lucas fell just as hard and fast. Their dynamic is unreal-such an amazing balance of respect and care. I saw some reviewers commenting that this book was slow, to which I say: go read from a different author. I'm not saying this book is necessarily realistic, but the two characters actually developed a healthy relationship and FRIENDSHIP first. I love a good short, spicy read too, but this book reads like a real love story. I know we have to anticipate the third act conflict, but it still tugged at my heart. I was so glad to see what came out of this though. The healing both characters underwent by the end made all the tension worth it, and made their relationship seem even more real to me. So to summarize, I didn't say most of what I wanted (the Lina and Aaron cameo, Lucas being the best date planner - AND TACO <3), but I loved this book. Yes, I know it isn't really probable for a relationship like this to exist, but we can all hope, right? This book felt real. More so than SLD somehow, and more than any of my other reads this year. I never thought I would rate it 5 stars, but here we are. So, please go read it.

It's always a little terrifying to read the sophomore effort from an author whose debut you loved, hoping that it will live up to the weight of expectation. And, honestly, this didn't at first. The beginning is MUCH weaker than the second half, and it takes awhile to find its footing - but it definitely gets there along the way. The second half has the swoony goodness that I was hoping for; the payoff of a slow, torturous burn, and the intimacy that gives the romance weight. I loved Lucas and Rosie together - the roommates to lovers situation provided for many scenarios that ratcheted up the tension, and Lucas is just a sweetheart of a guy. Completely different than the dynamic between the characters in the first book, this romance is softer, sweeter, slower, and still just as sexy. The story follows Rosie, a woman who temporarily moves into her bestie's apartment when hers becomes damaged. Unfortunately, she didn't give her friend a heads up that she was coming, and it turns out that the studio apartment was already promised to someone else - Lina's sexy Spanish cousin who is in the States temporarily. Both nice, easygoing people, Rosie and Lucas come to an agreement to share the apartment while Rosie's is being repaired... which is how Rosie ends up becoming roommates with the guy she's been secretly stalking on the internet for months. Spending time with Lucas does nothing to diffuse the crush Rosie has been harboring, nor does going on (mostly) platonic dates in the hopes of getting inspiration for her writing. It does make the living situation a little more tense, however, especially once Rosie realizes that Lucas might not be completely immune to her charms after all. The Spanish Love Deception was one of my favorite books of last year, so to say that I was eagerly anticipating this would be an understatement. Which might be why I was so disappointed by the beginning, though that could also be attributed to the audiobook narration (which I abandoned). Whatever the case, there was something about the beginning that just did not work for me. It was obvious from the start that Lucas and Rosie were both smitten with each other, and the low-stakes situation made it feel less like a slow burn and more just SLOW. As other readers have mentioned, it felt like I got 150-200 pages in and the book hadn't really gone anywhere yet. There's also a subplot revolving around Rosie's budding career as a romance author, and how she's having trouble finding inspiration after a successful first book, which... did not give me any reassurance that it wasn't a real life issue for Armas as well. There has to be an enormous amount of pressure placed on any author who has such a wildly popular debut, so I can certainly empathize with that. The good news is that this recovers well in the second half, and I started to get the swoons back. The tension kicks up a notch, the pace moves a bit faster, and the romance is more overt. The back half has everything that I want from Armas, which easily earns this a 4-star rating from me. Had the rest of the book been that solid, it would've been an easy 5. Audio note: Not gonna lie, I abandoned the audio partway through, and I do not regret it. Not that it was poorly executed, it simply wasn't resonating with me. I'm not familiar with either narrator in this dual narration production, but neither one was a win. The female narrator makes Rosie sound so upbeat, peppy, and bubbly that those first few scenes were extra cringey. The male narrator was trying to sound like a flirty Latin lover, with a thick accent and too much pompous attitude. It didn't match how I envisioned either character, and jumping between those two narration styles was very, very jarring. So I ended up abandoning ship and switching back to the text. Coincidence or not, that was about the same time the plot began working better for me. The runtime is also around 15 hours, so you'll likely need to listen over the course of multiple days. It does make a great choice for a workday listen though, as the slow burn romance lends itself well to the format. It's also light and upbeat enough that the format would've been ideal if the narration had been smoother.

