THE ROOMMATE ARRANGEMENT, by Samantha Markum, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Jan. 27, 2026, Hardcover, $20.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
A girl accidentally becomes college roommates with her brother’s best friend in The Roommate Arrangement, by Samantha Markum.
Blair might be a little type-A, but she never thought of herself as completely overbearing…that is, until her two best friends drop her from their housing arrangement a week before her pre-college summer coding program is about to start.
Blair knows if she switches to an on-campus dorm, her parents will make her give up her expensive sculpture class with her dream mentor in order to pay for it. Desperate, she agrees to be the fifth roommate to four off-campus sophomores who are also in a last-minute bind. But things get complicated when one of her new roommates turns out to be her brother’s best friend, Jamie Atwater.
Blair begs Jamie not to tell her brother about the new living arrangement. Her brother would go straight to their parents, who would definitely not approve, and all her plans would fall apart. So they strike a deal: she’ll help him finish coding the app he’s building if he promises to keep her secret.
Spending more time together shouldn’t be a problem. Sure, Jamie has a new haircut, a mysterious tattoo, and a year’s worth of earned muscle, but it’s not like Blair is noticing. After all, they’re only roommates, right? —Synopsis provided by Margaret K. McElderry Books
The Roommate Arrangement is a YA romance that holds interest from beginning to end.
Blair is the star of the book, but she’s surrounded by a strong set of diverse supporting characters that really make this book work. From Jamie and their other roommates to Blair’s sculpting class, they create a realistic support system that help Blair work through the challenges of school, family, mental health and navigating a new relationship.
(On a side note, Blair’s parents are decidedly awful. Like I wanted to reach into the book and shake them awful. The hold they have over their kids and the pressure they put on them is beyond cringeworthy. Their part in the book is a cautionary tale for others.)
Author Samantha Markum really knows her audience, crafting a book filled with humor, heartache and everything in between. Her writing is comfortable and her pacing strong, making The Roommate Agreement a worthwhile read.
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