REVIEW: "The Roommates: True Tales of Friendship, Rivalry, Romance, and Disturbingly Close Quarters" by Stephanie Wu

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Type: Nonfiction, Essays, Roommates are the Devil (sometimes?), Happy Endings and Will This Ever End?-ings

About This Book: In Stephanie Wu's The Roommates, people of all ages reveal their disastrous, hilarious, and sometimes moving stories of making their best friend for life or lifelong nemesis. Learn what it’s like to share a room in places as unusual as a thirty-person beach house, a billionaire’s yacht, a reality show mansion, and a retirement hotel, and those as familiar as sleepaway camps, boarding schools, and college dorms. Put down your roommate’s dirty dishes and passive-aggressive Post-it’s for this eye-opening glimpse into how people live together in the modern age.

You’ll meet: The Amateur Taxidermist ∙ The Alcoholic Genius ∙ The Kleptomaniac ∙ The Rent Stiffer ∙ The Naked Nanna ∙ The Serial Roommate ∙ The Top Chef ∙ The Recovered Addict ∙ The Russian Missionary ∙ The Obsessive Lesbian ∙ The Impersonator ∙ The Party Poopers...and many more! (From Goodreads.com)
My Review: Recently, I have been considering a roommate, because hey... having someone else helping out with rent seems like a great idea! And then this book was sent to me - I thought it was fate. I enjoy some hilarious real-life experience essays, so I was looking forward to diving into "The Roommates." But here's the thing - this isn't just a hilarious grouping of essays. There are some funny parts, for sure, but these are real tales, so there are some disgusting stories, sad stories, happy endings, etc. It's a nice mix, but with the whimsical cover, I expected much more hilarity.

I know these are essays written by people who actually experienced these horrifying living situations, but I wish some of the essays had a little bit more editing. There was one story that stuck in my mind - basically the writer started the story, continued in a confusing tone, and then suddenly went back to the beginning to add a few points, then just finished. Giving the contributors a little help in the final editing process wouldn't hurt.

That said, this was an entertaining read, and something you could either do in one sitting, or take your time.

Cover Lovin': This cover could be really busy - but it works with the subject matter. The cover is eye catching and definitely lends itself to a closer look if someone saw it on the shelf.

Recommendations: For people who have had awkward roommate experiences. Or maybe for people who are considering roommates and want to see some good and bad examples - it helps having an idea of what you might be getting into!

Final Rating: THREE out of FIVE stars (3/5). This book was interesting. Fun. Good, but not great. The essays could do with some editing, but that didn't take away from an enjoyable read.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~