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beckymmoe's review
4.0
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 1/14/19.
Wrong Bed, Right Roommate is a fun and sexy BFF's older brother romance with just enough "we're roommates and we shouldn't" angst (getting into the wrong bed the first night is just the beginning--the many Shawn in the shower/his boxers/just a towel scenes really help things move along) that the pages nearly turn themselves. It's the first in a new series, and though we only get a brief glimpse into the other "besties" (with the exception of Shawn's sister Talia--more on her in a few) it's just enough to ensure I stay on the lookout for future series books.
I really liked the unrequited crush element of the story, especially since Shawn is absolutely noticing everything about Jessie now that he didn't in high school, and then some. It dovetails nicely with the other changes that Shawn has had to make and is still making as the book goes on--from high school golden boy to college and career less-than to a responsible adult with an actual career path and a grown up relationship. Seeing him doubt himself along the way was tough, but I loved seeing the difference that having someone believe in him--Jessie--was able to make.
Jessie had long gotten over her high school crush--probably--and was well on her way to a successful publishing career and an ulcer or three before the age of thirty when Shawn accidentally jumps into her bed that first night. Though I applauded her career choice and drive, it was even more gratifying to watch as Shawn helped her to loosen up and enjoy life more as she strove to make her mark in the YA fantasy publishing world.
There were a lot of LOL moments along the way to their HEA and some serious knock-your-socks-off sexy times as well, but the black moment of the story was, well, really black. Shawn's sister plays a significant role in both their breakup and their reconciliation, and I have to admit that if there was one aspect of the story I wasn't completely sold on it was Talia's role there. It gave everything a high schoolish feel, and I couldn't help but think that she could have a had a little more faith in both her brother and her BFF to act like adults. (Of course then the both of them proceeded to act very non-adult-like in their responses to each other mid- and post-breakup--for the love of all that's holy people, have an honest conversation with each other!)
Fortunately, everyone snapped out of it and a very satisfactory HEA was achieved. There was a good deal of fast forwarding to get us to the epilogue, which was a bit of a bummer (details! I wanted details...), but it was cute to see Jessie and Shawn being all established couple-y there at the end. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, especially to seeing Talia make up for the less-than exemplary role she played here when she's the heroine of her own book ;)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Wrong Bed, Right Roommate is a fun and sexy BFF's older brother romance with just enough "we're roommates and we shouldn't" angst (getting into the wrong bed the first night is just the beginning--the many Shawn in the shower/his boxers/just a towel scenes really help things move along) that the pages nearly turn themselves. It's the first in a new series, and though we only get a brief glimpse into the other "besties" (with the exception of Shawn's sister Talia--more on her in a few) it's just enough to ensure I stay on the lookout for future series books.
I really liked the unrequited crush element of the story, especially since Shawn is absolutely noticing everything about Jessie now that he didn't in high school, and then some. It dovetails nicely with the other changes that Shawn has had to make and is still making as the book goes on--from high school golden boy to college and career less-than to a responsible adult with an actual career path and a grown up relationship. Seeing him doubt himself along the way was tough, but I loved seeing the difference that having someone believe in him--Jessie--was able to make.
Jessie had long gotten over her high school crush--probably--and was well on her way to a successful publishing career and an ulcer or three before the age of thirty when Shawn accidentally jumps into her bed that first night. Though I applauded her career choice and drive, it was even more gratifying to watch as Shawn helped her to loosen up and enjoy life more as she strove to make her mark in the YA fantasy publishing world.
There were a lot of LOL moments along the way to their HEA and some serious knock-your-socks-off sexy times as well, but the black moment of the story was, well, really black. Shawn's sister plays a significant role in both their breakup and their reconciliation, and I have to admit that if there was one aspect of the story I wasn't completely sold on it was Talia's role there. It gave everything a high schoolish feel, and I couldn't help but think that she could have a had a little more faith in both her brother and her BFF to act like adults. (Of course then the both of them proceeded to act very non-adult-like in their responses to each other mid- and post-breakup--for the love of all that's holy people, have an honest conversation with each other!)
