Roommates Wanted: A Novel

Roommates Wanted: A Novel

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Editorial Reviews

1990. Please write and tell me why you should live here.

Toby Dobbs received a big Victorian house with too many bedrooms to count as a wedding present from his father, but his marriage is over within a month. Very alone, and very lonely, Toby posts an advertisement seeking the "Unexpectedly Alone" to become his roommates. Fifteen years later the wayward souls he takes in are still living with him, with no intention of leaving.

2004. Please tell me how I can convince you to move out.

Toby Dobbs has met Leah Pilgrim from across the road, and they're falling in love. But before they can begin a new life together, Toby and Leah must help Toby's house of sweet slackers and lovelorn misfits grow up, solve their problems, and set themselves free. But can their new relationship survive the test?

Customer Reviews

Better Than Ralph's Party

Reviewed by Laura Christine, 2008-12-04

Ralph's Party had a big following, but so far as Jewell's British flatmate novels go, I preferred Roommates. Ralph's Party was a freshman effort, so perhaps this is simply a matter of evolution.

Roommates has an intriguing tableau of characters. On this side of "the pond" it is less common to have adult roommates past your college years, so it is interesting to peek at this part of British society.

You could argue that things fell too neatly into place for some of the characters, but I like happy endings and I want to see things work out - even for fictional people.

This novel is not all hearts and flowers. There are two tragic storylines - one past and one present. However, this novel is uplifting overall as you get to watch a cast of characters come into their own and find their wings.

This was an enjoyable read and it is hopefully not the last of Jewell's flatmate novels.

Liked it very much

Reviewed by weidemann, 2008-11-03

My favorite Lisa Jewell books are still "Ralph's Party" and "Thirtynothing", but I definitely enjoyed this one as well. The "chick lit" genre is really too narrow of a label for her work; her protagonists are never typical or schematic and her plot lines are realistic and clever. Can't wait for the next one !

Another good one from Lisa Jewell

Reviewed by Melissa Thomson, 2008-07-24

I have read everything Lisa Jewell has published and I found Roommates Wanted to be one of her better books. I thought her last two books were not quite up to the wonderful level of Thirtynothing and Ralph's Party, but Roommates Wanted nearly rose to that level. I read the book in a little more than a day and could not put it down. Great pool-side or beach reading without all the consumerist drivel that so many other chick-lit novels are filled with these days.

Not your typical Brit chick lit!

Reviewed by Jennifer L. Anthony, 2008-06-25

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first, and decided to read this strictly based on the author's past novels. But once I got into the story, I couldn't put it down. The characters in this book are so REAL, so down-to-earth and relatable.

The main character, Toby, undergoes a slow transformation throughout the novel on his journey to start living, a transformation that is at times a bit sad -- I felt like I wanted to give him a big hug! :) The other characters in this book, Toby's lodgers, are well-written too - I found myself caring about all of them, and even got a bit misty-eyed when Joanne's backstory was finally revealed.

This is not your standard Brit chick-lit novel. It is so much more! With a satisfying, but not tidy, ending. I highly recommend this book!

Sweet & Funny...

Reviewed by Elizabeth Murillo, 2008-05-08

I loved this book. It was like a good mirror on my past life - Each Character in this book! I found myself reading this book with an English Accent! It describes the habits of human beings when we get comfortable with "Medocracy". It was a real eye-opener on my own life & a real page turner.