I chose this book from an ARC program because the character had my name! I was amused when I first learned the Sasha/Alex connection, as my friend at uni (used to calling his Russian friend Alex “Sasha”) often called me “Alex”, which to me does not compute! Not a normal reason to choose a book, but there you go, I’m being honest 🙂

The Premise

Elliott (Lottie) is all set for her new life at boarding school, until she meets her new roommate Sasha (Alex). With the other dorm under construction, there’s little choice but for her to keep rooming with him in the interim. Despite her loner “swamp witch” ways, Alex’s charm soon works on her as he and his friends welcome her and adopt her into their group of friends. She becomes their female confidante, helping them in their love lives — all except Alex, who remains aloof while dating multiple girls. Will he — or Lottie, for that matter — ever accept that they both want more than just friendship?

The Pros

This was a lighthearted read with characters that leapt off the page. The banter is witty and enjoyable, and I loved how Lottie was resistant at first but soon sank into the familiarity of their brotherly friendship — despite them being a raucous group of guys. I also really liked how she became friends with all of his friends, and had separate friendships with them alongside Alex as the core connecting force, and tried to help them also find love. Alex was charming and over-the-top in his jock-like overconfidence, but still a sweetheart at the core of it. I enjoyed seeing their relationship flourish from friendship into more, and they kept me laughing all the way through.

The Cons

While I enjoyed this novel, I kept hoping for some more drama, but there was little in the way of that. Alex’s background seems somewhat mysterious at the beginning, but later down I thought there would be a big “wow” moment when we learn why he is so cryptic about his family… this didn’t seem to be the case, when it finally got around to that. His family seemed loving and normal. I also found that the story seemed to revolve *only* around Lottie and Alex’s living arrangement, and I wished for a bit more of her experience as a student, but she seemed to fit in quite easily with the work and environment at boarding school.

Conclusion

This was a slow burn friends-to-lovers that hits the right spot for its teenage audience. The dialogue is its biggest charm here, and there are funny moments as well as sweet. I would recommend to other readers who enjoy this kind of romance, as the characters are easy to love and root for to get their happily ever after. I look forward to reading more by the author.

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