This was a fun, breezy read with some of my favorite tropes - forced proximity, slow burn, friends to lovers, only one bed, and no third act breakup! Hunter and Dylan and loveable leads and it was satisfying seeing the conclusion of the friend groups love stories and all of the happily ever afters. Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood for the ARC.

This one was so much fun. Just what I needed for a cozy Friday night curled up with a book. Thanks for the opportunity to read it early!

Camilla Isley books are usually hit or miss for me; this was mostly a miss. It was cute for sure, but the slow burn was unbearable especially with the prolonged side plot of Olivia. Those two were not a good match from the start, I don't know why they came to be and after a point it felt like Isley was just finding new ways to put off the inevitable breakup. I'm not opposed to forbidden romance, definitely not best friend's brother, but I found the way the bonds were dealt with a little icky. I love that Dylan bought some good Dyslexic representation and so did Hunter with endometriosis and PCOS. I wish there was more to that representation and more detailing with these topics not getting enough attention and being pretty misunderstood (I'm not diagnosed with any of them but always keen to learn more). This book wasn't hard to read and I would say it's entertaining, not something I would reread, however.

The Roommate Experiment is a sweet, funny and entertaining romance about Dylan (MMC) and Hunter (FMC) suddenly finding themselves living together after knowing each other their entire lives (Dylan’s sister is Hunter’s bestie).

I enjoyed the chemistry between them and I felt the author did a good job at portraying the forbidden element of their relationship.

That being said, the first kiss happening after 90% of the book was pushing the slowburn a bit for me. It didn’t give me enough time to enjoy their love story and this felt a bit rushed at the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Camilla Isles for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really really enjoyed this one!! It had so many tropes that I just can’t resist!!! I am
A sucker for unrequited love especially when it’s a best friends brother! As well as forced proximity, and I ran and devoured this one!!
I loved that they were monetary equals and it was just so fun and swoony!!
Hunter and Dylan were a match made in heaven! I needed a good rom-comer and this was exactly it!

I am thankful to have been able to read this book ahead of release. This was my first time reading Camilla Isley, but the genre and tropes were right up my alley.

That being said, the book did not do much for me. I struggled with the character development and lack of emotional maturity from all parties. It seemed like they were all still in college, not well into their careers.

Dylan’s girlfriend Olivia felt like she was being villainized for just not being the right match, which didn’t sit right. It felt weird to demonize her for just being a nice girl. Did she do some things that might have been a lot for “some” early in relationships, sure. But that’s where the character emotional immaturity played in where communication from Dylan lacked.

Overall, it felt like it dragged longer than it needed to, even for a slow burn. I wanted more of Dylan and Hunter.

Okay, the way I ate this book up ! I would have read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to work !
It was so compelling, you needed to keep reading !
But yeah I should mention that I do looove a good slow burn and man did this deliver 😂
I related to both characters in some way so I really connected with the book. I will say that even if you can read it as a stand-alone, it’s way way better if you read the whole series.

About the story, was Dylan’s behaviour infuriating at times ? Yeah, but was it relatable and realistic ? God yes 🤣 I mean, once the book is over and you get all the puzzle pieces, you really understand him even better.
And poor hurting tortured Hunter, yeah I think if you can’t understand how she feels, being tortured into seeing the guy she likes with someone else then, lucky you !!

In summary, yes you should give this book a try 😉

Just finished The Roommate Experiment by Camilla Isley and I’m grinning like a fool. This was such a fun, feel-good read! The chemistry? Slow-burn perfection. The banter? Chef’s kiss. I didn’t want it to end! If you’re into opposites-attract stories with all the rom-com vibes and a cozy roommate twist, add this one to your list ASAP.

The Roommate Experiment by Camilla Isley

👻 standalone contemporary rom-com / part of an interconnected series
🍑 closed door/fade to black spice
👻 dual POVs
🍑 best friends brother and roommate
👻 forced proximity
🍑 women in STEM
👻 dyslexia, PCOS and endometriosis rep
🍑 only one bed

Firstly thank you so much to The Bold Book Club for this eARC!

~My Thoughts~
I really needed a break from reading fantasy and this truly hit the spot.

This book is a lighthearted, all the tropes kind of book. Perfect summery sort of vibes too 😍

So this story is part of an interconnected series with other couples but I read it as a standalone and I think it worked really well.

Hunter is truly a girls girl. She so relatable and very funny. She gives Bridget Jones vibes (hence the chosen quote). She’s also very natural with her inner monologue. Like sometimes unrequited love is icky and hard and she’s a very honest narrator.

I also love that we see her at work and how she deals with misogyny as a girly in STEM.

