Roomies with Benefits – Ali Parker
Content Notes:
Published/Pages:
POV: Dual – Hero & Heroine
Trope: Friends to Lovers
Goodreads Bookshelves: Contemporary Romance, Fake Relationship, Forced Proximity, Friends to Lovers, Roommates to Lovers Wouldn’t Read Again
HEA: Yes
Steam Level: Extra Steamy
Swearing: Adult
Trigger Warnings: Alcohol, Cheating (not with H&h), Cancer, Hospitalization
My Rating:
Book Description: Roomies with benefits? No need to ask me twice. My childhood best friend needs a place to crash after a messy breakup. And she’s not a little girl anymore. This woman has me wanting things I shouldn’t. So I give her my guest room. Even with a few walls between us, this good girl makes me feel like a really bad boy. But what could go wrong? Lots… Having her around is driving me insane with need. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Too late now. Until we strike a deal. We’ll matchmake for each other. Any man would be lucky to have this woman. Besides, my curvy BFF needs to be reminded that she’s everything a man wants. The problem? I’m jealous and turning into a possessive jerk anytime someone looks her way. Bff’s in bed isn’t cutting it. I want more. Like all of her. Matchmaking and happy-ever-afters be damned.
My Goodreads Review (No Spoilers)
My Review (w/spoilers):
Riggs & Zoe
Hmmm… I’m not sure I loved this book. I think it has a great premise– two best friends reunited. But it felt like there was so much thrown into this book that wasn’t necessary.
I hate to say this, but the book felt like it was written by an amateur. Ali Parker has been writing great books for a long time, so it was surprising to feel that way.
The book has 545 pages in it, but it felt like it could have been told in like 330. When I got to the 25% mark and they were already having their “torn apart” moment, I was kind of shocked and was wondering where they could go from there.
The name of the book is misleading. Zoe ‘moves out’ after they have sex the first time, which means they’re no longer roommates. I know this is a technicality, but I anticipated forced proximity and yearning moments. There were some, but it was VERY short lived.
Poor freaking Riggs man. The guy knew he loved Zoe and just wanted to be with her but got shut down so many times. I had whiplash for him. The whole, let’s pretend it didn’t happen, ignoring him for a week, and moving out with yet another note…
“I was laughing as he walked up the stairs with my head bouncing off his back. “I love you,” I said the words while staring at his ass. It wasn’t exactly the most romantic position in the world, but I needed to say it.” -Zoe
One reviewer said it perfectly when they said they were disappointed, and much of the drama was unnecessary and would have been better in a High School romance. I agree with this.
And don’t get me started with Brooke! That woman was seriously batshit crazy! Man… again, poor Riggs.
The whole pretend to be getting married was also annoying. Just when you think we’re going to get the HEA we deserve as readers. NOPE!
The only one who really had their head on straight was Riggs’ grandmother– Clarice.
I was really happy when they finally got their happy ending. Riggs freaking deserved it. Yes, Zoe went through her own crap. But Riggs seriously went through the ringer.
Altogether, no. I DEFINITELY won’t be reading this book and don’t recommend it for those looking for a good roommates to lovers romance.
Diary of a bookworm 
Leave a comment