This is my first book by Camilla and I really liked it.

Hunter has been in love with Dylan for eleven years😳 and she thinks she finally has a chance to make him see her in a different way now that they are roommates but finds out he has a new girlfriend.

Dylan is Hunter's best friends brother. He needed a new place because his best friend and sister are moving in together so now he is living with Hunter😊

Dylan did kind of annoy me a bit because he had no backbone when it came to certain things you will see when you read👀 This is a very slow low spice romance. Will Hunter get the guy read and find out❤!!

Thank you NetGally and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was a really fun twist on the brother's best friend and close proximity troupe. It felt realistic for Dylan to move in and take over the lease - or at least realistic for NYC. The will they won't they went on for the right amount of time and there was plenty of funny scenes while they got there.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for a free copy of the book.

This was enjoyable, but not my favourite of the trilogy. There was a brief mention of the heroine having endometriosis, and I liked the conversation the hero and heroine had around it, but there could have been more of a focus on her symptoms outside of her period.

Finally the last installment of the Funny Feelings trilogy, the couple I was waiting for most!! It of course did not disappoint. It was my favorite out of the three. I flew right through it, that it was over way too soon!

✔️ Roommate to Lovers
✔️ Best Friends Brother
✔️ Forced Proximity

I loved reading Hunter and Dylan’s story. I laughed so many times. It was great. So excited to see what Camilla Isley has in store for us next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

This was a quick read and perfect for summer reading. I enjoyed the plotline with Theo and found the dates entertaining

I'm a fan of Camilla Isley so was delighted to receive an advance copy! Loved this book - acquaintances to lovers ( of the best kind!) - hard recommend!

The plot and characters all had the right ingredients, but unfortunately, they never fully came together for me. It felt a bit too formulaic, lacking the uniqueness or depth in characters needed to really stand out. Not a bad read, I'm sure this fits the bill for many, but it just didn’t leave a lasting impression or make me *feel* the characters and their emotions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

Camilla Isley's 'The Roommate Experiment' immerses readers in the all-too-familiar and sometimes laugh-out-loud universe of secret crushes and surprising roommates. Hunter has been quietly in love with Dylan, her best friend's brother, a man who hardly notices she exists outside of his sister's life. Stranded in an infuriating "friend zone adjacent" limbo, Hunter's life is set to shift on its axis when Dylan suddenly requires a roof over his head, and her spare room becomes his temporary home. The author skillfully manipulates the age-old trope of unrequited love developing under shared living space, infusing it with a good measure of humor and cringe-worthy awkwardness.

The first thrill of having her crush down the hall turns rapidly into a daily tightrope act for Hunter. Dylan, who appears not to notice her feelings, brings his own brand of complication, setting boundaries that Hunter couldn't have anticipated. This adds a fascinating level of forbidden attraction, heightening tension and the stakes. The power of the novel is in Hunter's inner dialogue and her efforts to keep her growing feelings secret.

Her internal struggles with staring at Dylan standing in a towel, not daring to think of what's hidden underneath, and not swooning over his gestures of kindness, such as making cookies, are both humorous and profoundly sympathetic. The reader will find themselves cheering Hunter on as she negotiates this tricky situation, struggling to keep her cool as her heart flips acrobats. Dylan, who at first seems a bit clueless, is developed with a subtle charm that gradually reveals itself as the novel goes on. The author skillfully introduces his character through Hunter's observant eyes and their mutual experiences, suggesting depths beyond his initial affable personality. The reasons why he is "off-limits" create a sense of suspense and keep the story from being a simple crush realization.

The secondary cast, specifically Hunter's best friend (Dylan's sister), introduces yet another level of depth to the dynamic. She creates both challenges and possibilities for Hunter, further underscoring the fragile balance she has to maintain. The enforced closeness over a weekend spent at Dylan's parents' home, building up to the much-dreaded shared sofa bed experience, is a key turning point, testing Hunter's skillfully erected emotional barriers to the breaking point.

