My Roommate's Girl

I received an ARC for my fair review for netgalley. I asked for this book based on the positive reviews, however I really do not agree with them, and that is actually goo, because we all have and this author brought out our emotions. I disliked Aiden, he was a horrible person, horrible. Supposedly he was someone who was trying to change, yet from the beginning he was going after Aster, trying to break up the relationship between Jerry his new roommate and his girlfriend Aster. Now Jerry is this really nice guy, always happy, and he did not deserve this treatment, now do not get me wrong, I do not condone cheating at all, under any circumstances, however, Aiden plied him with constant alcohol, and then put a prostitute to work on him, even seeing him struggling trying to not get turned on by this girl, he saw Jerry struggling and how miserable he was, my heart went out to Jerry, and I am a person who hates, hates cheating, but I was more upset with Aiden. Now Aster, wasn't the best, after finding out her story, and the why she was with Jerry, but still, I would not wish Aiden on anyone, so I kind of wished, I had spend this time on another book. The writing was not bad, so I still gave it three, because others did appreciate, just not me.

I always enjoy this authors stories about real feelings and real people with a good amount of soul searching and humor

Overall, loved it. It was funny, sweet and a great read. I was obviously not in the right mood when I first started reading this book because I set it aside, but when I picked it up again I was hooked immediately. Having reread the beginning of the book I have come to the conclusion that it was me! Aidan Shaw is in his third year at Holsom college . He is in a PPP programme for young people who have offended in some way but are deemed to have potential and are offered a chance to go to college. Aidan had been in Juvie for fighting and was arrested for stealing cars. Prison or college is a straightforward choice. Although being part of the programme is anonymous, Aidan has certain obligations to maintain such as gainful employment, volunteering for the centre and participating in sport. As the book starts Aidan is moving into an apartment off campus. His new roommate Jerry seems like a nice guy, but it is Jerry's girlfriend Aster that catches Aidan's eye. As soon as Aidan sees Aster he knows he wants her and will do anything he has to in order to get her. He does a bad, bad thing. This was a great book about love but also redemption and second chances. It doesn't go where you think it is going and it's all the better for that. I am massively outside the target audience for YA/NA and so I have limited tolerance for the tired old cliches that get trotted out every time. Somehow Julianna Keyes effortlessly selects some of them and uses them wisely, discarding the others to make a clever, engrossing story. A storyline which other writers would make the entire plot of a novel is finished very quickly and we are on to a whole new plot. Aidan is a wonderful flawed guy, he f#%ks up A LOT. But that is part of his growing process because he has to consciously choose to change his default responses. Aster looks like the sort of girl who goes skiing with her parents and reads to blind kids in her spare time (Aidan's view not mine), but appearances can be deceiving. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Aidan was given a second chance by the judge when he was caught stealing cars. He chose college over prison in a second chance program. Aidan’s roommate is Jerry who is a pre med student. Jerry is a nice guy. Jerry’s girlfriend is Aster. The minute Aidan is introduced to Aster he wants her and is determined to get her and starts to plan how to break up Aster and Jerry so he can have Aster for himself. Aidan is not a commitment type of guy. Aidan invites Jerry to a bachelor party and makes sure he gets drunk. Once Jerry is drunk Aidan pays a prostitute to hit on Jerry and Jerry cheats. Jerry immediately tells Aster about cheating and they break up. Aidan goes to Aster as a good friend and a shoulder to cry on knowing her caused this. I liked this story a lot. It is a deep story. I felt bad for Jerry who is a nice guy and got hurt and was set up to cheat while drunk and then was honest immediately afterwards. I didn’t like Aidan at first but then he started to change and grow and couldn’t help but love him in the end. This was a quick read with a good plot. I loved the characters and twist and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** My Roommate's Girl by Julianna Keyes Publication Date: June 12, 2017 Rating: 4 stars Source: eARC from NetGalley Summary (from Goodreads): The day a judge gave me the choice between going to prison or going to college was the day I vowed to stop stealing. Never again would I see something beautiful and beyond my means and take it, just because I wanted it. Just because I could. When I moved in with Jerry, it was with good intentions. I needed a place to live while I got my degree, and he needed a roommate. Then I saw Aster. Blond and beautiful, good, pure, sweet, smart…and Jerry’s girlfriend. She was everything I never thought I could have. Except…maybe I can. So I put a plan into action. Yeah, I’d probably go to hell, but it would be worth it. I wanted Aster. I wanted her yesterday and tomorrow and every possible way. But you know what they say. Be careful what you wish for…because you just might get it. What I Liked: Y'all, this should not have been a book for me, based on the title and synopsis alone. In what world would I be okay with a guy literally trying to steal someone else's girl - especially his roommate's? It sounds bad, I know. I wasn't all that excited to read this book when I first heard about it, but I've read five of Keyes's previous books and I have yet to be disappointed. With a little push, I decided to give this one a chance, and I'm glad I did. Keyes always has a way of surprising me, with every book I read. I should just turn off my brain and try every and any book she writes, because clearly she writes romance novels that work for me! My Roommate's Girl is told mostly from Aidan's POV - the first 30% is, anyway. Aidan used to steal cars, got caught, went to juvie, but was offered a second chance and a fresh start. He was placed in a program that helps troubled teens, a program that got him on his feet and into college, where he is pursuing a degree in social work and he has an on-campus job. Aidan is done stealing... until he meets Aster, his roommate Jerry's girlfriend. Aster is perfect in Aidan's eyes, and he decides that he wants her, badly enough to break up her and Jerry. When his plan works, he doesn't expect to feel bad about it. He doesn't expect Aster to find out so quickly. He doesn't expect to actually fall for her. He doesn't expect to find out that she isn't who she seems to him, anymore than he is to her. "Be careful what you wish for" is right! Aidan wanted Jerry's girlfriend and he devised a plan that would break them up - which, in his mind, would "free" Aster to be able to have sex with anyone, but specifically, him. Some plan, huh? Aidan is so shameless and without inhibitions. I like that he goes after what (who) he wants, though you really want to smack him at first. I'm not saying what he did was okay or right, but I forgave him after a while, and so did Aster. This story constantly surprised me. I fully expected a story that involved cheating and sneaking around behind Jerry's back and all kinds of forbidden romance that I hate (because of the cheating). But. There is no cheating in this book. No real sneaking around. Jerry and Aster break up fairly early on in the book, which eliminates the possibility of cheating. Also, time moves by in this book, days and weeks at a time. Read the rest of my review on my blog, The Eater of Books! - eaterofbooks DOT blogspot DOT com :)

