A Review of 'Roomies' by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando (Audio Book)

"It's time to meet your new roomie.

When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an email to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge.  The first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of emails 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.

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful email that assigns your college roommate."

This story was closest to my experience with roommates my second year of college.  During my second year, I lived with three other people I didn't know, so we communicated with each other via email before meeting face-to-face.  We never became as close as E.B. and Lauren became.  It took us meeting face-to-face and completely moving in for us to even begin to get comfortable with each other.  In that respect, Roomies felt unrealistic.

I wanted more of the story to take place in the actual dorm room.  Sadly, I was disappointed.  We only get to see E.B. and Lauren meet in person and move in (a little).  I feel like they could have dealt with the struggles they went through the summer before college while they were physically at college.  Dealing with roommates is a lot more interesting in person than it is via internet communication, even if you're dealing with your family or boy drama.  Another thing is that it's one thing to talk about growing up and experiencing change, but it's another thing entirely to actively be going through change and actively growing up as you learn to live with someone who isn't your family.  That's why I wanted this story to take place in the dorm.  I thought this story lacked a certain amount of substance because of how and where communication took place.

I have very mixed feelings about this book...

If you're about to go off to college for the first time, this is a good book to start thinking about the challenge you might go through, but take it with a grain of salt.

I give Roomies:

Thanks for Reading!

--Jude