The writing of the author is light and entertaining, full of humorous observations and inner humor that aptly describes Hunter's dilemma. The pace is well handled so that the romance between Hunter and Dylan develops naturally among the comedic mayhem of their living arrangement. The tension is built skillfully by the author so that the reader is really cared about whether Hunter confesses her feelings or moves on to spare her heart.

'The Roommate Experiment' is a charming and endearing romantic comedy that delves into the intricacies of unrequited love and the twists life can take.

Hunter's odyssey is both funny and touching, and the tension between her and Dylan bubbles with a smoldering intensity. If you like reading about secret crushes, surprise roommates, and the bravery it takes to risk everything for love, this book is a delightful and entertaining read that will put you in a good mood.

‼️ARC REVIEW‼️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We love a slow burn, y’all! Hunter and Dylan have always been friendly acquaintances until they start to live together. The awkward, embarrassing moments, the witty banter, and the friendship that develops leads to the most beautiful, authentic relationship. The epilogue gave readers the best peek into their future and it was everything I imagined it being. ❤️

The Roommate Experience was a great read that kept me turning the page to see if Dylan and Hunter finally ended up together. There were some parts where I just wanted them to tell each other already but glad it ended the way it did! Great summer read. It’s funny, heartfelt, and a great love read!

3.5 ⭐️ The cutest friends to lovers meets roommates to lovers trope. Loved the character building of the whole friend group and the relationship dynamic of Hunter and Dylan. Only thing that took me out of the story, although I love her, were the Taylor Swift references and the BookTok references. The NYC and Hamptons settings were fun!

I loved Camilla Isley's “First Comes Love " series, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read another one. The Roommate Experiment is the third book in the “Funny Feelings” series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Unfortunately, this story didn’t quite work for me overall.

Although Dylan and Hunter are in their thirties, I had the impression of reading interactions between teenagers in high school. Hunter has an important engineering job but is only pining for her long-time crush. I found that Dylan’s thoughts were not developed enough. Was she attracted to Dylan for 10 years just for his good looks? Maybe I couldn't feel the chemistry because it was a slow burn.

It was also a little boring that Dylan and Hunter are beautiful and have perfect jobs. However, we get little about how they live their jobs.

Nevertheless, it was an easy read. If you're a fan of slow-burn romance, forced proximity, the best friend's sibling dynamic, and a touch of will-they-won’t-they suspense, this story will likely be right up your alley.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Netgalley and Boldwood Books. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

The roommate experiment was my first book I read by Camilla Isley. I loved the plot, the friend group, the nod to the fake dating from the other couple getting engaged, the plotting and how the couple got together.

Roommates to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I love all the secret pining and yearning.

I'm glad Dylan made a point not to cheat in the book and to not let Hunter be the rebound girl.

I like how everything fell together and now I want to read the second book. The pace of the book flowed well too, I liked the author's writing style. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review. This was a 5 star rating.

I'll post to blog eventually. I post on Goodreads and Instagram more.

The Roommate Experiment is a light, heartwarming romantic comedy that delivers both laughs and sweet moments. Camilla Isley brings together two people who have known each for long time. Their evolving relationship is full of banter, vulnerability, and emotional depth, making it easy to root for them. With engaging writing and a feel-good vibe, this book is a perfect pick for summer holidays

Ooof when this said slow burn, it really wasn’t joking! This book had me on the edge of my seat because of the tension! The epilogue was so fun too. Enjoyed this book more than I had previously though.

I'm very conflicted about this book - don't get me wrong I enjoyed it, and by the time the action and flirtation heated up, I was unable to put it down.

But it runs along the exact same time line as If The Ring Fits, so if you have read the previous book in the series (which I did only a few weeks ago so it was still fresh in my mind), then you know exactly who will end up with you (as it was revealed in the previous book), and other bits with the friendship groups, are all things I have already read from one perspective, so didn't' really need to see it again.

It's one of those devices that authors use occasionally in series that always bugs me and I'm just not keen on.

That doesn't make the book any less great, just made it harder for me to totally enjoy it as much as I normally enjoy a Camilla Isley novel. I feel like you need to have read at least the previous book to fully understand all the references to Rowena, so it probably can't stand alone, but equally had I skipped the middle book I would have possibly enjoyed it more.