3.5 STARS! I enjoyed My Roommate's Girl by Julianna Keyes...There are some books out now with the whole "roommate's girl" story but this one is very different because of the way the hero wants to steal her :) Aidan is a thief and when he's caught stealing, he has two choices—go to prison or go to school. He chooses the latter and does a lot of the right things to become a better person... until he meets Aster. Aster is his roommate's girlfriend and he can't stop thinking of her. While I didn't agree with how he went about to try and break their relationship, it takes two to tango as they say so Jerry made his bed and now has to lie in it. All Aidan did was give the little push. I know I am being vague so you need to read the book! Things turned for the unexpected here and I was seriously blown away because I did not see some of these things happening. But I'll be honest and say it made me like the characters more because it felt more relatable and an even playing field (I know I'm being vague again...sorry not sorry!) I loved the dialogue, the banter, and Aidan is completely adorable. What I liked most was that each character separately was not who they truly were on the inside but together they were real and belonged to each other. Things I wished I had more of: I wished I felt more of their chemistry and rather than be sitting on the sidelines, I wanted to feel and be immersed in them more if that makes sense. I also wished for more when it came to the parental units... maybe some more conversation with Aidan's and more feeling when it came to Aster's because it felt a little flat to me... I think more of an emotional connection here would have lifted my emotions here too when it came to how I was feeling while reading My Roommate's Girl. Overall I did enjoy this book... I loved the ending and how everything came together. The author writes great stories and I truly enjoy her words... I look forward to reading more from her