Fortunately, everyone snapped out of it and a very satisfactory HEA was achieved. There was a good deal of fast forwarding to get us to the epilogue, which was a bit of a bummer (details! I wanted details...), but it was cute to see Jessie and Shawn being all established couple-y there at the end. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, especially to seeing Talia make up for the less-than exemplary role she played here when she's the heroine of her own book ;)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
katydidinoz's review
3.0
Everything you need to know is in the title; a quick, easy read with a reasonable conflict and satisfying resolution.
madamepincers's review
5.0
Best read by Rebecca Brooks yet! The characters were interesting and flawed but realistic. I felt like I got to know the characters and the build up to romance seemed perfect for these two. Definitely recommend!
undinecerelia's review
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
llamareads's review
4.0
What a cute cover! This is a yummy combination of the best friend’s brother and forced proximity tropes, along with the collision of a Peter Pan fuckboy and a control freak, post-it-loving over-achevier.
When Jessie’s BFF and roommate Talia goes to London for the summer, finding someone else to sublet their apartment in Brooklyn proves to be stressful, especially since Jessie is starting her new job as an assistant editor at a prestigious fantasy publisher soon. Luckily, Talia’s brother, Shawn, has just transferred to the Brooklyn branch of the brewery he works for, and he needs someplace to stay. Perfect, right? Well, back in high school, Jessie had a crush on Shawn, but after watching his date-em-and-dump-em antics break apart their friend circle, she knows he’s bad news. Unfortunately – or fortunately – that attraction is still there, and it’s obvious that Shawn returns it. Can Jessie and Shawn keep to their strictly platonic roommates deal, or will they both risk their relationship with Talia for a chance at a relationship with each other?
I liked Jessie a lot. She’s a girl after my own heart, who’s got her life all planned out and prefers to spend evenings in under a comfy blanket with a book. She’s landed her dream job and knows that she’ll have to work hard to impress her boss, but unfortunately work is all she thinks she has time for. In that regard, Shawn couldn’t be more her opposite. He’s aimless and, in the past, he hasn’t been willing to put the work in – for either his jobs or his relationships. He’s determined to turn over a new leaf with his move to NYC and his job as assistant brewer. You wouldn’t think that Jessie and Shawn were that similar, but as they interact, they find out they have more in common – they both are trying to prove themselves to bosses who think they can do it all, and they both need the balance in their life that the other provides.
It was so much fun watching them try to fight their initial attraction for each other, even as they slowly realized how much they had in common. They both have a great sense of humor, and their interactions were frequently hilarious. Normally, I’d say I’m not much of a fan of playboy heroes who are reformed by the love of that one special woman. But, Ms. Brooks did an amazing job with Shawn that I truly felt for him. He fully acknowledges his past selfishness as well, without placing the blame on his past girlfriends, and is just plain tired of drifting through life with no purpose or direction, irresponsible and not worth anything more than a temporary good time. While I love the “best friend’s brother/sister” trope, sometimes the backstory of why the couple shouldn’t be together is, well, weak. Not the case for this book! Even Shawn, in all his fuckboy glory, realizes he messed up by dating and dumping two of his sister’s best friends in high school, completely decimating her friend circle. The only friend who stuck with her was Jessie. It really upped the stakes for why the relationship was such a bad idea – not only does Jessie have evidence that Shawn’s a love-em-and-leave-em guy, and therefore likely nothing more than a distraction from her work, but it will also seriously hurt Talia to see her best friend follow their footsteps. So, you can probably guess exactly what happens, and while I was initially upset with what I saw as Talia’s overreaction, I think she more than made up for it.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book, and I’m hoping it’ll be the first in the series. I definitely want to read Talia’s book!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When Jessie’s BFF and roommate Talia goes to London for the summer, finding someone else to sublet their apartment in Brooklyn proves to be stressful, especially since Jessie is starting her new job as an assistant editor at a prestigious fantasy publisher soon. Luckily, Talia’s brother, Shawn, has just transferred to the Brooklyn branch of the brewery he works for, and he needs someplace to stay. Perfect, right? Well, back in high school, Jessie had a crush on Shawn, but after watching his date-em-and-dump-em antics break apart their friend circle, she knows he’s bad news. Unfortunately – or fortunately – that attraction is still there, and it’s obvious that Shawn returns it. Can Jessie and Shawn keep to their strictly platonic roommates deal, or will they both risk their relationship with Talia for a chance at a relationship with each other?
