Customer Reviews

Roommates Wanted: A Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoyed this novel. I think I'd enjoy reading a grocery list if it were written by Lisa Jewell! It's not her best work but it is well worth reading. I laughed aloud many times during this book, I'd say it is her most humorous, anyway. In the UK this book is titled '31 Dream Street', so be warned if you've read that one, 'Roommates Wanted' is exactly the same book! Sometimes it's a bit confusing when publishers do that.

I read the UK edition of this book, and while decent was hardly what I would call a page turner. The ending was happy for all involved, but the journey taken to get there, was kind of depressing and sad. Not my favorite book, but not terrible either (3.5 stars)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first, and decided to read this strictly based on the author's past novels. But once I got into the story, I couldn't put it down. The characters in this book are so REAL, so down-to-earth and relatable.

The main character, Toby, undergoes a slow transformation throughout the novel on his journey to start living, a transformation that is at times a bit sad -- I felt like I wanted to give him a big hug! :) The other characters in this book, Toby's lodgers, are well-written too - I found myself caring about all of them, and even got a bit misty-eyed when Joanne's backstory was finally revealed.

This is not your standard Brit chick-lit novel. It is so much more! With a satisfying, but not tidy, ending. I highly recommend this book!

I loved this book. It was like a good mirror on my past life - Each Character in this book! I found myself reading this book with an English Accent! It describes the habits of human beings when we get comfortable with "Medocracy". It was a real eye-opener on my own life & a real page turner.

I loved this book, I read it until stupid o'clock every night until I finished it.

I have read everything Lisa Jewell has published and I found Roommates Wanted to be one of her better books. I thought her last two books were not quite up to the wonderful level of Thirtynothing and Ralph's Party, but Roommates Wanted nearly rose to that level. I read the book in a little more than a day and could not put it down. Great pool-side or beach reading without all the consumerist drivel that so many other chick-lit novels are filled with these days.

In London, thirty-five year old shop girl Leah has lived across the street from Toby for years; although she has seen him about the neighborhood they have never met. Her long time boyfriend abandons her when she mentions marriage. Toby inherited his dilapidated Victorian mansion from his dad fifteen years ago; he rents rooms to loners although he finds them a pain in the butt.

Leah is walking outside when she finds long time Toby tenant Gus lying dead outside the mansion. Gus' corpse serves as a matchmaker of sorts as Toby and Leah finally meet. Gus bequests to Toby his ailing cat and a lot of money with the pleading message to clean up his life and make something of him self instead of drifting through life. Toby decides to renovate the Victorian and kick out his assortment of tenants though he does not ask them directly to leave; he turns to Leah to assist him helping these sad losers renovate their lives.

This is an amusing yet deeply touching contemporary tale as Toby who gave up on life years ago as being too hard but now suddenly has a second chance. However to succeed he must rid himself of the fully developed eccentric renters. Although he rationalizes his caring nobility as selflessness, encouraged by lonely Leah, he tries to help the others get a life first; in his efforts he gets a life. ROOMMATES WANTED is a terrific character study of dissolution becoming idealism by feeling good about helping others enables the lead protagonist to "start living" again.

Harriet Klausner

To sum up in one word what I thought of Roommates Wanted, by Lisa Jewell- WOW! Lisa Jewell is the author of six novels, five of them bestsellers, and grew up in north London, where she still resides with her husband and two daughters.
Toby Dobbs, after receiving an old Victorian from his father, and being left by his wife three weeks later, decides to place an ad for roommates. Fifteen years later, although never alone, he finds himself with a full house and still lonely. After a chance meeting with the woman across the street, Leah Pilgrim, Toby finds himself wanting to be more than a brooding poet; he wants to live. Together, they work on fixing the misfit slackers problems and aid them in growing up, so he, too, can do the same.
However, this daunting task proves to be no easy feat. Con, still just a boy himself, finds he is falling in love with a co-worker who is vastly ill, and making it difficult to fulfill his plans to save enough money for pilot school. Melinda, Con's mother, is bound and determined to remain with her son at all costs, in an attempt to make up for deserting him as a child. Ruby, who was never forced in to the workforce, continues to live off of her many men while dreaming of becoming a singer/songwriter. And Joanne, who changes in to a different person everyday, is as secretive as she is elusive.
Roommates Wanted is a true icon in this genre! It stands apart from everything else. It will take you on a ride filled with love, grief, and humor like nothing you've read. Lisa Jewell's clever and witty dialog will, at times, literally, having you laughing out loud. Don't read this in a library. The characters are charming and believable, even when you want to slap them senseless. You almost forget they're not real. The plot flowed exceedingly well and, even with all the characters, it was not hard to follow in any form. The back stories, plot, characters, dialog; it all wraps itself together in a package you won't soon forget. And, in a way, makes a very sound argument between the fantasy of youth, and the practicality of adulthood. It is a book mixed with real life and dreams that mix so smoothly together you can't put it down. This should, most definitely, be made into a movie. Right on, Lisa Jewell! Or, rather, write on!

Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer

I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and simply loved "Vince and Joy" as well as "Friend of the Family." For months I have been waiting for this book to hit the shelves and am rather disappointed. Jewell seems to have lost something over the years -- "Roomates Wanted" is not as funny or touching as prior reads. Although somewhat cute and humorous, I'm not thrilled. It's okay, JUST okay, and definitely not as great as some of Jewell's other works.

I haven't ever laughed so hard while reading. I loved this book. It is a bizarre situation with a mostly loveable cast. I could have done without Ruby, although I can see why she was important. I would have only given her less of a story. Lisa has us relate so easy with these characters who are so different from one another.
When I saw this book had only recieved 12 reviews I was surprised. I stumbled on this book and am so glad I did.