Book review: Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

It's time to meet your new roomie.

When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.

As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.

Received from NetGalley.

Roomies is a dual-narrative story from the point of view of two girls who are going to be roommates after the summer ends and they start college.  Lauren, from San Francisco with her huge family, and Elizabeth (EB) from New Jersey, with her single mother and love of landscaping.  The book itself is smooth and enjoyable, not to mention a quick read.  The two narratives flow together well, between the emails they share and the things that happen to them as they count down the days towards moving-in to their dorm room together.

The two girls are pretty different, avoiding a common problem that books with more than one narrator have: both of them sounding too similar to each other.  Since the book has two authors I’m guessing each wrote one of the girls.  I really enjoyed them both, although Lauren’s narrative was a little annoying because the text is pretty huge.  I realize that they might have just wanted to have a visual difference between the two girls, but it was kind of ugly to look at, and unnecessary considering it switched between the two every chapter so you knew who to expect for a new one.

The only thing I’d really have to complain about is that EB is overdramatic more than once.  It seems less a character flaw and more a plot device to put conflict between the girls, where there would probably be very little since they only talk through email.  She goes into some things expecting to be offended, and takes however Lauren reacts to her news or tells her things the wrong way, making her upset and wanting to ask for a new roommate.  The second time this happens she’s called out for it and realizes that she was being stupid, but it still seems stiff and unnecessary.  Neither time really adds anything to the story that seems vital and they could easily be taken out or replaced with her being upset in real life, rather than at Lauren.

Overall, though, it’s a great book, and one I’d recommend.  So, happy reading!