“She’d always taken it for granted that Shawn thought he was amazing—God’s gift to baseball, and girls, and their small-town school. But that was then. It sounded like Shawn wanted other things now.
It left her wondering what those things were.”
I liked Jessie a lot. She’s a girl after my own heart, who’s got her life all planned out and prefers to spend evenings in under a comfy blanket with a book. She’s landed her dream job and knows that she’ll have to work hard to impress her boss, but unfortunately work is all she thinks she has time for. In that regard, Shawn couldn’t be more her opposite. He’s aimless and, in the past, he hasn’t been willing to put the work in – for either his jobs or his relationships. He’s determined to turn over a new leaf with his move to NYC and his job as assistant brewer. You wouldn’t think that Jessie and Shawn were that similar, but as they interact, they find out they have more in common – they both are trying to prove themselves to bosses who think they can do it all, and they both need the balance in their life that the other provides.
It was all too familiar. If she substituted pages for barrels, it would be the same thing.
She raised her glass. “To being highly successful, competent, trustworthy, invaluable employees that our bosses don’t yet realize they can’t live without.”
He laughed and clinked glasses with her. “And to not setting anything on fire.” He paused. “Yet.”
It was so much fun watching them try to fight their initial attraction for each other, even as they slowly realized how much they had in common. They both have a great sense of humor, and their interactions were frequently hilarious. Normally, I’d say I’m not much of a fan of playboy heroes who are reformed by the love of that one special woman. But, Ms. Brooks did an amazing job with Shawn that I truly felt for him. He fully acknowledges his past selfishness as well, without placing the blame on his past girlfriends, and is just plain tired of drifting through life with no purpose or direction, irresponsible and not worth anything more than a temporary good time. While I love the “best friend’s brother/sister” trope, sometimes the backstory of why the couple shouldn’t be together is, well, weak. Not the case for this book! Even Shawn, in all his fuckboy glory, realizes he messed up by dating and dumping two of his sister’s best friends in high school, completely decimating her friend circle. The only friend who stuck with her was Jessie. It really upped the stakes for why the relationship was such a bad idea – not only does Jessie have evidence that Shawn’s a love-em-and-leave-em guy, and therefore likely nothing more than a distraction from her work, but it will also seriously hurt Talia to see her best friend follow their footsteps. So, you can probably guess exactly what happens, and while I was initially upset with what I saw as Talia’s overreaction, I think she more than made up for it.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book, and I’m hoping it’ll be the first in the series. I definitely want to read Talia’s book!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
tween2teenbookreviews's review
5.0
This book was super fun! After reading a heavy emotional book, I needed a fun palate cleanser, and this was perfect. I'd been looking forward to the book anyway, but the timing ended up being just right. Shawn was a bit of an idiot, but I feel like he shaped up by the end. I was worried when Julia mentioned she was working in publishing, but the author kept it vague enough that it wouldn't be obvious exactly what she was doing. This book has a heavy dose of romance with enough plot and side characters sprinkled in to make a fun book with companion novel possibility.
tiggerreads's review
4.0
This was a sweet book. Jessie and Shawn found something in each other that everyone else seemed to have missed. They did have a hard time blocking out their own doubts and opinions of everyone else, though. I wasn't super happy with Talia because she made huge assumptions and slid into the affronted sibling role very easily. She did make amends, which I was happy to see. There was a big time jump, but it was done well. I do wish I could have seen more character development, overall, this was a lovely book.
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