The American Roommate Experiment was a lighthearted and enjoyable read. This book was definitely one of my highly anticipated releases, so I do have to be honest and say that I was a bit sadden that I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped. While there were some amusing and heartfelt moments, the pacing of the story was very slow and I was just expecting a little bit more. It is dual POVs of the main characters and has some amazing tropes like: friends to lovers, close proximity, a dating experiment and a slow burn romance. I did really enjoy the first half of this book as I couldn’t stop smiling at the character’s dynamic and romance. However, the second half somewhat lost me as the pacing of the story slowed down significantly and dragged quite a bit. There were also several subplots that were brushed aside and not fully explained at the end. The romance between the main characters was honestly so heartwarming. It was very much a slow burn romance though, which did get a bit frustrating as their romantic journey felt too drawn out at times. It was insta-lust as well but there was still some great banter, chemistry, and angst between them. There was also some really good spice. The hero was definitely swoon worthy and I loved all the “fake” dates they had. I will say though, at times it did feel like the heroine was more into the hero. She had been pining for quite some time and while the hero made some grand gestures it still felt like her feelings were much stronger than his. I also would have liked for the hero to have groveled a bit more at the end as well. I did love all the Aaron and Lina snippets in this book though. They are still my favorite couple. The hero’s character development/decision at the end felt very rushed to be honest. The ending also wrapped up a bit too quickly, but the epilogue was really sweet. Overall, still just a fun and light read.

I don't write reviews..... ever. So for me to write a review on something I either really had to love it or really hated it. This book I loved so much that I can't stop thinking about it and want to just reread it so I can get my fill of Rosie and Lucas. What follows is just a couple of things (about this book and the first by Elena Armas) that I would've loved even more about the book had they been written. I'll start by saying, this book(and the first one) has all of the feels, is swoon worthy, and is worth the 5 stars I gave it. I'm not one who usually reads those romance novels that only have 1-2 really steamy scenes in them or that take half of the book to get to those scenes either, but I couldn't put these down. It's as if the love and the butterflies that they gave you for the characters throughout the first half of the book was enough to satisfy until those scenes did happen. Once they did though🔥, I didn't want them to end! So a couple more steamy scenes would've been really nice in these books. I can also see where some say that they liked the first book by Elena Armas better, due to this one having a slow start, but I loved it all of the same. I think that "slow start" had me appreciating all of the cute things that Lucas or Rosie were doing for each other that make you know that they both have feelings (as small as they might be in the beginning) for each other early on. The only things I disliked about this book (AND the first) was that I felt that they ended too fast (with so many things that could've still been written about I feel like it was rushed to an ending). Yes, you get to look ahead a year into the future and hear what all happened for that time span that wasn't really covered, but I just want more! More Rosie and Lucas (and more Lina and Aaron from the first book as well). I feel like these books could've been stretched further, more info, more time, more loving, more action/events at the end after you know that they're in love and a couple. They could've been their own individual series for each couple as well what with so many things being left open for discussion or story writing in the end. In conclusion, after reading both of these books (each under 24 hrs) I would definitely recommend them to others and already have. They still both get 5 stars from me because I loved them so much. I'm missing Rosie and Lucas already and can't wait to read any more books written by Elena Armas.

The premise is Rosie, a newly minted romance author, is struggling with writer's block with her second romance book. Lucas, her best friend's cousin (Lina, from The Spanish Love Deception), is staying in Lina's apartment for a few weeks on a visit from Spain. It also so happens Rosie has done some on the regular light stalking on Lucas ever since Lina showed her a post about him months ago. They have a meet cute when both are trying to use Lina's apartment simultaneously - with neither of them expecting the other to arrive. After agreeing to share the space, Lucas discovers Rosie's hindrance with writing, and volunteers to fake date her to jumpstart her inspiration. We all know where this is going. Rosie was a very likable and adorable character. I was a little hesitant to start this book because Lina, from The Spanish Love Deception, aggravated my nerves at the beginning of her book. Rosie was not like that at all, and Lina was such an amazing friend to her in this book, so I was glad no one had annoying qualities. Lucas was AMAZING! I could understand with Rosie's limited dating history, and it being littered with subpar men, why she would have such low expectations, and I loved how Lucas was aggravated by that (because he knew what she was worth) and how he aspired to show her through their "experimental" dates just how worthy she was. The dates were very sweet, and I loved how flirtatious Lucas was with Rosie. It helped to solidify why it took her so long to believe he had real feelings for her because Lucas flirted with her from pretty much the moment he met her, so that was what Rosie believed his baseline was. And I loved how honest and blunt Lucas could be with her when he wanted her to know the reactions she was illiciting from him. According to my ebook, this book was close to 400 pages. It was about 80 pages TOO LONG. It started to feel like the author was just trying to meet a word count. I found myself beginning to fall asleep toward the end, and that's usually when I'm most alert because I'm waiting to see how our couple is going to find their way back to each other. This book was a solid 3.5 stars for me. I do need to give this author props when it comes to how her characters physically interact with each other - that is FIVE STARS all the way. I'm not just referencing the spicy scenes - the casual, playful ways they connect and spend time together as their relationship grows are genuinely impressive and beautifully done. How Lucas casually settles his chin on Rosie's shoulder while looking over her shoulder, how he becomes protective of her at a very crowded party and uses his body to shield her, the way he lifts her in one scene to move her when she's frozen, etc. There's so much intimacy in scenes where it isn't about sex, and I loved them. She pulled this off in The Spanish Love Deception and The Fiance Dilemma. And comparing The Fiance Dilemma to her first book, it's easy to see that this author only continues to get better.

"𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎: 𝙰 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎; 𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜? 𝚃𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝, 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚝." HOLY SMOKES! This book was absolutely everything I wanted and MORE. I picked it up like I'll just read a chapter and ended up staying up until 2 am to finish it. But you know what I'm not upset at all, it was perfect. Our lovely bestie Rosie is so cute and lovable and awkward but in the best way. She just wants to follow her dreams and she has so much potential she's just in a bit of a writers block, but here comes Lucas unexpectedly to solve the problem. From the moment Lucas is introduced I was like oh this man is cheeky, sexy, funny...LITERAL perfection. Lucas has a secret that he's kept from the family because he hasn't been able to process what happened and decided to just get away from Spain to think. He honestly had my heart so quickly, he'd been bottling up so many insecurities about himself that it was costing him his happiness and that killed me. The short moments where we get a glimpses of our favorite couple Aaron and Lina married was so cute. My heart was bursting because this book was just full of heartwarming moments. I was laughing, crying, loving, enjoying, dancing right along with these characters. The tension between Lucas and Rosie was KILLING ME, like that slow burn was INTENSE, but when they finally do get together it is EVERYTHING. The story was written so well and I'm gonna say it, I'm sorry but Lucas surpassed Aaron for me. I know, I know, don't kill me but that man...*chef's kiss*. I'm telling you guys if I were in this book and Lucas were to smile at me and make me a white chocolate cheesecake we would have to go to the courthouse to be married as soon as we're done eating. This book is a MUST read!

This is a true standalone novel in the sense that the story is completely separate from the previous book. I was hoping to get more from that couple, Lina and Aaron, and even though they made some appearances, it wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for. The time line for this book is just after Lina and Aaron’s wedding. But I wasn’t disappointed either because it doesn’t take long to fall for this couple and be swept up on their tale. My only concern was that, like the first book, to build up angst and to hit home the dilemma the couple faced with truly being together got repetitive. The difference with this one though is it’s told in duel POVs because it was essential to know what Lucas was thinking and it was done well. On first reflection, Rosie and Lucas couldn’t be anymore different from Lina and Aaron but when really thinking it through, it was more of a gender swap which makes more sense because Lina and Lucas are cousins and very similar. Rosie isn’t a grumpy heroine but she was more reserved like Aaron and they both were true romantics and that resonated with me. Rosie and Lucas are both in need of using Lina’s vacant studio apartment and didn’t know the other would be there. After working through some comfort levels, they hit it off as friends and go about an experiment to help Rosie over her writers block. It takes some time for Lucas to open up over why he is hiding out in Brooklyn and it makes their friendship stronger and elevates the feelings both are experiencing. I loved how they went about with the “dates” and got to know each other on a deeper level. Lucas was an amazing character and I’m sure will be a favorite amongst loads of readers. He had charm oozing and it’s no wonder Rosie fell for him so quickly. They were perfect together. I see the next book for this author has brand new characters not mentioned before and it leads me to think does she have others brewing in the background. For one I want to know Olly’s story and hope he finds his own HEA and I’m completely intrigued as to why Lucas’s sister came to The States from Spain…I’m sure there’s a tale there to tell as well. I’ll just have to sit patiently and see if they come to fruition. 🤞🏼

This book had great potential - the story was good. I honestly felt zero chemistry between Rosie and Lucas . None. To the point where when they finally did get together I was bored!!! I hate that because I wanted to love this one as much as Spanish Love Deception- but the characters missed the mark. I made myself finish it because I seriously WANTED to like it. I just never got invested. Maybe it was the fact that the feelings were there for Rosie from the first chapter. There was no mystery or build up - it was insta love and then “kinda” friends to lovers but not really because the friendship was super new - like weeks new. Anyway-I hope the next one written is believable.

Alees Bestens. Schnell geliefert und für gut befunden

Ainda não comecei a ler mas estou super ansiosa! sobre a qualidade do livro, achei confortável em questão de tamanho , a página não chega a ser branca mas tbm não é aquelas bem amareladas , achei bem confortável em questão de visão.. a qualidade das folhas tbm achei boa. acho que no valor total nem chegou aos R$40 e por ser em inglês me surpreendeu muito.. a entrega foi expressa , pedi no domingo e recebi na terça! muito satisfeita:)) Ah , e coloquei uma foto da primeira página pra terem uma noção;)

elena es una gran autora en mi opinión así que ya quiero acabar esta novela!!!

I LOVE this book 🙂‍↕️ Personally didnt like Spanish love deception as much as everyone hyped it to be BUT THIS BOOK. GUYS. AMAZING. Literally Rom Com vibes, super cute. Im actually gonna go reread it rn 😶‍🌫️

SLOW BURN OMG. The story is inspiring in many ways like all the characters. Like Spanish Love Deception, you’ll laugh and smile as you read.