Roomies
For months, Holland Bakker has found excuses to pass through the subway station where a gifted Irish busker plays, never daring to speak to him. When Calvin McLoughlin rescues her from an attacker one night, she repays him by getting him an audition with her uncle, a top Broadway music director. Calvin wins a role, but his student visa expired years ago, so Holland impulsively offers to marry him. Kirkus describes a romantic comedy built on a marriage of convenience between a rising Broadway star and a woman still searching for her place.
About This Book
Roomies is a contemporary romance novel by Christina Lauren, first published in 2017 by Gallery Books. It runs 368 pages. Readers can expect fake dating, forced proximity.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Fake Dating
- Length
- 368 pages
- Format
- Trade Paperback
Where to read or listen
Get Roomies by Christina Lauren
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- When a woman enters a marriage of convenience to save an Irish busker's career, their professional proximity turns personal.
- Fans of marriage-of-convenience tropes
- Readers who enjoy Broadway or artistic settings
- Features Fake Dating
- Compelling premise
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Romance
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Fluctuating; Holland provides the professional opportunity, while Calvin provides the physical rescue.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Recommended audience: Adult
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Holland Bakker is a woman searching for her place in life who spends her time admiring a gifted Irish busker in the subway. After he rescues her from an attacker, she helps him land an audition with her uncle, a Broadway director. When he wins the role, they discover his student visa has expired, leading Holland to impulsively marry him to allow him to stay. As they navigate their new reality, the lines between their arrangement and genuine feelings begin to blur.
Central Conflict
Navigating a marriage of convenience born out of a desire to help a talented artist remain in the country, while facing the personal consequences of their evolving relationship.
Setting
New York City, specifically the Broadway theatre scene and the subway.
Strengths
- Compelling premise
- Strong central hook
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Christina Lauren
What Readers Say
No reviews yet
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Gallery Books
- Format
- Trade Paperback
- Length
- 368 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781501165832
Roomies: quick answers
- Who wrote Roomies?
- Roomies was written by Christina Lauren.
- When was Roomies published?
- Roomies was first published in 2017 by Gallery Books.
- What genre is Roomies?
- Roomies is a contemporary romance novel, with fake dating, forced proximity.
- How many pages is Roomies?
- Roomies is 368 pages long (Trade Paperback).
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Roomies by Christina Lauren
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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