Holland Bakker, 25, lives in the Big Apple, and works for her successful Uncle Robert at a theatre on Broadway where his smash musical is sold out every night. She takes photographs and sells t-shirts in the lobby of the theatre. A college graduate with two degrees, Holland, not able to find employment in the literary field is currently biding her time unsure of what she wants in her future. Her pretty apartment is subsidized by Uncle Robert and his husband, Uncle Jeff, who is in finance. Her uncles are a mix of parents, fun, and best friends to Holland and she would do anything to repay them for their kindness and love for her. For months she has had a crush on a uber-handsome young man who plays guitar at the 52nd street subway station. His music captivates Holland and so does he. Green eyes, dark hair, and lips made for kissing (that he keeps smooth by applying lip balm from a tube he keeps in his pocket). How does she know this? She secretly stands where he can not see her, as she watches him. She calls this subway busker Jack and dreams about him at night. Too shy, however, to talk to him, she drops a dollar into his open guitar case and moves on.

One night, as she drops her donation into his case, he smiles and says, "Thank you very much." He has an Irish accent and his eyes meeting hers are mesmerizing. Holland blurts out, "Ilovreyourmusicsomuch." Calvin is his name and when he asks her name, she replies, "Holland, like the province in the Netherlands." With that sterling conversation Holland continues on her way. She just missed a train and is alone with a drunk who comes after her for her cell phone. He pushes her onto the track. When she wakes up in the hospital, she hears that Calvin called the police, leaving the scene immediately. I wonder why, she thought?

Their friendship begins slowly. When Holland learns the top violinist is leaving the play, she knows Calvin could fill this spot and brings her uncle to hear Calvin at the subway station. Immediately Robert knows Calvin is the creative artist he has been searching for and sets up an audition. After the audition, Robert offers Calvin the job knowing together they will improve the success of his musical. Only one thing is wrong. Calvin is not a legal citizen of the U.S.A. A graduate of Julliard, Calvin has remained in this country for four years and until he obtains a green card, he can not accept any work. Knowing the only way he could achieve this is to marry an American. Holland proposes marriage and he accepts. Now the fun really starts and the pages fly by.

ROOMIES hit the right notes for me. Calvin and Holland's story is special and is a really feel good romance. With music, Manhattan, Broadway, and such lovable characters, I "tink" this is definitely five stars! I love the writing team of Christina Lauren. Their writing is always magical, filled with humor and a nice sprinkling of sex. I always fall in love with the leading man and in this case "hottie" Calvin McLoughlin stole my heart with his Irish brogue, his charming manner with Holland and the caring he showed in presenting the darling little gifts he found for her. He was slow and steady and won the race! Helping Holland find her passion and telling her to go for it was wonderful. Together they found they have the forever together kind of love that is the icing on the cake for me. ROOMIES is one book I could not put down and read it from cover to cover. I "tink" it is my favorite from CL, but then, I always say that. Bravo, I want more!

Book Summary

From subway to Broadway to happily ever after. Modern love in all its thrill, hilarity, and uncertainty has never been so compulsively readable as in New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren’s (Beautiful Bastard, Dating You / Hating You) new romance.

Marriages of convenience are so...inconvenient.

For months Holland Bakker has invented excuses to descend into the subway station near her apartment, drawn to the captivating music performed by her street musician crush. Lacking the nerve to actually talk to the gorgeous stranger, fate steps in one night in the form of a drunken attacker. Calvin Mcloughlin rescues her, but quickly disappears when the police start asking questions.

Using the only resource she has to pay the brilliant musician back, Holland gets Calvin an audition with her uncle, Broadway’s hottest musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until his reason for disappearing earlier becomes clear: he’s in the country illegally, his student visa having expired years ago.

Seeing that her uncle needs Calvin as much as Calvin needs him, a wild idea takes hold of her. Impulsively, she marries the Irishman, her infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves and Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway—in the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting—will Holland and Calvin to realize that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?