Although I have never had a roommate, I was always curious about how it would turn out. I heard some horrifying stories from my friends, but there were a handful of uplifting stories where their roommates became their best friend. So I was not completely writing off the idea of having a roommate ever. Out of curiosity and having a love for the art of storytelling, I picked up a copy of The Roommates. The names and some of the key elements of the stories (such as places, etc.) were changed as to protect people’s identities.
After reading The Roommates by Stephanie Wu, it became clear that our experiences can vary from situation to situation. There were roommates who you never wanted to speak to again, and others who you knew you could trust. Stephanie’s book gave me a glimpse of the crazy world of having a roommate. Once the doors are closed, the masks come off and you see the person for who they truly are. For some, nothing changed, and for a ton of other people, it made them run for the woods. From the good and the bad and even the ugly, everyone who has had a roommate most likely has an interesting tale to tell, and I love how these stories were conveniently packaged into one book!
The book is divided into a number of different sections. Ranging from ‘Student Struggles’ to ‘Adventures Abroad,’ it makes this book enjoyable for all readers. I could not imagine going through half of the stuff that these people in the book had to go through. For ones who had a multitude of roommates to the ones who never had a roommate, this book is for all. It is great if you need a laugh or are just in need of an interesting story to read. It is a page turner that left me curious as to how the next story would unfold and how the current one would end. I fell in love with all of the characters in this book, and there are ones that definitely left a lasting mark in my mind. The book is filled with humor, self-discovery, and more. It made me think about what kind of stories I would tell once I had a roommate in the future.
While I read the book, I felt as if I was connecting with each person in the stories. It was as if they were my close friends, who were telling me about their roommate drama. What stood out the most for me were the stories in the ‘Young at Heart’ section, because, well, I am a sucker for stories about love and the crazy. There were a few stories that gave me those ‘awe’ moments and melted my heart. The collection of short stories will have you laughing and reading until the end. This book is a great gift for any friend – even for yourself! I apologize if I seem a bit vague, but I rather have the book speak for itself. So pick up a copy and enjoy the stories!
Rating: 10 out of 10
Publisher: Picador (August 05, 2014)
ISBN #: 9781250051455
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Length: 288 pages
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