Dylan, bless the sweet hearted oblivious golden retriever boy that he is 😆 I loved reading his POV, especially when he couldn’t understand what was going on with Hunter. He was such a sweet bean. A dumb bean but a sweet one.

Romance wise, I really enjoyed it. It felt like it developed really naturally and the tension (we 👏 love 👏 only 👏 one 👏 bed) was just done so well. It wasn’t too much and felt really genuine too.

Overall, this was the perfect sweet read. If you love any of the above tropes, or are just looking for something lighthearted and cute, this one is for you 😍

The roommate experiment release on 27th May!

Thank you to NetGalley and BoldwoodBooks Books for the eARC!
2.5⭐️ This book has a lot of the tropes that I typically enjoy: one bed, forced proximity, slow burn, even best friend’s brother. It had its cute moments, but overall, I found the romantic relationship between Hunter and Dylan to be shallow. The majority of their feelings for each other were based off of how physically attractive they found one another, and I kept finding myself waiting for more substance to the relationship.

I liked Hunter and the subplot with her career. It’s always nice to see a woman succeed! However, I find Dylan to be immature. His relationship with his best friend gave me High School Musical, Chad and Troy, Ball is Lyfe vibes, which wasn’t exactly what I wanted from a man in his late twenties-early thirties.

Overall, I liked the premise and the use of popular tropes, but I wanted more depth from the story.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this!
I LOVE Camilla Isley, and the Funny Feelings series has been really enjoyable so far. We finally get Hunter's book, in a forced-proximity, roommates to lovers romp that is just adorable.
The dual POV in this just works. Isley does a great job developing both of their voices: Hunter and her life-long pining for Dylan and trying to find her footing, and Dylan's sudden realization of how their friendship is rooted in something more. I love that Dylan was a good guy and never actually cheated on his relationship, the friendship between Nina/Winnie/Hunter and its importance to the overall storyline, and the growing tension and chemistry between the leads.
As usual in Isley's books, once these two reconcile their feelings we go warp speed through mostly closed door romance and their love affair. But honestly? It just warms my heart. The epilogue in this was so cute and I'm a little sad to be leaving this group behind!

Thank you Net Galley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I always hesitate to leave a negative review, but I have to be honest—The Roommate Experiment just wasn’t for me. While I was drawn to the book because of its fun tropes and premise, I quickly realised  that Camilla Isley’s writing style might not be the best fit for my taste.

That being said, I didn’t hate this book—but I also can’t say I really enjoyed it. One of the biggest hurdles for me was the whole Olivia situation. Her role in the story felt disproportionately large, and her characterisation as an exaggerated, almost villainous figure didn’t sit right with me. At its core, Olivia simply wasn’t the right match for Dylan, but the way the narrative handled their dynamic made it feel unnecessarily dramatic.

Additionally, the pacing was sluggish in places where I was expecting more energy and movement. I found myself wishing for more spark between the main characters and a stronger sense of momentum in the story.

On a positive note, I did enjoy Hunter and the subplot surrounding her job. However, Dylan’s characterisation made it difficult for me to fully invest in the romance. His immaturity—especially his ongoing habit of calling his best friend by their old basketball numbers—combined with his avoidance of difficult conversations with his ex-girlfriend made him feel less developed as a romantic lead.

Ultimately, while this book had elements I typically enjoy, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. However, readers who connect with Camilla Isley’s writing style might still find enjoyment in The Roommate Experiment.

I didn’t realise this book was part of a series but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The chemistry between the characters was second to none and if you enjoy slow burn and best friends brother tropes then this really was a slow burn.

The way it was written made it a quick, easy, escapist read. I enjoyed the characters in the book and the dual POV. The way Hunter was written as a reserved character sat well with me as being a main character of the book and made her so relatable.

Overall it was a fun, engaging read and for those that have read the series this book and the epilogue wrap it up neatly for you.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Camilla Isley delivers a romantic comedy with a mix of awkward moments and sweet tension. We follow Hunter, who's had a long-standing crush on her best friend’s brother, Dylan. When fate lands them as roommates, the stage is set for a classic romcom.

The book has all the elements for a great romcom: unrequited love, slowww burn, forced proximity, baked goods, and a shared bed at the parents’ house. There are genuinely funny and heartfelt moments scattered throughout. Isley’s dialogue is breezy and fast-paced, making this a quick read. There was a lot to like about this book.

That said, the book didn’t quite hit all the marks for me. The central conflict (why Dylan is “off-limits”) lacked the punch or complexity to make the tension truly compelling. I love a slow burn, but this just did not seem to time out well with the story and plot. The chemistry was lacking between the two main characters, and Dylan needed more development in my opinion.