Hence I'm totally torn.

It's a very slow build of the romantic tension between Hunter and Dylan. Hunter's dates to keep her mind off the fact she is now living with the guy she has been secretly in love with for over 10 years, are hilariously bad.

Dylan's relationship with Olivia is hard to read, I just didn't take to her, and felt for him a lot, especially once he realises he isn't as into it as he should be. But some of his dilemmas really showed him as a truly lovely guy.

I love the characters, I especially loved the final quarter of the book, and there are many many moments to laugh at, as Dylan and Hunter get used to living in the same apartment, with some memorable scenes.

On the whole I really did enjoy the book.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Best friend’s brother, forced proximity, and slow burn (a little too slow for me). Technically this is book 3 in a series, which I did NOT know beforehand (it was not in the description), so it can be read as a standalone, but I would have preferred to read the previous books so I could better understand the side characters and all the dynamics going on. Hunter is the last of her friend group to pair up and is feeling alone. She thinks she’s finally getting her chance with her long time crush, who is now her new roommate. But things aren’t as great as she had hoped. I definitely felt sorry for the girl. It can’t be easy watching the guy you’ve liked for years dating someone who you think is perfect. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Dylan. Some of his behaviors were off putting and he seemed a bit of a pushover when it came to his girlfriend. Sure, I’ll make out with you even though I don’t really have feelings for you and I’ll let you keep calling the shots, and put off having a real conversation.
I have only read one book by this author before this one, and I enjoyed it so I wanted to read another. I was in for a surprise when some major language popped up at the beginning of chapter 2. That was the biggest disappointment for me. The previous book didn’t have anything so it was definitely a surprise to read so many. The book is closed door, so nothing explicit on page, but it had more content than the other book I read as well. I wish books could have ratings like tv/movies so I know what to expect.

"𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆."

Hunter has been secretly in love with her best friend’s brother, Dylan, for as long as she can remember; though to him, she’s barely even a blip on the radar. She’s not just stuck in the friend zone; she’s somewhere off to the side, friend-zone adjacent. But everything is about to change. When Dylan moves into her spare room, promoting her from casual acquaintance to roommate, Hunter wonders: could this finally be the moment he truly notices her?

What starts as a difficult arrangement soon spirals into chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly tender moments as the two navigate close quarters and growing chemistry.

I enjoyed this story! I really like the roommates-to-lovers trope, and The Roommate Experiment had a lot of the cozy, chaotic charm I was hoping for. The dialogues were witty and humorous, and there were a few moments where I even laughed out loud. The humor felt natural most of the time and worked well with the chemistry between the characters.

This book is written in dual POV, which I love, and I especially enjoyed the FMC’s perspective the most. She was sarcastic, witty and smart. Though at times her inner thoughts were a bit repeatative, but it was good!

The only thing that kept this from being a perfect read for me was a certain plot point, without giving spoilers, I’ll just say that there was a third party invoked and I'm not a fan of that situation in my romances. It took away a tiny bit of the magic for me. Other than that, it was such a great read!

My initial rating is 3.75, rounding up to 4 in Goodreads.

I’ve liked some of Camilla Isley's previous books, but this one just didn’t quite land for me. On paper, The Roommate Experiment had everything I usually go for: the pining, the friends-to-lovers energy, the “brother’s best friend” trope (always a good time). I love that slow burn feeling of someone finally being seen – but somehow, the spark just wasn’t there.

Hunter, the FMC, does her best to get noticed by Dylan – her new roommate and lifelong crush – and I genuinely rooted for her at first. But it all felt a little too easy. As soon as she pulls out the tiny shorts, Dylan suddenly starts seeing her differently, and from that point on, I missed the tension and emotional build-up I usually crave in these stories. Dylan’s not a bad guy – just a sweet, hot and slightly oblivious one – but I never really bought into their connection.

The writing, the plot, even the HEA… everything felt a bit flat. Like all the right ingredients were there, but they didn’t quite come together the way I’d hoped.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!