Books like The Roommate

Ahh, where do I begin with this book? I loved it sooooo much! The premise immediately sparked my interest and I’m so lucky I got to read an early copy. Clara is a sheltered and deeply insecure society girl from NY, who packs up everything for Everett, the guy she’s loved since childhood, and moves to LA with the plan of being his roommate. But surprise! He ditches her for a last minute band tour the moment she arrives, and worse, announces she’ll now be sharing his apartment with a dude he found on Craigslist. Everett is The Worst. But this turns out to be blessing in disguise, because she’s now sharing the apartment with Josh, and wow, do I love Josh *heart-eyes* At first Clara wants to run back to NY to the cold comfort of her family’s impossible and suffocating expectations, but after reconnecting with her outcast aunt, who offers her a job encourages her to give this adventure a chance, Clara stays. Oh, yes, her aunt also reveals Clara’s new adorkable roommate is Josh Darling, arguably the most popular adult entertainment star in the country. I love Clara and I love Josh, and most of all, I love them together. On the surface, they are opposites who attract, but Danan digs deep into these characters and shows that people rarely fit into the boxes they’re assigned. As Clara and Josh fight their attraction they uncover layers within each other that neither expected. Clara is so much more daring and fierce and sexy than she’s ever been given credit for. She comes into her own with a bit of awkwardness and a whole lot of heart. And Josh, precious sugar roll that he is, is viewed by the world as nothing more than an object due to his job, but he’s witty and charming and vulnerable and so much more than just sex on a stick. As they fight their feelings, they bring out the absolute best in each other.My favorite part isn't just the toe-curling romance (though that is Very Nice), but the way the author handles female sexuality, specifically within a realm that tends to be male-gaze dominated. Adult entertainers aren’t scorned or treated like a joke, and women who enjoy sex can also be smart and business savvy and funny and whatever else society says they can’t be. I don’t want to spoil the plot all the way, but when Clara and Josh begin their project together, they turn something that is often shunned and stigmatized into a meaningful celebration of sex and pleasure that doesn’t shame women, but rather empowers them.This fun and feminist book should be on every 2020 TBR. It was an absolute delight from page one, and gives a lot of love and respect to those in an occupation who rarely get either of those things by society.