Overall, this is a fun and easy read for those who enjoy the friends-to-lovers trope with a comedic twist.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the chance to read and review the book!

The final book in the Funny Feeling series is just as cute and heartwarming as the first two.
Hunter has been secretly in love with her best friend’s brother, Dylan, for years. When life circumstances lead them to share a house, she sees it as the perfect chance to finally make Dylan notice her the way she sees him. Dylan has always cared about Hunter, but he’s never seen her as anything more than his little sister’s best friend—until now. Living under the same roof forces him to confront new feelings and it leaves him confused and conflicted, especially with everything else going on in his life.
This is a charming, easy read and a satisfying way to wrap up the stories of the three best friends. The appearances of the other two couples from the earlier books give it the feel of an extended epilogue, beautifully tying together the entire series.
Overall, the Funny Feeling series is light, feel-good reading. Each book highlights a different kind of love story, but all are grounded in strong friendships and emotional growth. This final installment brings everything full circle, leaving you with the warmth of found family, love, and lasting friendship. It’s a perfect comfort read that leaves you smiling at the end.

Thank you Camilla Isley and NetGalley for this eARC.

I love me a slooooow burn, and this was it. Hunter has been crushing on her best friend's brother for 11 years and it's not just a crush, it's love. When he moves in with her, all bets are off.

I understand a people pleaser, but I was not a fan of the MMC lusting after the FMC while still in a (casual) relationship. Gave me the ick.... also, we know throughout the book that Hunter loves Dylan, but the first time they kiss, he ....(spoiler) says I love you first..... nope. That is was dropped the rating for me. I did enjoy this slow burn, roommates to lovers, brother best friend read.

Although this is the third book in the interconnected series, I didn't feel lost with the side characters. I appreciated that their stories were explained more than some other interconnected series I have read. The teaser at the end of the book has inspired me to read Rowena's story.

3/5 Stars

i enjoyed this. the premise of Dylan moving in with Hunter was a little farfetched to me, but other than that, I enjoyed the story. the dual POV perfectly described the misunderstanding of each other's reactions and comments. Hunter's heartbreak was evident and written well. Dylan being pretty clueless with Olivia was perfectly portrayed. it was frustrating that they were together as long as they were, but she was batshit crazy. the ending was extremely satisfying. These two are perfect together.

“The world outside these walls doesn’t exist anymore, and all the noise in my head quiets down.”

The Roommate experiment was a quick and easy read, that gave me a feel good mood all along. It had been some time since I hadn’t felt like that while reading and I truly thank the author for that. I loved how the chemistry between Hunter and Dylan grew little by little and honestly even though this book is a fade to black one, it felt hotter than many explicit ones. That author truly knows how to write tension. A few moments felt just a little bit long but in the end I read this book in one setting anyway and had a lot of fun. I truly loved to see Hunter bloom at work as much as she did in her relationship, and both dyslexia and endometriosis’s rep were great, important enough to have a role in characters’ (and relationship) development, but not like a textbook either.

Thank you to Camilla Isley and Boldwood books for this eARC. My opinions are my own.

ARC Review – The Roommate Experiment
3/5⭐️

The Roommate Experiment had an intriguing setup with plenty of rom-com promise: Hunter, hopelessly crushing on her best friend’s brother, suddenly ends up sharing an apartment with him. Cue the awkward, longing glances and flirty tension.

While I enjoyed some of the humorous and heartfelt moments (especially Hunter’s inner dialogue and the one bed trope), the story didn’t quite work for me overall. The pacing felt very slow at times, and I found myself frustrated with Dylan—especially his unwillingness to break things off with Olivia, even as his feelings for Hunter became more obvious. That hesitation made it harder to root for their connection.

And while the buildup took its sweet time, the relationship resolution felt oddly rushed in the final stretch. I was hoping for more emotional payoff after all that tension.

Still, if you're a fan of slow burns and best friends to lovers trope, I would recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book before everyone else!

The Roommate Experiment comes out on May 27 if you want to check it out :)

3.75 stars*

First off I have read all books in this 'standalone series' and while I did love the other two books more, it was nice to round out this series with this story.

I did love that we got to see a glimpse at what every one was up to at the end of the book, and did also like that there were interconnected parts that happened in the previous books included (though I do only know this due to reading the other books),

I love Camillas slow burn, but this was extremely slooowwww burn. But once we go to the last 15% it was great!

It was nice to see glimpses into each characters work life and also their personal lives.

I didn't quite enjoy Olivia's character - I definitely found her to be annoying.

Now as a dog person Dylan I am offended. Haha